Break Her Fall

by JoAnna Grace

  “How am I supposed to go to sleep now?” Nate asked, licking his fingers. “I’ma be on a sugar high for life.”

  “Best idea ever.” Tom gave Ezekiel a fist bump.

  “I second that.” Amilynn wiped the corner of her mouth and licked the icing off her thumb. The sight of her tongue only reminded him what a talented mouth she had, and he was instantly turned on.

  Leave it. I’ll lick it off later. He pushed the thought as strongly as he could into her mind. Ami’s eyes popped up to meet his and she pressed her lips together to hide her grin. She couldn’t hide the pink in her cheeks, and that caused a funny fluttering in his gut. If he didn’t watch out, he’d be her slave in a heartbeat.

  After Ami kissed the boys goodnight, Ezekiel didn’t think twice about taking off his shirt and kicking off his shoes for bed. He automatically assumed that he would be sleeping with her. They’d spent the last two nights together, so why not tonight too? When he lowered her into the bed and she said, “See you in the morning,” he was taken off guard.

  “Please don’t look at me like that,” Amilynn said, closing her eyes. “I don’t want to rush things. Okay?” She pushed the hair behind her ears and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Sure, sure. Of course. I totally get it.” He lied out his ass and hoped the smile on his face did too. “We’re still under the same roof, right?” He bent down and kissed her hair, inhaling the scent as if it would be his last. “I’m right downstairs if you need me, pussycat.”

  Amilynn tapped her temple. “Maybe I can call you.”

  Ezekiel pulled his shirt over his head. “Yeah.” Could he be any more of a moron? Of course she would want her space. He’d been up her ass all damned day.

  “Hey.” Ami seized his hand and tugged him back to her bed. “Don’t be upset with me, caveman. You have gotten laid twice today.” Ami fastened her talented lips on his and his cock stirred. One kiss; that was all he needed to go from zero to one hundred in a second. The woman had a mouth as smooth and addicting as a fine liquor and he drank it up.

  “Twice?” he asked in between kisses.

  “This afternoon’s rendezvous and you just got cake-laid.”

  He felt her smile against his lips and they chuckled. “It’s about to be three times if you don’t let me walk out of here. You’re trying to start something.”

  “Me?” She nibbled his bottom lip. “You’re the one with the mouth that drives me insane.”

  “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.” He dove into her kiss once more. Unable to resist the temptation of her breasts, he slid his hand under the shirt to cup the perfect weight of her. Her nipple hardened under his thumb and he ached to rip off her shirt to bite and suck. He could hear his pulse in his ears, his body raging, his cock hard, his wolf ready to claim her again.

  “Z,” she said as he nibbled her chin. “I won’t tell you no.”

  . . . even when I want to. He picked up her thoughts as if they were his own.

  Ezekiel pulled back to look in her eyes. He found a battle being fought. Her leopard’s need to mate fought against her human side, who wanted some privacy.

  “Ami.” He sighed and leaned his forehead to hers. His poor, abused woman. Would their sex life ever be healthy and normal? “Never, ever hesitate to tell me no.” He met her eyes again. “I’m not here for your body alone, pussycat. It’s a bonus, don’t get me wrong,” he grinned. “But I, I love who you are—” He placed a hand over her beating heart. “—here.”

  “I know you do. That’s why I can’t tell you no.” Ami touched his face and he leaned his chin into her palm.

  “Okay. I’ll do the hard part.” He stood and rearranged himself in his pants. Ami bit her bottom lip. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to be honorable and it’s kicking my ass.”

  Ami laughed and shook her head. “Goodnight, caveman.”

  “Goodnight, pussycat.” He gave her one last peck on the lips and forced himself to exit the bedroom.

  Halfway across the house, Tyrone stepped into his path, and Ezekiel almost jerked out of his skin. He stumbled into a wall and nearly tripped, his arms flailing in the air. “Goddammit, Ty. Quit doing that ninja shit. You’re going to give me a fucking heart attack.”

  Ty’s face was ever the stone it always was. “You’re not staying with her?” Those eerie black and yellow eyes stared at him, unblinking.

