“Nothing that a little practice wouldn’t hurt,” she muttered.
Duncan smirked. Practice he could do. He removed his hands and she turned to face him, her hair in wild disarray, her jade green eyes sparkling. Absently he sucked his fingers clean while he stared at her pretty face. His. The word kept echoing through his head in an endless litany.
“Up on your hands and knees again.”
A furrow formed on her brow. “Why?”
“Because I want to take you from behind.” And because his feline was riding him pretty hard, simmering just below the surface and threatening to take over, marking his territory before he’d romanced Lana into his way of thinking.
She frowned at him, obviously suspecting something, but Duncan maintained his easygoing expression, letting a hint of humor shine through and leering at her breasts. Anything to lull her suspicions.
Slowly she resumed her former position and Duncan let his breath ease out in a whoosh of relief.
Giving in to temptation, he moved up behind her and reached out to cup one breast before rolling the nipple between finger and thumb. “You have pretty breasts, sweetheart.”
“Thanks,” she whispered. “Duncan, I’ve missed this so much.”
A shard of jealousy pierced through his sexual hunger. Jamie. His cousin had died and yet Duncan envied him. “No problem. We’re friends. I’d do anything for you.” Fuck, he had to change the subject, get things back to a strictly sexual nature before he said the wrong thing. He tugged on her nipple, pulling a ragged sigh from her. The soft cry went straight to his cock, coalescing in a throb. Hell, that sound. He wanted to hear more of her breathy moans.
“You ready for me?” He could see the glaze of arousal on her inner thighs and couldn’t resist the quick plunge of fingers into her tight channel. Oh yeah. Perfect.
“Yesterday,” she muttered, her tone cross. “I wanted sex yesterday.”
Little did she know. Pulling his fingers out with an audible squelch, he lined up his cock and pushed his tip inside her. Heat hit him in an intense burst. Part of him wanted to slam into her. He resisted, thrusting slowly and pulling back before pushing into her scalding heat a bit farther. Finally he was fully seated and he paused, leaning over to nuzzle her neck. The scent of sex flowed around them, and a faint floral perfume came from her hair. He licked a path from below her ear right down to her collarbone, enjoying the taste of her skin and the vanilla spice scent of it.
“Stop dawdling.”
“My way,” he reminded her.
Lana growled, pulling her hips forward and slamming back to make his cock slide through her channel. He hissed, his nerve endings vibrating inside her wet cunt.
“Hold still.” Not trusting her to follow his orders, he grasped her hips and held her tight. He leaned over her again, brushing his chest against her spine, sliding his lips across the smooth vulnerability of her throat. A nip of his teeth made her jump and a quick punch of heat hit him along with masculine satisfaction. His.
Lana clenched her inner muscles, tightening her sheath around his dick. He groaned, the sound almost drowning out her soft laugh.
“A pity our first time is out here,” he said, warning coloring his words.
Another laugh preceded the clenching of her inner muscles. “You can’t control everything.”
And he’d thought she’d follow along with his instructions. Hell, he’d underestimated her. It had been a while since someone had defied him in the same way as Lana. Damned if it didn’t make the sex better.
“Duncan, stop dithering. I feel like one big throb. I need you to move.”
A grin slipped free. The female didn’t know when to stop. What he needed to do was distract her so she stopped issuing orders and complaints. Still smiling, he withdrew before pushing slowly back into her moist heat. A groan built in his chest but he tamped it down, determined to gain the upper hand in this battle of wills. He licked a path up her spine, over the tiny bumps and indentations, his heart thudding erratically when his mouth neared the juncture of her shoulder and neck. Jesus. The need to bite, to mark her shoved at his control. He shuddered and forced himself to pull away, to pull out of her sweet cunt until only his tip rested inside.
“Duncan.”
Growling, he ignored the protest inherent in his name and pounded into her. Hard. Fast. Using more force than he would with a human woman because he knew Lana could take it a bit rough. Hah! Not the truth. The minx had pushed past his shaky control. He slammed into her again, lips curving wryly. At least she’d shut up with her complaints. Good.
