by Susan Arden
“Okay,” she said gazing up into his face with her shimmering eyes and pupils nearly fully dilated. The scent of her filled him, and he interlaced their fingers, leading her out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the backstairs.
He held Diana in his arms, having picked her up at the bottom step. He couldn’t resist touching her whenever possible. She was his, whether she realized it or not. The idea of her running unchecked in the middle of Denver had him seeing red. He wanted to spank her bottom for shifting without a care for her own safety, and in a public park. No way would he ever let her do that again. His gut spasmed at the unsettling thought: what if she had no intention of letting him do more than train her?
He started up the stairs. “Diana, you must promise me, never shift alone again?”
“You said I’d have control. Right? I’m not worried. You’re not going to start acting like a brood hen?”
“Don’t force me to impress upon you the severity of this problem.”
“I’ve taken care of myself up to now. I do understand. I’ve no desire to end up in some lock-up facility.” Her flippant tone said otherwise.
Oh, hell. He wanted to shake her good. Tristen and Fin would be assigned to tail her if she refused his offer. Note to self: hire another bodyguard.
Time would tell if he was right on first bite — for her, not him. He was certain. He wasn’t in full control when what he sought involved the volition of a strong-willed woman. Diana might not understand what it meant to be an alpha leopardess at present. Yet, just from her attempt to go it alone for over a year, she had already proven her strength of character in his book. He had enough sense to admit that his inability to take her without a chase excited and, at the same time, bothered him. To be conflicted in claiming a woman like Diana would demand correcting, and fast.
He found it inconceivable that her parents had refused to let her come back just because she’d married a man not of their choosing. Now, as a widow, would she go back to her family?
Christ, she was an alpha leopardess he’d have been proud to bring home to his parents if they were alive. He didn’t want to think along those lines. Not tonight.
Diana had asked him questions he realized that were doorways to grounding them and deepening their connection. They’d shared their pasts and pain, but it was only the first night he’d let her into his world. Regardless of having known her for the last year, he’d been her employer and had kept his distance, all too aware of his attraction to her, and unwilling to risk crossing any lines that would make her uncomfortable.
Bringing her home, to this house and into his bedroom, very much satisfied both his human and leopard natures. “Are you tired?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her face.
He lifted her chin, gazing into the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. His words became glued to the back of his throat. If he lost this woman, he doubted recovery would be possible. Jesus, what could he do to ensure she would be safe? Everything possible.
Her fingers had crept up and held his face. “You look worried,” she said.
He inhaled, unwilling to articulate these thoughts just yet. “Concerned. You’re a handful but even so, I may have tired you out. All I want is to tear off your clothes and toss you across that bed.” He brushed his mouth against her rose-petal lips.
“Mmmm. There’s nothing we need to solve tonight.” She moaned against his mouth. Her breath caressed his tongue and he returned for a second taste.
If she refused to listen to reason, he’d take things into his own hands. Starting right now, with her body, he turned her face to give him better access. “Open for me. No holding back.” This time he kissed her with the intent to have his way in his own bed.
Shawn set her down in the hall outside his room without releasing her. He pushed her back into the wall, plunging his tongue into her mouth, delivering and taking with each tangle of his tongue. It was impossible to get enough of her. He ran his hands over her shoulders unzipping her dress. He brought the material down her waist, enjoying the feel of her skin over her lush hips. Jesus, to draw out this experience would be explosive.
Opening the bedroom door, he guided her inside. “Take it off. Everything you’re wearing.”
Slowly, she worked her fingers letting the dress fall around her legs. She stepped free, unhooking her bra, and undoing the garter belt. She removed her shoes and then one by one, he watched enthralled as she rolled down her stockings in the most provocative striptease he’d ever witnessed.
“Beautiful,” he said coming up in front of her. He cupped her ass, hiking her hips up to his so he could press himself into her, closer to the soft wetness he sought.
