Tatiana moaned as the darkness receded. Her head throbbed, and her back ached from where she hit the stall, but all of it eased as she found herself cradled in warmth. Instinctively, she snuggled deeper into the comforting embrace lulled by the strong, steady sound of a heartbeat thrumming beneath her cheek. She felt safe. Cherished. As her awareness came back, she realized she was sitting in someone’s lap. Matt?
Not likely. Dominic’s oddly familiar baritone flickered through her mind.
Tatiana’s heart beat like a rabbit’s, and her fingers curled against the muscles of his chest. Dominic?
Tatiana’s eyes fluttered open, and she found herself staring into a pair of familiar, pale brown eyes edged with worry. Dominic’s inky black brows furrowed, and his mouth set in a tight line as his arms held her tighter against his muscular frame.
“What the hell were you doing?” he said through clenched teeth. “You, better than anyone, should know how to act around horses. I thought you grew up on a farm? She almost took your damn head off.”
“I’m fine,” she seethed as she pushed at him, trying to release herself from his ironclad grip, but it was an effort in futility. “Let me go, you big ape. I got the wind knocked out of me, but unlike you, the horse didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You should sit still, Tatiana,” Layla said.
She was standing next to Matt who looked worried.
“Seriously.” Matt flicked a wary look to Dominic. “You’re lucky. Spirit probably would’ve trampled you if Dominic hadn’t shown up.” He moved his feet back and forth nervously. “That was some crazy Bruce Lee shit. I know you said you’re security and everything, but you move like some kind of ninja.”
“Let me up.” Nausea surged, and Tatiana grabbed the back of her head instinctively. She let out a slow breath and battled the feeling back. “Let. Go.”
“No.” The muscles of Dominic’s jaw clenched beneath the beard stubble, and he held her tighter. “You’re not going anywhere until Steven has a look at that lump on your head.” His voice dropped low. “You’re acting like the pigheaded woman I pegged you for. I’m not going to let you run off so you can pass out and hit your head again.”
Before Tatiana could protest, he rose from the hay-strewn floor with her firmly in his grasp. Carrying her as if she weighed nothing, he walked through the open stall door. She folded her arms over her chest and shot a furious look at Layla as they brushed past. Casanova whined and went to follow, but Layla picked him up.
“This is ridiculous,” Tatiana huffed. “Layla, tell him I can take care of myself. You’re my sister, and you should be taking my side.”
“Just give it a rest, Tatiana.” Layla’s freckled face twisted with concern. “You really took a tumble. Matt’s right. If Dominic hadn’t shown up when he did, Spirit might’ve trampled you when she ran out. Something spooked the hell out of her.”
“Yeah.” Matt looked wide-eyed from Tatiana to Layla as he clutched specimen bottles in both hands and stepped back, giving Dominic plenty of room to pass. “M-maybe you should let the doc have a look at you, Tatiana.”
“Listen to that.” Dominic spared her a glance as he strode through the stable doors toward the house. “Even your boyfriend thinks I’m right.”
The man was infuriating. He knew that Matt wasn’t her boyfriend, and now he was gloating because he’d figured out her ruse.
“I’ll be fine, Matt,” Tatiana shouted while glaring at Dominic as he walked across the lawn. “Just get the samples, and help Layla get Spirit back in her stall. She’s sick and shouldn’t be wandering around.”
“See,” Dominic said in a teasing tone. “You should follow your own advice. Although the horse has more sense than you do.” He jerked his head to the right. “She’s dying to get inside and rest.”
Tatiana saw Spirit standing by the edge of the barn waiting to go back inside. A smile curved her lips, and she let out a short laugh. Pain shot through her head and down her back.
“Shit,” she said in a rush. “That hurts.”
“What?” Dominic asked as he carried her across the property. “The bump on your head or the fact that I’m right.”
“Both.”
Silence stretched for a beat or two and, with only the feel of his body occupying her every thought, Tatiana had to talk about something to distract herself.
“How did you know I grew up on a farm?” Tatiana asked.
“I did a little research before you showed up here, as I do with anyone coming to the ranch.” Dominic flicked his eyes to her briefly. “In addition to Layla, your adopted sister, you have a twin brother named Raife. Purists murdered your Amoveo father from the Timber Wolf Clan, and your human mother died when you were a toddler. You and Raife were raised by your Aunt Rosie in Maryland, and you’re stubborn as hell.”
“You got all of that from your research?”
“Well, everything but the stubborn part,” Dominic said through a chuckle as they approached the house. “I found that out the minute I met you.”
Tatiana rolled her eyes, which only made him laugh again.
“So you talk to animals, huh?” Dominic smirked as he climbed the steps of the porch. “Why didn’t she tell you to get out of the way?”
“Very funny.”
Dominic stopped at the front door and tightened his hold on Tatiana as he peered at her intently. He held her gaze as his thumb brushed along her bare thigh beneath the edge of her shorts. She tried not to notice the way the muscles of his chest moved temptingly against her arm or the warmth of his hands as they pressed against her flesh, but it was no use.
Dominic surrounded her in every way a person could be surrounded.
Tatiana’s breath caught in her throat, and even though she wanted to look away, she couldn’t. That penetrating stare held her captive and studied her, as if he could peer directly into her soul. Perhaps he could?
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to see you get hurt anymore than you already are. You’re too important.”
Tatiana’s eyes widened as panic welled. She knew what he meant. She was his mate, and he needed her so he could keep his abilities. Resentment flared as she remembered what Layla told her. If Amoveo didn’t find their mates, then they would lose their powers and age like humans. She was merely a means to an end.
“I am?” Her voice shook with fear and uncertainty.
“Yes.” His mouth set in a tight line as he abruptly looked away. “Richard and Salinda need you to figure out what’s wrong with their horses. They are Salinda’s most prized possessions. Well, more like family, really. Especially Spirit.”
Tatiana’s mouth snapped shut with surprise. She’d been ready to rail him with a scathing response about how she was not going to be part of this whole you-complete-me mate crap.
“Right.” She nodded and looked away, unsure of what was happening. Maybe she misjudged him. Perhaps he wasn’t going to try and convince her to mate with him? Maybe Dominic was as annoyed by the prospect of having a life-mate as she was.
The front door swung open, and a young blonde woman with a shy smile and large green eyes greeted them. Tatiana sensed she was from the Coyote Clan. She looked about seven months pregnant, but her expression switched to concern when she saw that Tatiana was hurt.
“Oh my goodness,” the young woman said quickly, stepping aside as she rubbed a hand over her round belly. “What on earth happened, Dominic? Hurry, take her downstairs to the medical suite.”
“She got a bump on the head and the wind knocked out of her when one of the horses got spooked. By the way, aren’t you supposed to be resting, Courtney?”
“I’m fine, Dominic. What is it with you Amoveo men?” She smiled and gave Tatiana a knowing look. “I’m Courtney, by the way,” she said as they crossed the spacious front hall to a door leading to a set of steps. “Steven’s mate.” She looked away and opened the door for them.