Shay, Ashley and Hunter, Josie - The Lady Takes a Pride [The Shifters of Catamount, Texas 1] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Ashley Shay

  He laughed, but he knew there wasn’t much humor in it. This was a precarious path he’d decided to go down, and he realized the future of their entire relationship rested on how she reacted today. She might hate him for the lifestyle he’d chosen, and if she did, he would never be able to fully embrace this woman as his future mate. He’d try, he really would, because his brothers deserved to be happy, but he knew, without her acceptance, she’d never be able to touch his soul.

  Her hand slid across his in a trail of warmth, and she grasped his fingers. That was when he knew several moments had passed. Their food lay on the table, and he’d been unaware the waitress had even stopped at their table. Fuck, he needed to get with the program. He glanced out the large picture window to see the two Tomcats standing in the shade of Delectable’s blue awning. Thank God someone was paying attention.

  “You okay?” she asked quietly.

  “Never better.” He slid his plate closer, stabbed at his steak with the fork, and began sawing at the meat.

  Carly delicately cut her burger in half, and they ate quietly for a few moments. After he’d devoured most of his steak and half his salad, he glanced up to find her staring at him. Half her burger still lay on her plate, and she’d barely touched her fries. She slid one into her mouth and took a nibble.

  “Food not good?” he asked. He dumped the rest of the dressing on his salad.

  “Very yummy, but the Texas heat’s reduced my appetite. Cougar…” He glanced up to see her pushing her plate away. She gave him a smile, and he waited expectantly for whatever was on her mind. “Before the food arrived, you seemed about a million miles away.”

  “Not so far,” he said with a laugh.

  “Maybe at Clandestine?”

  “Maybe,” he said quietly. “Clandestine is…you might not like it. Maybe we should skip the whole thing.”

  “Not a chance, Cougar Lucas. You promised to show me, and you’re going to show me.”

  “Wildcat,” he murmured. “Okay, but you should understand a bit before you walk in.”

  She settled back in her chair. “Okay. So tell me.”

  “First, everyone is there of their own free will. No matter what you see, no matter what you hear, it’s between consenting adults. Some people just need a bit more in their sexual play, and Clandestine gives them a safe place to test the boundaries of those needs.”

  “You’re really worried about me, aren’t you?”

  “Not exactly worried,” Cougar said, “but people can be a bit shocked at first, and it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

  Carly looked at him with amusement shining in her eyes. “Cougar, are you trying to give me the birds-and-bees talk about bondage clubs?”

  Her laughter tinkled around them, a melodious silvery sound that sent a tremor across his spine and an ache through his cock. Everything about this woman turned him on, from the deep depths of those innocent blue eyes to the tone of her voice, but that laugh nearly did him in. The sound also caught the attention of the other patrons. Several turned and looked at them with smiles of approval.

  Carly leaned forward a bit and lowered her voice. “I’m not that naive. I’m just not educated about the lifestyle. I’m not going to be shocked.” She hesitated and cocked her head. “Well, maybe I will be.” She laughed suddenly.

  Cougar really didn’t know what to say. He thought maybe it would be best just to shut up and take Carly there. Let her ask any questions when she felt the need. Christ, she’d worked at an elementary school for fuck’s sake. What was he thinking even considering getting this woman involved in his lifestyle?

  “I still want to go,” Carly said. “I’m very curious.”

  “Curiosity killed the cat, you know,” Cougar said seriously.

  “It hasn’t killed you,” Carly said lightly. “And in case you’d forgotten, I’m not a cat.”

  “Hard to forget,” he muttered. He nodded toward the waitress, signaling for the check. “Okay, we’ll stop by, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.” Carly took the last slurp of her iced tea. “Will anything be going on this early?”

  Cougar felt hopeful about her excitement. “Oh hell yeah, there’s always something going on, but it really gets underway about midnight. Something about the midnight hour seems to release inhibitions.”

  “Black magic.” Carly waved her fingers like casting a spell then laughed. “Or maybe just an evening of drinking hard liquor.”

  Cougar snorted. “You’re probably right.” He watched Carly chewing on the straw in her drink, and he decided to test a theory. “Stop that,” he said quietly.

