by Boon, Elle
“If the shoe fits,” Zelda said with a grin.
A loud growly snarl ripped through their argument and then silence.
“Well, I guess we didn’t need to do anything. Your leopard won. Our job here is done.” Zelda and Sassy took a bow.
Noelle spun in a circle, taking in the pile of swamp creature. “Zelda, can’t you do cleanup on aisle forest floor?”
“Oh, for the love of the Goddess. I’m always on cleanup. Why do you never call when you need fashion advice because I can totally give you advice on that front. P.S. Call me ‘cause, girl, you need help.” She flinched and rubbed her arm. “Ouch, what did you do that for?” she yelled at Sassy.
“Really, Zelda, now is not the time to offer wardrobe advice. Especially when you are on the verge of a wardrobe malfunction.” Sassy cupped her hands in front of her breasts.
Noelle laughed, turning away as Zelda plucked at her nightie that was indeed about to give a flash of nipples.
RIDGE WATCHED THE TWO witches clear the forest of the taint that was Merry and Carlton. After Zelda promised to handle Noelle’s parents and said Baba Yaga would see to the people who were masquerading as Carlton’s parents, his little female appeared on the verge of collapse from exhaustion.
“I’m taking Noelle home. If anyone needs us, don’t call for forty-eight hours. Feel me?” He stared at his Crew.
Glock chuckled. “Sure thing, Alpha. We’ll drop off supplies if you need us to. Otherwise, I’ll cover you at the clubhouse. Oh, Marjo wanted me to let you know she’s up and doing good. She said to tell you she’s ready for any punishment you wanted to give her.”
Noelle gasped, turning in the circle of his arms. “Why would you punish her?”
He lifted her chin with one finger. “She didn’t protect you.”
His little mate slapped his chest. “Marjo had no way to protect us from Carlton or my sister. If you think to hurt or punish my girl in any way, I will not be pleased. Feel me?” Noelle snarled.
His Crew who were gathered around them didn’t have the smarts to conceal their laughter. His little female was showing she had claws even if she wasn’t a shifter. “Ah, Katjie, I think I’ll be feeling you a lot more shortly. See you later.” He didn’t look at his Crew as he swept Noelle up into his arms, plopping her onto the closest ATV, which happened to be a side-by-side that smelled like his female.
“Where are you taking me?” Noelle asked, but her scent wasn’t filled with worry or fear.
“Home.” He let the one-word answer fill the space. If things worked out the way he wanted, needed them, the way the Goddess had created them to be, he’d have Noelle marked and mated. Although she wasn’t a shifter, she was created for him, just as he was for her.
“Fine, but I’m still mad at you,” she huffed without real heat.
Ridge hid his smile behind a cough. The trip back took less than five minutes, shocking him. Merry and Carlton had clearly been corralling Noelle to the drop-off, which meant they’d been near his home for some time. The startling realization had a memory of when Torrance had said she’d felt something big stalking her. Shit, could it have been Carlton out in his woods and he’d not recognized the danger?
“Have Merry and Carlton been in Assjacket for a while?” he asked, pulling right up to the back deck next to what used to be the pen for Mr. Bixley.
“Yes. Well, Carlton came a year after we did. Why?” She grabbed his arm, keeping him from exiting the ATV. “Are you really mad at Marjo? Please don’t be. Honest, there was nothing she or I could’ve done to prevent what happened. One minute we were having a blast, the next the ground shook like an earthquake was rattling it, and then we went airborne. I didn’t even have time to create a protective bubble for myself, let alone both of us. When I landed, I was literally hanging over an edge. I had to use almost all my energy to heal myself.”
Rage swell within him. If he could, he’d go back and rip her sister and Carlton apart with his bare hands. “Never again will you be left unprotected. As for why I asked when they arrived, I think Carlton was lurking in my woods before. Torrance had sensed something big out there, and nothing much scares my sister.”
Her hand tightened on him. “I bet it was Carlton. Did you find...dead animals?”
