In Heat: Mating Call (In Heat Shapeshifter Romance Series #2)

by Felicity Heaton

  He roared again and it was loud in her ears. It felt like a warning to her too, not just Kristian.

  The music screeched to a halt.

  Murmuring filled the silence.

  “I believe we have met,” Kristian said, his tone snide.

  “Never a pleasure,” Erik answered him in the same cutting tone.

  She tried to look up at him but he held her against him, not letting her move an inch. She forced him backwards, whimpering when he hurt her by refusing to budge. He relented and loosened his grip enough that she could raise her head and see his face. She nestled close to his side and glared at Kristian. The whole room had stopped to watch.

  Erik growled.

  She'd forgotten just how commanding he could be and just how hot it made her to see him like this—protecting her possessively, not letting her get out of his reach.

  When he bared his teeth at Kristian, revealing slightly extended canines, and Kristian replied with a growl of his own, it thrilled her. She'd never had two men fight over her before. In a way, it was exciting, but that was only if Erik won and the other man went away. She looked at him and wanted to look away when his eyes met hers but she couldn't. There was disappointment in them. She felt like telling him it wasn't as though he'd charmed her by forcing her to stay in his arms when she'd clearly wanted to leave, but she remained silent.

  An odd sense filled her and she looked up at Erik, finding him watching her with a darkness in his eyes that would make midnight moonless skies pale in comparison.

  He stared at her for a moment, conveying everything silently. He wasn't happy and a part of it was because she'd been looking at Kristian. She placed her hands against his chest and tiptoed to kiss him, but something else flickered in his eyes. Was it anger or desire? Hunger and need, or disappointment and hurt? Before she could reach his lips to kiss away any fear he had of her leaving him, he was dragging her towards the French doors.

  His grip on her wrist was so tight it hurt, his pace so swift she was stumbling along behind him.

  Behind her, Kristian roared and she turned to face him, catching a glimpse of him being restrained before he disappeared from view.

  CHAPTER 9

  Kim rubbed her wrist and listened to Erik apologise for what seemed like the millionth time. She knew that he hadn't been wholly in control of himself back in the ballroom. His emotions had been ruling his actions and his fear of Kristian taking her from him had driven him to hold her too hard.

  Her rubbing moved up to her bare arms and she gave Erik a grateful smile when he stopped her, removed his jacket and handed it to her. She slipped her arms into it, savouring the warmth it held from his body.

  Her gaze fell to his hand nearest her. It was clenched into a tight fist and she could almost sense the tension in him. His dark look hadn't shifted yet. Every time she looked at him, his brows were knit into a pensive frown.

  Moving her hand across, she brushed the back of it against his and then wrapped her fingers around it, holding it and coaxing him with gentle caresses into opening it up. She wanted him to relax again because she was beginning to get the terrible impression that he was angry with her too and she hated the feeling that gave her.

  When his hand eventually uncurled, she slipped her fingers between his, interlocking their hands and holding his tightly so he'd know that she was still here.

  Her eyes wandered the moonlit garden. It looked beautiful tonight, even more magical than it had done last night when they'd stood on the balcony with Sean and her sister and listened to the church bells ringing in Christmas Day and calling everyone to mass.

  She moved closer to Erik when they approached the fountain. His thumb brushed against hers, chasing away a little of the chill in her body. She never felt the cold when he was touching her.

  The church clock chimed in the distance as they reached the fountain. She watched the water cascading down, catching the moonlight and shining. The edges of the pond below it were beginning to freeze.

  So were her legs.

  She wondered how long Erik was going to want to walk for. They'd already been outside for over ten minutes and he had to be getting cold too.

  “Erik?” she said and he turned his head to look at her. His eyes looked brighter in the moonlight.

  He didn't say anything in response. He just slid his arms into the jacket and settled his hands firmly on her waist. She went to him, not daring to ignore his silent command or question him.

  When he began to dance with her, slow and sensual, she placed her hands on his shoulders. He shifted closer, until his body was brushing hers with each step and she could feel his heat through her dress. His hands slid forwards and his fingers skimmed slowly up her back in a light touch that sent fire to her belly. She wanted to get closer to him.

  She trailed her fingertips up his neck, tickling him behind the ear briefly and smiling when he closed his eyes. She felt so powerful when he did that, responding to her touch so dramatically.

  His hands dipped down to her thighs, drawing the hem of her dress up with them when he moved them back to her waist. He turned with her, his leg moving in between hers and brushing her crotch. She wondered if a dance was all he wanted. Was he planning to lead her in a different kind of dance out here? She glanced around at the empty garden, a little panicked by the thought, and then didn't care when his thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts.

  She leaned her head back and buried her fingers into his hair. He pressed his palms into her back, pulling her flush against him and planting wet kisses on her neck that caught the breeze and froze to her skin. The fire he was stirring inside her chased away any cold she was feeling, leaving her burning for him.

