by Becca Van
April was too scared to move as Gage licked her cunt. Her legs were shaking, and the feel of his abrasive tongue was too much for her to take. She cried out as his tongue flicked over her clit and sent her over the edge into her first climax. Her legs wobbled beneath her body at the sound of Gage purring deep in his throat as he kept his eyes glued to hers. She felt as if she was going to slump down onto the floor at Saxon’s feet. She moved her hands up slowly and clutched onto Saxon’s muscular forearms. He tightened his arms around her waist as she stared down at his brother. Gage didn’t even look at his brother. He kept his eyes on hers as Saxon kept up a low, steady whisper in April’s ear as he tried to keep her calm. It didn’t seem to help, though. She couldn’t stop shaking.
April felt the tip of Gage’s tongue push up into her cunt and knew she wasn’t going to be standing for much longer. Her legs were shaking like a bowl of Jell-O as Gage tongue-fucked her. She felt his elongated tongue push up further into her vagina, to rasp and twirl over a particularly sensitive spot inside her. She cried out again as her pussy contracted around the large muscle embedded in her body. She felt as if she was losing her mind. The sight of Gage shifted into a large, black panther licking her cunt should have made her feel revolted and turned off. Instead she could feel her juices dripping out of her as Gage lapped up her cream.
He withdrew his tongue from her channel and licked up through her folds again. He swirled his sandpaper-like tongue over her engorged, sensitive clit, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. She was on the edge of her own control, could feel rage building up as she stared down into the golden, glowing eyes of Gage’s panther. She’d had just about more than she could stand. She glared into Gage’s eyes, letting him know she wasn’t going to stand for much more.
April could feel her body coiling into a tight spring, but she didn’t want to let go. The feeling was too big, too much, and she fought it with everything she had. She let her fury build, intending to use it to keep her sanity. She was glaring at Gage through narrowed eyes and could have sworn he smiled at her as his tongue faltered on her sensitive clit. It didn’t stop him for long, though. He used his muscular shoulders to push between her legs, widening her stance so he had better access to her pussy. He lifted his head, growled once, then began purring again as his tongue went back to lapping the cream from her cunt. April didn’t stand a chance against the wild beast between her legs. He just kept right on going, and she knew he wouldn’t stop until she either passed out from too much pleasure or he’d had his fill. Her body was shaking violently now as she used her internal muscles, trying to stave off a climax. Her muscles were coiling in taut and fast, like a rope being wrapped swiftly onto a large spool. Her body was winding tighter and tighter, her fury building higher and higher at her lack of control. All of a sudden the coil snapped, sending the rope spinning out of control. Her body bucked and convulsed as spasm after spasm consumed her, the feeling of her pulsing internal muscles and the gushing of her milky release making her lower abdomen ache with unfamiliarity. If it hadn’t been for Saxon holding her, April knew she would have been in a puddle on the floor. Gage was purring in satisfaction as he licked up the last drops of her release. April’s breath was bellowing in and out of her lungs. She watched with fury and irritation as Gage slowly emerged from his beast back into his male form.
April’s anger reached its boiling point at the sight of him smiling at her with satisfaction. She wanted to vent her acrimony at the fact that she’d had no control over her own body as a were-animal made her climax. It didn’t matter to her at that moment that she barely came up to his chest. When her body was finally back in her control, and her breathing wasn’t as rapid as it had been, she intended to let him know her vexation at his treatment of her.
She stepped forward, ignoring the fact that he was totally naked, and looked up into his light-green eyes. She had no intention of going easy on him. She was going to lay down the law, and if he didn’t respect her wishes, she was out of here. Other weres or not.
April moved her arm up to poke Gage in the chest, not caring in the least that her long fingernail was likely causing him pain.
“I can’t believe you did that to me. I can’t believe I enjoyed it. Do you think I like having climaxes forced on me by a shape-shifter? If you ever touch me or scare me again like that, in your animal form, I will rip your head from your shoulders and shove it up your ass. Do I make myself clear?” April spat through clenched teeth.
She had never been so humiliated in her life. She wanted to leave as soon as possible, and that’s just what she intended to do. There was no way in hell she was staying in this zoo. She was going home, and no one was going to stop her.
* * * *
April eased her aching body into the large pool of warm water. She sighed as her body relaxed for the first time since Saxon had dragged Gage out of her room. She thanked God Gage had dropped her clothes on the floor, just inside the door to her room. Once they had gone, she had scooped them up and headed straight for the bathroom. She was totally horrified by the fact Gage had been able to get her off so many times with his tongue as a panther. She didn’t think she was ever going to be able to forgive him, or herself for that matter. She had been as turned on as he had, and that, she just couldn’t comprehend. She felt as if her life was totally out of her control, which it was. She had no idea where she was or how to get back home. She was at the mercy of shape-shifters who claimed to be her mates.
