Loving the Lion

by Marie Mason

  “My brother is a shifter. I know he shouldn’t be here and I knew if you found out he was a shifter who had entered your territory without permission…” She took a long deep, breath. “I wasn’t sure what you would do.”

  Bachar cursed the propaganda still being fed to the general population by The Group. That was the uncreative name the humans had given themselves still intent on robbing shifters of their natural rights much as they had other groups of humans throughout history. Unfortunately for humans now those outcasts, shifters, could fight back. With teeth and claws. But that only gave those humans more of a reason to make trouble in the name of their cause. If he had not been there when she’d arrived at the hotel…if she had entered his lands, unaccompanied…been found by humans…

  Thankfully, her brother had been found by an honorable wolf pack. “Has he shifted yet?”

  “Yes. He turned sixteen a few months ago.” She looked up at him, unshed tears making her brown eyes dark as the mountain night. He pulled her into his arms, unable to stop himself from offering comfort. His mate was in pain, and it was his natural instinct. “Hush, Habibi.”

  “His first shift was awful, he was in so much pain.”

  Her words made him frown. The first few times a person shifted were painful indeed, but usually, a parent was there to help, to guide, to encourage. He could only imagine how difficult it must have been for her, seeing the transformation and knowing there was nothing she could do to prevent the pain. “He is your stepbrother.”

  “How did you know?”

  “There is no animal inside you. A mating with a human always results in a shifter. We are the dominant species.”

  He held her for a moment, stroking the dark fall of her hair. So beautiful. Finally, he thought, he had found her. The other half of his soul. His lion purred in satisfaction before reminding him they both would be much more satisfied when he took her to their bed.

  “Which parent was the shifter?”

  “My stepfather. He was killed by a pack of rogue wolves. As far as we could determine, he was attacked and left for dead. He would go to the mountains once a month, and my mother would tell me and Nick it was to hike.” She grimaced slightly. “After he was killed, she told us about him.”

  “They should not have withheld such important information from either of you.” Bachar pulled her closer. “Tell me how your mother died.”

  “They said it was a heart attack, but she was so young. I think she died of a broken heart, she missed my stepdad so much.”

  “That is possible. If she were his true mate, the shock of losing him would have caused grave physical illness. She probably held out as long as she could. Until you were old enough to take care of the cub.”

  “We’ve been on our own since I was sixteen.” She mumbled the words into his chest, and his heart tightened within. So very young for such responsibility.

  “Mating is a very special bond.” He held her for several more moments before tilting her chin up.

  Sally’s heart stilled, knowing that he was going to kiss her. Her first thought was to move away. Her second thought was to stay a moment and finally know what it felt like to be kissed by this man. There wasn’t time for a third thought because by then she was lost in the wonder of his mouth on hers. She looked into his dark eyes, then slowly closed her own.

  “No,” he commanded gruffly. “Keep them open.”

  She did as he asked, keeping her eyes open as his mouth descended on hers. She’d expected a kiss filled with fire and passion and that was what she received. He made no concession to the fact that they barely knew one another. His kiss was dark and intimate, his tongue sweeping through the slight part of her lips to conquer her. He tasted of the wine they had drunk with dinner and the chocolate of the dessert he had consumed. Dark and delicious. She hummed as he tasted her, her arms going around his neck once again to pull him closer.

  While her experience in the sexual realm was limited, that did not mean she was a sexless individual. She longed to be kissed and caressed, held and enjoyed, the same as any other woman regardless of her size.

  But never had a kiss been so sensuously demanding. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip and took it between his teeth, giving it a sharp bite as if the animal inside him needed to show its dominance. She was only half aware that his hands moved to cup her breasts. The soft fabric of her borrowed t-shirt proved no barrier. He lifted the hem exposing her naked flesh. All evening her nipples had been engorged and ridged, but with the heat of his gaze and the caress of the cold air over them, they hardened into painful points of lust. He bent his head and she shivered as the tip of his tongue flicked across one. He did it to the other one, and her hands moved to sink her fingers into the overgrown locks of his hair. For an instant, she almost followed the new instincts she felt growing inside her. The ones that told her to pull him closer, beg him for his touch.

