Rakahnja's Haven

by Nicole Austin

  The animal compelled him to thrust into the warm, tight fist of her pussy, but the man was able to assert his own needs first. He’d dreamed of her sweet nectar since the first taste and would not be denied the pleasure of such a sublime delicacy now. Kneeling behind her, Kahn moved in close. The musky scent of his mate hit him with blinding force and he took in great, gulping breaths, filling his lungs with her intoxicating aroma.

  She startled, jerking at the first wet swipe of his tongue along the crease of her thigh. He knew she’d not expected the move and enjoyed being able to surprise his love. He teased and tasted her delicate folds before thrusting his tongue deep within her cunt, drinking everything she gave him, demanding even more. Her essence was the sweetest ambrosia exploding through his mouth—a treat he’d always crave with near desperation.

  They had all the time in the world, but Kahn refused to wait another minute to join with his mate. His. And this time she would know it was no dream. He positioned himself behind Anita, the lust-filled dark gaze she shot over her shoulder slammed into his gut. She wanted him with the same consuming depth of desire. Good.

  Spreading her legs wide with his knees, Kahn enjoyed the brush of her soft skin against his harder flesh. He grasped his rigid, steely shaft and pumped it slowly before positioning the ruddy head at her slick opening.

  “You’re mine now, love. Always!”

  The words were a command, a declaration of possession. Kahn thrust forward—his shaft easily parted the silken walls of her pussy, powering into the glove-tight grasp. Without pause, he took up a steady pace. Each trust was slow and hard, filling her until the broad head pressed against her womb.

  “So good.”

  Joining with his mate was the purest delight he’d ever known. Nothing would ever compare to the way her flesh closed around him, drawing him deeper into her body like a hungry little mouth sucking at his shaft. Her fluids gushed, coating his cock and balls in the warmth of her passion. Sweat slicked their skin and their bodies slapped together each time he drilled his shaft into Anita.

  “Please,” she cried.

  With each thrust, Kahn’s large balls tapped against her clit, driving Anita insane with pleasure. Their coming together was so much sweeter than any of the ephemeral memories she had from those lost days.

  He filled her completely, body and soul. She imagined two interlocking parts of a whole fitting flawlessly, completing each other and creating something more wonderful than they’d ever be alone. He filled the empty spaces within Anita, making her fulfilled for the first time. This is where she belonged, how she was meant to thrive. A pure love unlike anything she’d ever experienced warmed her heart.

  She whimpered when Kahn pulled his cock from her body, leaving her empty and chilled. Quicker than a flash, he flipped her onto her back and plunged his thick shaft into her once again. He came down over her body, completely enveloping her, cupping her face tenderly in his big hands.

  “I want to see your face when I bind you to me, love.” His deep voice was rough, husky with emotion.

  Not long ago, the thought of being bound to someone would have frightened Anita. It was so…permanent. With Kahn, an enduring union was the very thing she longed for—belonging to him for the rest of their lives.

  In the new position, with her hips canted forward, each long stroke of his cock brushed against her sweet spot, and each time their bodies connected, the base of his shaft caressed her clit in the most delightful way.

  Changes were occurring to him as they made love. Since she’d read up on big cats after leaving the hospital, Anita knew what was happening.

  The barb.

  The very idea made her inner muscles clench against him in anticipation, and she was not disappointed. His cock swelled and lengthened as the protrusions began to unfurl. Kahn’s strokes became shorter, his movement becoming limited. The spines spread open, creating a delightful vibration against her sensitive walls with each wonderful caress. When fully extended, the thick barb lodged him tightly, making her feel impossibly full as her body convulsed around him.

  Covering her with his warmth, his mouth nuzzled her neck. She felt the damp, rasping stroke of his tongue a moment before his sharp teeth clamped over the tendons. There was a slight sting of pain, but he didn’t hurt her. Kahn was staking his claim, revealing his possession, marking her as his mate.

  Each short, hard thrust pushed her closer to paradise until she was flying, the orgasm overtaking her entire body. Every muscle began to spasm as her fantasy came true.

  Anita stared into his handsome face as she soared high on the wings of Kahn’s love, feeling her fate shift and change as he roared with his release. In that moment, she glimpsed what life with him would be like. No longer would she live alone, never really fitting anywhere or having any true ties. Anita fit with Kahn and they fit together here on the mountain.

  Everything was perfect.

  Chapter Ten

  When will the other shoe drop? Kahn had been waiting to find out for several weeks now. He was amazed by how much his life had changed in such a short time. Having Anita at his side was amazing, but everything was too perfect. Nothing in his life ever went this smoothly. Now he was walking on eggshells, waiting for something to happen.

  Maybe his anxiety came from having so many strangers in his territory.

  Since Anita had decided to give up city life, his home had been invaded by a variety of workers. First had been the clearing of some land for a road. Next the construction workers had begun to arrive, along with their malodorous, obtrusive and loud machinery. When he wasn’t watching over them, Kahn would escape to his cavern for some peace and quiet.