“From what I saw of Carlton in his other form, I’d say he devoured whatever he killed. If he went hunting on my property, then he didn’t leave any remains to be found. Like I said, you won’t be left unprotected ever again.” His leopard raked at his insides in agreement.
“You can’t be with me twenty-four seven, Ridge. Come on. I need to shower the stink of their betrayal away.” She patted his chest like she thought she’d won the argument.
He’d see about that. She was a witch, but his sister was both shifter and witch. If he turned Noelle, she’d heal faster and be a hell of a lot tougher to kill. Again, his beast sat up inside him, ready to bite and make her like them.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I need to get clean.”
Ridge looked her up and down, his body reacting in the most primitive way. Fuck, he was liable to scare her if she noticed the sizable bulge in his jeans. “Yeah, I’ll just—” his words froze in his throat as she lifted her shirt over her head, exposing the lace bra she wore.
“How about you help me get the stink of the past hour off my skin?” Noelle walked backward, the miniscule covering she wore slipping off her arms with a flick of her fingers and a shrug of her shoulders.
A saint couldn’t say no to the feast in front of him, and Ridge was the furthest thing from a man of the cloth. Hell, he was pretty sure he was quickly becoming a sinner if he wasn’t one before, stalking forward, his fingers itching to rip the rest of Noelle’s clothing from her body.
“Baby, you do know what you’re asking of me, yes?” He had to make sure she was aware he couldn’t climb into the shower with a naked-and-wet Noelle and not want to touch, lick, kiss, and fuck her.
Her smile lit up every part of him. Her words sent his leopard into full-on mating mode.
“Why, Mr. Jackson, what kind of woman do you think I am?” Her hands went to her waist, unsnapping and pushing the fabric down. The entire time she worked she kept her eyes on him, her smile never slipping.
Ridge had been with a lot of females, but never had he felt as if his world began and ended until he stood rooted to the floor watching his female strip for him. She didn’t do anything special, didn’t put on a show, but fuck, it was sexier than anything he’d ever witnessed, watching each new sliver of her bare skin. “Shit, Noelle, you’re perfect.”
“You just purred when you said that,” she said, laughter in her voice
“Oh, I’m gonna do a lot more than purr, Katjie. You see, when a male finds the female he plans to be with for the rest of his life, he marks her, mates her, makes her his. You ready for that?” He stood in front of her, completely clothed while she wore only a pair of panties. The scent of her need driving him and his leopard nearly crazy.
“I want that. I want to belong to you and you to me.”
Truth rang between them.
Ridge needed to leash his beast so he could make it good for her. Innocence was written all over Noelle. He didn’t know how many men she’d been with, but he was sure she’d never been with a male leopard who was ready to mate, for life. “You belong to me and me to you already, Noelle. Make no mistake, you are mine.”
She tried to duck her head, a rosy hue covering her from head to dainty toe. Fuck, it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever beheld. “Don’t hide from me, Katjie.”
“What if I’m not good at this?” She let out a deep breath, her eyes closed so tightly there were little wrinkles around them.
His world stopped and started with those seven little words. “Noelle, is this your first time?”
That blush got brighter as she nodded.
“Go shower. I’ll be in shortly, unless you’d like to eat something first?” His heart was hammering agains
t his chest so hard if he’d been human, he’d worry about a heart attack.
“I’m not hungry, Ridge. Well, not for food.” She lifted her hands above her head, swirling them around the both of them.
A tingle went through him, making him feel as if he’d been shocked. “What the hell?” he asked.
“There, no shower needed.” Her impish grin kicked up a few notches.
The sweet smell he associated with Noelle increased. “Did you clean me too?”
She nodded, keeping her eyes locked on his, as if she worried he’d be mad. Damn, his little mate was about to learn he wanted her to be comfortable doing anything and everything to him. Of course, he also wanted to shower with her so they could explore one another with soap and hands. Just the thought of doing that had his imagination running rampant. “Ah, my little kitten, you’ll find I love seeing, and feeling, all the amazing things you can do. And since you’ve expedited things, how about I do the same?” Before she could respond, he bent and lifted her over his shoulder.
