Leopard's Run

by Christine Feehan

  She had to leave. There was no other possible way to salvage this mess. She had to lead the enemy away from Evangeline—and Timur. He would try to protect her, but he couldn’t possibly protect her, Evangeline and Fyodor. Everyone would lose. She had to come up with another way. Maybe she could casually ask Evangeline who the worst criminal she knew was. Someone deserving of death. Someone strong enough to kill her enemy. Someone not Timur.

  She pulled on her shoes, braided her hair and hurried into the foyer where she kept her car keys. Timur stood there, her keys dangling from his fingers. “You’re riding with me.” He closed his hand around the keys and slid them into his pocket.

  “I might need to go somewhere.” Like out of town. Far away. Her plan had gone to hell faster than she believed possible. It was like being on a runaway train. All because Evangeline was still that truly beautiful, compassionate person she remembered.

  “I’ll make sure you get to wherever it is you need to go. If no one else can take you, I will.”

  “That sounds more like a threat.”

  “You have a very good ear. Get in the fuckin’ car, Ashe, and stop plotting. Whatever you planned to do isn’t happening. I don’t have the patience my brother does for bullshit, so if you’re going to keep lying and keep plotting, do it when you’re talking to him.”

  She glared at him, hands on her hips. “No one is asking you for your opinion—.” She was cut off when he did that thing again, putting his shoulder to her belly and lifting. She found herself dangling upside down over his shoulder. This time he held her one-handed—the other came out with a gun.

  Ashe gripped his shirt on either side of his waist, but she didn’t distract him as they went out of the house down the walkway to his car. Even though it was still very dark out, she felt very exposed and knew he must as well, or he wouldn’t have his gun out and ready. He was all business, moving quickly, but she felt the tension vibrating through him. His muscular body felt like that of a racehorse, ready to run as soon as the word was given.

  He set her feet down on the curb on the passenger side of the vehicle, his body pressing hers tightly against the car, shielding her from sight. “When I open the door, you get in, but stay low and put your seat belt on.”

  She didn’t ask questions. If he saw something she didn’t, because she’d been hanging upside down, there wasn’t time to be discussing it. She’d ask questions later. She looked up at him and nodded. The moment her eyes met his, she knew she was in trouble. There was that whole danger, bad-boy thing she was so falling hard for right in front of her. Her body just melted. Right there in the middle of the danger zone, chemistry, hot and wild, very powerful, zinged between them.

  He shifted position just slightly. His knee slid between her thighs, parting them so she found her pulsing sex pressed tightly along his hard thigh. It felt … delicious. She couldn’t help the experimental rub. At once, a thousand sensations poured over and into her. His fist caught in her hair and yanked her head back.

  That alone sent a shiver of need down her spine. Her sex clenched in desperate hunger. Her breasts swelled, aching painfully, and her nipples were so tight and hard she feared if she touched them they would shatter. Then his mouth was on hers, and her body went up in flames. That fast. She’d never felt chemistry like that in her life. No one had ever kissed her with such passion. Such ferocity. As if he owned her body and soul and she just let him.

  She wanted him. Right there. On the spot. To hell with the neighbors. He was wearing too many clothes and she needed to feel his skin beneath her palms. She forgot about her vow to not let him touch her. Her decision to leave. Or possible danger. Everything was gone from her brain. There was only Timur and his mouth. That beautiful, brutal, savage mouth that fed her fire and burned her soul into ashes for his own consumption.

  His hand slid under her tee, fingers spread wide to take in her bare skin. She was desperate for his touch on her breasts. She needed that as much as she needed her next breath. His mouth left hers to travel over her chin and down her throat, leaving behind a trail of fire. She caught her breath on a sob of pure need.

  His hands cupped her breasts, pushing them up like offerings and his mouth closed over her right one, through her shirt, sucking her deep into his mouth. The heat was scalding. So hot she was afraid of the burn, but she needed it, needed more.

  “Undo your jeans.”

  She didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. Her hands dropped to the waistband and she opened them, arching into his mouth, pressing her breast deeper. He pushed her shirt and bra up over her breasts and then there was nothing between his mouth and her soft mounds. Her cry was low, but she sounded shattered even to her own ears. She felt shattered. She had no idea chemistry could be like this.

  “Push your jeans down, baby,” he ordered.

  She did, immediately, her hands shaking. She didn’t want him to stop, his mouth felt so good, and he’d added his fingers and thumb, tugging and rolling, pinching so that streaks of fire ran straight to her clit.

  “My trousers. Damn it, Ashe, hurry, just open them. Take my cock out.”

  She did as he commanded, her fingers fumbling a little, but she opened his trousers and managed to free his cock. It was long and particularly thick. Intimidating, but she didn’t care. She needed him in her. She couldn’t wait another second. Heat spread through her when his teeth nipped. He tested her readiness and then he bit down again and a fresh flood of liquid coated his fingers.

  “Turn around. Hands on the door.”

  She spun around and then his hand was on the nape of her neck, pushing her head down while his shoe kicked her legs farther apart. He wasn’t gentle or slow. He lodged the head of his cock in her entrance and then he slammed home, driving through her tight folds, so that her muscles gave way reluctantly, gripping and fighting, but allowing his invasion. He didn’t stop until he was completely in her, all the way, the crown bumping her cervix.

