His blond hair was plastered to his head and hung in wet bunches down to his shoulders. His mouth firmed into a thin line and he took in a deep breath. She didn’t know if he was trying to calm down or if he was gearing up for a loud yell at her. After what he’d done, she didn’t care if he was angry.
“What was that about? Why didn’t you swim to me?” He gestured back to the water and then his silver gaze fixed on her.
“Why didn’t I swim to you? Are you an idiot?” She tugged on her arm, but it was no use. His grip didn’t budge. It wasn’t tight, but his hand remained on her arm, even when she twisted and yanked.
“You know we’re going back across that river at one of the narrow points so that I can get my clothes.” He urged her out of the water onto the grassy bank.
She smirked at him and tried to keep her voice sweet and even. A hard thing when she wanted to scream at him. “You can go without me. I can walk back fine on my own. Apparently the only thing that’s dangerous in this area is you and the other Zarain.”
“You’re not walking back on your own, and none of the Zarain here would lay a paw on you. You were escorted here, even if you didn’t notice them. Why are you so angry? I want the full explanation and not the attitude.” He drew her to a halt on the grass, moved in front of her. His hand released her arm, but both of those big palms cupped over her shoulders before she could move away from him.
“Not the attitude? You come charging out of the forest as a beast, with another huge creature beside you. All I see is something big enough to take my life without even getting winded. You roar and charge at me, frightening me and probably giving me nightmares for a month. Then you laugh at me because I ran into the water to get away. And you don’t want attitude.” She smacked her palm on his bare chest.
“All right, you might have a point about scaring you, but you knew I was a shapeshifter.” He raised a brow and grinned down at her.
“But I didn’t know what you were. You never showed me and it’s not like there are pictures of what each type of shifter is supposed to turn into. At least, not that I know of.” She dropped her hand but glared up at him.
“No, there aren’t images of the various shapeshifters in regards to what their animal is. Not the type you mean or would have access to viewing,” he admitted with a nod. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I was excited to see you and didn’t think before I started coming toward you.”
Her anger cooled a little at the apology and more at the explanation. She loved that he was excited to see her. The way that excitement had been shown, that probably would end up giving her a few nighttime visions. That thing was scary.
“So I’ll turn into something like that?” She glanced at him. She really wasn’t sure how it worked or if she even wanted to be able to shift into one of those big creatures. Although the thought was cool, she couldn’t help wondering if it hurt or if she’d lose herself while in the that form. Would she be in control or would the animal?
“Yes, you’ll be able to transform fairly soon, maybe a day or so. How about we go back across the river? I can get my clothes and we can talk.” He looked back across the water.
She wasn’t so sure she wanted to tackle that discussion just yet. It scared her, but even more she needed a little distance from the still jangled emotions from her fright. She met his eyes and then stepped up to him.
“We could do that or we could take the moment to ourselves and enjoy the water.” She peeked up at him through her lashes. “We are alone, aren’t we? There aren’t any other Zarain hanging around the area?”
“Yes, we’re alone.” He smiled. “Are you sure? You’re clothes are already wet. They might get dirty if we put them on the grass.”
As if that would change her mind. “They’re already wet. They can’t get any worse unless you drop them in mud. Just don’t put them there.”
He chuckled a little. “I won’t drop them in mud. Let’s move over to the other side so that we don’t have to swim across afterward.”
He tugged her toward the other side of the river. She swam beside him. As soon as his feet touched the bottom, he reached out and gripped her wrist, tugging her into the shallow water. He led her onto the grass. She pulled the shirt over her head, dropping the sodden mass onto the ground. She didn’t waste time before toeing out of her shoes and stripping her pants and underwear down her legs. Now she stood just as naked as he was.
“Beautiful. Let’s go back into the water.” He held out his hand.
She slid her palm over his. He led her back into the water. With the clothes on, the feel of the water moving over her skin had been blunted a little. Now the cool water swirled around her legs as they waded into the river. She shivered a little and stepped up to him. Looping her arms around his neck, she smiled. Heat radiated off his body, warming her in the chilly water. His arms curled around her loosely.
“What do you want?” His hands slid down and cupped her ass.
Instead of telling him, she showed him. She pulled herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist. His cock bobbed against her ass. She threaded her fingers in his hair, before using one hand to grip one of his shoulders. She leaned back and used her free hand to cup her breast.
“I like the way you think.” His grip firmed under her buttocks, holding her up. A smile curved his lips and hunger burned in his eyes.
His head lowered and his tongue lapped over the stiffened peak. The feel of the breeze blowing across her skin added to the sensation. It wasn’t only the breeze and being outside. Another person had been here only a little while ago. The thought of someone seeing sent a thrill through her as well as a little nervousness.
His teeth grazed the peak. His shoulders bunched beneath her fingers. Her head tipped back and her thighs tightened. Need burned low in her belly. She ached to feel his cock pushing deep, but she wanted to feel more than the light brush of his lips first.
“Keeping holding that breast up for me, Ada.” His lips brushed from side to side over the tip.
