Sara Humphreys: Unclaimed

Without thinking, moving only on gut instinct, he spun to the left and grabbed the intruder, throwing them to the ground. In a matter of seconds, he straddled the small body and pinned the stranger easily beneath him. His knees held struggling arms to the floor, one hand curled over a slim shoulder, as the other held his knife poised high in the air, ready to strike.

As the haze of rage receded and the imminent danger was stifled, Dominic found himself staring into a pair of beautiful, furious golden eyes. A stunning hybrid Amoveo woman who smelled of cherries and vanilla glared at him, and if looks could kill, he’d be toast.

Shoulder-length dark hair framed a heart-shaped face stamped with anger, but through it all he detected a hauntingly familiar energy signature. It was the same one that slipped in and out of the dream realm and eluded him night after night.

Layla’s voice drifted over his shoulder.

“Do you think you could get off my sister?”

Sister? Dominic blinked in surprise and sheathed his knife as he stared at the woman still trapped beneath him. Her eyes burned brightly in their clan form as her intoxicating scent filled his head.

As he remembered those nights in the dream realm, his body tightened and responded to her on an instinctual level. She wiggled, attempting to get out from under him, but he kept her there as the pieces fell into place.

Mate. That one word ran through his head over and over like an ancient mantra. This woman, the one he just tackled, as if she were a Caedo or Purist assassin, was his mate. Son of a bitch .

The weight of his body held her to the floor, but it was the predatory look in his eyes that kept her from moving. Tatiana didn’t notice the knife at first. She couldn’t think. All she could do was feel.

The pressure of his hard, male body and the heat of his gaze were frightening and intriguing. Her heart hammered in her chest as she wrestled for calm amid the storm of emotions that battered her. If it had been any other stranger, she would have cried out for help, but this man wasn’t exactly a stranger.

Tatiana knew those eyes.

They were the same amber eyes she hid from night after night. This man, whoever he was, was the one who stalked her in the dream realm. Although this was the first time she had seen him in his human form, there was no mistaking him. Between the intense, piercing stare and the vivid energy signature, she knew exactly who he was.

This was her Amoveo mate.

The man had been powerful and intimidating in his tiger form. As a human, he was equally formidable and had a penetrating gaze that sent her body into overdrive.

Sparks flickered over her skin, and her heart thumped uncontrollably in her chest. What was it she said to Layla? She wanted to get knocked on her ass by sparks? Apparently, the universe was listening and had a sense of humor.

Jet-black hair cut short in a military style and dark eyebrows framed fierce glowing eyes. He was ruggedly handsome with a well-chiseled face that was marred only by a jagged scar running down his left cheek. Instead of making him seem macabre or scary, it made him dangerously sexy.

Tatiana resisted the crazy urge to reach out and touch it, to soothe the raw-looking flesh with tender strokes. In spite of the bizarre situation, every cell of her body lit up beneath his touch and intent observation. Her stomach fluttered with a heady combination of nerves and lust, making her cringe at her body’s ridiculous response.

This guy had tackled her for God’s sake. The last thing in the world she should have felt was turned on , but that didn’t change the fact that she was.

Gritting her teeth, she glared back at him, meeting his challenge. The man embodied danger. He was relentless, aggressive, and intense. The thought of denying him was both empowering and terrifying. Somewhere through the haze of sensations she heard Layla’s voice drift in between them.

A smile curved his lips, and the spell was broken. Fingers, which were curled around her shoulder, loosened and brushed over her skin as he immediately stood up and offered her a hand.

Tatiana shot him a look of contempt and hopped to her feet without help. He studied her quietly, and she did her best not to squirm under his inspection, praying all the while he didn’t suspect the same thing she did.

Perhaps he didn’t recognize her? Maybe her efforts to hide from him had worked. However, as his eyes twinkled wickedly, she knew she was out of luck. Damn it.

“Charming.” She sighed as she brushed off the back of her shorts and adjusted her tank top. “Well, you get points for the most original greeting I’ve ever gotten, and considering I’ve been tackled by animals twice your size, although markedly more civilized, that’s saying something.”

The smile faded from his lips. The man actually looked contrite, and it gave her hope that perhaps, beneath all that aggression, there was a person willing to overlook the fated mate nonsense. Sparks or no sparks, she would not be told whom she could love or spend her life with, and she had zero interest in being dragged into the crazy Amoveo world.

“Apologies,” he said tightly with a tilt of his head. He held his hands behind his back and stood at attention before casting an accusing glance to Layla. “I was unprepared for visitors this morning. I didn’t think our guests were arriving until later this afternoon.”

“Sorry, Dominic. I forgot to tell you they caught an earlier flight,” Layla said with a short laugh. She brushed past him and quickly grabbed Tatiana in a warm hug. “It’s so good to have you here, Tati. Don’t mind Dominic, he’s a little quick on the draw ever since those Caedo guys started acting up.”

Tatiana hugged her sister, and they giggled like children. She pulled back and tugged one of Layla’s long red curls.

“I’ll be sure to announce my presence before I enter a room.” Tatiana gave Dominic a sidelong glance. “I wouldn’t want to get tackled again.”

“Sorry.” Dominic shrugged as he held her gaze. “Your energy signature wasn’t entirely familiar.”

“Right.” Tatiana looked away and ran a hand through her dark hair. He did recognize her, or at least he sensed something. Shit. “Well, now it is.”

“So you talk to animals?” He cocked his head to one side as he looked her up and down. “Like Dr. Dolittle?”

“Not exactly.” Tatiana lifted one shoulder and adjusted her top as she tried not to notice the way his eyes lingered on her body. “I don’t hear them speak with words. I read their energy signatures and feel their emotions. I sense things. That’s all.”

“I sense things too. Like a human,” Dominic said quietly. “I can smell one all over you.”

“Oh really? Well, that would be my vet tech, Matt, or it could be any human I was on a plane with today.”

“Oh man.” Layla laughed and walked to the picture window. “You made him wait in the car?” Dominic flicked a glance toward the window but didn’t move from his spot as Tatiana continued. “Hell, it could even be me because in case you haven’t noticed, I’m half human.”

Tatiana shot him a look of annoyance and folded her arms over her breasts. He referred to it as though it was the worst odor he’d ever had the displeasure of experiencing.

“So, tell me, Dominic. Are you one of those Purist Amoveo assholes that I’ve heard about? If that’s the case, then I’ll get back in my car and go home.”

“What?” His features darkened, and his stubble-covered jaw clenched. “I am not a Purist.” Dominic’s dark eyes locked on her, and though Tatiana’s heart raced faster, she refused to give an inch. “I am a Guardian, and it’s my business to know who is here on the ranch.”