Jase stepped around Katarina and headed over to the bathtub. He turned on the faucet and adjusted the water temperature to the way he wanted. Once he finished that and the tub was filling, he turned toward her and crooked his finger for her to come closer.
Katarina stripped off her clothes before she joined Jase by the bathtub. She reached up and touched his pendant, something she found herself wanting to do more than she probably should. At least he didn’t seem to mind.
“I saw your mom wore the exact same necklace as yours. I guess Draven was right about people in your circle giving it to their wife or girlfriend.”
Jase yanked his shirt off over his head. “She actually took it from my dad. That’s generally what happens. It’s a way of showing she wants him all to herself.”
Katarina took a deep breath as Jase undid his jeans and pushed them down his legs to step out of. “I’ll have to remember that.”
Her heart really got pumping after he took off his underwear. His cock was fully erect, jutting from his body, tempting her to wrap her hand around it and stroke. She had to definitely add that as another item in her pro column.
Jase watched Katarina lick her lips as she stared intently at his cock. It jerked, and he bit back a purr. Showing someone around his bedroom had never been such a turn-on as it was with her. And what she’d said about having to remember it was his mother who had taken his father’s cougar head pendant just added fuel to his already raging fire. She had no idea what it meant when a female claimed a male’s necklace, but she apparently liked the idea of it.
Katarina took the step needed to bring her toe-to-toe with him. She slowly went down on her knees in front of him, his erection now eye level to her. She dragged a finger through the drop of pre-cum that had leaked from the very tip, then brought it to her mouth to lick clean. There was no holding back his purrs any longer after that.
As if she had all the time in the world, Katarina wrapped her hand around his cock and slowly pumped it up and down. She did that a few more times until he was about ready to beg her to take him into her mouth. As if she’d read his mind, she did just that.
Jase looked down to watch Katarina pleasure him. She dragged the flat of her tongue up his length, then ran it around the head before she opened and took him between her lips. She sucked him almost to the back of her throat before sliding him out until only the tip remained in her mouth.
He purred and growled, no longer able to hide his cat side. Katarina drove him wild, almost literally. She kept up a steady suction as she took him in and out, keeping a tight grip on him at the base of his cock. Her other hand came up and fondled his balls. She gave them a gentle tug and Jase purred with pleasure.
The sound of the overflow drain on the tub gurgling broke through enough of the fog of arousal to have Jase carefully pulling away from Katarina. He quickly turned and shut off the faucet. He let some of the water out before he faced her once more to find her already on her feet.
Jase cupped her face and kissed her thoroughly until she moaned into his mouth. He lifted his head, scooping her up into his arms. He stepped into the tub. The water was the perfect temperature. He sat, positioning Katarina so she was between his legs, facing him. He pushed the button on the side of the tub to start the jets.
“Mmm, this is nice,” Katarina said. “But I think this will make it even nicer.”
She shifted until her legs were on the outside of his, then leaned over him, straddling his hips. Katarina rubbed her pussy along his cock. Jase lifted his hips, and her, out of the water. She held on to the sides of the tub and slowly worked his length deep inside her.
As she rode him, their movements stirred up the water, even more than the water jets already were. He rested his head against the back of the bathtub and reached around to her shapely bottom. He held on to it as she raised and lowered herself on his shaft. Being buried deep inside her pussy was better than anything. It also felt right, as if she belonged to him and he’d only been waiting to find her.
He thrust up, sloshing some of the bathwater onto the floor. Jase grew even harder, loud purrs rumbling out of him each time she took him to the hilt and gripped his cock with her inner walls.
Katarina took him faster, moans pushing out of her, a look of pleasure written on her face. She had to be close to her release. And Jase’s point of no return was steadily edging nearer.
He leaned his head forward and captured one of her nipples in his mouth. Jase sucked on the tight bud before he gently nipped it. Katarina’s moans increased in volume. He played with her other breast as he continued to suck.
Katarina whimpered his name as her pussy milked his cock in a tight fist, her orgasm taking hold of her. Jase surged up into her and held still until the last spasm passed. He then thrust into her over and over again. As he found his release, he let loose with a cat’s growl.
The water continued to bubble around them. Katarina grew relaxed on top of him and kissed his lips. “I’m ready to give you my answer now,” she said through panted breaths.
“And that would be?”
“I’ll move in with you.”
Jase skimmed his hand down her back to her bottom and squeezed. “When?”
She chuckled. “I have to stick it out until the end of the two weeks. Plus, I’ll need that time to pack everything up.”
“Can I help with that?”
“I wish you could, but it’s better I do it myself. I’ll more than likely get rid of some of it. I’ve kept things I really shouldn’t have.”
“Well, I’ll rent that storage unit for you, and when you’re ready, we’ll get you moved.”
Katarina met his gaze. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For helping me like this. If George had pulled this crap a month ago, I wouldn’t have had anyone here to turn to. I probably would have had to move home with my parents in Butte.”
