Destined to the Pride

by Kristen Strassel

“Don’t give up on your dream, Daphne.” Ari put down her fork. “Leo wouldn’t want that. And things are changing. Nothing is out of the question.”

  There was another reason my goal seemed out of reach, but it was too soon to tell Ari.

  LEO AND DYLAN CAME back to the cabin late, and I took that as a good sign. Ari had already gone to bed. The poor thing was so exhausted, and she wanted to be alone. She looked like she was on the verge of tears all night. I lay on the couch, trying to do homework but quickly entering that twilight state where my brain welcomed no new information. It probably didn’t help that I’d shut off all the lights and turned off my music.

  Dylan said goodnight and headed into the bedroom. They were spending the night again since Ari wasn’t ready to ride down the mountain on an ATV yet. That was the only way down to the parking lot this time of year unless she shifted and she definitely wasn’t ready for that.

  “How was tonight?” Leo squeezed beside me on the cushion, and I put the laptop on the floor before turning into his kiss. His lips grazed my neck before meeting my mouth. Tonight he tasted like mouthwash and not blood. He pulled my long brown hair out of the ponytail holder, then crumpled the strands in his fist while his tongue moved against mine.

  “Really good, actually. I like her. A lot,” I said when we stopped kissing. Even in the dark, I could see Leo’s eyes brighten. “How about yours?”

  “Amazing.” Leo smiled against my cheek. I’d had no idea what to expect. “It’s been so long since I spent time like that with Dylan. I really got to see who he’s become, and he’s pretty awesome.”

  Nothing like going out and killing things together to make you finally respect your twin brother.

  I didn’t think I’d ever be able to trust Dylan completely, but I still considered this good news.

  “We’ve still got some differences, that will never go away,” Leo continued, and my heart sank. “But I think you’re going to like him when you get to know him.”

  “Ari needs to go home,” I said as I slid out from under Leo. He lay on his back and I straddled his legs, leaning into his face so I could keep my voice down. He tried to meet my lips in a kiss, but I pushed down his shoulders with a giggle. I smashed my lips together, I needed to get through the rest of this conversation. Then we could play. “I can tell she’s not comfortable here.”

  The last place anyone wanted to be when they were sick was some place unfamiliar. Or stay in the place they were attacked.

  “I know.” Leo grabbed me by the wrists and pulled my hands over his head, so my face hovered above his. “We’re bringing her home tomorrow.”

  “Good.” I brushed my lips against his then moved away when Leo tried to kiss me. He groaned, and his purring made the heat rise in my core. “I think I want to stay with her.”

  I planted a kiss lightly on his open lips. Leo didn’t respond to either thing right away.

  He let go of my wrists and cradled my face. “What?”

  “I told you I’m not saying on this mountain.” I scanned his face for reaction. It was disappointment and sadness. “And I think Ari could use a friend right now.”

  “She’s old enough to be your mother.” Leo shook his head, his hatred for this idea clear on his face. “And she’s still a cougar. One that you don’t really know.”

  My mother was actually a year younger than Ari. “It doesn’t matter. They’ve turned their backs on her, especially after last night. There’s no rules here. At least in town, all the shifters live together peacefully.”

  Leo’s eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them. I pulled a curl away from his dirty hair. He hadn’t showered after shifting. As gross as it seemed, I liked him dirty. His scent right after he shifted drove me wild. So fresh and primal. Inches away from his face, it was hard to continue. “You can come. You don’t have to stay here.”

  “I don’t want to let anyone tell me how I should live my life.” His voice was soft. “I know why you want to go. But I want you to understand why I want to stay. This is worth fighting for. You’re worth fighting for.”

  I kissed him. “I’m not safe here.”

  “Tell me it’s not permanent.” Our eyes locked. “Those girls will pay for what they did. Then you’ll come back.”

  I took a deep breath, and I couldn’t promise him anything.

  “So this is our last night together?” he asked, and I nodded. “I’m going to make you miss me.”