  A sigh left her, her breath opaque in the air, and she stared at the sweeping rainbow of the Milky Way as he teased and tickled her, arousing her senses with barely-there caresses. She melted in his arms, weak for him as he moved her and she felt his cock against her leg. She wanted him, wanted to let him do whatever he pleased with her. She was powerless to resist him when he was like this, so attentive and focused on her.

  She couldn't fight him.

  He was right about that.

  All those times he'd told her not to fight him. Why would she fight him when he made her feel like this? Hot all over, burning inside with need for him and only him.

  He stopped dancing, his lips still playing against her throat, peppering her with passionate kisses.

  Her eyes closed when he pulled her dress up, his hands ghosting along her thighs until they reached her hips. She gasped when he tore her panties, the show of aggression sending arousal like fire sweeping through her veins, and her heart beat harder.

  She complied when he hooked his hand under her knee and raised her leg, making her place it on the side of the pond. Her eyes shot opened again when he brought the hem of her dress right up, draping it over her thigh and exposing her pussy to the world. The cold made her shiver.

  It was short lived as he moved closer to her, his hand sliding over her flesh and then her curly hair. It covered her mound and she breathed out hard as he dipped one finger into her pussy. He stepped back a little and stopped kissing her neck as he circled her clit with his finger, sliding it down towards her opening and bringing her slick arousal back up with it. She moaned, concentrating on the intense desire spiralling out of control inside her and the heat of his hand against her cold body. She looked at him and found he was watching her, his eyes fixed on her face while his fingers danced on her pert nub. She was so exposed, but it only made this all the more hotter and exciting.

  She breathed hard as he touched her, his finger dipping into her tight channel, drawing out all her arousal and coating it and her pussy with the warm juices.

  It was too much to bear. She reached out and ran a hand across his caged erection but he removed it.

  “No. Don't move,” he whispered, voice low and seductive.

  It was so commanding and she felt it in every inch of her body.

>   Her hand fell away from his, back to her side where it gripped her dress as his finger slid deeper inside her, thrusting. She didn't stop him, the thought of him taking her like this, of being unable to stop him, was thrilling, sending her desire soaring and making more liquid heat flow from her. He growled and the sound of it only made her need him even more.

  Focusing on his face as he brought his fingers out of her again, teasing her clit, she could see that his eyes were bright, too bright for the darkness of the garden. She knew this was partly a reaction to Kristian, but there was something else happening here too.

  Her thoughts were stolen from her when Erik's hands left her body. She stood still, panting and exposed to the world, and watched him as he undid his belt and trousers. She groaned as he pulled out his hard cock, stroking the length of it to reveal the sensitive head. She wanted to touch it too, wanted it inside her more than anything, but she couldn't disobey his command.

  She stared at his cock as he stepped towards her and then stopped close to her. He bent his knees and she grasped his shoulders as he swiftly impaled her on his length, thrusting it in so fast that it stung. His fingers grasped her hips, tight enough that she was sure he was going to bruise her. She dug her fingertips into his shoulders as he began pounding into her. It was rough and demanding, reminding her of their first time. He growled and it sent sparks of desire shooting through her. She held onto him, clinging as he held her thigh with one hand and her hip with the other and fucked her.

  She looked into his eyes, lost in them as he stared at her, sneering as he took her, plundering her body.

  No, this was different from their first time. It was more primal.

  His eyes were so yellow and cat like. It was the closest he'd ever been to changing on her during sex. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his. Their breath mingled in the air between them like fog as they both breathed hard. An inexplicable urge for him to thrust harder rose inside her and she moaned as he seemed to sense it and responded. She pressed her forehead against his, holding onto him for dear life as her knees weakened beneath her, her legs trembling as he pounded her roughly, filling her deep with his cock with each long stroke. She didn't care if someone heard her, she couldn't stop moaning in time with his movements. She tightened around him, clenching him and feeling as though she'd explode if she didn't cum soon. He growled again, the sound of it almost sending her over into bliss, but it wasn't enough. She needed more but she didn't know what.

  He thrust harder, deeper and faster, until she was breathing so quickly that she felt dizzy. He grunted and groaned with each plunge of his hips and his grip shifted to her waist. Her whole body shook when he came with a growl so feral that her head spun as she came too. His thrusts slowed, his cock pulsing inside her at the same time as her inner walls milked him. She held him close as he breathed hard against her neck, his breath hot in the cold air.

  She felt different. It wouldn't have been noticeable if she hadn't been looking for it but she did feel different. It was easier to sense Erik now, to feel his heart beating along with her own.

  She also had a suspicion about why he had been so close to changing on her.

  The clock that had chimed in the distance had been striking out midnight.

  He'd started their mating.

  * * * *

  Kim smiled at Erik as she came out of their bedroom. The walk back to the house had been a little breezy without any underwear and she'd wanted to get cleaned up, so she'd made Erik come with her to the bedroom rather than leaving him alone to field what were probably going to be some very awkward questions.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, and she loved the new closeness she felt to him. What had been there before seemed like nothing more than a shadow of what she now felt when she reached out to sense him. She could feel his heart without even trying, without even touching him. She could sense the way she made it pound, the adrenaline running through his veins as he kissed her. She wondered if he could sense the way he made her feel too. Did he know now exactly how fast her heart beat for him and how he made her tremble inside?

