by Jenika Snow
The blue of his eyes was savage in the dim lighting of the room. They shone with vicious desire and ferocious lust. He directed all of that toward her, and it left her winded in the aftermath of her ecstasy.
His hands landed on her ankles, and his hands smoothed up her calves. The rough pads of his fingers clamped down on her knees a millisecond before he slid them down her inner thighs. He framed her pussy with his hand.
His thumbs brushed the opening of her body, and the tips of his fingers touched the top of her mound. Gaze riveted to her cunt, she felt moisture seep out of her. Maybe she should have felt self-conscious over the fact that she was obscenely on display, but how could she when the look Leo gave her had her feeling like she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen?
He moved his hips closer, so close she felt the hot, slick tip of him rub along her folds. In one swift move, he buried himself inside her again. This time he didn’t allow her body to adjust to his massive size. He plowed in and out of her, his eyes trained on where their bodies met.
God, had she ever experienced anything as carnal as this moment?
10
Her pussy was pink and plump, juicy and ready for him. When Leo had taken her from behind, the urge to sink his teeth into the soft flesh of her shoulder had been overwhelming. His body was primed for her, and adrenalin and testosterone coursed through his veins. When he saw Slade walk into the club, everything inside him went on high alert.
It wasn’t because the shifter was his enemy and walked into his business, but because the fucker had been steps away from his mate. But then Slade had put his hands on Tatum, and the lion inside Leo clawed to be free.
He wanted nothing more than to shift and tear Slade’s limbs from his body and feast on his blood. The motherfucker had touched her. The only reason he found the strength not to reveal his true identity was the fear of Tatum running. She might keep declining his offers to take her out, but he felt a shift in her every time their eyes locked.
He pushed his thoughts away and focused on his mate. Her body was made to be worshipped, and he tried to do just that. More than once, he dragged his teeth over the back of her neck, down her spine, and across the spongy mountains of her lush ass. All he wanted to do was break the skin just enough that his scent would be ingrained in her, that she would never be able to wash him off of her body or from her pussy.
The need to make her his overpowered every part of his being. It was like he had to prove to himself that she was here, unhurt, and wanted only him. The desire that came from Slade as he looked at Tatum had Leo’s claws unsheathing in fury. The fucker wanted her, but that would never happen, not when he would fight for her with his last breath.
Now, she was laid out before him, legs splayed wide open, his cock buried deep inside her sweet pussy. He couldn’t have torn his eyes from the sight of his dick moving in and out of her if his life depended on it. The sight of her wetness glistening off his shaft, her pussy lips, and her inner thighs, tested all his strength.
He pulled out until just the end of his dick lodged at the entrance of her cunt. The skin stretched wide around his girth. Leo slammed back into her. Tatum’s back arched, and her lovely tits thrust upward. The nipples were a dusky rose color that had gotten redder from his mouth.
“That’s it, baby.” He dug his hands into her thighs harder and continued to watch his cock fuck in and out of her cunt. “Take all of me, Tatum.” Lifting his eyes to her face, he watched with male satisfaction as ecstasy washed across his mate.
Rearing back, he then slammed into her over and over again. Her gorgeous tits bounced from the force of his thrusts. A low growl left him, and he saw her eyes widen. He didn’t stop his growl from rising. He wanted her to know, needed her to know, that she was his and nothing would change that.
“You’re mine, Tatum.” He sank into her again, and again, and again. Her cream was slick and glossy, and he wanted more from her. His thumb found her clit, and he rubbed the tight bud in quick circles. Her inner muscles clenched and unclenched around him, and her breathing hitched. His mate was close to coming again, and he wanted her doing it while he marked her.
Falling forward, Leo braced his weight on one forearm and pushed the hair from her face. Desire was thick in her gaze. His hips started swinging as if they had a mind of their own. Slanting his mouth on hers, he fucked her with his tongue like he fucked her pussy with his cock.
Her whole body tensed, and he knew she would explode once again. Honestly, he didn’t know if he could have held off his own orgasm any longer.
“I-I’m…” As she arched her neck, baring her throat, he let his groan spill from him at the submissive sight she threw off. “I’m coming.” Her eyes widened a fraction before they slammed shut and her cunt clamped down hard around his dick.
The lion inside him went berserk. Pistoning his hips back and forth, he clamped his teeth on the arch of her shoulder and bit down. A gasp and the sound of her crying out in pleasure filled the room. The sweet flavor of everything that was Tatum spilled into his mouth. His orgasm came upon him, and he relished the feeling of finally having his female beneath him.
He came hard, his semen filling her, marking her. A flash of color exploded behind his eyes, and he tore his mouth away from her and gritted his teeth. His lion wanted out, wanted to claim Tatum in every way possible. She wasn’t ready to see him change though.
Right now, he needed to focus on making her see that he was the man she could be happy with. Once she was fully his, he would worry about explaining his animal side to her. How would she react to finding out he could shift into a lion at will, and that she was the one and only female who could bring him to his knees?
