Prince of Cats

by Susan A Bliler

  He was silent so long that Neomee wondered if Bray had heard Madu’s question. Finally he answered, “She is not my mate.” Then he jerked her forward and they were walking again.

  Trepidation stole through her even as humiliation stung at her cheeks. Not his mate? “W-where are we going?”

  “Don’t worry,” he bit out angrily, “I wouldn’t dream of forcing you into anything.”

  “Look, I’ve been thinking and…”

  “Me too and I think I’ve found a solution to our problem.”

  “Problem?”

  “Don’t worry. We’re nearly there.”

  Neomee struggled to keep up as Bray quickened his pace.

  Chapter 22

  Bray tightened his grip on Neomee’s hand as he led her through the temple. The celebration had begun. Both Cats and slaves alike rejoiced in the corridors sharing wine, embraces, and in some cases even openly sharing sex.

  Still too shocked that he’d just renounced his claim to her, Neomee couldn’t formulate words. Numbly, she followed Bray not knowing where he was leading her.

  When they arrived at the mouth of the temple Bray stopped and Neomee could only stare at his back as he tensed before her then released her hand and growled. “Go!”

  Neomee stared at the back of his head, uncertain she’d heard him correctly. “What?”

  “You heard me,” he turned on her then his eyes a spooky yellow, “You wanted your freedom. You have it. Go!”

  “But…”

  He grabbed her arm and pulled her from the entrance, shoving her away from him and the temple. “Freedom Neomee, it’s what you wanted, what you were willing to die for. It’s now yours. You are free to leave. No one will stop you.” He pointed toward the horizon, “Go!”

  She didn’t even bother looking out at the vast dessert that sat just beyond the village. The village that she’d dreamed of escaping to for so many years. Suddenly the thought of being alone, being without him left a hollow feeling in her chest. She dropped her head lest he see the tears that formed in her eyes. “No,” she whispered.

  “No?” His tone was incredulous, mocking. “You wanted this.”

  “I-I thought I did.”

  He growled. “You were beaten for this. Risked your life for it. Ran from me for it. Take it Neomee!”

  Her gaze lifted to his, “I won’t leave you.”

  “What?”

  “You are my mate Bray. I won’t leave you.”

  His eyes turned cold. “There’s no one here to whip you Neomee. No one to beat you for your lack of submission. I release you from my claim. You can go. I won’t stop you.”

  “I don’t want to,” she threw herself at him and startled by the unexpected action he had no choice but to catch her. “I want to stay with you.” She couldn’t help her unabashed crying. “I’ll be a better mate, I promise. I’ll take care of you and I’ll be what you want me to be, just please don’t make me leave!”

  His hands gripped her shoulders forcing her back at arm’s length. “You don’t have to do that just to stay. You’re free Neomee. You can leave or remain here. Do whatever you like, but,” he reached around her and unhooked the collar from her throat, “do it away from me.” Then he turned and stalked away leaving Neomee stunned and alone at the mouth of the temple.

  Watching Bray stalk away with her collar fisted in his hand, she felt more alone than she ever had in her life. Turning she eyed the dessert beyond the village and glanced to the temple walls noting that Cats no longer patrolled the gates. A chill swept over her and she rubbed her arms as she forced her sandaled feet forward toward the gate that would lead to her freedom.

  ***

  Pacing back and forth in his quarters, Bray cursed and threw Neomee’s collar against the wall where it bounced then landed on the floor by the entrance.

  Letting her go had been the hardest thing he’d ever had to endure. It was different when Sanura had been taken from him; she’d had no choice in the matter. Neomee on the other hand seemed incapable of finding any redeemable quality in him and it stung. She wanted her freedom, to be away from him! He’d protected her and defended her the best he could. Save for the time he’d attempted to mount her, but even that had been for her protection.

  He snarled when he thought of her out in the village without protection…his protection. She needed him and was too foolish to see it. She doesn’t want you, he self-admonished. Plowing an angry hand through his hair, he fought back the urge to howl. When he heard footsteps approaching his door he growled, “Not now Madu!”