Lifting her up, he spread her thighs. “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he murmured against her mouth.
He continued exploring her body while his fingers traveled toward her center. No panties, just splendid warm skin, the way she should always be for him. He found her pussy, lightly traced her folds.
She sucked in her breath, quivering in his arms the moment his fingers found her slickness. “I hope you’re not teasing me. Is this another lesson?” she asked.
“Fuck, no. I think we’ve been good long enough.”
She pressed her pussy along his finger and whimpered. Damn, if she wasn’t the most sensitive creature. His cock thickened as his craving to possess her surged; a primitive instinct to join with her shook his core. He rubbed her silky folds up and down his throbbing erection. He carried her toward the bed and deposited her on top, then gazed down at her breath-stopping beauty. Biting back a groan, he knew he couldn’t lose his head. She required him to take the lead.
“Spread your legs and touch yourself for me. Show me what I desire.” His voice lowered, close to drowning in his need to dive into her body.
“What ? I don’t know — ”
“Don’t … ” He marched over to her, pushing her back against the mattress, and bent over her, placing both of his arms on either side of her body. When he spoke, he did so slowly to make his point. “Don’t argue with me. Do exactly as I’ve instructed. If not, I can find a way to motivate you to do as I say without argument. And trust me, I’m only too happy to begin tonight.”
He didn’t move and waited. A silent exchange occurred between them, concluded by her small nod. He backed off and tunneled his fingers through his hair. Her scent had his lust ramped up. It was taking more and more not to come at her like a savage beast and take her. For all his talk of being just and even knowing the history of shifters like his sister, he was pushed to the very edge between man and beast when it came to Diana. “Like this?” she asked, coyly seductive. She opened her thighs, her movements unhurried. She slid her hands down from her raised knees until her fingers met.
“Diana, you can’t imagine how this feels, seeing you open before me.” He watched her fingers moving, pressing down on her mound. She arched and moaned, opening her knees and giving him a spectacular view of her pussy and that sumptuous ass. The sight of her slick center pushed his leopard nature to the forefront. He snarled, staring at her. She hesitated, glancing up at him and her lips parted into an innocent ‘O.’
“Oh, baby. Don’t stop,” he commanded, as he almost tore his own clothes off.
She lowered her legs to the bed, her knees and legs together. “Are you sure you want to watch?”
“That’s one. Shall we go for more? Perhaps you like the feel of a hand across your bottom. What did I say before?” His fingers twitched, toying with the fantasy of spanking her, and then driving his cock into her wetness.
Slowly, she opened her legs, sucking her finger and stopping before opening her folds for him. Her lips were wet with her own arousal and soon he promised himself he’d taste her creamy slickness. He inhaled, the scent of her pervading his body, invading his soul, down to the smallest atom. She had imprinted her form upon him.
He stroked his cock, aware that in the next few seconds he’d plunge into her, taking them both over the cliff. Never
had he been so thoroughly turned on by a woman. He wanted to conquer her hunger while quenching his own.
Diana’s finger dipped inside her opening and a snarl tore from his mouth. He could feel the wild leopard inside himself demand that he take her. He came down onto the bed as if he’d pounced. “I’ve got to have you.”
He turned her over, bringing her across his legs. “This is for questioning me.” He lifted his arm and smacked her soundly on her ass cheek. Diana snarled and tried to move off his lap. “Did I say to move?”
Again, he spanked her. The sound of his hand was loud in the room. “Any more arguments?”
“No. None,” she whispered. He tossed her onto the mattress, her legs splayed, the memory of her rosy ass heating his arousal past scorching. This was how he’d wanted her, from the moment he’d laid eyes on her last year. Completely under his control. He followed her on the bed, moving over her body, dragging his cock between her legs while she arched, moaning his name.
Diana lifted her hips, rubbing against him in the most primal form of submission. “Please,” she whimpered.
“Turn over,” he growled, hardly able to form the words while staring down at her body. Every fiber in his being screamed to mount her. Take her. Own her.