When her pussy milked every last drop of cum from him, he sagged in relief. Never had being with a female been so consuming. Although, he knew being with Tatum would always be like this. In fact, it would only grow the longer they were together.
He rolled off her, although he wanted nothing more than to be the blanket that kept her body warm all night. The only sound that filled the room was that of their combined breathing. He reached over and wrapped his hand around her waist. Leaning forward, he ran his tongue between her breasts and gathered the droplets of perspiration that settled there.
“That was…” A smile filtered across her face, but he watched as it slowly faded and a look of panic replaced it. “Oh, God.” She turned to face him and gripped his forearm—ready to push him away or pull him closer, he wasn’t quite sure. “We didn’t use a condom.” Her chest rose and fell with exertion from their lovemaking and her fear.
“Baby.” He dipped his head kissed her gently. “It’s fine,” he groaned.
“What about pregnancy? Oh God.” She pushed herself up, but he wouldn’t let her panic consume this moment.
“Tatum, look at me.”
Her wild eyes met his, and he wished he could soothe her. He pulled her close to his chest and smoothed his hand over her damp hair. With their eyes locked, the temptation to tell her the truth slammed into him.
Leo wanted her to know everything about him, wanted to take the worry from her and only give her happiness and pleasure. These feelings were foreign to him, but he knew to his very marrow that they were true.
He heard from other shifters how it could be once a lion found its mate, but he never thought he’d experience it himself. The possessiveness inside him was potent and had him wanting nothing but to keep her tucked away from all the ugliness that was his world.
“Since meeting you, I haven’t been with any other females.” He ran his finger between her eyes and tried to smooth away the worry line. He closed his eyes and inhaled. “So pure,” he murmured. “And as for pregnancy…” He stared into her eyes and imagined her pregnant with his child. The idea for him wasn’t as abhorrent as it would most likely be for her. They didn’t know each other very well, had only known one another for just over a month, but for him, he had searched for her his entire life, even if he hadn’t realized
it until she walked in looking for a job.
Leo only wanted to watch over her, protect her, and bring her happiness. To him, it had already been a lifetime without her by his side. “As much as the idea of you big and swollen with my baby turns me on,” he groaned before he could stop himself, “you’re not fertile. You won’t get pregnant right now.”
But you will be pregnant with my baby. One day. One day, you’ll fully be mine.
He wouldn’t stop until she knew who she belonged to, that no other male would touch her. That was something he didn’t want to think about.
Leo would chase her until she couldn’t run anymore.
11
Tatum tossed her purse on the table and sat on the couch. She stared at the black television and listened to the sound of silence fill her ears. The sun had just risen, and she still felt pleasurably sore from her night with Leo. He tried to get her to spend the day with him, and in all honesty, it sounded like heaven, but she still tried to wrap her mind around what happened.
It had been… intense.
Never had she been with a man who worshipped her body like he had, and that was exactly what Leo had done—worshipped her. Of course there was still the issue about birth control. She had to be more careful.
She stood and walked to the bay window and pulled the curtain aside. A dark SUV sat across the street and down a few houses. When she first noticed it a few weeks back, she had started paying attention. It was always there, yet not in the same spot. Maybe paranoia got the better of her, but she had the sick feeling that whoever was behind the wheel was there to watch her.
Shaking off the uncomfortable feeling, Tatum went back to the couch. Through the stillness, she could hear small noises. Crickets chirped annoyingly outside, and the sound of someone’s bass in their car pumped loudly. The clock in the living room counted down the seconds a little too loudly for her liking.
What in the fuck had she done?
You know damn well what you did. You stupid, stupid girl!
Since leaving Leo at the club, all she could think about was him on top of her and his massive body pumping into hers. In all honesty, she didn’t know what had come over her. It was like something possessed her, and the only cure was Leo.
She had never seen such a finer male specimen than he, and the fact that he had taken her with such force and need still startled her. Tatum didn’t even get to ask him about who the hell Slade was and what their anger had been about. What Tatum needed was a good girl-talk with Kiki, but it was still early, and she knew her best friend worked last night.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply and smelled Leo. The spicy musk of his scent covered her skin, and although she needed a shower, the thought of washing him off her body felt so wrong.
She wanted him on her… in her.
Kiki stared at Tatum from across the table, the wheels turning in her head. Her Jackie-O sunglasses took up the majority of her face, but the way her lips pursed told Tatum that nothing got by her. “You slept with him, didn’t you?” The sound of Kiki’s lemonade slushy being sucked up the straw seemed overly loud in the restaurant.
“I….” Tatum looked around the small sandwich shop and shot Kiki a murderous glare. “Do you have to say it so loud?”
A gasp left Kiki, and she tore the glasses off her face. “Oh. My. Effing. Gawd! You did sleep with him, you bitch.” Her expression started off shocked but then showed excitement.
“Shhh.” Tatum leaned forward and glared at her friend. “I don’t want the whole city to know what the hell I do.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Kiki’s still grinned as she brought her straw to her mouth for another drink. “So, tell me, Tater.” Kiki looked around and leaned closer. “Is he as big as the rumors claim?” She wagged her brows, and Tatum rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Tatum wasn’t a fool to think a man like Leo Castill didn’t have hordes of women falling all over him. The fact that every single female at the club flocked toward him and rubbed their scantily clad bodies against his wasn’t lost on her either.