  He stopped pacing and tried to hide his excitement when Neomee entered the room. “Forget something?”

  “I know you do not understand my need to make my own choices.” She lifted her chin slightly, “But while I have been a slave my whole life, I have always felt free in my heart.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I wanted to choose my own mate. To choose my own life, to have a choice in something…anything!”

  Bray’s brows speared downward, “You have the choice now Neomee. Why come back. You’ve been dying to leave the temple. Now you can…so leave.”

  She took a tentative step closer. “But what I want is here.”

  His eyes narrowed on her but he didn’t respond.

  “Don’t you see? I finally have a choice!” Tears pooled in her eyes. “For the first time in my life I finally get to make a choice about something that affects me. This…” she splayed her hands in front of her, “this is going to be the first thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to pick in my entire life.”

  “So what are you saying Neomee?” Bray shifted his weight impatiently afraid to hope.

  Wordlessly she slowly closed the distance between them. Her breath came out shaky as she reached up, grabbed Bray by the arm, and pulled him to the bed. She sat and when he refused to follow, she looked up at him with imploring eyes until the complied by taking a seat beside her. She lifted her hands and cupped his face. “I chose you Bray. I-I want to be your mate…if you’ll still have me.”

  His lips pressed into a grim line. A trick?

  Staring at him for several long moments, he wasn’t surprised when she finally got up and headed for the door. He knew if she had time to think about it she’d come to her senses. It was a crushing feeling. His Cat demanded he tackle her and keep her forever, but the man in him knew she’d never be happy if she were forced to stay. It’s why he’d let her go in the first place.

  When she got to the door, she turned to look at him and he tried to mask the pain he felt at seeing her go. One corner of her sensual mouth lifted when she turned to stare at him and instead of walking out the door as he’d expected, Neomee bent and retrieved her collar from where it sat on the ground. She didn’t take her eyes from his as she stood and placed it around her neck, clasping it while her smile broadened.

  His heart thudded to a halt and he curled his fists tightly to keep from jumping up to claim what was his. A deep rumble escaped his lips when he watched her lift her hands and pull the straps of her gown until her tunic slid down her body and pooled at her feet.

  His body actually jerked when he struggled to restrain his Cat from pouncing on Neomee. She didn’t miss the action and slowly stalked toward him. When she was just feet from him she stopped and spread her arms wide and said the one word that triggered his Cat. “Yours.”

  He sprang from the bed and crushed her to him. He heard her laughter and it sounded so right to him.

  “Easy my Prince, you’re going to crush me!”

  He loosened his hold but only to pull back long enough to seek out her lips. His mouth claimed hers with an urgency that had Neomee’s heart racing. Without breaking their kiss, he hoisted her off the ground. Spreading her legs to wrap around him, Neomee arched until her pebbled nipples brushed against his chest making Bray moan.

  Holding her tightly, he crawled onto the bed carrying her with him until she was pinned beneath his hard frame. Neomee writhed with pleasure as B
ray’s calloused hands explored her body. He trailed wet kisses down her neck, his hands feverishly working to remove his kilt.

  Once naked, Bray’s fingers explored her willing body. His fingers glanced through her wet folds and she heard his sharp intake of breath as he felt how ready she was. “Lily,” he growled, barely able to control his Cat. He bent to suckle a breast as he spread her legs farther apart. He nudged the head of his cock against her pussy.

  Neomee ached with the need for him. She desperately wanted him inside of her. She had never wanted anything more in her entire life, not even freedom. The realization was shocking, but quickly discarded when he slid a finger into her. She cried out then and rubbed her breasts against his chest invitingly as she pulled his other hand to her mouth to suck one of his fingers.

  A sound like a purr rumbled from his chest. It was erotic and had cream seeping from Neomee’s sex. She practically came from the penetration of his fingers and the sound alone.

  Bray eased his fingers from inside her and she could feel him position his erection at her entrance. When he didn’t move to take her, Neomee arched and bucked her hips forcing his straining cock inside of her and forcing a ferocious sounding growl from Bray’s lips.

