“Yours,” she whispered, knowing she’d lost that fight. If it was ever really a fight… She just wished something wasn’t coming to get her. She wished she’d have more time.
When he withdrew from her body, she whimpered, feeling empty, like he was leaving her. She didn’t want him to ever leave her again.
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
He climbed from the bed and she watched him as he walked to the kitchen sink. His ass was tight and firm and damn if she didn’t want to bite it. She’d have to put that on the list to do another time.
Kann pulled a rag from the cabinet and then ran it under the blue water dispenser sitting next to the sink. Dry cabin. She knew that, she’d just forgotten. In the dead of winter, even houses with plumbing in Alaska often froze. He returned a moment later and sat on the edge of the bed.
“It’s cold,” he warned, before wiping between her legs.
She gasped. Cold was an understatement. The washcloth felt like ice.
“Sorry,” he said, finishing quickly before leaving her again. He cleaned himself, ran some more water from the tank, and then left the washcloth in the sink.
The mattress dipped as he crawled back to the center. He slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her close, his über-warmth making up for the ice-cold washcloth a few minutes ago. She snuggled down a little further, so that her head was in the soft crook of his shoulder. He pulled the cast-off blankets up over their bodies and threw his leg over her hip. His arms wound around her, and he tightened his grip as he settled into the pillows. She felt safe. Secure.
“Sleep, my mate,” he crooned, kissing the top of her hair.
“You’re strange with the ‘mate’ thing, you know that, right?”
“It’s all part of my charm,” he said. She could imagine the broad smile on his face, even though she couldn’t see it.
She curled her hands between their bodies, enjoying the extra heat. The closeness. She’d been alone for so long. Even the few men she’d been with over the years hadn’t really been serious…or even boyfriends for that matter. They’d never slept over. She’d never stayed at their place. Never wanted to. But, with Kann it was different.
Kann was like a force of nature that just couldn’t be avoided. And she didn’t want to…not anymore. She wanted to be swept up into his world and carried along for the ride.
For as long as she could hang on.
10
Kann opened his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept so soundly. Penny’s scent was everywhere. It filled the cabin. It covered him. It was perfect.
A gentle light filled the cabin. They’d slept a long time. Sunrise wasn’t until about eight thirty. He’d been here a month and the short days still felt strange. Although according to Naomi it would change as the year progressed. The sun was completely up now, and it looked like air was clear outside. The storm had blown through last night, probably dropping at least a foot of fresh powder. Maybe more.
A soft warm breath puffed against his chest. Penny was making the cutest little snoring sound. She was amazing and special and everything he could ever want in a mate.
She’d rolled with him in the night and climbed on top of him. He was on his back and she was sprawled over him like a relaxed cat. Just like his lion liked to sleep in trees with an arm over either side of him, and her legs straddling each of his hips. His cock was hard and pressed into the softest part of her belly.
He raised a hand and traced along her backside, cupping her ass and kneading the soft curve of her flesh. She was so beautiful. Her skin still glowed from the magick of the soul call. They weren’t bound yet. He hoped that he would be able to find a way to explain more about himself, about his tribe soon. He prayed that she would accept him. Still want him. Even after she knew he wasn’t human.
Mate. His lion growled and stretched, trying to push away his fears. His lion wasn’t worried. He shouldn’t be either.
She moaned and wriggled a little. He held his breath and forced himself not to flip her over right then and there while she was asleep and take her again. Those sounds were his undoing. Everything about her made him hard. Made him want her. She was his mate. He would do anything for her, including protect her from Jake and whatever else her former employer came after her with. Nothing and no one would take Penny away from him.
“You’re poking me,” she muttered against his chest.
Kann laughed and grabbed her ass with both hands, grinding her body even harder onto his cock. “I’d like to do more,” he said.
Her head popped up from his chest, but her eyes were still closed. Slowly one blue eye opened and peered at him. She wiggled her hips again, watching him the whole time. He pinched her ass and she squeaked loudly. Her other eye flew open and she glared at him as if that would make him behave. She was very wrong. The face was a front though, the glare melted away in a moment and was replaced by a look of desire. Her bright blue eyes darkened, and she licked her lips teasingly.
“How do you feel?” he asked, stroking his hands up her back.
“Empty,” she answered with a smirk.
He opened his eyes wide. Not only did his mate seem to enjoy his sense of humor, she was funny, dishing it right back to him. “Well, that is unacceptable.” With a quick roll, he slipped her off his chest and pinned her, face down to the mattress.
She laughed and wriggled her ass again.
Kann stroked over her creamy skin and knelt behind her, breathing in her arousal. He nipped at one cheek and then the other. She gasped a quick breath and looked over her shoulder at him.
“What are you waiting for?”
He smiled and pressed his mouth to her pussy, taking a leisurely swipe with his tongue.
“Kann.” Her tone was somewhere between a groan and a growl. His little human was trying to growl. It was adorable. And even better, she was dripping with anticipation. She wanted him as much, if not more than he wanted her, and she’d only been awake a few minutes.
