* * * *
Ellie brought up her hand, stroking his muscular thigh. He felt like silk over steel. His cock rose from his groin, full and heavy, pre-come glistening at the tip. He wanted her desperately, but was patient. She searched his eyes and scanned his face. If she did this, it would be forever. She hadn't grown up with other shifters, but instinct told her this simple truth.
He was a complete stranger. She didn't know his likes or dislikes, if he lived in the wilderness, or in the heart of a city. She didn't even know what he did for a living. “What's your favorite color?"
"I like many colors. But I think perhaps I like green best."
Her eyes were green; he'd have seen that outside in the light. In the cavern, his were dark and mysterious, tilting up slightly at the corners. His lips were full and expressive, and he smiled easily. He lay forward, gathering her in his arms. “I live in a little yellow farmhouse outside of Mt. Shasta City. In the winter, I like to ski. In the summer, I like to hike. I'm a doctor. I work at the local emergency room."
"Do people here know what you are?"
"Some do. The people here are good that way."
Her breathing had slowed. She was recovering from the climax that had rocked her so hard. The orgasm with his fingers in her ass had been deep and shockingly delicious. She stretched, arching her back, feeling tight muscles quiver. The juices of her arousal trickled from her body, and when she looked up into his face, her pussy clenched. “My name is Ellie."
He took a deep breath and released it. Nathan rose over the top of her, grasping his cock, guiding it into her. Ellie closed her eyes, savoring the thick head, the moisture he trailed over her inner thigh and up to her belly as he teased. When he dipped into her entrance, she thrust upward, trying to meet him, to coax him into her body.
Suddenly, the teasing stopped, and Nathan lowered himself, face to face, golden eyes burning into green, their breath mingling, hot and moist. His cockhead rested right there, just a hairsbreadth from taking her. “You're mine, Ellie.” His whisper was harsh against her lips.
She nodded in agreement. “Yours."
His kiss was hard and invasive. He tasted and nipped and fucked her mouth until she was breathless. Yet still, he hadn't taken her. Somewhere deep in her lower brain, a piece slid into place. She felt a growl break from her throat. Ellie's eyes widened. Her fingers curled into his skin. Claws that had never before emerged suddenly broke through, marking him, claiming him. “You're mine, Nathan."
He looked deeply into her eyes, and then nodded. “Yours.” He bent to kiss her once again, and as he did so, he thrust, his cock beginning its foray into her tight, slick body.
She was tight. Not virginally tight, but strong and muscular. Nathan pulled back and tried again, growling appreciatively when her hips curled into his. Once again he pulled back, and his forward movement carried him home this time. He slid into place and leaned down, taking her shoulder between sharp teeth that desperately wanted to lengthen and mark.
He released her when he tasted blood. Bracing his weight on his hands, he licked the wound, his arousal heightening as she once again broke out into that throaty purr. He pumped steadily, feeling the heat, the moisture increase with every thrust. Her hands floated over his body, nails scraped his skin, and as she grew closer to climax, she dug in, her body undulating under his, her hips churning, urging him faster. Blood from her claw marks trickled down his hip.
She arched up, capturing him between powerful thighs, and she groaned, bucking and then freezing, and then arching into him once more. But she wasn't finished. Ellie pulled him into her, her beautiful lips parted on a moan. He couldn't restrain himself any longer.
Nathan pulled away, ignoring her protest, lifting her upright. As understanding dawned, Ellie gave him her back. Gently he pressed her forward, elbows to the floor. He stroked her back, pressing his hips into hers, sliding his cock deep into her body.
Like the animal that he was at his core, Nathan clasped her hair, holding her head still. He held her hip with the other hand, limiting her movement.
He pumped, his hips slapping against hers noisily, a growl rising in his throat. At the last moment, he freed her head, reached down to her pussy, and pressed her clit. She groaned and came hard, her muscles clasping his cock like a glove.
The scream that broke from his throat was inhuman. Fur rippled and flowed over his skin, his cock barbed and caught, holding him steady as he showered his seed into her body. All thought fled, and Nathan only knew instinct and need and the ultimate satisfaction as he claimed his mate.
