“Now that we know it’s not just wolf hunters,” Jake interjected, “we’ll be a lot more careful.”
She nodded but found little comfort in the promise. She’d be a veritable prisoner until she was defined. Even if she decided against the formula, she couldn’t venture out until her latent abilities had been released.
“We’ve clearly upset you and that wasn’t my intention.” Erin squeezed Heather’s hands and then let go. “You’re among friends. We’ll help you through this and see you settled in a new life. You have my personal guarantee.”
Joy and sorrow twisted inside Heather. It was exhilarating to realize she wasn’t alone yet depressing as hell to admit the opportunity had come from cats. “Thank you.” She didn’t want to seem ungracious but she really wanted to sneak away somewhere and cry. “You’ve both been unbelievably generous.”
Erin gave her a quick hug and then departed.
“Are you hungry?” Jake asked before the silence could take over. “I whipped up a chicken stir-fry. The veggies were frozen, not fresh, but it was the best I could do with what was on hand.”
“Do you always do what Erin tells you to?”
He laughed. “Most people do. She’s too damn likable to disappoint.”
“Can likability be a form of compulsion? Maybe she’s really a Svengali.”
With another deep chuckle he motioned her from the room. “If she orders me to kill someone, you will stop me. Won’t you?”
“Of course.” She followed him down the narrow hallway and into the country kitchen at the back of the house. The appliances and cupboards were arranged in a wide U at one end. The eating area dominated the other. “What time is it?” Ruffled curtains framed the window above the sink but she could see nothing beyond the glass.
“Almost nine. You were sound asleep so I just kept driving.”
“We didn’t go to bed until dawn and woke up late in the afternoon. I am so disorientated.”
He laughed. “Don’t you work at a bar? This schedule is normal for me.”
“I try to avoid the Clubhouse when it’s in full swing, so I do my work before it opens.” He’d set the table for two, not three, she noticed as he pulled out one of the chairs for her.
“Is it as wild as I’ve heard?” He walked to the stove and picked up a large wok, jeans accenting his tight, round ass. There was nothing sexier than a gorgeous man who knew his way around the kitchen. Heather fought back a guilty smile. She’d thought Jake was sexy long before she knew he could cook.
Wait, he’d asked a question. She’d better answer quickly or he’d wonder what distracted her. And she wasn’t quite ready to admit that she’d been staring at his amazing ass. “The Clubhouse is a dive where wolves go to misbehave. Father insists it’s safer to provide for their needs rather than continually cleaning up their messes.”
“You don’t agree?”
“I think a lot of what goes on at the Clubhouse is unnecessary. Period. Even wolves can be taught how to behave.”
He set the wok down in the middle of the table then took the chair across from her. “What did you and Erin talk about?” He placed a generous mound of the stir-fry on each of their plates as he waited for her answer.
“Rebel stuff, mostly. She admitted that she’s the head troublemaker, but what drew you to the cause?” She picked up her fork and took a bite. Even with frozen vegetables, the dish tasted fresh and flavorful.
“Can’t you guess?” He smiled and took a couple bites before he elaborated. “I was a young adult when I became responsible for three teenage females. The idea of arranging marriages or pressuring them to accept advantageous definitions seemed ridiculous to me.”
“But it wouldn’t have seemed ridiculous to your parents?”
“Probably not. Their marriage had been arranged by their parents. And my father’s parents met on their wedding day.”
She paused with a forkful halfway to her mouth. “This is the twenty-first century. Even humans have abandoned arranged marriages. Why have Therians clung to the practice for so long?”
“Bloodlines are more important to us than to humans.”
She snorted and shook her head. “I think it has more to do with power than pedigree.”
“Managing bloodlines is one way of ensuring a female’s power,” he pointed out.
“I didn’t mean physical or metaphysical power. I meant authority. It’s as simple as, males have it and females don’t.”
