Emily’s mouth dropped open. Of all the conceited, arrogant—
“And, of course, there’s the fact that I love you. That’s got to count in my favor.”
She went all mushy inside and struggled to keep it from spilling out into a dopey grin. He loved her! She had a sneaking suspicion she returned the emotion but wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet. Although Saber could act bossy and arrogant, he didn’t make her feel vulnerable and weak. When Emily stood up for what she wanted or stated her point of view, he listened—even if he didn’t agree. It was the big difference between him and Michael. “Okay. Let’s see how it goes. Take each day one at a time.” Being needed and wanted was addictive. Loved. Emily pressed her body up against him and wound her arms around his neck. She’d been so lonely without Saber. He’d sneaked into her heart and filled the empty spaces, brushed away the hurt she’d suffered at Michael’s hands. Emily glanced at him with a trace of shyness. Dare she admit it? “I’ll stay. I’ll move back in with you starting tonight.” She sucked in a deep breath before blurting, “I…I’ve missed you and your brothers. But mostly you.”
Saber’s eyes glowed and as she watched, they changed shape. Just a fraction, but they made him appear more cat-like. He issued a soft, satisfied purr that stabbed through Emily to the depths of her soul. Saber cupped her face in his hands and smiled. “Can we cement this momentous occasion back at the house? In my bedroom?”
“Good plan.” Curious about the changes in him, she raised her fingers to touch the corners of his eyes. “Does it hurt?”
Saber moved away to start the SUV and head for home. “Does shifting hurt? Not really. A little discomfort at first, but there are compensations.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Enhanced senses for one.”
“During sex?”
Saber purred loudly and stepped on the accelerator. He glanced across the interior of the vehicle. His grin was smug and his wink suggestive enough that her breasts tightened to hard nubs. Emily took that as a yes.
Dust trailed behind them as they sped down the gravel road. Five minutes later, they pulled up outside the house. They climbed from the SUV and hurried up the concrete path to the front door.
“Ah, Saber and Emily,” Felix said, meeting them in the entrance.
“Oh, you’re back from shifting the stock. You should know,” Emily said, “that we’re going to make noise in the bedroom.”
“Again?” Leo said, appearing from the direction of the kitchen.
Saber stepped up beside her and curled his arm around her waist. “I hear they do a very good meal at the pub. The café, too.” He propelled Emily toward his bedroom and kicked his shoes off just inside the door.
Their bedroom, she thought with a sense of satisfaction. The door shut behind them with a satisfying clunk. Real privacy at last.
Emily smiled and teasingly licked her lips. “Let me undress you. I need to study you more closely than I have. See if I’ve missed any feline-type clues.”
A laugh escaped him. His eyes glowed brightly, the gold flecks mesmerizing. Beautiful. “Have at it, kitten. You won’t make me scream.”
“But I might make you purr,” she countered, stepping closer to unbutton the shirt he’d hastily donned after his earlier demonstration. Emily slid her hands beneath, savoring the warmth of him, the musky scent combined with the green fresh smells of the outdoors. Smoothing the shirt down his arms, she let it fall away.
Glancing up at him, she grinned. “So far, you appear human. No differences I can see.” Deftly, she unbuckled the belt at his waist and popped open the snap fastening on his faded jeans. The zipper whined down at the slightest touch of her fingertips.
Denim parted to reveal his erection. Satin smooth and tempting. Emily slid his jeans down his legs and silently indicated by touch that he should step out of them. Very cooperative, he did as she wanted and kicked them out of the way. Then Emily gave into temptation and touched. She ran a delicate finger the length of his arousal before kneeling in front of him.
“For closer inspection?” His voice was husky. Full of heat. Promise. Love.
Emily smiled before she repeated the journey of her finger with her lips. When she reached the swollen crown, her tongue darted out to lick delicately across the head.
Saber shuddered, his hands threading through her hair.