  The breath hissed out of him. “Fucking tight, woman, you’re going to kill me.”

  She didn’t have time for an answer. He began to move. Not slowly. Not gently. He took her hard, driving into her over and over, just the way she needed. Just the way she’d always dreamt her man would take her. Crazy wild. Ferocious need driving both of them. There was no time to catch her breath, no time to savor the experience. She didn’t want to take the time to savor it. She wanted—no, needed this.

  He hit every spot she had that drove her right up the wall. He seemed to know her body already, as if he’d taken her a thousand times and knew what to do, how to move. He had stamina and she went over the edge several times before she felt him swell even larger. His hands gripped her hips hard and he yanked her back into him, erupting like a hot volcano, her tight sheath draining every last drop from him.

  She would have fallen if he hadn’t held them both up. She pressed her forehead against the car, desperately trying to find air to breathe. She didn’t want to turn around and face him just yet. She just wanted to let her body have its moment. She wanted him again—and again. How could anyone do this just once when it was like this? Every cell in her body sang. Was alive. Alert. Looking for him. No one else would ever do. But there was reality …

  Men like Timur Amurov weren’t into relationships. They didn’t buy breakfast or dinner for the women they fucked. That’s what had happened between them. Sex. Pure and simple. Uncomplicated. Not just sex. Great sex. The best in the world.

  Timur gently wiped between her legs with his tie. Despite the material feeling silky soft, it sent ripples through her entire body. He pulled up her jeans, and then fixed her bra and drew her shirt down before he turned her around. Ashe leaned her back against the car and watched as he calmly cleaned himself and then pulled up the zipper on his trousers.

  “I guess this means we weren’t in danger after all.”

  “No, we weren’t, but I wasn’t taking chances with your life walking out the door.” His eyes, as cold as the bluest glacier, drifted ove
r her face. “We get any hotter, Ashe, and we’re going to spontaneously combust.”

  She let out her breath. “I need to go back in and change.”

  “No, you don’t. I like knowing I’m still inside you.”

  “You don’t believe in condoms?”

  “You’re on birth control, and I’m clean. I wanted to feel every fucking inch of you.”

  “How the hell do you know I’m on birth control?” she demanded.

  “I saw them when I went through the house, looking for evidence that you weren’t what you said. You take them regularly.”

  “You went through my private things?”

  “It isn’t like you have a ton of stuff, Ashe.”

  She folded her arms across her chest, still leaning against the car door, enjoying the burn between her legs. There was no question, Timur Amurov was hot. And now she knew what kind of a monster he had between his legs. More, he was still as dangerous as ever. Her blood was rushing through her veins, her chest rising and falling, her breasts aching, and she knew every step she took that day would remind her of him.

  Ashe shook her head. “I still need a different T-shirt. You got this one wet.”

  “It will dry.”

  She looked around her, suddenly aware they were outside. It was dark enough, although light was filtering through and anyone could have seen. A neighbor could have looked right out a window. She hadn’t even thought about that, or that an enemy could have shot the two of them. She had the feeling Timur had thought about it but just didn’t give a damn, at least about the neighbors. The shooting … well … he probably would have had that under control. Most likely he wasn’t as far gone as she’d been.

  “It might dry by the time the customers came into the store, but Evangeline, my boss , is going to see.” She’d see her in all her slutty glory. She didn’t even care if her behavior had been terrible, the sex was that good, and if she had even a little bit of brains, she would repeat the experience as often as possible. But she didn’t. She wasn’t going to get caught up in something that would not end well for her.

  She touched her tongue to her lip. She hadn’t realized he’d bitten her there. It had been just a nip, but her lip was tender. “You know this can’t happen again.”

  He caught her chin and tugged until she was looking him in the eye. “It’s going to happen again. Many times. Just know that and stop overthinking. We have enough problems.” He bent his head and brushed a kiss over her lips.

  Her heart clenched hard. Butterflies took flight in her stomach. His mouth was gentle. That little caress spoke volumes, things she couldn’t afford to hear or understand.

  “Put your arms around me, Ashe.”

  She shook her head. He caught her close, one arm locking against her back, dragging her body right into his while his hand held her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

  “Put your fucking arms around me. I’m kissing you.”

  “You can’t. You know what will happen.” But her arms slid around him. All that muscle. He was pure masculine heat. A statue carved of stone come to life. Cold as ice. Hot as the fires of hell. She was in so much trouble, but then, wasn’t that why she’d come?

  His mouth came down on hers, and her fingers dug into his shirt and caught skin. She needed an anchor, something solid to hold on to because she was spinning out of control that fast. He kissed like sin. He kissed his way straight through every guard until she was naked, vulnerable, her very soul exposed. Her body was his instantly, melting into his, soft and pliant, willing to do anything and everything he demanded.

  Then he was setting her away from him, holding her at arm’s length. “Holy hell, woman. Get in the fucking car.”