April sat up in her seat with a gasp. She remembered waking up against a tree trunk in pain from being bitten by two panthers. She knew she had fainted in fear. The next time she had woken was in the bedroom. She surged out of the pool and ran to the mirror on the wall. She saw the fading bite marks in the mirror on either side of her neck, where her neck and shoulder met. She had read plenty of paranormal romance novels and knew the bite marks were how Gage and Saxon had marked and claimed her as their mate. She was lying to herself, telling herself they were only using her for her body. She didn’t really want to face the fact she now had an Earth equivalent of husbands. She wasn’t ready to face anything just yet. God, she wished Olivia was here. She missed being able to talk things over with her best friend. She sighed and gave a mental shrug. Well, it didn’t matter one way or the other. There was no way she was sticking around.
Chapter Three
April opened one of the double doors to the large bedroom and gave a sigh of relief when no one was in sight. The hallway was long, with numerous doors and other hallways leading off of it. She hoped like hell she didn’t meet anyone as she tried to navigate her way out of this palatial mansion. Especially Gage and Saxon. The last thing she needed was for one of them to come upon her as she tried to escape. The thought of them both jumping her bones in their panther form made her shudder. She was not sure if it was in revulsion or desire. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind and headed down the long hallway.
April came upon a T intersection of corridors and turned right after she peeked around the corners to make sure everything was all clear. She ducked around the corner and took off at a quick jog, hoping to reach the double doors at the end of the corridor before anyone discovered she was missing. Her hand reached out to the gold handle and pushed the door open a crack. She peeked through the door and sighed with relief as she spied the great outdoors. She pushed the door open enough to be able to slide through the gap and quietly closed the door behind her.
April breathed easily and deeply for the first time since she’d found herself in this strange place. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew she had to get away from the two panther men claiming to be her mate. She ran toward the line of trees, off to the left side of the front door. She didn’t dare look back. She was too afraid of being caught. She found a trail leading into the forest and decided that it was her best bet to stay as close to it as possible. That way if she couldn’t find anywhere else to go, she would be able to make her way back to the massive palace.
April felt like she had been walking for hours. She was tired, hot, and terribly thirsty. She hadn’t realized she would be walking through what seemed to be a tropical rain forest. She was sweating profusely as she walked through the hot, humid air. She wanted nothing more than to sit down and drink a gallon of water. April sighed and wondered if she should have stayed where she was. At least she knew the wild beasts in the palace wouldn’t hurt her, as they hadn’t so far. There could be other wild beasts traversing the forest, as Saxon had warned her. And God help her if she came upon any more shape-shifters. What would she do then?
April froze when she heard a rustle in the forest behind her. Her mind began conjuring up all sorts of scenarios, her death most prominent in her mind. She could see herself being ripped apart by lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my. April berated herself. She had to stop letting her imagination take control. She was an adult woman, for goodness sake, not a little kid still scared of the bogeyman.
April moved off of the trail just in time to see a great, lumbering bear meandering down the track. She couldn’t believe her overactive imagination had been partially right. Her heart sped up and began to thump in her chest, her breathing escalated, and she quietly scanned the trees nearby. She just hoped that the bear couldn’t climb, because that was what she was going to do. She grabbed the lowest limb of a tree, which was about chest height. She kicked her legs up and ended up clinging to the branch upside down. She used all the strength she had, which thankfully was enhanced by adrenaline, and swung one leg up and over the branch until it was behind her bent knee. She used her arms and began pulling herself upright. By the time she had her breath back, she was able to look down and nearly squealed with fright. The big, brown bear was sitting down below, watching her and sniffing the air.
April didn’t stop to think. She clung to the bark on the tree trunk, pulled herself to her feet, and began to climb the tree limbs. Higher and higher she went, until she knew the massive bear wouldn’t be able to reach her. She made the mistake of looking down and felt herself teeter when she saw how far away the ground was. She clutched the smaller branch at chest height, and wrapped her arms around it. She was too scared to move. She had her eyes closed and couldn’t look down again. She knew vertigo would take over and she would fall if she did. April had always been afraid of heights, but the thought of being ripped apart and ending up the bear’s dinner had been more frightening.
April had no idea how long she had been up in the tree, but the loud, deep voice of a man below made her flinch with fear.
“You can come down now. I’m not going to hurt you,” the male voice called.
“Go away,” April’s voice wavered in reply.
“Now, don’t be like that. I just want to help you. Are you lost? Where is your family?”
“Please, just leave me alone.”
“Come on, now. You can’t stay up there all day and night. Do you want me to come and get you?”
“No! Oh God, please.”
“Please what, honey?”
“Please…help me down?”
“What are you afraid of?”
“Heights. Okay. I’m scared to death of heights.”
“Then what are you doing up there?”
“There was a big bear. I didn’t want to end up being its dinner,” April replied with a whimper.
“Don’t move, honey. I’m coming up. What’s your name?”
“April.”
“Okay, April, I’m Ben Koku. I’ll have you back down on the ground before you know it. What were you doing wandering around in the forest alone? Where are your mates?”
“I don’t have any mates. I don’t belong here at all. I was just trying to find my way back home. I don’t even know where I am, or how I got here.”
“Easy there, honey. Everything will be all right. Are you sure you don’t have any mates?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
“Well, which is it? Yes or no?” Ben asked as he climbed.
“Well, since I don’t belong here, am not from this part of the world, then no, I don’t believe I have any mates.”
