by Celia Kyle
Well, what crawled up his ass and died? Or what crawled up his ass, period? He obviously had not learned about the pleasures of his prostate so…
The deepening of Ricker’s glare pulled her from pondering his rear end and she nodded her agreement. She’d really have to talk to him about stopping the whole ordering thing. Just as soon as he no longer looked like he wanted to maim her.
One last dark gaze and he leapt from the truck, slamming the door. He stood just outside and didn’t move until she hit the button to lock the doors.
Well, untrusting much?
But, Maddy stayed put and watched as people traveled in and out of the front entrance to the hotel, keeping her eyes peeled for Ricker.
Before long, he emerged, all long-legged grace. He seemed to glide over the asphalt, body moving easily as he crossed the parking lot to her. His eyes nearly glowed in the darkness of night and a shiver of desire throbbed in her veins.
She had no idea how she could get hot and bothered by a furious tiger. It had to be one of those bad-boy, rough, angry sex fantasies or something.
As he reached for the handle on the door, she hit the button to unlock the vehicle and let him in.
Ricker cut her a glance, but remained silent, pulling the car from the space and driving around the building. What, not even a “good job”?
When they stopped, his gaze combed over her body in a slow sweep. Without uttering a word, he reached into the backseat and grabbed a blanket, tossing at her.
“Wrap yourself in that, then grab the duffel.”
Maddy did as he demanded and wondered when he’d get over his little snit. She kinda liked the idea of a mate, but wasn’t too keen on him being all asshole-esque.
When he nodded and climbed from the SUV, she took that as a sign that she could do the same. Bag in hand, she half-fell from the vehicle (cause, hello? Short). Ricker caught her just before her bare feet collided with the asphalt and swept her into his arms with ease. There was no grunting or groaning as he accepted her weight. Nope, he lifted her as if she were light as a feather.
He thumped the door closed with his hip and strode toward the sliding doors of the building, not pausing as he passed through the portal and then through the building without any hesitation.
“You scoped out the building.” Her mate glanced at her, single eyebrow raised and she returned the expression. “Before you came for me. You could get through this place blind.”
He jerked his head in a tight nod. “But that won’t be necessary because you’re going to stay where I put you and I won’t have to chase you through a compound filled with humans and shifters slaughtering each other, will I?”
Well, someone was still Mister Cranky-pants.
Maddy opened her mouth to say…something…when he paused at a door and lowered her to her feet. She swayed, suddenly more tired than she’d ever been, and slumped against him.
Without missing a beat, Ricker, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close while he slid the keycard into the door handle and let them into their temporary home.
Home.
God, where would they live?
Hell, would she let him live? No matter what stupid stunt she’d pulled, he should have been over his pout by now. And if he didn’t stop telling her what to do soon…
Ricker shoved the door open and led her into the space, her feet sinking into the plush carpet with every step.
Instead of leading her toward the bed, he paused by the bathroom and shuffled her into the small area, tugging the blanket from her body as they moved. A flick of the light switch illuminated the room and she gasped at her reflection.
Blood.
Everywhere.
The red, coppery liquid had dried on her skin, trails lined her mouth and neck, and the life giving fluid had soaked into her top. A glance at her hands revealed even more red stains and her pajama bottoms sported the burgundy hue.
Pure, predatory satisfaction coursed through her veins at what she’d done. True, the presence of the blood disgusted her, but the reason behind it pleased her lioness to no end.
He’d died. At her hands.
“Easy, Kit.” The soft rumble of her mate’s voice cut through her and she met his eyes in the mirror, his gaze saying more than words could express…worry, fear, anger, possessiveness. All of it clouded his features.
“I know you said you weren’t hurt, but I need to strip you. Need to check myself.”
His voice was soft, gentle, and completely incongruous with his motions. Jerky tugs pulled at her top and then bottoms. She watched, detached, while her plump body was displayed to her mate.
