Lexia (The Deadwood Hunter Series)

by Raithby, Rachel M

  She loved that she could bring this strong, overprotective man to his knees but what she loved most was that he let her. With her he was more than a panther, he was a man with a heart and soul so beautiful, she couldn’t understand what she’d done to deserve him. He understood her in a way no one ever had before.

  She smiled at him, brushing his wet hair from his face. “Come on, baby. We’re wasting all the water.”

  He chuckled, standing up and placing Lexia on her feet. “My Wildcat,” he whispered, kissing her softly before turning off the water and carrying her out.

  “Lincoln!” she giggled “Put me down.”

  “Nope, you’re going to rest! No more seducing me.”

  “Ha, didn’t take much doing.”

  He laughed putting her down on the bed and wrapping a towel around her. “Stay! You need a dry bandage. If you behave then I may bring you breakfast in bed.”

  “Well when you put it like that,” she smiled ever so sweetly. “Whatever you say, sir!”

  Chapter 25

  Lexia couldn’t think of a better way to spend a day, they spent it talking and lounging around the aerie. She lay curled around his body now, her head on his chest listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. With Lincoln she didn’t have to hide, he didn’t care that she was half-Hunter. Looking at his face she smiled; whenever she looked at him a warm heavy feeling seemed to spread from her heart. Oh god I love him, I can’t lose him! Lexia sucked in a breath and tried to control her fear. She knew she should trust what he’d told her, that she was his and he was never letting her go but she just couldn’t stamp out the fear that always lingered in the back of her mind. Maybe losing her dad and never having a mom had taken its toll, made her irrational when it came to those she loved. A single tear rolled down her face, she looked away from him, the pain too much.

  “Hey baby, what’s wrong?”

  “I love you, Lincoln, but I am so scared of losing you,” she whispered.

  He lifted his hand to her face gently wiping away her tear and cupping her cheek. Lexia leaned into his touch, closing her eyes she breathed in his rich, wild smell. His lips brushed lightly over hers making her shiver.

  “I love you, Lex, please believe me. I know I’ve done wrong but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You... Are... Mine,” he breathed into her mouth.

  He wrapped his arms around her and she nuzzled her head into his neck falling into a dreamless sleep. She woke the next morning feeling the happiest she’d been in a long while.

  Slipping out of bed Lexia crept across the bedroom towards the bathroom, she made it two steps before cat eyes appeared before her. Lexia jumped in surprise, “God Lincoln, can’t I even go to the toilet?”

  “Of course but then you’re back in bed to rest until you’re fully healed.”

  “You are so overprotective, I’m fine! Doesn’t even hurt... See?” Lexia gently poked a finger in her side.

  “Lexia! You could have done more damage!” Forcing her back to the bed Lincoln started to unwrap the bandage, he sucked in a surprised breath.

  “What’s wrong? Honestly I feel fine.”

  “It’s healed.”

  “That’s great! But why have you got that look on your face? Oh god, is there a huge scar?” Standing, she quickly crossed the room to the mirror and looked at her left side but saw nothing. Where 36 hours ago there had been a deep stab wound, now the skin was perfect, not a single scar line in sight. Smiling she turned back to Lincoln who still sat on the bed with a dumbstruck look on his face. “Earth to Lincoln! I’m fine.”

  “You heal quicker than me! How is that possible when you’re only half- Hunter?”

  “I have no idea and I don’t really see the problem. Now I’m off to shower then we can go to my home.” She shut the bathroom door and bolted it before he could come lecture her on the dangers of going back.

  Twenty minutes later Lexia jumped down from the ladder expecting to argue with Lincoln but found breakfast awaiting her instead. Surprised she sat next to him and they ate breakfast in silence. He’d made her pancakes, all soft and fluffy with just the right amount of maple syrup on top.

  “Okay, enough silence, give it to me!”

  Laughing he said, “I’m not going to stop you, but how about one day with no drama?”

  “No drama?”

  “Just you, me, and fun?”

  “O-kay, what’s fun?”

  “Follow me and find out.” He left leaping from the veranda in human form.

