by Dahlia Rose
Sam’s blue eyes darkened to the color of the sea. “You threatened to kick her ass?”
Tondi choked and pushed knuckles to her mouth. She’d been right. Sam heard Zuria’s words. For her part, his sister didn’t appear regretful. Fane almost passed out, holding his hands up in defense. “Easy, pal. Of course not!”
“For real, Fane?” Zuria put a hand on her hip.
“I said I didn’t, Z. I promise.”
The two of them sat down on Sam’s side, arguing under their breath. Somehow, they managed to prod Dixie Ann farther down the bleacher, and the woman sat in stony silence, her face turned toward the band. Even as the music began, Tondi doubted she heard a word. Sam enfolded Tondi in a strong embrace, and they sat with their heads close as the notes flowed over them. Peace settled her mind, while at the same time, instinct drew her closer to Sam. They didn’t have to exchange words, but deep inside, she knew the time was coming for her to shift. She never denied the pleasure and the release, but she had always done so with her family. Would Sam fly with her? She glanced at him, and he looked back, his gaze assessing just before he kissed her. She surrendered to his caress, but it wasn’t the deep, hungry one from their first date. Sam kept it brief and gentle, but she sensed his need, a mirror of her own.
“Dance with me,” she said, and stood to grab his hand.
Panic lit his face, and she laughed.
“I don’t…”
“Then hold me?” She pointed to the small area where a few people had begun swaying to the music in each other’s arms. “Down there.”
He stood up in a hurry and led the way. They soon stood among other couples with Tondi pressed to his chest and both his hands practically spanning her waist. She had never felt her waist was tinier than anyone else’s, but Sam’s huge hands weakened her knees and moistened her panties.
Sam dragged her tighter to him, and she felt the hardness pressing into her belly. He lowered his head and kissed her then nuzzled her neck. She let him have as much as he wanted, arching back to bare the expanse. A soft rumble vibrated across her throat. Tondi clutched his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin through his shirt.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a throaty whisper.
“For what?”
He kissed her again, lingering at her bottom lip, at first tasting and then nibbling. Tondi moaned.
“Don’t you think you should take that somewhere decent folks can’t see it?” an older woman said, and they pulled back a little. Tondi looked around Sam’s arm to spot the old jealous bag. Beyond her, Fane danced with Zuria, amusement lighting his face, but his hand was dangerously close to Zuria’s ass. She didn’t doubt they would soon be reprimanded.
When they swayed a little longer together, and Sam’s hand slid up her back, she lost the battle for waiting. She tugged out of his arms and took his hand. “Let’s go.”
He cast her a questioning gaze, but she swept away on the balls of her feet to pull him through the crowd. She didn’t even let him say good night to his friends, but soon they hurried toward his SUV and hopped inside.
“My place or yours?” she said. “Whichever is closer.”
He hesitated to start the vehicle and laid a hand on her thigh. When she squirmed, he jerked away as if burned. “Are you sure?”
“Damn sure.”
He eyed her a moment longer and then turned over the engine. To her surprise, Sam drove past the bed and breakfast and kept going. She glanced across at him and pointed out the window. “You know that was me, right?”
He nodded. Quickly, the houses and businesses thinned to nothing, and Sam turned onto a narrow, paved road surrounded by a veritable forest of trees. After a good mile and a half, they pulled into a long drive, and she spotted the manor house at the end of it. Scaffolding was set outside the west and east wings. Despite the rough landscaping with mounds of dirt and patches of weeds, she saw the beauty in the place and its potential.
“You’re having the house built?” she asked.
“Restored. I used to live above our old coffee shop. It was time to buy a house.”
“I love it.” She hopped out when he pulled to a stop, and Sam unlocked the door to let her in. He flipped on the lights, and she found more evidence of his crew repairing walls. The entryway floor was covered in drop cloth, but she caught snatches of the beautiful finished wood at a few edges. Fifteen-foot ceilings took her breath away, and a spot over the stairs looked like it waited for a chandelier. “Take me on a tour?” she asked.