He speared her once more with his tongue and then pulled away, leaving her panting and shivering with anticipation. “Fate has truly blessed me with an amazing mate.” He grabbed his cock and aligned it with her entrance. Then thrust in with one fluid movement.
“Ohh,” she cried out.
He gripped her hips and seated himself fully. Then slid out and in, loving the way her body clamped down, as if she was trying to keep him inside as long as possible. “How is that, beautiful? Feel good?”
“Yes, please, Kann. Harder,” she begged between panted breaths.
“Harder?” He asked, sliding a hand down her spine slowly, teasingly. Then he leaned forward and reached beneath her to grasp the erect nipples on both of her gently swaying breasts. He pressed harder, getting as deep as he could inside her. He wished he could just stay inside her forever. No amount of time would ever be enough.
“Yes, harder,” she moaned.
He pinched her nipples and her pussy clenched even harder. Kann released one nipple and moved to fondle her slick and swollen clit. She hissed and bucked, but he merely locked his other arm around her hips and held her in place while he pulled in and out of her slowly. He pinched her clit a little harder and she came apart around him. Her scream echoed through the cabin and her pussy milked his cock. It took everything he had not to join her in ecstasy, but he wanted to make her come again at least once. Maybe twice. He’d play it by ear.
“You’re amazing when you come, Penny. So beautiful. Let’s do that again.” He kissed down her back, toward her shoulder. Toward the place his lion wanted to permanently mark. His fangs burned in his mouth, aching to sink into her perfectly white flesh. He longed to join their souls, make her his, but he needed her to choose. Needed her to know what she was getting into. Needed her to want to be his.
“I can’t,” she panted. “Bones are jelly,” she said.
“I think you can.” He nipped at the skin near her shoulder. Then turned his head away and rais
ed himself away from the temptation. Kann gripped her hips and thrust again, but slow, dragging out her pleasure and reining in his desire to pound into her until he burst.
He gently placed a hand between her shoulder blades and pushed. “Down, Penny.”
She peered at him over her shoulder again, her clear blue eyes stormy with desire. Her skin was flushed and glowing, like iridescent mother of pearl. “Harder,” she whispered, before bending her arms and slowly putting her face down onto the mattress. Submitting. Trusting him to give her pleasure.
So beautiful.
“Anything you want, beautiful.”
He thrust forward, filling her completely, more roughly than before. She moaned.
“Like that?”
“Yes, Kann, just like that.”
“You’re going to come for me again.” Kann slid out and then drove deep into her again.
She moaned into the sheets and nodded her head.
“Touch yourself, Penny,” he growled. “The harder you come the harder I will.”
He fell into a rhythm, slow out, hard and fast in. He was panting. Her pussy clamped down. Her moans turned to whimpers and her whole body shook as she started to build and burn towards a climax.
Kann grabbed her hips, losing all control. The way her body clutched his cock. The noises she was making. His blood burned, and he shouted at the ceiling as he came harder than he ever had in his life. Bite. His lion demanded.
Kann shook his head and growled, slamming into her again, pushing down his animal instinct to mark her. The next instant Penny came hard around him, milking his cock until he thought he wouldn’t be able to breathe. She rocked back, meeting each thrust, taking everything he had to give her until they both collapsed to the side into a boneless sweaty panting heap of tangled limbs.
“Wow,” she whispered after a few moments of silence. “Talk about a phenomenal way to wake up in the morning.”
Kann smiled and pulled her warm sweat-slicked body tight against his own chest. “I’m glad you approve. I intend to make it a regular habit.”
Her body shook in his arms, laughter bubbling up from her belly. “You’re very confidant. You know that.”
“Why shouldn’t I be.” He kissed the top of her head and took a deep breath of her sweet scent. “You’re my mate.”
“You keep saying that like it’s just a fact. But how do you know? We have chemistry. I like you. But we just met. How can you be so sure? I’ve made so many mistakes in my past. I’ve let people mean too much and then they leave me. And this.” She kept her head tucked beneath his chin. Her breath was warm puffs on his sweaty chest. “This is just a temporary circumstance. I don’t know how long I’ll have before they find me. Before I have to run again. Or worse…” her voice trailed off, breaking over the last two words.
He gripped her shoulders and pushed her back so that he could make her look at him. “Penny,” he said, his voice coming out in a low growl. “Look at me,” he ordered.
Her chin raised slowly. Then those beautiful blue eyes were staring at him again. Except now, instead of being stormy and full of desire they were glassy and brimming with tears.
“You’re not going to have to run. I’m not going to leave you. And no one is going to take you away from me. Do you understand?”
She gulped, and her bottom lip trembled. “You don’t know these people. You didn’t see what they did.”
“I can protect you.”
“You don’t even have a rifle in that truck outside. How?” Her tone begged him to give her a reason. But he didn’t know how to tell her he didn’t need a rifle. He had teeth and claws that could tear through anything. That he’d never let Jake or anyone else near her.
“I just need you to trust me,” he said, kissing her forehead.
“I will.”