  But the older, deeply ingrained ones that said he was simply using her for a night of pleasure, that she was simply a woman in a long line of women, won out. So instead of pulling him closer, begging him to close his mouth over her aching flesh, she pushed him away. “No. We can’t.”

  It really didn’t surprise her, when he leaned back without protest and this time even helped her as she struggled from her perch on top of his lap. She walked to the wide bank of windows, the magical enchantment of before missing. She felt his presence behind her before she saw his reflection join hers in the window.

  “Is that the payment you’re expecting in return for finding my brother?”

  They stared at each other for several moments. “I should be offended by your question, Sally Wilder, but I understand.”

  Her brow furrowed. “You understand what? That I’m not for sale?”

  He moved closer. “Comments such as that will earn you a punishment.” His heavily muscled arms closed around her, pulling her against his rock hard body. And she did mean rock hard. The erection she had felt pressed against her buttocks the entire time he had hand fed her the scrumptious desserts was still there. Continuing to hold her, he pushed the dark mass of her hair to the side, giving him complete access to her neck. His lips pressed against the side of her throat. He took the lobe of her ear between his teeth, making a full body shiver run through her. And, of course, more moisture to flood her pussy. She closed her eyes, embarrassed. No doubt he could smell her desire now, she thought a little darkly.

  “It was not my intent to make you beholden to me,” he whispered, his tongue coming out to slowly pump inside her ear. “You are a beautiful woman, and I desire you. It is quite simple really.”

  “But I’m not,” Sally protested, turning in his arms.

  His mouth curled into a devilish smile. “Allow me to be the judge of that.”

  She knew it was wrong. Knew she shouldn’t. She was here to find her brother and return to her normal, routine life that didn’t include a sexy lion shifter.

  But, maybe it was time to grab on and go with the moment.

  “There is only one thing you must decide. Only one question you must answer.”

  “What’s the question?”

  “Do you want me?” he asked in a throaty voice.

  Sally’s breath left her in a gasp. That was the last question she had expected. She’d thought he’d ask something else about her brother, or her father. Anything but…that. She bit her lip, preventing herself from blurting out how much she did want him. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t? But was that part of the problem. She was human—opinionated and obstinate—just to name a few of the characteristics she knew she had in abundance right along with her curves. She in no way resembled the meek women she had a feeling he usually gravitated towards.

  But she didn’t want to hold back any longer. Not tonight. She wanted to feel the warmth of his body as he covered hers. The hardness of his cock as he stretched her, took her. Possessed her. “I want you, Bachar. More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”

  She waited for
him to repeat the words to her. Instead, he nodded. “Good. That is a very good thing. Now show me.”

  A dangerous heat flaring in the hypnotic depths of his eyes. Her stomach jittered. Hardly daring to breathe, nerves racing with excitement, she shifted closer. Close enough so the tips of her breasts pushed against his chest. Desire, hot and molten, ran down to her pussy. The intensity of it made her dizzy. Just a simple touch and she were teetering on the edge of an orgasm. Or what she assumed was one. She wet her lips. With her eyes locked on his, she leaned in and brushed her mouth over his jaw. Soft and unthreatening. The male scent of his skin and hair drifted over her. She didn’t know what was happening to her. Didn’t know where this courage came from. His expression didn’t change. But his eyes? They were a flaming gold now, filled with a passion that excited, thrilled and terrified her all at the same time.

  Sally’s hands rested on Bachar’s shoulders for balance, her fingers lax. Her lips, sweet and yielding, moved hesitantly. Innocent, his lion whispered in his head. Was it true, did she not know how to return a kiss of passion? His knees trembled thinking of teaching her exactly how to please a man—to please him.

