by Aliyah Burke
She took more pictures.
Kent placed the plate on the table and crouched beside her. “Like cheetahs, I see.”
“Shh, don’t scare them off.”
Absolutely no sign of her earlier stutter.
He remained silent, both him and his cat content to be beside her. He leaned closer, brushing against her slightly. His body came alive as if an electrical pulse had been applied to him, stronger than when he’d carried her back here. If he’d had any doubt about their connection, this wiped it away one hundred per cent.
Chapter Three
Cee Cee didn’t know what to do. On one hand, she wanted to lick this man from head to toe. Seriously, she’d not seen anyone like him before in her life. His dark tawny hair that brushed his shoulders with its black tips, golden eyes that peered into her soul and that scruff lined jaw that didn’t do a damn thing except soak her panties.
She had to get out of here before she jumped on him and could be accused of sexually attacking a man. Her cells migrated toward him, wanted him to touch her. It hurt to get up off the floor herself but she wasn’t sure she could handle his hand on hers.
And now here she sat, snapping pictures of two of the most adorable juvenile male cubs she’d seen and he was beside her, pressing against her leg with one of his own. She’d finally located something that would take her attention from snapping pictures.
This man.
How the hell does he smell so fucking delicious? Like my favorite dessert right out of the oven, surrounding me and tempting me to just forgo my manners and jump right in, face first.
Her lips twitched as she imagined falling face first into his groin. Yeah, that would be a delight and then some.
He shifted again, pressing more of his strong jean clad thigh against her.
Drawing back from the viewfinder of her camera, she slanted her gaze to him, his tanned skin had a dark dusting of hair where his arms pushed out from the rolled up sleeves of his white button-down. Not an ounce of fat on his muscled body.
He doesn’t need it, I have enough for us both. She sobered and refocused on the felines still making their slow, cautious approach. A man like him wouldn’t have any use for her. He would be seen with a model type of woman. One who people would nod and say, yes, what an amazing couple they make. Not one who would wonder what she’d done to deserve a pity date. Or what punishment he was having to endure.
Cee Cee knew she wasn’t unhealthy by any means, she was fit, traveling around the world dealing with dangerous animals, both four and two legged. Hell, she had to be. However, by the standards of today’s society she was fat, bordering on obese. She had a belly, thick thighs, and curves that a lot of women paid damn good money to have ass fat from someone shot into them to acquire those things.
She could run up flights of stairs and out dance a lot of people on the floor. But because of her bone structure and build, she was deemed unattractive.
Which is why I keep to myself and need to not be thinking of him like this. This way, I won’t be disappointed when he doesn’t show me any interest. I should remain focused on what I do well. Pictures.
“Don’t be scared.”
Oh, she wasn’t. She absolutely loved these animals. She’d been known to get a little careless with the younger cubs, but these were not babies. These males could injure or kill her.
Much like that adult king could have done but didn’t, earlier.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she muttered back, following one of the boys with her lens. The action took her directly into the man beside her.
He shifted his weight and held her up as she damn near leaned on him to capture the image of the one coming around the tree. The sun hit his coat just perfect, allowing her that second to catch him before he was again, camouflaged.
She’d spent enough time watching them, she’d learned how to pick them out against the backdrop. “S-s—sorry.” Cee Cee scrambled off him and skidded back to the chair.
He placed his golden gaze on her, the heat contained inside it, melting her. On the other hand, he had woken up that part of her she was desperately trying to ignore. “There is nothing for you to apologize for. Believe me, it was entirely my pleasure.”
Christ above, that deep rasped voice was damn near enough to make her come just from the timbre alone. Add into that the heated sexual flames in his stare and she could officially say, he’d brought her to one without even removing a stitch of her clothing.
Scrambling to find her scattered wits, she blinked and picked up her camera once more. This was her buffer, her barrier. She was no longer the scared, timid girl who never stood up for herself and just tried to blend, but the one who would go toe to toe with poachers to save a cheetah.
“Sure it was.” Even words like that had the power to cut her deep. She reinforced the walls around her ability to give a damn and peered for the cats once more.
Nothing.
They must have bolted when I panicked about where I was leaning. Depressing, but she’d managed to get some great shots of the boys. “Are they around here often?” she asked.
“Kent.”
She adjusted the zoom, hoping to catch a glimpse of them once more. “Huh?”
“You asked my name earlier. I’m Kent.”
She pulled back from the camera and stared at him, her nerves again acting the fool and making her palms sweaty and her heart race uncontrollably.
“Kent Zigler. Ziggs to my friends.” A hitch sounded in his voice when he said that last sentence.
Deep within the confines of her chest, she had this insane urge to offer comfort to this man. This incredibly, hot, sexy, out of her league man.
He blinked his long, black lashes. “And you are?”
Fuck. She’d been so shocked he had given a damn to give his name, she’d forgotten the basic manners. She’d already decided to trust him. A man who allowed cheetahs to enter his home when they wished, couldn’t be all bad. “Cee Cee.”
“That it?”