  “Fine!” she ran after him jumping from the veranda like he had. Landing lightly in a crouch she looked up and smiled into his scowling face.

  “Lexia, you were half-dead only a few days ago!”

  “I thought you said fun?” Then she ran past him, slipping through the cutting shouting, “Catch me if you can!”

  Lincoln followed the sound of her laughter as it filled the forest; he loved to hear her laugh and see that mischievous smile on her face. He would do everything in his power to never see her hurt again; today he would make her laugh.

  He ran faster, following her sweet sexy scent but as he followed, he realized she was playing games and had circled back around onto her track again. He froze, using the panther’s keen senses as he scanned the trees, looking for where she hid, but realized too late that she was up in the trees. He heard the ‘whoosh’ of air as she dropped from above but couldn’t move in time. She landed on him, knocking him to the ground and had him pinned before he could respond.

  “Got ya!” she giggled, kissing him until he was breathless then shot up and disappeared again.

  Lincoln growled, “I’ll get you this time, my Wildcat!”

  “We’ll see, Kitty Cat,” she teased.

  Lexia ran through the trees, adrenaline and excitement pumping through her blood. The feel of the wind whipping across her face and the sound of her fast beating heart only added to the exhilaration.

  Lexia knew she wasn’t as fast as Lincoln but she’d had a head start so he wasn’t right on top of her yet. She did everything he’d taught her to mess up her scent trail. She went through a few little streams, running through the water soaked her clothes but she didn’t care, this was so much fun. She then doubled back and retraced her steps before heading downwind. Cheeks flushed with color, heart drumming in her chest, she looked around. The forest was too silent; he was close. Too close.

  Smiling, Lexia messed up the trail a little more then crossed a larger body of water before hiding behind a dense bush. Looking over the top she searched for a sign of him. Nothing. Where are you? He was far better at this then her. She ducked back down and kept silent, barely breathing; she used her Hunter senses trying to work out how close he was.

  A rabbit shot out of the undergrowth a yard away and the musky, earthy smell of Lincoln filled her nose. Lexia shot up and leapt over the bush just as Lincoln sprang into the spot she’d been hidden in a second ago. “Found you,” he said, a cheeky, cocky grin on his face.

  Lexia smiled and leaned slightly forward over the bush inviting him for a kiss; she saw the hungry glint in his eye as he bent to claim her mouth. Her hands clasped onto his shoulders and she locked eyes with him. Their lips brushed to kiss when... Lexia tightened her grip on his shoulders and pulled down with all her strength. Lincoln eyes widened in surprise and then she was gone, racing away, laughing hard as she heard him crash into the bush swearing under his breath.

  Lincoln hadn’t had this much fun in... Ever! Lexia’s laughter filled the forest as he went head first into the bush. He couldn’t believe she’d gotten the better of him. How did she manage to get his guard down? Chuckling softly he shook his head and set after her again. She’d had a few minutes head start this time; he could still feel the soft vibrations on the forest floor as she ran flat out. He would have her this time; his panther came to the surface of his mind, picking up her seductive sent. Yes, he would have her.

  Lincoln ran as a man but his panther was in control, the only
evidence in his eyes. His thought processes were no longer those of the cocky, playful man, they were those of a panther, a predator, who lived in his soul. The trees whipped past in a blur of rich green. The forest had become denser, making it harder for Lexia to pass without leaving a trail, but she hadn’t done a bad job. If his panther didn’t know every inch of this forest he may have missed her, but it did and as he followed her trail her scent became stronger and his body tingled with anticipation; he ran faster, he couldn’t wait to catch his prey.

  Lincoln stopped, glanced around, but saw nothing. Lexia’s trail ended here in this densely packed crop of trees. How had she gotten through without leaving a trail? He looked up, his answer on the branch above him. Jumping into the tree tops, he picked up the single long brown hair that was caught on a branch, inhaling. God she smelled good, he was going to make her scream when he caught her and soon he would.

  “Your first mistake Wildcat, never try to beat me in my own territory.”