Her breasts felt tight. Achy. And her juices flowed in arousal, but Emily had no intention of hurrying. This time was special. She gripped his thighs and took his cock deeper into her mouth, swirling her tongue across the head to taste the bead of pre-cum that had gathered. His salty taste filled her mouth.
Saber groaned, the sound a deep grumble in his chest. She heard his breath, deep and unsteady. His hips jerked when she licked and fondled his tight balls at the same time.
“God, Emily. Do that again.”
She smiled around his cock and obeyed the instruction. Shouldn’t be much longer until she had him purring. Emily took more inside her mouth and sucked, her cheeks hollowing as she licked and caressed him. More pre-cum leaked from the tiny slit at the end of his cock. Saber trembled violently.
“Enough,” he said, removing his shaft from her mouth and bending to lift her in one easy move. Saber unbuttoned her blouse and slid it off her shoulders. He slipped her bra straps down her arms and leaned forward to press his lips to her cleavage. “You smell good. Fresh and summery. Good enough to eat,” he added in a husky voice. His tongue flicked out and slid across her warm skin. Rough. Abrasive. It slid beneath the cup of her bra to caress the plump curve of one breast.
Too many clothes. She wanted her bare skin brushing against him so she could feel every sensation. Savor it. Celebrate. Emily threaded her hands through Saber’s dark hair and cradled him closer to her chest. “Pity we can’t think these pesky clothes away. They’re standing in the way of progress.”
“Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll have your clothes off soon enough.” He nuzzled the upper slope of her breast with his mouth this time and peeled away one lacy blue cup. Emily’s heart went pitter-patter, the blush of arousal crawling down her neck to color the curves of her breasts. Her clothes felt like a yoke. Definitely unwanted. She was done with waiting and patience. Emily struggled with the button fly on her jeans, grunting with irritation when she fumbled.
Her huff of impatience brought a chuckle from Saber. “Let me, kitten.” Saber undid the buttons on her jeans. Competently, with not a trace of fumbling. He tugged them down her legs, taking her panties with them. Emily unhooked her bra, and seconds later they fell on the bed, their naked limbs entwining with the intimacy of lovers. She undulated against Saber, enjoying the press of his cock against her stomach. Emily nibbled Saber’s earlobe, and when he didn’t protest at the ticklish sensation, she explored the inner shell of his ear with her tongue.
Saber groaned, a harsh sound full of need. He grasped her upper arms and turned her before she could blink. An instant later he was between her parted legs and thrusting deep into her womb before she’d stopped bouncing on the mattress.
“I wasn’t finished with my examination. I was checking for pointy ears.”
“Later. Right now I have other things on my mind.”
“You haven’t purred for me yet.” Emily tried for righteous indignation but a gurgle of laughter spilled over and spoiled the effect.
“You wanted feline,” he muttered. “I’ll give you feline.” He pulled back and plunged deep again.
Emily groaned, her eyes sliding shut to savor the intense feeling of rightness that filled her body when she was with Saber.
“Open your eyes,” he ordered. “Watch.”
Emily forced her eyes open. A shimmer of light glowed around him. A soft golden luminosity that made her blink in astonishment. She caught the devilment in his eyes. He smirked at her, and she couldn’t help but notice the sharp white teeth gleaming in his mouth. She gulped as reality enforced itself. Yep, sharp and white and capable of inflicting great harm—if he wa
nted. Emily traced her fingers across his cheek, mentally refuting the idea he might hurt her. In that moment, she realized she trusted him implicitly. A light coating of fur had appeared on his chest, and he appeared to flash from the man she knew to a different Saber. Fascinated, she ran her fingers across his chest then tugged experimentally at the fur. She giggled at his wince and soothed him with a lingering kiss on the lips. Tongues twirled together in a slow mating. Inside her womb, his cock filled her even more than he had before. Emily frowned as a thought occurred. “Every other time, you told me to close my eyes or made me face a tree.”
“Yeah.” He thrust smoothly, angling slightly so he rubbed against her clitoris each time he moved. “Didn’t want to scare you.”