He wrapped his hand in her hair and bared her neck to him. He took care not to clamp down tight. His dick swiped across her folds. He wrapped his hands on either side of her hips, lifting up her ass as he knelt in between her legs, her body a soft, yielding fit. Then he was at her opening. In one forceful thrust, he took possession of her.
His cock throbbed deep inside her body.
“Shawn, a condom.” Diana’s voice quavered.
Fuck. He came out of her and in one swift motion he pulled open his nightstand. Nothing. He went into the bathroom, nearly mad, slamming cabinet doors. The leopard didn’t care about protection. Hell, the beast preferred if he’d put aside all promises and do what nature demanded. She was an alpha and a worthy mate. His skin tightened and he fought a primal nature that burned his self-control. Take her, and then he’d be done with this blistering craving. He’d own her forever. Except she’d never trust him. Would she? Just as he’d been burned, he couldn’t do that to her. Not Diana.
After grabbing a fistful of condoms from the bathroom, he returned to the bedside tearing open a condom wrapper with his teeth. He tossed an additional handful of condoms onto the nightstand.
Christ. He surveyed Diana in a position of subservience on the bed. No wonder he could barely contain his need to possess her. With her ass in the air, his leopard nature was being pushed to the brink. He flung the open condom packet down on the nightstand.
He had to reduce the fire of his desire to possess her. To take her from behind on the bed urged his primitive leopard nature to take her completely. He had to wait out his lust until he was fully in command; otherwise, he risked taking her in a way neither of them desired. If and when they mated, it would be by mutual consent. Not him, taking her from behind her back, stealing her will without permission. The leopard in him let loose a roar that he tried to choke back.
Diane’s face swung around at the explosive sound that echoed in the room. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No. On the contrary. I need to take care. We’re both near the edge. Sweetheart. Come to me. I want you to stand up and hold onto the railing. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Stand by the footboard?”
“It’s time we fucked down your heat to a manageable level. For both of us, Diana. You’ve got me as hot as you are. We need to fuck hard if we hope to get past the urge to do what our leopard nature demands, but I can’t be close to your neck or pulse points right now. So, you’re going to hold on while I’m in back of you. I’ll have you by your hips. Christ, I need this more than you do at this point.”
“Because this is too like leopards mating?”
“Yes, we’ll do the stance in this position, but under no circumstances are you to shift. I think we can trick our inner natures into subduing this urge. It’ll get worse before it gets better, but we’ve got to let loose some steam before we run.”
She swallowed, staring at him. “We’re going to run? As leopards?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. But tonight I’m going to deliver like a club banger would have you.” He held out his palm to her.
Her breasts swayed, nipples erect, and she grazed one tip across his rib cage gliding past him.
“Here. Or here?” She motioned with her hands.
“Stand closer to this side so you can hold on onto the bedpost. Widen your stance and bend over.” Her fingers didn’t reach around the post. He doubted she’d hold on for any length of time.
“Let me get something to tie your hands.”
Her brow shot up. “Is this what you wanted all along?”
“We can’t risk you falling down or getting hurt. We don’t need another complication. Not with our run tomorrow.”
“I’ll agree to being tied to a post. Running free … ”
He took one of his silk ties from the closet. “Shush. You’ll do everything I suggest or I’ll invoke my right to discipline you again. Baby, I’d love to throw you over my lap and spank that beautiful bottom of yours for more than a couple of swats. Don’t tempt me to give you another preview. You know that by the end of your training, I’ll know you inside and out. Darling, bend over.” The look on her face was priceless.
He came up next to her, taking hold of her hand. “Place your palm here. Don’t move your hand. Give me your other palm. Thread your fingers together clasping the column.” He lifted her interlaced palms upward a couple of inches. “Do you wish to say something?”
“I don’t understand why all of this is necessary. That’s all.”