  The house they’d designed would use natural resources where possible, limiting its intrusion on the surrounding land and wildlife. A wood-burning hearthstone stove and water heater would be installed, along with cistern water pumps, gas lanterns and a gas refrigerator. The roof would be fitted with solar panels to heat the structure.

  Anita used her inheritance to finance the construction. He’d argued against it at first, but she assured him that her grandparents would love the idea of building them a home on the mountain with the money.

  Before long, he’d be a domesticated cat, sleeping in a real bed and eating his meals at a table with utensils. The hairs along his spine rose and a shiver skittered over his skin.

  Kahn would adapt to this new, more civilized way of life for Anita. He’d do anything for his mate. He’d even ventured into the city when she’d needed medical care, though Kahn had only stayed long enough to see her safely into the hospital.

  The brief visit was more than enough to remind him of everything he disliked about the human world. All the noise, offensive odors and rude people assaulted his senses.

  Anita understood and took it all in stride without pushing. She handled anything requiring a visit to town, leaving him to prowl his lands. How he’d ever gotten lucky enough to find such a wonderful, accepting human woman awed and amazed Kahn. How the hell did I ever live without her? She was an essential a part of his heart and soul—the most important factor in his happiness.

  Kahn was amazed to realize he was comfortable being with Anita while in both his forms. She was the only person who’d ever tried to understand his duality and accept him for who he was instead of insisting he conform to her version of normality. He was able to be a man when with her and stop hiding behind the predator as he had for so long. He’d started spending more time in human form. Anita’s love allowed him the freedom to choose.

  The sun was setting, turning the evening sky deep, fiery shades from burgundy to plum. Finished making his rounds, Kahn headed back to the cavern to see his mate. Being apart, even for a short period of time, created an unbearable yearning for her tender touch and soft voice.

  Almost immediately, he knew something was wrong. There were no signs that Anita had been back since she’d set out on her errands early that morning. Everything else in his home was in its proper place ex
cept his beautiful mate.

  He sprang from the cavern and raced across the mountainside. Anita’s rugged little truck was not parked in its usual place so he continued down the dirt road. Kahn put every ounce of energy and every muscle to work, running for his very life, only slowing upon reaching the outskirts of the city.

  There was no choice other than shifting into his human form to enter the town and he quickly did so. His senses dulled, decreasing the assault on his refined sense of smell. This would be both a blessing and a hindrance. The human odors would bother him less, but he’d have a harder time tracking Anita.

  At a nearby house, he snagged a pair of jeans and shirt from the clothesline, then picked up a pair of shoes lying next to the back door. The pants were several inches too short and baggy around the waist, the shirt straining at the seams, but he didn’t care. The shoes bothered him most, slowing down his long stride.

  He had a vague recollection of passing the large hardware and building-supply store on the way to the hospital. Kahn followed the white signs with the red cross until he came to the place Anita had been headed.

  He took a deep breath. The hot, oily smell of asphalt, noxious car exhaust and overcooked meat from a fast-food place filled his lungs. A frustrated growl rumbled from his chest as he stood in the massive parking lot. There were too many conflicting odors to detect hers.

  The scent of fear clung to the humans moving around him, giving Kahn a wide berth. From his ill-fitting clothing to his tightly balled-up fists, he likely presented a menacing sight.

  Kahn noticed a large panel van backing out of a space to reveal Anita’s truck. He used so much force opening the unlocked door the metal groaned and protested as he wrenched it open. Inside, on the passenger seat, sat a bag with the store logo. Taking a deep breath, he froze, his heart clenching at the odor of blood.

  Without conscious thought, impotent rage took over. Kahn ripped the door from its hinges and sank to his knees, crushing the metal within his hands. She’d been here, but someone had hurt Anita.

  The animal took over, though he did not shift form. Kahn let the cat take charge of the situation. He didn’t have much time. One of the humans would call the police to report the strange man tearing apart a vehicle, sniffing it like a wild beast.

  Underneath the scents of the human world and her blood was something familiar, easily recognizable. The hunters from the mountain. The foul, sweaty odor of the two men was all over the truck. He’d never been so afraid before. If anything happened to her…

  A red haze of bloodlust clouded his vision. He’d kill those bastards if they hurt a hair on her head. Tear them limb from limb and leave their bodies to be picked apart by the wildlife. But how would he find them?

  For a moment, he considered calling her friends on the police force but dismissed the idea. They’d only slow him down, asking questions for which he had no answers.

  Kahn glanced around the parking lot as he tried to come up with a plan. Noticing the gathered crowd, he decided it was time to get moving. If he ended up locked in a jail cell, he couldn’t help Anita. The jaguar wanted to take control, drop to the ground and search out the scents. He had to fight against his own nature, struggle to maintain his human form and work out a plan.

  Logic told him the hunters’ dwelling would not be in the thick of the city. They would have someplace private, away from nosy neighbors. His stride was determined, his demeanor as calm as possible under the circumstances. Kahn retraced his path and moved back into the lesser populated outskirts of town.

  Once he’d left the bright lights and traffic behind, he stripped and shifted, knowing the jaguar would make better time. His black hide blended into the dark night as Kahn raced across the countryside, trying to pick up a familiar scent. Countless hours and miles passed as he searched. He wouldn’t stop until he found Anita and brought her home to the mountain.

