Leopard's Blood

by Christine Feehan

  "Mmm." Her tongue licked along her lip again. "I know so."

  "I'm going to sit you up, baby. You ready for that?"

  "I think. I'm still floating somewhere in space. You may have to come looking for me." There was soft laughter in her voice, but honesty as well. She let him wrap his arm around her waist and pull her into a sitting position. He kept her close, just in case.

  "I'm going to kiss you. You taste so fuckin' good, Sonia. I wouldn't share the honey you give me with anyone but you."

  He tipped her chin up and took her mouth, sharing her taste. He wanted to be gentle, he tried. He started out that way, but his cock drove him hard. His kisses went from gentle to rough fairly fast, but she didn't seem to mind, her tongue dueling with his until he knew he was going to explode if he didn't stop.

  Joshua helped her to stand again, right in front of his chair. He pushed the shimmery red strips of material to the side of her breasts, so the fabric pushed the firm mounds closer together. He cupped the soft weight in his hands and took her right breast into his mouth. She cried out, both hands going to his head to hold him there. He laved with his tongue, stroked, bit down gently, drew her nipple to a hard peak. Just what he needed. Picking up the golden chain from the velvet box, he gently clamped her nipple. Her breath hissed out. He smiled at her and blew on her nipple. When she moved, little bells jingled. Tiny golden bells hung from the chain, and two just a little larger hung off the nipple clamps.

  "How does that feel?"

  "It startled me, but it feels like you're pinching gently with your fingers."

  "Good." He kissed her again. Hard. He loved kissing her and he continued to stroke her left breast, tugging and rolling her nipple. He kissed his way down her throat to the curve of her breast, sucked until there was a gorgeous red strawberry and then suckled strongly at her breast, tugging on the chain gently to hear her breath hiss out. He bit down gently and then pulled back to fasten the clip.

  He sat back, stroking the inside of her thigh. "You look beautiful, baby. So fuckin' beautiful. I knew that chain would be perfect on you." He tugged on it, watching her face.

  She moved experimentally, her breasts swinging. She gasped and the tiny bells sounded, calling to him. He kissed her again and then kissed his way down to her breasts, all the while stroking with his hands between her inner thighs. Every now and then his knuckles rubbed along her sex and she shivered. He couldn't help but smile. "You were born for me, Sonia. So perfect for me. I fuckin' love this." He gently tightened the nipple clamp, wanting the tension the way she liked his hands on her. He knew when he hit the maximum she could handle and he stopped, but tugged on the chain until she was forced to come forward. He kept tugging until she had to slide off the table to stand in front of him.

  "Love this so much, baby," he whispered and put a hand to her hip, forcing her to her knees between his legs. His cock was hard and aching. He tugged on the chain very gently, lifting her breasts, loving the way she looked kneeling there in that red dress, his chain on her. "Can't wait much longer. Get busy. I need that mouth right now and I don't plan on being gentle. You don't like something, you let me know and we change it up."

  She nodded and let him tug her forward by the chain. He guided his cock to her mouth. He didn't wait for her to lick up his shaft, he just pushed deep, stretching her lips around his girth because he fucking loved how that looked too. He dreamt about her mouth sucking him dry. He began to move, keeping each thrust gentle, letting her get used to the feel of him filling her. He switched the golden egg back on, turning it to shuffle, so the vibrator went from one setting to another every couple of minutes.

  Her eyes widened. He tugged on the chain, pulling on her breasts so they jutted straight out and the bells jingled over and over. She swallowed hard, taking him deeper. He held himself still, her tight mouth working him until he wanted to roar with pleasure. The sight of her alone had his balls so tight he thought he'd explode.

  "You look so fuckin' sexy, Sonia," he growled. His voice was so low and husky he knew he was already close. He didn't want it to end. The fire in his groin spread through his body, hot and wild. "I love when your lips are stretched around me and your eyes water as you try to take all of me. You do that for me. Never had anyone lovin' on me the way you do. You love my cock, don't you?"

