by Eliza Gayle
Free and naked before her, he watched her gaze travel downward and light up in appreciation when she got her first look his red, swollen shaft.
“You want me.” Not really a question, but an assurance nonetheless.
She hissed at him in response. He suspected he could do anything he wanted right now and she wouldn’t care as long as he fucked her. Kane flipped her over, stomach to the wall so he could take her from behind. He pressed his cock between the cheeks of her ass and she whimpered. This was exactly what he’d wanted all along: her underneath him, eager to please, desperate for him. His teeth scraped her skin along her spine, desperate to bite and lick her. The urge to mark her shocked him since he’d never felt that way before, but he pushed those thoughts aside and poised the aching crown of his cock at her entrance.
But, when he grasped her hair to pull her backwards, he spied a small mark on the back of her neck. His blood chilled at the sight. “What the fuck is that?”
His angry voice must have startled her as she whipped her head around to look at him. His hands fell to his side and he stumbled back across the shower.
She had the mark. The mark of a mate.
“Kane, what’s wrong?” The alarm in her voice surprised him. “The mark on the back of your neck. Oh, God.” He opened the shower and stumbled away from her. He grabbed a towel and stomped from the room, toweling off as he went. This was so not happening to him. No.
He sank onto the bed, trying to make some sense out of an impossible situation. The water shut off and a few minutes later she emerged through the door wrapped in a towel, which did absolutely nothing to hide her lush figure. Despite the shock coursing through him, his dick still stood up hard and ready when he saw her. Now he knew why.
The chemistry between mates was undeniable. It was nature’s way of making certain they would procreate. They could fall in love and mate with anyone, but a natural born marked mate was an everlasting thing. If he bit her birthmark there would never be another for either one of them. Ever. Their chemistry would be linked forever. Despite knowing the consequences his entire body still ached to claim her, to take what was meant for him and bite her.
It all made so much more sense now, yet it complicated the hell out of his plans. He only wanted to get her out of his system. Now what would he do? Mating was out of the question.
“You going to explain to me what the hell that was about? Why get me all worked up like that just to leave me?” Her anger lashed out at him.
He put his head in his hands, trying not to look at her. He still tasted her on his tongue and her scent, God help him, he’d never scented something as sweet and wild as her.
“Your birthmark.”
“What of it? It’s not some weird growth, it’s just a pale mark I’ve had from birth. What the hell does that have to do with anything?”
She stepped up to him, mere inches away. When he raised his head he found her towel-covered breasts right in front of his face.
Must resist.
She grabbed at the fold holding the covering in place and dropped the towel. Blood drained from his face and straight to his cock.
“Lara, we can’t...”
She pushed him back on the bed and he didn’t have the will to stop her. That she still desired him after him abandoning her in need made him want her all the more.
“Don’t make me tie you, Kane.”
He barked out a laugh. “I’d like to see you try.” She crawled up on his lap and nestled her moist warmth along the length of his erection and rested her palms across his nipples. Damn vixen. He really liked this, her on top of him acting all aggressive. Sharp fingernails dug into his skin and scratched the length of his chest. He sucked in a sharp breath at the small strips of flesh she took with her. Pain mingled with lust. When she bent down and licked at his wounds he went berserk. He snarled and hissed at her.
“Damn it, woman. Do you want me to hurt you? Don’t you know it’s dangerous to draw out the beast like that?” She rose and guided him to her entrance.
“Good!” She slammed down on his shaft, taking all of him in one hard stroke. They both gasped and jerked against each other. When she began to move against him he grabbed her waist and took back the control. He drove upward, seating himself ever farther. From the look on her face he knew he’d touched the right spot. Her tongue panted from her mouth.
“Fuck, you’re tight.” He seethed through his teeth. In fact, she strangled him. All shred of common sense faded as he stroked in and out of her, the slick sounds of flesh against heated flesh all he could think of. On a sudden scream probably heard for miles, her orgasm broke. Yet another reason to be glad he’d moved out here so far from everyone else. The last thing he needed right now would be for anyone to come running to investigate. Her muscles clamped down around him again, dragging all other thoughts from his brain except how good it felt to be inside her. His mate.
His mouth watered at the sight of her sweat-soaked skin as she leaned over him. His damn canines literally ached with the need to bite her, but he couldn’t do it. What would his council say? Hell, what would his brothers say? He was just supposed to fuck her and forget her.
He listened to her heart racing as her screams died out and she panted for breath. It had been such a beautiful sight; he wanted to make her come again, but the way she rode him harder and harder there was no way he’d last much longer.
“Fuck, baby, you’re going to make me come.”
“Yes, Kane, come now, with me.” With that she let out a long, low wail eerily similar to the females of his clan. Her soft skin and dewy heat connected with his on every thrust, teasing him until he too yelled out in release. He came up off the bed and found his mouth on her shoulder, the sharp tips pushing against the thin skin. Thankfully, she pushed him back to the bed and dug into him with her nails again. He shuddered and groaned and rode through the pulses and shivers of their combined orgasm.
