by Celia Kyle
“Baby, you can’t lie to me. You can’t lie to my nose.”
“Oh.” Right. She’d forgotten about that. She wasn’t sure why that’d slipped her mind. She should know from her time spent with Ronnie’s werewolf family. They could sniff out—literally—an untruth a mile away. Lying did not happen around the Barringtons. Ever. (Which totally ruined their every attempt to get something over on the adults.)
“But no matter what, scent or not, I trust you. My cat trusts you. If you say you weren’t involved, then you weren’t involved. All we can do is recover and move on.”
Zoe chuckled. “It sounds so easy.”
“That’s because it is.” He nuzzled the top of her head, his grip tightening. “Wanna know what step one is?”
“Sure.”
She found herself suddenly flipped to her back, a nude tiger shifter kneeling between her spread thighs. Ares retained his human shape, but his tiger peeked out through his eyes, and he licked his lips. “Step one is tasting you.”
“Yes.” That sounded like a wonderful idea. All kinds of wonderful.
Zoe’s nipples pebbled, breasts suddenly aching with the need to be touched and stroked. She couldn’t stop herself from cupping her mounds and tugging on the hard nubbins. His gaze remained locked on her as she caressed herself, but his hands were busy.
He reached for her legs, fingers skimming her calves, then knees, to her outer thighs. Goose bumps followed in his wake, her skin sensitized to his touch. They’d only spent two weeks together, but her body was attuned to his, and she craved him. Craved every brush of his fingers and press of his lips.
A slow burn blossomed within her, her body preparing for the pleasure of what was to come. Her pussy warmed, aching for his fingers, his mouth, his cock. She grew wet, her sheath preparing to accept him, take him within her and snatch every hint of pleasure he gifted her.
All this with only a heated look and the gentle glide of his hands on her legs.
He continued reaching higher on her thighs, not stopping until his thumbs brushed the lips of her sex. There he drew small circles on her flesh, so close to where she desired him most, yet too far away to give her pleasure. He stroked her, sliding up and then down, tormenting her with what could be.
“Tell me,” he murmured, his gaze flicking from the juncture of her thighs to her eyes and back again.
“Tell you what?” Her hips twitched, body aching for more from him.
“You know.”
She did know. She’d fallen into bed with him, her body craving his, but the words he craved came later. The day before she’d left him to return home, their relationship’s future unresolved, he’d asked for the words.
And she’d given them. They were just as true today as they were mere days ago. “I’m yours.”
He purred, the rumbles traveling from his chest, down his arms and to his fingers. “You are.” One thumb moved to tease her slit, the slow travels along her pussy continuing with this added sensation. He gathered her cream until his movements were smoother than before. “You very much are.” Ares slipped between her labia, teasing her soaked pussy with new intimacy. “All mine.”
Zoe whimpered, unable to speak. Not when his other hand gave her more as well. One thumb circled her clit, going ‘round and ‘round in gentle circles that stoked her need while the fingers on his other hand… slipped into her. He pushed in one and then another, spreading her for him. He stroked her, his digits plunging in and out of her pussy with a slow rhythm. He scissored his fingers, reaching for nerves, those special places that would make her scream his name.
Zoe trembled with his caresses, her limbs no longer controllable with the pleasure that consumed her. She continued to knead her breasts and pluck her nipples, her entire body begging for more pleasure. She rocked her hips against his penetration, taking more and more from him as he tormented her. She wanted to come, to scream his name and then beg for even more.
She kept her eyes trained on him, watched the pleasure fill his features as well, watched the need flit across his expression as he licked his lips. “Please,” she whimpered. “Please, Ares.”
“What, baby?”
“Lick me.” She arched her back and rocked her hips, forcing him deeper. “Taste me.” She loved his tongue on her, his mouth doing wicked things to her sensitive pussy. “Please.”
Ares’s purring increased, the volume growing and vibrations strengthening. Then he slipped his fingers free of her pussy, dragging a whimper from her as he left her empty. She expected him to lower himself and lay on his stomach, get comfortable before devouring her pussy as he had in the past. But this time, he did something else. This time he brought his fingers to his mouth and slipped them between his lips, licking them clean.