  “Uh, no.” Ezekiel righted himself and got his head straight. “She wanted some privacy, ya know? It’s cool.”

  “You think you can handle her?” Tyrone crossed his arms over his chest, his baggy clothing deceivingly hiding the strength underneath.

  “People handle snakes, they handle crocodiles. Amilynn is a woman. She doesn’t need to be handled. She needs to be cared for.”

  Tyrone narrowed his eyes. “I’m not going to say I like you, Z. ‘Cause then you might get comfortable, and that would be a mistake on your part. But you’re not the man I thought you were.” He strode off without another word.

  “What does that mean?” Ezekiel called to his back. He was over this bullying crap. Yeah, Ami was Tyrone’s sister, his twin, but that didn’t mean he had the right to make cryptic threats for the rest of their lives. “Look, we’re mated now. Like it or not. Amilynn and I can be happy together and you can either get on board or get the hell out of the way.”

  Tyrone froze. Ezekiel swallowed.

  Tyrone swung around and met him toe-to-toe. “What did you say to me?”

  Shit. Ezekiel mentally searched for his testicles. Yep, they were down there. Might as well gather them up. He stood taller and looked down at Tyrone. “You heard me. She’s my mate and I’ll step up to fight for our relationship every day of the week. So get used to it.”

  And please don’t kill me. That would be cool too, Ezekiel mentally tagged on the end.

  He didn’t believe his eyes at first, but the more he stared, the clearer it was. Tyrone’s lips pulled back into . . . a smile. He had the same smile as Amilynn. People would never believe it. Tyrone extended a hand. “That’s what I’m looking for.”

  Ezekiel shook his hand, realizing he’d passed a test. Dominance, his wolf said. Ty knows Ami needs a strong male. Now she’s got one.

  When he finally collapsed in his bed, Ezekiel was exhausted. He reached out with his mind and touched Ami’s thoughts. She was asleep, dreaming peacefully. Staring at the ceiling, he considered what a crazy-ass day he’d had. Day, week, month; time had flown since Amilynn had walked into his life. When his uncle announced to the family that he’d mated with a dang feline, Ezekiel thought Kasey had hit rock bottom. Desperate—that was the word that came to mind.

  Then Amilynn stepped out of that Suburban and, suddenly, those cats weren’t looking so bad after all. Amilynn was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen with her flat stomach, her generous tits, and perfect ass. What guy with half a brain could refuse that smile, those eyes, laughter that was more infectious than a virus. It burrowed into his skin, through his bones, and flowed through his freaking bloodstream. He wished like hell her leg wasn’t crapped out. There was so much they could do together when she healed. Amilynn loved sports, shooting, the same kind of movies he did. He wanted to take her dancing again. The way she moved seduced his senses, a fine brandy to a connoisseur. Her curvaceous, tight body was a work of art and she strived to keep it that way.

  He laughed at how she worked out just so she could eat cake. So Ami.

  She changed the course of his life and the magnitude of that realization shot adrenaline through his veins. Ami would be his partner—neither dominant nor submissive to him—a perfect equal.

  His mate. His partner. His wife. Wife. Now there was a word that threw him for a loop. Eventually, he and Amilynn would be married. Married. The permanent attachment of man and woman until death do they part. Next came a family. Kids. Shit. Would Ami even want kids? It wasn’t like they’d really discussed it. She’d given her excuses to not have kids, but that was in an effor
t to change his mind about mating.

  He ran his hands over his face. Ezekiel was only a few weeks away from his twenty-first birthday. Young even for human standards. Most human males at his age were living it up, clubbing, racking up as many chicks as possible. They worried about nothing more than the next party. Some of his friends were prime examples. Hell, he’d been the prime example until recently.

  But here he was, awake in the middle of the night, contemplating marriage, kids, and a life with his . . . what was she? “Girlfriend” didn’t sound strong enough. “Soul mate” sounded too cliché. Fiancée? Not yet. Love of his life? One and only?

  Jeez. The icing was messing with his brain. One and only? Where did he even get that, off a romance novel?

  Am I not your one and only? Ami’s voice in his head wrapped his mind in velvet, soft and seductive. His body tightened at the sound.