“And then we never would have met. I’m glad I can be here for you.” Jase pushed the button to turn off the jets. “Now that you’ve made your decision to live with me, I think it’s time to celebrate. And we’ll need the bed to do it properly.”
Once he got them both out of the bathtub and dried off, Jase took Katarina to bed. He’d had no idea how much it would mean to him to have her agree to live with him. And given the fact she had agreed, it was time he told her about his being a cougar shifter. She deserved to know the truth, especially since she’d be living with some. All it would take to blow their secret was to have one of his family members shift in front of her. Having Katarina find out that way wouldn’t be ideal.
Jase pulled Katarina to him and kissed her passionately, ready for another round of intense lovemaking. Telling her what he was would have to wait, though. He didn’t want to ruin their celebration.
Chapter Six
Katarina came awake and turned her head to see Jase was still sound asleep. She smiled. He had to be all worn out. They’d had another night of marathon sex. She could have slept longer as well, but the thought of all the packing she had to do didn’t allow for it. She felt stressed over it, which had her wanting to return to her apartment to get to work.
She rolled onto her side and looked at Jase. He still hadn’t moved. Quiet snores rumbled out of him. Katarina poked him, but they didn’t lessen nor did he awaken. She had a feeling he was one of those people who once in a deep sleep was hard to wake up. A smile spread across her lips as she remembered one way that had done the trick the morning before.
Katarina wouldn’t be doing that, though. For one thing, she wouldn’t be leaving any time soon if she woke Jase up with a blowjob. She ran her gaze over his handsome face and down to his chest, which wasn’t covered by the blankets. She was brought up short once she reached his pendant.
She leaned closer to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. The cougar’s ruby eyes looked to be glowing. How, she had no idea. There was no light on in the room, and the thick curtains on the sliding glass doors had been pulled
closed, which blocked out most of the sunlight. But the rubies continued to glow. There had to be something inside the pendant to cause it. That was the only answer.
Katarina picked it off Jase’s chest and flipped it over. The back was smooth, solid gold. And the sides didn’t reveal any seam to show there could be something in the middle. It didn’t make any sense.
The longer she held the cougar head pendant the stronger the urge to take it from Jase became. It snuck up on her at first, but increased until it was almost a compulsion. She wanted it. And to be fair, Katarina had agreed to live with him. According to what the pendant seemed to be used for, she should be wearing it around her neck to show Jase her commitment to him. The more she thought about it the more justified she felt in taking his necklace.
She touched the pendant and found it warm to the touch, warmer than Jase’s skin. Before she could talk herself out of doing it, Katarina closed it in her hand and carefully lifted it. At Jase’s head, she slowly tugged the chain over and off. He continued to sleep, none the wiser of what she’d done. She slipped off the bed, still holding the necklace by the pendant, then headed for the en suite. She grabbed her overnight bag on the way.
With the door closed behind her, Katarina put her bag down before she placed the necklace on the granite countertop. She had it, now did she really want to put it around her neck without Jase being aware of it? She decided to make that decision after she brushed her teeth and got dressed.
After accomplishing all that, she looked down at the pendant. The ruby eyes still glowed, and not from the lights inside the bathroom. Should she or shouldn’t she? Katarina scooped it up and held it flat on her palm. She really wanted to put it on. Jase wouldn’t mind, at least she didn’t think he would. He’d been the one to suggest she move in with him, after all.
Katarina stepped back into the bedroom, the pendant closed in her hand. Her stomach growled, reminding her it’d been hours since the last time she’d eaten. Jase had told her the cook usually set up breakfast in the dining room with food the family could come and eat whenever they wanted.
After one last look at Jase, Katarina quietly stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, thinking she’d find the dining room and get them both something to have in bed.
“I see Jase finally let you out of his room.”
Katarina just about jumped out of her skin. She turned around to find Grady standing at the closed door directly across the hall. “You scared the crap out of me. I didn’t see you there.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to do that.”
She put her closed fist over her chest. “That’s okay. I just have to tell my heart that.”
Grady came to stand in front of her with a curious look as his gaze landed on the gold chain that hung from her hand. “What have you got there?”
Katarina felt her face heat at getting caught. “Before I show you, you should know Jase asked me to move in with him and I said yes.”
“Really? I had no idea you two were getting that close, and what about your job as superintendent?”
“I have two weeks before I no longer have that position. That’s part of the reason why Jase asked me to move in. I don’t have any other place to go.”
“I see. So what are you holding?”
Slowly Katarina held out her hand, then turned it palm up and opened her fist. Grady’s expression went from curious to one of surprise. He looked from the pendant and its glowing ruby eyes, to her face, then back down at the pendant.
“Does Jase know you have that?”
She shook her head. “No. He’s dead asleep in there. I just took it.” Katarina sighed. “I know all about the circle of people you’re part of and how you guys give your necklace to the woman you get serious with.”
“Okay, that’s sort of what happens. What are you going to do with it now that you have it?”
“This.”
Katarina lifted the chain and pulled it on over her head. The instant the cougar head pendant came to rest in the center of her chest, she felt as if something snapped into place. As if she were invisibly connected to something, or someone. It took her breath away and she stumbled back against the closed bedroom door. Through it, she heard Jase suddenly call out her name.