The way to obedience lay in hot sex. Couldn’t be better.
Knowing he wouldn’t last much longer, he slipped a hand between her legs and rubbed her clit. She gasped, her pussy gripping his cock in a tight kiss of pleasure. Man, he’d never expected this from Lana. His fingers massaged the slippery nub again. Good sex, yeah—but not spectacular and mind-blowing. The finding firmed his plans.
Him. Lana. A mated pair.
There was no other alternative. Another brush of his fingers and he felt her topple over into climax. He thrust in hard digs, the kiss of her cunt firing off more pleasure than he’d ever felt before. A guttural groan spilled past sharp canine teeth. Hell. A glance at his hands confirmed it. He’d started his change. Fuck. Even his damned cock wanted in on the action, both lengthening and widening to fill her completely. Hoping to distract her, he rasped his tongue over her shoulder and pulled back, thrusting rapidly to finish off.
“Duncan.” This time his name exited on a sigh of feminine pleasure.
Better. Much better. Filing the info away for the future, he sank into her wet cunt, soft tissues gripping and massaging his dick. His balls had drawn up tight, the tingle of orgasm firing along the length of his cock. He groaned, loving the sounds of fucking, her scent. Seeing his honey-coated cock shoving into her body. Another hard plunge into her clinging pussy and orgasm thundered through him. Blind with pleasure, he gripped her hips, each breath a harsh rasp. When the jets of semen finally ceased spurting from his cock, he pulled out of her, lifting and turning her into his arms.
Like a sleepy kitten, she cuddled into him, pressing her head against his chest. Right where she should be, he thought in satisfaction.
Belatedly he realized they hadn’t used any method of contraception. No problem on the disease front, however, pregnancy was always a possibility. He thought about raising the topic and dismissed it, not wanting to draw the hellcat to the surface. Plenty of time for talking later, besides, the idea of a kid didn’t bother him in the slightest. Meanwhile he wanted to simply hold her, let the breeze drift her long hair across his arm and breathe in the scent of her, a combination of the fresh outdoors and a sexy musk that made his nostrils quiver, his arms tighten around her. Duncan listened to her low breathing and hoped things would settle between them quickly. He wanted to spend the rest of his life holding her, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing and smelling her beautiful scent.
Lana stirred, her eyes opening a fraction, dark lashes screening her expression. She stiffened in his arms, which pissed him off. Not that he displayed any of his reaction. Instead he relaxed his grip and let her pull away enough so he could kiss her. Their lips met, a gentle brushing of mouths. He’d intended to soothe her. Comfort. Instead a jolt of sexual pleasure assaulted him. And her soft gasp told him he wasn’t alone. He wanted to love her again.
“Where are you staying?”
“With Emily and Saber Mitchell. Emily invited me.”
Duncan frowned. A motel room would have been easier. Maybe if he had a quiet word with Saber it would work out.
“What about you?”
“Camping at the rodeo grounds.” And he wasn’t about to take her in his tent where everyone else would hear her cries of pleasure. He didn’t care if his mates ribbed him, but no way would he let her reputation suffer. “I haven’t seen Saber for a while. Are you heading back there now?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll come with you,” he said.
“But—”
Duncan stood, took pleasure in the furtive way she eyed him up and down before accepting the hand he offered.
“You don’t need to escort me back to the Mitchells.”
“Do I embarrass you?”
“No. No, of course not.”
His eyes narrowed when she refused to look at him. She didn’t want anyone to know they’d slept together. Frustration ate at his gut. Damn. He didn’t intend to be anyone’s guilty secret.
“Relax. My mother taught me manners.” Not much else before she left him with relations and headed out with a man, but that had nothing to do with them. “I’m not about to embarrass you or do anything to hurt your reputation. Are you going to the dance tonight?”
“Yes, with Emily and Saber.”
“Save a dance for me?”
This time she frowned. “I thought you were walking me home.”