He tossed his keys on the table nearby and pushed her against the door, following with his big, hard body. “Later.”
He claimed her lips in a kiss that curled her toes. If she thought to resist or had been a timid woman, she would be in trouble. Sam dragged her dress high along her thighs and then parted them with his knee. He dipped low and pushed up to bring his erection in contact with her pussy. She caught her breath, struggling for air as he pinned her in place. This was what Fane warned her about? Bring it on! The quiet ones were always the wildest in secret.
Sam devoured her mouth until her lips grew numb, all the while groaning and grinding into her. He raised his head an inch and stepped back to get his hand between them. She gulped when his fingers curled into her panties. She thought he intended to ask her to take them off or at least give warning of his intentions. The ripping material was all she got. Her panties fluttered to the floor.
“Sam,” she half gasped, half moaned.
“I’ll try not to tear your dress.”
She started to answer, but Sam ripped the button from his jeans, held it in his palm as if he wondered how that had happened, and then threw it aside. His zipper seemed to echo in the entryway, but Tondi forgot all that the moment she caught sight of the cock behind the boxers. She ran a hand over it, luxuriating in the unyielding hardness. From base to tip took forever to traverse, and she let out a low whistle of appreciation.
“Mm, yes!” She licked her lips, ready to pull him free of the last of his clothing and drop to her knees to take him into her mouth. Sam thumped her against the door once again and followed. The head of his cock pierced her before she could draw a breath, and her walls stretched around him as he pushed in. “Sam.”
He jerked her legs up so that her feet left the floor. She found purchase on the door hinge with one hand and the doorknob with the other. Sam gripped her ass and pounded into her. She screamed his name in delight, wanting all he had to give. His invasion caused an ache deep in her core, but the pleasure overwhelmed her. Sam wasn’t the first lover with a big cock she’d enjoyed, but the reaction in her body drove her wild. She locked her heels on his bare ass and held on for dear life.
Sam pulled back until his cock was no more than two inches deep, and then he ground into her. He repeated the move, torturing her. She whined and pleaded. He gave her what she wanted, pounding into her pussy and whispering her name. His lips rested on hers, their noses brushing together.
“I’m going to come in you,” he said. “Is that okay?”
“You ask now?”
Neither of them had to worry about the unpleasant things humans did. Those kinds of issues did not cross species, and they were in a class unto themselves. However, they were more fertile than humans. She hadn’t taken precautions.
“We need a condom,” she told him.
Sam dropped his forehead onto her shoulder. He had shoved his cock as far as it would go, and he held still. Her nipples strained against her bra, and her pussy pulsed around his shaft. She licked her lips. No way was either of them getting out of this.
“I can stop,” he panted.
“Liar.”
He drew in a deep breath and seemed to steady himself, but eventually, he did pull out. Tondi moaned when he disappeared and returned a few moments later, condom in hand. He rolled it in place and entered her once again. Her mind shattered around the pleasure of him taking her. She arched her hips. Air hissed between his teeth. The next instant, hot come filled her s
ex, and he slammed a palm on the door panels, her thigh resting on his forearm.
“I didn’t mean to…so soon.”
She climbed down from his arms, tottering a bit on her heels. He offered her a hand while she removed them and held them in one hand. She tiptoed across to the stairs and looked back at him.
“Do you have a bed?”
“Of course.”
She tilted her head and lowered her lashes. “Then make it up to me there.”
Her reasoning made no sense, but she knew he didn’t care anymore than she did. They weren’t done by a long shot, and she figured out why he had brought her to his house rather than take her to the bed and breakfast. Sam intended to have her screaming down the house, and she welcomed every minute.
Chapter Four
Tondi sashayed ahead of Sam from the bathroom, encased in a thick towel, and he followed.
“That was a mistake,” he said.
She peered over her shoulder at him. “What was?”
“Showering.”
“You don’t like getting clean?” She turned to face him and caught his gaze sweeping over her figure. He lingered at her bare thighs. The towel stopped just beneath her snatch.
