He turned and looked at her, his gaze ravenous and feral. Her words scattered and her heart fluttered. He belonged outdoors, surrounded by towering pines, swimming in icy lakes, running wild. Even in a charming farmhouse he looked caged. “How’s your head?”
“Lock the door, then get undressed. You made me wait over two hours.”
“I didn’t realize --”
“I know.” He stalked toward her, his movements slow and rolling. “You’re not being punished for your actions tonight, but your actions this morning.”
She swallowed hard. “What did I do this morning?” Better make sure they were on the same page.
“You left my bed when you knew I needed you. Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten last night and your oh so sweet vow to me.”
“I promised to submit to whatever you deemed appropriate for not trusting you.”
“You do remember. I wasn’t sure you meant what you said last night.”
She’d meant every word. Regardless of the emotions battling within her, she wanted to surrender, to experience the pleasure waiting on the other side of her misgivings.
Without a word she kicked off her shoes and turned around, unbuttoning her blouse as she fought for composure. She kept her back to him, knowing she’d never appear calm if she saw the hunger in his eyes. He moved up behind her. She could feel the heat of his body, but he didn’t touch her, didn’t speak. Her bottom brushed against his groin as she bent to remove her pants. It had been a glancing contact. Still, she imagined his cock, hard and straining against his jeans.
“Why’d you hide from me this morning?”
“I didn’t hide. I --”
He whipped her around and silenced her with a glare. “I want no lies between us. Do you regret giving yourself to me?”
“No.” Then more slowly. “It wasn’t regret, more like fear. But I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid of losing myself in you. I’m a scientist. My brain doesn’t know how to process what’s happening to us.”
The corners of his mouth tilted and his gaze softened. “You can’t process this with your brain, Emily. Aim a little lower. Use your heart.”
Soothing heat swirled through her, sweeping away her uncertainty and warming her blood. She raised her arms and locked her hands behind her head, needing him to understand that she was ready to take the next step. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Sir. I should have been more attuned to your needs.”
He shook his head. “It’s my job to gauge your needs. I should have made sure you understood my expectations.” Keeping his body back, he leaned in and kissed her mouth. His lips covered hers and their tongues played, but he denied her his touch. Their gazes lingered as he pulled his mouth away.
Rather than motioning her toward the bed, he guided her toward the blankets he’d spread on the floor near the window. There were pillows stacked off to one side and their overnight bag was within easy reach. Clearly he had made good use of his time alone.
“When hybrids grow up among morphs, they tend to be more comfortable with our animal forms. I know you were in pain when I transformed before, but I do not want you to fear me.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” The sudden catch in her voice only added to his point.
“When I’m in animal form, I’m fully cognizant. And I would never hurt you.”
Before she could protest, or even fully realize what he intended, energy rippled across his body. His human form bunched and wrinkled as it was drawn toward the floor. Then the cat pushed forward, elongating the basic shape by determined lunges. It hovered in shapelessness, an undulating mass for a moment before the panther burst free.
Emily gasped and took a step back before she recovered. “You could have warned me.”
His warm chuckle sounded in her mind. I thought I had. He passed in front of her, warm body brushing against her thighs. Touch me. Cats love to be petted.
Reaching out slowly, she ran her fingers through his thick fur. His body was warm and strong, shifting restlessly beneath her hand. He turned in a surprisingly tight circle and brought his head up between her breasts. His ears tweaked her nipples, and then his tongue rasped across one unsuspecting tip. She shivered. The rough texture combined with the tentative lick was incredibly enticing.
Lie down. I want to make sure all hint of tenderness is gone.
She turned her face away as she took her place on the blanket, unable to hide her smile. Are you sure you don’t just want to lick me?
He didn’t respond to her teasing. Instead he nudged her legs apart with his head and lay on his belly as if he meant to stay there for a good long time. Hands over your head and close your eyes.
She obeyed without question, but she was curious. Why did he want her to close her eyes?
His tongue rasped a path from the underside of her knee to the seam where her thigh met her groin. She moved her legs farther apart, hoping to draw his attention to her aching sex. He wouldn’t be rushed. He repeated the teasing trail along her other leg, increasing her frustration with each passing moment.
She pushed up with her heels and rocked her hips, wanting his tongue on her clit or sliding in her core. He finally traced her slit with the tip of his tongue, and she stilled beneath him.
So soft. Carefully parting her folds, he found her clit and flicked the delicate nub.
How could he be so gentle in cat form? His tongue rubbed over and around her, allowing her to savor the sensations building beneath the caress. This was too exact, and too… smooth. Sneaking a peek between her lashes, she confirmed her suspicions. He was back in human form.
His head rotated, lifting without losing contact with her clit. Their gazes locked for a second; then he returned his attention to her body. I wanted you to accept pleasure from my cat. But it’s easier to deliver as a human.
That he felt the need to explain himself at all was pretty amazing. I understand. And you’re right. Your cat’s tongue is too rough. That feels better.
She had just started the climb toward orgasm when he rocked back onto his knees and raised his head. He reached into the overnight bag and pulled out a slim, pink vibrator. “Is this yours?”