Damn, he couldn’t remember sex ever being this intense with anyone before. When she slumped forward against his chest he didn’t even wince at the pain she caused just from touching his nail wounds. The knowledge that she had a bent for rough sex as much as he did made him grin and wrap his arms around her.
Eventually their skin cooled and she shivered against him. He gently slid from her body and tucked her into his shoulder before wrapping them both in a blanket. If nothing else, they could at least rest for a couple of hours before the sun rose.
Then they would have to talk about the impossible.
Chapter Seven
Lara woke to the sounds of nature and streaming sunlight flooding the room. Disoriented for a minute, she glanced around and remembered. Kane had brought her here, and this was his house. Relaxing back into the pillow, she admired the skylight that covered almost one hundred percent of the ceiling. Last night the starry sky had seemed surreal, but looking up now at the blue sky and moving clouds definitely gave her the illusion of being outside.
When the memories of her and Kane and their early morning hour activity hit her, she didn’t know whether to laugh or throw something. He’d entered the shower with her on the verge of a much-needed orgasm, and she’d made the split decision to fling all caution out the window and have a good time. They both needed it, and for her it had been far too long. Hell, even a few days seemed too long, and with thoughts of her and Kane in this bed, a few hours felt too long.
She jerked herself from the bed, blocking the images and the need that went with them. There were far more serious matters to attend to. She needed a plan of escape when things got ugly, and they most certainly would. Some part of her believed Kane wanted to do the right thing here, but when push came to shove she wasn’t totally sure whose side he would end up on.
She bent and stretched out her muscles, ready to get the blood pumping and the day moving.
“Damn, woman, you trying to kill me?”
She popped up, ready to smart mouth him, but the words died on her lips when she spied the gorgeous grin on his
face and the lust shining in his eyes. How could he look at her like that, even now? In the cold light of day she found it impossible to put their troubles behind them. He expected her to face his council in a Tribunal she might not be able to escape from. Only she knew better.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?” “Think about sex when both our lives are at stake.” He should be focused on the danger, not the amazing dick he had in his pants. Unwittingly her gaze slid down. Oh hell, he already had a hard on.
“Seems like the perfect time to me. If my life is in danger I want some really hot sex before I go and you, babe, are HOT.”
She dragged her gaze back to his face. “You need a cold shower.”
“Ouch.” He clutched at his chest and she laughed as she threw one of the bed pillows at him.
“I need another shower and some food. Will it kill you to feed a hungry girl after she fucked your brains out?
A wicked and suggestive grin spread across his face. “You talk to everyone with that mouth?”
She arched her brow and did her best are you kidding me look before turning on her heel for the bathroom.
“Lara, wait. I actually came in here to tell you I’m going out for a while.”
She stopped in her tracks and turned back.
“I have to give a report this morning and I need you to stay here and stay put.”
“A report on me?” He nodded.
“Will you stay?” Damn it. If he’d ordered her to stay she would have been out the door right behind him, but the fact that he asked her to stay melted something inside of her and made her want to be here when he got back.
“Yes.” She couldn’t say more beyond the simple word. Not only did she feel suddenly vulnerable, but she didn’t want to screw this up with her normal sarcasm.
“Good.” He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. He smelled like clean soap and...
“Is that bacon that I smell?”
“You’re good, baby. Yes, I made breakfast for you. Bacon, eggs, and toast, and it’s sitting on a platter in the warm oven waiting for you.
“I think I love you.” She planted a quick kiss against his lips and wriggled from his arms in her rush to get a quick shower and the food her stomach grumbled for.
“Okay then. I’ll leave you to it and be back in a few hours. I’ve probably got every gadget known to mankind in either the living room or the study just off the kitchen if you want to watch some television or surf the Net. Although, everything is cleverly hidden, but since you’re such a smart girl I’m sure you can figure it out.”
“Sure, sure, no problem.” She only half listened to him as she went about her quick two-minute shower and then dressed in clean jeans and a plain baby blue t-shirt. She opted to forgo the bra, not only because it simply felt better but eventually he’d be back and she wanted to distract him. She wasn’t above using anything to get what she wanted.
She quickly found the food and scarfed down every bite of what he’d left her. Looking down at the empty plate, she marveled at her appetite. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten that much in one sitting, and for a fleeting moment wondered if he’d put something in it to get her to eat all of it.
No, she wouldn’t let her paranoia get the best of her. Instead she’d keep focusing on the facts thus far. Kane had been upfront with her about what was happening, and she had no cause for thinking of his potential treachery...yet.
She pushed away from the kitchen table and cleaned up after herself, she was a guest in his home, after all, and occasionally she did remember a few manners.
With the kitchen now spotless, she hunted around for something to do next. Sitting around and doing nothing never suited her very well. She remembered his comments about electronics and thought checking her email might not be a bad idea. There weren’t many people she kept up with these days, but she often conducted business via e-mail when necessary, so it benefited her to check in from time to time.