Holy. Shit.
Nathan had collapsed on top of her, carrying them both to the floor with his weight. He'd continued to spasm and ejaculate even once they'd collapsed. He groaned, now, rolling to the side, spooning into her back. “Did I hurt you?"
"No ... no, I'm fine."
They were still panting from the exertion. He shifted a bit, letting his exhausted shaft slip from her body. “I lost control, shifted on you. I'm sorry."
"It's what we are, Nathan.” Though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was worried. She smelled it. Ellie suppressed a smile and pulled his arms tighter around her body.
"I shifted too, a little. I've never done that before."
"Never? Maybe being with me is pulling it out."
"Nate?” She rolled to her side, looking up into his face. “I don't think condoms will hold up to that.” She wasn't smiling, but there was a dimple in her cheek. Unable to stop himself, he leaned forward, dipping the tip of his tongue into that sweet little hollow.
"It'll be okay. That took me by surprise, but I can control it next time."
So that was the first time he'd experienced it? “Just the same, maybe we shouldn't take the risk. I do want children, but later."
He nodded, disappointment on his face. “I'll take you back to Cougar Meadow. I imagine your crew will be searching for you."
That wasn't really what was on her mind, but suddenly Ellie had images of Search and Rescue combing the woods, looking for her. “I do need to go back, don't I?"
Nathan nodded, his expression determined, if less than enthusiastic. He rose heavily to his feet, offering her a hand up. It was time to go.
* * * *
"Is there a doctor on call?"
Controlled chaos reigned in the emergency room as they wheeled her in the swinging doors. They'd found her at the edge of Cougar Meadow, huddled in a pile of singed boulders, semi-conscious, but alive. She couldn't remember exactly how they'd extracted her from the forest, but here she was.
"Dr. Levine is on vacation, but he's coming in anyway. He'll cover till Dr. Grant shows up.” They'd cut away her clothing, leaving her with only a sheet to cover her nudity.
She pulled a deep breath, coughing a bit. That interlude in the cavern had to have been a hallucination. She clearly remembered each and every moment, every embrace, every touch. It was the afterward that she didn't remember so well. They'd headed up a pathway to the surface ... and then she woke up here. She explored her scalp with her fingertips, feeling for any sign of injury, but there was nothing. She felt fine.
She sat up and then remembered that her clothing now lay in a tattered heap in the trash container. Ellie rolled over onto her side and waited.
* * * *
Noiselessly, he slipped into her cubicle. She was on her side, sound asleep. Nathan looked over her chart. Elinor Shields, age twenty-five, resident of Central Point, Oregon. He memorized her information. He didn't intend to allow her to walk out of his life.
When he walked into the ER this afternoon, he'd been tied up with broken bones and bruises. It had killed him knowing that Ellie was here and he couldn't rush to her side. Nathan found the rolling stool and sat next to her, stroking her cheek until emerald green eyes fluttered open in surprise.
"It's you..."
He nodded.
"So you are a doctor."
"Mmmm hmmm...” He opened her chart and frowned, reading it. “Mild
smoke inhalation, disorientation. No burns and your vitals are good. I think I'd like to keep you here, oh ... maybe another hour or so. Keep an eye on you."
"Why can't I leave now?"
"Because I can't leave. As soon as someone is here to cover me, I'll take you home."
"Oh.” She frowned for a moment. “I remember most of what happened, but then it gets fuzzy..."
"The caves do that."
She looked at him in puzzlement.
"The caverns are protected. If I wasn't here to remind you, you'd lose all memory of your time there."
"Wow. Why didn't it affect you?"
"It's my territory to protect. In time, it won't have that effect on you."
In time. Time with him. She reached out and clasped his hand, holding it to her cheek. “What now?"
"I go back to work until the regular doctor shows. Then I have the rest of my vacation coming, and you're officially grounded. Doctor's orders."
"And then?"
"Honeymoon. I want to get to know my mate."
The curtain whisked aside. “Dr. Levine, Dr. Grant's here. You're free to ... oh ... sorry!"