“Where did you get that?” She pushed up on her elbow and tried to snatch the toy out of his hand.
“It was in your nightstand, which means it’s probably yours. But I wanted to make sure before I push it inside you.”
“It’s mine,” she whispered and lay back down. Now she knew what he’d been doing while she finished her shower. He’d been snooping through her stuff!
“How often do you use it?”
She covered her eyes with her forearm and braced for impact when she heard the familiar buzz. “Am I not allowed to masturbate?”
“Of course you can masturbate.” He pressed the vibrating toy into her free hand. “Go ahead. I want to watch you get yourself off.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She turned off the toy and tried to toss it back into the overnight bag, but he neatly intercepted her throw. “I meant before. I have needs just like anyone else, and there hasn’t been anyone in my life in a very long time.”
“Our pasts are behind us. There is no one for me but you.”
“And no one for me but you.”
They let the moment linger, absorbing the warmth and the sincerity in the vows.
He offered her a shockingly playful smile and said, “Now it’s time for you to demonstrate your trust.” He made a rotating motion with his finger. “Turn over and fold your legs beneath you, head down.”
She understood what he wanted, the classic submissive pose, body open, willingly offered for whatever pleasure he chose. He wouldn’t hurt her. This was the final hurtle. She turned onto her side then bent her legs, coming up onto her hands and knees as she completed the turn. Then she bent her elbows and lowered her head onto her folded arms.
He pushed a pillow under her chest and set one by her elbow, a silent signal that he was still thinking about her comfort.
�
�What happens when you leave your mate aching all day because you sneaked from our bed when you knew he needed you?”
“I don’t know.” The low buzz of the vibrator gave her a pretty good idea of what he intended. She tried to slow her breathing and relax, to accept that she wasn’t going to come for hours.
He moved her legs farther apart and traced her crease with the tip of the toy, letting it hover over her clit until she moaned. “Is my assessment of the situation fair?”
“Yes. I knew you wanted me, and I ran away.”
He slowly pushed the vibrator deep into her core and waited while the sensations spread through her abdomen. “Open your mind. I can’t stand this separation.” He pulled the vibrator back and thrust it in fast, the motion helping her focus. She found his signal pulsing at the edge of her consciousness and drew him into her mind.
For several long moments he teased her with the toy as they savored the intimate connection. She could feel his stubborn control and the intensity raging behind it. His free hand caressed her hip and her butt, occasionally stroking down onto her thigh as he kept up a steady motion with the toy.
Then he reached around her hip and circled her clit with the very tips of his fingers. Her arousal built and he turned up the toy. You do not have permission to come.
I know. I won’t. At least I’ll try really hard not to.
Oh so slowly, he drew the toy out. Then he circled her entrance, making her feel hollow and achy. He began a slow rotation that passed the toy over her clit before continuing along the rim of her opening. Darts of pleasure shot up her spine and down her legs, and her core contracted with painful need. This was going to be a lot harder than she’d thought.
He eased the toy over her swollen nub again and again until she moaned. “Please turn it off. The vibration is going to make me come.”
“Then come,” he growled. “I’ll spank you instead.”
“Oh. Oh!” Within seconds, she came in tight, fast spasms. She raised her head, needing air -- needing him to share the wonder -- but the shift in position launched another wave of spasms. He slowly drew the toy out and tossed it aside, leaving her body softly humming with echoes of release.
“Have you been spanked before?” His voice was so dark and smoky she looked back at him, then shook her head. “You obviously like the idea. It sent you over the edge. Close your eyes again and try not to think. Let your body control your mind.”
She returned her forehead to her arms, reaching out for him with her mind. He sent a reassuring wave of affection to her, but remained stubbornly controlled. His palm smacked down on one cheek and then the other. Heat erupted in a sudden burst, pulsing back and forth between the two sides.
Trembling, she waited for the next set of spanks.
“I can’t… hurt you.” He thrust into her sopping core, filling her emptiness with brutal demand. Pulling her up against him, he caressed her breasts with one hand while he held her against him with the other. “Do you need pain?”
“No! I was curious. Now I’m not. You are more than enough for me.”
He pulled her face back for an awkward kiss, then whispered, “So much of my life has been darkness and pain. With you I want only pleasure.”
She reached back with both hands and squeezed his hips, pouring heat into his mind. “Then take me, give me pleasure. I’m yours, love. Now and forever.”
“Now and forever.” He guided her back down and thrust deep, sliding against her back as he hammered between her thighs. His urgency thrilled her, confirming that his need was as great as hers.
She tossed her head, meeting him halfway. He covered her and filled her, joined with her mind and completed her body. She yielded without reservation, unafraid of herself for the very first time.
Chapter Eight
After spending more time with Milo, in a less confrontational setting, Cruz began to understand why Emily enjoyed working with him. Emily introduced him to Tayla, the investigative reporter largely responsible for breaking the “Alpha Colony scandal,” and he liked her on sight.