“Which is why Erin was so determined to resurrect the Omni Prime. A few extraordinarily powerful females will help restore balance to the entire nation.”
They ate for a few minutes in silence. Doubt kept bubbling within Heather but she couldn’t make herself voice her concerns. Jake had been nothing but kind and protective. Even Erin had given her no reason to be suspicious. Still, everything they said was so fantastical and so much of it had to be accepted by their word alone.
“Have you actually seen them manifest as more than one animal?” she finally asked.
He paused for a drink of water then wiped his mouth. “Ava hasn’t gone through the ritual yet. She’s in basically the same position you’re in. She’s waiting to see what happens to Carissa before she agrees to the ritual herself.”
“And Carissa? Have you seen her power with your own eyes?”
“I participated in her definition. I’ve seen Carissa shift more than once and into more than one animal. Everything we’ve told you is true.”
She looked deep into his eyes and let her desire smolder. “Will you participate in mine?”
He pushed his plate aside as his gaze fixed on her mouth. “You better eat fast, if you’re still hungry. My tiger won’t wait much longer.”
Chapter Seven
Jake didn’t realize he was holding his breath until his lungs began to burn. He exhaled then inhaled, easily detecting Heather’s unique scent despite the smell of food and an unfamiliar environment. He’d been patient. He’d done his best not to take advantage of her vulnerability but he could no longer ignore the heat smoldering in her gaze. She wanted him, had been attracted to him even before this conflict began. And there was no denying how much he wanted her.
“I’m hungry,” she whispered with a tentative smile. “But not for food.”
It was all the encouragement he needed. He slid his chair back and stood, gaze locked with hers. “If you’re not sure about this, tell me now. Once I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.” And he meant every word. His tiger was so close to the surface he was struggling just to maintain control. He felt raw and ravenous. And his tiger kept flooding his senses with possessive lust. She was a wolf. He’d expected his tiger to object or at least be reluctant to any sort of connection. Instead his animal instincts were urging him on, demanding that he claim her as his.
She licked her lips and stared up at him as he moved steadily closer. He dragged her chair back from the table then grasped her upper arms and pulled her to her feet. Therians were immune to STDs and there was no possibility of conception until she was defined. Just the thought of being inside her, skin on skin, sent desire surging through his body and made him groan.
“You okay?” Her smile turned playful and she lowered her lashes, partially hiding her eyes.
“I’m not sure I can be gentle right now.”
“So don’t be gentle.”
With a growl he grabbed her wrist and hustled from the kitchen, dragging her behind him. Her laugh assured him she wasn’t afraid or even intimidated by his aggression. He found a bedroom and pulled her into his arms, his mouth sealing over hers.
She clung to him, lifting one leg to his hip so she could rub against his thigh. Her lips parted and her taste filled his mouth along with her moist breath. Her eagerness thrilled him and he tangled his fingers in her long hair. He ached for her, wanted her with bone-deep longing. Why did this feel so different?
He didn’t stop to analyze the feeling, just accepted the fact and sank deeper into the sensations. She
was soft and giving but still clothed. Unacceptable.
Unwilling to abandon the intimacy of their kiss, he eased his body back and unzipped her jeans. She toed off her shoes and wiggled as he pulled her pants down. Then she lowered his zipper so he could shed his pants. There was no way to lose their shirts without separating so they broke apart, jerked off the rest of their clothing and then came back together, skin-to-skin.
His appreciative sigh echoed hers as their mouths fused again. He bent and lifted her against his chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck as they kissed and kissed. Waves of pleasure and hunger crashed over him, making his legs unsteady. Not wanting to end up on the floor, he stumbled to the bed and sat.
His tiger tossed his head and yowled, the sound echoing in Jake’s mind. He knew every sound his tiger made, or he thought he knew. This had been unfamiliar, filled with demand and need.
She folded her legs and straddled his lap, her hands resting on his shoulders. “In me. Please.” She whispered the plea against his lips and Jake was lost.
