Just Another Job

Adjusted Plans

Hey, I 'm back, and hopefully, I won't leave again until this freaking story is finished! (just kididng, I love this story) Read it, vote for it, looooooove it. (; love you allllll

I raced through the trees, not heeding the underbrush that tore at me as I passed. I couldn't catch her; I knew I couldn't catch her. She was too fast, too sly. She had been waiting for this opportunity. After she had stuck with us for the first couple of days, I had thought that I didn't need to worry about her. She had played me for the fool, and now I was paying the price for my negligence.

I put on an extra burst of speed, running faster than I had ever run in my life, faster than I even knew I could go. Adrenaline pumped through me, heightening my reflexes and speed as I dodged trees, following Jo's scent. Against all odds, it was getting stronger. I was catching her? How was it possible?

I saw a flash of gray leaping for me from the corner of my eye. Simultaneously, I skidded to a stop and twisted in the air, catching the snow leopard and latching my paws onto her tightly as we tumbled to a stop. As I maneuvered myself to land on top of her when we stopped, I changed into human form. When we came to a stop, I was on top of her, my strong hands around her throat and pinning her down. She yowled and tried to twist away, swiping her claws at me. She raked them down my bare chest and I hissed in pain. She stopped moving and looked at my chest in horror at the dripping red marks she had inflicted. Immediately, she shifted to a human beneath me. 

"Oh my god, Cobalt, I'm so sorry," she apologized as soon as she could speak. "I didn't mean to scratch you like that. I was just scared, and I didn't think before I acted." 

"Why are you scared of me?" I asked, still pinning her down with my body. At least she had stopped struggling for the moment. "What did I do now?" 

Jo refused to meet my eyes. "You haven't done anything. You've been true to your word, but I haven't been honest with you. I've been planning to ditch you and Ian since the car wreck." 

What? "Why? Don't you trust me?" Her blunt statement hurt me more than I thought possible. 

"No, Cobalt, of course I trust you." She lifted a soft hand and turned my cheek to face her. "I just know that I shouldn't. I shouldn't trust anyone." 

"Jo," I murmured. "I won't leave you until you're safe. Please believe me." 

"I do," she said, her deep blue eyes filling with tears. "But I don't want you to leave me. Ever. So I have to leave now before it gets worse." 

"Shit, Jo," I moaned, hanging my head until my platinum hair almost brushed her chest. It wasn't her admittance of her feelings that made me upset. It was her belief that no one could be trusted, not even me. I wanted so desperately to show her that she was wrong.

I looked down at her and was suddenly aware of our bodies, pressed closely together. I saw the same awareness enter Jo's eyes as she shifted slightly under me. I lowered my head and pressed my lips to hers in a sweet kiss. 

"I don't want to let you go either," I murmured against her mouth. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me closer. 

"Then don't," she breathed before another passionate kiss. 

God, I didn't want to ever leave her. Maybe I wouldn't have to. It was crazy, but maybe once we got out of the United States, Jo could come with me. Ian would hate me for it, but I couldn't imagine my happiness without Jo. But no, that was crazy. Wasn't it? Was this just an infatuation that would eventually fade away? Or was this something more? 

"Whoa." 

Jo's eyes popped open and we both twisted around to look behind us. Ian was standing there, breathing heavily from his run and staring with surprised eyes. Jo yelped and yanked me down on top of her exposed body.