by Aubrey Rose
His gaze narrowed and his cock swayed standing at attention, ready to reinforce his claim on her body. “There is no force in the universe strong enough to drag me from your arms.” He pulled her to her feet and kissed the tip of her nose. “I didn’t realize how empty my life was until you filled it.”
Affection expanded within her, eroding her uncertainty. This was all happening so fast, but it felt so right. If she just let go and let it happen… it would fundamentally transform her life.
She stared into his eyes and searched her soul, momentarily blocking out the warmth and tenderness flowing from him so she could analyze what she was feeling. He was brave and noble. He proved the strength of his character when he rescued her from Lane’s abuse. His lineage was impeccable. Five generations of pack alphas? How could Maddox object to… Holy shit! Maddox would —
“This isn’t about your brother. It is between you and me.”
She narrowed her gaze on his face. “Did you read my mind?”
He laughed. “I don’t need to be clairvoyant to guess where your worry just led you. He’s not just a protective brother; he’s the head of your pride. Of course you’re concerned about how he’ll react to this.”
“He needs to know I’m not your prisoner anymore.”
His brow shot up and he lifted her into his arms. “Who said you’re not my prisoner anymore?” Stepping out of the tub, he padded, naked and dripping, toward the bedroom. “Maybe I intend to keep you chained to my bed for the rest of your life, so I can indulge my every desire.”
The half-growl returned to his voice, making her shiver and squirm. “And if I object?”
“It won’t matter.” He sat her on the edge of the bed and knelt on the floor in front of her. “You’re my captive. Your body belongs to me now. You will do as I tell you without question or argument.”
Her breasts swelled and heat lodged between her thighs. She understood the structure forming beneath the fantasy. He was a future alpha. Of course he needed her to submit. He would protect her, shelter her, and cherish her, but first she must trust him with her pleasure.
His hands, strong and large, so capable of bestowing pleasure, or meting out punishment, settled against her waist. “Look at me.”
Their gazes collided and she opened her mind, bathing herself in the heat of his desire, and the darker, deeper needs pulsing within him. This wasn’t a passing fancy, a flash-fire attraction that would burn itself out as soon as it was indulged. They were establishing the foundation for a life-long commitment.
“Do you want this, kitten? Are you ready to explore all the pleasures awaiting us?”
“Yes… sir.”
His gaze narrowed, and his emotions flared, momentarily searing her senses with his excitement. “Do you understand what that means, what I need from my mate?”
“Mostly. What I don’t understand, you will teach me.”
Her words pleased him and aroused him. He stood, then pushed his fingers into her damp hair and pulled her head back. “If you want me to stop at any point, if you’re frightened, or uncomfortable, all you have to do is say ‘Barbary’.”
“Why Barbary?”
“Do you prefer a different word? I chose something you could remember easily even when your mind is muddled.”
She smiled, pressing her lower lip between her teeth as anticipation thrummed through her system. “Are you going to muddle my mind?”
“At the very least.”
He lowered his head and captured her mouth, parting her lips with the tip of his tongue. She opened wider, welcoming him inside with her uninhibited response. Wanting to touch his powerful body, she slowly raised her hand. He growled without breaking the kiss, and she returned her hands to the bed on either side of her hips, accepting what he gave her, following where he led.
Long moments later his lips released her, and he eased away. “You will only touch me when I request your touch. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Each time she spoke the title excitement pinged through her body. She didn’t fully understand the reaction, but she accepted that it was real. She wasn’t just doing this because her mate needed her submission. Something in her nature needed to submit.
“Scoot back and turn around. I want you lying in the middle of the bed.”
She didn’t hesitate. Scooting to the middle of the bed, she rotated her body a quarter turn and lay back across the cool spread. Her head ended up just below the pillows, and there was plenty of room for him all around her.
He tugged the pillows out from beneath the quilt and tossed them aside. “I’d love to bind you, but your wrists are still healing. So we’ll test the sincerity of your commitment. Raise your arms above your head and leave them there. Under no circumstances are you to move your arms.”
This was worse than being bound. She placed her arms above her head and tangled her fingers in the bedding, not trusting her self-control.
His smile sent tingles dancing across her skin. “Now bend your knees and open your legs. Offer me your pussy.”
When she’d positioned herself as he directed, made herself completely accessible, he joined her on the bed. He knelt between her legs and traced her slit with his fingertips. “I will never tire of looking at you. Your folds flush so dramatically and your clit…” He circled the swollen nub with his thumb. “So responsive.” His fingers pushed into her snug passage and Jizette moaned. Already the first spasms of an orgasm gathered around his fingers. “Fight it, kitten. Your release belongs to me. I will tell you when to come.”
“I don’t think I can —”
“Yes, you can. Absorb the pleasure, but resist the peak.”
His thumb moved off her clit, allowing her to experiment with the sensations he described. When she suppressed her natural urge to dive headlong into a fast, hard climax, the tingling pressure continued to build rather than fizzling out.
“This will be harder, but I want you to try.” He lay on his stomach and lowered his mouth to her slit. She trembled, knowing how quickly she’d come when he did this in the truck. How was she supposed to resist when he was so damn good at it?
