Trip quickly retrieved Marisol. He deposited her in the master bed then forced himself to leave her to go secure the window he’d broken. Trip walked through the house familiarizing himself with the sights and scents, before shifting into his jaguar from and curling up on the bedroom floor. Despite his desire to join Marisol in the bed Trip stayed put.
Marisol
Marisol moaned as she roused. Her leg hurt but she’d hurt worse. She bolted upright in the plush bed. Jag sat on his hind quarters down on the tile floor staring at her with his golden cat eyes. She looked around the room in confusion.
“How did we get here big guy?”
Marisol looked down at her bandaged leg then back at Jag, snippets of her strange dream flitting through her mind.
Trip
It was now or never Trip decided. He just hoped Marisol didn’t scream bloody murder and alert the neighbors to their presence.
He’d agonized over revealing his true nature to Marisol. Shifters didn’t have many rules but revealing yourself to Outsiders was at the top of the list. But Trip could see no way around it.
He waited till Marisol looked back at him after studying her bandaged thigh. He hooked a sheet with his claw and pulled it over his midsection then shifted.
Marisol’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.
“Here it comes.” Trip cringed steeling himself against the impending scream.
“Dios mio.” Marisol exclaimed after finding her voice. Her hand flew to her forehead and across her chest in the sign of the cross.
Trip sat patiently as Marisol got used to the sight of him. But rather than shrinking away Marisol moved towards where he was stretched out on the floor. Trip couldn’t help but smile when she boldly pulled the sheet back exposing his chest and back. Marisol ran her fingers over his shoulder blade where the jaguar tattoo on his back. The heat from her touch nearly made him groan. Trip was damn glad his waist was covered.
“So I’m not crazy!” Marisol declared.
Marisol seemed to realize how familiarly she stroked Trip’s shoulder and quickly pulled her hand away her cheeks blushing. She was damn cute.
“No you are not.” Trip said slowly. “I’m Trip, but you can continue calling me Jag if you like.” He smiled at her as he tucked the sheet around his waist willing his cock to behave before he stood up.
Trip’s brothers, the Reapers, had given him his nickname when he was young. Trip had luckily avoided a bullet when he stumbled over a hyena Shifter during a particularly nasty altercation with the invading clan. It wasn’t really a complimentary nickname, but Trip didn’t mind it, it meant he was accepted as one of the brothers. However Marisol could call him anything she wanted with those full ruby lips.
“You are real and you saved me.” Marisol shook her head in amazement as she stood in front of him.
The next thing Trip knew Marisol’s arms wrapped unexpectedly around his middle as she squeezed him, her breasts and hips pressing into him. This was much better than a hysterical sobbing woman. Too good really.
“I thought you were awfully smart for a wild cat.” Marisol sat back on the bed and grinned.
“I’m glad you are taking this well.” Trip couldn’t help smiling back at her, it was infectious.
Her face held such awe and surprise but no fear. Then again considering what Marisol had been through little green men could’ve rescued her in a flying saucer and she probably wouldn’t crack.
“You are very unusual.” Marisol tilted her head as she said it. “I’m not dreaming am I?” She rubbed her eyes then looked back at him.
“No you’re not.” Trip’s lip quirked up. He couldn’t get over how cute she was with her wide eyed expression.
“So are you a man or a jaguar?” Marisol asked with a look that said she was seriously debating the matter.
“Both,” Trip chuckled “but my kind usually stays in human form. We’re born human and only change when we reach maturity.” Trip explained as best he could. It felt odd considering he’d never had this conversation before. “Most of my kind can’t shift completely like I do.” Marisol nodded as if it all made complete sense. “I’m really glad you aren’t freaking out.”
Marisol smiled a big grin.
“Well when you live in a glass house you shouldn’t throw stones.” She replied and it was Trip’s turn to be confused. “You have no clue why those men kept me do you?” Marisol asked.
“No sorry.” Trip shook his head.
He didn’t know how to explain the predicament he was in having stayed in his animal form for so long. His memory of much of what had happened was hazy at best.
