Jag watched Barbara walk toward his table. Maybe she'd be different. She owned a cat; he could smell it on her. He'd like to be her house cat. He should ask her out. What if she said no? He didn't know if his pride could take a blow like that. He'd never been turned down by a cat ... uhh ... a human. Hell, he'd never been turned down. Period. Did she have to know he was a jaguar? His primal beast protested against that thought and scratched at him. It wanted to know her intimately.
"Jag, I know what you want, a caramel swirl latte with two shots. Leron, what can I get for you?” She wouldn't even look at Jag.
"I'll take a black coffee."
Barbara turned to leave but Jag stopped her. “Barbie, I don't think I'll have my usual. I'd like one of those frozen things, kind of like a cappuccino, this time. But put the caramel in it."
She spun around and nailed Jag with a thunderous expression on her face. “Do I look like a Barbie to you? Do I?” she yelled, really pissed off. “My name is Barbara. Don't forget it, all right?"
"Okay. Could you put a squirt of orange syrup in it? And cream, extra cream."
"Sure, whatever.” She stormed away from the table.
"Dude, what is your damn problem? Have you lost your fucking mind? Jesus, Jag, I've had enough of this.” Leron's voice was tight. “You know what, Jag? When she gets back, I'm going to ask her out so you two will stop harassing each other and me. I can't take this anymore."
Jag went absolutely ballistic. “If you ask her out, or if you even look at her too long, I'll rip your heart out, Leron. I'll kill you. I mean it. In fact, don't even talk to her anymore.” Jag was livid. “Do you hear me?"
"You're kidding me, right? You can't be serious. You're talking like she's your mate or something."
Jag stared at his friend, his jaw dropped open. Kind only got like this with their true mate. Draga. When a cat found his draga, stay out of the way.
"Shit, Jag, please say you're kidding?"
"Do you think ... Oh hell, dude, could she be my draga? Because I'm serious. I don't want you or anybody else talking to her or looking at her. Ever. Christ. I found my true flame, and for hell's sake—she's a human. What am I going to do now?"
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Chapter Two
"Hey, Barb, that guy is stuck on you. Why do you treat him so bad? He's hot. Sizzling hot, in fact. I'd be all over him in a minute.” The shop had closed and Crystal cleaned up behind the counter.
"He gets on my nerves. He's always saying...” Barb stopped and felt herself blushing two shades of red. “He doesn't have a serious bone in his body."
"Barb, look at me. Omigod! You're blushing. You like him. Go for it, why don't you?"
She needed to come up with something fast, or she'd have to tell the truth about the dreams. “Come on, Crys, look at me. He's way out of my league, and I know it.” Barbara kept her eyes cast down as she told the lie. She didn't want to have this conversation.
"What do you mean?"
"He should be with someone who looks like you.” Barbara had to escape before the situation got worse. “Look, I have to stock some stuff in the back. You finish up here.” Barbara picked up an empty box and headed to the storage area beside the office. She left the door open and still heard Crys’ voice.
"Are you crazy? Don't you see how men look at you when they come in here? Heck, that's why your side stays full. I wish I could get half of the men on mine that you do on yours."
"I don't want to hear it.” Barbara tried to inflect firmness in her voice.
"Well, you're going to. You're beautiful. You should take that damn ponytail out, though. You're hot. Men want real women. Not those skinny little girls that hop in and out of here from that office complex."
"Yeah, right. He's GQ wrapped in leather. I'm plain Jane.” She sighed as she came back to the front. Her friend wasn't going to give up.
"Plain Jane, my ass.” Crys grabbed her and turned her to face the mirror. “It doesn't lie. Look at those eyes. Those cheekbones.” Barbara could have guessed what was coming next. “Barb, come and stay at my place tonight, we'll have a makeover. Bring that new green dress you got when we shopped last week."
"Crys, I'm really tired.” Barbara didn't feel like staying out late but she wouldn't get out of this. She decided to nip it in the bud. “I have to go home and feed the cat. Tell you what, let's do it tomorrow. How's that?"
"I'm not taking no for an answer, but I guess it can wait one day.” Crys’ shoulders slumped.