He guided his cock to her entrance then stilled, knowing he wouldn’t last long once he was inside her. He’d waited too long and wanted her too badly. Her wet folds parted and then surrounded him as her body slowly welcomed his.
Hot. Tight. Perfect. Her pussy gradually swallowed his entire length.
When their bodies were flush he kissed her again. She started to move but he grasped her hips and held her still. “Not yet. Just feel me.”
She moved her knees farther apart, taking him even deeper. “You’re a little hard to miss.”
He chuckled and his cock twitched, making them both gasp. “I’ve been hard off and on since we found you.”
“We’ll have to do something about that. Won’t we?” His hands still held her hips so she squeezed him with her inner muscles.
It felt so damn good he growled and helplessly bucked up into her. “I want this to last.” He gasped but kept right on thrusting. Her snug passage gripped him firmly, yet she was so wet he slid easily.
“We’ll make it last next time.” She sounded every bit as desperate as he felt.
Holding back was impossible. He had to have her now.
With a defeated curse he rotated, laying her back across the bed. His knees found the edge of the mattress and his fingers intertwined with hers. He drew her hands above her head and held them there as he locked his elbows. His hips rocked against her, filling her with long, deep thrusts.
She drew her legs up against his sides and arched into each downward stroke. Her eyelids started to droop but he squeezed her hands. “Look at me.” Their gazes locked and awareness flowed, hot and electric, intensifying the joining of their bodies.
His tiger tossed restlessly, threatening to break free. More, he demanded.
Jake moved faster as he bent his elbows so his chest rubbed against her breasts. She took his entire length with each lunge and still it wasn’t enough. Then understanding unfurled within him. His tiger wasn’t urging him toward the end. He wanted to feel her emotions, test the sincerity of her surrender. Jake hesitated. Did she still want a mind link? That’s what she’d wanted in the hot tub but a lot had happened since then.
His tiger blasted him with lust and hunger until Jake released her hands. He framed her face with his fingers and sank into her velvety gaze. “Open for me, angel. Let’s make this real.” Her eyes widened as he pushed into her mind. She resisted for an instant then gradually opened.
“Yes,” she whispered, the word filled with excitement, uncertainty and hope.
Determined not to hurt her, he pinned her lower body to the bed with his hips, no longer moving. He had to concentrate, and focus was impossible while his body struggled for release. Her arms were still raised above her head even though he wasn’t holding them there. He rocked back onto his knees and lifted his body without pulling out. He held himself up with one hand and touched her with the other, his gaze still locked with hers.
She lay beneath him perfectly still, surrendered yet cautious.
He stroked her breasts, teasing her nipples until she grew restless. Her emotions shimmered in the distance, visible though not yet accessible. He bent and drew deeply on one rosy tip and then the other. She arched and pleasure trickled across their link.
More. Give me more. He sucked harder, ensuring that she understood what he wanted. Sensations so sharp they neared pain flowed into his mind. He did it again and again, letting her nipple scrape against his teeth. She twisted beneath him, clearly shocked to find pleasure so close to pain.
“Harder.” Uncertainty rippled through the word but Jake understood. She was confused by the new sensory pathway yet she was eager to explore. He caught her nipple between his teeth and applied pressure until pleasure spiked across their link. She cried out and her pussy tightened around his cock. “Wow.” She panted. “That almost made me come.”
Don’t speak. Use our link and don’t hold back. I need to feel you come. Rather than immediately nipping her other breast, he gentled his approach, kissing and licking the pebble-hard crest and then the fullness surrounding it. Her skin was so soft and her physical responses so exciting he could barely stand to pull his mouth away. But he needed to see her face, look into her eyes.
She arched and twisted even after he released her breast. Her skin was flushed, her gaze passion-bright and occasional darts of sensation rushed across their link, but she was still holding back.
