Species Interaction

by Cheyenne Meadows

  Ducian grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Maybe I need to try that method of controlling my woman."

  Charity elbowed him hard in the gut followed quickly by a haughty snort. "Control, I don't think so." She looked at him, her features softening while her eyes sparkled. "The biting, however, is another story."

  "Biting is over-rated," I hastened to report.

  Meat murmured against my skin. I couldn't make out the words, but obviously Ducian and Charity could, as they both gazed at me with wicked grins on their faces.

  "What?"

  "Oh, nothing," Ducky replied.

  I wiggled on Meat's lap as he licked at the ticklish spot just behind my ear. The movements earned a groan from him and gave me a strong hint what his near future intentions were, if the large bump under my rear had anything to do with it.

  A second later, Meat spun me halfway around, wrapping one arm behind my shoulders, while the other slipped under my knees. He stood swiftly and easily, cradling me as he strode away from the table.

  "Don't forget her spanking." Ducian's voice carried across the room. "She's been anticipating it all afternoon."

  I gasped and looked up into my boyfriend's face and immediately forgot the sassy comeback to the vampire's reminder.

  He looked intense. Deep blue eyes flashed, a growl resounded from his throat. His lips pulled back in an almost grimace, reminding me of the Wild Kingdom episode about lion matings. Meat carried the same facial expression as a male lion scenting a female right before he climbed on board for some serious species reproduction.

  My belly somersaulted.

  I had a strong suspicion Meat's inner kitty prowled just under the human skin, snarling in demand for things his way. The biting used as punishment for not seeking his protection, the strong control, and the predatory attitude all shouted one thing. Feline displeasure.

  Which meant I was about to get a quick lesson in female submission to an alpha male liger intent on staking his claim while proving his dominance once and for all.

  I bit back a whimper of strong desire.

  He carried me into the bedroom and shut the door firmly behind him. His lips sealed over mine in a sizzling hot preview of his intentions. Opening wide, his tongue sought the very recesses of my mouth, flicking and tasting. I nibbled his bottom lip and returned the favor, not pulling away until a lack of oxygen forced me.

  Only then did he deposit me on the waiting king-sized bed. Gaining my balance, I scooted toward the center and waited.

  "Turn over."

  All too eager, I flipped over, gained my hands and knees, then twisted my neck to watch Meat. In a flash our clothes disappeared leaving me totally naked and staring at the proof of his heightened desire. His impressive manhood stood straight out, the head nearly purple, as a bead of moisture settled on the tip.

  I licked my lips.

  He groaned and crawled on the bed, not stopping until he kneeled directly behind me. "Spread." His voice dropped in tone and filled with sultry invitation.

  Moving my legs farther apart, I sucked in a breath, more than ready for what came next. His tongue parted my folds, delved deep, and proceeded to lick a long path from top to bottom.

  A moan ripped from my throat.

  Without further preamble, he fit himself to me, and pushed forward. No condom separated his flesh from mine. Instead of a bout of anxiety, the realization nudged my arousal a notch higher. All thoughts tumbled from my mind as he leaned over my body, braced his weight on his arms that bracketed my shoulders, and began to pump.

  Hot, dirty, and downright animalistic described our lovemaking. He settled in for a robust round of hardcore sex and I nearly lost my mind. I couldn't get enough and knew for a fact he controlled every aspect, biding his time, building to a level of ecstasy I'd never experienced.

  He was in top alpha liger form. I was only too happy to let him flex his dominance, reveling in feminine vulnerability and submission to his powerful, commanding presence. Cherry bombs sparked as he completely covered me, whispered in my ear, as his body slapped against mine time and again, his granite hard cock stroking my flesh and reaching depths new to us both.

  Never in my life had I been so desperate, so needy. So aroused.

  I begged. I pleaded. I cried and held on for dear life. Meat orchestrated the storm overtaking me in a series of fast paced sprints of pleasure, surging toward the finish. My knuckles whitened on the sheets as I braced for such an earthshaking impact I didn't know if I would be able to move afterward.