But his kiss was different this time. He brushed her folds gently with his tongue, avoiding her clit as he built her arousal. She understood the rhythm and surrendered to the sensory waves rocking her body. He held her open and pushed his tongue deep into her cunt, swirling slowly as he gathered her cream and savored her softness. His emotions were so raw, and so possessive, she filtered them, knowing she couldn’t control her urges if she was subjected to his as well.
“Gods, you taste good.” His breath wafted across her wet folds, his lips brushing against her as he spoke.
“I’m glad I please you.”
“Everything about you pleases me. You are perfect, absolutely perfect.”
His mouth returned to her pussy, but his words lingered in her mind. How could a feline-shifter be the perfect mate for Timberline pack’s future alpha? Regardless of their feelings for each other, it made no sense.
“You’ve clearly found something to distract you. Let’s test your newfound control.”
He parted her folds with his fingers and latched on to her clit. Her hips came up off the bed and she cried out. Sensations burst from the nerve cluster like fireworks, showering her entire body in colorful sparks.
“Please, sir. I can’t…” His lips released and his tongue pushed back into her core. It wasn’t much better. Her body still hovered on the razor’s edge, shaking and throbbing, ready to go off.
He rocked back onto his knees and pushed the head of his cock inside her. His thumb covered her clit and he said, “Come for me.” His thumb rotated, and her body obeyed, coming in slow, sweeping pulses. “So beautiful,” he whispered, driving deeper as his thumb prolonged her bliss.
She floated and spun, lost in the wonder of surrender. He arched over her, his chest rubbing the tips of her nipples as he started to thrust. The fullness combined with the heat and the surreal haze carried
her along.
His gaze drilled into hers and she arched beneath him. He lifted her hips then shifted her legs, but the steady rhythm of his hips never ceased.
Rolling to his back, he settled her over him, showing her how to move, how to ride him. “Touch me. Squeeze me tight while your hands move over my body.”
The hoarse command revealed the depth of his desire without needing her empathic receptors. Her hands explored his texture and shape, while she slid her body up and down on his hard length. His hands were just as busy on her. Not just her breasts. He touched her arms and legs, her hips and sides.
Restless and needy, she moved faster, thrusting down harder, taking him deeper. She tightened her inner muscles, and he groaned. “Yes! Like that. Do it again.”
She squeezed him, over and over, while she rode him, inadvertently increasing the tension inside her own body. An orgasm rushed up through her, threatening to shatter her control. She shut her eyes and slammed her hips down, holding perfectly still until the sensations receded.
When she finally opened her eyes, he smiled up at her. “Next time ask permission. It’s my job to enhance your pleasure, not deprive you of it.”
He lifted her off him and her legs shook. Her abdomen felt tight and jittery, and she didn’t even want to think about the condition of her core. If she didn’t come soon, there was a distinct possibility she’d spontaneously combust.
He turned her around and moved behind her, easing his cock between her thighs. “Nothing beats the intimacy of fucking face to face, but the wolf in me needs to cover his mate.”
More than willing to accommodate his needs, she leaned forward and rested her forearms against the bed. He pressed against her back, wrapped his arm around her waist, and surged into her pussy. His cock felt more intrusive from this angle, but it was a wonderful sort of fullness. She braced her legs and lowered her head, offering him complete submission.
The subtle gesture didn’t go unnoticed. He opened his mouth against her shoulder, holding her without breaking the skin. And then his hips pulled back and he filled her with steady thrusts.
She tried to remain passive, to accept his mastery, but the pleasure building within her was too powerful. He didn’t growl when she pushed back against him, so she allowed herself to move, rocking in counterpoint to his steady lunges.
His hands clasped her hips, and he better synchronized their movements. She climbed with him, her demand just as evident as his. Her shields lowered and their bond expanded, allowing her emotions to flow into his mind.
He gasped, pausing for a moment, then resuming with a deep groan. “Oh, kitten, this is unbelievable.” Cupping her breasts and licking her skin, he pushed them both toward completion. Come with me, love. Let’s go over together.
Amazed by the power of his being, and the depth of his affection, she was happy to surrender the last of her reservations. She anchored the bond between them, sealing the telepathic link with their combined energy.
Kage wrapped his arms around her, holding her close while his seed burst from his body in rhythmic spurts. She trembled in his arms, savoring each hot splash then surrendering to her own need for completion. Her orgasm was slow and thorough, spreading through her body in tingling waves.
They collapsed onto their sides, his body contoured to hers. She closed her eyes and covered his hand, which was cupping her breast. “I don’t care what anyone says, I’m not letting you go.”
He chuckled and nuzzled her hair. “Glad to hear it, ‘cause I’m pretty sure you plucked that thought right out of my mind.”
“I can’t read minds, only emotions.”
“Well, my emotions are so possessive right now, they aren’t hard to put into words.” He eased out of her body and gently rolled her to her back. “I keep coming back to Bear and Carla.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“Not in the least.” He brushed her hair back from her face then rested his hand at the base of her throat. “I can’t help wondering how many other couples are out there like them. Maybe Timberline can become a sort of refuge, or maybe…” He shook his head and looked away. “I don’t know.”