He was deliberately moving slowly. She knew it and could see the enjoyment he took from making her wild for him. It glittered in his eyes and showed in the arrogant curve of his lips. His mouth opened over her nipple. His breath puffed out, bathing the hardened peak in warm moisture. She moaned and her head tipped back in enjoyment. One of his hands lifted from her ass. He pinched and tugged at the neglected nipple. His tongue curled around the nipple as his lips firmed over her breast and he sucked softly at first. She arched her back and lifted into his touch.
Her hips rocked up, seeking some friction on her clit. The small amount of contact she did find only increased the building hunger. His mouth worked at her breast even as his hand tormented the other peak.
“I want you to play with your clit.” His mouth lifted. The vibrations of his voice sent a shiver over her. “Slip that hand down between us and stroke yourself. Make yourself ready for me.”
She almost was ready for him. She could feel the cream gathering in her pussy. A few more touches, a little more attention to her breast, and she was sure she’d be more than ready. Slipping her hand down between them, she pushed her fingers between the lips of her pussy. The water provided lubrication as her fingers swirled over her clit.
“Yes, just like that.” He nuzzled his face against the mound of her breast. “I love seeing that glazed, hungry look wash over your face.”
His fingers tugged at the nipple as he grazed the other with his teeth. She moaned. Her hips slowly rocked against her fingers. Her tongue swept out over her lips. The sensations of his mouth and fingers and her own fingers combined to drive her excitement to new heights. When he started sucking at her nipple, she felt her inner muscles clench. She drew in a shuddering breath. So close. Drawing her fingers away from her clit, she struggled to retain a little control.
“I’m ready, Jagger. I need to feel your cock inside me.” Her nails sank into his shoulder as she tried to provoke him to give her what she needed.
&nbs
p; “Are you? You don’t want me to play with your breasts some more?” He looked up at her, a very satisfied, smirk curved his lips.
“I’ll come if you do. A few more flicks over my clit or even your mouth sucking at my breast and I’ll go right over the edge.” Her voice sounded shaky even to her and tremors raced over her body. She was so close and she wanted to feel his cock inside her pussy.
“I definitely don’t want that. I want to feel those sweet muscles clenching around my cock.” He straightened and his hand went back to her hip. His fingers tightened. “I’m going to lift you a little, reach between us and guide me into your cunt.”
She was more than ready for that. As his hands lifted her, she reached between them. Her fingers closed around his shaft. She valiantly resisted the urge to stroke his cock, to take him as close to the edge as she felt. His behavior seemed too relaxed, too in control. As a shudder rippled over his large muscled body, she realized that his calm might be a cover. She guided him to her entrance.
His cock pushed into her pussy and her inner muscles tightened. It felt so good. She pressed down, taking more of his length. A low rumble vibrated against her and his fingers clenched on her hips. He guided her movements as his cock pushed up into her.
Her legs wrapped more firmly around him and she ground her hips against his, trying to achieve that little extra that she needed. His hips thrust against her, his cock driving deep, only to withdraw and then surge back into her. Water splashed around them where their bodies met and the spray landed on her heated skin, both cooling and exhilarating her.
She panted, trying to draw in a breath as the spiral of sensation tightened low in her belly. She could feel her climax hovering just out of reach. She met him thrust for thrust, but with his hold on her hips, she couldn’t seem to get what she needed. Her breasts pressed to his chest and she desperately dragged the sensitive tips across the muscled plane. Sharp little stings shot from the contact, but it only added to the need building inside her.
“Please, Jagger, please.” She didn’t know exactly what she was asking for other than that sweet bliss she craved.
He thrust harder against her, the strokes becoming shorter and faster. His lips locked to hers and his tongue thrust deep in an imitation of the way their bodies joined. She responded and met the fierce onslaught with a little aggression of her own. Their tongues tangled and retreated. Her teeth nipped, catching his lower lip. He growled. His cock surged deep into her pussy.
One particularly hard pump of his hips sent Ada over the edge. Her head tilted back and she gazed unseeingly at the sky. She stiffened and her breath locked in her body as the pleasure exploded. It ripped over her, sizzling and searing her all the way down to her toes. She trembled and held on to him as her only anchor through the mind-stealing flood of ecstasy.
Jagger’s dick drove into her. His hands pulled her body down with each thrust of his hips. His mouth moved over her neck. His pace fast and desperate. His groan as he came rumbled a near full growl. His semen splashed inside her pussy.
The second climax hit her. Even though she expected it, the intensity took her by surprised. Her inner muscles clenched, pulling at his cock. She moaned, her body shaking as the pleasure rolled through her again.
It took her a few moments to come back down from that last orgasm. She clung to him. Her muscles felt weak and rubbery. Satisfaction filled her and she savored the sweet feeling.
Slowly, her thoughts returned to something close to normal. That second orgasm when he came, whatever he had called it, almost took her mind every time it happened. She might end up mumbling nonsense for the rest of her life, but she was going to enjoy getting there.
Ada. His mouth rested against her neck. She knew he hadn’t said that, but was certain that she’d heard it.
She lifted her head. “You said my name. A moment ago, but you didn’t speak it.”