  She immediately stilled and pushed the glass away, her eyes lowered. “Yes, sir.”

  When she glanced back up at him, he saw a tiny flicker of anticipation in the depths of her gaze. Her arousal spiked, sending the aroma of her sex across the table. A tiger shifter at the next table shot a glance toward her then quickly dug back into his food after his gaze touched on Cougar.

  Carly flicked her tongue across her top lip, and his beast growled and crept forward. Ripples of sensation rolled beneath his skin as his inner cougar prowled out of the shadows, sniffing its mate. Cougar felt a coil of excitement winding tight in the pit of his stomach. She’d obeyed him without a second thought. Carly might not know it, but she’d make an excellent sub. He could envision her dressed in leather and tied to the restraints in his private quarters. He would teach her what it was like to wait for pleasure until he knew it was the right time for her.

  All he needed to do was be patient with her, show her how intoxicating his world was, and not blow it by scaring her off.

  Piece of fucking cake.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The darkness slithered toward her and coiled around her, and when the door closed behind them, it took a moment to get her bearings. After walking in the bright sunshine, the sudden darkness seemed absolute. She reached behind her and fumbled for Cougar’s hand. When his warmth touched her skin, she pressed backward, leaning into his body. She let her senses take over.

  Cool air touched her face and washed across her hot body, lifting the perspiration that dotted her skin. She heard the murmur of hushed, private conversations, both the deep rumblings of men and the secretive lilting qualities of women. Every so often a soft moan drifted toward her. The scent of jasmine tickled her nose, and beneath that, she also smelled several types of perfume and cologne mingling in a heady mix of sensuality. Even deeper than those scents lay another one, though for a moment, she wondered if it might be her imagination. It was something far less civilized, something primal that reached out of the darkness and slithered over her senses. She wrinkled her nose, trying to discern what it might be. It was a wild, animalistic smell, and for a split second, she felt as though she’d walked into a recently cleaned cage at the zoo. The smell intensified, and a sudden warmth skimmed her legs, followed by the soft brush of coarse fur on her skin. She gave a little cry and jerked backward, and Cougar caught her arms.

  “What the hell just touched me?” she whispered furiously.

  “You never know around here,” he said with a chuckle.

  She shivered, though whether with revulsion or excitement was unclear. She peered into the darkness, trying to see the source of that sensation. She sensed the movement of something slinking on the floor, but she saw nothing.

  Just as abruptly as the smell had gripped her attention, it vanished, and she heard the sound of crackling leather. Soon after, a deep male voice rumbled through the darkness. “Welcome to Clandestine, Miss Barnes.”

  She jumped again and gave a little squeak. She twisted around, trying to find the source of the voice. “Thank you.”

  Damn it. I’ve got to stop being so jittery and get used to all these little surprises Catamount keeps throwing at me.

  Within another moment, her eyes adjusted, and halos of light found anchors in the darkness. Carly focused harder and lifted her head up and up to find the
glimmer of silvery eyes several feet above her.

  “Afternoon, Redwolf,” Cougar said.

  A huge body stepped out of the shadows and filled Carly’s vision. Long strands of russet hair framed the man’s hard face, and those pinpoints of silver light lingered on her with curiosity then moved behind her.

  “Hey, boss. Jake said you were coming in.”

  Cougar chuckled. “And how did he know that, I wonder.”

  “You know Lisa,” Redwolf said.

  Carly studied the man with long red hair. The longer she studied him the more convinced she became that his name could only mean one thing—wolf shifter. He stood perfectly still, his massive chest rising and falling, the powerful muscles beneath his leather vest straining with his breath. His nostrils flared as though alert for any change, his eyes sliding beyond them to gauge the movements in the shadows beyond.

  As Cougar and Redwolf talked between themselves about business and club activities, Carly took a few steps into the club to inspect her surroundings. The room was a high, airy space with a balcony rimming the perimeter, looking down on the open floor plan below. The lower floor held leather couches and chairs arranged tastefully in small conversational groups lit with the soft glow of candles. She gradually became aware of the patrons scattered throughout the club. Men and women lounged in various states of dress and undress. Some seemed to be simply talking and enjoying cocktails. Others touched and kissed, their limbs tangling. Other light sprinkled the room from unknown sources, creating tiny pools of luminescence and deep pockets of shadows in which to find privacy, and from these shadows came more moans and the sounds of pleasure.