The only thing that made it remotely tolerable was that Leo didn’t seem interested in them. In fact, at every turn, he pushed them away with a scowl, and that was before they had slept together. The girly part inside her jumped up and down.
“Kiki, I am so not going there with you.”
Kiki leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. For several long minutes, they stared at each other, and finally Tatum relented. Holding out information wouldn’t do any good, not when Kiki was determined to get whatever the hell she wanted.
Breathing out, Tatum looked around before speaking. In truth, Tatum had been holding it in all day, dying to tell the only person who had ever stuck by her side.
“Oh God, Kiki.” She couldn’t help her smile as she told her friend every wonderful, incredible, and amazing part of her night with Leo. When it was all said and done, Kiki’ expression was priceless, and the fact that she was speechless was even better.
“You little slut.” The smile and tone that poured off Kiki told Tatum she didn’t mean the insult. “I can’t believe you let him screw you.”
Tatum almost spit out of her drink. “God, Kiki. Do you have to say it like that?”
“What? Girl, that is totally what he did. Leo Castill fucked your brains out, and by the look on your face, you loved it and want to do it again.”
Tatum felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. She looked down at the glossy table and felt her thoughts take over.
“Hey.” Kiki reached over and took her hand. “Sweetie, don’t go there, okay?”
Tatum looked into her deep-blue eyes. Her friend’s long blonde hair was swept in a stylish side ponytail, and her halter top left little to the imagination. Her vile thoughts invaded her mind, trying to take her down, but she wouldn’t let them have her this time.
“Kiki, I like him.”
“I know, honey.” She tightened her hold on Tatum’s hand and smiled.
“No, I really like him, and that scares the shit out of me.” The restaurant seemed overly crowded all of a sudden. “Ever since I met him, I have felt this attraction to him that goes against everything I feel comfortable with. It’s so intense, Kiki, that I feel like I’m spiraling out of control every time he’s in the same room.” Tatum closed her eyes. She could smell him, even when he wasn’t physically with her. “And the way he smells. God, it drives me crazy.” When she opened her eyes, it was to see her friend looking wistful. “What?”
Kiki’s smile grew. “Honey, I am just so glad you finally let yourself feel something.”
Tatum shook her head and pulled her hand out from under hers. “That’s why I’m so scared. I’m frightened that once I tell him about how screwed up I am, he’ll look at me differently. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone as much as I want him, but I know once I tell him—because he deserves to know—he’ll want nothing to do with me.”
“Tatum, look at me.” She hadn’t realized she looked away until Kiki’s words penetrated her self-loathing. “If you really want this, want to move on with your life and leave the hateful, toxic waste behind you, you have to take that first step. And you know what? If Leo wants to be a coward after you spill your heart to him, then fuck him. There is someone out there for you, Tater, someone who will love you, because you’re a wonderful human being with so much to give.”
Kiki moved and sat in the seat beside her. “Listen to what I’m saying.” She took Tatum’s face in both her hands until their eyes locked. To the patrons around, it probably looked like they were about to kiss. “Since I started working at the club, I have never seen Leo more enamored with a woman than he is with you. The way he looks at you…” She shivered, and a dreamy look passed over her face. “The way he looks at you is the kind of look a man gives a woman he wants to devour. And, honey, Leo Castill wants to gobble you up. I don’t want to hear about what might happen if you open up to him. If you are serious about him, and he is a good guy who is wi
lling to give you what you deserve, he’ll stick by your side.” Kiki leaned in close. “You should see the way he looks at you when you aren’t aware. It makes me wish I could find Beau and make him do me against the bathroom wall in the club.”
Tatum gasped then giggled. “You’re so bad.”
“Yeah, but that’s why you love me.” A serious look replaced Kiki’s playful one. “Now, what are you going to do? You plan on letting that bitch of a mother continue to control your life, even from the grave, or are you going to dive in headfirst and take what you want?” The hopeful look on Kiki’s face made Tatum want to take that leap forward.
“I’m going to take what I want.”
“Thatta girl.”
They finished lunch and did a bit of shopping, but all Tatum could think about was going to Leo and laying it all out for him. She threw caution to the wind and was ready to let herself feel free for the first time in her life.
12
“What do you want to do, boss?”
Slade sat behind his desk and stared out the window of his office that overlooked the strip. Since going to The Lion and the Lamb, his thoughts had been consumed with Leo and the sweet little mate he had staked his claim on. He and Leo could have been business partners and ruled Vegas if not for the other lion’s need to do everything by the book.
That initially had been what started the rift between them, and over time, that tension had grown and grown until it was like a third entity. The fact that Leo thought he was better than him, that he didn’t have to resort to back-alley business deals infuriated Slade. Staying away from the other male hadn’t done anything but piss Slade off more, because all he could think about was his enemy across town laughing at him, thinking he was nothing more that the scum on the bottom of his boot.