He released her and rolled out of the bed. She watched him walk to the sink and get a fresh washcloth from the cabinet. He was so attentive to her needs. He didn’t just want sex and then seem to get bored. He cared for her in a way she’d ever only dreamed about a man caring for her. She could tell he truly believed that Fate and mate stuff he talked about. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out why…and honestly the longer she knew him, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. She liked Kann. More than she should in such a short time. Their chemistry was definitely off the charts. And he was so hot. Like movie star hot without the douchebag arrogant personality that usually went along with beautiful men. He was kind and considerate and devoted to her in a way she’d only ever read about in romance novels.
He returned to the bed and cleaned her up.
“Thank you,” she murmured, taking in the magnificent man standing next to the bed. She hadn’t really been able to appreciate him last night. It’d been so dark, but now. Now, she could see every splendid bare inch. His corded neck and massive shoulders. His arms were as big around as one of her thighs and covered in ink. It wasn’t like anything she’d seen before. The main lines of ink wrapped around his arms in continuous lines, leaving a space on the edge of his shoulders empty. Almost like the tattoos weren’t finished. Like they were both missing a piece.
His chest was bare of ink, just broad and muscled and hard. She wanted to touch him all over. Trace every line and ridge that made up his body. The way his waist tapered into a perfect V. How lines ran from his hips straight to his groin and a cock that was impressive even when it wasn’t erect.
“Can I assume you like what you see?” he asked. He cleaned himself off and turned for a second, tossing the washcloth into the sink. Then he turned back to her with a feral smile that both scared her and excited her at the same time. His eyes did that flickering thing again. Where they looked like molten gold.
“Very much,” she whispered, surprised that heat rushed into her cheeks. She wasn’t embarrassed, but the way he looked at her made her skin tingle and heart want so much more than she knew was feasible.
She was logical. She always had been. Two plus two always equaled four. This relationship was doomed. She wouldn’t be able to stay here. Jake would come. Kann just hadn’t accepted the truth of the situation yet. And maybe that was okay. Maybe it would be easier if he never did. Then she could remember him the way he was right now. The way he looked at her as if she were the most perfect woman he’d ever laid eyes on. She’d never have to see pain in his eyes. Never have to hear him get angry when she told him it was time for her to go.
11
“How about some breakfast.” Penny sat up in the middle of the bed, breaking the moment that was leading to them spending the entire day in bed. Not that that would’ve been all bad. But she was hungry. A short break would be a good thing.
“Animal crackers or dry noodles?” A wry grin showed on his handsome face.
Penny scrunched her nose and thought. Now that he said it that way, it really didn’t sound all that appetizing. But she’d bought stuff that was edible with minimal effort—or like the crackers, none at all.
“We can go eat at my place. Naomi will be cooking breakfast.”
“The truck—”
Kann shook his head. “Is frozen and snowed in at the moment. We can walk. It’s not that far.”
“You said it was a quarter mile.” Her tone was defeated. “I got soaked just walking from the door to the road. And it was snowing hard last night.” She glanced across the room where her clothes still lay out over the back of the loveseat. “At least the fire didn’t die out.”
“I kept it going all night. Your clothes should be dry, and Naomi sent an extra pair of snow pants. It’ll be fine.”
She glanced at the kitchen counter again where her small stack of groceries was lined up and waiting.
“Are you sure it’s safe?”
Kann flashed her a wide smile, the megawatt movie star smile that just melted away all resistance. “You’re safe with me.”
“All right.” She raised a finger to point accusingly at him. “If a bear eats me, I’m blaming you.”
&n
bsp; He snorted through a laugh and shook his head. “No bear will eat you on my watch. I give you my word.”
Penny glanced at her clothes again and stretched out her fully rested legs. She’d slept so well last night. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping so soundly. And then waking up on top of Kann. And then more sex. It was like the perfect dream…until she looked around the cabin and remembered why she was there. Why she’d left her apartment.
“Come on.” He walked to the couch and grabbed her things. “Personally, I’d rather keep you naked all day and all to myself, but I’m also not going to survive on animal crackers and noodles. I could go hunt—”
“With what? My pistol?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know how to fire a gun. I hunt with other things.”
“Like what? Traps?”
He shrugged again and handed her the clothing. Surprisingly it was warm and dry. He found her panties and bra on the floor and handed them over as well.
“You didn’t answer my question.” She pulled on her underthings.
“I have my ways.” His blue eyes sparkled with mischief. He was hiding something. But what? There weren’t that many ways a person could catch animals in the wild.
Her jeans were next. Then the snow pants his friend’s wife had sent—God bless her. Her boots. Kann stood patiently handing her each piece, watching her like she might just go poof in front of him and disappear.
She was putting her sweatshirt on before he finally turned away and started tugging his own clothes back on. It was sad to see all that beautiful skin disappear.
“Your tattoos look unfinished,” she said softly. “What will fill the spaces on your shoulders?”
He paused for a moment, then zipped up his coat. “I haven’t—didn’t earn those yet.”
“Earn? What are they for?”
“Skill. Training…”
“Are you military? I’ve never seen tattoos like that before.”
“Very obscure,” he answered. “I’m not with them anymore.”
I'm Not Lion To You_Soulmate Shifters World Page 9