They finished cleaning and were ready to close up. Barb had only delayed the inevitable. She'd think of something else tomorrow. “Let's go.” She set the alarm and locked the door.
"Okay. See ya,” Crys yelled before she got in her car. “We'll have fun, you'll see."
Barbara fell into her car and banged her head against the steering wheel. “Shit, shit, shit.” Like a moron, she hoped tomorrow wouldn't come.
Then it hit her. Jag had called her “pet.” Just like he did in her dreams.
* * * *
Jag couldn't believe the day he'd had after he left the Swirl. Patrik, the Reign leader, did chew him a new one and he worked his ass off. An Elder, Patrik had vampyre skills that came with age. He could dematerialize and read minds. The Kind council forbade what Jag's people called “taking of blood” unless you were a Reign warrior. He qualified, and soon he'd have the leader's abilities. Jag struggled all day to keep his thoughts to himself and it weakened him. Feeding would have eased his torment but there wasn't time. If he hadn't made the third trip to the coffee shop, he could have fed.
He lay in his bed and thought about how he'd handle tomorrow. He was going back. His cock twitched even now. Shit, Barbara was his draga. His cat paced and rubbed against his insides. It growled to be released. It had found a mate. One neither of them wanted to let go.
Jag couldn't get Barbara out of his mind. Her eyes, her body, haunted him. She was so beautiful. He wanted to touch every inch, taste all of her. Make sweet, sweet love to her. He fell asleep thinking about her luscious lips all over his body. Everywhere...
Jag opened his eyes and found himself back at Coffee Swirl. He turned and looked around the shop but didn't see anyone. The door to the office in the back opened with a bang. Barbara came through carrying a case of coffee.
He'd pulled her into his dream.
"What do you want tonight?” She smiled as if she'd expected him. That couldn't be possible and it caught him off guard.
"Uhh, I ... I stopped by to see if you'd like to go out with me sometime?” Barbara would think this was a dream. Why did he feel as nervous as a cat up a tree? His mind skittered to a halt as he thought about what that phrase meant. He loved being up trees. He even took his kills ... Yikes! Stay focused.
"Go out with you?” Barbara put the box down and walked around the counter. Now she looked confused.
Jag's jaw dropped. Her hair was all done in loose curls and she wore makeup that enhanced the beauty of her features. Gorgeous. His hard-on roared to life, strained against his pants and wept in pain. And her dress. Christ, it hugged every curve from top to bottom like a second skin. Not a panty or bra line in sight. She couldn't be wearing underwear. His heart skipped a beat. Barbara was a real babe. And those legs went on forever.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"You have no idea.” Jag wondered why she put it that way. Did she know something? No, she couldn't. She didn't know true mates could meet in the dream realm. It wasn't possible. But why the feeling he'd been here before? What the hell was happening to him?
Barbara smiled. She liked the way he looked at her. She supposed Crys’ talk about the green dress was why she dreamed she wore it. It made her feel so sexy. This was the first time she'd appeared dressed up in her dreams. Her friend had been right. It felt good. Her blood raced double-time. Butterflies took flight in her stomach and the wetness between her legs appeared on cue.
She needed him to want her. Checking out the front of his pants, she saw
he did. In a big way. Lord knows, she wanted him just as bad. Could you think in a dream? Barbara's brain worked overtime.
"Pet, you're so damn beautiful. You're a vision. I can't take my eyes off you."
"So where do you want to take me?” It was her dream, and she could be as sexy and as bad as she wanted to be. She could do all the things she'd thought about—and had done most of them over the last month. She intended to enjoy every sleeping minute, as always.
"I want to take you here, right now."
"Good thing Coffee Swirl has takeout, huh?"
"Don't tease me."
"I'm not teasing, Jag. Did you want that with extra cream?” For the first time, she used his name in her dream. It felt real as it rolled from her mouth. Being dressed like this and seeing how much he liked it had given her the courage to really let go. Barbara felt bolder than usual.
"Oh yeah, with extra cream."
Barbara saw the desire scored on his face. “How much extra?” She enjoyed the dark look of lust in his heavy-lidded eyes.