  She nodded. The bells went wild. His cock slid farther into her. She was taking more than she ever had. Her tongue stroked and danced and then she swallowed him again, and he heard the roar start in his belly. He let loose, a long stream of curses, his fist on the chain, pulling up again so her breasts nearly pointed at him, forcing her head back farther.

  Her hips squirmed, reminding him the little egg was pushing her toward another orgasm. She was ultrasensitive, the evidence of her need on her thighs. Her tight mouth was scorching hot. Her muscles worked him as he pushed deeper. Her eyes widened, but she didn't pull off him. He allowed his cock to be squeezed hard and then he pulled out enough to give her breath.

  "You all right?" He whispered it, praying she would nod. Would say yes. He'd stop if she couldn't take it, but . . . "You're taking me someplace I've never been," he added. Admitting it. Not just his body, but his head. His heart. She was taking him straight into new territory.

  "I love doing this to you," she whispered, her eyes on his, so he could see she meant it. So he could hear she meant it. Her tongue swirled over the broad sensitive crown and then, deliberately looking into his eyes, she engulfed him, taking him deep, urging him to move his hips with one hand clamped to his thigh, fingers digging in. Her other glided down her smooth belly to her mound, fingers curling, circling.

  Joshua watched, mesmerized. He moved because he couldn't stop himself. Her admission that she loved what she was doing seared through him. The sight of her fingers working on her clit and her lips stretched over his cock was the sexiest thing he'd seen. He felt the volcano start somewhere low and build and build. His balls hurt they were so tight, boiling hot. The blast was scorching hot, an explosive detonation, jet after jet, his shaft so hard and thick he didn't think it was possible to sate him.

  He pulled back slowly, watching her throat work. Watching her lick her lips, follow his cock to lap at him gently. He closed his eyes, knowing he could lose her if he didn't handle things just right, and he couldn't afford to lose her. His heart was already involved. She had it, and there was no getting it back. He stopped the egg's vibration, giving her a respite.

  Her mouth was so gentle as she finished him and then sat back on her heels, looking up at him. Every breath she took made the little bells jingle. He would never hear that sound without thinking of this moment. The fiery explosion, the overwhelming purely carnal pleasure, so perfect he knew it was sinful.

  "Come here, baby," he said softly, tugging on the chain to remind her to get to her feet. He helped with one hand, keeping possession of the chain with the other.

  Sonia stumbled a little, still light-headed, but he wrapped his arm around her, bringing her close. "I want you to take a deep breath and let it out," he instructed.

  Her gaze clung to his. He saw the trust there. The moment she exhaled, he hit the remote on the egg so that it vibrated again, and he removed the clamp on her right breast. Her eyes went wide and she gasped, but his mouth was there, soothing the pain as the blood flowed back into her nipple. His tongue worked her, stroking gently as she came down from the combination.

  "You good?" he asked again. He kissed her nipple and then left a trail of kisses to her throat. "I need to hear you say it."

  "I am. This is so sexy, Joshua." She pressed her bare mound against his thigh. He was still fully dressed. He'd simply opened his trousers to get to his cock, but she was rubbing along the material, leaving a wet trail.

  "Do you see what you're doing, naughty girl?" he asked.

  She laughed softly. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

  "Take a breath, baby," he cautioned. The moment she did, he jumped the egg to high and removed the second clamp.
He drew her breast into the heat of his mouth, tongue stroking away the pain while the egg distracted her.

  She moved against him, her hips rocking urgently. "Joshua." She wailed his name. "I'm going to lose my mind."

  His cock had already returned to his usual state around her. Hard and aching. He turned her, tossed the clamps on the table and shoved her head down so that her breasts were on the table. She spread her arms wide so she could grip the table's edge. His hand stroked her ass. So perfect. He turned off the remote and reached for the small wire. Yanking, the egg fell into his hand.

  "Hotter than hell, baby," he said, and put the egg right next to her face. "You're hotter than hell, and I swear I'm going there with you. Fuckin' hell."

  He entered her from behind, in one forceful surge. She cried out, her knuckles turning white as she hung on.

  "Hard, Joshua. Don't hold back."

  "Don't want you sore, Sonia."

  She pushed back. "Hard. I need you now." There was a little sob in her voice.