  Fighting for breath, she stared up at him. At those eyes of his—so cold they could freeze a person. Right now, the glacier was melted and blue flames stared back at her. She wasn’t alone in the whacked-out, combustible chemistry flaring so hot between them. Her gaze slid down his body and over his broad, muscular chest. He was fighting for air, just like she was. Her gaze dropped lower. His cock was as hard as a rock and demanding attention.

  “Is that a smirk?”

  Her gaze jumped back to his face. She pressed both lips together. “Maybe.”

  “Get in the car.” He reached around her and yanked open the door, forcing her to move. She stepped back feeling very self-satisfied and then slid onto the leather seats. His car was very nice, built for speed. Built for comfort. “Bulletproof glass?”

  “Absolutely. When my brother rides in this, I know he’s safe.”

  “Why would anyone want him dead?”

  He shut the door and walked around the hood. He paused for a moment and looked across the street and then said something. She knew he had because his lips moved. She was adept at reading lips but not from the angle where she was. He got in and started the engine immediately.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Want you again. Now I’m going to have to wait for your break.”

  “You are not …” She glared at him. “We are not going to do anything on my break.”

  “I’m fucking you until we both can’t breathe.” He stated it like it was a fact.

  She should argue with him. She really should. She should make it clear that they weren’t going to keep going at it like bunnies, but she knew if he kissed her, if he touched her, she probably wouldn’t be able to say no. She didn’t seem to have a mind when he was around. She threaded her fingers together.

  “Timur, I need to tell you something. It’s important. You aren’t going to like it.”

  “Say it then.”

  “I’m in a lot of trouble.” She twisted her fingers together tighter. “I don’t want to bring that trouble to Evangeline. I know you have it in your head that I should stay, but I’m telling you, I need to go. They’ll hurt her. They might even take her. They’ll use her to get to me.”

  There was silence and she couldn’t stop herself from looking up at his face. He stared straight ahead, driving with ease. His hands were loose on the wheel, but very sure, just as they’d been sure on her body when he’d touched her. A muscle ticked in his jaw, but that was the only sign that he’d heard her—or that he cared that she had to leave.

  She wanted to leave. She didn’t want Evangeline in any danger, and more, Ashe knew it was imperative that she put as much distance as possible between Timur and her. Already her heart felt shaky around him, and her body … It didn’t belong to her anymore.

  “You’re going to stay, Ashe.” It was a declaration, nothing less.

  The way he said it, the tone he used, got to her in places better left alone. Her heart jumped. Her breasts ached. If she’d been wearing a dress she might have hiked it up and given herself a little relief, right there in the car with him watching. That was what his voice did to her, and he wasn’t even trying for that effect. What was she going to do?

  “Are you listening to me? Even if you’re considering that we have great chemistry, this is your brother and his wife we’re talking about.”

  “I’ll talk to Fyodor,” Timur said. “If he wants you gone, then we’ll go together. We can lead your enemy away from the two of them.”

  For a long moment her breath caught in her throat as if a great lump had developed there and strained her airway. “You would come with me?”

  He nodded.

  She couldn’t read his hard features. His eyes were back to ice-cold—that blue that was so beautiful but deadly. “Why?”

  “You know why.”

  She didn’t. For sex? He’d leave his job and go straight into danger for the sex? It was, admittedly, great sex, but he probably had it all the time. “Actually, Timur, I don’t.”

  “You’re leopard. So am I. My leopard claimed yours. He would never let you leave. Neither would I. If you go, we go together.”

  Comprehension dawned. How could she have been so stupid? She thought it was about her. About them. About the two of them together. Timur could ca
re less about her. It was all about his leopard claiming hers. Her mother had talked to her about it. She had said when the leopard went into her first heat …

  “Oh God.” She covered her face with her hands. “This …” She flapped her hand between them. “This thing, the chemistry, it’s about the leopards, not us, isn’t it?”

  “Did you feel your leopard come close? I didn’t feel her. Neither did my male. She’s resting up for the big day, or it’s possible you missed it by a few days. No, Ashe, I believe that was just the two of us. When the leopards get involved, it’s going to be unbelievable.”

  She rubbed at the denim over her thigh. There was no point in arguing with Timur, he’d made up his mind. She didn’t have her car so that meant she’d have to wait until she got off her shift, unless Timur left the bakery for some reason. Fyodor had an office there, but Evangeline had told her sometimes he worked from home or had to see to other things. Timur supposedly always went with him. If that happened, she would leave fast. Until then, she’d play along. It was very clear she couldn’t stand up to Timur.

  He covered her hands with one of his. “It’s going to be all right, Ashe. Don’t be worried.”

  He didn’t know what they were facing or who, and she did. She’d seen their work. She would never get that sight out of her mind. Not ever. She turned her head and stared out the window, her heart racing. She knew he heard, he was leopard and all his senses were extremely acute. He would hear. She didn’t care. He could guess all he wanted, but he wouldn’t know for certain what she was thinking—or planning.

  She didn’t wait for him to come around and open the door for her when he pulled into the alley and stopped just outside the back door. She leapt out almost before he turned off the engine. Unfortunately, her key to the door was on her car key ring and Timur had that in his pocket. He sauntered up and unlocked the door as if he didn’t have a care in the world.