Marked

Exasperation swelled under her rib cage in spite of her laughter, and she wanted to yell at him in frustration. “Okay, then, explain it to me.”

His gaze slid to hers. “If I do, you must promise to listen with your ears and your heart.”

God, he did sound like her grandmother.

“Sure. I promise. Tell me the big secret.”

Cole straightened. “Not out here.”

“Fine. Your place or mine?”

He frowned down at her. “Yours.”

Chapter Two

It terrified Cole that Alicia knew of his desire for her. Somehow her knowing fanned the flames.

He sat perched on the chair he’d occupied earlier, watching the storm roll in. Large drops individually assaulted the front window.

She returned to the sofa, studying him, her eyes shining with guarded curiosity. He didn’t look for more in her expression for fear of finding it.

Her scent alone made him fidget.

“You said my father was one of the leaders of…?”

“The Kimosh.”

“The what?”

“Our people are the Kimosh, driven out of Mexico centuries ago.” He glanced at her and found her listening, so he continued. “We were hunted, nearly to the point of extinction, until Gower, our leader, took us north. We found sympathizers among the natives.”

“You don’t look like you came from Mexico.”

“Some of our early ancestors traveled with Vikings and other explorers. Much of our heritage is lost in folklore, but I believe we originated in Eastern Europe.”

Alicia huffed. “Why is this some big secret? I don’t get it. Everyone comes from somewhere.”

Cole took a deep breath and quietly blew it out. “If the rest of the world found out about us, we’d be hunted again.”

“Why?”

He stood and crossed the room, then turned back to study her. She looked regal sitting very straight with one bare foot drawn up under her leg. She had the long, slender neck and high cheekbones of her line.

She wouldn’t believe him. He knew that. And, judging by what he’d learned of her determination, she might throw him out for good.

He walked back and crouched in front of her, looking up into her wide, green eyes. “You’ve felt the longing, the ache inside like you’re not in your own skin, haven’t you? You’ve wanted to run with inhuman speed, flat out, to slice through the wind like a knife. You’ve always felt different, alone.”

He watched her process his words and saw the truth in her expression.

Her eyes cut from his to the window. “Everyone feels those things.”

He took her left hand in both of his, stroking her long fingers across his palm. “No, Alicia, not everyone. Not with the same intensity you and I do. What you’re feeling is the soul of the cat. Our name, Kimosh, evolved from words of several ancient languages merged together. It means Mountain Lion People.”

She jerked her hand away and stared down at him, her chest suddenly heaving with quickened breath.

“Mountain lions,” she whispered. “I saw them in a dream, lots of them in a big valley surrounded by cliffs.”

He nodded. “Home. And it wasn’t a dream.”

“But—”

Cole reached inside his shirt and drew out his necklace, the one that matched that resting just above her tempting cleavage.

Her gaze slid down to his necklace and her eyes widened more.

“It’s the symbol of our people,” he said. “The outside ring is the cat’s eye, and the single line points south to where we came from.” He traced the familiar shapes between his fingertips and thumb as he spoke. “The knot in the middle is the true heart of the cougar, the sign of courage, and the snake, our friend, is wrapped around the center.”

She raised her hand to her own necklace.

“It was given to you when you were born, as was mine,” he said.

Then she reached out and tentatively touched his necklace.

He lowered his hand in a clenched fist to the sofa.

Her gaze jumped to his and her eyes filled with tears. “It’s true, isn’t it?”

He nodded, and his heart raced as he realized he’d convinced her.

Her fingers slid up the side of his neck to caress his face and he sucked in a breath of surprise. Her touch was tender, warm, perfect. A groan rose from his chest. Unable to do otherwise, he closed his eyes and turned his face to press a kiss into her heated palm.

She stroked his hair. “Is that why I’m so drawn to you?”