“Sure thing.” Ah, sex and keeping her off balance. Worked like a charm.
Chapter Three
Lana couldn’t take her eyes off Duncan. He strode across the tussock at her side fully dressed in faded jeans, a long-sleeved blue shirt rolled up to reveal tanned forearms and scuffed boots. The man prowled with catlike grace, his dark hair too long, long enough to curl at his nape. He stood taller than her, lean and muscular. Not as big as Jamie but definitely all man. Experienced man. Her body felt well loved with a few achy parts, a reminder of the pleasure they’d shared.
Duncan paused to pluck a stalk of dried grass. “How long since you’ve visited Middlemarch?”
“Almost six months. I think the last time I visited was for Saber and Emily’s wedding.”
“I wish I’d been able to make the wedding.”
Curiosity simmered in Lana. “Why did you come home? According to Emily you were doing well on the rodeo circuit in the States.”
“I missed home.” He turned to her, their gazes locking.
Lana’s breath caught in her throat and a bolt of sensation spiraled through her body. This was about scratching an itch. Sex and nothing more.
Duncan shrugged. “I might go back once the season finishes here.”
An ocean between them might work. A few inches sure as hell wasn’t doing much to halt the impulse to touch. Damn, she couldn’t believe how much she craved him. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t natural. She didn’t want another man underfoot, always telling her what to do and when, expecting her to pop out children instead of following her career. Cooking was all she knew and something she loved. Lana knew she excelled at it. Her restaurant continued to boom and that remained enough for her. She didn’t need a man. When it came to children, Jamie hadn’t agreed on the timing. Oh, Jamie had loved her, but the lack of children had played on his mind. A lot.
Maybe she should leave and go back to Queenstown early. She’d had sex. Pleasurable, sensational sex. Yeah, she felt sated, except along with physical satisfaction came edginess. Awareness. And a scary yearning for more. The worst part.
“I can hear voices out the back,” Duncan said when they neared the front door of the Mitchell homestead.
They circled the house, taking the flower-edged path leading to the rear of the property. A cobblestone barbeque area extended from the wall of the kitchen. To their right a thriving vegetable garden gave way to an expanse of green lawn, the tall trees surrounding and shading the property. It seemed like an oasis at the height of the Otago summer.
“Good run?” Emily took in Duncan and smiled, her eyes crinkling at the edges. She waved at the empty seat beside her. “Saber is in the kitchen getting drinks. Why don’t you go in and say hello?” she said to Duncan.
Duncan bent to brush a kiss over Emily’s cheek.
Jealousy, swift and cutting, seared through Lana bringing a follow-up wave of shock. Emily appeared happily married to Saber. She wasn’t interested in Duncan. He disappeared through the door leading to the kitchen and her eyes zoomed in on his butt.
“Do I detect a romance?”
Lana ripped her gaze away and bolted upright. “Heck no!” At Emily’s look of disbelief, she blushed. “It’s just sex. That’s all. Just for the weekend.”
“Hmm.” Emily smirked, her brows rising in clear disbelief. “Was it good?”
“Yes, and that’s all the details you’re getting from me. I don’t ask you about your sex life.”
Emily chuckled. “You work hard, Lana, and deserve some fun.” She paused a beat. “So are you still staying the night or are you spending it with Duncan?”
“I’m staying here,” Lana said in a firm voice, trying not to flush at the teasing. Emily had an advantage over her, honing her teasing skills on her brothers-in-law.
“Okay. I’ll tell Saber if we hear someone sneaking around in the middle of the night we shouldn’t worry because it will be Duncan. Heck, I know. We’ll leave the door unlocked. He can walk right in. Neither of you are getting any younger. You shouldn’t have to do acrobatics just to scratch an itch.”
“Emily!”
“What’s she been up to now?” Saber asked, prowling outside with a tray of drinks, looking cool and sexy in a T-shirt and shorts. Duncan was right behind him, and judging by his grin they’d both heard everything. Saber handed both women a glass of wine before the two men dropped into empty wooden seats.