Although his emotions remained in turmoil, tender hands stroked her, slid along her curves and tenderly traveled over her skin. Unbelievably, her body responded to his soft touch, arousal flickering to life and spiriting through her limbs.
God, even exhausted, she wanted him, ached to finish what they’d started. She didn’t know him from Adam, but her lioness was desperate to sink her teeth into the man and claim him.
She whimpered and Ricker was quick to soothe her. “Shh… I’ve got you.”
Gentle, so fucking gentle she was sure she was dreaming, the male scooped her into his arms and carried her to the shower and then lowered her to her feet. She leaned against his heavily muscled body, inhaling his sweet scent and he reached around her and fiddled with the faucet.
The rumble of running water filled the space, but she didn’t care. Not when she had her hands on her male. The aftermath of the night was closing in on her and all she wanted to do was sink into her mate’s hold. Nothing else mattered but him. Nothing.
After a few, brief moments, Ricker returned his attention to her. “Going to turn on the shower, Kit.”
“Maddy.” She grumbled against his chest, unwilling to lose her spot.
“Madison, then. Here it comes.”
A soft patter of water rained down on her back and she let the warm fluid soothe her aches, the pain of her tense muscles washing away with every droplet that skimmed her skin. She moaned, luxuriating in the feel of getting clean, the stench of the hyena’s blood dissipating.
“Shh…” Ricker must have interpreted her sound as distress.
She’d put the man through hell; the least she could do was let him know he didn’t have a crying girl on his hands. With any other man, she probably would have burst into trembling tears already, but Ricker made her feel a hundred feet tall, as if she shared in his strength.
Maddy nuzzled his chest, inhaled more of his flavors and then raised her head to focus on his face. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah?” The right side of Ricker’s mouth quirked up in a half smile.
She nodded.
His large hands skimmed her back, blunt fingers tracing her spine, sliding over one vertebra after another until his palms rested at the top curve of her ass. “You feel fine, but I’m not sure about the rest of you, Madison.”
“I really am good, oh striped one.”
That earned her an all-out smile. “I like it. What happened to the sweet, timid little Sensitive your pride told me about?”
Now, she smiled. “Maya is teaching me how to be a bad ass.”
“Uh huh.” He barked out a laugh. Barked. Heh. “I can believe it. If you’re fine, turn around and we’ll get you washed.”
At the mention of getting clean, Maddy was reminded of one thing: she was naked. Amazingly, Ricker was not.
“You’re still wearing clothes!” Oh, all of that yummy black leather was getting ruined. And she’d had such high hopes at seeing her mate sweaty and shirtless in nothing but his pants and boots with his badass guns all strapped on and…meow.
“It was dressed…” Her mate leaned down and brushed his lips across hers in a chaste kiss. “Or naked and claiming you against the wall. I didn’t think taking you while you were still covered in blood was very romantic.”
Oh. Oh, her growly man was all sweet and gooey. She practically swooned like t
hose brainless twits in her favorite regency romance novels.
Ricker pulled back and gave her a mock glare. “But if you tell a single soul about how nice I’m being and ruin my reputation, I’ll warm that ass until you can’t sit for a week.”
Maddy rose to her tiptoes, nipped his lower lip and spoke against his mouth. “Promises, promises.”
Her mate narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw, vein throbbing along his temple, but didn’t say a word. Nope. Instead, he forced her to turn around and face the warm spray of the shower.
Ricker at her back, she leaned into him, relaxed against his body and let the water wash away the bulk of Jasper’s blood. Pale pink rivulets danced over the floor of the tub and Maddy watched the evidence of the night slither away.
The tiger shifted behind her, but remained a solid presence for her to rest on.
In her periphery, she watched as his arms came into her line of sight, hands coated in soapy bubbles. “Lemme clean you up, Kit.”
Oh. Touches. Mate touches. Yay!
Those large, work-roughened hands cupped her breasts, her flesh overflowing his palms as he massaged her. Fingers danced over her slick skin, soap sending the remnants of her struggle down the drain until only her pale complexion remained.
