Cinderella's Guardian

by Khloe Wren

  As she made her way past the car park, she paused and watched as Dale dried off with a picnic blanket. He'd stripped off his jacket and shirt and stood barefoot. Robyn sighed in feminine appreciation as she observed the ripple of his muscles as he moved. She was close enough to hear their conversation as Conner handed Dale some clothes.

  "Here you go. They'll be a little big but should do the job. You never know when you're going to need to shift so we generally keep a couple sets of clothes in our cars."

  What the hell? Conner was one of the weird cat people too?

  Her lip curled up as Conner handed Jennifer a pair of pants and she slipped them on.

  "Guess I should start keeping a bag in Dale's car. Thanks, Conner."

  Dale pulled Jennifer into his arms and kissed her temple. Robyn dug her fingers into a tree trunk to prevent herself from bolting out to him again. Her rage continued to simmer as he stroked Jennifer's face and declared his thanks for her saving him. This was not how it was meant to be! A tear ran down her face as she watched the intimate moment. Loud sirens broke through the area and Conner declared it was the police responding to his call and that they would be searching for her.

  That's my cue to leave.

  Wiping tears from her face, she quietly made her way from Dale and toward the cabin. With each step she grew more angry and confused. Dale was hers. She was sure they were destined to be together. Somehow that cat woman had put a spell on him. Robyn just needed to get him alone. Surely if Jennifer wasn't close by, she wouldn't have a hold over him?

  As she slowly plodded through the dense scrub, she thought over what she'd seen. The woman was a cat. Snow leopards were black and white like that weren't they? Like everyone in town, Robyn had heard the rumors of big cats running through the Cradle Mountain National Park. Also like everyone else, she'd assumed them nothing more than stories made up to bring in tourists and to frighten children into staying close to their parents.

  Apparently, they weren't rumors at all and she was going to have to be very careful from now on.

  ~ * ~

  Adding a flattened box to the pile in the lounge, Tina sighed.

  "That's the last box."

  It hadn't taken long to move. All of her stuff had been lost in the fire. Having lived home with his folks, Conner didn't have much either. The furniture shop had delivered all their purchases yesterday, so today it hadn't taken long at all to unpack their few belongings and all the many house warming presents all their helpers had brought with them.

  She felt the warmth of Conner's hands as he laid them on her shoulders before he kissed the top of her head.

  "We've officially moved in then."

  "Yep, and all the helpers have disappeared leaving us officially alone."

  "Hmmm, indeed we are."

  Turning her head, she watched as he moved to the couch and sat down.

  "Come over and join me?"

  He had a serious look in his gaze that had Tina more than a little curious—and nervous. Once she came to a stop in front of him, he took her hands in his.

  "There's something I need to ask you."

  His gaze focused on their joined hands and she felt him twist her engagement ring back and forth with his thumb.

  "What is it, Conner? You know you can be totally honest with me about anything."

  Silence hung in the air as Conner frowned down at her ring. She was starting to get quite concerned when he finally lifted his head and held her gaze. After the whole shape shifter thing, Tina didn't think there could possibly be any more huge declarations he'd have to make to her.

  "Will you mate with me?"

  Tina tilted her head in confusion. "I don't understand what you mean, Conner. I already said yes to getting married."

  "Mating is different. It's more permanent."

  "In my book, marriage is permanent."

  His gaze softened and he raised a hand to cup her face. "I know, baby doll. Trust me, it is in my book too. But mating is a shifter thing. It's us bonding together. Damn, I'm making a mess of explaining this." He paused to rub his hands on his legs before taking hers back into his grip. "Have you noticed when we climax together, claws sprout from my right hand?"

  She felt the warmth drain from her face. Claws?

  "Can't say I have. I'm generally a little busy at the time. What would you need claws for, Conner?"

  "The Marking. It's part of Mating. I'll mark you and you me. It's a physical sign of our love and bond for each other."

  Tina was grateful she was in her chair, because had she been standing, she'd be passed out.

