Primal Possession Read Online Free PDF

you for doing this,” she murmured.
    He grunted again. It was something he seemed to do often, but she couldn’t figure out his moods or what the grunts meant exactly. Liam did it when he was annoyed, but he also did it when she thanked him for anything. As if her gratitude surprised him. She didn’t understand that.
    Silence normally didn’t bother her, but the stillness that stretched between them tonight did. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she’d been out with another guy when she’d known it would hurt him. While she hated that part, she desperately needed to keep her distance from Liam. When she was around him, it was difficult to think straight. Tonight it was even worse. She felt wildly off-balance and that spicy, earthy scent of his was driving her crazy.
    “Are you sure you can stay away from the ranch tonight?” she finally asked, just to break the tension.
    His dark eyes flashed with something she didn’t recognize.“I’ve been doing it the past few days. Why would tonight be any different?”
    His words slightly rattled her. “Am I supposed to feel guilty about that?”
    “No. I’m just pointing it out. I’m staying here and if you want me to sleep in your car, I will.”
    “You
are
trying to make me feel guilty.”
    He grunted and she dropped her fork.
    “Enough with the barely monosyllabic answers.”
    Sighing, he placed his utensil down too. “I don’t want to do this tonight.”
    “Do what?”
    “Argue.”
    “And by talking we’ll automatically argue?”
    “I didn’t say that. I’m just pissed.” His words were almost a growl, as if he was trying hard to talk normally.
    “At me?”
    “The whole situation. I’m pissed you went out with that asshole
and
that he attacked you. If you hadn’t reacted the way you did, this night could have ended a lot differently. Most of all, I hate that you won’t let me take care of you. I just want to keep you safe.”
    “I’m letting you take care of me now.”
    Her words earned a ghost of a smile from Liam. “Heating up canned soup and serving you cold pasta doesn’t count.”
    She shrugged and took another bite. Other than her brother she’d never had
anyone
take care of her. Her parents had died when she was eight and she and her brothers had been sent to live with their alcoholic uncle. He hadn’t been physically abusive, just horribly neglectful. So they’d always had to fend for themselves with Parker being her only parental figure. When she was old enough, she’d started taking care of herself. Depending on someonewasn’t something she wanted to get used to. People left, died, or simply changed. Usually for the worse. She had a lot of friends, but she’d always kept them at a certain distance. It made life easier.
    “What are you thinking about?” Liam’s deep voice tore her out of her thoughts.
    Placing her spoon in her empty bowl, she shook her head. “Just how full and sleepy I am. It’s not even that late.”
    “Your body had a shock tonight. You’re lucky you didn’t go into actual shock, but the adrenaline you felt earlier has likely waned and now you’re feeling tired.” He reached out and placed one of his large hands over hers.
    Unlike earlier when her date had touched her, she didn’t cringe or pull away. She liked the feel of him touching her, however slight. He rubbed a callused thumb over the top of her hand. The action was light, soothing, and totally nonerotic. Still, it made her stomach do little flip-flops.
    Almost immediately guilt engulfed her. Her younger brother had died—been killed—because of
her
relationship with a shifter. The pain and weight of it all had nearly killed Parker. If she got involved with another one…She tugged her hand back and cleared her throat. “Let me put these in the dishwasher and I’ll show you where the guest room is.”
    He stared at her for a long moment, as if he could read her mind. Then she remembered he could read emotions.
Crap.
Liam