  Meat's fangs nipped the juncture of my shoulder and neck. "Mine."

  "Yessssssss." I shoved back, meeting his pounding thrusts in an effort to push him higher, to reach our mutual destination faster.

  "Say it. You're mine." He growled low, setting his teeth against my skin.

  "I'm yours," I gasped out as breath sawed in and out of my lungs. Arching my back, I felt him sink so deep a ragged cry escaped my lips.

  His teeth clamped shut, breaking through my skin, and held on tight. The sting shot me into orbit.

  I forgot others inhabited the hotel room and even the entire building. My world narrowed to Meat covering my nude body, stroking hard and fast, his erection swelling inside my highly sensitive and wet channel.

  I screamed.

  Ripples of tight contractions gripped him, pulled him in, and refused to let go. Stars flashed in front of my eyes as taut muscles grew incredibly and impossibly tighter before slowly easing. Splashes of warm liquid fired in my depths, adding to the overwhelming rapture of the moment.

  Meat roared.

  Gasping for breath, I lowered my upper body to the bed, braced my forehead on the pillow, and simply breathed while tremors of residual climax coursed up and down my body. Meat panted in my ear for a long moment, his hips jerking now and again, sealing us together tighter than I ever believed possible.

  After a long minute, he released my flesh, first licking then kissing the small wound. I shifted a bit and made a startling revelation. Make that two. My libido kicked right in as if I'd been without sex for ages and Meat's erection hadn't diminished a bit.

  I clenched my muscles around his burgeoning manhood just to be sure.

  He growled low in his chest, pulled back slightly, and stroked back in. "That's it, baby. Again."

  "Again?" Still breathless, I raised back up to my former position.

  "And again. And again. And again."

  I doubted his words, our abilities and stamina.

  He proved me wrong. Boy howdy, did he prove me wrong.

  Chapter 20

  We sat at the small dinner table, picking at the scraps remaining on the plates as well as in a variety of serving bowls scattered across the table's surface. Our final meal of the weekend. In fact, in a scant handful of hours, the Weekend Getaway would be officially over, returning us to our regularly scheduled lives.

  I wiggled and felt sore muscles protest the motion. Dominant kitty sex could easily bring many fantasies true in a single session. It's hot and sexy while making a woman feel vulnerable and protected. The down side is that same kitty feels obligated to remind you over and over again, ensuring it soaks into the your thick skull. I wasn't complaining in the least. In fact, I reflected back on the experience, felt Shy parts perk back up, and contemplated on how to get Meat back into the mood.

  Poking a grape in my mouth, I watched Charity. From my position on her right, I could easily see her gaze darting from Meat, back to her plate, then back to Meat again. That was odd. If you were enthralled with the man sitting beside you, wouldn't your attention be focused on him?

  Peeking over, I noticed the same thing occurring with Meat. He seemed to fixate on Charity as if trying to reason out something. Yet, that spark in his eye, something about the way he looked at her, as if he knew her well. Quite well at that.

  "You've had sex with Charity?" The words blurted from my mouth before I could think about their consequences.

  Charity's head jerked up, eyes widening as she
glanced toward Ducian. All eyes focused on the brunette as she chewed her lip nervously. Her chin lifted as her face tightened, mouth turning down.

  Meat remained mute, prompting me to wade deeper. "She's a shape-shifter and part of your Familia, right? So you've slept with her?"

  "Tyger cares for the needs of many of the Familia females," Charity hissed between clenched teeth as she sat ramrod straight in her seat.

  A low rumble came from Meat's chest, his glare turned in my direction.

  Ducian blinked, attention focused on his girlfriend. Every once in a while, his gaze flicked toward the alpha kitty before returning to Charity.

  Those words. That tone of voice. The puzzle pieces fell together to complete the picture. The rock Misha desperately sought, her obsession with it due to the amazing magical abilities it was rumored to possess. The disappearance of Misha and appearance of Charity. It all clicked.

