Josh

by Dana Archer

  The thought of Josh napping in her living room did crazy things to her heart. It didn’t take much to imagine spending hours wrapped in his arms on the couch while he watched football. Such a simple thing, but something she never thought to share with a male.

  She pushed away the domestic thought before longings and regret took hold. Focusing on the picture he made, she let his image sear itself into her mind so she could take it out when she needed him close.

  Jeans clung to his thighs, and a simple black T-shirt molded his torso. After seeing him naked, she knew exactly what lay beneath. Perfection. Powerful and primal with thick muscles, a narrow waist, and a tight backside that felt so good under her hands.

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. It hit her dead center and left her raw, vulnerable, and more aroused than the sight of a mere grin should make her. Her knees went weak. Warmth settled low. She reached for the edge of the hall table before she could stop the reaction.

  “Hey, kitten, I was wondering when you were going to come home.” He slowly skimmed his heated gaze over her. She ignited under his carnal inspection. Every inch of her skin heated and demanded he repeat the caress with his fingers. “I was getting lonely.”

  She licked her suddenly dry lips. “How did you get in here?”

  He chuckled. “I picked the lock.”

  She waited for him to say something else, maybe close the distance between them. He did neither. He merely watched her. Lust hazed his eyes, but so did patience and confidence. He wore the look of a male who knew exactly how he affected his woman.

  “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be home with Megan?”

  “She’s with Jazz.” He crooked one finger. “Come here, kitten.”

  Her breaths quickened. She took several steps before she forced herself to stop. Hands clenched, she shook her head. “I told you I need time to think. I haven’t yet. Please go home.”

  Instead of arguing, he held his hand out, palm up. “Think later. We need each other. Come here.”

  She did need him. Micah’s visit had chilled her, but Josh could warm her. Her dignity stopped her from running to him. She slowly closed the distance between them. As she approached, he adjusted his position on the couch so both bare feet hit the floor and created an inviting spot on his lap.

  He waited until she placed her hand in his before tugging her close. She settled over him, straddling him.

  “That’s better.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and used his hold to seat her more firmly over him.

  A soft sigh fell from her lips. It felt so natural to sit on Josh’s lap, to feel how he loved having her here.

  “Do you enjoy knowing what you do to me? How excited I get for you?” He brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek. “Or are you thinking about taking me back to your bed?”

  Yes. Both. She bit the inside of her cheek instead of voicing the truth. The teasing lilt to his voice lightened her heart. She smiled. “Feeling a little cocky tonight?”

  He dropped his head against the cushion and peered at her through half-lidded eyes. “No, kitten. Confident. I know what you want, and I’m here to give it to you.”

  Unable to resist, she stroked his arms from elbow to shoulder. Muscles tensed under her fingertips. “What do I want?”

  “Me.”

  She forced a chuckle past her lips. “I was right. Cocky.”

  He grinned at her.

  She folded her forearms over his chest and leaned closer. “As much as I enjoyed what we did together, we shouldn’t have sex again. I really do have to think about everything.” She trailed her fingertips along his jaw. “Okay?”

  “Sure.”

  The easy agreement struck her as fishy. She eased back and met his eyes. “No argument?”

  Another lopsided smile graced his mouth. “Like I said, I’m here to give you what you need. We don’t have to get naked and sweaty for me to do that.”

  She studied him for some clue as to his motive but the lust darkening his eyes and the confidence emanating from him confused her. He wanted sex. The thick shaft nudging her left little room for misinterpretation.

  “What do I need?”

  He tugged at the edge of her neckline, exposing her mate bite. Using a single finger, he circled the scar. Sparks skipped down her spine. “For me to prove to you that I’m your mate.”

  She didn’t get the chance to agree or to deny him. He covered her mouth and kissed her, taking the choice out of her hands. She was glad. Fighting her instincts was wearing her down.

