“You want to know what I want with you?” He murmured into the wispy hairs at her temple. She stopped breathing as she waited for him to continue. “You’ve heard about shifters mates; about how there is one person who is specifically made for them?”
“That’s an old tale,” she murmured into his chest. “There’s no proof to it.”
One of his fingers ran down her naked back, finding every notch of her spine, before resting in the small of her back, thankfully on top of her top.
“What if I said I believed it?”
Kaitlin tried to pull away but the hand on her back stopped her. “I’d say you were crazy.”
He continued as if she hadn't spoken. “What if I then said; I believe my mate is you?”
Chapter 3
Kaitlin jerked back and this time he didn’t stop her. Taking another step backwards she bumped into a couple dancing—if’s that’s what it was they were doing?—and apologised.
“Cat?”
Her grey gaze swung to his gold and noticed that his friends were now behind him. Would they stop her from leaving if she tried?
The rest of the crowd didn’t even seem to notice them and she wondered if she’d be able to get lost in the revellers. As if reading her mind, one of the wolves stepped forward and she backed up.
“Leave her, Jamal.” It was clearly a veiled threat and the man stood down instantly.
Her gaze swung to Rhys in wonder. Who was he to give orders and be obeyed without question? Obviously someone high ranking; maybe he was a born alpha. Her eyes widened at that thought. If he was alpha material and he thought of her as his, she was in deep trouble.
Rhys gaze softened. “Go home, Kaitlin. I’ll be at The Crescent Bay Hotel for the next couple of weeks. Come find me when you’re ready.” The ‘or I’ll come get you’ hung unspoken in the air.
Kaitlin hesitated as disappointment began to gnaw at her stomach. She was expecting more of a struggle to get away, had actually been looking forward to the chase.
The realisation had her confused. She shouldn’t want anything to do with these men—this man in particular—so why did she? They were supposed to be her enemy; a fact that had been drummed into her since she could understand. So why was she hoping for something else? Something she shouldn’t—couldn't—want?
Her gaze returned to Rhys and she had her answer. She wanted him with a longing from somewhere deep inside her. To feel his body pressed against her own; his lips claiming hers with a fevered passion.
But she also knew her father would kill her if she did such a thing.
He must have seen the indecision on her face. “Unless you want to come back with me now?”
Just the thought of it had her body going into melt-down and she clamped her thighs together to try and hide the musk of her arousal. Eyes wide, she shook her head.
“As I thought. In that case, I suggest you leave now before I change my mind.” His voice had dropped to a husky growl by the end. He must have caught her body’s reaction. Still she hesitated, the thought of staying and surrendering to his seduction had her almost whimpering with lust. Meeting his gaze, she saw an answering darkness enter Rhys golden amber eyes and knew she had to leave.
Now.
Turning from them, she was gone in the blink of an eye, easily mingling with the dancers and almost ran out of the club in her haste to get away.
Once outside, she did a brisk walk down the bustling street, trying to avoid the drunken groups of people who were eyeing her: the men lasciviously and the women jealously. She wasn’t afraid though, she could handle any human easily. It was the shifters she was wary of.
The hairs at the back of her neck prickled, a sign of no longer being alone, and she tensed. Hurrying from the human groups, she turned into an alley—unlike the wolves, she’d rather not fight in public—and waited for them to follow.
Brent turned into the alley, stopping when he saw her waiting and held up his hands. “Rhys just wanted to make sure you got home okay.”
She bristled. “If I weren’t a fully trained fighter, I’d appreciate it. But I am, so I don’t.” She took a step closer and he backed up.
“Hey! If you have a problem, take it up with the boss. I’m just following orders.”
“The boss?” She asked and saw Brent grimace as he realised what he’d let slip.
He backed up some more until he was back on the street. “Take it up with Rhys. I just have to make sure you get home safe.”