“She’s just being Emily,” Lana said with a glower at her grinning friend. “And I’m not listening to a word she says.” Saber and Emily were a great couple. She’d known Saber all her life and had met Emily at the wedding. They’d hit it off because they were both chefs running their own businesses and had so much in common. Emily had a café in Middlemarch called Storm in a Teacup. They spoke to each other regularly by phone and managed to meet whenever the couple visited Queenstown.
“I keep threatening to beat her,” Saber said. “Threats don’t work so I’ve given up.”
Emily snorted. “He’s just glad I’m picking on someone else instead of him.”
Saber winked at Lana and didn’t deny his wife’s accusation. “Emily said you went for a run.”
Lana glanced at Duncan, saw his heated look and immediately blushed. “Um, yes,” she managed.
“She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Emily said. “That topic got me into trouble.”
Duncan chuckled, grinned at Emily and smoothly edged the conversation into rodeo. Lana had never been so relieved in all her life.
“How are you doing in the standings this year?” Saber asked.
“Third in the bull riding,” Duncan said. “I decided to stick to the one category this season and I missed a couple of rodeos before I arrived back from the States. You both heading to the dance tonight?”
“Sure are,” Emily said. “I’m looking forward to it.” She glanced at Saber. “I missed most of the last dance they had. His fault. Lana’s going too, but you probably already know that.”
“Emily!” Lana protested, feeling off balance despite laughing along with the others. Just the weekend. After the rodeo she’d head back to Queenstown.
* * * * *
Country and Western music poured from the huge marquee along with laughter, some of it with a tinge of alcohol-induced hilarity, filled the air by the time Duncan and a couple of the other cowboys wandered over from the campsite. Determination rode him because he knew he’d have a fight on his hands to get close to Lana. Even though tonight wasn’t the main event, there were still a lot of people gathered at the party to raise funds for the local fire service who also carried out search and rescue in the area. The local men, the visiting cowboys and the woman herself would all get in the way of his goal. Too bad. He’d waited a long time and wasn’t about to back off without a fight.
The local committee had gone all o
ut with decorations including wanted posters and a display of Western memorabilia just inside the entrance. He paid his admission and sauntered into the marquee looking for Lana or either of the Mitchells. Difficult to scent anyone in this crowd. Men and women packed the dance floor attempting to do a line dance.
Damn. He couldn’t see Lana. Cursing softly, he pushed his way through the crowd, pausing here and there to say hello to friends and acquaintances. Along with his unease came a contrasting sense of contentment. It was damned fine being home, spending time with his fellow shifters.
“Are you looking for me?” The throaty voice dragged his attention from the dance floor.
Jesus, she looked beautiful. She wore a dark green dress with tiny straps to hold it up. It clung to her curves before falling to swish in loose folds around her knees. The color highlighted her eyes, deepening jade green to a darker, more mysterious hue. The shadow of her cleavage drew his attention He took half a step toward her before stopping abruptly. Not the time or place. The closest he would get to touching during the next few hours would be a slow dance, or if he could persuade her to take a walk with him outside where the air was cool and privacy easier to find.
“Yeah. I thought you might be dancing.” But glad he didn’t have to see another man touch her.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips, a brief brush on the mouth that had his feline purring. “I have been dancing. I saw you come in and wanted to say hello.”
The line dance ended and the band rolled into a slow dance. Perfect.
“Wanna dance with me?”
“Sure.”
They walked over to the makeshift dance floor and she slipped into his arms where she belonged. Her arms stretched up to grip his shoulders and their bodies brushed.
“You look beautiful.” Nothing less than the truth. The full skirt of her dress flirted with the tops of her knees, stirring with each gliding step. He would have preferred that she wear a sack, just so none of the other men could ogle her sexy form. Unfortunately, he could hardly complain since the other women were dressed in a similar manner. He wondered how long it would take to talk her out of that dress, pondered again the advisability of taking a walk.
Cat and Mouse Page 3