  "You want to scratch me? With your, no doubt huge, leopard claws?"

  "I wouldn't really be scratching you. It's based in magic and doesn't hurt at all. You'll be left with four scratch marks revealing leopard spots. It'll look a lot like my shoulder does."

  "And how do I mark you? I don't change into a cat."

  "And you won't start changing into one now either. The magic of the mating flows through me to you. You'll have claws just this once."

  Tina pulled away from Conner to roll around the room. She needed some movement to get her mind turning over. He wanted to mate with her. Okay, he was a shifter so part animal. She could understand how that entailed some extra things along the way.

  But scratching? Marking each other?

  That was over the top...wasn't it?

  The room's light reflected from her ring, catching her eye. She stopped and looked down at her hand. She would wear that ring for the rest of her days, to show the world she was married and to ward off any other man who might think to try to seduce her. Her breath caught as the realization hit, the marking would be no different. Marriage was forever as far as she was concerned, and she loved Conner. If getting a pain free tattoo in the process of laying claim to him was what had to happen, then great. She did like Conner's scar—she hated that it happened, that the fire had burned his skin—but the leopard spots looked sexy as hell.

  She spun her chair around so she faced Conner. He had a pained expression and held his hands in tight fists against his knees. His whole body looked tense, like he was preparing for a fight. Her heart clenched, he was preparing for her rejection of the mating; of him.

  She went to him and his knees parted to allow her closer access to him. She scooted forward in her chair before she leaned in to cup his face in both her palms. "I love you, Conner. Yes, I will mate with you."

  She pressed her lips against his and felt the shudder that ran through him. She squealed in surprise when he pulled her from her chair and into his lap. He swallowed the sound as he took control of the kiss. Pushing the chair away with his foot, he stood with her securely in his arms and sprinted to the bedroom. Tina couldn't help the giggle that escaped. Her heart was full to bursting with happiness and love.

  With a firm grip on her hips, he stood her at the side of their bed and continued his passionate kiss. She trailed her hands over his back before seeking out the bottom of his shirt and sliding beneath. He broke the kiss. "Can you stand on your own?"

  His voice had taken a husky tone with his arousal and she felt a warmth bloom in her core in response.

  "Yeah, I'm fine to stand for quite a while now."

  "It'll only be a minute or two."

  He stepped back from her and tore at his shirt. The second his chest was bared to her, her hand reached for him. As if it had a mind of its own, it sought him out. He closed his eyes as a slight tremor ran through his body. Snapping his eyes open, he quickly moved to remove her shirt. It was lifted up and over her head in seconds. Her pants received similar treatment. He took a moment to run his heated gaze over her body, now covered only in lacy underwear.

  "You are so sexy, baby doll."

  Tina was about to combust. She was sure she'd melt into a puddle on the floor if Conner didn't hurry up. She unclasped her bra as he reached for the button of his jeans. She shrugged out of the lace, allowing it to float to the floor. He opened his fly and pushed the de
nim from his hips. His jeans dropped to the floor with a soft thud.

  "You are gorgeous, Conner. Every inch of you is perfect."

  "I was about to say the same about you, sweetheart. So beautiful and all mine."

  He hooked his thumbs in the sides of his boxer briefs and Tina feared she'd swallow her tongue as his erection sprung free. Moments later Conner had his arms firmly wrapped around her as he took possession of her mouth. The heated passion running through her body began to overwhelm her, her knees buckled and Conner held her weight against him.

  ~ * ~

  Conner absorbed the feeling of having Tina willingly rely on his strength to hold her up. He was caveman enough to bask in the sensation. He had his mate so turned on she couldn't stand. Purring, he moved from her mouth to press kisses over her cheek and down her neck. She arched beneath him, giving him better access. He playfully nipped at her throat before he laid her down on their bed. He stripped her knickers from her toned legs, laying kisses over the scars down her thigh. Once he had her naked, he prowled over her body. She stretched beneath him in a decidedly feline manner, her hands above her head as she arched her back. Her breasts were thrust up before him and he couldn't resist. He pulled one into his mouth, flicking his tongue over the tight peak until she writhed beneath him with her hands in his hair. He kissed his way over to the other, lavishing that one with equal attention. He heard her begin to pant and felt her move her thighs against each other, obviously seeking some relief.