Chewing on her bottom lip she thought it over and eventually nodded and stood beside him on the street. It would be a good chance to ask questions about his “boss” and figure out what the hell was going on between the bears and the wolves.
Linking her arm through Brent’s, she allowed him to escort her back to the cat compound boundary, knowing that if he was spotted by any of her brethren, he would be killed on sight.
During the twenty minute walk she questioned him about Rhys but he didn’t give much away.
“What can I say; he’s a private guy.”
“Then tell me how he’s ‘the boss’? The last I heard Darren was alpha of the wolves.”
Brent snorted, “He still is, he just doesn’t deserve the title.”
Kaitlin stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Brent, I may like you but I am not above kicking your ass to get answers.”
He laughed and shook his head, “Okay, stop with the threats, I’ll tell you about him.” They started walking again, “Rhys is a born alpha but he’s always suppressed it, not wanting the responsibilities that go with it.”
“That I can understand.” He shot her a harassed look and she grinned, “Sorry.”
“Anyway, Darren sent out a group of wolves a couple of weeks ago and they never came back. They’d been slaughtered in a warehouse,” his eyes were bleak as he recalled the event. “It wasn’t the first time it had happened and Rhys lost his brother that night: he snapped. He attacked Darren and was just about to deliver the killing blow when he stopped himself, realising what he was about to do; the responsibility he would have.” He grabbed her arm to stop her, “Rhys isn’t a bad guy, he just doesn’t like the thought that it would be his fault if anything happened to one of the wolves. As far as he’s concerned, they’re his family.” Brent watched her intently, probably looking for some sign she was warming towards Rhys or not. Kaitlin shrugged, trying not to show any emotion. “He left after the fight and about thirty guys went with him. He’s now in charge of a small number of us but we have a feeling the numbers will grow. We call him the boss because he doesn’t like the title of alpha.”
Suddenly she understood him better; knew why he was after an alliance with the bears. Knew why he was pursuing her.
“Bastard!”
Brent shot her a questioning look. “What’s up?”
She shook her head as she backed away, “It’s just dawned on me why he wants me.” She swore colourfully, “He didn’t have to make up all that crap about me being his mate, my parents and the rest of the council would have met with him anyway.” She growled as her anger brought her to the brink of shifting, her body twitching ominously.
Brent ran a hand over his brow and swore, “He really does believe you’re his mate, Kaitlin.”
“Yeah, right!” She turned on her heel and walked away from him before she did something stupid, like attack him.
“Aww, fuck,” she heard him say, “I’m going to be in deep shit for this.”
Luckily for him, he didn’t try to follow her or she might have shifted on him, her puma itching for a fight.
Kaitlin threw the front door of her parents’ home open and halted when she saw her father sitting in his favourite chair nursing a tumbler of dark liquid. “Dad,” she murmured.
Paul Mahone was an intimidating man; he was six-foot-three and had an air of power about him. He was feared by almost everyone in the cat clans—him being one of the few jaguar shifters—which meant they left her alone too. It had pissed her off for a
while, no males wanting to touch her, but she’d found a way around it in the end.
“Did you have a nice evening, Kaitlin?” He didn’t look up from the whiskey in his glass as he swirled the liquid.
Her nape prickled in warning.
Did he know Misha had left her alone at the club? Or did she smell of wolf?
“It was great, we went to a club,” she moved towards the staircase.
“The full moon cycle starts in three days, Kaitlin.”
Her eyes widened at that. Ten years after a female’s first shift, she went into a needing period, where she would be fertile for the few nights of the full moon period. Her needing scent would trigger the male’s need to mate with her and she would have to pick a worthy male to relieve the ache and possibly become the father of her child.
“You understand what that entails?”
Of course she did. “Yes.”
His dark brown eyes met hers across the room, “Goodnight, Kaitlin.”
“Goodnight.”