  He couldn't stop himself, not with her pleading. He had plans for the evening and her getting sore wasn't one of them, but damn him, he couldn't resist her. He began moving, holding her hips, his cock hard and aching, slamming into her over and over. Each stroke sent flames burning over his cock and fire roaring in his balls and belly.

  How the hell she did that to him, he didn't know. It had never been like this with any other woman. He had control. Always. Control was important to him. He'd seen too many leopards out of control, yet with Sonia, he could barely see straight, let alone think.

  Her sobs sounded like music, playing along his belly, tapping a rhythm in his thighs. Her heart beat right through the tight muscles of her sheath, surrounding him. The friction was unbelievable. He held off as long as possible, thankful he'd come once already and could spend time moving in and out of her.

  "You close, baby?" he asked. He knew she was. He knew her body. He knew the sounds she made when she was going to get off and get off big. It was building in her, coiling around him so tightly she was practically strangling his cock.

  "Yes." She nearly spat the word through gritted teeth.

  "Let go with me." He ordered it, clenching his own teeth as the fire roiled and leapt, threatening to consume them both. "Now."

  He knew she would do as he said, because she was Sonia. She was with him, connected to him. He felt her body tighten even more, gripping his shaft, squeezing down like a vise, stealing his breath. Stealing his heart. Stealing his damned soul. She took him with her, forcing the seed out of him, milking him with her scorching-hot inner muscles, draining him of every single drop.

  Her cries penetrated the air, mixed with his hoarse shout. He wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her shuddering body to give her support and to keep himself up when his legs threatened to give out on him. That was another first. He'd never had such a hard orgasm that he could barely keep on his feet.

  He hadn't planned to take her this way. He wanted her in his bed. He had planned to make love to her slowly. To worship her body. Show her with every touch and stroke of his fingers how much he wanted her. How much he needed her.

  The egg and clamps were for appealing to her sense of fun and adventure. He wanted her to know she had it all with him. He would spoil her. Protect her. He wanted to know everything about her. He would spend his life making her happy, giving her every reason to stay. He'd planned on wining and dining her, playing a sexy, exciting game and then carrying her upstairs and making love to her. Now he was lying over top of her, afraid of moving, afraid he might shatter into a million pieces.

  He listened to the sound of her ragged, labored breathing, all the while his hand slid up and down the back of her thigh. The muscles jumped there. Her heart beat wildly into his hand where he slid it up from her waist to her breast. He cradled the soft mound in his palm, afraid his weight might smash her nipples into the wood of the table and hurt them.

  "Your nipples sore?" He rubbed his face along her spine. "We didn't go much over ten minutes. It's not a good idea to keep them on for much longer than that."

  "Good kind of sore," she acknowledged. "I'm a good kind of sore all over my body and a little tired, which is so wrong after spending the day just lounging in bed. Who knew sex could be so exhausting?"

  "Too tired to let the leopards have their run together? Shadow always goes on a nightly run. He complains if Gatita isn't with him now."

  She laughed softly and the movement pressed her breast deeper into his palm. He liked that. He liked holding her. "Gatita is so smitten with your male she whines all night if I don't let her out to run with him."

  "So, you're good with it?" He didn't move.

  "Yes, but I'm not moving for a while. She'll just have to wait while I rest here on the dining room table."

  "A pretty ornament." He rubbed her bottom. "I love your skin."

  "That feels good."

  "When they come back, I'll give you a massage," Joshua stated. "It will help you relax."

  "Honey, if I was any more relaxed, I'd be a puddle on the floor. That being said, I'm not turning down a massage."

  He kissed the nape of her neck and allowed his body to slide from hers. "Good thing. Let's get that dress off. When you shift, your face might burn. I looked at your thigh and it's just a scratch. It should be all right."

  "I burn all over. I think I went up in flames and all you're seeing right now is pure ash." She didn't move.

  "Baby."

  "Ashes don't move."

  He swatted her ass, admiring his handprint. She yelped and turned her head to glare at him over her shoulder. "You're kind of mean."

  "You don't want my male to be pacing up and down the dining room. He's close, Sonia, pushing for freedom."

