The Panther's Arranged Mate

by Bonnie Burrows

  She led Shanya out of the lobby and down a hallway. The facility seemed so much larger than it looked. It managed to give the illusion of space despite the fact that it was only one building on a city block. Other buildings were built close to it.

  The hall had inset arches that were filled with plants and lit nicely. The whole place felt relaxing and high class. Shanya still hadn’t managed to shake the idea that this was going to be like going into a brothel from some B grade movie.

  Suzette led her to the nicest showers that she had ever seen. Natural rock made up the walls and it was inset with glittering stones. The floors featured tiles in natural shades of reds, browns and gold. The room was humid and Shanya could see the steam rising. This was the most beautiful thing that she had ever seen before. It was amazing.

  “Yes,” Suzette said. “They tend to have that effect on people.”

  “I bet,” Shanya said.

  “A lot of the staff actually shower here,” Suzette said. “I do, too. If you get here early or if you stay late, there are fewer customers and it’s allowed. Of course, for some intense shifts, it’s rather expected that you’ll shower here.”

  “How does anyone ever shower at home if you have this?” Shanya asked.

  “Believe it or not, you do get used to it,” Suzette said. “Eventually, it’s just a shower at work. Now, you’re obviously going to have to undress. We’ll take your clothes since it is best for the Shifter if you don’t have any stray smells on you.”

  “Why?” Shanya asked.

  “Well, they tend to get aggressive if they smell an alpha on you or if they’re an omega, they might not feel good enough,” Suzette said. “Either way it’s just better if you smell fresh and clean. That way it’s not a problem for anyone. Besides, there’s also less damaged clothing that way.”

  “What will I wear afterwards?” Shanya asked.

  She steadfastly ignored the possibility that she might be so overwhelmed that she would rend her own clothing in order to have sex with the man she was to be mated with.

  She didn’t think that would ever happen. Not unless she was matched up with that Master Panthera man. But she did not think that that was likely.

  “We do provide robes,” Suzette said. “I’ll have one laid out for you when you finish. Take as long as you like.”

  With that Suzette left Shanya to the business of showering.

  Once she was done and clad in the black and gold robe that Suzette had brought her, another attendant led her down several halls until they eventually reached the elevators. Finally, they arrived in front of a large wooden door.

  Ornately carved, it looked impressive and Shanya stared at it until the attendant cleared her throat.

  “Oh, sorry,” Shanya said. “I’m just to go in, then?”

  “Yes,” the attendant said.

  Opening the door, Shanya stepped inside. Looking around, she saw that it was a large plain room; well-lit, the carpet was plush and there were several large couches around the room. It looked like there was a kitchen further inside. She stepped forward and thought about calling out to announce her presence.

  Movement drew her eye and she nearly gasped as she realized whom it was she would service.

  Before her, clad in nothing, stood Master Panthera.

  He was staring at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Shanya was frozen. She’d seen others look at people like that but that look had never been directed at her, no matter how hard she worked to please whomever she was with. And here he was, a perfect stranger, giving her what she had always desired.

  Slowly, he stepped closer to her, his gaze never wavering. His golden eyes were locked on hers. He was looking at her ugly face like it was beautiful. It was frightening. She felt like he knew everything about her just by looking at her. She wanted to look away. But like the last time, his eyes held her still. She was pinned. All she could do was gaze into his eyes.

  Shanya had expected this whole mating thing to be deeply animalistic. But she found that she had underestimated the Shifter. Instead this was turning into something that Shanya had never experienced and had indeed grown to believe that she would never experience.

  Slowly, he reached out a hand and touched her face.

  The hand was soft and warm and Shanya could not help but lean into the touch. He reached down and began to stroke her shoulder. It felt like she was the one who was part cat and not he. If this was how good touching him felt, how good would it be when they finally had sex?

  Shanya suddenly couldn’t wait for the mating to proceed. She had a good feeling about this. Reaching up she took off the silk robe and let it drop to the floor. She had a sudden need to be pressed against him.

  He lifted her up as if she was as small as Suzette and twirled her around. She couldn’t help but laugh. This was so strange. Nothing could have prepared her for his gentle touch and adoring gaze. Shanya resolved to think as little as possible during this encounter.

  Holding her in his arms, he carried her all the way to the bedroom. This was like nothing she had ever seen before. The bed took up most of the large room. The bed alone was larger than the room that she was renting from Clara. It was enormous. He lightly tossed her down on the bed and she sunk into the plushness.

  Moaning, Shanya laid back. She had never told anyone this but she liked it when a man threw her around a little and showed who was boss. She’d never been able to go after that in real life, but those were always the sorts of romance novels that she was drawn to. He soon joined her on the bed.

  “My name is Storm Panthera,” the man said in a rich deep purr.