  He stepped away from her, his hand claiming hers, and led her down the corridor towards the stairs. She still felt flushed from their moment in the garden and she knew that when she walked into the room downstairs, all eyes were going to be on her. Would they be able to tell from her rosy cheeks and slightly dishevelled appearance what had happened? She hoped not.

  She kept behind Erik as he entered the room again and only came out when Sean spoke.

  “I was wondering where you two had got to,” he said.

  She looked around Erik's arm at him and then at the room. It looked as though they'd never been gone and the argument with Kristian had never happened. Everyone was dancing, or chatting and laughing over champagne.

  Erik walked a few more steps into the room and she saw Kristian dancing with Charlotte.

  She frowned and stepped out from behind Erik.

  The whole roomed stopped dead and all eyes were on her. Her cheeks blazed.

  Kristian roared.

  Erik answered it.

  She gave them both confused looks—Kristian as he pushed his way through the crowd and Erik as he stepped in front of her.

  Was this why everyone was staring at them? They'd been expecting another fight?

  She realised that everyone wasn't staring at them. They were staring at her.

  She blushed harder when she saw them whispering to each other and she realised what the topic of conversation was and why Kristian was storming towards them.

  They could smell the sex on her. They knew exactly what her and Erik had been up to.

  She dodged around Erik just as Kristian arrived, wanting to place herself between them so they couldn't fight. It wasn't going to solve anything.

  She yelped when Kristian yanked her into his arms and kissed her hard, forcing his tongue into her mouth. It reminded her horribly of what Alistair had done and she shoved him off her and punched him.

  He rubbed his jaw, half glaring and half smirking at her.

  He roared and she flinched, stumbling backwards and away from him.

  She was surprised when he ripped his jacket open, sending buttons flying, and began to change. There was a familiar ripple of white fur with black bands across his body and in the blink of an eye a white tiger was staring her down. She moved closer to Erik, fear making her heart thunder.

  He was bigger than she'd expected him to be in animal form. He was bigger than Erik.

  The tiger snarled at her, exposing long canines that made her swallow hard. She turned and dashed into Erik's arms, shaking as she hid in his embrace.

  His fingers closed tightly around her upper arm. She noticed that his heart was beating steady but not fast. He wasn't scared. She pressed her hand against his chest and looked at Kristian.

  He roared.

  It was even more frightening than it had been when he was in human form.

  She swallowed again, waiting for him to attack. He stared at her for the longest time and then turned away. The crowd parted to allow him through and his entourage gathered his clothes and hurried after him.

  She didn't know what to do, so she just stayed in Erik's arms, staring in the direction Kristian had gone. She could taste him in her mouth and the memories of Alistair touching and kissing her mingled with the memories of him.

  Erik frowned when Kim buried her face into his chest and began to cry. He looked down at her, wrapping both of his arms around her. The idea that Kristian had kissed her upset him too, but he got the feeling that there was more to Kim crying than that.

  He looked at the room, at the shocked faces of his guests, and then at Sean.

  “I'll be back in a minute,” he said. “Get the party going again.”

  With that, he turned away from the room and led Kim towards the door. Keeping her here was only going to make her worse. He had to get her somewhere she felt more comfortable and safe, somewhere they could talk.
He needed to know what was wrong.

  He took her up to their bedroom and settled her on the edge of the bed before going back to the door to close it.

  He walked back across the room and knelt in front of her, helping her wipe away her tears. When they were all gone, he held her cheek in his palm as gently as he could. She looked at him, eyes red and slightly puffy. There was so much pain in them that it made him ache inside.

  “I'm sorry,” she said in a shaky voice.

  “What for?” He frowned.

  “I should've told you back then. I've tried so many times since...”

  “Tried to tell me what?” He stroked her cheek, hoping to comfort her and make it easier for her to speak. Tears were filling her eyes again.

  “About Alistair.”

  Her voice was so quiet that he barely heard what she'd said. The look in her eyes and the pounding of her heart sent anger sweeping through him.

  “What did he do?” His tone was venomous, his frown heavy as he looked at her.

  “That day that I came to warn you... he said he wanted to take everything from you... even me.” She took a deep breath and he could see she was barely restraining her tears. “He caught me upstairs...”

  “What did he do, Kim?” He couldn't believe that he might have missed something that day, that he hadn't known all these years that something else had happened. All he had seen was Kim running. He'd been scared that she'd be hurt. He hadn't realised that she already had been. Terrible images of Alistair hurting her, touching her, sprung into his mind and he couldn't shift them. The sense of panic, of anger at both himself and Alistair, made his insides twist and tighten.

  When he looked at Kim again, she was staring at him with wide eyes.

  “Did he...?” He couldn't bring himself to say it, couldn't entertain the thought that his own brother had gone that far.

  “No, he didn't... but he touched me and he kissed me... and when Kristian kissed me it felt the same and I can still taste him in my mouth.”