  She gave an exaggerated sigh and straightened gingerly. Her hands went to the two wide strips of material at her shoulders and pushed them off.

  12

  THE two leopards ran together through the swamp, heading in the opposite direction of the houses. The river dissected the land masses, and without hesitation, the male jumped into the water and swam for the other side. Gatita followed him. Sonia was going to have a thing or two to say to Joshua about his male's daring behavior, but it was clear the leopard wanted to take Gatita exploring.

  Her little female hadn't had nearly enough time discovering creatures in the swamp and she stopped for every lizard and insect she ran across. Shadow became impatient and ran back to her after calling repeatedly. She looked amused and swiped at him with a paw, warning him she wouldn't be hurried, when he nudged her rather hard with his shoulder.

  The island was new to Gatita though Sonia had been there before, and she cast back and forth for scents, took the time to rub along every tree and bush, just to let all the males in the neighborhood know she was around. Hussy, Sonia accused. You're going to get in trouble. Shadow has a nasty temper and he's jealous.

  I like it. Besides, it never hurts to let him think he's not going to get everything his way, Gatita answered, smug and sage at the same time.

  The land was solid, and from what Sonia could tell, big enough for several camps. She spotted three cabins on stilts a good distance from one another. Gatita approached one of them and lifted her muzzle to the wind, showing her teeth in a wide grimace. She laid her ears back and called out softly to her mate.

  What is it? The scent was elusive, not one she recognized, but Gatita might.

  Man. Not good man.

  Sonia didn't like the sound of that. What did Gatita mean? Sometimes things got lost in translation.

  Shadow returned and moved around the cabin, circling the entire structure before climbing up the stairs to the porch. Gatita followed at a slower pace, letting the big male take the lead. Sonia strained to see, hear or smell anything that would bother the female leopard. She caught the scent of a dog and stiffened.

  He's a hunter. He brought dogs with him. We have to get out of here. We shouldn't have come here, Gatita. Soni
a held her breath, willing the dogs to remain quiet, not to catch a whiff of the cat's scent.

  Gatita listened, backing slowing away from the front door, heading toward the stairs. Shadow stayed close, but kept his larger body between his mate and the cabin. He pushed at Gatita's shoulder and she crouched, slinking along the floor of the porch as she made her way toward the stairs.

  To Sonia's horror, Gatita was enjoying herself. More, she liked the adrenaline rush that came with the potential for danger. This is no time to get crazy. This is dangerous. If those dogs wake, they'll chase you into the swamp and a man with a gun will shoot at you.

  You like the danger too. You would want them to chase you and you'd circle back and go after the man with the gun.

  Sonia was shocked at the response, but then she knew she shouldn't be. Gatita was right. She was exactly the same way. It was why she loved the sexy play Joshua enjoyed. She never knew what he was going to do next. She liked the unexpected. She loved the rush she got from being with him. She loved running Gatita in the swamp because that was always a bit of risk. She drove her truck too fast. She liked taking chances.

  You're always the voice of reason, Gatita. This is no time to switch roles.

  Gatita marked a bush, ran a few feet forward and then rubbed her fur along a tree. She rolled in the damp vegetation.

  Oh. My. God. You little hussy, stop that this minute. On top of everything else you're a little exhibitionist. You are not going to have raunchy cat sex with a hunter a few feet away. I'm not letting you put Joshua in danger. Get moving right now.

  The little cat ran toward the river just as a dog let out a howl from inside the cabin. Shadow was on Gatita immediately, shouldering her so that she turned toward the bank with the long sandbar. He plunged into the river just as two other dogs took up the cry. Gatita followed him. They swam in the darkness back to the mainland. Both leopards ran toward the back of Joshua's property.

  Ask Shadow if he's ever seen that cabin occupied before. Ask him if the dogs have been there. Sonia was suddenly uneasy. She'd certainly explored that strip of land, but the cabins had always been emptied and seemed abandoned. She knew a lot of the locals had camps out in the swamps and bayous, but as long as she'd been there--admittedly it hadn't been that long--she'd never seen a single sign that those cabins were used.