Tane's Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Shifter's on the Run Book 1)

by Serena Simpson

  Chapter Twenty

  The walk back to the inn didn’t take long. When they reached the outside of the club they stood in wonder as it slowly faded away. The miles of fields faded away with it and they were left in a rural setting not far away from the inn.

  She shook her head and opened her mouth to say something then closed it. They were in a world they knew nothing about. Entry was allowed because of the animals residing deep within them.

  Now that she could think, there were questions she would have liked answers to. What kind of animal was she? Why couldn’t she turn like the others? Could the others take more than one shape? Were there others in this new world that had more than one animal? Why did the government stop at only giving her one? Why not a multitude like Tane? She had lots of questions, but as she sat there listening to the female talk, her mind refused to do anything but take in what she was freely telling them.

  Silently they walked into the inn making it to their room. Tane dropped her hand and checked the room first before coming back to the door and motioning her to come in.

  “Tane?” She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed while she waited for him to say something.

  He walked over to her and went to the floor before her. Taking her hands in his, he raised his eyes to meet her.

  “Leza, they’re not going to let us go. At least not without a fight.”

  “I know.” She took one of her hands back and threaded it through his hair massaging his scalp as she went along.

  His eyes dropped and his body leaned into her until his forehead rested on her chest.

  “I want you,” he whispered as if saying it too loud would disrupt the moment.

  A small smile hovered over her lips. She wanted him too. Leaning over, she kissed the top of his head while her fingers traced down the side of his neck. His chiseled cheeks and chin rested on the strong column of his neck. Just that little bit appealed to her, called to her.

  He lifted his head, looking at her, searching for approval or disdain in her eyes. She held those eyes until her head got too close to see them then kissed him. Not a gentle ‘let’s make love’ kiss. No, it was a wild passionate ‘I need you this moment’ kiss.

  His arms went around her as his mouth melded to hers. She followed him to the floor laying on top of him as his hands went down to her ass and pulled her closer to him.

  She could feel the thickness of his cock burning her through her clothes. If that had been all there was her heart wouldn’t have shook. There was possessiveness in his grip, telling her without words that she was his and would always be.

  Grinding herself against him, she tried to let him know it was mutual.

  He pulled back taking deep breaths of air into his lungs.

  “Leza,” he groaned. Holding tight, he stood to his feet bringing her with him.

  “You need to know, Love. If we do this my animals plan to sink their teeth deep into you. I will claim you.”

  She closed her eyes and allowed her body to lean into him as she shook. The thought of him claiming her made her wetter than she thought possible. Yet she held back. There was a feeling of joy mixed with a desire for more blocking her airway that wouldn’t let her give her agreement.

  Her animal roared inside because she wanted to claim as well as be claimed but she needed more than his animals desiring to make her theirs.

  His placed her on the floor, tilted her head with a gentle touch to her chin. His green eyes searched her as if the meaning of life was hidden in her depths.

  “I want you,” his voice came out in a rasp. “I never thought I’d meet a woman I wanted to make my own. Standing in front of a preacher, watching my woman walk down ready to commit to me, seemed like a dream for a more deserving man. Things like children who would one day call me dad were things I refused to think about. I shoved them in a dark corner of my mind long ago and forgot about them. Until you showed up. With your smile and the way you make me laugh over little things. I want you and I want to be yours.”

  She threw herself at him. No, he didn’t go down on a knee and propose and he didn’t say he loved her, but she knew. The same way she knew her own heart. He was the one for her and she would commit to him forever because she loved him.

  “Yes, please, and yes.”

  He picked her up and laid her on the bed. Then he just stood over her and looked. His eyes heated up as he traced her curves with them.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, giving her a smile.

  “Thank you.”

  “Leza, there’s more than one type of beauty. Your beautiful brown skin calls to me. Your slender figure makes me want to touch you. Those bow shaped lips are an integral part of my dreams but that’s not why you’re beautiful. All of that is superficial. You’re beautiful because you’re caring. The way you cared for Amy amazed me and touched my heart. You’re beautiful because you’re strong. Not strong like me or the others, but strong on the inside, willing to face or do whatever needs to be done. You’re intelligent, smart, witty and a thousand other things. You’re beautiful.”

  She raised her hand and swiped at the errant tear trying to leave her eye. She reached for him needing him to be closer. He took her hands and sat on the side of the bed before bending down to take off his boots then reaching down and took hers off.

  He unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing dropping it to the floor before he slipped the tee over his head. Her hands came up to explore his wide chest.

  “I love the way you look,” she said softly. “The way you feel under my hands makes me crazy.”

  He grinned at her before he reached down and undid the buttons of the shirt she was wearing. She lifted her shoulders off the bed so he could pull it down her arms. Then he lifted the cami she was wearing and pulled it over her head. A pink lace bra highlighted the brown skin it covered.

  “Beautiful.” His head came down and latched onto her nipple through the bra. He sucked it into his mouth making her hands clutch at his shoulders as a sigh of pleasure came from her.