All he was getting. Unless he asked for pussy. That she’d willingly give to him. More than once. It throbbed as if in total agreement with her and Cee Cee swallowed hard while his gaze darkened two shades. The look he leveled on her went from his eyes directly to her clit.
She was fucked.
Chapter Four
She wanted him. His cat growled low and raked his nails against him, wanting his mate. Her scent was powerful nearly taking him to the knees. He wanted more. Longed to bury his head between her legs and allow it to seep into him.
His fangs lowered as he fought his beast to keep him in control.
“Cee Cee.” He’d wanted to hear her speak her name but took anything of her voice she was willing to give.
“Yes.”
Deep and throaty her voice ran along his cock, sure as if she’d reached out and dragged her fingers over his shaft. He pulsed and jerked in his pants. No way, could he get up now without her seeing the very definite ridge in his pants.
He didn’t care and pushed up.
Her whimper went through his blood like flowing lava, burning him completely. She captured her lower lip in her teeth and he wanted to replace it with his own.
Her fingers flexed on her camera and she moved it to her lap, as if it were a shield to protect her. Cee Cee moved her focus from his crotch down his legs until she finally dragged her gaze back up to meet his.
The intensity of need shining there almost shattered his resolve like china breaking on a marble floor. “Fuck.”
She cocked an eyebrow and he reached for her, yanking her to her feet and slamming his mouth down over hers. Taking what had been tempting him since she’d first come into his life.
Cee Cee gasped but didn’t pull away. However, it wasn’t until she splayed her fingers along his chest and angled her head slightly to the right that he felt her surrender. That thing that had held her back at the start vanished.
She pushed closer, twining her arms around his neck, surrounding him wit
h the fresh scent of sunlight. He hadn’t any other way to explain it. That’s what she smelled like to him.
Skimming his hands down her pants, he cupped her ass, drawing her nearer as he bucked his hips, making it very clear what she did to him. When she purred, he nearly shot his load right then.
She couldn’t have sounded more cheetah had she tried. His cat fought him for dominance but he restrained the beast. He would have her first the cat could and would have to wait. Lifting her, he moved until the tabletop was beneath her ass. She didn’t pull away, in fact, she wrapped her legs around him as well.
Fuck, I love how strong she’s holding me.
His phone rang and they both froze. He breathed hard, panting as he buried his face in her soft hair. The brutal ringing made him wince. Only one person had that tone and it was his former commanding officer. For once in as long as he could recall, he wanted to forget he owed that man anything.
“Don’t move,” he rasped before nipping her earlobe. “I’ll be right back.”
Reluctantly, he stepped away from her and headed in to swipe the phone off the kitchen counter where he’d left it so he wouldn’t be interrupted.
Next time, he’d shut off the damn thing.
“What?” he snarled into the phone, his beast lingering in his voice as his frustration overflowed.
“Need you in the air in fifteen minutes.”
General Reginald Varitus had earned his respect during the years Kent had served in the military. The man had discovered his secret and hadn’t told a soul.
“Sorry, General. No can do. I have an injured woman here, a cheetah bite, and some poachers after her.”
If scowls could be heard over phone lines, this was the man to make it happen. Kent knew his former boss had one plastered on his weathered face.
“Dammit Ziggs. I need you for this mission.”
“I won’t leave her alone.”
“I notice you didn’t say can’t. She must be something special to you. Typically you have someone there, you pass them off to the authorities as soon as you can.”
Her importance to him wasn’t anyone else’s business, especially since he’d not even told her they were mates yet, so he didn’t speak, just let his silence do it for him.
“Keep her safe,” the man barked and was gone. At least Varitus knew when he couldn’t win and didn’t even bother arguing.
This time, Kent did shut off his cell phone and shoved it in his pocket. He didn’t want any other interruptions. He had a woman to taste, explore, claim.
Striding swiftly through his house, he stopped at the bedroom’s sliding door and narrowed his eyes in displeasure. She was gone. Anger swiftly rose and consumed him but that wasn’t all, concern and fear for her was close on its heels.
He shifted and scented the air, latching immediately onto her unique smell that had been imprinted onto his soul the moment she walked into his life. The predators were out, the heavy heat of the day had faded a bit allowing them to wake and move around.
She didn’t need to be out there without any protection nearby. Night was a hundred times more dangerous than day and it was fucking scary out here even during the daylight hours. He picked up his pace, lengthening his stride as her scent grew stronger.
Damn, she’d moved fast and had covered a fair distance in the short time he’d been on the phone. He panted, allowing her scent in as he watched her hurry along, shoulder pack on, moving with her. Again, he got a whiff of wolf and had a moment of wondering if that what’s moved her so fast.
His cat wanted to tackle her and make her realize it wasn’t good to run. He tracked her, nearing her as she continued, watching her through the tall blades of dry grass.
She stopped and looked directly at him.
Ziggs froze.
She narrowed her eyes then shook her head.
She knows a predator is watching her. She’s just not sure which one it is.
He knew his property and understood if she continued in her current direction. she would come to a watering hole and that could prove deadly for her. Generally, a place of truce, she would automatically be the weakest there and the easiest prey.