"I'll show you."
She watched him walk slowly across the room. He reached her and pulled her into his arms. He touched his lips to hers and their tongues fought as usual. His kisses were delicious. And his scent ... Jag smelled like fresh cut cedar. The forest-fresh smell invaded her nostrils. It made her hungry for more. Much more.
Barbara had become addicted to her dreams. His cock pressed into her stomach, and set her on fire. Lord. She couldn't contain herself as she kissed him back. She felt like a wild animal, a cat in heat. A purr slipped through her open lips. “Jag, I'll never get enough of you.” Her voice rasped with urgency.
"Let me make love to you, Barbara. I need you.” His hard cock was going to burst and send seed down his leg any minute now. He wanted her that bad. With a hand behind her head, he held her still while he rained kisses down her neck and sucked gently at her pulse. He'd marked her. Shit, he didn't mean to do that. She'd wonder about it in the morning because it'd still be there.
The blood rushed through her veins and called to every one of his senses. He wanted to taste her. All of her. His cat roared for release. Jag growled against her throat, and her body shuddered in response to his primitive call. “Oh, please, I need you too,” she whispered.
She ground her pelvis against his erection, which caused him to get even harder. His free hand played with her large breasts. He pinched her nipples hard through the dress's material. It wasn't enough.
Jag still couldn't believe this was happening. It seemed as though she'd expected him. He thought she'd be shocked, but damn, she wanted him just as much.
He stopped kissing her long enough to reach for the hem of the dress. As he removed it, Jag's eyes roamed over her voluptuous body and stopped at her nipples. He licked his lips in anticipation of his mouth covering the puckered nubs of her breasts. Then he sucked them into hard peaks.
Jag ran fingers between her thighs and felt the warmth there. She did have underwear on, and the crotch of the thong was soaked with her juices. Jag needed to feel her heat.
He inched her underwear down just enough for his hand to find her moist folds. He stroked back and forth across her labia and she moaned. He worked two fingers inside and his thumb rubbed her clit, begging her body to come for him. Her pussy clenched and pulled his fingers even deeper.
He wouldn't let her come, not yet. He took his fingers from her and ripped her thong off. Her breath hitched in her throat.
Jag turned her toward the counter and bent her over. His eyes gloried in the sight of her luscious ass. Barbara's skin felt like silk beneath his hands. He rained kisses down her back, stopping just above her rounded butt. Jag caressed and squeezed her behind as his fingers explored between her ass cheeks.
He pushed his hand between her thighs and into her hot, wet cunt. Collecting the liquid there, he came back to the tight hole of her anus.
Her body jerked when she felt him touch it. “Please, I—"
"I won't hurt you, baby, trust me."
Jag slowly work one finger into the tiny hole. Her muscles relaxed and he went further. He felt her contract around his finger. He returned to kissing her back. She loosened up some more, letting Jag push in and out of her.
"You're so tight.” He moved his free arm around her and found her pussy. Entering her with two fingers, he used the same rhythm as he did behind her. Soon Barbara's movements matched his push and pull. “I knew you would like it, pet."
"Yes, yes.” She rocked back and forth on his hands and moaned. When she started to move faster, Jag stopped. He couldn't let her come yet.
The cream. Jag came for the cream.
He twisted her around to face him. The glow in her eyes thrilled Jag. His mouth moved down her body, lips playing across her stomach until he was eye-level with her pussy. Ahh, the smell. A fire raged out of control in him. He moved closer and his tongue darted out to touch and taste her. Soon he laved her crease with long, rough strokes. He stabbed at her clit before he entered her pussy.
His cock was pissed. It wanted to come out and play. The thick head pushed hard against the zipper of his pants and insisted on being released. Not yet. He couldn't get enough of the sweet cream.
"Ohh, Jag.” Barbara moaned as she threw her head back in abandon. Her cunt quivered under his lips, and cream dripped from her. He tasted it. She was so close now. She was ready to give him what he wanted. When she came and the warm wetness leaked from her pussy, Jag would be there to catch it.