  He may know every inch of this forest, that was his home, but the tree tops were where the panther thrived; they lived in the trees. He leapt silently through the tree tops, climbing nearly as well as he did when he was a cat. She wasn’t far now, her scent had rubbed against each tree she’d passed. As he reached the end of her trail he spotted her pile of clothes on the forest floor. Dropping out of the tree he bent and sniffed at her clothes, the smell making him more aroused. What are you up to?

  Lincoln listened to the forest around him. The animals had gone silent at his presence and he could hear the sound of running water to his right but no sounds of Lexia running naked through the forest. A sudden wave of anger hit him, she would be scratched to hell running about this far up; very few trails crossed this part of the forest. It had been left to go wild, the forest creatures all that passed by. He made the decision to head for the water, she’d been very careful not to leave a trace of her presence but he could see a stray hair glinting in the sun a little further up.

  Lincoln found the source of the running water, a small waterfall filled a pool of crystal clear water, and there in the middle of the pool stood the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen before. She was facing away from him; the sun glinted off the gentle curve of her back. Her hair was pulled over the side of her shoulder leaving the nape of her neck naked, vulnerable. She turned slightly to the side revealing the curve of her breast. Water lapped around the curve of her hips and he couldn’t contain himself anymore.

  Stripping out of his clothes he dived into the pool. The shock of being surrounded in icy water did nothing to calm his raging arousal. He reached her splashing water up her back as he stopped, she gasped and arched her back. He groaned at the sight wrapping his arms under her arms and boldly cupping her breasts.

  “Caught you,” he murmured against her exposed neck, then he sank his teeth into the soft flesh, not to hurt but to mark. She was his.

  Lexia turned in Lincoln’s arms, she could feel the blunt end of his arousal against her and she claimed his mouth in a hungry kiss. Lincoln had promised her a day of fun and she was having so much fun tangling with her wild sexy panther; it was the most fun she’d ever had.

  “Want to swim?” she smiled, knowing from the feel of his hard flesh that the answer was no, but he said, “Sure.”

  Lexia turned and dived into the cold water, the shock taking her breath away. She came back up, her long hair sticking to her skin and heard the sound of Lincoln’s laughter, “Cold?”

  “Just a little,” she laughed, splashing him and swimming away.

  He was beside her seconds later, his well-muscled body easily cutting through the water. “Did you enjoy your cat games?” she asked.

  “Mmm very. You make a very good cat, but the best game is yet to come.” Flashing her a cocky grin he shot off through the water, kicking his legs to splash her. Lexia squealed and raced after him.

  A little while later, Lexia shivered as she walked out the of water before a big, hot, male body wrapped itself around her, whispering in her ear, making her quiver, “Time for the best game”

  She suddenly found herself flipped around as Lincoln lowered them to the ground. She sat with a sexy male between her thighs and giggled, the cold forgotten as heat surged from her loins.

  “Mmm, definitely the best game,” she sank her teeth into his neck causing him to growl and thrust his hard cock into her already damp core. Lexia rode him hard, it was raw and primal. Nothing was held back as she slammed against him again and again, driven by her sexual hunger for him. Shockwaves of pleasure rippled through her body as she pinned him to the earth. His fingers clung onto her hips, the edge of his claws scraping against her skin as they pierced through his own. She’d never made love to a man with such wild abandon in her life, she loved it. Loved him.

  His hands hungrily trailed up her body squeezing her breasts, pinching her nipples making her cry out. The pressure built, hotter, tighter as she moved harder and faster onto him. His hands caressed her body, his skin so hot she felt branded by his touch. She was pure sensation, the pressure too much, her body felt agonizingly tight, she screamed as it reached a boiling point and exploded around him. Lexia collapsed against him, aftershocks made her cry out again as he thrust once, twice then lost his control. He jerked and shuddered under her, crying out in a hoarse whisper, “Lexia.”

  She roused later sprawled against his warm body, her hair splayed across his chest. The sun had started to get lower in the sky and Lexia shivered as a light breeze blew over her naked skin.

  “Cold, baby?”

  “Mmm, best go find my clothes.” She went to get up but found herself stopped by a strong warm arm.