  He switched to her other nipple as his hand tweaked the first one. Her hips came up punching in the air. She tried to think of something else besides the pleasure her body was feeling. Keep it cool, she whispered to herself, even as need, stark and hungry, took up residence in her.

  Her hips punched up once again and she lost a handle on keeping it cool. Her need poured out of her as she pulled him on top of her. Hands snaked down his back, her nails scratching his skin. He gave a sharp moan as she planted her feet against the bed and rolled him over. Now she was on his stomach. Rising up, she took one of his nipples into her mouth and sucked on it. Pulling as far as it would go before she nipped at it with her teeth.

  He held her head down as growling noises rumbled in the back of his throat. Lifting her head, she whispered into his ear. “You like this my lips on you, my teeth teasing you with little nips.”

  His repeated growls were all she needed.

  She kissed him, needing more of his honey flavored lips before she bit his bottom lip smiling as he looked at her with predatory eyes. She licked and bit down his neck feeling the small tremor in his body. He was responding to her and she felt powerful in a relationship for the first time in her life.

  Her tongue bathed his shoulder letting him know exactly where she meant to bite him before her hands smoothed over his chest. He was amazing. She knew he must have always been this way, even as a human. Now though he was more amazing. His desire for her wafted in the air between them spurring her on. He wanted her and his scent was so tantalizing they should bottle it.

  She kissed down his torso. A little voice in the back of her head told her she was being aggressive. Men liked more submissive women. Her animal swiped at that voice with her claws. Leza had to laugh when the voice shut up and she realized she would never be submissive, had never been submissive. She simply didn’t want to interact with the rest of the world.

  Tane watched her as if he was the king of everything and this was
something she did just for him. He was right. There was nothing submissive about Tane. In fact, he was dominating enough that she didn’t scare him. He could let her take the reins because it made him a better male.

  Her finger caught on the button of his pants before she slipped it out and undid his zipper, the rasp of it lost in the panting of their breath. He put his feet flush against the bed and lifted his hips allowing her to draw the pants down along with his boxers.

  She licked her lips as the rest of his body became bare to her. With quick work, she drew his pants off his legs and allowed them to drop on the floor beside the bed. Her fingers went to his erection, cupping her hand around it as she prepared to taste him.

  Lowering her head, she licked him from base to tip as he hissed in pleasure. His hands wrapped around her upper arms and pulled her up to him. His mouth latched onto her and kissed her deeply as he positioned her over his staining erection.

  “Mine,” his voice said in claim as he lifted her and dropped her on his thick cock.

  A bellow came out of her as he invaded her. His thickness pushed at her tightness making her walls convulse as he drove deeper inside of her. Her breath came out in sharp pants as he seated himself in her.

  “Yes!” A long moan ripped from her chest followed by “Please. Move now.”

  His hands went around her waist as he took over the pace, lifting her and dropping her with glorious abandonment.

  Her head fell back as she gave herself up to the pleasure he made her feel as her body shuddered for him. Her heart sang because all she wanted was him. How could anything be better than this incredible feeling that was lighting her up on the inside. She never knew this existed, but it’s what she waited for her whole life.

  She could feel her pleasure mounting. In the base of her spine she felt little ricochets of fireworks. Her belly was so hot she felt like she might be a volcano about to explode. Then she looked down at his eyes, animal sharp in their brightness, and her legs started shaking uncontrollably. The lava began to overwhelm her body and she felt her animal answer the call.

  Her teeth sharpened into fangs. She couldn’t control it. She was going to do what her new nature demanded. Before she could strike, he pulled her down and bit her shoulder. Everything went super nova at that point as she experienced a soul shattering orgasm. Her body synced with his.

  Silver cords went from his body to hers, wrapping them together, making her heart beat in rhythm with his. They were together as one.

  She floated on a sea of bliss as he erupted inside of her. Moving on instinct, she bit him and refused to let go.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The knock on the door was a rude interruption of her sweet dreams. Throwing her hand over her head, she cracked an eye turning to look at Tane. He sighed deeply and sat up.

  Knowing their peaceful interlude was over she stretched, stood and grabbed her clothes off the floor. Wrinkling her nose at the realization she would have to put on yesterday’s outfit, she walked into the bathroom.

  Leza stopped at the side of the door as she realized she could feel Tane. She knew exactly where he was and what he was doing, which seemed like a duh moment to her because she was just with him, but this was different. It was a knowledge that came from her senses and not from visual contact. She’d have to put it to the test someday, but she was sure she could use it to find him like a homing pigeon.

  That could be good or bad in the wrong hands. Sighing, she quickly went through her morning routine. Dressed, she walked out into the room to see the males talking quietly.

  “What’s going on?” she asked as she walked up to them.

  “We need to leave. The inn keeper knocked on our door not too long ago and suggested we leave while we still could.” Dai gave a shrug as he repeated her words.

  “Let’s pay her and get away from this place. There’s more going on here than meets the eye.” Thoughts of a club that vanished before her eyes kept teasing her.