  “I LOVE YOU,” LEO SAID. He held my face in his hands, inches away from his. I’d gotten lost in his eyes. So many emotions were passing through them like storm clouds on the march. I hated having to do this, but I couldn’t give in. Not even to Leo.

  “I love you, too.” I forced myself to tear my eyes away from his, bringing them down to his stomach. I hooked a finger underneath the hem of his T-shirt. After a few tugs, I made my intention clear and Leo let go of my face and stripped out of the shirt. Once he settled, I traced my finger along the hard lines of his muscles. A slow, lazy movement, I skimmed his skin so lightly that it probably tickled. Every so often, I peeked up at Leo, who was holding his breath as he watched me. Leaning down and giving him a quick peck on the lips before I sat back and pulled off my tank top, Leo laughed when I let it drop on his face. It was time to get this party started. I was going to make him miss me.

  Swiping the fabric away, Leo pulled me down. I nuzzled his lips, then moved to his neck. It wasn’t often that I had him exactly where I wanted him. Leo liked to take control of these things, and that was its own kind of amazing. But when I was on top of him, I had a chance to take the lead.

  Leo hooked his fingers into the waistband of my shorts, and thank Gods both of us were athletic, because I almost fell off the couch trying to get them off. My laugh was too loud, and I covered my mouth with my hand as my eyes darted toward the closed bedroom door.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Leo said, still grinning after my performance. “They’re either already asleep or doing the same thing.”

  “I’m not used to having company.” I glanced at the door one more time before bringing all my attention back to Leo. If we continued the way we planned, things usually got pretty loud.

  Something wicked danced in Leo’s eyes. “I have a challenge for you.”

  “What’s that?” I put my hand over his, he’d reached up and began circling my nipple slowly. My back arched, my body hungry for his touch.

  “Let’s see if you can keep completely quiet while we do this.” Leo raised an eyebrow as my mouth dropped open.

  “I—“ I started to tell him I couldn’t do that, but he put a finger over my lips.

  “Shhh.” Of course he still got to talk. “It’s no fun if you blow it right away.”

  I rolled my eyes while I was still allowed to do that, and slipped my top lip over his finger. I rolled my tongue around it and Leo’s body vibrated under mine. The loud purr was in clear violation of the rules of his little game, but I would never, ever ask him to stop doing it. It was my favorite thing.

  Leo snatched his finger away so fast shock waves rolled through my body. He unbuttoned his fly, and I helped him out by unzipping it. He started to push his pants down but I stopped him. Leo narrowed his eyes, but he wasn’t the only one who could set the rules. I wasn’t allowed to explain myself, so he was going to have to hang on for the ride.

  I ran my finger down along the side of the V that disappeared into his open pants, then slipped it inside. His cock strained against the fabric, but I didn’t take it out. Instead I moved my hand up and down the length of his shaft. Leo writhed with my touch, squeezing his eyes shut. When neither of us could stand it another second, I eased his hard cock out of his pants. Leo gasped in relief.

  Moving back on his legs, I took the tip in my mouth. Leo’s groan resonated through my entire body, and the fire rose in my core. I’d never get sick of the taste of Leo, especially when he wanted me. And as annoying as this no talking thing was at first, it was actually pretty hot. I was so much
more aware of every sensation as it rocked through my body when I had to keep it all to myself.

  Leo cradled my head in his hand, guiding me as I moved up and down the length of his shaft. My body shook, and I carefully took his fingers out of my hair. My thighs trembled as I straddled his shaft. As I hovered above him, Leo stilled my hips, then slowly started to run his fingers up and down the length of my sex.

  “I love it when your body’s so ready for me.” Leo’s voice was soft and strained. I widened my eyes, and he chuckled. He drew tiny circles around my clit with his thumb, and it was getting really hard to concentrate. I swallowed my moan, still playing the game even if he wasn’t. “Remember, that door could open any time, and either one of them could come out here and see you fucking me.”

  My heart stopped in my chest. We’d been caught in the act before, but not quite so close. I stared at the door one more time, willing it to open and get it over with. I never thought that having guests was going to be so hot.

  The condoms were in the bedroom. There was no way either of us could go in there right now. This wasn’t the first time we’d taken this chance, and we were playing with fire.