Yes, certain Zarain can speak to each other this way. You’ll be able to do it, too. He smiled.
“I’m going to be such a freak.” She groaned and shook her head. What other secrets and abilities did he have?
“Ada, you are absolutely perfect and will remain that way.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and then nuzzled her neck and shoulder. “We came close to drowning. My knees nearly buckled, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“But we didn’t drown.” She patted his shoulder in a mock comforting gesture.
“Let’s get onto the riverbank before I decide that we should try that again.” He lifted her and his cock slipped free of her pussy. “You feel so good that it’s always hard to motivate myself to leave that sweet heat.”
Her feet lowered to the river bottom. He grasped her hand and tugged her toward the bank. After she stepped up onto the bank, she paused to find a spot where she could rinse the mud off her feet without immediately getting more of it on her.
He helped her to her feet and led her to where she’d left her clothes. “Get dressed. We can finish talking as we walk back to camp.”
She watched him as he strolled away from him. The flex of his ass and the smooth flow of muscle along his back and legs almost mesmerized her. He was so gorgeous.
“Get dressed and stop staring. I can feel your eyes on me. I don’t hear movement over there.” He didn’t even look back over his shoulder.
“Then stop flaunting that nice ass.” She called back but picked up her still-wet shirt.
Ada held up the soaking material and looked down at it. She really should have tried to wring a little of the water out before she’d gone back into the water with Jagger. Her clothes might be a little drier than they were now. She wrung what water she could out, but it was still heavy with the liquid. Shrugging, she put the wet clothes back on and slipped into the equally wet shoes. There was nothing she could do about it now.
The clothes clung to her skin. She’d really rather not be wearing them, but the alternative was no clothes at all. She wasn’t walking naked all the way back, much less into camp. Jagger came back to her, fully dressed, his wet hair pushed back. A smile curved his lips. She knew she probably looked like a half-drowned waif. Her hair tended to become a little kinky when it got wet.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about those questions,” he said as he urged her back toward the camp. “Did you want my shirt? You can take yours off and at least be partially dry.”
“No, but it’s sweet that you asked. The pants would wet the shirt and I’d still feel damp anyway. It’s a nice day and we’re not that far away from camp.” She shook her head but smiled at him.
“Your questions, woman. I believe we were talking about you changing.” He released her hand but curled his arm around her waist.
“You’re going to get wet.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll dry the same as you will.” He tugged her closer until her hip brushed against his. “Ask me, Ada.”
“When you change, are you still you?” She wasn’t quite sure how to phrase that. She knew what she meant, but she was fairly sure that he wouldn’t understand right away.
“What do you mean am I still me? I don’t change into another person.” He shook his head but smiled, showing that he wasn’t really put out with her. He glanced at her before looking ahead once more to watch for roots or uneven ground.
“I don’t mean that you change into another person, but when you are the animal, are you still you or is the animal there? Does the animal control you?” She frowned as she tried to find the right way to say it.
“No, the animal’s not in control. It’s not really two beings. I am the Zarain and the Zarain is me. There’s an animal part of me, but it’s not a separate being, not in the sense you mean.” He grinned. “It’s hard to explain it, but when I change form, I can think and react much as I would as a man, but there are also stronger animal instincts. When I’m in this form, sometimes the animal part of me reacts to something that’s happened and the stronger instincts rush to the fore, but I can control it. Most of the time.”
She considered that for a time. She was still confused, but she could put that aside for now. He’d answered the most important part of her worries that the animal would take over from her. Now she had something else to ask.
“What did you mean I wouldn’t have had access to images of your kind? Who would have access? Why would they have them?” She tilted her head and glanced at him. She was confident that he wouldn’t let her fall.
“Criminals, slavers. There are those who try to take shifters and sell them. They would have pictures for those who wanted to buy an exotic pet.” He grimaced and shook his head.
Now she understood. The scum were everywhere. It shouldn’t have surprised her they targeted shifters as well as humans. It did though. To get both of their minds off the depressing subject, she decided to switch the topic, at least temporarily.
“Have you heard from your ship? Will they arrive soon?” She glanced at him.
“We received a message last night. The ship will be here in about three days. I don’t want this information to pass to everyone though. The people behind this will get desperate if they know their time is that limited.” He stopped and looked down at her.
“I won’t tell anyone, but they’re desperate already. It doesn’t take a genius to know that they’ll be running out of time.” She frowned up at him. She didn’t want to precipitate an attack any more than he did. Up to this point, those people hadn’t needed any encouragement.
Chapter Twelve
Ada walked with Lauren, Keegan and Owen. They stayed to the grassy open areas. It felt a little safer than walking through the trees. Everyone seemed more tense and edgy in last day and a half. Her friends all wondered when the ship was coming. They saw that arrival as a welcome relief from the threat of being attacked.
She wanted to tell her friends that it wouldn’t be much longer, but she resisted the urge. Jagger had a point. The danger would increase if the men behind the attacks knew exactly how little time they had left on this planet. So she kept the knowledge to herself and made a few remarks about how she wished the ship would come so that it wouldn’t be obvious that she knew something.
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