  She tasted delicious. Like sweet cream with just a hint of something dangerously addictive. He couldn’t wait to taste the cream he smelt between her legs. He’d need more than a sip. He ran the tip of his tongue slowly over her lower lip. Then he gave a gentle suck. “Open for me,” he growled. Her fingers spasmed, then dug tight into his shoulders before her mouth opened, welcoming and eager. Bachar dived into the deliciously warm depths, wanting to eat her up in fast, greedy gulps.

  He tangled his tongue with her, urging her to return the erotic caresses. His breath sped up, his pulse raced and his lion loomed closer, brushing against this skin. He knew it would take very little to make the cat burst forth.

  His body—his dick—was hard as steel. He wanted more. Wanted it all.

  His palms itched to explore every soft hill and valley of her curvy body. To spread those rounded legs and see the center of her, hot, pink and glistening, just waiting for his mouth to suck the nectar from her depths. He’d never wanted anything, anyone more. His cat was positive this woman was meant to be their mate, and the man was fast succumbing to the same belief.

  Willpower left him faster than a dust storm rose in the desert. Frantic animal passion took over. Barely aware of his movements, the finesse and skill as a lover he’d acquired over the years left him under the eager touch of his mate. Bachar could only feel. Only touch.

  He drug her to him, her full breasts pressing against his chest. Hungry. He was so hungry. For her touch, taste, scent. He pulled back and barked out an order guaranteed to make them both go up in flames. “Strip.”

  He saw the fear flare in the depths of her beautiful brown eye but didn’t back down. “You need to learn how to please a man. To please me.”

  She stood proud and tall before him, but still, she hesitated. He watched as she bit her lip, wondering if he was pushing her too far, too fast. She placed her hand on her throat.

  “Sally,” he began. The urge to have her was so great he could barely control it.

  “How do I know?”

  He reached out, cupping the side of her face. “Know what?”

  “That you really want me.”

  Anger and jealousy warred with the need to banish the look on her face. “I do not know what you have experienced in your past with men.” He placed a finger against her lips when she started to answer. “Nor, do I want to. But I can assure you there is basically only one emotion within me at the moment. Want. I want you, Sally Wilder, never doubt that.” He knew he’d lied the moment he spoke the words, but didn’t retract them. There was so much more to what he was feeling than simple want.

  He caught her hand and dragged it below his waist. Roughly, he wrapped her fingers around his rock-hard erection. He groaned as all thoughts fled his mind. Her hand squeezed, and he was barely aware of lifting the hem of her shirt and removing it. She wore no bra and the sight of her breasts had his beast clawing for control. The knowledge that she was bare and free beneath the soft cotton fabric had pushed at his control all evening. Now, there was no need to hold back.

  He filled his hand with her full, rounded flesh, his mouth finding the rosy tip of one pebbled nipple. He sucked the succulent treat deep inside his mouth, mashing it against the roof. Oh, how he wanted her. Needed her as much as he needed the next breath he took. She gasped at his love play, her hand clenching around his pulsating cock. Bachar almost came right there, his control little more than a boy’s.

  Needing her now, desperate to bury himself in her warm, wet depths, he picked her up and carried her to the raised platform bed he’d had installed. He knew she would not believe it if he told her she was the first woman he had taken to his bed here in this suite. Usually, he joined his lovers in their room at the hotel. This, this was his sanctuary.

  In spite of the lust running hotly through his veins, Bachar held tight to his control, determined to make this, their first joining, nothing but gentle. His little dove was as innocent as the day was long. She tasted sweet, like ripe berries. She tasted… like his.

  She lay beneath his mouth, her lips softening, yielding, but not returning the sweet passion.

  “Kiss me back,” he demanded.

  “I am.”

  He pulled back until he could see her gaze. “You have much to learn about kissing, Miss Wilder.”

  She smiled, her pretty mouth curving up on the ends. “Yes, I suppose I do. What are you going to do about it?”

  “Teach you, of course.”