Ricker’s digits didn’t move on though. No, he toyed with her nipples, traced tight circles around the hardening nubs. He tormented her with barely there touches, calluses glancing her sensitive skin and she arched into his strokes.
She needed more of him. Much more.
Every tease of her nipples sent a spear of desire to her pussy, forcing her passage to become slick and wet, readying her body for his possession. Her clit throbbed and twitched, ached for his touch.
Ricker leaned his head down, chuckled against her shoulder and then grabbed her flesh between his teeth. He didn’t break the skin, but the gentle sting was enough to add to her need.
“Greedy, Madison.”
“Ricker.” She whimpered and arched into him even more. His hands continued their torment, slick soap easing his attentions. Round and round, his fingers traced her heaving breasts.
“Don’t interrupt while I’m washing you, Kit. This is serious business.”
She giggled. Couldn’t help it. Of course, the giggle turned into a high-pitched gasp when he squeezed her nipples between thumb and forefinger. Both hands gave her breasts the same torturous treatment and she couldn’t decide between begging for more or begging him to stop.
She voted for more.
“Yes. More. Need.” The pain added to the pleasure, stoked her arousal higher and made her that much more desperate for him. The hard shaft nestled against her ass reminded her that he seemed to want her just as much.
“I’ve got you.” He rumbled against her ear, vibrations traveling through her from head to toe and back again.
“Ricker. Want.” He’d reduced her to single word sentences. God, what would happen when he fucked her? Would she end up a drooling pile of satisfied goo? She kinda hoped so.
He plucked the nubs, squeezed hard and tugged on them in tandem. She arched her back to follow his movements, unwilling to lose the contact. Pleasure followed every shift of muscle, every strain of her body.
When she didn’t think she could take any more of the stinging pain, he eased his hold, stroked the abused flesh with a soothing touch and a rush of ecstasy flooded her pussy.
Her heat pulsed, tightened and wordlessly begged to be filled. His hard cock remained firm against her ass and she ached to have him free, throbbing against her palm and then sliding deep into her. She wanted his possession, craved his domination.
“Shh…” Ricker abandoned her right breast, let his hand wander further south until the pads of his fingers rested at the top of her slit, close, but not touching her nether lips. “Is this where you need me?”
“Yes!” She screamed the word, the sound echoing off the tiled walls.
His response was a cocky, male chuckle.
A single finger teased the area, digit sliding between her sex lips a half inch and then retreating, tormenting the aroused flesh. In and then out, her body heated with every rub of the roughened member over the delicate area. She writhed against him, rose onto her tiptoes, chasing the contact and whimpering at each withdrawal.
“Damn it, Ricker.” She and her lioness joined, growling and snarling at his teasing.
He laughed. Fucker. The man laughed entirely too much and she’d tell him so. Just as soon as he made her come.
But then…then his finger delved deeper, the tip nudging her clit and she moaned at the contact. The barely-there touch sent a piercing spear of delight through her pussy and her heat released more of her slick cream.
Ricker kept up his tormenting strokes, brushing the bundle of nerves with every pass, but going no deeper.
Didn’t matter. She could come from him rubbing her clit. She just needed more.
“Please…”
Her mate rocked his hips, sending his leather clad cock sliding along the crack of her ass, a deep groan quickly following the move. “You already know how to get me, don’t you, Madison?”
His finger dipped a little deeper, his baritone voice washing over her. “Is that what you want? Want me to pet this pretty little pussy? Do you know how good you smell? All hot for me. You want me to slide deep into your cunt, don’t you?”
She whimpered, but couldn’t manage a single word. Each question resulted in his digit gliding closer to her heat, stroking and caressing her flesh with a penetrating touch.
“Tell me, mate. Will you squeeze me tight when I finally slide into you? Will you come for me?” He spoke against her shoulder, teeth grazing her heated skin, sending arousal spiraling through her body. “Will you come on my hand? On my cock?”