“That’s not really an honest answer, is it, April?” Ben asked from the branch below her.
* * * *
The sight of the small female wandering in the forest alone had surprised Ben. The fact that she had been scared of his beast alerted him to the fact she was definitely not from their world. He wondered how she had arrived here.
“I’m going to come up on your branch now, honey. Then I’ll get you down. Don’t you worry about a thing, all right? I’ll have you safe on the ground in no time at all,” Ben stated, lifting himself up to the next branch with ease.
When he was standing behind April, he scented the claim her mates had made on her skin, but he didn’t want to contradict her until he had her safely back on the ground. She was such a little thing. She barely reached his chest. Ben wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her when she turned her head to look at him. The sight of her sky-blue eyes, looking into his own, knocked the breath right out of him. She was so beautiful. She had creamy white skin and long, golden hair. Her scent was of vanilla and honey, which drew his beast to the surface. He had to physically wrestle his beast back down to stop it from taking over. He didn’t want to scare the little female more than he already had.
“I’m going to hold on to you real tight, but I want you to turn around and face me. I need to get you onto my back, so I can get you down from here. Okay?” Ben asked quietly, breathing in her delectable scent. He felt his cock harden in his pants and knew he was in deep trouble. This little female was his mate, and by the scent near both sides of her neck, she had already been claimed by the two Alpha panthers. Shit, what was he going to do? He sniffed more deeply, but couldn’t smell their seed on her. They hadn’t had sex with her yet. Maybe he could persuade her to mate with him, as well. Once a mate bit his woman and then made love to her, there was no chance of anyone else claiming her. But since they hadn’t planted their seed into her yet, Ben knew he could claim her, just as the two Alpha panthers had. He hoped like hell they didn’t come looking for her before he got the chance.
April whimpered as she moved around carefully on the large tree branch. Ben held her tightly around the waist to keep her safe. He maneuvered her until she was standing in front of him, and he now had his back to the tree trunk. He made sure he had his balance and then let his other hand, holding on to another branch, release his hold. He picked April up into his arms, swung her around onto his back, and had to hold in a chuckle as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He heard her whimper as he began to climb down the tree.
“Keep your eyes closed, honey, that way you won’t get vertigo and feel ill. I’ll have you down in no time.” Ben gave one of her thighs a quick, soothing rub.
Ben was three quarters of the way down the tree when he heard the roar of two furious Alpha panthers. He knew, without a doubt, they were on the prowl for their female and would also have any others of the panther clan out looking. Ben stopped, blowing out a breath of frustration. He was going to have to bite April now, to lay claim to her, as well, or he would never get the chance. He didn’t want to scare her, though. He could already feel her trembling at the fury audible in the Alpha panthers’ growls.
“That was them, wasn’t it? They’re looking for me. I don’t know what to do. I just want to go home,” April sobbed.
Ben sat down on the large branch he was standing on, pulled April around off his back, and sat her down on his lap so she was straddling him. She clutched her arms around his neck and cried in earnest. Her tears were heart wrenching. He wanted to wrap her up and take her away, but knew he would be in deep shit if he did. He ran a large hand up and down her back, soothing her, until she finally gave a last hiccup and stopped crying.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it, honey. You obviously had a lot of tension stored u
p you needed to get rid of. Now, I want you to listen to me, but don’t interrupt until I’ve finished. We don’t have much time before your mates are going to be here. I won’t ever hurt you, so please don’t be frightened of what I tell you, okay?” Ben asked.
* * * *
April gave Ben a tentative nod and looked up into his liquid brown eyes. He had the kind of eyes a person could drown in. He was such a handsome man. His dark-brown hair and whiskered cheeks and chin only added extra appeal. He had a warm, muscular chest and arms, and his thighs were small tree trunks, which rippled beneath her ass as he moved. His scent was so masculine she held her breath and kept it in her lungs as long as possible before she released it. April had no idea what was happening to her, but she was so horny she wanted to rip Ben’s pants down and impale herself on his cock. She was turning into a nymphomaniac.
“I’m the bear you were scared of, honey. I wasn’t going to hurt you. I was just curious. I wanted to find out who you were. Your scent drew me to you, April. You’re my mate, as well,” Ben explained.
“No. No. Oh shit. Let me go. Ben, please? I can’t do this. I want to go home.”
“April, listen to me, honey. Gage and Saxon will be here any minute. Will you let me claim you, as well? I can help you with those two Alpha panthers, especially Gage. He can be a real hard-ass. Saxon can, too, but I’m a lot more easygoing than they are. I think it’s because I’m of the bear clan. We tend to be a lot more laid back than the panther clan. What do you say, honey? Will you let me claim you, too?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know how to handle one man, let alone two or three. Shit, I just don’t know,” April breathed out. Her life was beyond her control. She’d had two men claim her already, without her permission. How the hell could she cope with another one? At least he was asking, instead of just taking, the way Gage and Saxon had.
A low growl below them caused April to jump and shriek. She looked down to see two large black panthers staring at her through golden, glowing eyes. They were both pissed, and April knew that was an understatement. They were so furious she could almost see fire shooting out of their eyes at her and Ben.