  Beneath the balcony, large booths lined two of the walls, and though they all appeared to be empty at that moment, Carly imagined people enjoying hors d’oeuvres and drinks, probably as naked as that couple on the nearest couch. The wall to the left held an ornately constructed bar, a monstrous slab of wood carved with various designs. Behind it stood the biggest man Carly had ever seen. If she’d thought Redwolf large, this man seemed twice his size. As Cougar tugged her across the distance, the man got bigger and bigger and bigger…

  He polished a glass with a bar towel, and the tight black T-shirt stretched over his massive chest strained as though ready to split down the middle. With his short military-style dark hair and carved-from-granite face, he looked scary and unapproachable. She vaguely wondered what sort of shifter he might be. Wolf? He certainly looked intimidating enough to be a wolf, and then he smiled. All the apprehension Carly had felt evaporated.

  “Hey, Cougar.” He tucked the glass under the bar and tossed the towel over his shoulder.

  After the men shook hands, Cougar swept Carly closer. “This is Jake Westin, the manager here at Clandestine. Jake, this is—”

  “You don’t have to tell me who she is.” He held out his hand and took Carly’s in a firm but gentle grip, as though he struggled to hold back his strength. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Barnes.”

  “Carly please, Jake.”

  Carly smiled inwardly when he said, “Yes, ma’am. Always happy to have visitors.”

  “It’s fascinating,” Carly said. “I’ve never been to a club like this. I can’t wait to explore.”

  The men exchanged a glance Carly couldn’t begin to interpret. Cougar nodded vaguely toward the center of the room. “Good business today.”

  Jake gave a short laugh. “It’s kind of still yesterday’s business. They’ve been here since last night.” He shook his head. “Some of them never seem to want to leave. Though I’m not complaining. I did want to talk to you though.”

  “Sorry for that,” Cougar said. “We’ve had a bad couple days.”

  “I heard a bit from Robb Jackson, which made what happened last night all the stranger.”

  “Redwolf filled me in a bit when I came in, but I’d like to hear your version too.”

  Jake slid open a cooler and pulled a bottle of Shiner. After he’d unscrewed the top, he handed it to Cougar. “Ma’am?”

  She laughed. “When in Rome…”

  He opened another bottle and handed it to her, and she let the cool liquid slide down her throat.

  “A man showed up here last night,” Jake said. “He rang the buzzer and wanted admission. Claimed to be a Dom visiting from Vegas. Redwolf explained we were a private club and recommended one in San Antonio. When denied entrance, the guy became rather insistent so Redwolf called me to the door as backup. I’d never seen the man before, but he was distinctive. Tall, skinny, bald, ruddy skin.”

  “Shifter?” Cougar asked.

  “Near as I could tell, but you know how some of the small ones are. It’s hard to get a handle on the aura, let alone figure out what kind. This guy, though, was like a walking vibrator. He gave off a certain vibe, skittery, electric…you know the feeling.” When Cougar nodded, Jake continued. “Redwolf and I both smelled desert.”

  “Serpent Society?”

  Jake shook his head. “No, I didn’t get that. My best guess is some sort of insect, maybe fire ant.”

  “They normally can’t stand to be away from their colony,” Cougar said.

  “Yeah, I know, but that would explain that nervous vibe I got,” Jake said with a shrug of his massive shoulders.

  “Could he have been some sort of lizard?” Carly asked. “Lots of them in the desert, and they can be a little erratic.”

  Jake nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good guess, actually.”

  “He tell you his name?” When Jake shook his head, Cougar pinched the bridge of his nose. “He left with no problem?”

  “Yes, but he wasn’t happy about it,” Jake said with a chuckle. “Said he’d be contacting the owner about the service.”

  Cougar laughed. “Good luck with that.”

  Jake smiled. “That’s what I said. I had Redwolf tail him for a while. The guy got into a newer Honda, probably a rental, and headed out of town.”