  Taking the invitation, Bray began to slowly work his hips back and forth. Entering her slowly, inch by sinful inch, he stopped when Neomee cried out and clawed at his shoulders. She felt herself blush when he rose above her, his cock still halfway inside her vagina. His shocked eyes, nearly black with passion stared at her.

  “You have never experienced sex?”

  Unable to speak, she shook her head.

  Bray looked down their bodies where they were still connected. He tried to pull out of her, but Neomee locked her ankles together behind his warm ass keeping him in place.

  “Please Bray. I ache for you.”

  His eyes softened and he reached up to stroke her cheek. “It will hurt.”

  “I hurt without you.”

  He watched her for long moments before bending over her and claiming her lips. Two strong hands reached down to clamp on each of her slender hips.

  Neomee wasn’t sure what he was doing when his hands tightened on each hip, but then he slowly withdrew his cock before giving her one quick deep thrust. Her scream of pain was captured by his mouth as his tongue assaulted her own. Tears flooded her eyes and a sob tore free. She was grateful that he’d stopped moving. Buried to the hilt inside her, he breathed heavily on top of her before gentling his kiss and simply touching his lips to hers before looking at her.

  “Give it a moment to pass. Let your body adjust.” He kissed each of her eyelids and lifted a hand to swipe the tear that seeped from her eye. “It will be better my lily, I promise.”

  Feeling like a child, she could only nod as she tried to regain her composure. She heard the other slave women speak of sex but they’d always only spoken of pleasure. She had no idea her first experience would hurt this much.

  After several moments Bray looked at her, “Ready?”

  She was afraid but nodded anyway.

  When Bray pulled back she was still sensitive, but felt nowhere near the pain she had when he’d shoved into her minutes before. Slowly he began to work his hips, sawing back and forth.

  Neomee’s passion began to flare and she discovered that relaxing helped ease some of the discomfort. Bray slid a hand between their bodies and began rubbing circles over her clit. Having never experienced anything like it, she cried out at the indescribable sensation. Whatever he was doing to her felt like heaven and Neomee could feel something coiling deep inside her preparing to spring free.

  His lips found hers and when his tongue plunged inside she sucked on it wantonly. Her hands slid down to his beefy ass and she spread her legs wider as his finger continued to rub her closer to ecstasy.

  The sound of his hips slapping against hers and their mingled harsh breathing filled the room. Something was happening. His rubbing was creating a firestorm of sensation that had Neomee bucking her hips in an attempt to drive him deeper and faster. She could feel something close, so close to exploding inside her. Bray rubbed faster and his hips hammered into her. Neomee mewled followed by a scream when ribbons of ecstasy tore through her. She lost all thought and could only cling to Brays’ still thrusting body. Her pussy clenched, fisting and unfisting in rapid succession causing Bray to roar loudly as he spilled his seed deep inside her. She couldn’t control her vaginal spasms that seemed determined to milk every drop of Bray’s release deep into her thirsty womb.

  After Bray’s body ceased convulsing and spurting aftershocks of semen into her, he rolled still buried deep inside her and pulled her so that she was sprawled on top of him, her hips straddling his body as his cock continued to twitch stuffed deep inside her pussy.

  As if suddenly realizing it, Neomee gasped, “Your back?”

  When she tried to pull away, Bray held her tighter. “I’m a Cat. We heal quickly.”

  When he refused to let her go, Neomee sighed contentedly and relaxed on top of him. She wrapped her arms around her Prince as she snuggled closer to his warmth. Mine!

  “Mine,” he echoed her thoughts aloud.

  “What do we do now?” she asked breathlessly.

  He pulled her to the side to smile at her, “Whatever we want. We are free.”

  “Free?” It was more than she ever dared to hope. “Really and truly free?”

  “Really and truly! He pulled her tighter into him and nuzzled her hair breathing in the water lily scent of her. “We can go anywhere you like. Ceptos, Aswan, Giza! Where would you like to go my Princess?”