  He shifted down her body, desperate for a taste of his mate. Her scent continued to fill his senses as he lowered himself and took a lick. Her eyes flew open, and with a raised eyebrow she glanced down at him.

  "Didn't I tell you? I can shift just my tongue. There's nothing quite like a feline's rough tongue to fully taste one's mate." He paused for another lick and took delight in her reaction. Her head pressed back into the pillows as her hands gripped the sheet on either side while her body convulsed with ripples of obvious pleasure.

  "Uh huh."

  He chuckled at her moaned response before he focused back on her sweet heat. Purring loudly, he licked and suckled at her core, taking as much of her as he could down his throat. He would never get enough of drinking in his mate. Her muscles began to tighten as he felt her fingers slide into his hair. She gripped him to her as she shattered under his touch. As she quivered in the aftermath of her climax, he sat back on his knees and watched her. She had a contented, sated smile on her lips and a rosy glow to her face and neck.

  "Roll over, baby doll. I need to be inside you."

  Without hesitation, his sweet mate languidly rolled over then pushed back so she was on her hands and knees.

  "Is your leg okay to hold that position? You can lie flat on a pillow if it's more comfortable."

  "Please, Conner, just take me. I need you. My rehab has been going well, I'll be fine. If it starts to hurt, I promise I'll tell you."

  He leaned in to lay a gentle kiss on her lower spine, just above her perfectly toned bottom.

  "Do you want me to use a condom? Because I really want to be able to feel all of you when we mate."

  He felt the shudder go through her and heard her breathing accelerate. "You, I need you. No condom."

  Conner closed his eyes against the overwhelming emotions that swirled inside him.

  "I love you, Tina. I'm going to love you forever."

  He shuffled forward closer to her and lined his heavy erection up with her slick entrance. Pressing in, he shook with the pleasure of feeling her feminine heat envelope him for the first time without a latex barrier. He wrapped an arm beneath her stomach to help support her weight as he began to slowly pump into her. Unable to resist, he slid his free hand up to tweak her nipple. She clenched down on him as she gasped.

  It felt like paradise.

  He gave her other nipple the same treatment and enjoyed her reaction again. Within moments he could feel himself climbing ever closer to his climax. Leaving her breasts, he straightened his spine, gripped her hips and began to thrust faster into her. With his left hand he reached around to press against her sensitive bundle of nerves. Three flicks later she shattered around him, pulling him with her straight over the ledge into bliss. His hand was firmly over her right hip as he felt the magic tingle and his claws sprout. He dragged his fingers back, leaving an arch of scratch marks over her hipbone.

  Pulling from her core, he gently rolled her over on her back. He picked up her right hand and let her see the claws that were now where her nails had been. As she gasped in awe, he placed her hand over his heart.

  "Scratch me, Tina. Mark me as yours, right over my heart."

  She curled her fingers and dragged them down his chest. The magic sparked through his entire being. His breath caught and as he watched Tina writhe under the same sensations, he felt himself harden for her all over again. He covered her body with his, thrusting inside her in one strong move. He could barely hear her moan through his roar of possession.

  She was his.

  Claimed fully as his mate.

  No other would ever touch her.

  ~ * ~

  Magic flowed throughout her body, her fingers tickled as the claws disappeared and her nails reappeared. Conner's hard body was pressed against her. He'd buried himself within her in one strong stroke and now she moaned as his animalistic roar filled the room. He pounded into her, dominating her. Her body was overwhelmed with sensation. Her mind spun with all that was happening.