  "Misha," I whispered the name in stunned astonishment.

  She scowled at me, fingers clenched into tight fists, knuckles whitening from the pressure she exerted. "You bitch."

  A blink of an eye later, she lunged across the table, claws outstretched as they gleamed in the kitchen light. I jumped back in my seat as Ducian grabbed her, roughly shoving her back to a seated position next to him.

  Ducian stared at her; a look of total shock covered his face. "How the hell?"

  Misha began to squirm under his scrutiny, obviously not prepared for this confession. "I knew how to work the Talisman Stone. Had it figured out. Spoke the words to open its powers, then something went wrong. Badly wrong. I must have passed out and woke to this body." She frowned severely as if remembering the incident with soured expectations.

  "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, low and gravelly.

  "You wanted me. Me. In this ugly body." She scooted back enough to gesture at her padded curves. "I was afraid if you knew the truth…" Her voice broke on a quiet whisper.

  "Then what?" Ducian demanded, throwing his napkin down on the table, his movements jerky and animated. His vocalization began to rise in sheer decibels. "You would fool the dumb vampire? Or maybe it was your sick joke to play a role. Forever, you looked down your nose at me, telling me I wasn't good enough for the likes of you. So now you get a stick up your ass, play this stupid game, just to get a hell of a pleasure in dropping me on my ass?"

  He stood angrily, eyes flashing with fury before storming to the front door to the hotel suite. "I may not be the brightest on the block, but no fucking way I'll let you use me any longer. Not by a deceitful bitch like you."

  The door shook forcefully as he slammed it in his wake.

  Misha's head swung around, her eyes pinned me with pure malice. "You ever come near me again, and I will rip you to shreds. There won't be enough parts left for burying."

  She stood, spine stiff, chin held high, rage apparent in her body language. More like furious enough to kill, if you asked me. A few stomps later, she left the room.

  I folded my hands across my lap, not sure what to say after such heated allegations and revelations. Tension embraced the room, squeezing tighter and tighter, like an anaconda strangling his next meal.

  Meat sat still and quiet, although I could feel the strain radiating from him. It was like standing on a volcano, waiting for the pressure to raise enough for the whole top to rocket hot liquid lava to the heavens.

  After too long a silence, he finally spoke, soft and controlled, as if forcing himself to speak through a clenched jaw, "You eavesdropped on me?"

  I risked a quick glance; saw the absolute fury written on his face. Unable to bear it, I quickly lowered my gaze. "Not intentionally," I answered with a quiet sincerity. "It was an accident."

  He simply sat and waited. No moving. No prompting. Simply sat and waited for me to spill the beans.

  A cold draft drifted by, causing me to rub my upper arms, seeking any warmth I could garner. "I was freezing and went for a blanket. While in the closet, I heard voices from the sauna room and thought it best to investigate."

  "Yet you didn't walk away once you determined who was there?"

  The flatness of the statement concerned me almost as much as the fiery spark of anger in his eyes. "No." I sighed, unsure how to explain myself. His anger bit at my conscience.

  "We've been through this before. I warned you about spying on conversations. You harp on me about telling you about Familia business and details on my PI investigations." The low rumble erupted from his chest, taking on an aggressive undertone.

  A gasp escaped. I didn't expect him to take this turn on the situation. Mentally, I scrambled to keep up with the direction change. "What? This isn't my fault. She's the one that lied to him. To all of us." I desperately tried to shift attention to the problem at hand and onto Misha's shoulders.

  Meat shook his head. "Yes, and she was going to explain it to him privately. She certainly didn't need you blurting it out in public like you did."

  "But… I…" My mouth opened and closed, unsure what to say next.

  "But this isn't about her. It's about you." His voice hardened.

  Emotions running hot, I attempted to counter, "A loving relationship is about sharing lives, not simply sharing a tiny segment and keeping the rest a big secret."

  His brows lowered as those large, strong hands fisted. "This is the very reason I don't dare share things with you. You blab to anyone and everyone first chance you get."