  “We already paid her,” Jay said turning to the door.

  Tane made one last visual sweep of the room before exiting. They walked down the stairs to be met by the grandmother who owned the inn. She looked timeless, and Leza wondered once again who this woman was.

  “There are two roads out of town. Dublin road will lead you to the highway. It is the most direct path. Then there’s Mysteria, named after the town. Both roads hold doom for you. If you choose Mysteria, you will get to choose how you die. If you choose Dublin, you will simply die.” She turned and walked away.

  “Just what we need,” Leza said under her breath. “Riddles before breakfast.”

  They left the inn feeling relief once they were no longer under the roof. Jay led them to a large SUV. It was reinforced like it had dreams of becoming a tank before someone was rude enough to make it into a lowly SUV.

  Dai climbed into the driver’s seat calling dibs on driving it first. Jay climbed in the passenger seat leaving the back of the vehicle for Tane and Leza.

  “Which way are we going?” Leza asked, curiosity in her voice.

  “Mysteria,” Tane replied.

  “What if it is a set up?”

  “It could be, but I didn’t hear anything in her voice to make me think she lied. Then there’s what we found out last night. We know they are tracking us. I’m sure that all roads out of this town are being watched.”

  You’re being hunted, they want her. The words echoed in Leza’s head. They were headed for a trap. All that mattered was which trap they would spring.

  Dai turned the radio on and drove the speed limit like they were out for a nice Sunday drive. Soon Mysteria I210 came into view. She watched the edges of it move and curl around itself until she realized the road was just like the club they had been in. Great, it gave her the feeling it too may disappear at any moment.

  “Tane?” Dai’s voice rang out.

  “I see it. Keep driving, the road will keep until we are off of it.”

  “What did you learn last night?” Jay asked.

  “A lot of shifter history.” Leza gave them a run down on what they had learned. Then she added how they were being tracked and she was the target.”

  “If we’re honest we already knew that. I knew it was a trap when you hit my property. These traps are simply better.” Tane caressed the side of her face with the back of his knuckles.

  “Then what’s the first order of business?” Dai asked as he turned onto the highway.”

  “Let’s try not to fall into their trap.” Tane watched as the road they just left fluttered and disappeared much like the club from last night.

  It’s too late, Leza’s animal whispered to her.

  *~*~*~*

  They finally stopped at some nondescript diner on the side of the road. Dai had pushed them refusing to stop until hunger and the need to use the restroom was making Leza crazy.

  She used her best smile as she walked into the diner and asked for the girl’s room. Tane followed her walking in behind her to the scream of at least one young lady and a gentle pat from an older woman who said she remembered what is was like to be so in love that going to bathroom in front of each was a thing.

  Leza gave a deep sigh taking care of her business and washing hands before she dragged him out.

  “Tane, don’t you think you’re taking protecting me a little too far?”

  “No.” He led her back to the table.

  “What can I get for you?” the waitress asked them with a smile.

  She was young with raven colored hair and the grace of a model. Leza thought she didn’t look like someone she expected to see in a roadside diner. With her looks she could have high-tailed it to California to be an actress.

  She was seeing conspiracy everywhere; of course there were women who looked like her working in diners. Maybe she was just getting money together to leave, or taking night classes. Dropping her head to the menu, she gave her drink order. As much as she wanted a coke, she gave into her beast that was fighting her on it
and asked for juice instead.

  She ordered a large breakfast when the waitress came back with their drinks.

  “What’s different between the two of you?” Dai asked looking between them.

  “What do you sense?” Leza asked as she looked at Tane whose head was cocked to side as he waited for an answer.

  “I sense a connection between the two of you. It was always there, almost something that teased the senses but now it’s sharp and defined. Maybe a warning letting males know that you’re taken.”

  “I feel it also. Leza has a big do not touch sign on her back but it’s more than that. There’s no doubt the two of you are together. I would hazard a guess if a female was here she would say that Tane had the same sign on his back.”

  “I think it’s natural. What happens when you meet your mate and actually bond. I feel different, like I can feel Tane no matter where I am.”

  Tane scanned the room. “I want to protect her. Make sure there’s nothing and no one around to hurt her.” His hand moved over her leg giving it a squeeze. “I can’t risk living without her. Now that I have her, my stability, my sanity depends on her.” His confession was low, the sincerity behind the words hitting them in the heart.

  The waitress came back bringing them their plates of food. Leza looked at her eyes narrowing. The lady handled all those plates like she did it every day, but something was off.

  They met the waitress with polite smiles as she gave the plates out.

  “What’s wrong?” Tane took her hand, which was clutched around her fork.

  “The waitress. She’s making me uncomfortable. She looks like she belongs on the runway, but she’s in this hole in the wall diner. In fact, all the waitresses except one look like they belong somewhere else.”

  Tane swept his eyes around the room one more time. “You’re right. They all look beautiful, something we would have normally caught.”

  “Why didn’t we?” Jay sounded nervous.