Sam’s hand snaked out almost before she saw it coming. He grabbed hold of the towel, tore it away, and tossed it on the floor. Tondi smirked, hands on her hips, chin raised to look him in the eyes.
“Now what?” she taunted. Wrong thing to do, to challenge a man like Sam—or the right thing since she knew from experience now how far his libido took him.
Heavy strides brought him before her, and he wrapped his fingers around her waist and hoisted her off her feet. Tondi braced for a toss onto the bed, but he bypassed it and headed for the chair in the corner. He sat her down on the chair and dropped to his knees. A flick of his wrists had her legs spread wide, and he lowered his head between them.
“Sam,” she moaned.
He slid his hands along the tops of her thighs to her hips, and he squeezed as he held her in place while his tongue lashed her folds. In an instant, come moistened her sex, and Sam parted them with a thumb to delve deep with his tongue. She gasped, head going back, eyes fluttering closed as he ate. He moaned with each drop he claimed and went back for more. She shivered, feeling the tiny muscle wriggle its way into her heat.
Tondi reached down to stroke her clit, but he slapped her hand away. He thrust back the hood over the tiny bud and gave it a lick. An orgasm began to build in her core. She squirmed, moaning his name, begging for more.
“Harder,” she pleaded. “Suck it harder, please, Sam.”
Her lover obliged, licking her clit until it throbbed, and then he ended her torture by taking it between his lips. While he sucked her bud, he pushed a finger into her pussy and pulsed it in and out. Her ass left the chair as she pushed against his face. Sam’s deep moans and hungry feasting between her legs took her to the height of ecstasy, and soon she screamed through an orgasm.
Sam leaned away, and she sat up, gasping for breath. She rested a hand on his thigh, loving the feel of his hardened muscle as he stood in front of her. Sam stood proud and strong, feet slightly apart. He wiped the remnants of her come from his lips. Tondi took in his wide shoulders, broad chest, abs, and her heart raced. His smooth, tanned skin contrasted with her darker tones. No matter how much they had enjoyed each other the night before—and they had done it for hours—she craved much more.
Sam’s cock jutted from his body, erect and ready. She took it between her fingers and kissed the head. Pre-come coated her lips, and she licked it off, but Sam tugged her to her feet and guided her back toward the bed.
“Don’t you have to go to work?” she asked him.
He ran his fingertips up her spine to her nape and gave a tiny push. Tondi raised a knee onto the bed and would have climbed in if he didn’t stop her. He explored her heat with his digits and his mouth while she knelt on the bed. When he stood and moved behind her, he grabbed a waiting condom from the nightstand and rolled it into place. His cock prodded her entrance and then slid deep. Tondi whimpered. Yeah, they weren’t going anywhere for a while.
* * * *
Two weeks later
Tondi put the finishing touches on her makeup and smiled at her reflection. A knock at the door had her checking the time to realize Sam was punctual. She gave her curls a quick fluff and hurried to the door. Sam stood there in blue jeans and a T-shirt. She suppressed the moan of hunger and looked down at herself. “Am I overdressed?” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless. When she could breathe again, she panted, “So that’s a no?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Thanks. Just let me get my purse.” Tondi twirled on the balls of her feet, her dress fluttering out. She loved how feminine she felt in it and how it flattered her figure. The question about her attire had provoked Sam into giving her a compliment. Somehow, right away, she knew how to get him to talk more. Then again, maybe he had kept his thoughts bottled because they hadn’t met yet.
Thinking this way gave Tondi pause. She’d been dating Sam nightly for two weeks now, and sleeping in his bed every night too. They were practically joined at the hip from day one, and as crazy as she was becoming about him, she saw the same feeling reflected in his eyes. Tondi knew there was “love” at first sight, especially in the shifter world. Like it or not, fated mates existed. Still, she hesitated to accept that Sam was hers. He still didn’t know much about her. She avoided the subject, and he never pried.
