Chapter Eight

Dane rolled his head on his neck as he stood up on the roof. Done! He hadn’t lied to her; he loved working with his hands. One of the reasons he loved his cabin so much. He’d built it himself. To him it was more of a home than larger dwellings. His was made for him, to his specifications and that he’d done it himself added to his comfort.

Even the heat of the African sun couldn’t compare to the heat Aida Roberts created within him. He had to get away from her before he took her to bed.

Would that really be a bad thing? Shaking his head, he ignored his libido.

He sat down on the roof with a low groan. No matter how attracted he was to her he couldn’t act on it.

Why not? His beast demanded. We can’t ignore her. She is part of us.

Dane raked a hand through his hair. He wanted her so bad he could taste it.

Ignore her and you condemn us.

“But I protect her,” he muttered. His animal roared in fury and struck out from within. He winced from the swipes of razor-sharp claws.

Deep from within him the darkness began to rise and Dane battled back. He wasn’t completely sure what was happening to him. He didn’t understand every bit of it. However, he was figuring it out, like he did everything, methodically. All he knew was every time he relied on his powers the darkness fed and grew stronger. When he’d come into contact with Aida for the first time, everything became easier. He wasn’t a fool; he knew she was his saving grace. The one who could save him. His solnyshko moyo. Not to mention his mate. But Dane had already condemned himself to a life of solitude.

Closing his eyes, he immediately conjured up the image of Aida Roberts. The huge smile she had on her face as she interacted with the villagers, the love she had in her eyes as she looked at her dogs. There was such life within her and he didn’t want to kill it. and if he instigated the mating bond and tied them together there was a very good chance he would be doing just that.

“I’m getting tired,” he admitted to the air.

He’d been an enforcer for centuries and it was beginning to take its toll on him. Humans for the most part angered him and the other beings he encountered didn’t do much more for him. Rules he had lived by and enforced for the majority of his existence, almost felt constricting now and the darkness pushed him to ignore them and just let rage take over. With each battle he fought was harder and harder not to just destroy everything.

But Aida was different. She touched a part of him he thought had been securely locked away. Aida reminded him of Zora Jameson with her good nature and kind heart. But with Zora there was only friendship, he knew Aida was so much more to him.

Our mate!

The roar exploded within him with such force he shuddered. He was an alpha shifter. And his beast wanted his mate.

The pounding of hoof beats grabbed his attention and he looked over to see a figure on horseback riding up at an easy lope. A low whistle came from the inside of the house and Dane watched as Aida and her dogs walked out to meet the rider.

A low warning hiss left him as the man reached out and touched Aida with familiarity. Forcing his emotions back under control, Dane hurried off the roof, skipping the ladder opting to leap down to land in an effortless crouch, and strode around the house to find out who else had come for a visit.

The pair had moved off to the shade of a tree and the horse was drinking from a bucket. Dane narrowed his eyes as he took in the man’s appearance. He wore cowboy boots, relaxed fit stonewashed jeans and had a white shirt on that showed off impressive muscles as well as his chocolaty skin. A brown well-worn western oilskin outback sat upon his head.

Aida’s laugh tinkled along his skin and he inhaled sharply as his body reacted sharply to it. He slowed when she lifted her head and smiled at him. That smile rivals the sun for brightness.

“Dane, come meet my friend, Kees.”

Pleased she didn’t hesitate to include him, he moved toward them. Stopping beside her, Dane watched the horse stiffen slightly before continuing to drink. He waited for the man to look at him and was amazed by the pale gray eyes staring back at him from under the brim of the hat.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Kees Van Canne.”

“Dane Sidorov.” Kees stared at him. Dane held the inquisitive gaze, shoving his possessiveness of Aida back under control.

“How long have you known Aida?”

“A few days.” Dane longed to demand how long Kees had known her. She was very comfortable around Kees and Dane wasn’t fond of that. Not at all.

Aida’s husky laugh brought his attention back to their conversation. They stood close, smiles present as if sharing their own private joke. Anger raced to the surface and he felt his animal stir in protectiveness and anger. Ruger and Kamau snapped their heads to him and Dane tamped the beast down. Their growls were obvious to him but when Aida didn’t respond he knew she didn’t hear. The dogs fell silent once he was once again in control.

“No problem,” Kees said. “I should get going.” The man faced him and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Dane.”

Accepting the offered hand, Dane shook it and replied, “Likewise.”

Kees winked at Aida, swung easily up on his horse and tugged the brim in Aida’s direction before riding off, disappearing from sight. Aida’s sigh brought his gaze to her. There was a partial smile on her face. Dane forcibly stopped himself from reaching out to her. “What was he doing here?” he asked.

She looked at him before turning back to the door. “It’s what he does. Kees cares and checks up on the place. Ruger and Kamau stayed here last time and he checked to make sure all was good.” She opened the door and gestured him inside. “So he’ll keep an eye on the place when I leave now.”

“Nice to have good friends.”

Aida grinned. “I agree. Now, tell me. Anything special you want for a meal?”

You. Spread out naked. “I’m a simple man. Anything is fine.”

“I hardly believe you’re a simple man, Dane Sidorov.” Her comment was whispered and Dane fought to keep the arrogant smirk hidden. He may no longer utilize his gifts granted him by being who and what he was but he still retained much of the tiger even in human shape.

He’d reached the door when he turned and asked, “Do you mind if I use your shop?”

She held his gaze causing his body to cry out for her touch and shrugged. “Help yourself.”

“Thanks.”

Dane’s jaw hurt from being clenched hard as it was and once alone in the shed he raked a hand through his hair. The beast paced within him, growls low and fierce as it waited for a chance to be free.

Grabbing a piece of wood, he turned on the table saw and got to work. As he cut, sanded, stained, and glued, Dane ran over his situation. The most important thing was gaining better control over the beast within him. Then go after the man who’d eliminated his unit.

Aida. Longing coursed through his veins. Every inch of her called to him. She was his mate. The one who had the power to give him the extra strength to battle back and win against the darkness. But in doing so he’d condemn her to be tied to him for the rest of his days.

I can’t do that.

You must! His animal insisted.

Dane was well aware of the natural order. His kind found their mates and claimed them. Very simple. But there was something wrong with him. Ever since he’d given up—and he had so willingly—his Spiritius Sanctimonia, Pure Spirit, to Lady Nahia Freeman, mate to his best friend Aren Van der Ness, he’d become unbalanced. The darkness was now the stronger force within him. And every time he gave in to his animal, he longed to totally give himself over. So far, somehow, he’d managed to crawl out of the pit waiting for him. Calling to him.

He knew some shifted into animal form to never again return to their human shape. Hell, he’d hunted and killed some. Some had been friends even. But he'd always known, being an enforcer wasn’t for the faint of heart. And he’d mastered the art of concealing his feelings a long time ago. One of the reasons he was known as one of the top enforcers. Nothing stopped him. and no one ever got away from him once he started chasing them.

Claim her! His mind screamed.

The air shifted and her smell wafted to his nose. His shaft hardened in his jeans and he could feel the pounding of his blood as it coursed through his veins. Deep shuddering breaths were ingested as he listened to her quiet footfalls. His nails sliced out and dug into the underside of the table he gripped.

“Dane?” Aida asked. Her soft voice wove around him and stroked him to an even harder state.