The curtain snapped closed, and they laughed.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Belinda McBride
Belinda lives in the wilderness of the Siskiyou Mountains and at night she runs naked with a pack of wolves...
Uhh...
Belinda lives near the Siskiyou Mountains and shares her home with a pack of Siberian Huskies who like to pretend they are wolves. And she usually keeps her clothing on when she goes outside.
Belinda loves to travel, collect rare gemstones, make soap and spend precious time with her daughters. Her degree is in History with a Cultural Anthropology minor. On weekends, you will often find Belinda ringside at a dog show, comb and spray bottle in hand.
She invites you to visit her website at www.belindamcbride.com, or email her directly at [email protected].
[Back to Table of Contents]
Going Somewhere
Cameo Brown
Leonora Palmer, an undercover arson investigator, gets an unexpected lesson in desire when the mysterious owner of a wild animal sanctuary catches her snooping in his garden and gives her no choice but to surrender to his primal needs.
* * * *
"Going somewhere, Ms. Palmer?"
The sexy rumble startled Leonora, sending chills down her spine. Trapped against the garden wall, she turned in the direction of the voice and gulped. The man in front of her rivaled every Greek statue ever chiseled, his classically handsome features and longish black hair giving him the appearance of a god. A very angry god.
"You have me at a disadvantage, sir,” Leonora finally managed, shifting uncomfortably to relieve the pressure building between her thighs. “I don't know your name, but you seem to know mine."
The man, dressed in a black T-shirt that highlighted his muscular arms and black jeans that highlighted everything else, glared at her, his bright green eyes flashing. “You're trespassing, Ms. Palmer,” the man continued, ignoring her inquiry. “I should call the police."
Leonora finally understood—he thought she was Andrea Palmer, investigative journalist at large. And he was right. Sort of. “Then I won't get my story, will I, Mr.... “she coaxed, trying to ignore the dampness trickling down her thigh and the burning sensation caused by her sensitive nipples rubbing against her T-shirt. She'd picked a fine time to stop wearing a bra.
The man ignored her attempt to get his name and continued to stare like a predator, his gaze drifting from her eyes to her lips and farther down. A warm feeling traveled across every inch he inspected, and when he focused his attention on the juncture of her thighs, she thought her pussy might melt.
He stepped closer, and Leonora tried to back up, but she had nowhere to go. The garden wall she'd climbed over to get into Blake Animal Sanctuary now became a prison wall. She pressed her back against the vine-covered stones, hoping somehow a magic door would open and swallow her up.
It didn't.
Her captor continued advancing until his hard body pressed against hers. She put her hands against his chest in a half-hearted attempt to keep him at bay, but in one swift move, he pinned her hands over her head and held them there. “I should call the police, Ms. Palmer, but I'm feeling generous. You get a choice."
The words, delivered in a low hypnotic timbre, made her tremble. Her heart pounded. She was sure by now he could feel her nipples poking him in the chest, which was only fair considering his erection poked her thigh. His musky scent overwhelmed her senses. She longed to reach out and touch him, but she couldn't move. He pressed closer and whispered in her ear. “I can either have you arrested, or I can fuck you right here and give us what we both want."
Leonora wanted to be offended, but that was mighty hard to do considering her pussy ached with a need only his long hard cock could ease. Full lips massaged the sensitive area below her jaw, and strong fingers worked against the damp denim covering her mons. “Fuck me senseless,” she commanded, lifting her leg to his hip so she could push herself against his hard length.
"My name is Gregor,” the mysterious hunk said, thrusting against her. Even with layers of denim separating them, his movements shot fire through her blood. “I want to hear you scream it when you come."
Leonora nodded and Gregor released her hands, placing his on either side of her as he continued to rain kisses across her neck. She was free, and she knew she could knee him at this point and take off, but she didn't want to. She wanted Gregor to fuck her twenty ways from Sunday and then some. She ran her fingers across the hard muscles outlined by the soft black material and sighed.
She just hoped she wouldn't have to arrest him later. Shit.