  Ezekiel let out a relieved breath. If Ami was trying to communicate telepathically, then she was okay with the deepening connection of true mates. Why aren’t you asleep, pussycat? You should be resting.

  So should you. But your thoughts woke me up. You okay?

  A lot on my mind.

  Hence my reluctant consciousness. Talk to me, caveman. Even half asleep, she was a smartass. It made Ezekiel smile.

  I’m thinking about you, babe, and how you’ve turned me inside out.

  You’re telling me. Get some sleep, caveman. Tomorrow, I have to learn to walk.

  Ami?

  Yeah?

  Would it freak you out if I told you that I kind of, I mean, I think I love you?

  Silence.

  Ezekiel cursed himself. It was way too early for the L word.

  I think I would be the luckiest girl on the planet if you loved me. Maybe you will teach me how to love you back . . . the right way.

  Relief. It would be my life’s greatest pleasure.

  It was two days before Amilynn could walk without any assistance, three before the pain went away. Doc Charles was in shock when he came by the house that evening and saw Ami trying to work out with Vivian and Melissa. She couldn’t keep up with them like usual, but she held her own. Ami took great joy in the way he shook his head and scratched his chin.

  “Unbelievable,” he said as he examined the pink flesh of her leg. “Are you still in pain today?”

  “I might be by this evening. I haven’t worked it as hard as I have today. But right now, I’m good.”

  “Have you shifted?”

  “You a vet too, Charles?”

  “I have to be. God knows I’m not Santa, at least according to you. So have you shifted?”

  “Nope. Waiting on your orders.”

  Charles gave her a dry smile. “I doubt that.”

  “No, really, Doc. I’m trying to behave.”

  “That would be a first.” Charles stood and motioned with his hand. “Shift.”

  Amilynn allowed the joyous flow of energy to overtake her body. Her arms twisted and her mouth morphed, her body lengthened and reshaped to her leopard form. The cat stretched and shook out its limbs, having been cooped up in human form far too long.

  “Fantastic.” Charles didn’t think twice before he bent to touch her injured leg.

  The leopard, not expecting the touch, whipped around with her teeth bared. Much to her surprise, Charles thumped her on the nose. “Hush.” The leopard flinched, shook her head, and snorted at the doctor. Vivian and Melissa chuckled.

  “Watch your fingers, Charles,” Vivian warned. “She bites.”

  “I know all about her bite. And I know all about the sedatives. Remember that, Amilynn.” He stuck that finger in her face again and she made a rumbling meow in the back of her throat. “She argues, even in this form.” He rolled his eyes and pressed a hand to Ami’s injury.

  Amilynn allowed the doctor examine her before she shifted back to human, much to the aggravation of her pent-up leopard.

  “Unbelievable,” Charles mused as he packed away his medical bag.

  “Careful, Charles. Her ego is inflated enough.” Melissa threw her arms around Ami’s shoulders from behind and kissed her cheek.

  “In this case, it’s true. You don’t need me anymore, Amilynn. Your leg is healing remarkably. You might get to wear those skirts sooner than you thought. You’re fine, Vivian is fine. My work here is done. It’s going to feel weird not stopping by here twice a day. Whatever shall I do with all the extra time?” Charles winked at the ladies.

  “We could go rough someone up for you, Doc, you know, if you get lonely.” Amilynn wiggled her eyebrows and Charles chuckled.

  “So thoughtful. That would be funny if it weren’t a real possibility. Bye, ladies.”

  “See you soon,” Amilynn called out.

  “Not too soon, if you don’t mind,” Charles called over his shoulder. He waved over his head and went upstairs.

  Relief flooded Ami now that she had a clean bill of health. Part of her was ready to shift back to leopard and run full throttle through the mountains. She’d missed being cat. The freedom and intensity of her animal’s senses was addicting, and she hadn’t taken a hit in far too long.

  The other part of her wanted to track down her sexy mate and pounce on him until she couldn’t walk straight. Over the last couple of days, Ezekiel had kept his physical distance, knowing that their first interlude had caused her pain. Now she was all but panting for him.

  “I’m going for a run; anyone want to go?” Ami announced with excitement.

