Mary Alice Pritchard

She looked down at his hands and realized he fought the need to touch her. They opened and closed by his sides almost reaching out, stopping just short of touching her. It made her sad to realize they both felt the same way. They were both slaves to the whole magic of the pard and being mated. There didn’t seem to be a choice. Was that enough for her? Could she just accept that maybe, just maybe their feelings for each other weren’t real at all, but only magic? Did it even matter? Without saying a word and before she could talk herself out of it, Syndee reached out the barest of inches and touched Cole’s hand with just her fingertips. Instantly the air surrounding them thinned and breathing became easier. A soft sigh filled the silence and she wasn’t sure which of them, or if either of them uttered it or if it was the release of tension in the air. Cole bowed his head and rested his lips against her hair before he wrapped his arms around her and held on.