He chirped and she canted her head to the side, swinging her gaze over him once more.
That’s right, baby. I’m right here. Find me.
She didn’t reach for the rifle, no, she went for the camera even though her rifle was easily accessible. “I know you’re there,” she said in a low tone. “I’ll find out where. But I do know you’re there.”
The bark of a hyena began a chorus of them and she grew wary.
As did he. He hated those things.
The wind shifted and brought with it another scent. Lion. This was a male and while he was alone, the threat was just too great to her. Still not letting her know he was there, he moved to put himself between her and the lion.
Perhaps the cat would keep moving but he wasn’t taking the chance. Lighter chirps reached him and the two young males parted through the grass to his side. Touching heads with them, he made his directions clear and they melted away once more, widening the perimeter around Cee Cee.
Then he shifted and clothed himself. “Cee Cee.”
She jumped and gave a sharp eek. Whirling around, hand on the rifle, she lifted it in his direction. “Oh it’s you.”
“Are you going to pull the trigger?”
She blinked as she stared at him. “Fuck, you’re not wearing a shirt.” Cee Cee gulped and shook her head. “What?”
He strode toward her, eyes lasering into her. “Are you planning on putting a bullet in me?” Kent stopped when the muzzle rested against his chest.
“N-no. Unless you plan on trying to hurt me.”
“Then point that fucking thing away from me.”
Flames flickered in her pale gaze. “You’re the one who snuck up on me, not the other way around. It’s not like I’m in a small-town park. I’ve faced cheetahs, poachers, and more today so how the hell was I supposed to know it was you?”
“You knew,” he said with confidence.
She ignored him. “Plus, there’s something out there watching me. I don’t know where he is but it’s there.”
He ran his gaze over her and pushed the rifle away. “I am watching you. Why did you leave? I told you not to go.”
She shook her head and snorted. “It may have been a while but I don’t need a pity fuck from someone who wants it as payment for saving me from whatever. We both know the only reason you had that hardon is because it was the thought of available pussy.”
He narrowed his eyes. Is that really how she views it? “Are you—”
“Shh.”
Well, that was a new one on him. He’d not been shushed before. He listened hard and waited as she handed him the rifle and brought the camera up to her eye.
“Cheetah.”
Impressive. She’d picked up on one of the boys.
“How do you know?”
She ignored him and headed off into the weeds. “Coming?” she asked, turning back to him.
He’d been relegated to safari guide and protector. He should take her back and get her inside before night fell. But the gleam in those eyes and the excitement that hummed through her, had him countering that and following like an obedient pup.
Chapter Five
Cee Cee checked the air then adjusted once more. Eventually, she got them downwind of the watering hole. She snapped pictures and wished she could get even closer. A low rumble from behind her had her turning to look at the mouthwatering man who’d come after her. He had his unique tattoo on his right shoulder that to her looked like a cheetah pattern, but not just any cheetah, the blotchy markings found on a king cheetah.
Turning her back on the watering hole, she placed her camera on the ground and crawled toward him, his golden gaze locked on her.
He swallowed hard but didn’t move from his crouched position. She ran her gaze over his bare torso and the eight pack she saw, yet she returned to the marki
ng on his body. It was the only tattoo she could see.
Wouldn’t mind exploring the rest of him to find if there are others though.
No, she was wrong. It wasn’t a tattoo in the way she was used to seeing. This was part of him. There wasn’t a human touch on this part to put it on his body. She touched him and his sharp breath stilled her hand. Cee Cee went to pull away.
He covered her hand with his larger, stronger one. “I want you to touch me, Cee Cee. God knows I do, but this is dangerous here. I have to get you back to safety.” He stood and trailed her hand down the front of his chest until it rested against his hard cock. “All over. And then do the same to you until you’re writhing in my bed, screaming my name, begging me to fuck you. Begging me to fill you with my cock.”
She couldn’t move if she had to. Unless it was toward him. She wanted that. “I’ll beg right now.” The words slipped free and she couldn’t recall them even if she wanted to. She didn’t.
“Believe me, I will be inside you. I will fuck you. I will have my head between your strong legs and eat your pussy. I can smell your sweet nectar from here and I want it coating my tongue. Only once I’ve sated myself there will I push into you and fill you will my cock.”
Another whimper slipped free and she cursed herself for leaving the first time. She could be enjoying his naked body on hers if only she’d not run away like a bitch.
“Do you understand me, Cee Cee?” He lowered his face to hers, eyes burning into her. “I’m going to make you mine.”
If he’d put a brand on forehead stating she was his property, she didn’t think she would feel any more branded than his statement made her feel at this moment. Her pussy wept and her nipples, she believed to be hard enough to cut through her bra and shirt.
“Tell me you understand.”
She swallowed twice and nodded.
“Say it.”
“Yes.” Crap, her voice was so breathy she didn’t recognize it. “I understand.”
His growl preceded him lifting her and taking off at an insane speed. By the time she wrapped her head around that, they were back at his place and he was carrying her through the door to his bedroom and dropping her on the bed. The same one she’d already been in.
