A Rebel's Heart Read Online Free Page A

which they could will themselves to age.
    Sarah had started the process about a year after Walt died. She stopped shifting into her puma form and wasn’t surprised when the cat didn’t resist. In fact, they were both tired and wanted to go into the afterworld to be with their mate.
    “We’re tired,” she finally said.
    Damian scooted closer to her, his body heat wrapping around her. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted so her eyes met his. “I miss him too. The only thing that has kept me going was the fact that I’m fighting back. Bringing down the hate groups so the shifter races can live in secret and peace once again.”
    She looked away, breaking his hold on her. “I’m not sure there is any more fight left in me.”
    He growled, snapping her attention back to him. “That is a load of crap. You killed a man to protect yourself and me.”
    There was that. “It was instinct.”
    “Exactly.”
    She was so done with this…whatever it was. She went to stand, but he grabbed her arm, halting her. “Sarah, I’m sorry. I meant it when I said you’re my mate. Can you try to heal with me? Trust me?”
    Her heart shuddered, and the tension left her body. “I do trust you and care for you a great deal, but I’m not sure if I have it in me to mate again. I’ve done it twice. If you haven’t noticed, my mates seem to die on me.”
    She meant the words to sound light, but it was an ugly truth that she’d lived with for far too long.
    Damian pulled her into his lap with inhuman speed and buried his nose into her neck. She let out a small sigh and melted into him, taking in his scent. His all-too-familiar scent. It felt too good to be close to someone, touching them. It was something she’d get within a Pack if she’d stop being pigheaded. But this was Damian. He’d always been a part of her life…and Walt’s.
    He could help her heal. A thin string of hope formed, making her want to try to move on.
    Then suddenly she felt it—the buried need to be desired and claimed by this male as his. Her arms warmed where they touched his, and the feel of his hard body under her woke both her cat and the need she’d denied herself for far too long. Her puma nudged her from under her skin where it was closest to Damian. The cat wanted him, and so did the woman.
     
    Damian lifted his head, his hazel eyes transforming into the green of his cat’s. “I’ll take my chances. I want you, Sarah. I’ve always wanted you.”
    She swallowed and couldn’t believe that she was going to cave. But the truth was she needed this. She needed to move on and try to live. Only she wasn’t sure what the future held for her and Damian.
    “Fate sure has an interesting game plan,” she said softly and tried to smile. “I love Walt and can’t forget him.”
    Damian cupped her face in his hands. “Neither can I. He was my best friend, my brother in all things that mattered. We will love him together. He wouldn’t want you to give up.”
    She shook her head. “I’m not giving up…” Her sentence faded when she realized that was what she’d been doing. She was giving up on life.
    Before she could say another word, Damian pressed his lips to hers. Her senses fired to life, as if she’d been shocked with electricity. Desire pooled in her abdomen and lower until she ached for his touch.
    When Damian’s tongue swiped across the seam of her lips, she opened, allowing him entry and meeting his tongue with her own. He tightened his hold on her and deepened the kiss.
    She twisted so she could wrap her legs around him, drawing their bodies even closer together. Yet it wasn’t close enough. Need built inside her, driving her mad. She broke the kiss and said between breaths, “Clothes. Off. I need…skin…”
    Damian didn’t say a word, just pulled her shirt over her head and unfastened her bra. His own desire darkened his eyes to a blue-green as he held her gaze and cupped her breast. She closed her eyes and moaned as he rolled her