“You’re not so scary.” Emily ran her hands across the soft hair that had appeared on his back and chest. It felt smooth. Soft. Sort of sexy now that she that knew his secret. “And the way you fill me is excellent. Top marks.” She wondered if he’d force the issue and do the enzyme thing he’d spoken about. Panic touched her for an instant before common sense reasserted itself. He hadn’t completed the process yet. He’d refrained because she hadn’t given her agreement. Emily realized she believed in him and stopped worrying. “Definitely top marks for sexual performance.”
“Glad you approve.” Saber thrust again and kissed her neck, his rough tongue swirling and teasing her neck while he lightly pinched one nipple.
Emily groaned and forgot her questions. She forgot about the differences between human and feline shifters as they moved together in perfect harmony. A light shimmered around him again, golden and dazzling, as he continued to thrust, brushing her sensitive nub with each plunging move. The sensation built slowly. Her nerve endings vibrated in exquisite pleasure. Their mouths met, satisfaction coursed through her body. Saber swept her under into a private place where pleasure ruled. Her climax exploded through her. Control shattered and she shuddered helplessly, dimly aware that Saber had gained release, too.
Minutes later, he kissed her gently on the lips and withdrew, rearranging their bodies so they were as close as they could possibly be. Emily smiled sleepily and hugged her lover tight.
That had felt good. Very good.
Damned if they hadn’t both purred.
Chapter Ten
One Month Later
“Will you marry me?” Saber nuzzled at her neck, stroking his rough tongue over her pulse point. He pinched her nipple in the way he knew she liked. Her slim body arched against him, brushing the tip of his erection. Saber bit back a groan of pure need. Each time with Emily was better than the time before. They were a couple, a mated pair. He wished she would accept it, too.
“Yes,” she whispered, staring up at him and parting her legs with an impatient invitation.
“Too bad. I’ll ask you— Did you say ‘yes’?” He gripped her naked shoulders and stared down at her with shock. He’d asked her every day for four weeks. Every time she’d said no.
“Yes.” Her grin lit up her face.
“When?” he demanded. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I love you, kitten.” Saber didn’t give her a chance to reciprocate. He bent over her relaxed body and kissed her hard on the lips, putting everything he felt for her into his kiss. His Scarlet woman.
“Love you, too,” Emily murmured when their lips parted. “You want to make love to celebrate? We can do the enzyme exchange if you want.”
“Oh, kitten. I want. I get to choose the position.” Feline genes clamored for him to take her from behind, to bite, to seal their love in the traditional way, now, before she changed her mind.
Emily rolled her eyes, but the twinkle he saw told him she was eager to have him. “If you must,” she said with a put-upon sigh.
“It’s a feline thing.”
“If you say so.” Emily turned over and knelt on her hands and knees. “You going to do that freaky half-change thing when you bite me?”
Saber suppressed a grin at her calm acceptance of the way he sometimes shimmered between human and cat. “Do you mind?”
“No. It makes me hot,” she admitted.
Saber ran his hand across her naked buttocks. Smooth, sexy skin. Mine, his mind screamed. His body prickled with sexual and feline awareness. His senses intensified so he could hear the anxious thud of her heart and the tweet of a sparrow in the oak tree outside. He smelled her piquant arousal and the lavender scent of her hair.
His mate.
Saber pumped his cock once, suppressing the shiver that came from his touch. He pressed a kiss to the base of Emily’s spine and fitted his cock to her entrance. Slowly, he pushed inside while his feline senses ran riot. His body shimmered as he buried himself deep. Saber covered Emily and nuzzled her neck. With one finger, he parted her folds, teasing her bud to prominence. Her folds were slippery, and each touch, each stroke, brought a corresponding shudder from Emily. His tongue flickered out to taste her fragrant skin while he thrust in slow, even strokes. Emily sighed, and he felt her inner muscles clench as if she didn’t want him to pull out. Good. It was time. On his next thrust, he bit the fleshy part between shoulder and neck. Blood welled in his mouth and he lapped it delicately with his tongue, savoring her taste and her trust.