  “I don’t know.” Vivian waved her off, but her alpha lady’s eyes were hiding something.

  Melissa picked up a towel and wiped off her face. “I told Bianca I’d help with dinner tonight.”

  “You always help with dinner.” Ami crossed her arms over her chest.

  “I like it.” Melissa dismissed herself.

  Ami pierced Vivian with a steady glare. “You. Let’s go.”

  Vivian rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She followed Ami out of the house and shifted. The tiger and the leopard took off across the meadow and into the woods. The exhilarating sensation of being in cat form had Ami hanging her tongue out of her mouth like a foolish pup. She loved the feel of her paws digging into the forest floor with every stride, the way her ears picked up the sound of a tiger beside her, a bird above her, the wind around her. Her nostrils filled with the scents of leaves, the crisp bite of winter’s approach, and the faint whisper of fall waving goodbye. Amilynn bounded up the nearest tree and climbed as far as she could, then jumped to the next tree. The girls caught a squirrel for a snack and ended up in human form, lounging on two tree branches.

  “I love this place,” Vivian said, filling her lungs with Oregon air. “I couldn’t have picked a better place for us to settle.”

  “Agreed.” Ami leaned her head back against the bark of the tree. She appreciated the height the trees afforded and the safety of being above the world.

  “Do you realize that if you and Ezekiel get married, you will not only be my sister-in-law but my niece?”

  Amilynn laughed. “Only by marriage, so no incest or hillbilly jokes allowed.” The two ladies shared a laugh before a silence lasted so long Amilynn nearly fell asleep.

  “I have a feeling I’m about to piss my mate off,” Vivian said, her eyes still closed, her face serene.

  “What’s going on with you?”

  Vivian inhaled and exhaled through her mouth. She shifted her eyes to Ami’s. “I was followed yesterday. I went into the city to take Kasey some papers he needed and thought I would walk around the shopping district for a while, you know, just to take in some different scenery.”

  “Given the seriousness of this conversation, I’ll forgive you for going shopping without me. Who followed you?”

  Vivian’s teeth clenched. “I never saw them. But I scented them. They wanted me to. They wanted me to know how close they were, how easy it would be for them to attack me right there in broad daylight.” She shook her head, her fingernails shifted into claws a
nd raked the limb she straddled. “Brian is here with an entire team, Amilynn. We have to do something. If they circled me that fast, imagine what they could do to Bianca or the twins.”

  Ami’s lips pulled back into a snarl. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I’m torn. Kasey made it clear—”

  “This is our battle, V. What if they attacked you? Could you have taken them?”

  Vivian rubbed her stomach, her eyes cast down to the forest floor far below. “I would’ve taken a few with me at least.”

  The thought of Vivian dying in an attack by Brian’s men had Amilynn seeing red. That bastard had taken enough from her; he wasn’t taking anything or anyone else.

  Vivian pinned Ami with rock-solid resolution. “I’m going to tell Kasey. The other felines are running amuck in his city. He needs to know.”

  Ami grit her teeth and looked away. Vivian could do whatever she wanted; Ami was going after Brian.

  AMILYNN MADE VIVIAN promise not to make a move without her, but she didn’t make the same promise in return. Ami was in her room, about to clean up for dinner, when something caught her eye out the window. Across the meadow, in the tree line, something flashed at her. What the heck?

  There it went again, like a mirror or glass.

  Amilynn opened her window and jumped down to the ground, shifting into her leopard mid-air and jetting off across the meadow. Inside the tree line, she sniffed and listened for movement.

  Nothing.

  Ami went upward to get a better look at the ground. From the branches, she could see the slight indentation of a trail in the fallen leaves. She followed the trail, hopping from branch to branch so she didn’t disturb the ground.

  There.

  In the leaves lay a paper-sized envelope. Cautiously, Amilynn leapt from the branches to the forest floor. She sniffed around, trying to figure out if the envelope was a bomb. She left nothing to chance.

  Ami didn’t flinch when the envelope rang and vibrated. What if it was a trap? What if the cell phone was a trigger? There was no one else around. No scents. She padded forward, catching something spicy.