Dance With Darkness

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  Enyowas didn’t respond, though it was much harder to ignore the hard-on he’d been sporting that never went away. Maybe Veldi was right, cause if he didn’t do something soon, someone was going to end up seeing the wrong end of his fist. And claws. Maybe even his teeth. But the idea of being with someone not Elianna just didn’t do it for him, and wasn’t that messed up?

  As she walked through the door, Elianna laughed at something the young male said, then smiled as she passed Ferno on his way outside.

  Enyowas growled.

  Elianna looked back at him, and her golden eyes widened, then sparked with desire. She smiled and held up her hand. “I got a cell phone.”

  “Good.” Enyowas wanted to drag her away from the other males, press her up against a wall, spread her legs, kiss her senselessly, and sink deep inside of her.

  Maybe Veldi was right, he needed to go fuck someone. Genevevia maybe?

  But … he only wanted Elianna, and the more he was around her, the more he felt like he was losing himself.

  Chapter 19

  That night Enyowas went to bed, his mind trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Dread hung heavy on his shoulders, with all that was going on, and now they had a serial killing leopard shifter on the loose. The guy might not have admitted to killing Sary, Tito, and the other females, but Enyowas knew it was him.

  As he lay there, he suddenly wished that Elianna were cuddled up close beside him. But he’d made it clear he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and going to her now would only confuse things.

  Still, as he thought of her, his body grew warm and his cock hardened painfully.

  With a frustrated growl he got up, went to his desk, and checked some emails. After replying to a couple, he closed down the internet and scanned the video feeds for clan home and the EfPP. Someone was raiding the fridge in the main kitchen, and another couple were cuddled up watching a horror flick, but otherwise, everyone else seemed to have gone to bed.

  The guards at the EfPP were both on alert, and apparently Kells was working late. He shook his head, the female was supposed to be off for a few more days, but she couldn’t help herself. He switched back to clan home and was about to go back to bed when movement on a front-door monitor caught his attention.

  A dark shadow opened the door and slipped out into the night.

  Enyowas brought up another screen, this one showing a view of just outside the front door.

  It was Elianna.

  As he watched, she shifted into her cat, then disappeared behind the building toward the forest. Where the heck is she going at this time of night? And alone.

  With Garner on the loose, and the recent disappearances and deaths, the clan knew not to leave without telling someone where they were headed. And no one was supposed to run without a partner. Not even his sentinels.

  He figured Kayta would have told Elianna, but maybe she forgot?

  Enyowas threw on his jeans and a black T-shirt, then hurried down to the main floor and outside. Could Elianna be leaving and didn’t want to tell him?

  Either way, it was dangerous for her out here alone.

  Enyowas shifted into his black-panther form, which was sleeker and faster, and took off after her. His fear was probably for nothing, but after everything that had happened, he wasn’t taking any chances.

  He followed her scent through the forest. She wasn’t moving fast, so it wasn’t long before he caught up, but not wanting to startle her, he slowed down.

  Her cat stopped, turned, and looked straight at him.

  When she recognized him, she relaxed, then sat and waited.

  “What are you doing out here alone?” he asked, the words coming out harsher than he’d intended, though he couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Which he didn’t want to do, but like the time he’d seen her cat at the cabin, he couldn’t help but admire the unique pattern on her coat, the spots much larger than a normal leopard. The moonlight shone down on her and almost gave them a three-dimensional effect. Yes, even in cat form she was stunning.

  “I thought I was free to come and go, or am I a prisoner?”

  “No, of course you aren’t,” he said, tone softer. “It’s just … not safe.”

  “I couldn’t sleep, and thought I’d go for a walk.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. It’s just that I’d prefer you not go alone,” he said.

  “Well, everyone was asleep, or otherwise occupied, and I needed some air—my cat needed to stretch her legs,” she said.

  “I understand, I was just … worried.” Scared actually. That something would happen to her, or that she had left, he didn’t know. “It’s dangerous.”