  With a slow sweep of his tongue, he explored her as if what they shared was their first kiss and he wanted to savor it. The low groan of his approval and the tender strokes he rubbed into her skin fed the moment, making it special.

  He twined their tongues, leading her into a dance that built her hungers. Slow at first, he worshiped her. The pace of his rolling thrusts quickened, spiraling her needs until she felt as if she were coming undone.

  She threaded her fingers through his tousled hair. Silken, short strands teased her palm. Tingles danced up her fingers, down her arms and spread out to encompass her body. More, she wanted more of the energized feeling, but she knew there was only one thing that would appease her craving. She wanted Josh inside her.

  A desperate moan escaped her, desire rising faster than she could contain. She scraped his scalp with talon-tipped nails, not hard enough to bleed him but enough to pull a raw sound from his throat. Only a primal male could meet her wicked cravings. Josh with a touch of animalistic aura surrounding him did it for her.

  His rough moan betrayed how close he was to losing control, exactly what she needed. She nipped at his tongue to bleed it. As if he was a shifter, Josh responded to the trigger. In one smooth move, he reversed their positions. Her back met the couch. He crouched over her and pushed against her legs with his knee, urging her to open to him. She did, eagerly, spreading her thighs wide. He settled in the space she’d made, partially straddling her.

  The couch didn’t offer him the room to line up their bodies the way she wanted, but his strong frame covering her smaller one had the same effect. She relaxed and gave herself up to the kiss. The purposeful way he led her didn’t give her any room to resist him, not that she would’ve. He had her submission. She was his to command, his to please.

  His to use.

  On and on, he loved her mouth with rolling strokes that touched her deep inside. Her heart opened, inviting him to take it over completely. She should fight the compulsion. She knew it’d be the smart thing to do, but she couldn’t. Her instincts ruled at the moment, and she wanted Josh. Had from the moment she’d looked into his eyes.

  She slipped her hand between their bodies, ready to encourage him to finish what he’d started. He broke the kiss and climbed off her body. Kneeling next to her on the couch, he stopped her from following him with a hand splayed over her lower belly.

  He gave a small shake of his head. “Now, now, enough of that, kitten. I’m not a saint, you know. If you keep touching me like that, I’m going to lose control.” He used his other hand to lightly caress her neck. “And I promised not to have sex with you.”

  “But—”

  He stopped her words with a single finger pressed to her lips.

  “I told you…” He bent closer so his exhaled breath bathed her mate mark. “I told you, I know what my female needs.”

  “I thought you said I needed you.”

  His low chuckle whipped through her. Desire followed. She moved to get off the couch. He held her in place with his palm on her upper chest. She stilled.

  “Do you trust me, kitten?”

  Not once had he demanded such a thing from her. Trust, to a shifter, was not lightly given, not even to a mate. Just because a breeding partner couldn’t kill his mate, it didn’t mean time spent in his company was pleasant. She knew too many females who suffered abuse—mental and physical—at their mates’ hands. It was wise not to blindly give her trust. But…but this was Jos
h who asked for it, the male she loved more than anyone in the world.

  She nodded, the scope of her acceptance too much to manage more.

  A pleased grin spread over his familiar and beloved features. Seeing it satisfied her on a primal level she was sure few humans would understand, Josh included. She’d made her male happy and that…well, it tightened their bond and tugged them closer, spiritually and physically. It was the mystical tether many shifters, who’d mated for breeding purposes only, refused to admit existed.

  Love.

  She felt it growing between them, but it was the smile on his face and the emotions she saw reflected in his blue eyes that sealed her fate. It was unstoppable, like the sun rising each day. Fears threatened to surface and ruin the moment. She shoved them aside. Tomorrow. She’d deal with them tomorrow. She’d have an eternity for regrets, but her happiness might only consist of this one night.

  “Good. Then let me take care of you.”

  She licked her lips. “Okay.”

  He tugged on her hand. “Up.”