“Fuck, you taste so good.” He rumbled loudly. “Tiger wants all of your cream, Zoe. Is it his?”
She had only one answer. “Yes.”
Ares growled and then finally lowered to his belly, settling between her splayed legs. He made room for himself, forcing her thighs farther apart as he got comfortable.
Then he attacked her. Not with violence, but with passion.
Ares leaned forward and lapped at her glistening pussy. He licked and sucked, exploring every inch of her aroused flesh. He flicked her clit, circling it with tiny movements before scraping the small nub with one of his sharp fangs. Then he moved lower, lapping at her slit before arriving at the source of her heat.
He circled her aroused opening, flicking and fucking that part of her until she trembled and hovered at the edge of arousal.
That’s when the purrs started in earnest, the vibrations filling her and spreading from her pussy to the rest of her body. The pleasure inside her grew and morphed into a massive bubble of desire and wanting. She lost track of what he did to her then, his fingers and mouth toying with those most desperate parts of her body. He alternated between teasing her center and tormenting her clit, and all the while… his golden eyes remained locked on her.
“Please, Ares,” she whispered, her breath stolen by the bliss consuming her. “Please.”
Please more. Please less. Just… please.
Two fingers slipped into her pussy, pushing deep and caressing her inner walls, touching her in a familiar stroke she couldn’t get enough of. Ares returned his mouth to her clit, settling into a seductive rhythm fueling the fires of her pleasure. Her arousal grew, her pussy clenching around his thick fingers as he slipped in and out of her sheath. He was gentle at first, a careful seduction that stoked her need.
The bliss enveloped her pussy, each twinge and twitch of her clit sending ecstasy spiraling outward. She moaned and panted, riding his hand as she sought more of that burgeoning pleasure. She added a pinching ache to that swelling joy, giving her nipples a small twist that sent her desire flying higher.
Ares scraped his fang across her clit once more, sending a bolt of pain along her spine, and she gasped, arching her back farther as she took him deep. Then she rolled her body in earnest, taking more and more pleasure from his seductive invasion. She fucked herself on his hand, forcing him deeper and harder. Her release inched closer, the pleasure stretching to encompass her body. It skated over her nerves, plucking them as it filled her blood and stole her breath. Her release hovered on the edge, reaching the precipice and freezing. She waited for the final nudge that would send her cascading down in to the abyss of joy.
“Ares,” she whispered his name. Begging for… What? It was right there for the taking. It’d take one more rock of her hips, one more twitch, and then she’d be gone. And yet… “Ares.”
He lifted his mouth for a split second, his pace stuttering for a single breath so he could answer her. “Come.”
Then he sucked hard, harder than before, and shoved his fingers deep. He curled them upward, pressing and stroking that bundle of nerves within her sheath that had her screaming. She dropped her head back, shouting her release as the pleasure suddenly broke over her. She yelled his name, telling eve
ryone exactly who’d made her come and who continued to give her rolling waves of ecstasy.
She rode him, letting her orgasm continue on and on as he fucked her, took her. The tremors stole her control, snatching her ability to move her muscles, and her toes curled involuntarily while her nerves burned with the never-ending sensations until… it was too much. Pleasure gradually morphed into stinging pain, and she flinched.
As if he knew her—who was she kidding, he did—he slowed his attentions, carefully bringing her down from the utterly overwhelming heights of bliss to a panting mess.
Eventually his fingers stilled, his tongue gently lapping at her pussy lips until he finally pressed a soft kiss to her mound.
“That was…” She didn’t have the words.
“Perfect.” He blew a soft puff of warm air across her sensitive flesh and a tremor overtook her.
“God yes.” The words left her with a long sigh.
“How about Ares yes.” He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her inner thigh.
“That too.” She released one of her breasts and beckoned him. “Make love to me. Missed you.”
“I’d love to.” He lifted his head and rose to all fours. “Want to make you mine.” He crawled over her, his lips raining kisses on her body as he eased forward. “Claim you.” Another kiss followed by a nibble. “Make sure everyone knows—”
“Alpha?” Braden’s voice came through the solid door.