Grady took hold of her arm to steady her before he opened the door at her back. He then gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family.” He walked her inside the room and toward where Jase sat up on the bed, his gaze locked on the pendant. “Time for some explanations, bro,” Grady said to him. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Katarina turned her head and watched Grady walk out of the room, then close her and his brother inside. She looked back at Jase. “You’re awake.”
His gaze didn’t seem to leave the pendant as he flipped back the covers before crossing the distance to where she stood. “You took my pendant.”
She gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I should have asked. I really don’t know what came over me. I couldn’t help myself. The ruby eyes were glowing, and I had the biggest urge to wear it. I didn’t actually put it around my neck until a few seconds ago when Grady caught me with it in my hand. Are you mad?”
Jase captured her face in his hands and kissed her hungrily. It was unlike any kiss they’d shared before. It was almost as if he worshipped her at the same time, as if she were something he wanted to hold on to and never let go.
Once he released her lips, Katarina gave Jase a small smile. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“I’m not mad. Far from it.” He met her gaze. “I love you.”
Katarina sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”
“You heard me. I love you.”
“Are you only saying that because I agreed to move in with you?”
“No. I mean it with all my heart.” He then said softly, “You felt it, didn’t you? When you put my pendant around your neck, you felt the bond form.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“That proves my words are true. Just as I know you love me too because of it.”
“All because I took your pendant and put it on?”
“Yes. I’d hoped you’d be the one, but I couldn’t be sure until you set the magic off in it.”
Katarina shook her head. “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself. Magic and invisible bonds caused by necklaces are not part of my everyday world.”
Jase dropped his hands and nodded. “I’d decided to have this conversation with you before this happened. I think I’d better put some pants on first.”
She followed him with her gaze and sighed to herself at the gorgeous figure he made with no clothes on. A smile played across her lips as the knowledge that he loved her settled in. She loved him too, and had come to that conclusion sometime during the night while he’d held her in his arms. She’d tell him, but she wanted to hear what he said first about what had just happened between them.
After pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, Jase crossed over to where Katarina stood. “Let’s sit on the couch.”
She walked with him to the sitting area and took a seat where he’d suggested. She turned on the cushion so she could face him. “Okay, what is it you want to tell me?”
Jase stared at her for a few seconds as if he were trying to figure out what to say. Finally he said, “Okay. Before I start, I want you to remember I do love you and that you don’t have to be afraid of anything, especially not when you’re with me.”
“All right,” she said as her brows drew together.
“I’ve been keeping a secret from you, about me. I’m not exactly like you.”
Katarina smiled and reached between them to run her fingertips along the front of Jase’s jeans. “I know you’re not, and I do like your differentness—a lot.”
He captured her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “No touching or I’ll never get through this. You can do as much as you want after, if you’ll still want to.”
“I doubt there’s anything you can say that’ll chan
ge that.”
“We’ll see. Anyway, I’m different. I think it’ll be best if I just get this all out at once.” Jase took a deep breath. “I’m a cougar shifter. When a male finds his mate, and he’s subconsciously accepted that she could be the one, she’ll set off the magic inside his pendant and the cougar’s ruby eyes will glow. Each male is given one once he reaches adolescence. It’s the female’s choice to claim it, and him, as hers by taking it from him and placing it around her own neck, thus causing the mating bond to form between them.
“You set mine off. Once that happens, I was supposed to get a surge of testosterone. It would have me able to only think about sex, with you. I wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep until you claimed me. And I would try to make love to you until you did, but I skipped all that since you took my pendant and put it on while I wasn’t aware of it. There I said it.”
“The eyes did glow. And that now explains why I had such a desperate urge to take your necklace. A cougar shifter. I never knew you even existed.”
Jase gave her a perplexed look. “Aren’t you feeling a little freaked out? My two cousins have humans as mates. When Aspen and Harley found out what Taylor and Blaise were, they lost it and had a hard time accepting them as cougar shifters.”
Katarina grinned. “Shift for me, baby. Your mate wants to see her cat.”
“You’re sure? The way you’re acting about all this, it’s confusing the hell out of me.”
She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. “Shift and I’ll explain.”
Jase’s body blurred and shimmered, then a large cougar took his place. Katarina inched closer and stroked the top of his head before she ran her hands down his back and sides.
“You’re gorgeous, cat of mine. I’m going to tell you my family’s secret. My uncle, who married my mother’s older sister, is different just like you, except he’s a werewolf. He’s a lone wolf since his pack’s numbers had dwindled to a handful and they all decided to go their separate ways. Uncle Mack ended up in Butte, where he met Aunt Julie. Their first meeting, and his first whiff or her scent, he’d known she was his mate. Within a week, he’d gotten her to accept his being a werewolf, and they were married at the justice of the peace. That was something my aunt had demanded. They have two kids, my cousins Dawn and Mitchell, who inherited their dad’s wolfy genes.
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