  She swung her legs to the side and moved to stand a second time, but he stopped her with his hands on her thighs. He pushed his body between her legs so she was spread wide for him.

  “And Mira?”

  “Yeah?”

  The wicked lift to his lip stopped her heart. She held her breath and waited for him to speak.

  “You will do everything I tell you. If you think to disobey me, I’ll leave you with only your fingers to ease your hunger.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “Do you understand me?”

  In that moment, she realized her mistake. She’d fallen in love with a human, but he was as much a predator as any shifter.

  And tonight…tonight, he was going to tame her.

  Chapter 27

  Josh eased away from the brush of hair tickling his chest, but the dead weight on top of him nixed his escape. He blinked a few times before focusing on the golden eyes of the lioness who had her head pillowed on his chest.

  “Mira.”

  A chuffing noise answered him, the deep grumble resounding inside his chest. Contentment settled over him. He loved this woman. It didn’t matter what form she took. Each was a part of her.

  He caressed the top of her head, petting her. Both the cat and the woman would be soothed by the rhythmic strokes. Her eyes closed. Another relaxed sound rumbled in her chest and the tip of her tail flicked. Both responses reflected her approval. The woman and her cat were happy. He grinned, pleased that she too was at peace.

  A part of him found the sight of a lioness half sprawled over his chest with her tail swishing softly against the brown blanket they’d used as their bed last night amusing. A few months ago, he would’ve openly laughed at anyone who told him he’d find the love of his life in a woman who could rip his throat out with her fangs. Yeah, not anymore. He couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. Mira was his world. He knew his every thought and action until the day he took his last breath would start and end with her.

  He swallowed his declaration of love. He’d tamed the woman and the predators she housed. It didn’t mean he had her commitment. Her love? He’d bet his life on it. He felt it like some mystical tether tying them together. He also knew she’d use it against him in some misguided notion to protect him. The predator who’d captured him would sacrifice everything, including her heart and sanity, to save him. Knowing that only made him love her more.

  With her wide, heavy head cupped between his palms, he kissed the tip of her nose. The rough, sandpaper swipe of her tongue along his cheek sent a shiver through him. He chuckled.

  “Kitten, I adore your cats, but I’ve woken up hungry for what only my woman can give me. Shift for me. I need you.”

  A sigh escaped her cat’s slightly open mouth. The lioness’s image faded and Mira’s replaced it. It always amazed him to see the flip of images. Shifting looked painless, simply the exchange of one side of her persona for another.

  If he didn’t know it was impossible, he would’ve sworn he could see inside her soul in the brief flash where she was woman and animal. All three cats reached for him in that instant. Sharing their adoration with him. It left him a little unsteady inside. The muttered curse and thump from outside yanked him out of his state of elation.

  Mira whipped her head around to look at the large picture window. They’d left the curtains open last night so they could enjoy the stars. At the moment, he berated himself for doing so.

  He shoved her multicolored hair out of his face and sat up just in time to grab his little predator as she jumped toward the front door. Mira, in her human form, turned her head and bared fangs at him. Rage tightened her features. Her eyes glowed. The sight didn’t scare him, but whoever had been spying on them should be pissing his pants. Mira looked ready to kill.

  “Wait. I’ll handle this.”

  “No. I will.” A low, threatening growl accompanied another flash of her fangs. “You’re only human.”

  Nope. That wasn’t going to work. He would not allow her to protect him.

  He yanked her close and tugged on her hair to tip her head back. They didn’t have time for this nonsense, but he couldn’t let it go. Some primal instinct flaring up inside him compelled him to stop her.

  “No.” He bent closer until their breaths mixed, and her eyes filled his vision. “You are mine to protect and cherish. Human or not, I will face any threat. Not you. Understand?”

  A heartbeat passed then another before her body went limp in his arms. She nodded.

  Relief eased the unsettling tightness in his limbs. He gave her a quick kiss and set her aside. “Stay here.”