  Shanya paused. She was surprised that he wasn’t already fucking her.

  “Why are you telling me this?” she asked him.

  “Because I want you to scream my name when I make you come,” he said.

  Slowly he began to kiss her neck. The angle was odd and Shanya squirmed under him. She was already wet when he touched the swell of her breast. He ran his thumb over her large, dark nipple. She shuddered. He was being so gentle with her.

  She sighed and arched her back. Her legs fell open. Storm felt good in between her legs. She wanted more contact. Eventually, he stopped kissing her neck and returned to her lips. Shanya wanted to shout in frustration. She hated being teased. She needed a hand on her clit to make her come. Most guys thought that teasing was enough to get any girl off, but it never worked for Shanya.

  Except now, she couldn’t just yell at him to take her already. She needed to make a good impression on him. It didn’t help that he was easy on the eyes. She reached down and stroked his rippled stomach. His skin was fine and silky. This was a man who valued personal grooming.

  He laughed at her ministrations.

  “You must be used to men who would take their pleasure quickly,” Storm Panthera said in his deep rumble. “I’m not like that, I’m going to make you come again, and again, before I take you even once.”

  Shanya laughed. “I seriously doubt that’s going to happen.”

  “Oh, you don’t think I’ll keep my word?” Storm Panther asked her.

  His hands were still on her breasts. He was being just as delicate as she liked. She hadn’t had to push his hands away yet. Unlike most men who saw her long nipples, he was content to ignore them, though every so often he would stroke his finger down one.

  “No, I just have never come more than once,” Shanya said.

  She shivered as he stroked her nipples again. His fingers were so light. She didn’t know how he managed to have such a light touch with her.

  Then suddenly his hands were on her hips. They gripped her hips hard and held them down to the bed. She gasped and looked down at Storm. He had sunk down between her legs. She could feel his breath warm on her pussy. She whimpered a little. He was still teasing her. That wasn’t going to have the right effect.

  However, it was then that Storm gave up all pretense of teasing and dove right in. Her pussy was engulfed in wet heat as h
e laved his tongue over everything she had to offer him.

  She moaned as he flicked her clit with his tongue. She was wet and aching for him but he seemed to be fine with oral sex. Then he took her clit into his mouth and sucked hard on her.

  The sudden stimulation sent her over the edge. She came with a shuddering gasp.

  Storm wasn’t done yet.

  Even as she was recovering from the sudden orgasm, Storm Panthera was sliding a finger inside of her slick passage. She moaned and clenched down on the intrusion.

  “Are you going to fuck me already?” Shanya asked as her back arched again.

  Usually, she stopped after she got herself off. It was hard enough to do it herself, but Storm Panthera seemed to know exactly what to do to get her to come.

  “Not yet,” Storm murmured.

  She felt the breath across her pussy as he spoke. Shanya shivered. But Storm only smiled up at her. His amber eyes were unreadable. Slowly he began to move his finger inside of her. The rhythm began to build up again and Shanya’s growing arousal surprised her. She was left breathless.

  Storm slipped another finger into her soaking wet pussy. He didn’t say anything about the sounds or call Shanya names like she half expected. Instead, he just crooned to her pussy in admiring tones. The little puffs of air were a horrible tease, but instead of causing her frustration to kill the mood, they ramped everything up.

  The touches inside of her felt firmer and more urgent. Shanya moaned and let her head fall back. Storm Panthera had found her g-spot and he was not moving from it. He pressed down hard on her spot. She moaned and wrapped her legs around him, trying to pull him closer to her, but he stayed just where he was. All her efforts thwarted, she just had to lie back and take it.

  As soon as she surrendered to him, he returned his mouth to her pussy. Targeting her clit, he massaged the small bud with his tongue. Soon, Shanya was gasping and moaning as she came again. She expected him to stop at that point. He’d proved himself correct. Instead, he kept going and Shanya found herself coming for a third time. After that, she lost track as she melted into the mattress. Everything felt like bliss. She just reclined there and let the waves of pleasure wash over her. She had never felt like this before.

  Clenching hard, her pussy tried to draw him deeper within her. Shanya moaned. She was floating but she needed more. How could this be? She’d come at least four times already. She shouldn’t be craving more.

  “Storm,” she whispered. “Please.”

  It was all she had to say.

  With a wet pop, he removed his fingers from her. Carefully, he moved her up more on the bed so she could recline against the generous amount of pillows. Gently he spread her legs before he guided himself inside of her.

  Despite how well he had prepared her, she tightened as the thick head of his cock breached her. She tightened around him with a moan as he continued to slide deep inside of her. It felt so good to finally be filled. His cock stretched her in a way that mere fingers never could.