“It is if I say so. I’m not going to have a repeat performance of you shifting. I think this involves a little quid pro quo. Trust me?”
She nodded with eyes big as saucers. The slow slide of her tongue along the edge of her lip made him see stars. “Baby,” he groaned. “Give me your mouth.” He held out his engorged cock to her. If he wasn’t careful, he’d get lost in her hot mouth.
“Oh, you need me to help you. Nice change of events, Mr. Barclay.” She knelt in front of him, her hair tickling his legs. Jesus, the feel of her mouth almost brought him to his knees. Diana danced her tongue around the precum dripping from the end of his head.
“Suck me harder, kitten.” He pulled her hair away from her face so he could see every swipe of her tongue. She returned his gaze, fire in her eyes so bright he swore the flames licked his crown. The feel of her wet lips enveloping his cock lit every one of his nerve endings. Heat spiked up his spine, tightening his balls. He fisted his hand in her hair and tugged. Her eyes widened, a tinge of anger flirted within her eyes, and color tinted her cheeks, but she didn’t stop sucking him. Oh no, if anything she took him deeper and sucked him harder. He closed his eyes, enjoying the way she delivered with that those succulent lips of hers. Electrical pinpricks raced up his spine and in a second he’d jet his load down her throat. “Damn I’m ready to explode,” he panted. “All right then. I’m going to tie your wrists to the bed. You’re incredible, even if you’ve a temper hidden down deep.”
He noted she was beginning to chafe, a sign of her leopardess nature wanting to emerge, wanting to lead. In pushing her, she didn’t back down all the way. Retreated was more like it while gathering for her next move. At Matrix, he’d given her near complete freedom in design creation, yet she’d always held back. He might suggest an idea but, so far, they’d both been on pretty equal footing. He suspected it was one reason she’d been so low key. Not once had she asserted her position or attempted to buck under the weight of authority. This was a fine line they’d both have to learn to dance. A give and take based on mutual and complete trust.
His lips twitched at the thought. “You’ve not had much experience in the yoke of constraint. Have you, kitten?” He looped his tie around her wrists. Soon, no doubt, the
leopardess would show herself. Then he’d brandish a firmer hand with his little debutant shifter.
He finished making the square knot. “There. Not too tight? Turn your face this way and open that amazing mouth of yours.” The moment her tongue flicked across his dick, he shuddered. He gazed down at her, the head of his cock inside her mouth, thrusting over her tongue. He tangled his fingers through her hair, framing her head. “Get ready to take me.” He held her head steady and he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. He stopped just as his spine started to tingle.
“Your turn.” He pulled her upright. “Bend over and hold on.”
He knelt in back of her, pushing her legs wider apart. Her perfect ass was right in front of his face. He spread her ass cheeks, giving him a full view of her sweet, tight, puckered hole. He dragged his tongue up and over her opening, licking her up and down. She trembled under his mouth. He thrust his tongue into her slit, making her rock.
“Shawn, I’m going to come if you continue. Please, babe.”
He wasn’t prepared for the effect of hearing her endearment. His heart thundered. Without warning, a pattern of dark spots came to life over his skin. “Christ, hold on darling.” He stood between her legs, lifting her body, fingering her clit. “Diana, hold onto the post and don’t let go. I’ve got to fuck you right now. Close your eyes. Don’t disappoint me. Eyes closed.”
Shawn didn’t want her to see him in this condition. He tore into a new condom packet and sheathed himself with latex, grunting at the feel of his palm. Pinpricking points spread like a rabid rash. His sweat glands shut down in anticipation of the appearance of a coat of fur. He positioned his cock at her entrance.
Groaning loudly, he surged into her pussy with one hard, body-slamming thrust. The feel of her made him stop moving, afraid he’d lose control. All the while, he was aware that stubble had formed across his skin. He focused on his breath and delivered another earth-shattering pound into her. Then he stopped worrying that he was hurting her when her ass arched and flexed up to meet him, thrust for thrust.