  She gazed around the forest. “Out here?”

  “Yes,” he bit out, one ear open to the sounds of the forest.

  “Why, what’s going on?”

  Enyowas never brought work home, mainly because he didn’t want to upset his sisters or mother, but as Elianna waited patiently for him to talk to her, he found himself wanting to confide his fears and worries.

  At his hesitation, she turned and began to walk away. “Come, walk with me, and tell me what’s got you so tense.”

  Enyowas found himself following her, then he was beside her. He wanted to tell her that her former Tomlee was on the loose, but he didn’t want to scare her into running away. “There’s been a lot of strange stuff going on, and it’s really not a good idea to come out here all alone,” he said. “Everyone who goes for a run is supposed to go with someone. Kayta should have told you.”

  “I’m sure she just forgot. Besides, I’m not alone, you’re with me.”

  Enyowas felt like smiling. “You’re right. I am.”

  “Sima told me about Elsary. I’m so sorry, Enyowas.”

  He remained silent, the pain too harsh to process.

  “Want to run?” Elianna asked, changing the subject.

  “I’d like that.”

  Enyowas waited as Elianna took off, giving her a head start. His cat was thrumming inside of him with eagerness. When he figured she had enough of a head start, he took off after her, paws flying over the damp ground. It was just a couple seconds before he caught up, then they ran side by side. They raced over logs and leaves, leaving prints in the soft ground as it flew beneath them. Then Elianna leaped over a shrub and darted away from him. Her laughter rang in his head.

  His cat spun around and changed directions. Once again, he was chasing the other female. But when he got close, Elianna switched things up and it became a game of tag. Until Enyowas gently bowled her over and stood above her.

  “Caught you.”

  “Yes, you did.” Elianna’s golden eyes flared even brighter, mesmerizing him. As if daring him. Her front claws sank into his coat, but didn’t draw blood. Could she be wanting the same thing he did? “What are you doing?”

  “You’re the one standing over me like a huge predator who wants to gobble me up, so you tell me,” she said, sassier than he’d ever seen her.

  Heart racing and blood pumping, Enyowas backed off before he did just that. His cat wanted her every bit as badly as he did.

  Elianna climbed slowly to her feet, watching him the whole time. “We should head back.”

  “All right.”

  As they started for home, Enyowas was startled to realize that he really enjoyed her company. She seemed to know when he didn’t feel like talking. Of course, she could just be deep in her mind wondering what was going on between them, like he was.

  “How are you settling in, is everyone treating you okay?” he asked.

  “Your clan mates are all really nice, and I like your sisters,” Elianna said.

  Enyowas noticed she didn’t mention his mother. “They are, though I’ll admit, Sima’s a bit spoiled.”

  “She’s a teenager.”

  “Yes, very much so. My mother hasn’t given you any trouble, has she?” Enyowas asked.

  “No, not really, but I don’t think she likes me.�
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  “Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t like anyone, especially me—me she hates, and now Sima does as well,” he said, saddened, but knowing it was inevitable that his little sister eventually lost her rose-colored glasses where he was concerned.

  “Sima, no, I don’t believe that,” Elianna said.

  Why did he let that slip? “Sorry, I didn’t mean to immerse you in the family squabbles.”

  Elianna glanced at him. “Seriously, Sima’s just angry at Elsary for dying, and she’s taking it out on you.”

  “I don’t know,” Enyowas said. “She has every right to hate me.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because I failed to protect my family and now, we’ve lost another sibling.”

  “I noticed your mother doesn’t take much responsibility,” she said.

  Enyowas’s cat snorted. “No, she never has.”

  “Why are you the one in charge? What about Veldi, isn’t he older than you?”

  “He is, but Veldi isn’t a leader. He’s not mean enough,” he said.

  “Mean? You aren’t mean,” Elianna said.