Of course, two weeks wasn’t long, and she need not think seriously about what they enjoyed as anything but fun. Tell that to her heart every time the man entered the room. They were connected, and she didn’t need to ask Sam if he neared his time to shift. She felt it, and her feathered alter ego synchronized with his. They would need to get away soon.
“What is this?”
She froze at the question with her purse on her hand. At the same time, she realized she had never put cash in her wallet. She recalled she hadn’t zipped the duffle and put it back in its hiding place.
“I…” She took her time turning to face him.
Sam crouched over the bag, frowning, and held a bundle of cash in his hand. She licked her lips. Temptation made her want to tell him to mind his business, but that would create tension between them. Would he understand?
“Tondi, did you rob a bank?”
She gaped. “Of course not.”
He raised an eyebrow in question, and she folded her arms under her breasts. “If you must know, I removed it from my personal bank account. And before you question how I would have this kind of money, let me tell you I don’t appreciate the insinuation.”
The corner of his mouth quirked upward. She bristled.
“I didn’t steal it… Not exactly.”
Disappointment rolled off him in waves, and nausea stirred her stomach. This was why she hadn’t wanted to tell him about herself and her family. She’d wanted to start over and move forward, but she should have known if she started liking a man, eventually, the two of them would talk.
Tondi walked over to the door. “Look, if you want to call off our date, I’ll understand.” They had intended to go bowling. She had never been, and he had been shocked to hear it. Zuria and Fane were meeting them at the alley in half an hour, and Fane had happily told her they would dine on passable pizza and syrupy fountain soda. She thought the man just wanted to tease her, but neither Zuria nor Sam denied it. That hadn’t dimmed her excitement in going.
Sam tossed the money in the bag, zipped it, and brought it over to hand to her. She took it and hid it beneath some items in the wardrobe then used the key provided to lock the cabinet. Sam took her hand, curled his fingers between hers, and led her to the door. They drove to the bowling alley in silence, but he held her hand the entire way. He wasn’t breaking it off, but neither did he accept leaving the explanation the way she gave it. He seemed willing to give her time. How much, she didn’t know.
Tondi
turned out to suck royally at bowling. Every time she threw the ball, it beelined for the gutter and stayed there. “Not even one pin?” she grumbled.
“You have to listen to what I’m telling you,” Fane told her, laughing.
“I listened. I just don’t get it.”
She stuck her fingers in the three holes of a new ball and shuffled to the line.
“See, that’s your first mistake,” Fane called. “You have no style.”
Tondi whirled around and glared at him.
“You’re dressed wrong,” Zuria chimed in. Tondi had discovered Zuria was her senior, Tondi having turned twenty-eight a few months ago. The age gap wasn’t a big deal, but she could tell Sam’s sister wasn’t offering friendship just yet. Tondi didn’t think it was about race because Zuria was black—Sam being adopted—and Fane was white like Sam.
Tondi turned back to the lane, frowning, and then Sam’s arms moved around her waist. He stood so close the heat from his body warmed her. She ducked her head, enjoying his touch.
“Like this,” he said, and guided her arm to perform the motions. His foot bumped her heel, and she stepped off with that side, feeling awkward. The ball dropped hard on the lane and rumbled toward the pins. Tondi squeezed her eyes shut.
“How did I do?” she asked, not looking.
Sam laid his hands over hers and pulled them away from her face to cross over her belly, his hands atop hers. Tondi looked and squealed in delight. She had knocked down four pins. “I did it!”
She spun around and threw herself into Sam’s arms. He swept her off her feet and kissed her lips. Her heart threatened to burst from the second their lips touched. When he set her on her feet, he raised her chin and met her gaze.
“It’s time, Tondi.”
She swallowed. “I know. I’ve felt it coming for awhile. You’ll fly with me?”
His blue eyes turned stormy. More than that, she reasoned. During their time away, Sam intended to hear all of her story, and she would give it. Maybe he, too, would share his past, and in the end, she wouldn’t lose him. He seemed like a good man, one she wanted to grow closer to.