She hurried up the stairs and into her room. Once there, she dropped onto the edge of her bed and stared into space. There wasn’t one man she could go to, to help her with this. Unless she went to the Crescent Bay…
No! He’d used her. She wasn’t going to him for help with this. Not that it would help if she did. During the full moon she’d be in puma form, her human half shut away—quite literally for her—and it would be the puma who decided who was worthy, not her.
Dropping backwards on the mattress she stared up at the white ceiling as she ran possibilities through her head.
Chapter 4
Kaitlin stared up at the Crescent Bay Hotel and realised how desperate she must be to come here. The full moon was tonight and she’d run out of options.
She’d begun to smell the beginnings of her needing coming through her skin this morning and it had startled her into action. She’d briefly entertained the idea of going to Tito but he no longer appealed to her, not after seeing Rhys. It wasn’t a good idea to be around any other shifters at this time anyway. Her scent would drive them crazy and they’d do just about anything to mate with her so going to the bear compound or anywhere where there would be shifters…no.
She raised a palm to shield her eyes from the bright glare of the sun and took a good look at the hotel, wondering which room he was in.
“Kaitlin?” She jumped, lowering her gaze to see Brent, who she then glared at. “Sorry. Rhys saw you and told me to come get you.”
Her lip curled in distaste. She hated being bossed around. “Did he now? Well, tell him that if he wants me, he’ll have to come get me himself.” Brent hesitated and she gave him a smug little smile, “Afraid?”
He grimaced, “Please come upstairs.”
“Nope,” she said sweetly.
Brent dropped his head and sighed loudly, “I’ll go deliver your message but if I get thrown out the window, I’m blaming you.”
She laughed as she watched him go and then decided to make the most of the warm weather by sun-bathing. Lying down on the grass, she closed her eyes and waited.
When no-one had come for her five minutes later, she opened her eyes, flinching when she saw Rhys leaning over her. His eyes were a dark gold, almost bronze, as he met her gaze. “You’re nearing your needing!”
Kaitlin blinked at the anger in his voice. “So what if I am?”
His eyes narrowed on her, “You come here, to a place teeming with wolves, on the day of the full moon, when your needing will be on you in full force? Are you trying to make me crazy?”
Her mouth parted as the implications sunk in; her versus a hotel room full of male werewolves? She wouldn’t have had a chance. Deciding to put on a brave face, she said, “Then aren’t you glad I didn’t come up?”
Rhys growled and in the next second was straddling her waist, his hands holding hers on either side of her head. “You have a smart mouth, Kaitlin, and if you’re not careful, it’s going to get you in big trouble.”
A thrill ran through her at his domineering attitude and the puma purred inside her.
“Maybe I want to get in trouble.” She arched her back, pressing her breasts into his chest.
“Kaitlin…” he groaned against her throat, his nose moving up and down the sensitive skin. Rhys pulled back suddenly, “We can’t do this here.” Grabbing her hand he pulled her to her feet. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his mobile and speed dialled a number.
“Brent? I’m not coming back up. I need to take care of Kaitlin.” He listened for a few seconds, “It might be a few days before I get back.” Pause. “No, I’m not sure where we’re going to go.” Rhys sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. “Look, I’ll be fine. And in the circumstances I think it’ll be better if it’s just me and Kaitlin. It’s not like we can’t look after ourselves, anyway.” Pause. “Brent!” He growled warningly, then, “Goodbye!”
Terminating the call, he grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him to the car park and to the same big black car the wolves had used that first night at the bear compound.
“Get in,” he ordered, as he walked around the bonnet to his own side.
She did as she was told without comment, sensing his anger and the need to get away.
Once on the road, he seemed to relax somewhat.
Twisting in the seat, she eyed him hungrily. His scent was driving her crazy never mind hers him. Brent had done nothing for her but Rhys…she wanted him.
The needing turned her more animalistic, going with her baser needs: food and sex. The closer the time came to the full moon the hornier she would get. The scent of her arousal wouldn’t be detected by humans but shifters would catch it from as far as a mile away when the full moon was out later tonight.