  “Put this on, I’ll go get your clothes.” He handed her his t-shirt then a gold light shimmered around him revealing a beautiful black panther. He rubbed up against her before disappearing into the undergrowth.

  Lexia pulled on his t-shirt wrapping his intoxicating scent around herself. She’d never felt like this before, the way she’d made love to him easily with no embarrassment, holding nothing back until every wall she’d ever built around herself had fallen, baring her soul to the wild panther that was now her life.

  A black panther prowled out of the trees, growling low whilst carrying a bundle of clothes in his mouth. “Stop with the scary cat routine, you’re a sweet cat,” she smiled.

  His response was to growl again, opening his mouth slightly to reveal the sharp gleam of his predatory teeth. “Sorry, you’re a big, bad pussy cat,” Lexia teased.

  He jumped on her softly, knocking her to the forest floor. He discarded her clothes and his sharp teeth bit lightly down over her neck in warning but she wasn’t afraid, he was her panther and she trusted him with her life. “You are my magnificent panther and all I want to do is pet you until you purr.”

  He let go of her now and settled over her body; his head rested over her breasts, his beautiful gold cat eyes staring into her own. Lexia ran her hand through his velvety soft fur; she loved the feel of it sliding between her fingers, so soft, so warm. She felt him purr rather then heard it, the soft vibrations tickled across her skin.

  “Mmm, I could lay here forever stroking you but I am starving and it’s getting late. Time to go, my beautiful panther,” she whispered, looking into his sleepy eyes, stroking her fingers between them.

  A rumble vibrated up her chest then he jumped off and she got dressed. Lincoln stayed as a panther so Lexia picked up his clothes and started to follow the black blur that whipped between the trees. He didn’t run too fast so she only had to run at a steady jog. The path he chose through the trees was big enough to accommodate her easily. Even as a cat she was surprised at how well he took care of her; she realised both man and panther loved her with all their hearts.

  When they reached familiar territory Lexia stopped and crouched in front of her panther. “Shift for me, baby.” Gold lights sparkled around her and she shut her eyes, the blinding lights too much.

  When she felt warm fingers g
ently pushing hair from her face she opened her eyes to stare into the gold-brown eyes of the man she loved. “Hey.”

  “Hi, you had a good day?” he asked standing.

  Lexia stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. As his hands glided down her body and lightly rested on her thighs, she jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. She looked down into his eyes and brushed dark hair from his face.

  “I had the best day, thank you.” She bent her head, kissing him softly. He groaned into her mouth as she deepened the kiss, tangling her tongue with his.

  Jumping to the floor she said, “Get dressed, baby,” and took off, laughing.

  Lincoln growled at Lexia’s retreating figure. She was such a tease; kissing him so hungrily then gently brushing over his aroused flesh. Argh how did I get so hooked?

  Chapter 26

  Ten minutes later he walked hand in hand with Lexia and she talked excitedly about how she found it so much easier up in the tree tops now. He was so mesmerized by her beautiful smile and the twinkle in her eyes that he never scented the intruders that lurked by their home.

  Lexia’s eyes widened in shock as hard hands clasped around her throat dragging her to the floor, but he couldn’t help her because two more Hunters moved toward him, guns glinting in their hands. Lincoln leapt and shifted mid-air. He landed on the nearest man sinking his teeth into his throat; blood ran between his teeth as he ripped it out.

  He cast a glance in Lexia’s direction to see her fighting on the floor with her attacker; he still had his arms clamped around her throat, trying to knock her unconscious. Bloodlust raged through him but he couldn’t help her. The sound of a gun going off reverberated through the forest. The bullet grazed his side as he twisted sharply around, but the Hunter had no time to fire again because sharp panther teeth ripped out his throat.

  He turned to see Lexia was free; she circled the last Hunter waiting for the moment to attack. He let out a savage roar and he ran across the clearing. The Hunter turned his head, eyes widening in fear at the sight of him. Lexia spun, kicking the man square in the gut. He fell backwards and then sharp panther claws ripped at his flesh as Lincoln landed on him. The Hunter was dead before he hit the floor.