With a sigh, he slumped, forehead resting between her breasts. “Yeah?”
This wasn’t the first time they’d been interrupted during their lovemaking. It was just the first time Ares was called by his true title. It didn’t make the interruption any less annoying though.
“The, uh, alpha fem has a visitor.”
That had Ares raising his head and shooting her a glare. Dammit, what the hell had she done? He’d had plenty of visitors in the past who’d stomped on their sexy fun times.
“Who?” he growled.
“A Veronica—”
“It’s Ronnie, you overgrown housecat,” her best friend in the whole wide world snapped at Braden.
This would not end well.
Then Braden hissed, Ronnie growled, and Braden’s hiss turned into a growl.
This would not end well at all.
“Ronnie, play nice with the tiger before he eats you for breakfast.”
That had Ronnie shutting up for all of a second. “What kind of eating?”
Chapter Ten
Ares didn’t think there was much that could surprise him. But finding Veronica—Ronnie—Barrington sitting at his kitchen counter flirting with his second while fighting with his PR rep was definitely a surprise.
One reason was because she was a wolf on tiger land—in their den. Oh, a few canines had come to town but very few ever crossed the threshold.
Then there was the knowledge of where exactly she fell in the werewolf hierarchy. Or rather, where her father fell.
He led Zoe down the wide stairs, gratified to see that most of the tigers from the previous night were gone, only the weakest still hanging around in their fur. The rest were strong enough to shift back to two feet and head off to work while he dealt with the legalities of coming out. It was past time to deal with Cadman and DoPE.
They stopped at the base of the stairs, him turning his attention to the kitchen and the slap fight that was about to break out. Chicks fighting could be hot, but he didn’t think his mate would be keen on him getting off on what was about to go down.
“Baby, there something you wanna tell me?” he murmured and pressed a soft kiss to Zoe’s forehead.
She nuzzled him and breathed deeply, releasing her breath with a soft sigh. “Huh?”
“About your friend being a wolf? Her daddy?”
“Hmm…” She stilled and jerked away from him. “Oh, right.” She shook her head. “Ronnie’s here. Where is she?”
“Touch me again, and you’ll be pulling back a bloody stump.” The words ended on a growl and were followed up by a hiss from Darcy.
Zoe chuckled, and the scent of her happiness tickled his nose. “There she is.”
Ronnie changed her tune on a dime, switching from threatening violence to… bacon? And flirting with Braden. With bacon?
“And this is some delicious bacon. I really wanna taste more of your… bacon.” What she did to the bacon should be illegal. And he definitely didn’t want to see any of it. From the look on Braden’s face though, he wanted to see it all and more.
“Ronnie! Quit sucking the bacon like a dick. I heard you fighting with Darcy. You can’t pretend you weren’t.” Zoe wiggled free of his grip and shuffled toward the kitchen.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Besides, I’m a like a Hoover, baby. Don’t be hating on my game.” Ronnie smiled at Ares, winked at Zoe, and then focused on Braden. “A super deluxe model, at that. Don’t be jealous.”
Ares shuddered. Definitely not a visual he wanted to have. Ever.
Apparently Darcy didn’t like being ignored because that woman—the world’s biggest idiot based on what she did next—grabbed at Ronnie once more. He shoulda stopped it, coulda stopped it, but didn’t. After her behavior last night in the middle of trying to keep the pride safe, along with her loudly voiced opinions about Zoe… Darcy needed to be put in her place.
Darcy wrapped claw-tipped fingers around Ronnie’s bare forearm and tugged. The thing was, Ronnie didn’t move an inch. She did slowly tear her attention from Braden, the smile falling from her lips as she focused on the fingers digging into her flesh. Her attention followed the length of that arm, slowly raising her gaze until the wolf’s eyes met the tiger’s.
A better alpha would step in.
Ares just wanted his cup of coffee.