Marisol stood up and flipped on the bedside lamp. Then she snapped her fingers and it went off. She did it again and it came back on.
“How?” Trip said in awe of the petite little beauty. It was his turn to stand there with his mouthing hanging open. “Amazing!” Trip recovered.
“Hardly” Marisol blushed at the simple compliment, her tanned cheeks taking on a lovely rosy glow. “I’d prefer changing into an animal. This has kept me from living in cities since I was a child.” Marisol looked at her hands. “Of course with all the things that have happened lately I’m getting pretty good at controlling it.” Marisol giggled as she looked back at Trip. “You know I fried El Patron’s TV. That’s why he put me in that cage with you.”
Trip loved the sound of Marisol’s laugh, mixed with her accent and he was positively smitten.
“Well I’m sure he deserved it.” Trip replied at the faint recollection of the bastard in charge.
“He did. He tried to…” Marisol paused.
Her eyes got this far off look, her happy expression faltering as she recalled what had happened to her. Trip repressed a growl as it started to rumble up from his chest. Marisol glanced at Trip, seeing him look so serious she smiled.
“No one got a chance to do that to me.” She patted his hand.
Trip looked at her arm and knew she hadn’t survived unscathed even if she hadn’t been violated otherwise. He reached out and ran his hand along Marisol’s soft cheek, not the bruised one.
“No one will lay a hand on you again.” Trip promised.
His jaguar had claimed Marisol the moment she had been placed under his protection. It wasn’t so simple as a man, but he couldn’t dismiss the lingering feelings of possession he felt for her. Marisol dropped her gaze and leaned into his hand. Did she even realize what such a simple gesture stirred up inside him?
Trip took a step back and looked out the window. He needed a moment before he did something stupid to frighten Marisol, like pulling her to him in a bruising kiss.
“I’m guessing this isn’t your house.” Marisol stated after a moment as she looked at the dresser swathed in a sheet.
“No we are borrowing it. Do you want to take a shower? The hot water works.” Trip asked and Marisol nodded then hobbled towards the bathroom. “I’ll look for clothes and some food.” Trip called after her as he started going through the closets.
They actually got lucky. The couple that owned the house had left clothes behind that would fit them both well enough.
Trip took a couple white t-shirts and some khaki’s with a belt. He saw a couple dresses Marisol might like so he grabbed them. He relished the thought of a shower and clean clothes.
The kitchen didn’t have any perishables but there were canned beans and dried rice in the cupboard. Trip noticed the phone and was shocked to find it had a dial tone. He dialed and waited for it to connect.
“Hello.” Cain answered
“Its me.” Trip replied with a sigh.
It was good to hear a voice he recognized. Trip hadn’t realized how much he’d accepted he might not come out of this mission the same as he went in, sane or still breathing.
“Dear god! Man you had us worried when we didn’t hear from you. I just sent Swain and MD down there. Even Wolf went along to sniff you out.” Cain exclaimed.
Shit if Wolf was on his way Cain mus
t’ve been worried. Trip heard Cain holler over his shoulder that he was talking to him. The whooping and hollering in the background warmed Trip’s heart. His brothers accepted him when his own flesh and blood wanted nothing to do with him.
“Man its good to hear your voice.” Trip couldn’t help but say. “Things went a little pear shaped down here, but I think I got the info Thomas is looking for. At least a location and a face.” Trip rattled off the details of his adventure. “And wouldn’t you know someone stole the fucking truck.”
“Don’t worry about that piece of shit. I’m just glad you didn’t give any old ladies a heart attack.” Cain laughed and Trip knew what he was remembering.
There’d been this time when Trip was eighteen, where he got so trashed he couldn’t drive. In his infinite wisdom Trip had decided to shift and run home. He got a little disoriented and awoke naked, up a tree in Gary, with a little old lady staring at him through her apartment window.
“Laugh it up old man! When Iris pops you’ll get yours.” Trip told Cain as he smiled. It was amazing how fast Cain had knocked Iris up.