  Angling myself so I could take him, I started to ease myself down on his shaft. Our bodies were like a lock and key, opening all the things inside me I didn’t know about myself until Leo came into my life. Once he was sheathed all the way down to his sack, I rocked forward. My muscles clenched around his body, He felt so good this way.

  Leo let out a load groan. I stopped so abruptly that his eyes flew open, and I placed my finger over his mouth.

  Leaning down so my face was almost touching his, I broke his rule. “Shhh.”

  Leo pressed his lips together under my finger, and grabbed my hips. He lowered me down his shaft, slowly at first, but as he dictated the rhythm, he rocked his hips up into me so his body slapped against mine. I threw my head back. I wanted to cry out, but that wasn’t allowed. Having to hold it in was making me come unglued that much faster. That pulsing started deep in my core, like fireworks. And with no control and no release, it was even more intense.

  I crashed down onto Leo’s chest when I came, concentrating on nothing but trying to breathe. He was still purring, and it was so comforting. He tangled his fingers in my hair, and still neither of us said a word.

  Sometimes we didn’t need to.

  Chapter Four

  “ARE YOU SURE ABOUT this?” Leo asked as he followed Dylan’s truck to Woodland Park. I’d half-heartedly packed a bag for my stay with Ari. In all the bluster and adrenaline of the fight, it was really easy to say I was going to leave Leo behind on the mountain. But the reality of it was something I had no way of preparing myself for.

  I took a deep breath and watched the town I’d lived in all my life pass us by. Anything but look at Leo. My resolve was shaky. “No. But I can’t stay there. Not even for a couple weeks.” I had to cement any cracks in my argument.

  “This is exactly what the cougars wanted.” I glanced at him out of the corner of his eye to see him shake his head, his mouth pressed in a hard line. “They drove you away.”

  “And in a couple weeks, you’re going to join me.” We had no plans yet, but there were dozens of ski areas in Colorado. Any of them would be lucky to have Leo. He had no real ties to Soldier Mountain. “There’s a difference between safe and stupid. I don’t want to be stupid.”

  We pulled into the parking lot in front of Ari’s apartment. Leo didn’t open his car door once he cut the engine. Instead he played with his key ring, stalling. “I hate this,” he growled.

  “I do too.” I climbed over the gear shaft and wedged myself between him and the steering wheel. There was nowhere for my right leg to go. Leo laughed when it wound up folded awkwardly against his chest. “But you’d miss me a lot more if I were dead.”

  “You’re right.” Leo sighed.

  “I know.” I kissed the tip of his nose. Smashed against him like this, my angles were all wrong. I was aiming for his lips.

  Leo tried to open the door, but my leg was in the way. He tried to maneuver around my thigh, but my hip was crushed up against the handle and impossible for him to reach. I lifted myself up and managed to get the door open.

  Dylan and Ari waited for us on the front step. Leo got quiet again as we walked. “You’re not really mad at me about this, are you?” I stopped before we got to the door.

  “I’m mad at myself.” Leo looked over me. There was a beautiful view of the mountains from Ari’s house. I didn’t think any of them were actually Soldier Mountain, but I took it as a sign that all I’d have to do was look out the window and Leo would still be with me. “I should’ve been able to protect you.”

  Going up on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his. “This isn’t your fault.” He tasted even sweeter tonight than usual. “Stop blaming yourself.” He shook his head, and I dragged him up the walk. The only way to convince him this wasn’t the end of the world was to show him.

  “Oh my Gods, I love your apartment!” My head was on a swivel as soon as I walked into Ari’s house. She’d painted the walls a greyish purple and had a bright yellow couch with bold striped throw pillows. Colorful paintings hung on the walls. Ari was pretty no-nonsense and I didn’t expect her to have such a funky living room.

  “Thanks.” Ari seemed surprised I even mentioned it. “At one point, I thought I wanted to be an interior designer. But I realized it was more fun to decorate for myself. Some people have some really bad taste.”