Ronnie sneered. “Listen, little cunt—”
“Ronnie,” Zoe hissed, but Ares moved forward and tugged Zoe out of harm’s way.
“What?” Ronnie glanced over her shoulder, meeting Zoe’s gaze and then transferring that stare to him. Her amber eyes traveled over him from head-to-toe before focusing on his mate once more. She wiggled her eyebrows, a smile on her lips. “Momma likes.” That had Zoe truly hissing like the feline she was becoming. “Touchy this morning. Coffee’s brewing. Lemme get rid of this, and then we can chat, m’kay?”
Zoe sighed, and he realized he liked this side of her. The one that was laid back and relaxed even though surrounded by growing tension. “We agreed not to use the C word.”
“Only if it wasn’t appropriate and pertinent to the conversation.”
Ares fought his smile. Hell, he saw that Braden was fighting his own as well.
“And it is appropriate now because…”
He couldn’t wait to hear the answer to that.
“Oh!” Ronnie smiled widely. “I’ve been waiting to use this one for forever.” The she-wolf went to clap her hands and frowned when Darcy didn’t release her. Darcy seemed to be trying to decide between confusion and anger. “Holding onto me when I’m trying to talk is rude, B.T.W.”
“Can Internet acronyms not be part of this conversation?”
Ares imagined this was a typical exchange for the two women, and he decided he wanted to get comfortable for the rest of the show. He led Zoe to the breakfast table, his gaze remaining on the two women at the counter. He tugged out a chair and lowered himself before pulling Zoe down to sit on his lap.
“Fine, no acronyms. Bitch,” she grumbled, but since Zoe didn’t get pissed, he didn’t either. Ronnie glared at Darcy. “Holding onto my arm while I’m talking is rude.” Then the wolf glared at Zoe. “By. The. Way. Ahem, as I was saying. Cats are sometimes called pussies. And pussies are sometimes called cunts.” Ronnie winked at him. “You know what I’m talking about. When you get all growly and—”
Zoe got growly and jolted from his lap, the sting of her jealousy smacking him in the face. He barely managed to hold her back with an arm around her waist. “C’mon, baby. If I let you eat Ronnie, you’
d be really pissed at me.”
Besides, keeping her around would make life interesting.
“An-ee-way. Cat equals pussy. Pussy equals cunt. Thus, cat equals cunt, and it’s totally living in the world of social acceptability.” She nibbled her lip. “Or something.”
Zoe turned her attention to Ares, her eyes wide, and he was pretty sure she attempted to look apologetic, but he saw the laughter lurking beneath her expression. “I’m sorry?”
Ares cupped the back of her head, holding her still as he leaned forward. He couldn’t resist the temptation of her mouth and brushed his lips across hers in a soft kiss. He nibbled her lower lip, nipping it and then laving the plump piece of flesh with his tongue. He could have happily kissed her all day, every day.
Until he heard the gagging.
Zoe eased away from him with a soft, annoyed sigh. “Really, Ronnie?”
“Alpha,” Darcy snarled, “are you going to let this dog bitch—”
“That’s a bit repetitive. I mean, if you’re tossing me into the dog category, and I’m a female, then calling me a dog and a bitch is just… yeah, repetitive.” Ronnie focused on him. “Are all of your cats this dumb or is it just her? I can see why our past interactions were kept to email. She sounds much smarter in type than in real life.”
Right. He’d forgotten the two women had worked together as PR go-betweens when the wolves decided to emerge. Every time a group of shifters came out, it involved them all.
Now, with them side by side, he wasn’t gonna laugh. He wasn’t. But damn, this was what he needed—what they needed—after last night.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t let it go much further. “Darcy, Ver—” he corrected himself when Ronnie shot him a glare. “Ronnie, that’s enough.”
“Alpha,” Darcy hissed.
“Darcy,” he snapped, and she jerked as if he’d struck her. “We,” he included Zoe. “forgive you for last night because of the moon’s pull. Emotions were high. But the moon can’t be your excuse for denying me right now.”
He hoped Zoe forgave her. When his mate didn’t speak up, he was relieved, though he was sure there’d be more discussion later.