“That’s probably right. Iris is having some wild visions with those twins rattling around in her belly.”
Cain sounded damn proud and a bit daunted at the same time. His old lady, Iris, had the strange unique ability to see snippets of the future. It reminded Trip of someone else he’d met recently.
“I also might have a little tag along.” Trip relayed. “There was a woman, Marisol, who helped me escape. Those bastards were holding her.” Trip growled through the phone.
“Shit man, is she okay?” Cain asked understanding what Trip was implying.
Cain’s old lady had been abused. It was something neither of them could abide by.
“She will be, I think.” Trip hoped. The thought of Marisol suffering lasting affects from her treatment tore at him. “I don’t know what Marisol will agree to yet but I don’t think she’s safe here.”
Trip told Cain about Marisol’s situation, but decided to keep her gift to himself for the moment.
There was a thud behind him and Trip turned to see Marisol collapsed on the floor.
“I gotta go man. I’m in the same town I texted you from.” Trip quickly hung up and rushed to the doorway.
Marisol
Marisol went into the bathroom but as she got undressed she started feeling dizzy. She looked at her leg and noticed the blood seeping through the bandage. She never was a fan of seeing blood. She’d been through hell, and then expended too much energy with her gift. Getting injured after still healing was the icing on the cake.
Marisol wrapped the big towel around her then limped cautiously down the hall. She paused at the doorway to the kitchen.
“I don’t think she’s safe here.” Marisol heard Trip say into the phone.
The reality of her situation struck her hard. Marisol had been so excited to be free, she’d forgotten that she had nothing to go home to. Her papa was dead, her home burned and livelihood destroyed. El Patron wasn’t just going to forget about her.
“What am I going to do?” She wondered.
Everything overwhelmed her all at once and she felt the world closing in. Marisol grabbed for the door frame as her breath stuttered out on a gasp, but missed it as she staggered.
Her eyes fluttered open to see a big pair of golden brown ones staring back at her. They were mesmerizing, lit with an inner light. It amazed her how Trip’s eyes looked exactly the same as when he was his jaguar self. Even Trip’s hair was the same blackish blue.
His lips were moving but Marisol didn’t hear what he said. He had full strong lips and it looked like the bottom one had been pierced. In fact Trip looked like he had a few holes in his ears, eyebrow and nose that were missing their metal.
Trip knelt in front of her with the sheet still wrapped around his waist exposing his bare chest. Marisol finally got a good look at the ink he wore, besides the jaguar back tattoo. There was a massive grim reaper tat on one of his biceps and a large snake wrapping around the other. Trip’s shoulders were so broad, his muscular biceps flexed as he reached to help her up.
Marisol’s eyes drifted over the hard planes of Trip’s well defined pecs then down to his washboard stomach. Marisol shivered as she stared at the man. Trip was handsome and rugged, so unlike any of the men she had ever met. She couldn’t help but think he was indeed the embodiment of the Mayan Jaguar God.
Trip had spoken of helping her when he’d already done so much. If he wasn’t a living god he’d certainly been sent by one to rescue her.
“Marisol are you okay?” Trip repeated as he took hold of her hand. He looked down to see the blood on Marisol’s thigh, where the towel rode up. “Shit!”
“I’m a bit dizzy.” Marisol said remembering herself.
“You’ve been trying to walk too much.”
“I think I’m just a little overwhelmed.” Her voice caught in her throat.
Trip picked her up and headed back towards the bathroom. One warm strong arm cradled the back of her thighs, his other at her back.
Marisol did her best to ignore the heat that burned through her. Trip was so close to touching her bottom she wanted to blush. She did her best to hold onto her towel as Trip set her on the bathroom counter.
“May I?” Trip asked as his large hands hovered over the edge of the towel above her thigh.
Marisol nodded nervously.
Trip lifted the edge of the towel exposing the crude bandage. She swallowed as his hand brushed her skin. Her bare mound wasn’t exposed but it was inches from his assessing fingers.