That's when it hit him—her mind and soul opened and all of her past dreams washed over him. They rolled through him with a clarity that would have knocked him to his knees had he not already been on them. He latched onto the one with his penis in her mouth. The sight of her sucking his cock took his breath away. It practically made him come. Christ. He'd never felt anything like it.
That was why she expected him. She'd been seeing him in dreams all along. How the hell could that happen? Without a blood exchange, he shouldn't be able to see in her mind. Who was she? Not feline. He'd have known that right away, tasted it. No way could she hide that from him. What was she?
"Barbara?” he murmured against her pussy. He didn't know what to say. Shaken to his core, he kept on tasting her.
"I'm coming ... Jag,” she cried out—and then she was gone.
"Damn it.” Jag groaned, snatched from the dream. He'd been so close to coming himself. His hand strayed to his swollen cock. A drop of pearlescent liquid dripped from the tip. He could still smell her.
He grasped his cock firmly and started to pump. He needed to feel his release. He squeezed his balls hard with one hand and pushed the broad head of his penis through the fingers of the other. His hips lifted from the bed as he masturbated.
Jag's breath whistled through stretched tight lips. Her smell enclosed him as he continued to punish his cock. He envisioned his tongue buried deep in her pussy.
"Fuck.” He groaned as the first spurt of hot come arced over his body. He milked his cock until it was drained. He drifted back into sleep, smelling the wonderful scent of Barbara.
* * * *
He woke with a painfully raging hard-on and the sound of Leron's voice bellowing up the stairs. “Yo, Jag. Let's go, dude."
"Give me a few minutes, man, and I'll be ready.” Jag wanted to lie there and think about Barbara some more. He reached down and fondled himself, thinking about their dream. How had she been dreaming of him? He'd never heard of that before. Even between draga.
If she suspected it was real, she'd probably freak out. Barbara would still think they were only dreams. In a sense they were. But draga could taste, smell and feel with each other. What the hell was going on? He'd have to deal with it later.
Leron could be impatient, so he got moving. He jumped out of bed and dressed. He cleaned and clothed himself with magic, one of the benefits of being vampyre. Really made life easier. He couldn't wait for the ability to dematerialize and have the added benefit of telekinetic powe
rs. Of course he could speed it all up by taking the blood of humans more often.
But Kind law forbade that pastime. He could only use what made him strong enough to protect his people. Their worst enemies were their Balkan cousins. They hated Jag's people with a vengeance. Vamps feared their creation. Kind had a distinct advantage over them because of their cat's blood. Kind could walk in the sunlight. None of this made him feel better. His mind lived in a fog.
God, he wished he could read her mind like he did in the dream. If only he had that ability. But that was something that should only come between mates during the female's change or the exchange of blood. Barbara was human, so there would be no change. Would she ever accept him for what he was? His morose thoughts ate at him as he came down the stairs. “Come on, Leron, I'm ready. We'll swing by the Swirl so I can..."
"No. No way. I'm not going through that shit today. You want a latte, or a cappuccino, whatever, go get it yourself. Take the fucking Lotus out of dry-dock why don't you, and go ahead? I'll meet you at the compound. I'm not going through this, Jag. Enough already."
"What got your drawers in a bunch this morning?” Jag didn't think it was that big a deal.
"I ain't wearing any, so there's no bunching going on. I can't do this with you every day. It's crazy. She's a human, Jag. What exactly are you planning to do? You going to show her your cat, and bare your fangs? Maybe even have a nip? She's human, man."
"You're right, and it's not your problem. I'll catch you later. Lock up on your way out.” Jag had started toward the door when Leron's voice stopped him.
"Jag, have you really thought this thing through?"
"Yeah, I have. I dreamed with her last night, Leron. We dreamed together. And...” He couldn't tell his best friend what had happened. Not yet. He needed to figure some things out. “She's my draga, my own. I have to see her."
"Aww, hell, I'm sorry, real sorry."
Jag heard the concern in his friend's voice. Finding his flame was a good thing. But a human? He'd go through hell. For a cat, or vampyre for that matter, to find a true mate and not be able to have them ... It was bad. It could tear his cat apart.
With Extra Cream Page 2