Instead of fighting his demand for capitulation, she sighed again and pushed back against his body, deepening the penetration and giving him easier access to her neck. Not a sign of a struggle or a single peep of protest. A wonder since Saber knew his teeth were bloody sharp. He was humbled by her complete faith, her love when he’d almost given up on the idea of finding the perfect female for him—a mate for life. He let go to study his bite then licked across the red marks he’d left with his canines—four distinct puncture marks that let his saliva mingle with her blood. He continued to lick, compelled by his feline genes, while he loved her.
A tiny ripple in her pussy grasped his cock, driving away everything but the feel of her gloving his cock, her lithe body beneath him. She was almost there. Saber circled her clit with a delicate finger at the same time he thrust. She exploded with a cry, tensing as waves of pleasure pulsed through her womb. Saber withdrew almost to his tip and plunged deep, his body shimmering in a ghostly manner. The pleasure. The sensations. They roiled inside him, gathering momentum with each thrust. The climax crashed over him. He groaned as he poured his love into her womb, spasms jerking his cock for long moments afterward. Saber toppled them both to the mattress, drawing Emily into the shelter of his arms. He cuddled her back against his chest, their bodies still joined. A profound sense of peace and well-being flowed through Saber, and his arms tightened around her.
His mate.
He couldn’t get past how lucky he was to have Emily, to love Emily and to have that emotion returned. He nuzzled her hair, a purr of contentment escaping. She pressed back against his chest, her rounded ass rubbing suggestively against his groin. He wanted her again, but first he needed to examine the bite site on her neck. Saber wanted to check she’d stopped bleeding. Propping up on one elbow, he studied the puncture marks and touched them gently with his fingers. Her cunt pulsed in reaction to his touch and he smiled with a wealth of silent satisfaction. Already the blood had clotted. They would heal to barely noticeable scars but would always be sensitive to his touch and give her great pleasure when he caressed them while they made love, arousing and propelling pheromones through her veins, giving her the desire to mate with him.
Only with him.
The thought brought great contentment. “We are mated.”
Emily turned in his arms to face him. “You nibbled on my neck. Is that it?”
“Yeah, the enzymes sedate against pain. You shouldn’t feel much apart from a need to stay with me.”
“I feel that already,” she confessed. “I did before today. I hated living alone.”
“But you were too stubborn to admit it.”
“Hey, you have weaknesses, too! Go on, own up.”
Saber’s grin was rueful. “And
you’re going to list them?”
“I’ll save it until you do something to really piss me off.” Emily reached up to kiss him tenderly and rub foreheads. “Saber, I do love you. Lots.”
“It’s mutual, kitten. You are my mate and I love you.” A sense of completeness filled him. It was done. He and Emily belonged together for the rest of their natural lives.
His Scarlet woman.
Neither of them would ever be alone again.
Author Note
Writers receive inspiration from many sources. One of my favorite places to look for interesting story ideas is the New Zealand Herald. Two years ago, a small headline caught my attention, Panther sighted again. Evidently, several people living in the Mid-Canterbury area of the South Island had sighted a mystery cat, a large black creature with a tail the same length as its body.
Around the same time, a small town called Middlemarch came to my notice in a blaze of publicity. Middlemarch is a real town, situated not far from Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. It seems Middlemarch had a problem—plenty of men, but a shortage of young women of marriageable age. The men of the area were having trouble meeting potential partners. Their solution was to hold an annual dance to bring women to the district. A train, dubbed the “love train”, runs from Dunedin bringing women to attend the dance and returning them home afterward. Romances have bloomed as a direct result of couples meeting during the Middlemarch singles dance.
Using writer’s license, I moved the mystery cat a little farther south, planting him firmly in Middlemarch and played a little with the geography of the town. Scarlet Woman is the result.
You can visit Middlemarch on the web and read about the dance at http://www.middlemarch.co.nz.
About the Author
Shelley lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and a small, bossy dog named Scotty.
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