At the moment it was filling the confines of the SUV quite nicely. She couldn't help it; she wanted him. Badly.
Kaitlin shifted on the leather seat.
“Kaitlin,” he growled warningly.
Biting her lip, she shifted again. “I can’t help it, Rhys, I need you.”
He shot her a quick assessing glance and then swore. Checking the mirrors, he pulled over at the first turn off he found and followed it until he reached an old dirt road and turned onto it, driving a mile or so before braking.
Kaitlin was on him in the next second; her lips locked with his, her hands running up and down his muscled chest and her knees on either side of his hips as she rubbed herself against him.
Rhys groaned and gripped her hips tight, holding her steady. “In the back,” he growled; his voice more wolf than man.
Not needing any more encouragement, she crawled between the seats. He followed her through and she purred as his lips teased her neck with kisses and nips. Positioning his knees on either side of her, he pulled her between his legs and kissed her possessively. Kaitlin wrapped both arms around his neck to hold him close to her as he bit her bottom lip making her hiss in a mix of pleasure and pain.
“I need you, Rhys.”
“I know,” he agreed, his breathing ragged. His hands tugged at the hem of her t-shirt and she arched so he could pull it over her head. Once gone, Rhys paid homage to her breasts, licking and nipping at the tender flesh that was trying to burst free of her bra. Arching into him she moaned her encouragement. With a flick of his wrist, her breasts were no longer confined and he bent to take a nipple into his mouth. A ragged gasp left her as she watched him.
Wanting to touch him, she ran a hand over his t-shirt covered back. It wasn’t enough. Moving her hands down his sides she found the bottom of his tee and gripped it in her hands before pulling upwards. He broke the connection reluctantly to let her pull it over his head and then moved his lips to her neck and the sensitive part below her ear, causing her to purr.
Kaitlin moved her palms down over the muscled contours of his back, loving how they seemed to jump and twitch under her touch. Moving her hand to his side, she slid her finger under the band of his jeans to feel the hot skin beneath. Removing her
fingers she moved her hand to the front of his jeans and cupped him through the rough material. He jerked at her touch and she hissed in a breath as he retaliated by biting her on the neck.
“If you keep that up, this’ll be over before it’s even begun.”
“I don’t care,” she whimpered. She was burning up inside and it was driving her crazy. She needed a little relief.
Arching, she pressed herself against him again and let out a little half moan half purr at how delicious he felt pressed against her.
The next thing she knew she was on all fours, her jeans at her knees, with Rhys behind her running a hand over lower back. Kaitlin lowered to her forearms and she felt him press into her. A moan ripped from her throat as her inner muscles clenched around him. He felt so good.
Rhys growled and gripped her hips. “You feel so fucking good, Cat.”
The ache was increasing inside her. She needed him to move. Forcibly pushing backwards, she took more of him inside her and mewled in pleasure.
His fingers tightened fractionally before he slowly moved out and then pushed back in. She moaned her pleasure and dropped her face to the cushioned seat as his pace increased and moments later he was pounding into her. Her fingers curled into the leather seat as she moaned, purred and eventually screamed in delight as she orgasmed. Three thrusts later, Rhys joined her with an animalistic growl.
As they recovered, he pulled her back against his chest and nuzzled her neck.
Kaitlin sighed, “That was…crazy.”
“Mmm…” he lazily agreed, taking her earlobe between his teeth and gently biting.
“Is it like that for everyone? I mean during their needing?”
“I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been with another shifter during her needing.”
Now that was a surprise. So was the fact that the burning need inside her had been reduced to a soft smoulder.
“Maybe it’s because we’re mates,” he murmured softly against her hair.
Was that it?
Chapter 5
They eventually got back on the road and Rhys drove them to a small cabin on the edge of some woods.
Cat's Wolf (A Shifter Romance Novella) Page 2