  “Maybe that isn’t the right word. Don’t get me wrong, Veldi is as deadly as they come, but he’s got a kind heart, he’s just not … hard.”

  “And you are?” she asked.

  Hard, definitely, especially around Elianna lately. “Yes. It’s complicated.”

  “How so?”

  Despite having never talked about their escape sixteen years ago with anyone, Enyowas found himself telling this slight female beside him about how they escaped their clan and how he’d killed his father. How Amit was supposed to come with them, but died instead.

  As he spoke, Elianna moved closer, her side lightly skimming his, offering comfort. “You were only twelve?”

  “Yes.”

  “That must’ve been rough.”

  He didn’t reply to that, but after a moment, found himself telling her about Elsary as well.

  “You must really miss her,” Elianna said.

  “I do.” Then he changed the subject. “Has anyone taken you up to clan home’s slice of heaven?”

  “What is that?”

  “Elsary named it. It’s the clan’s getaway,” he said, suddenly eager to show her.

  They shifted back into their human forms at the edge of the forest, then Enyowas led Elianna inside and up the stairs past the third floor. He pushed open the door to the roof. “Welcome to our little slice of heaven.”

  “This is …” She looked at him, eyes sparkling. “This is truly amazing.” Then she frowned. “Why is the railing so high?”

  “To keep the clan’s young from trying to see if their cats can fly,” he said.

  Her golden eyes grew wide. “No, they don’t!”

  “They did, until we put the railing up. Apparently they also believe the tale that cats have nine lives.”

  “It’s like an oasis without the ocean,” Elianna said, slipping off her shoes as she took in the various-size, grass-roofed cabanas that were scattered all over the place. Under each cabana was a sturdy tree with thick limbs where they could climb up and laze in cat form, all without fear of humans seeing them.

  On the ground were padded beach loungers for when they felt like hanging out in human form as well, and outside of the cabanas was sand.

  She sank her feet deep into the sand. “You’ve tried to think of everything for your clan, haven’t you?” Off in the far corner was a play area with swings, slide, monkey bars, and a climbing wall. “This is truly amazing. Are those school desks under there?” she asked, looking at a square cabana with three walls.

  “Yes, when the weather is good, the kids are taught outside,” he said.

  “So they’re homeschooled,” she said, walking over to inspect the outdoor classroom. “Looks like they were painting.”

  “It does,” he said, glancing at the different paintings on the portable easels.

  “We were sent to the humans’ public school,” Elianna said, studying the pictures with a smile on her face. “I used to love to paint in art class.”

  “What did you paint?” Enyowas asked, unable to get enough of hearing her speak.

  “Oh, I don’t know, the usual,” she said. “Trees, animals, landscapes, that kind of thing. I haven’t painted in so long.”

  “You enjoyed it,” he said, hearing the wistful note in her voice.

  “I did, there was always something so soothing about it.”

  Enyowas looked at all the easels, then went over to one with nothing on it, and set up a blank canvas. “Here, you can paint now.”

  “What?” She shook her head. “No, I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, it’s pretty late, I should really go to bed,” she said, as if struggling to find a reason not to paint.

  Bed. He’d like to take her there. “You could,” he said instead. “Or, you can pick up a brush, relax for a bit and paint me something.”

  “What would you want me to paint?” she asked, as if considering it.

  “Surprise me,” he said and sat down on one of the adult chairs.

  Elianna was silent, then she mixed some paint, and soon the canvas was filled with rich earthy tones.

  Enyowas was so intent on watching her, of dreaming of what it had felt like to have her skin against his, of his mouth on her, and his cock inside of her, that he didn’t realize she was done.

  “Enyowas?”

  “What?” he asked, meeting her gaze. Her face was flushed as if aware of where his thoughts had been, and he noticed a large smudge of black paint on her cheek, and a smaller one on her nose. She’d tried to put her hair up in a small bun, but most of it had fallen loose, haloing her face. She was absolutely delectable.