“Yes.” She groaned. Moaned. Fuck, her throaty voice devolved into a needy, desperate, do-me-now sound.
Ricker reached deep between her thighs, that digit circling her opening and her pussy clenched in response, eager to pull him within her body.
“Beg me.”
“Bastard.” She hissed and brought her hands to his forearms, determined to force him to do as she desired.
“Nah, Kit. Just a man who wants to hear how bad his mate wants him. Do you want me, Madison?” He ran his tongue along the shell of her ear. “Tell me.”
Maddy growled low. “I want you. I want you fucking my pussy with your fingers, your cock. I want to come on your hand, your dick, fuck… I just want to come, Ricker.”
“Mate.”
A deeper growl grew in her chest. “Mate.”
That teasing finger penetrated her then, slid right into her heat and stroked her inner walls, sent her arousal soaring with the breach. He slipped in and then retreated, shallow and then deeper, tormenting her with the touch.
Maddy rocked her hips, rode his hand as much as he would allow, and it wasn’t enough. Not nearly.
“Ricker,” she whined.
The single digit disappeared, and before she could protest, it was replaced by two, stretching and filling her, pressing against nerves she’d forgotten. The pads of his fingers stroked her inner walls, the rough texture forcing her pleasure points back to life and she tightened around him.
He slid his fingers from her pussy and then back in a slow pace that tormented rather than satisfied. He repeated the shift of his digits, inching into her heat and then back out. Each movement rocked the heel of his hand against her clit, sending shards of bliss-tinged pleasure along her spine.
Her longing for him grew, her body thirsty for his with every mocking stroke. He knew what she needed, but refused to give in.
“Damn it, Ricker.” She rocked her hips, rode his palm in an effort to come.
“Not yet.” He nibbled her earlobe. “I need your agreement, first.”
He plunged deep and curled his fingers, pads rubbing along her G-spot and she screamed in response. The overwhelming pleasure rocketed through her core and her breath stilled in her che
st.
“Anything.” Seriously. Whatever he wanted. She just needed to come already.
“You were very bad back at the compound and you need to promise to listen to me whenever I tell you to do something. You take direction from me.” His voice held a dark promise, but his words stilled the blood in her veins.
“No.” It was the only answer. Period. Full stop. She’d found most of her backbone, damn it. She’d killed a man for goodness sake.
She’d proven she could take care of herself and learned that no one was the boss of her.
Except the pride’s Prime, Alex. And the Prima, Maya. But other than them, she was the boss of herself, thank-you-very-much. She wasn’t about to revert to the cat that got ordered around. He’d been telling her what to do all night, which had been fine since it’d kept her alive. But carte blanche? Fuck no.
“What?” Ricker’s ministrations halted.
The man sounded truly astonished. Well, woohoo for him.
Maddy grasped his wrist and pulled his hand from her body, stepped out of his embrace.
“No.” She turned and backed up until she met tile. “I think I can take things from here.”
His thunderous gaze met hers and she refused to back down, flinch and grovel at his stare. The warm water from the shower pelted him and she saw that his shirt was soaked through, revealing the wicked lines of his chest and abdomen. His leathers were plastered to his thighs and his cock was outlined by the wet material.
She almost whimpered. Almost.
With an internal shake of her head, she got back to the topic at hand.
They would be mates…eventually…
Her momma had given her one piece of advice about men and mating, and she’d held it close to her heart from that day forward.
“Maddy Lane, don’t you do something for your mate that you aren’t ready to do for the rest of your life. You wash his socks once and he’ll want ‘em washed ‘til the day you die. It’s the way men are. You remember that. For. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life.”
“I’m ordering you, Madison…”
She snorted. “You can try.”
Ricker’s eyes darkened to near black, death written in every feature and not one bit of her was afraid. “Sensitives can’t disregard a direct order and I’m—”