Gregor must have sensed her hesitation, because he dropped his head to her shoulder and gave a sigh of his own. He stepped away from her and made a sweeping gesture with his arm toward the front gate. “Next time, call for an appointment, Ms. Palmer,” he advised, his voice just a bit ragged. He turned on his heel and strode away.
Emptiness enveloped Leonora. Hell, she'd let her job get in the way again. But fire was all she knew, and she was good at finding arsonists. Besides, she might be the only thing standing between a criminal and the safety of the animals here.
For several minutes, Leonora leaned forward, hands on her thighs, and fought to get a grip. Trying to focus on anything but Gregor's hot breath against her skin, she searched her memory for information on the employees of the sanctuary. The name Gregor didn't ring a bell at first, but maybe she'd missed something. Maybe she needed to reread...
A deep growl interrupted her thoughts and Leonora tensed. She was, after all, wandering around the grounds of a wild animal sanctuary without an escort to guide her.
The growl grew louder and fear gripped her. In the dim twilight, punctuated every few feet by security lights, she could make out the outline of a cat. A big cat, not like the average domestic house kitty.
Leonora stood perfectly still as it approached, its movements sleek and graceful. Bright green eyes glowed against velvety black fur, and from the looks of it, the cat appeared to be a part of the panther family. Something in her wanted to reach out to it, to touch its silkiness, but she knew better. Wild animals were better left wild, and the sanctuary had the reputation of helping with that cause. Still, Leonora had to fight to keep from putting her hand out.
The panther ambled forward, carrying something in its mouth. Dropping it on the ground, the magnificent beast lay down beside the object and flicked its tail, as if daring Leonora to reach for it.
Curiosity killed the cat. Her curiosity had gotten her into more than one pinch in the past, but right now it could get her killed. The cat waited expectantly, though, almost as if it wanted her to come look at the object. It continued to pant lightly and flick its tail, and Leonora couldn't help but sense a certain amusement in its demeanor. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see what it'd dropped, considering
cats were known for bringing fresh kills to humans. What if he'd dropped a dead Chihuahua or something? Still, she was terribly curious.
The panther yawned, and Leonora grinned. “Am I boring you, kitty?” she asked with a small laugh.
The panther laid its head on its paws and, tail swishing, closed its eyes.
Her curiosity out of control, she moved onto her belly and inched forward. Leonora kept her attention on the panther as she crept along. The panther didn't move.
Finally, Leonora got close enough and reached forward. Expecting a wet glob covered in wild cat spit, she touched the item tentatively. She blinked in surprise; not only did it feel mostly dry, it also felt strangely familiar. Her wallet.
Or more precisely, her wallet that had been in her purse, which she'd left in her car waaaaay down the street. What the fuck? She looked up, but the big cat had disappeared. Too late she realized she'd taken her eye off the panther for just a second too long. The low growl behind her confirmed her worst fears.
Cautiously, she peeked over her shoulder and wished she hadn't. The panther stood at her feet, eyeing her. Terrified, she tried to pull herself forward, but the weight of a huge paw on her calf stopped her. Panic set in.
A crushing weight pressed against her back and she couldn't breathe. Panthers couldn't weigh that much, could they? It didn't matter one way or another. Either it would tear her to shreds or crush her with its fat ass. The result would be the same.
She'd be dead.
Leonora tried to take a breath, but the beast's weight forcing her down wouldn't allow it. Clutching her wallet like a weapon, she decided to take a chance and fight her way out. She prepared to roll over and push it off her, then run like hell, when a low purr penetrated her brain.
"Going somewhere, Ms. Palmer?” Gregor's soft voice invaded her consciousness.
The weight on her back eased, and Leonora gasped for air. As soon as she got two good gulps, she struggled forward and out from under ... what?
Strong hands braced her shoulders and pulled her over on her back. Leonora tried to shimmy away using her elbows, but a pair of bright green eyes stopped her. Gregor, on all fours, hovered over her, staring at her intently. His lopsided grin—a clear indication this whole weird episode amused him—would have pissed Leonora off completely if it hadn't been for the fact that Gregor was totally and gloriously naked.
Firestorm (Anthology) Page 5
