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A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
48
James shook his head. I took some this morning and I m not due until tonight. I need
to go back to my apartment and talk to my landlady. I don t want her to think I m a drug
addict.
Lou held him a little away so he could look into his eyes. You are a drug addict,
honey. Just because it s a drug to help you doesn t mean you re not addicted. Painkillers can
be some of the most addictive medication. We re going to get you through this.
And then what? I m going to be the mystical magical white lion shifter. What am I
going to do with my life?
Lou gave him a tight hug and if James hung on a little tighter, the bear shifter didn t
comment.
Tears filled James eyes.
I m a mess, he confessed as if it were news to the other man.
Lou laughed, the sound echoing beneath James ear where it rested on his chest. Yes,
but you re my mess. He slid his fingers into James hair, forcing his head back. You can do
whatever you want. I d like you to move in with me and for us to decide together. Now that
you marked me, I m your mate.
Marked you?
Lou frowned. When you put your fangs in me while you pounded me into the couch.
You bound us together.
Shit.
Hurt entered his lover s eyes. Don t you want to be with me?
No! I mean yes, I do, but I didn t know I bonded with you. It s instinct. I had to bite
you.
Lou s big hand petted James head. That s because we belong together and your beast
knows this.
Maybe, he allowed. I don t know if that means I m ready to move in with you, Lou.
We haven t known each other very long and our one luncheon date and sex does not a
relationship make.
Lou turned off the water. Come on, let s get dry and I can explain to you about
mates.
James wasn t sure he liked the bear s tone but he wasn t going to turn down more
information. He was stumbling in the dark about their relationship and he didn t like the
A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
49
sensation. The one thing he d always had while his body failed him was his intellect. Being
the clueless one in the room didn t suit him.
After quickly drying, he tied a towel around his waist and headed for the living room.
Well, look what I ve found.
James heart froze. Melinda stood in the middle of Lou s living room with two large
men holding guns.
Melinda. What are you doing here? He was afraid he knew but he hoped to buy
time for his lover to escape.
She gave him a cold smile. It didn t reach her eyes. I ve wanted to study you for
years. Unfortunately my relationship with your father prevented that. Now, however, we re
through, which makes you fair game.
I wouldn t do that if I were you, Lou s growly voice sounded behind James.
Shit!
He needed to get these psychos away from his man.
Let me go and get some clothes on.
Melinda s eyes traced over James body in an expression so lustful he now knew what
people meant when they said their skin crawled.
Go get dressed, one of the men said. We ll keep your man until you do.
James fled the room, clenching his teeth as his legs threatened to buckle. His hands
shook as he rifled through his lover s clothing. An oversized shirt fell to his thighs and he
rolled up the legs of a pair of sweats, pulling the drawstring in tight. He looked like a
homeless orphan, but he was covered.
Hobbling back into the room he searched for his cane only to see his lover
unconscious on the floor.
What the fuck did you do? he screamed, falling to his knees beside his mate.
You didn t think we d get out of here safely with your lover awake. Don t worry, he s
only tranquilised. If you come with us quietly I won t kill him. She used the same tone as if
she were discussing the weather or a trip to the park.
James had never wanted to kill someone so badly in his life. His beast growled
beneath his skin. He limped over to his cane, ignoring the trio watching his every step.
Let s go.
A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
50
Chapter Five
After twenty-three years, James thought he d experienced all the possible shades of
pain. The slivers of agony stabbing into his skull when the medication ran out, the dull
aching pain when he was fully loaded up on meds, and the aching, deep in his bones, when
he first woke up.
He was wrong.
This pain reached entire new levels. Levels he hoped to never reach again. Ants crawled
through his veins in an irritating buzz, little bites of pain and annoyance, covering his entire
body. The sound filled his ears, reverberated his bones and sent bits of fire through his body
like a billion fire ants covering his skin. Unable to keep it inside he let out his inner suffering
with a scream.
It came out as a roar.
Opening his eyes, he looked down at the furry white paws before him.
He d shifted. Whether from the separation from Lou or the lack of medication, he was
now a cat.
Look at you. I can t believe Andrew deprived you of this for so long.
He narrowed his eyes at the female sitting beside him.
You might not believe me but I ve wanted to help you for a long time, to free you of
the medication locking up your inner beast. There are buyers who ll pay a lot for a rare
shifter such as yourself. I ve never got my hands on a white lion before.
He could almost taste her jugular as he yearned to rip out her throat.
Oooh, the pretty kitty is upset. I m doing you a favour. I m freeing you from your
human form. All I have to do is purge your body of those nasty drugs and you ll be the
perfect shifter. What good are you as a limpy human when you can be a powerful cat? I have
some mercenaries who are looking for new shifters to join they pay top dollar. They might
even enjoy that bear of yours.
James gave a low growl. The beast hungered to kill. To maim the woman who dared to
speak of his mate, much less harm him.
They had his bear.
They would die.
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51
He let out a low growl. First he d kill this woman.
Pain ratcheted through his body, reminding him he wasn t free of his medication yet.
Planning her death, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep. In the background, as he sank
into slumber, he heard her say,
That s right. Sleep. We ll discuss your future tomorrow. We ll get you better and out of
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