  Pain streaked through her skull like a heated, steel blade, slicing her in two. She gasped and moved to cradle her head in her hands. Her arms wouldn’t move. In fact, she was unable to move anything except her head. Even her eyelids refused to part. Lord, am I paralyzed?

  It took every bit of concentration Anita could muster to fight against the grogginess and fatigue. Through sheer grit and frightened determination, she forced her eyes to open. Her lids fluttered as she struggled to focus and take in the unfamiliar surroundings.

  Bare, dirty white walls enclosed the small, windowless space. She was tied to a chair, facing a single door to who knew where. Her mind began cataloging the aches and pains piercing her battered body.

  The sounds of two male voices drifted through the thin wall, but she was unable to make out the muffled conversation. Searching her memory made her head hurt worse, but she made herself try. The need to figure out what was going on far outweighed any physical discomfort she may suffer.

  Anita remembered leaving the building store and opening the door to her truck. She’d just tossed the bag onto the passenger seat when something struck the back of her head. Big SUVs on either side blocked anyone from witnessing what was happening. She’d put up a fight, knowing from her training that once an abductor got you into his vehicle the chances of getting out alive were slim.

  Other than those few facts, her memory was blank. She had no recollection of her attackers or of being brought to this room.

  Damn, she’d landed into one deep pile of shit. Her fingers worked frantically, trying to wriggle free of the bonds. The ache in her shoulders from their pulled-back position intensified, but she would not give up.

  The voices became louder. Anita clenched her teeth against the pain and focused on the few words she could make out. They said something about the mountaintop, a cavern and setting a trap. It didn’t make any sense. They’d trapped her in town, not on the mountain. The voices moved closer to the door. She listened intently and what she heard froze her blood and tensed every muscle.

  “We’ve got the bait—now all we have to do is wait for the jaguar to shift and step right into the trap.”

  She heard a loud smacking sound, followed by deranged laughter.

  “We’ll be rolling in dough. Imagine how much we’ll get for a shapeshifter.”

  A second voice chimed in. “What are we gonna do with the woman once we get him?”

  “Whatever the fuck we want to.”

  Her heart seized within her chest as terror engulfed Anita. She had to find a way out of here, call her officers and make sure Kahn stayed far away.

  Panic set in. She flexed her muscles, fighting against the ropes binding her. The chair began to rock from side to side as she repeatedly pressed the balls of her feet to the hard floor, one after the other, strong muscles keeping the rolling motion going.

  A rattle and clink of keys and mumbled curse only made her more frantic and she pushed too hard, toppling the flimsy seat. The wood splintered and a spark of hope shot through Anita, only to be suffocated in the next instant.

  The door flew open and slammed into the wall with a loud crash.

  “Where the fuck you think you’re going?”

  She couldn’t prevent her whimper at the sight of cold, hard eyes set in the face of a cold-blooded killer. It was a face she recognized from the wall of wanted posters at the station, letting her know how dire a situation she’d landed in.

  Chapter Eleven

  The first guy was big as a bear. His huge beer belly hanging over the waistband of grungy jeans was covered with a threadbare gray T-shirt. His partner was only slightly smaller and wearing a strained wife-beater tank top. Neither was someone she’d want to encounter in a dark alley.

  “About time you woke up,” the shorter one whined.

  They moved into the room, untangled her from the broken chair and dragged Anita outside. She struggled, clawed and kicked, but the men didn’t even seem to notice. Keeping a firm hold on her upper arms, they dragged her away from the shack into the heavily wooded property.

  “I work with the police. If you let
me go now, I’ll make sure they go easy on you.”

  The taller one laughed in that scary, freaky maniacal tone. “Ain’t gonna be nothing left for the police to find when we’re done.”

  The cool night air didn’t stop a cold sweat from breaking out over her skin. Every fine hair stood on end as pure terror streaked through her system.

  They stopped at a large tree and slammed her back against the rough bark, which scraped at her flesh. The small bite of pain helped focus her scattered thoughts, but she couldn’t fight their greater strength. In no time at all they had her bound to the trunk facing toward the shack.

  “Wh-what are you going to do?” Anita cringed at the weak sound of her voice.

  “Been after that shifter of yours for a long time,” the smaller man said. “You’re gonna be the bait. Once we sell the freak of nature to the highest bidder, well then we’re gonna have some fun. Earl and I are gonna show you a real good time.”

  The scumbag trailed his dirty, calloused fingers over her cheek and neck, stopping to linger right above the swell of her breast.

  With a vicious smack, the other man knocked his hand away. “What the hell are you doing, Bubba. Don’t go putting your smelly paws all over the slut until she draws the cat here. You can have her later.”

  “How long you think it’s gonna take, Earl?”

  “Not long. Cats hunt at night. We’ll have him in the cage before first light.”

  Not for the first time, Anita wished she had the ability to speak in Kahn’s mind like he did with her. She’d warn him away until she figured out a way to escape. If he tracked her, he’d walk right into their trap. No doubt even now he was searching for her and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to keep him safe.