She guided his face back around and smiled. “I like the idea. I’ve watched so many people be demoralized by pointless expectations.”
“Not all of the expectations are pointless, but many can be tempered. We need to find a balance, a way to value tradition without discounting individuals.” His fingers traced the edge of the suppression collar, touching her skin as well as the metal band. “I would remove this if I could. It’s not a matter of trust anymore.”
“You don’t have the code?”
He shook his head. “Bear knocked Lane out before I could ask him, and I wasn’t going to wait around until he regained consciousness.”
She snuggled against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter as long as we’re here. Morphing would draw too much attention. How long are we going to accept Milo’s hospitality?”
“That’s up to Tayla. She’ll have to go over Darman’s information and put together a response.”
“I always wondered how he did it.” She propped herself on her elbow, so she could see his face. “Everyone knows he’s the source of information at Alpha Colony, but DOMA hasn’t been able to catch him in the act.”
“He’s careful and he’s clever. DOMA knows he has a vested interest in the cats, and he’s used that fact as misdirection. Every week or so, he sends a message to our resident medic. The message contains a layered encryption with an update for Tayla. And while DOMA is watching every move made into or out of cat territory, I smuggle the real message here to Milo’s farm.”
She laughed, delighted by the creativity. “That’s brilliant. Hide the evidence in plain sight.”
“Basically.” His gaze focused on her mouth, and his fingers weren’t far behind. “You better get some sleep before I forget that this is all new to you.”
She licked her lips, teasing his fingertips in the process. “But it’s the newness that makes it so very appealing.”
“Is that right?” He swept her beneath him in one smooth motion and nudged her legs open with his knees. “Be careful what you wish for, kitten. Too often you’ll get it.” His mouth sealed over hers, and his cock pushed back into her waiting warmth.
Chapter Six
Cruz crawled across the rock outcropping on his belly, silent and unseen. He’d ignored the unusual activity for the past few weeks. Hunters used the caves from time to time, but they never stayed for long. This gorge was too steep, the terrain too unforgiving for most cats. So who were the squatters and why were they hiding out in his mountains?
The male was useless. He cowered in the cave while the female brought him food and ran his errands. Cruz had just about lost patience with the worthless pair. He’d give them a few more days to clear out of his territory and then he’d let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they had encroached on his territory. With the plan solidified in his mind, he scooted backward off the ledge and disappeared into the shadows.
———
Jizette wrapped her hands around her coffee mug, savoring the warmth as much as the bitter brew Milo passed off as coffee. Her body was replete and content, but her head was punishing her for a night spent indulging her carnal appetites with her new mate. The energy humming across their bond didn’t keep her eyes from drooping.
Kage and Tayla chatted easily, obviously comfortable with each other. Tayla had sleek dark hair, a compact build, large dark eyes, and seemingly boundless energy. She sat with her feet propped on the corner of her desk in sublevel two of Milo’s farm.
“Sasha’s video is still getting close to a million hits a day,” she told Kage. Her big brown eyes shifted occasionally to Jizette, but she’d given up trying to include her in the conversation. “The fact that it verges on porn doesn’t hurt our cause, but DOMA squirms every time it runs.”
“What about the lab results? When were those released?”<
br />
“Three days ago. They’ve been picked up by two of the major news services, but the other three are being more cautious. However, there have been numerous demonstrations, and the subsequent media coverage has been better than we anticipated. If the hybrid phenomenon is as widespread as I think it is, we need to decide what we want.”
“What do you mean?”
“This gives us leverage, a strong negotiating position. But we need to decide what we want. If we force DOMA to shut down Alpha Colony, where would everyone go? The vast majority of the inhabitants have known no other life.”
“We already determined that’s not an option. We just want control of our own lives.”
“Which is impossible as long as DOMA controls your food source.” She lowered her feet to the floor with a thunk. “Like I said, we need to decide what we want.”
Kage nodded, his expression distracted and thoughtful.
Tayla shifted her attention back to Jizette and smiled. “So, someone finally landed this rascal? How’d you do it?”
“We’re still trying to figure that out.” Setting her coffee cup on the corner of Tayla’s desk, Jizette rubbed her temples. “Gods, this headache will not back off.”
“Why don’t you go see Hillard?” Tayla suggested. “She’s great with headaches.”
Kage rose as well, but Jizette waved him back into his seat. “One left and two rights. Correct?”
“Exactly,” Tayla confirmed.
“I’ll be right back.” Kage reached for her mind as she headed for the corridor, and she found the strength for a weak smile. They would have to work on his overprotective instincts. One overbearing male in the family was enough.
Dr. Hillard stepped away from a wall display as Jizette tapped on the door to her office. “Good morning, Jizette. I was just about to send for you. Is there something I can do for you first?”
“I hope so. I’ve got the mother of all headaches.”
“That sounds miserable.” The doctor smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled, the added color doing wonders for her face.