  Not bothering with his pants, he ran out the door. Mouth open slightly, he inhaled. The automatic reaction to the situation struck him as odd but not as much as the information seeping into his brain. He smelled antifreeze and mint, no hint of who’d been there. A quick scan of the clearing around the trailer didn’t show anyone. He took several steps.

  The sound of tires squealing cut through the early morning stillness.

  He cursed and spun, ready to run to his car and give chase. Mira stopped him with a hand on his arm. Panic widened her eyes. Instead of speaking, she pointed to the trampled flowers under the window and the evidence left there. A camera, an outdated flip-style cell phone, and a paper coffee cup full of chew spit showed their visitor had spent part of the night watching them.

  A few feet from the discarded items lay a rumpled shirt. The crushed plants under it showed where the stalker had slept or passed out. Josh would bet the latter or else the guy was too stupid to live. Going by the empty bottle of whiskey, Josh figured his guess had to be a good one.

  “I don’t know who it was. There’s no scent, but…” Mira leaned closer and parted her lips, exactly as he’d done. After a moment, she swung her head to look at him. Disgust scrunched her features. “He masturbated while he watched us make love.”

  The whispered declaration brought his rage back. He clenched his hands so hard pain whipped up his arms. He strode forward and lifted her. No way did he want Mira anywhere near this guy’s mess.

  Josh set her inside the house.

  “You’re bleeding.”

  He glanced at where blood dripped from his hand to the smears on her upper arms. No cuts. He didn’t know where the blood came from, nor did he care. They had bigger stuff to deal with at the moment.

  “I’m fine. Go clean up while I see what pictures he took.” The consequences of what had happened pressed down on him. “You better call Kade too. I think we’re going to need Shifter Affairs.”

  “But without a scent—”

  “We don’t need one.” Although it bothered him not to have one. There was a drug that could mask an animal’s or a person’s scent, but it was supposed to only be available to Royals. If that was what the guy had used, it meant somehow the shifters were involved or at least the humans who capitalized on selling them. Either way, things had gone south today.

  “
I think I know who it was.” Or at least which set of brothers to corner.

  He grabbed his clothes and hastily dressed.

  “Josh?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. Mira stood, twisting her fingers with her gaze locked on to the carpet. “How will I tell Kade about us when even I can’t explain it?”

  The sight of her anxiety was too much to ignore. He went to her. “I know you’re unsure about us, but we have to contain this exposure. Do I need to remind you we have not only Megan and Molly to consider, but also Jazz’s kids? Their safety comes first.” Along with Mira’s, of course, but the protective side of her persona was the aspect he had to trigger if he wanted to keep everyone safe.

  “No, but—”

  “But nothing.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “You said you trusted me. So trust me to make this right for us. I won’t fail you, and like I said, this thing between us will work out. We just need faith.”

  She nodded. “Yes, okay.”

  Her convictions were clear in her expression. She’d put her life in his hands if he asked. Yeah, that knowledge soothed him, at least mentally. The anger tightening his body hadn’t lessened.

  “Good. Call Kade.”

  He walked out without looking to see if she complied. The pain spreading through his chest increased with each second. He pressed a balled fist to his sternum. It felt as if he was blowing up like a balloon and any moment he might pop. He shook off the sensation and focused on facts. If their peeping Tom had gotten hold of the drug used to mask scents, it made sense he’d evaded Mira’s senses. Well, that, and Josh had kept her focused on other things last night.

  And one of Abby’s brothers had watched every minute of it.

  An odd haze slid over his eyes. Colors bled from the world around him. The smashed red and pink petals appeared washed-out. Everything looked as it had in the messed-up dream he’d had the other night. He pressed the heel of his palms to his eyes.

  Deep breaths eased the rage. Once calm, he dropped his hands.

  The scenery around him held all the right hues. Thank goodness. He didn’t need to deal with some sickness to remind him of the limitations of his frail, mortal body.