  Surely now he would lose control and began to fuck her like an animal. Storm remained in control. The only clue that he might not be complete unaffected was the look on his face as he thrust into her and the ways his thighs quivered with the effort of holding back.

  Shanya was amazed and a little annoyed. She wanted him to pound into her and he still wasn’t complete sheathed inside of her. Instead, he slid in inch by inch, making it take forever.

  Moaning, Shanya threw her head back and tried to pull him deeper inside of her.

  Above her, Storm chuckled.

  “Want it bad, do you?” Storm asked.

  “Yes,” Shanya ground out in frustration. She clenched around him. But he didn’t speed up the pace.

  “Too bad,” Storm said. He jerked his hips. Shanya gasped. He still wasn’t completely inside of her. No other man had been able to resist her like this. She whimpered as he began to shallowly fuck her. He never went deeper than when he’d gone before. Shanya gasped and moaned. He drew sounds out of her that she didn’t know that she could make. She bit her lip. This was the sweetest torture.

  “Please,” Shanya panted out. She’d never been into men who liked to make her beg. It felt like too much like how she existed in real life—pathetic and desperate for the smallest amount of positive attention. But with Storm—he leaned down to stroke her face.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “I want to savor this.”

  “Please,” Shanya begged again. “I need this.”

  “I know,” Storm said with a smile. “How can I resist you?”

  Shanya gave a frustrated moan. How indeed?

  It was then that Storm slowly pushed the rest of his hard, thick cock inside of her. Shanya moaned. Wrapping her legs around his hips, Shanya tried to pull him closer to her. She wanted to keep him inside of her forever. She wanted this moment to last forever.

  Too soon, he was throbbing inside of her and she felt his seed fill her. She didn’t have long to feel disappointed before his cock was hardening inside of her. She let out a shocked noise.

  “Heat,” Storm said, before slowly beginning to fuck her with his hard cock.

  Shanya moaned and clung to him. She’d never been with a man who could last more than a single round.

  Still, Storm kept the pace maddeningly slow until there was nothing that Shanya could do but writhe on the end of his cock as he slowly fucked her into oblivion. She felt her orgasm begin to build up inside of her again and she cried out as she came hard around him.

  It was only then that he began to fuck her roughly. It wasn’t as rough as what Shanya usually liked but after all the gentle touches, it hit her harder than ever before. She moaned and clawed at his back. She panted. This was incredible. She’d never experienced anything like this before.

  Over the course of the three sex filled days that they spent together, the sex gradually began to get rougher and more desperate. However, Storm never took his pleasure before she’d had hers several times. Even as his finesse was replaced with rough desperation, he was still the most considerate lover that she had ever had.

  When his heat drew to an end, Shanya was sad to see him go. She had come more in those past three days than in the rest of her life combined. She hoped that the next Shifter she spent a heat with would be just as good as Storm Panthera, but she had her doubts. Though, if he was, then that would clear up a lot of her research.

  Shanya laughed. She couldn’t imagine penning such an end to the book that she was in the process of writing and had started while working for the Human Rights Council. Her mother would have kittens if Shanya did that. It certainly would need to be backed up with further research—something that Shanya wasn’t going to mind doing at all.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  It started with her answering the phone.

  “Mom?” Shanya answered when she saw who was calling. Usually, her mother didn’t call her all that often and yet it felt like they’d just spoken last week.

  “You know, I can’t believe you would stoop so low.”

  “What?” Shanya honestly had no idea what her mother was talking about. Usually, she knew when she’d done something to displease the other woman, but her mind was completely blank.

  “It’s not enough that you work some dead end job, just to prove you don’t need us,” her mother hissed into the phone. “But now this.”

  “Mom, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shanya said hesitantly.

  “Oh yes you do,” her mother said. “You knew the second you stepped into the facility.”

  Shanya’s stomach dropped. How had her mother found out about this? She hadn’t told anyone. Clara didn’t actually know her mother or Shanya’s real last name for that matter. There was nothing to link her to her old life. It had been safer that way when she’d first moved away and then gotten transferred.

  “How did you find out?” Shanya demanded. This was insane. Had her mother been having her followed?

  “Find out that
my daughter has decided to whore herself out to any Shifter who can pay for it?” her mother spat at her. Shanya cringed. Her mother was never going to forgive her. “You could have made a nice marriage. You could have been happy, but now you’re just going to be a whore!”

  Then there was the beeping of the dial tone.

  Her mother rarely hung up on her.

  Shanya sank to the floor. She couldn’t believe this. How had her mother found her? She hadn’t listed any of the contact information for her parents and her name had been legally changed years ago. There should have been no way for the Center to have found her mother.

  Besides, why would they? Shanya was ideal. She was a pure human and was willing to bear children for Shifters. Not only that, but Clara did inform her that they would take a cut of her payment.