  His instincts were telling him to give into his cravings, show her the dominant predator that lived within and claim her—now, here, and as fast as possible. If he did, it would be with little finesse, and that would harm her. Inside her beautiful, curvy body, he had already sensed the hurt that she had suffered from other males. Males that were stupid and weak and took their own insecurities out on women who didn’t know how to stand up for themselves.

  His cat growled and he realized he needed to calm down. While he couldn’t prevent the hurt she had already experienced, he could make sure she never suffered any from this day forward.

  Because from this day forward she was his. One hundred percent. No negotiations, no turning back. His mate. His to love. Forever.

  He pulled her into his arms and bent his head once again. This time, his lips landed on the soft flesh of her throat. “This is for you. For us.” He punctuated his words with soft, suckling kisses. “Tonight is ours.”

  He ran his fingertip from the rapid pulse in her neck down over the curve of her breast and then circled one hard bud. “You are so responsive.” He traced his fingertip across her chest to her other breast, giving it the same torturous caresses. “You excite me until I ache. Until my lion is roaring inside me to take you.”

  “I ache too,” she whispered.

  One dark brow rose at her shy confession. “Indeed? And what would you have me do, little one?”

  She tightened her grip on his shoulders. “Make it go away. Please, Bachar.”

  “Your wish is my demand.”

  Bachar pulled away to stand by the side of the bed. As naturally as if he’d been stripping before her since forever, he lowered the zipper of his jeans. Sally watched as his body was revealed to her hungry eyes. She was still amazed that this man, who looked as he did, would want her. He was yummy. Every muscle in his body was defined even though he was a giant of a man. She was too curvy, too ordinary to be considered delicious by anyone.

  “Do not frown so.” He ordered as he approached the bed again.

  His fingers dug into the waistband of her jeans, and with a quick tug, they were gone. He lay down beside her, stretching out, reminding her once again that she was not only going to bed with a powerful man, she was also bedding the animal that lurked within him.

  As if he knew the doubts trying to overcome her, he bent his head and placed a kiss on her
lips that was filled with passion and want and desire. “Never doubt that I am attracted to you.” As he had earlier, he took her hand and placed it on his turgid cock.

  She’d never touched a man like this before, but the fire in her veins and the hunger in his eyes emboldened her. Tightening her fingers around the hardened flesh, she pumped her hand up and down, reveling in the guttural growl that escaped his lips.

  She ventured a look at his face. He was staring directly at her. She continued to tease him as they watched each other. Soon, a drop of pre-cum was oozing from his slit.

  His gaze remained fixed firmly on hers, sending shivers of anticipation hurtling all over her. He shifted his position and commanded, “Open your legs.”

  She hesitated briefly, but her pussy was already weeping for his touch. One of his fingers found her center and deliberately stroked up the middle. Her hips arched off the bed, and her hand tightened around his cock. “Bachar.” She breathed his name.

  “Does that feel good, baby?” His eyes were laden with desire as he smiled. It was a small smile that barely lifted the corners of his beautiful mouth. It sent molten heat coursing through her. “I think this will feel better.”

  Another finger joined the first, and soon he was mimicking her strokes, sliding up and down her hot core.

  “More. I need more.” She knew she was begging, but heck, why shouldn’t she? This man, this handsome, overtly masculine man was stroking her pussy, pushing her to the brink of release and she wanted more.

  She gasped when he pushed his fingers inside her and barely managing to keep stroking him.

  “So damn tight,” he grunted as he pushed in and out of her body, making their breathing labored. He suddenly moved, bracing himself on his elbow and clasping the back of her head with his hand. His lips were harsh as they took her mouth. Determined, hungry. Oh, so hungry. The move had given him more room to ravish her body but had trapped her hand between them. She was unable to keep pleasuring him. His fingers were now hitting that spot inside her that she’d believed was only a myth before. Her body was awash with sensations. Hot, cold, fire and ice. She was burning up and shivering at the same time.