The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

“You want to go somewhere to talk? A walk or maybe a drive?”

“A drive would be nice.”

They climbed in, and he took off. He had already driven two miles, and the silence was killing him. “So, what stuff has been going on?”

“Yesterday, I went out scouting.”

“You said.” He grimaced. “You were attacked too, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Beric slapped his hand against the wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You don’t own me,” she said coolly. “Until we’re married, what I do isn’t your business.”

“Just like who is…” He grimaced. Great. Open mouth, insert foot. “I mean…”

She didn’t wince. She just shifted in her seat to stare at him. “That’s in the past. I know it has ramifications in the present and the future—”

“But that’s not what is important right now. We need to marry.”

“You still want to?” Her surprise had him flinching.

“Yes,” he said simply.

Her hand touched his knee and squeezed it. Just at that simple, soft touch, he felt himself stirring, aroused. How could that be? She was pregnant by another. He shouldn’t have feelings for her.

But he did. He wanted her and badly. Those kisses they had shared had been amazing. What would s*x with her be like?

He swallowed hard. “You… ah… you think that you going out and scouting is a good idea with your… condition?”

She removed her hand, and he missed her touch immediately. “I’m still heir. I still have a duty to my people. I will not be willing to risk their lives on scouting missions and not be willing to risk my own life as well.”

He couldn’t argue with that, although he wanted to. She needed to stay safe.

“I told you I’m not made of glass.”

“Can you blame me for wanting you to be careful?” he grumbled.

“Why do you care?” she whispered.

Her sorrow tugged at his heartstrings. “I’m not a monster. I will do my best to be a good husband.”

“And what do you think a good husband does? Keep his wife locked up in the house?”

He chuckled. “I don’t think a lock could stop you. You’d be climbing out the window, or you’d use your claw to destroy the lock.” Beric halted at a red light and glanced over at her. She was smiling.

“Yeah, a lock wouldn’t work. But I don’t plan on meekly obeying you.”

“We don’t have to have obey in the vows.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You offered that too easily. You don’t want to listen to me either.”

“Well, what’s fair for you is fair for me, right?”

“Right,” she agreed.

The light changed, and he kept on driving. He didn’t have a destination in mind, was just driving aimlessly.

“Well…” she started.

“Well what?”

“I… You don’t have to feel like… If there’s someone else…” She was fiddling with her fingers.

“There’s no one else. I haven’t been in a committed relationship before.” All of the girlfriends he’d had in the past hadn’t been that serious. He’d always known he would have to be selective when it came to his marrying, and the girls had just been for fun more than anything.

She toyed with the straw of her milkshake. Her silence grated on him. Why wouldn’t she talk about the guy?

“You sure I don’t have to worry about him trying to stop the wedding? Should I be on the lookout for swinging fists?” He had meant for it to come out lighthearted. He had failed.

“It was a one-time thing. You have nothing to worry about.” She stared out the window.

“Is he…”

“He’s not dead, if that’s what you’re alluding to. My father wants me dead though.”

“He knows.” No wonder she seemed so depressed. Here he was, giving her grief, and it sounded like her father was only piling it on more.

“Yeah. I almost thought he was going to name someone else as his heir, he was that pissed at me. I… If I could go back and change it so it never happened, I would, but what’s done is done.”

“Hey.” He reached over and grabbed one of her hands. “You can’t keep beating yourself up over it. You’re right. What’s done is done.”

To his horror, she started to cry.

“What’s wrong?” In a panic, he pulled over to the side of the road and parked. “Stop crying. Please.”

“I…” She shook her head, her whole body trembling, the word hardly audible.

He unbuckled his belt and reached over to unbuckle hers. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but he helped her onto his lap. It was a good thing his long legs required him to have the seat all the way back so the steering wheel wasn’t too much in the way.

“Hey now.” Beric rubbed her back. “What has you so worked up? If you don’t want us to talk about the guy, we don’t have to. I’m sorry if I upset you in any way.”

“It’s not you.” She sniffed and wiped her tears away. “It is, and it isn’t.”

“Okay,” he said as if that made perfect sense, all the while wondering what she meant.

“I just… I had an awful dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it? That might help.”

“You were there, and then you turned into Andreas… At least I think you turned into him. The things you said—”

“I didn’t say those things. It was just a dream.”

“A nightmare,” she corrected.

“I had some unpleasant dreams myself last night.”

She shifted slightly in his arms, and he sucked in a breath, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass himself. The friction was driving him wild. “What about?” she asked.

“Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

“You think I’ll get upset?”

He rolled his eyes but pulled her closer for a hug. “Considering that the baby killed me…”

“You’re afraid of the baby?”

“No, it was just a stupid dream! Besides, you killed me too.”

“Did we kill you together, or did you come back in between?”

“A zombie were-jaguar. That would be something.”

She pulled back, her eyes bright, her eyelashes still wet but no tears visible. “I just… Thank you.” Miera nestled her head against his chest.