Lowering his head again, he kissed his way to her other breast as his hands moved to her upper arms. By minimizing her movements he helped her focus on what she needed to feel—the fullness of his shaft deep inside her and the pull of his lips on her nipple.
Feel me. He punctuated the command with a firm suck. Feel us.
She stopped thrashing and their mental connection vibrated like an electrified wire. Her emotions flowed into his mind, the sluggish current gradually becoming a steady stream. Anticipation intensified her attraction, yet fear wrapped around her heart like swaddling. He’d hoped she’d allow herself to trust him but she was obviously not ready to risk her heart.
Heather. He waited until she looked at him before he went on. You’re safe with me. I will never hurt you.
Never is a very long time.
He sighed, unable to conceal his disappointment. I haven’t anchored the link yet. Do you want me to pull out?
No. She wrapped her legs around his hips and locked her ankles.
He smiled and pushed his warm approval into her mind. I meant pull out of your mind. The rest is going to happen with or without this link.
Heather had never felt so vulnerable and yet so exhilarated. Jake’s face was so close to hers she could see golden sparks in his dark-green eyes. His long, lean body arched over hers, hips and hands pinning her to the bed. She wasn’t afraid of physical pain. Jake would never intentionally harm her. What she feared was emotional devastation.
David was the only man she’d given herself to without reservation and loving her had cost him his life. The “official” report listed his death as an accident but Heather knew better.
Her feelings for Jake were complicated and confusing. What she’d dismissed as superficial attraction had rapidly burrowed into her heart, triggering emotions and desires she wasn’t ready to feel. Wanting him this deeply was dangerous. It endangered him and gave him power over her.
She licked her lips and unhooked her ankles. He was offering her a choice. They could keep this purely physical, superficial, sexual, or she could link with him body, soul and mind. The thought of sharing his emotions, feeling what he felt, was undeniably appealing. It was the connection every Therian needed for long-term happiness. But this was just temporary, a flirtation they could both enjoy until her future was secured.
“I think we should wait. See what happens with Dr. Garran.”
He nodded and the connection blinked out. The warmth of his being faded from her mind and she was alone. Wait… She fought back a
plaintive cry, hoping he hadn’t heard her. This was for the better. Allowing this to be anything other than a casual affair was foolish.
His hips pulled back, dragging his cock nearly out. For one horrific moment she thought he’d withdraw completely and crawl off the bed. Instead he moved his hands to the underside of her knees and spread her legs wide. Then he drove back in hard enough to make her gasp.
She knew he was disappointed, perhaps even angry, but his features revealed nothing but lust. His gaze darkened, appearing more black than green. She didn’t touch him, kept her arms exactly as he’d left them, angled up to each side of her head.
After only a few rotations he stopped and slid one hand down the inside of her thigh. “If you want this to be purely physical, I’ll give you some room. But I need you here with me. Do you understand?”
She nodded and relaxed, pulling herself fully into the moment. “I’m back.”
His smile was slow and sexy. “This is just you and me.” He eased his hand between their bodies and lightly traced where they were joined. “So soft. I wonder if you taste as good as you smell.”
“You can find out next time.” She tried to wrap her legs around him again but he still held one of her knees.
With remarkable agility and speed, he rearranged their position. Suddenly he was kneeling on the floor and he pulled her hips to the edge of the mattress. Then he draped one of her legs over his shoulder and bent the other, rotating it out to the side. His lips brushed against her folds and he made a rumbling sound deep in his chest.
They were both dying for “the main event”, so why was he postponing it again? “I thought your balls were blue?”
He raised his head and grinned. “If you’re worried about my balls then don’t come until I do.”
Rather than wait for her reply, he traced her crease with his tongue, a light, teasing caress that made her clit tingle and her core tense. She fought back the heat rushing to her pussy. If he wanted her to wait, she’d wait. She had just as much control over her desire as he did.
Therian Prize: 5 (Therian Heat) Page 14