Kim caressed his fingers with her thumb. “Don’t make me feel worse, damn it.” She sighed. “And on top of it all, I have to go to work.”

“I know.”

“Come with me?”

“No fear I’d let you go alone, darling. Not with you flagrantly disobeying Fergus every second.”

“I thought you wanted me to keep helping Brian.”

“I do. I was referring to your lack of stealth. I know why you’re such a good defender. You’re so honest it glows from you. When you say the man didn’t do it, everyone wants to believe he didn’t do it.”

“I wish it were that simple. Every i has to be dotted and every t crossed. You miss one, the case goes the other way.”

“Sandra is visiting Brian this morning, and she’s going to ask if he was ready to take Michelle as mate. Sandra’s grateful to you for believing in him.”

“Really?” Kim asked. “Her looks of hatred are false impressions, are they?”

“She’s afraid. Fergus has put fear into her, and she doesn’t know why. All she knows is that she’s been told to sacrifice her son.” He shook his head. “For a mother to lose her child—I can only imagine how it feels. If it’s anything like losing a brother…”

“Then it’s pretty shitty.”

Liam ran a hand through Kim’s hair. “It would be like losing you.”

Her pulse sped. “Not the same thing at all. We barely know each other.”

“We know a lot about each other. I know you have a little mole on the inside of your right thigh.”

“I wasn’t talking about sex.”

“Neither was I.” Liam turned and straddled the wall, pulling her between his thighs. “Mating doesn’t mean going at it until we have a litter of cubs. It means a bond that no one breaks. Ever.”

“It’s not a marriage humans would recognize or sanction,” Kim pointed out.

“Damn, woman, will you stop shoving everything into your legal terms? I’m not talking about the bits of paper humans love so much. It’s a bond inside us, stretching between us. Nothing can sever it, not human law or my family, or bloody Fergus. Are you telling me you don’t feel it?”

His eyes held anger, fear, hope, and something raw—all fighting inside him.

Did Kim feel the bond? Of course she did. This man was compelling and mesmerizing, with his blue eyes and lilting voice, not to mention his hot body. But it was more than his sexiness and his strength.

Liam dominated any room he walked into without saying a word. Every Shifter Kim met was drawn to Liam, every Shifter hero-worshipped him, even if they might not admit it. Anyone who had troubles went to him. Even the kids did, like little Michael in his pool. Michael had called out to Liam, had been excited to tell Liam of his achievements. He’d wanted Liam’s approval.

Kim remembered Liam’s words to the boy—“you look after your brother, now.” Kim realized now he’d not been making an offhand remark. Liam, who had lost a brother, knew the importance of taking care of those you loved.

Liam took care of everyone in Shiftertown, even more than Dylan did. Kim had always sensed that, and she knew that Dylan had too, and had let it happen. Not because Dylan feared losing to Liam, but because Dylan loved him.

“I wish I’d never come here,” she said.

Liam stroked her bare leg, his fingers sliding beneath the hem of her skirt. “Why is that, love? Me, I’m glad you walked into my bar.”

“Because you’ve messed up my mind. I was independent, didn’t worry about anyone but myself. When I went home at the end of the day, I could do whatever I wanted. Hang out with friends, watch TV, be alone, whatever. And now I’m worried about you—and Sean, and Connor, and your father, and Brian and Sandra, and every other Shifter in this damned Shiftertown. Even Glory.” She glared at him. “Stop making me care. It’s annoying.”

Liam’s fingers moved farther under the skirt. “Then you do care?” His eyes held heat. “I’m not dreaming that?”

“Of course I care. Who could help caring about you? But we’re still not married.”

“No,” he said softly. “Not in the marriage license kind of way. You’re my mate, Kim. I have you and no other.” Liam rubbed the small of her back, his body warmer than the Texas sunshine. “Will you have me, and no other?”

Kim’s heart pounded. Forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live. “There is no other for me.”

“Maybe not now. But what if some human male, some high-powered lawyer in your firm, decides to make you his wife? His prize? So you can flash your beautiful legs at his parties and draw people to his side?”

Kim shook with nervous laughter. “His prize? Thanks a lot. Besides, I don’t like high-powered lawyers. They take credit for cases I win.”

“Good.”

“I liked you when I met you, Liam, but what I feel now, it’s gone far beyond like.” Kim leaned against his chest as his seeking fingers found the elastic of her underwear. “But you’re asking me for commitment.”

“I don’t need to ask. The mate-bond does it for us.”

“Maybe it does for Shifters. Not for humans.”

“Shifter-human pairings happen sometimes. We’d never have survived all these centuries if the gene pool had remained pure. Inbreeding makes for weakness. Mongrels survive.”