  Conner lifted up on his arms to look down at her. Her gaze wandered from his face to his chest, she raised her hand to trace the mark over his heart. Four wide scratch marks revealed his leopard spots over his heart. She pressed her palm against it and felt a small jolt of magic run though her again. He closed his eyes and his whole body tightened above her. Obviously he'd felt the jolt too.

  Continuing his thrusts into her, he lowered his head to torment her nipples and breasts. Tossing her head back and forth on the pillow, she moaned as the coil in her belly began to draw in impossibly tight. He knelt as his strokes sped up. The new angle took him deeper inside her. She watched, lost in a daze of passion as his hand moved to her clit. He flicked and teased it until she was bucking against him. She screamed as she flew apart for the third time that night. His roar once again filled the air as she felt his warmth fill her womb. She hoped she was fertile at the moment. The only way this experience could be sweeter would be if they had created life.

  "That was amazing. Even though I'd been told what would happen, that was so much more. I love you."

  Conner rested his head against her chest and she managed to raise her hand to run her fingers through his sweat drenched hair. "I love you too, Conner. And yeah, that was spectacular."

  He raised his head to stare up at her. She could see love and desire, along with male smugness and pride. Her man was macho enough to be delighted at having marked her. She was girlie enough to relish the fact he wanted to mark her as his forever. He gently, reverently kissed her as his palm covered her mark, the magic tingling once again.

  "Let's go have a shower, shall we?"

  "Only if you carry me."

  "Of course, baby doll. I'd carry you everywhere if you'd let me."

  Tina relaxed into Conner's embrace as he scooped her from the bed and headed toward the bathroom. He set her on the bench seat he'd installed for her and grabbed the handheld shower. After adjusting the water, he rinsed her off and handed her the showerhead. He lathered up his hands and proceeded to clean every inch of her. His touch on her sensitive skin revved her up. By the time he was washing her feet, she was panting with her arousal. Now on his knees, he spread her thighs and buried his face between them, suckling on her aroused flesh. She cried out as he nipped at her clit, the sensation enough to push her over yet again. She shuddered beneath him as he lapped at her, drinking down her liquid heat once again.

  He rose from the floor and she forced her eyes to open so she could watch the play of his muscles as he
took the showerhead from her and washed himself. Leaning heavily against the wall she didn't realize she'd dozed off until she jerked awake as Conner picked her up from the seat.

  "Let's go back to bed, sweetheart."

  He snagged a towel on his way back to the bedroom and set her on the end of the mattress before he carefully dried her off. He finger combed her hair before he tucked her in beneath the covers. She cracked her lids open just enough to see him dry his spectacular body before he moved to crawl into the bed beside her. He rolled her on to her side before tucking her in against him. He slid his hand down to cup her mating mark and she felt the tingle jolt her system as she drifted off into a very sated, content sleep.

  Tina slowly surfaced to the sound of Conner's angry voice on the phone.

  "What do you mean she's not been found? You told us she'd be caught in no time, or her body found. That was three days ago!"

  Oh hell no, Robyn was still on the loose? Heaven only knew what stunt she'd pull next. Would her dad ever be safe from her? A sob caught in her throat and she rolled to bury her face into the pillow then curled into as tight a ball as she could while emotions battled inside her. She was feeling so overwhelmed, the last weeks had brought with them so many extremes, both good and bad. Her mind was now struggling to cope with anything else.

  The bed dipped and then she was against Conner's warm chest, wrapped in his embrace.

  "Shh, baby doll. I'll keep you safe. Robyn can't keep getting away with her actions. She'll slip up and get caught. You'll see."

  "What about Dad? He's the one she keeps going after."

  "Jennifer will make sure he stays safe. Female shifters are just as protective as the males. Your Dad will be well protected so long as she's near, and by the look of them, she'll always be near until Robyn is caught."

  She nuzzled her face against his mating mark allowing the jolt of magic to help center her. "Can we just forget the whole thing? For today I just want to be normal. Go out and do something totally boring and human like."