  “What do you think?” she asked nervously, swiping at a strand of hair that had fallen into her face and getting red paint in it instead.

  What do I think? I think that you look beautiful. He tore his gaze from her and looked at the canvas.

  Elianna moved out of the way as he went to stand in front of it.

  With deep vibrant colors, it depicted a sun-drenched desert filled with small flowers and tumbleweeds, and hills. But the main focus was the large black lion lazing on a small rise. He gazed outward as if observing his domain, while the sky shone bright blue and the sun warmed his back.

  “I don’t know why I painted him, er, you in a desert and not in the forest here,” she said.

  It looked like his home where he’d grown up in south Texas, but he’d never mentioned where he was from. “Elianna, it’s amazing.”

  “You … like it then?” she asked.

  “Like it? I love it.” Though the reminder of Texas sent a shiver racing through him, Enyowas knew he’d treasure the painting, and not just because it depicted his cat, or his birthplace, but rather because of the sentiment that went into creating the piece. He could feel it, and it left him stunned.

  “Oh. Good,” she said, then face flushed, she looked down at her hands. “I’ve made a bit of a mess. Is there a tap or somewhere I can wash off?”

  Enyowas grinned. The paint was cute on her. “We have a bathroom and shower stalls up here. Let me show you.”

  “I get the bathroom, but why showers?” she asked.

  “To clean up after you get out of the hot tub. It’s salt water.”

  “No way. There’s a hot tub up here as well?” she asked as he led her close to a screened-in enclosure.

  “Of course, like I said, the only thing missing are the waves, though some try to add those,” he said with a grin at how passionate shifters could be.

  “I thought cats didn’t like water,” Elianna said teasingly.

  “Some don’t, some love it.” He hadn’t ever actually taken a dip in the hot tub, and now, with the way Elianna was looking at him, figured he might have to rectify that at some point. He could imagine her sitting naked, bubbles frothing around her breasts while the stars shone down on them. His
body hardened, hungry for her all over again. He wanted her, just like he did each time he saw her, or thought of her.

  He wanted to spend the night making love to her.

  As he gazed at her, Elianna licked her lips, and his cock ached to be buried inside of her. To taste her once again, and feel her skin pressed against him.

  He turned away before he did something he’d regret and pulled open the door leading into the bathroom.

  Chapter 20

  Enyowas led Elianna into the large room, smiling when she went over to the mirror and gasped at the paint on her face.

  “You didn’t tell me I had it all over me,” she said and proceeded to try to wash it away. “I’m so embarrassed, I’m such a mess.”

  “I like you a mess,” he said, then wanted to curse himself for speaking his mind when Elianna turned to look at him. He was already feeling way too much in regard to her, especially when he caught one of the unmated males hovering too close to her.

  Then he had to fight to keep from attacking his friends and coworkers.

  Her knowing gaze speared him and set his blood on fire. Elianna’s gaze landed on the bulge in his pants, then she met his eyes again. Hers were glowing a bright gold. “I know you aren’t looking for a relationship, but …”

  “But what?” he asked, fighting the urge to close the space between them.

  She shrugged. “You make me feel … I lose myself around you. I … want you inside of me.”

  “I want that as well.” No, wait, stop. He needed to keep his distance. “I need to be inside of you.”

  “Let me clean up and we can go down to my room … or yours,” she said, turning back to the sink.

  But before she could turn the water on, he took her hand. “I have a better idea.” He pulled her into the shower. “Undress, quick. I want to wash you. All of you.”

  Elianna’s mouth opened in a little O of surprise, then closed. She began to undress.

  Enyowas shed his own clothes, then turned the water on.

  Light fingers landed on his back with an indrawn awed breath. “So beautiful.”

  He glanced behind him and smiled.

  Elianna was tracing the outline of the lion on his back, and the cat inside of him began to purr. “I didn’t see this before … at the cabin.”