Noelle squealed; her fine round ass right next to his face was like a red flag to a bull. Ridge walked quickly up the stairs to his master suite, hoping Noelle was on board for the things he planned to do with her, to her, and for her. He’d designed the large A-frame log cabin with his bedroom, the only one on the upper level, including a master bath. The entire back half was made up of glass overlooking the woods.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, lifting slightly when he stopped in the entryway.
He slid her down the front of his body, taking his time to enjoy the feel of her nakedness. “I’m worried we’re too exposed here.”
She gazed outside. “I can fix that.”
Ridge tilted his head to the side, watching the glass darken. He was able to see out, kind of like in his truck with its tinted windows. Before he could question her, she rose onto her tiptoes silencing him with a kiss.
“There, now we can see out, but nobody can see in.” She trailed her hands over his chest, lifting his shirt. “Help me,” she ordered.
“You’re awfully bossy, Katjie.” Ridge reached behind his head, gripping the material, and did as she’d asked.
Noelle backed away, watching him with her purple eyes. She was hands down the most gorgeous female he’d ever had the pleasure of seeing. With his gaze holding hers, he unsnapped his jeans, shoving them down his legs. Since he didn’t have any briefs on, when he kicked the denim to the side, he stood naked before her, letting her look her fill.
“I might have overestimated my ability to...take that.” She pointed at his dick.
Ridge stared at his dick then back at Noelle. “You can, Katjie. The Goddess created you for me and me for you. Come here.” He crooked his finger.
Chapter Nine
NOELLE SHOOK HER HEAD, hiding a grin. He was so cute with his fearful expression.
She held back from going directly to him. Not that he wasn’t intimidating with his third arm he called a dick, but she trusted the Goddess. Surely, she wouldn’t gift her a male who wasn’t made for her. Holding his stare, she stuck her thumbs in the sides of her panties and pushed them down her hips. She’d been worried he wouldn’t like her curvy figure, especially after her sister had told her she was in need of a diet. Now, after the day she’d had, she was going to need to reevaluate her entire existence.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Ridge erased the few feet separating them, concern lacing his tone.
She decided to be honest. “I don’t know what to do or say to my parents about Merry. I mean, it’s not like we’ve been close like sisters who grew up together, but she was still my sister. I feel like I should be—sadder or something. Not about to be with you like this.”
Ridge wrapped his arms around her, surrounding her in his warmth. “Everyone processes things differently. I can’t say how I would feel in your shoes, but I can say I thought your sister was a selfish bitch who was prepared to kill you for her own gain. I saw how she treated you before and during her wedding and was appalled. If that was any indication to how she’d been to you, then I’d say she wasn’t a good person.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks at the loss of her family. “My mom and d-dad are going to hate me now. They’ll blame me and then leave me. I’ll have nobody,” she cried hating the weakness.
Ridge wrapped his arms around her, kissing away the wetness on her cheeks. “First, you will never be alone. You have me and the Crew, and the crazy that is Zelda and the others in Assjacket. Second, you are not to blame for the fact your sister had to be put down. She was a psychotic bitch who tried to kill you. Third, if you want me to speak with your family, I will.”
The idea of Ridge handling her parents in a similar fashion as he’d dealt with Carlton, made knots form in her stomach. They’d been nothing but good to her since she’d escaped.
“Katjie, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. However, I will not allow anyone to hurt you, verbally, physically, or mentally. If your parents do any of those things, I will have them removed from your life. They will still live, just not anywhere near you or us. You’re mine to love, mine to protect, mine to grow old with and create beautiful witchy leopard babies with.”
The breath she’d began to exhale stilled. Tiny little bundles with his coloring and her eyes appeared in her mind’s eye. Oh, Goddess be, she could see them as if they were right there. “I want that with you.”
“Then it will be. You only need to say the word. Until you’re ready, I’ll ensure we, you, are protected. I don’t want to do or say anything to hurt you or us.”