  “She’s never going to leave.” Dylan pushed Leo’s shoulder and laughed, but Leo wasn’t amused. Dylan didn’t let it bother him, instead he looked around like he was really seeing the place for the first time. It was possible he was. His eyes were always glued to Ari. “You’re going to have to up your game.”

  One side of Leo’s mouth slid up. “Nothing’s wrong with my game.” He pulled me in so I bumped against his hip. “I’m better than fancy furniture.”

  I bumped him back. “Sometimes.” I sat on the yellow couch and yanked on Leo’s hand so he crashed down next to me. He looked so funny here. Rugged, male, and totally out of place. I whacked him with one of the pillows, then pushed it behind me on the couch in case Ari didn’t appreciate me using her stuff as a battering ram. It was bad enough I’d already invited myself to stay with her indefinitely.

  We ordered pizza, and the lions actually liked my vegan pie. We had a really good time, talking and laughing and listening to music. Turns out Ari was a huge football fan, and she and Leo wound up debating about what they thought the Broncos should do in the offseason.

  “Wanna go get a beer?” Dylan asked Leo. “We can let the girls get settled in.”

  Ari had been yawning for a while. I had no idea what Leo was going to say. The energy between the two of them was still so charged. But Dylan’s idea was genius. If Leo went for it, it would guarantee he actually left me here.

  Leo ran his hands along his thighs, his back curling before answering. He’d been lingering as long as he could, probably hoping I’d change my mind. I had, a thousand times. “Yeah,” he finally said. “A beer sounds great.”

  I walked Leo out to his truck and leaned against it. “Be careful tonight.” The only part of the beer idea that wasn’t so genius was that Leo was upset and it was a bitch for him to get home. “Come back here if you need to.”

  He tried to suppress a laugh. “If I come back here I’m going to drag you back to the mountain with me,” he rumbled, then kissed me so deeply I saw stars when he pulled away. If he’d asked me to go with him right then, I would have. Thank Gods he didn’t. I needed to stay.

  Dylan was standing by the truck, waiting for Leo. I hadn’t even heard him walk over. He cocked his head to me, hands in his pockets. “Take care of my girl, okay?”

  I nodded, then turned back to Leo. “This doesn’t change anything,” I whispered.

  IT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

  I collapsed on Ari’s couch, completely shell-shocked. She loo
ked like she wasn’t sure what to do with me. Watching Leo’s truck pull out of the parking lot made me realize exactly what I’d done.

  “Under normal circumstances, I’d offer you cookies and wine, but Dylan threw away all my junk food, and I’m out of wine.”

  I looked up, puzzled. “He threw out your food?” So he really was a jerk.

  She laughed. “He’s my personal trainer. Or was. I’m not a paying client anymore. Don’t tell my boss, because she’s letting me come in late three times a week to train. I’m doing a column for work. Either I write about working out or she’ll make me write about our relationship. That’s not fit for a family paper.” Ari laughed. “We are still working out, though. So it’s not total bullshit.”

  “Is that how you met?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” She glowed when she talked about him. It made me giddy. “My sister thought I needed to get my fat ass into shape, so she got me a personal trainer for my birthday.”

  “And he turned out to be your mate.” She nodded. “That’s awesome.”

  “Do you realize you’re the first person who’s accepted that Dylan was my mate?” She hugged one of the pillows. “Not even my own sister believed it.”

  “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but since I’m camping out at your house until further notice because no one can accept my mate, I’ll say that really sucks and I’m sorry.” It was ridiculous. There too many cougars with way too much time to butt into other people’s business. “I can’t believe anyone would question that Dylan’s your mate. He can’t take his eyes off of you.”

  That glow was back. “Thank you. You don’t know how good it is to hear that.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh yeah. You do.”

  “Leo thinks I should’ve stayed on the mountain.” I leaned back on the couch, pulling her throw blanket down over me. “That leaving is letting those bitches win.”

  Ari scoffed. “No. You had to go. But you better come up with a plan to get him out of there, fast. The cougars are going to make a play for him as soon as they realize you’re gone. I heard all the talk before the challenge. You can’t trust any of them.”