  “Damn,” Cougar said, “we can’t just assume this was a guy looking for fun.”

  “I uploaded the video feed to the server last night.” Jake slid his glance toward Carly, and the look he gave her made her blush. “I guess you’ve probably been a bit distracted.”

  “You could say that,” Cougar muttered. “I’ll go up to the office and take a look right now. Maybe—”

  “But you promised to show me the club.” Carly put her hand on his arm, and Cougar glanced toward her, eyebrows raised.

  “And I have,” he said.

  Carly lifted her gaze, studying the closed doors on the balcony. She gave him what she hoped was her most beguiling smile. “You didn’t show me what’s up there.”

  He turned toward her, and she saw his Adam’s apple bob as his hopeful eyes roamed her face. “Those are private playrooms.”

  “What if I feel like playing?” She leaned closer, pressing her hips against his and her breasts against the hard planes of his chest. She ran her hands up his arms then looped her arms behind his neck. His cock lurched against her when she glanced at him through a sweep of hair. “Take me upstairs,” she whispered.

  * * * *

  Now or never.

  Cougar took her hand and led her to the private elevator. After keying in the code he gave to his exclusive guests, they rode up in silence, but he smelled her arousal in the few inches of space that separated them. It was a strong, feminine smell of excitement and promise, and he hoped in the next few minutes he didn’t ruin everything that might have happened between them. They walked down the balcony a short distance toward his private playroom. A dark shadow swooped low, and a brush of feathers skimmed Cougar’s face.

  Carly jerked and whispered, “Something touched my hair. What was it?”

  “Avian shifter.” He sniffed the lingering, musty scent. “Owl.”

  She shuddered against him, though he sensed no fear. In fact, he thought the idea of being enveloped by such primal forces turned her on. He could only hope so because the thoughts running through his head and th
at current of sexual tension running through his body were more primal than he wanted to admit. He gritted his teeth against succumbing to the familiar tingle of his inner fur trying to manifest. It skittered beneath his skin like the flutter of a hummingbird’s wings against a windowpane. Now would be the worst possible time to shift. Just when she trusted him, he was going to blow it.

  Carly’s whisper drifted toward him. “Is something wrong, Cougar?”

  He realized he’d stopped walking and stood immobile in front of his playroom door. He stared at the carvings in the solid mahogany, the frieze of running cougars etched at eye level across the door. He blinked then turned his face toward her. Carly gazed up at him, and even the dim light couldn’t obscure the love he saw shining in her eyes. He squeezed her hand lightly.

  “Everything is perfect, darlin’.”

  “Good.”

  She nodded, and he keyed in his private number. When the dim glow of red flickered to green, he watched as she reached out and took hold of the doorknob. He held his breath as she pushed the door open and several soft lights came alive inside the room. He couldn’t help but wonder what thoughts would fly through her mind. Everything between them hinged on this moment. He heard the sharp, quiet intake of her breath, just a small gasp, but whether the sound came from surprise, pleasure, or horror he couldn’t tell. Then he felt her pulse quicken beneath his fingers, and the scent of a woman in deep arousal flooded his nostrils.

  She took a small step inside the room, and he released her hand to let her explore. She ran her hands over the silky sheets on the bed. Her eyes widened as she ran her gaze up the solid bedposts to the visible hooks where he hung the bondage chains and restraints. He heard her breath stutter in her chest as she glanced around the room, taking in the bondage stockade.

  Carly turned to look at him. “Will you teach me how to enjoy all this?”

  Cougar’s mouth went dry, and his pulse sped up. “If you want.”

  “I want.”

  She strolled around the room, touching everything with her dainty fingers, her hips swaying provocatively beneath her dress. She perused the floggers and paddles hanging on the wall, tapping her finger against her lips. She then moved on to a dresser where he stored his smaller equipment and toys—nipple and clit clamps, dildos and plugs, gags and blindfolds. One drawer held his supplies like lubes and condoms, and in another lay a collection of colorful feathers and ticklers, as well as jewel-studded collars, for both human and animal. She inspected everything, and once he thought he heard a giggle, though he hesitated to interrupt to find out why she’d laughed.