  Neomee felt like her heart would burst from all the joy and love she experienced at that moment and when she answered, she spoke truthfully. “Anywhere, as long as it’s with you.”

  Exclusive Excerpt

  Skin Walkers: King

  by

  Susan A. Bliler

  Lilly eyed King over the legal brief she was supposed to be proof reading. He was leaning casually against the wall just beside Monroe’s closed office door waiting for the CEO to finish the private call he’d opted to take in his office rather than use the phone on Lilly’s desk. King was pre-occupied with the pistol sights on the firearm that he always kept strapped to his thigh.

  Lilly gnawed on her bottom lip as she watched him use the hem of his black t-shirt to massage the weapon, her eyes were locked on the hard tan abs that were left exposed by his hiked up shirt. God, should I be this envious of a pistol?

  Her lips quirked in an appreciative smile and seconds before King’s dark eyes shot to hers she had her face shoved back into the brief as she twirled a pen in her fingers absentmindedly.

  Why is he always here? It’s not like there’s a threat to Monroe while he’s in his office. King’s presence was distracting; therefore, annoying. Why couldn’t she keep her damn eyes off him?

  Lilly dropped the brief she hadn’t even looked over as Monroe’s door opened and he strode out while King holstered his pistol and followed closely on his heels.

  “Finished proofing the brief Ms. Worthington?”

  Lilly snapped to her feet and caught pace with the CEO as he made a bee line for the door.

  “It’s perfect.” She didn’t need to proof read it for the umpteenth time. She’d written it, she knew it was flawless, but Monroe was as meticulous as he was ruthless. Lilly handed the brief to Monroe seconds before he exited the door.

  King followed him, none too quickly, stopping to wink at Lilly before he followed the CEO to the elevator that would take them up to the roof of the compound, where Lilly had ensured his helicopter was awaiting him.

  Lilly sighed heavily as she stared down at her desk. Her small hands went to her hips as she shook her head dejectedly. She hated it when Monroe was in the office. Even after five years as a paralegal for the CEO of StoneCrow Industries she still despised his brash mannerisms and outright rude treatment. But at the end of the day, Monroe paid her well and after accruing a th
irty-thousand dollar student loan debt, she couldn’t afford to walk away from the job.

  Lilly bent over her desk, trying to open her drawer from the far side to retrieve a file she needed to place back in Monroe’s office. She nearly had the file pulled from the too full desk drawer when she stilled. A shiver raced down her spine, she knew she wasn’t alone. She didn’t get up from her un-lady like sprawl across the desk, instead she snapped her head around to catch King eyeing her ass.

  “Shit,” she muttered as she righted herself, pulling down the hem of her black satin skirt that had hiked too high. “What do you need King?” She felt heat stain her cheeks.

  King was stopped at the door, his hands half raised as if he’d been in the process of lifting them to remove his dark sunglasses before he’d stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that met them. His hands lifted slowly to his glasses as he pulled them to reveal darkened, lust filled eyes. His lips slowly curved in appreciation. “Are you willing to give me what I need?”

  The innuendo wasn’t lost on her, but she opted to ignore it. “You could’ve called down. I would have brought up whatever it is Mr. StoneCrow needs.” The words were a little too sharp and had King’s grin widening.

  He took a step closer. “Afraid to be alone with me?”

  “No.” Lilly snapped, wincing at the shrillness of her tone as she reached up to tuck a lose strand of soft blonde hair behind her ear before she turned and strode into Monroe’s office. “W-what is it he needs?”

  King smiled, “He needs the quarterly statement from his desk.”

  Lilly turned quickly toward Monroe’s office. “Wait here, I’ll grab the document.”

  Lilly was hunched over Monroe’s desk, dragging in steadying breaths in an attempt to calm herself when she heard the door to Monroe’s office close. She spun to find King leaning against the closed door. She’d always thought Monroe’s office was large until now. She hadn’t flipped on the lights when she’d entered. Enough light filtered through the closed blinds over the large window behind the desk to suffice, but now she was kicking herself. The space felt intimate, and the way King was staring at her left her hands shaking.