  His statement put me on the defensive. "I do not! Besides, I didn't know Charity was Misha until just now. Who knew that was some sort of national security secret?"

  "You learned of it through eavesdropping. What in the hell else did you think it was? Gossip hour?"

  Biting my lip, I sucked in air. "Well, no."

  He stood and glared down at me. Never had I seen that look directed at me and, in all honesty, hoped to never again. I got the definite impression that he strained to control a physical demonstration of his anger.

  I tried to appeal to him, folding into myself in an unconscious sign of submission. "Relationships are about trust and sharing. If you would involve me in some of the rest of your life…"

  "And have you tell the whole damn world?" He bit off each word through clenched teeth. "Did you conveniently forget the Familia has enemies? Those out to kill us just for being different?" He stood, gripping the back of the chair with enough force to make the old wood squeak in protest.

  "No!" I looked up into his face, pleading with him to understand. "I wouldn't do anything to endanger any of you." My eyes began to tear up. I sniffed and forced them and the accompanying lump in my throat away.

  He stood mute, silently fuming. I leaned forward, reaching for his hand. He jerked it out of my reach, followed by a low warning growl.

  "Please. I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

  "Bottom line"—he snarled down at me—"I can't trust you to keep your mouth shut. And I'm not willing to stake one of my pride member's lives to give you that chance."

  Those fists clenched again, eyes sparked with sheer fury for a long moment. I sat silent, clueless as to what to say or do in order to make him understand. No sooner had my mouth opened, than he spun around and stormed from the room.

  I sat in stunned silence before everything began to sink in. Wrapping my arms around my belly, I curled up, letting the threatening tears finally break free.

  An hour later, I gathered up my packed suitcase, and slid into a taxi. As we pulled out, I refused to look back at the hotel.

  For a weekend full of promise and joy had crashed down to earth in a fiery blaze. Just like my relationship with Meat. Maybe a phoenix could rise above the destructive flames and soar once more.

  Too bad phoenixes were only a myth.

  Chapter 21

  What in the world was I going to do? I still loved the temperamental liger, but things looked relatively bleak right now. If he didn't come around soon, could I move on in search of another Prince Charming with all the unfinished busine
ss between Meat and I? Would there even be another man for me?

  Questions fired through my mind, but no answers followed.

  "You can't sit around here moping all the time." Jessica walked over and plopped down on the front step next to me. The boys ran around the large yard in a game of chase. The early spring day, though nippy, shone bright with sunlight and a promise of beautiful days to come.

  "I'm not. There's work and my online class." I deliberately shunted the conversation along a different path.

  "Shy. You know that's not what I meant." She shook her head.

  Jessica had been my best friend, my mentor, since I accepted the position at PPD. She showed me the ropes and supported through the worst days of my life when my husband went MIA, presumed dead, and left me with twin newborn babies. She moved in, stood in the trenches beside me, and helped keep my sanity through those difficult months.

  The petite redhead carried cheer in her heart, a warm smile, and followed her dream by owning a sex shop. Surprised the heck out of me when she announced she was transferring to consultant status at PPD and opening a store dedicated to sex and all the kinkiness that went along with such activities. Why she still remained single, I didn't have a clue. Maybe men were put off by a woman who knew all about whips, chains, and leather restraints.

  "Have you called him today?"

  "No. I… he was too upset yesterday. I doubt he's ready to talk to me today." I intertwined my fingers and rested them on my lap, watching Sasha dash behind a tree. "I screwed up, Jessica. Big time."

  She patted my shoulder. "We're human. It happens now and again. You haven't been in the dating pool for over four years. It stands to reason you'd have a couple of pitfalls along the way."

  "I don't think he'll forgive me this time. Like he said, if he can't trust me, how can we have a relationship? It's more than just us that he's considering. His whole pride depends upon it."

  "So you show him that you can be trusted. Prove you're up to the task."

  I met her emerald gaze. "How?"

  "That's something you need to figure out."