It didn’t take long for Cruz to notice a similar dynamic between the two couples. Milo and Emily were both analytical and systematic while he and Tayla acted on instinct and responded to hunches the other two couldn’t understand. He wasn’t sure if Milo and Tayla were an actual couple yet, but there was some serious chemistry between the two.
“It just doesn’t feel right,” Tayla said for the third time. “There is something we’re not seeing, a vital piece to the puzzle we don’t have.”
“We’ve done all we can.” Milo stepped back from the conference table, littered with half-formed strategies. “The morphs are on guard. We have media teams positioned at the three most likely targets. All that’s left is for us to join the fight.”
“There’s still no hint of contamination?” Cruz asked. “Karah’s warning said there would likely be trial runs.”
“Apparently they didn’t risk it.” Milo rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes beginning to water. “If the rest of her warning is accurate, we need to get going.”
“I say we split up. Cover more ground that way,” Tayla proposed.
“You two take the reservoir above the canine compound, and we’ll head for Hanging Lake,” Cruz suggested.
“Works for me,” Milo said.
* * * * *
Cruz watched the scenery pass as Emily effortlessly maneuvered the skimmer toward Alpha Colony. Urban clutter gradually gave way to suburban sprawl and finally to a tragic stretch of wasteland. “The trip seemed much faster when I was unconscious,” he muttered.
She didn’t comment, but her smile was soft and caressing.
After an endless stretch of barren earth, life returned again. First grasslands, then forests, and finally the rugged peaks and deep valleys of the Morphological Preserve. His chest compressed and his mouth dried up. This was the only place he had ever known anything resembling peace.
He looked at Emily, but she was busy adjusting their trajectory. Could he ever make her understand how he felt about this place? There wasn’t much to recommend it, but it was home.
“Will the skimmer’s shields get us through security?”
“We’ll sail right by, and they won’t even know we’re there.”
Nodding, he turned his attention back out the window. The high walls had never looked so militant with their razor wire and guard towers. It sickened Cruz to think cubs were taught that this was normal. Determination surged through his body. Regardless of the price, it had to stop now. His people could not go on living like caged animals.
Hanging Lake wasn’t far from his valley. He frequently hiked here to fish. The water was crystal clear and shimmered in the afternoon sun.
“Put down behind that boulder,” he whispered.
She smiled at him as she obeyed. “No one could hear us, even if they knew we were here. The skimmer is soundproof.”
There didn’t appear to be anyone else around, but he knew better. Either Tayla or one of her teams was recording the entire area, and Maddox had sentinels posted all around the lake. A systemic threat had been the motivation the morphs needed to network as never before.
Emily used a heat signature scanner to identify the other players lying in wait of the villain. Cruz was fascinated by the toy, but he suspected that his nose could have told him just as much if he weren’t sealed inside a skimmer.
“Here we go.” She pointed to a solitary figure. “They just got out of a small land vehicle. I can’t get a visual on them from this angle.”
“Are they alone, or is someone waiting in the car?”
She made several adjustments, but shook her head. “It’s hard to say. This could be residual heat from the person who just got out. My guess would be he has a buddy.”
“Let’s concentrate on the mover.” Cruz watched the shadowy figure cross the scanner screen, wishing he could better relate it to the world around him.
As if she heard his mental grumblings, Emil
y activated the main viewscreen and winked at him. “Better?”
“Much.” The man crept along, keeping his back to trees, and hesitated at the smallest clearing.
“He’s depending completely on visual clues. He must be human.”
Cruz smiled. A few days ago, she’d proudly claimed the title for herself. “Stay here.” He punctuated the directive with a firm glower, but suspected she’d disobey. This was her mission too. In fact, they had been dispatched by her supervisor. He was technically the interloper.
The human crept along in the shadows, a silver case clutched in one hand. Without warning or debate, Cruz charged the man, ramming his shoulder into the smaller man’s gut and ripping the case out of his hand.
The man yelped then cursed, coming alive with brutal alacrity. He swung at Cruz with a tight right fist then immediately countered with a left upper cut. Cruz dodged the right, but the left caught him on the jaw, jerking his head sharply to the side. Lights danced before his eyes and he felt the man tugging on the case.
“Back off!” Emily’s voice cracked like a whip, and he couldn’t help but smile. The human let go with a curse and stepped back.
Cruz saw panic in the human’s eyes half a second too late. The man glared at him, as if he’d continue the fight, then he turned and ran off through the woods.
He didn’t get far. Maddox tackled him and the rumble of an engine told everyone the human’s driver had just deserted him.
The cameraman shot the human from several angles so facial recognition could identify the culprit.
Emily opened the silver case, but would need to analyze the liquid before she could determine what the vials contained. “None of it was anywhere near the water, so I’m not sure it matters. But I’m dying to know what they were hoping to accomplish.”
Milo and Tayla arrived a few minutes later. “Your team must have warned the others. All we saw was a shuttle speeding off across the sky. Tayla caught a less than stellar image of it, but I’m not sure it will help. There didn’t appear to be anything unusual about the shuttle.”
Uninhibited Fire Page 9