“The bleeding’s not too bad but it really needs to be cleaned so there’s no infection.” Trip said as he looked at where the bullet grazed her.
He paused and Marisol looked up to realize he was staring at her. She’d been so riveted by the tingling heat of his fingers moving on her skin, that she’d been distracted.
“You still want to try to shower?” Trip asked his face inches from hers.
Marisol nodded mutely. Her lips burned with the desire to kiss Trip, making goosebumps rise up on her skin. She didn’t know if these strange feelings were because this god like man had rescued and protected her or because Trip was so handsome. Trip’s hand ran down her sore arm and she shivered but not from pain.
“Does it hurt?”
“Not so much anymore.” Marisol smiled shyly as his hand lingered on her shoulder.
Marisol hadn’t felt like this before. She knew young men as she’d grown up, but her town was so small and none of the men there had ever interested her. Her papa had also sheltered her because of her gift.
There was a weight on her heart, a fluttery feeling in her stomach and a twingeful warmth in her woman’s place when she looked at Trip. He was unusual like her, something she’d never thought to find. Marisol’s mouth felt unusually dry so she licked her lips.
Trip
Marisol’s injury wasn’t too bad probably didn’t even need stitches. The woman had been through the wringer.
Trip realized he had one hand on her bare knee and the other on her cafe au lait shoulder, when her lovely feminine musk penetrated his nostrils.
Her pink tongue peeked out to swipe at her lips and his cock jumped.
She wanted to take a shower and he could use one himself. Except Trip didn’t want Marisol standing alone under the hot water for fear she’d collapse again.
He groaned as he willed his dick to behave.
Marisol was so small and she looked incredibly innocent. He dwarfed her by at least a foot if not more. He had to get his shit together before he found himself mauling the alluring female.
“If I stand back in the shower do you think you will be okay?” Trip did his best to ask without his voice coming out deep and husky. “I don’t want you to fall.” He reasoned fully expecting her to object.
Marisol’s gaze was cast down at her hands as she fidgeted with the towel. Her eyelashes fluttered as she turned big brown eyes up to look
at him. Marisol nodded hesitantly. Trip noticed her pupils dilated with mounting desire and nearly groaned.
“Behave! ” Trip silently warned his cock, but it refused to listen, reacting instead to Marisol’s intoxicating scent.
Trip helped Marisol down off the counter, adjusted the shower and stepped into the stall. Marisol stood with her back to him then without hesitation dropped her towel.
“Oh sweet Jesus.” Trip looked to the ceiling in silent prayer.
Marisol’s pert bare ass taunted him and Trip had to clench his fist to keep from grabbing the beautiful full globes.
Marisol
Marisol didn’t want Trip to think she didn’t trust him and having never been ashamed of her body she let the towel fall. She’d swam naked in the river with the local children this was no different… but it was.
Marisol couldn’t help but think of the large handsome man standing behind her wearing only a sheet. Even though Trip stood back she could feel the heat of him radiating in the small space. Marisol tried to maintain a hold on the slippery soap as she ran it over her body. Her skin was over sensitized and every place she touched seemed to sing.
She reached down and tried to untie the bandage to wash her wounded thigh but her fingers couldn’t undo the tight knot. Suddenly there were strong fingers assisting hers. Marisol turned sideways so Trip could help. Water poured down his magnificent body.
“Oh” There went that fluttery feeling again.
Trip
Trip’s fingers trembled as they worked on the knot of Marisol’s bandage. He tried not to let his eyes stray to the dark curly mound nestled between her thighs. Marisol’s musky perfume making his mouth water and his canines itch.
He wanted to clamp his mouth down on her tan shoulder to hold her firmly in place as he explored her body with his hands. Trip wanted to trail his fingers between her thighs to see if she was slick.
He got so distracted with his thoughts and trying to work Marisol’s bandage loose that Trip didn’t realize till it was too late that his sheet was slipping under the weight of the water.
Charge: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 2) Page 5