The steel-hard length of his erection prodded her stomach. “Hmm, well, I think you are set for failure, my love. That thing is surely gonna hurt.” She tried to make light of it, when in reality it was nothing but the truth.
Ridge’s hands trailed from her shoulders to her hips and down to cup her ass, lifting her up. “Wrap your legs around me, love.”
She did as he instructed. Instinct told her she could trust this man, this leopard with her very life and that of their future children.
“Good, Katjie. Now, you just relax and let me take care of you. I promise to always ensure your pleasure. If ever you’re scared, you say the word, and we’ll work through it. I’ll always follow your lead; you’re my better half, and I’ll follow you down just to make sure I can lift you back up.” He closed his mouth over hers, silencing anything she would’ve said.
Noelle had no words; other than good Goddess he was perfect.
The cool sheets met her back, a contrast to her excessively hot body. Ridge kissed her, his tongue slipping between her lips like a master, tasting like mint from her magical cleansing. Noelle kept her arms wrapped around his shoulders, scraping her nails along his smooth flesh. She tilted her head to the side so Ridge could go deeper. He moaned and did just as she’d silently wanted, and she, Goddess she loved it.
How could he be so sweet and soft with her, yet hard and unyielding with everyone else. He was everything and more than she’d ever hoped for.
She sighed as he pulled away, biting her lip, her gaze roaming the flesh looming over her. Goodness, he loomed so damn good. She wanted to feel pressing on her again. Arching her back to entice him to come back down, the action had her breasts brushing his chest. He grunted, the sound of his leopard, and then he was kissing her again, desperately. She kissed him back every bit as hard, her body on fire, her nipples feeling like hard little points each time he moved his chest against hers.
Ridge reached behind her, pulling her arms off him, panting. His panther eyes were wild before they slammed closed. “Wait, Katjie,” he panted.
Noelle froze. “What did I do wrong?”
His eyes were still tightly closed, his breathing rapid, Ridge licked his lips then he opened those bright-blue eyes. “I want to mate you, mark you, make you mine forever. You ready for all that, Noelle?”
“Will it hurt?” She’d been through so much pain, Noelle was pretty sure she could handle whatever h
e did to her, except leaving. That was one thing she couldn’t go through.
Ridge blinked, a frown making his brows form a V. “I’d never hurt you intentionally and will do everything I can to make sure you are so out of your mind with pleasure the pain will be fleeting.”
Noelle shook her head. “Ridge, I want you and think I can stand anything you do except...except watching you be with another or leave me.”
Goddess, she hoped he didn’t hop off of her and decide she was too clingy, now.
“I would never betray you like that. We mate with one female. We have sex a lot, but once we find the one who is ours, that’s it. My leopard and I will never find another we want to be with. Once we claim you, you will be it for us.” He shook his head hard.
She loved hearing him declare such things; his reassurance had her relaxing. “I want that with you.”
“You’re sure? Once I mate claim you, there are no take-backs.” Ridge growled the words out, more animal than man in that moment.
Noelle tilted her head to the side. “Is this where you claim me?”
He laughed. “Woman, you’re gonna make me crazy. I’m not just gonna bite you. I’m going to make love to you so thoroughly that when I do claim you, you’ll be so lost to the wonderous sensations you won’t even realize what’s happening.”
Noelle wasn’t so sure that was possible but didn’t think it would be wise to say so.
Before she knew what was happening, Ridge was kissing her again, his strong body stretched over hers, his tongue teasing hers.
She let her hands roam over his body, loving his big body pressing her into the mattress. He made her feel safe and warm, yet she knew he could kill with the same hands he was using to stroke her with such tenderness. His touch was gentle, yet he made her feel wild with each kiss and lick of his raspy tongue.
Slowly, he trailed kisses down her body, peppering more kisses along her jaw and throat, his lips covering her right nipple. He glanced up, captured her eyes with his as he sucked her into his mouth, holding it while he tongued the little bud.