Walking into the living room, she observed only the one doorway leading off of it. She slipped into the study and looked around. The natural earth tones and handmade wooden furniture continued through here. A desk and chair sat in the corner, but no computer. What had he said about having to find them? She began searching through drawers and cabinets to no avail.
All right, Lara, he said they were here so think about it, where would you hide a computer? She sat down behind the desk and began feeling along the edges for secret latches or compartments. Thirty seconds later her fingers hit a tiny lever she almost missed and sprang open a hidden drawer. There inside sat a slim laptop, multiple cell phones, and a PDA. All state of the art, high-end equipment. Kane, the fun loving, horndog brother of the trio kept secrets hidden behind that façade of his.
She removed the laptop and carried it with her to the living room. She’d watch some television or something while she waited. Not, however, until she pulled up Google Earth and studied the satellite images of the region she’d returned to. He had the home turf advantage over her, and it never hurt to know as much information about the situation she found herself in. Much easier to come up with a plan of action that way. Self-preservation 101.
As usually happened when Lara got involved in her research, hours passed and she lost track of time. She stretched her arms and decided to make some fresh coffee. Walking to the kitchen, a knock sounded at the front door. Lara paused in her tracks and debated what to do. Kane had said they were pretty far from the rest of the clan and hadn’t said a word about expecting anyone to stop by. Maybe she’d ignore it and pretend not to be here.
Still curious to know who’d arrived, she padded silently to the window to check it out.
“I can hear you in there.”
She sighed. Damn cats. This one was female, though, and didn’t look particularly friendly.
“Kane’s not here.” She called through the door, reluctant to let anyone she didn’t know inside. She wasn’t exactly the most popular person around here, and her defenses were somewhat weak in the face of a shifter.
“I didn’t come here to see Kane. I want to speak with you.”
That threw Lara back. A feline coming to see her...at Kane’s place. How did she even know about her, unless Kane sent her?
Lara wrenched open the door and stared down the pretty blonde woman standing on the porch. She eyed her cautiously from the short denim dress and sandals that tied up her calves to the bright red polish on her nails.
“What do you want with me?” she asked impatiently. The hair on the back of her neck had stood on end the minute she opened the door and her adrenalin had kicked up a notch or two.
“I thought we should meet.”
“And why is that?” Her instincts screamed she wasn’t going to like the direction this conversation was headed.
“Considering my relationship with Kane, I think I should be informed about the trouble he is brewing up with the clan.”
Her relationship. The words stabbed at her pride and suddenly her stomach tightened in knots.
“He should be back soon, you can ask him yourself.” Lara tried to shut the door but the woman slapped her hand on the wood and pushed, catching her off guard.
“I will talk to Kane, but first I want to talk to you, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen like a good little human.”
The woman’s sickly sweet southern accent turned Lara’s stomach as she tamped down the desire to kick some serious ass. She laughed instead.
But, she doubted anyone would consider it a funny ha-ha kind of sound. More like a warning to anyone with half a brain.
“I’m not anyone’s version of a good little anything. Never have been and never will.” She clenched her hands into fists. She wasn’t totally green. Years of martial arts training whenever she could fit it in gave her at least something to work with.
“Feisty too, I see. You don’t have to get your panties all in a twist because of little ole me. I didn’t come her
e to hurt you. At least, not this time.”
Lara considered the fact this woman was a shifter and physically more powerful than herself, which had no impact on her need to attack her. She thought about what magic she could conjure up, but without even a small amulet she was woefully unprepared for a battle.
“Say what you’ve come to say and then get out. You’ve got thirty seconds.”
“Don’t get too comfortable here. Kane may want to fuck you, but that will soon wear off and eventually he’ll get around to doing his duty...he always does. I can guarantee you, you won’t be leaving clan land again except in a box. And as for Kane, he is mine. We are to be mated at the next full moon, so don’t go getting any wild ideas about something more from him.” Suddenly the bitch’s nose flared as if catching a scent. Her face mottled with angry shades of red as she sniffed her way around Lara.
“You bitch!” she shrieked just before her hand wrapped around Lara’s neck, cutting off her air supply.
Lara clawed at her hands and twisted and turned her body, trying everything to break free from the chokehold. She stomped on one of the shifter’s sandaled feet and got a vicious snarl in return. She didn’t let go, but it loosened her grip just long enough to get some air.
Lara swung her right fist upward and connected with the bitch’s jaw in an easy uppercut. Her head sprang back and she let go of Lara. With probably only a fraction of a second to spare, Lara turned and ran with the idea of getting to one of the bedrooms and locking herself in. That should give her at least a minute or two to find some sort of weapon.
She didn’t even make it past the kitchen before she was tackled. Sharp claws dug viciously into her back as they both tumbled to the ground.
The woman grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked her head back. Lara bucked and fought, even with the sound of her favorite shirt being ripped from her back.
“What the hell is that?” The woman screamed so loud Lara winced at the sound so close to her ear. She sounded worse than a damn banshee.
