Crosby rose to his feet as Walker deposited his full tray opposite him. The sergeant was alone, isolated from the rest of the fatigue-clad lunchers, because no one liked him.

“As you were, Sergeant,” Walker said, sitting down. “If you stand up while I eat, your food will get cold.”

Crosby plunked back down again, but he didn’t eat. “Sir.”

“Nice shot taking down the Shifter,” Walker said as he stirred his unidentifiable soup. “Why’d you keep shooting him once he was on the ground?”

Crosby looked puzzled. “Told to, sir. Put as many rounds into him as it took but make sure he was alive when I walked away.”

Aha. Walker hadn’t been certain which of the soldiers had been sent out to run Tiger off the road and shoot him, but he’d strongly suspected it had been Crosby. Crosby had just confirmed it.

“How did you know where the Shifter would be going that day?”

“Didn’t. Was told to follow and take the best opportunity. That’s a lonely stretch out there.” He didn’t change expression, but Walker saw in the man’s eyes that he was pleased with his ingenuity. “Orders came straight from the LTC, sir.”

Which Crosby would never question. “In the execution of those orders, you know you endangered civilians.”

Crosby’s puzzled look returned. “Sir? I waited until they were well away from other humans—no houses out there, no other cars. The only ones endangered were another Shifter who could have attacked me and the Shifter groupie.”

Walker bit back his retort, suppressing his natural disgust at Crosby in the interest of getting more info. He suddenly wished Rebecca or Ronan had been here to hear Crosby dismiss Ellison and Carly. Rebecca would have whacked Crosby’s head off with one swipe of her paw. For that matter, Walker would love to see Crosby’s face when confronted with the gigantic form of Rebecca as a Kodiak bear.

“The Shifter lived,” Walker said. “Is up walking around.”

Crosby nodded. “I know, sir. LTC wanted him shot to find out how much he could take.”

“I guess the LTC found out,” Walker said. “Even if the Shifter had to suffer a lot.”

“Yes, sir.” Crosby kept his hands on the table, his expression remaining blank.

“My original training was as a medic,” Walker said, abandoning the soup and moving around mashed potatoes that didn’t look much different from the soup. “For a special forces A-Team.”

Crosby’s look now turned to respect. “Infiltration. Love to be picked for one of those missions.”

Walker didn’t answer. A-Teams were small and often cut off from any support behind enemy lines for long stretches of time. The men in them needed to be able to adapt and react, think and judge, far from any chains of command. Crosby was an unthinking machine, ready to let someone in charge point him and shoot. He wouldn’t be much use in a situation in which he needed to take initiative, or even to take over.

“I’ve seen pretty bad injuries,” Walker said. “But never saw anyone walk away from something like what you did to the tiger.”

“The Shifter’s pretty strong.”

Walker patiently ate another bite of potatoes. “If you get any more orders concerning the tiger Shifter—any Shifter—mention it to me before you go, okay? I like to keep track of my men in case I need someone for a mission.”

“Yes, sir.” Crosby never asked questions.

“Enjoy your lunch, Sergeant.”

Walker rose with his tray, and Crosby jumped to his feet at attention. “Yes, sir.”

Walker left the room, carrying the tray to the private room, which was mercifully empty. He sat down and ate every bite of his hot lunch, as he’d learned to, but his mind was a long way from the food.

* * *

Carly lay in warm sunshine in her sisters’ guest room, feathering kisses across Tiger’s bare chest.

He was awake, lying on his back with his hands behind his head, sunlight dancing on the orange and black in his hair. The bedsheets were on the floor, their only cover the sunshine.

“I never knew it could feel that good,” Carly said.

“I didn’t know either.” The words rumbled in Tiger’s chest, touched with wonder.

Carly traced lazy circles across his chest, her fingers finding and tugging at his flat nipple. “I only met you a few days ago. And now I can’t imagine how I got through my life before you were in it.”

Tiger unlaced his hand and pressed it between Carly’s br**sts. “You feel the mate bond. It’s strong between us.”

His hand was warm, her heart beating faster beneath it. “I don’t know what a mate bond is. Or a mate-claim, or what the sun and moon have to do with any of it. I only know that my world turned upside down when I met you. And I’m glad it did.”

Tiger stroked between her br**sts with light fingertips, then drew them out, as though following patterns in the air only he could see.

“I’m glad we did it on the counter,” she said. “Kind of exorcized it.”

Tiger’s brows furrowed. “Hmm?”

“You know, because that’s where I caught Ethan.” Ethan seemed insignificant and far away now. “But from now on when I think about doing it on a kitchen counter, I’ll remember how amazing it was with you.”

“Good.” Tiger’s voice held a hint of a growl. “You should only think of me.”

“Conceited.” Carly smiled as she leaned down and kissed his lips. Tiger’s return kiss was gentle but tinged with heat.

He was getting better at kissing, learning to use lips and tongue to draw out sensual pleasure. Tiger hadn’t liked to stop kissing her, even to shed the rest of his clothes before carrying her up here.

More kissing as they entered the bedroom, and Tiger laid her down and climbed back inside her. He’d loved her again until she thought she’d pass out from the intensity of it, and even now, he didn’t look tired.

Carly loved it, but she’d also known, when he’d looked down into her eyes, that he was saying good-bye.

Carly looked down at him now and touched his cheek. “Don’t leave without me,” she said softly. “I just found you, Tiger. I’m not ready to let you go.”

He took on his stubborn look. “It’s safer if you stay.”