Black Surrender
Lorie O’Clare
Black Jag, Book Three
The wildcat of the VicMoran litter, Rafe isn’t too convinced the newly discovered laws are for the best. Especially when they would prevent him from chasing down Anna Hunter. He’s had a taste of her and now he wants the entire meal.
Anna knows better than to let any of the other jaguars know her true feelings about the documents all jaguars are honor-bound to follow. She’s not into suppression. No one is going to put a leash on her or demand she behave a certain way simply because some ancient jaguar prophesied the laws be followed in order for survival. Anna knows how to survive. And she knows what she wants—whom she wants.
One night of incredible sex changes Rafe’s and Anna’s lives forever. Now the documents that put a thorn in her claw need to be saved from jaguars out for profit. Rafe and Anna have no problem fighting to save all jaguars. But they’ll be damned if they’re going to quit enjoying what they both know is right.
An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Black Surrender
ISBN 9781419931260
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Black Surrender Copyright 2011 Lorie O’Clare
Edited by Mary Moran
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book publication January 2011
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Black Surrender
Lorie O’Clare
Chapter One
The sun peered through branches overhead and warmed Anna Hunter’s body. Its rays shimmered across the creek, causing the water to glisten and sparkle as if there were diamonds under its rapid current. Anna laid her head on the thick, long branch where she’d been relaxing after her long, hard run deep into the rain forest.
A soft breeze, heavily laced with a variety of aromas, danced around the trees. The many scents teased her senses. It was impossible not to love the rain forest with its many different trees, undergrowth, flowers like she’d never seen before, and way too many tiny animals and rodents. The birds were even more colorful than pictures she’d seen made them appear. Even the dirt and the bark on the trees carried fresh, rich smells. It would take awhile for her to name each individual scent she breathed in as she lay there.
She would learn them though. It was a matter of survival. An unfamiliar scent could easily be an enemy. Anna had no intention of falling prey to anyone. Never again.
Anna slapped her tail at a strange-looking, large bug, sending it flying off her tree. For a moment she thought she smelled another jaguar. She tensed, rolling to her stomach and digging her claws into the bark of the branch where she’d been sun bathing. Anna rested her chin between her paws.
Bring it on, motherfucker.
Anna wasn’t a terrified cub any longer. Her littermates had coddled her for too many years. She wasn’t stupid though. The only way to survive in this world was to be faster, stronger and more vicious than anyone else. She balanced her weight on the branch, searching, watching. And saw nothing.
Lifting her head, she sucked in another breath. The smell she thought she’d detected wasn’t there any longer. Anna took her time checking out the forest around her once again before relaxing. She definitely needed to learn all the different smells of the rain forest so she could identify an enemy if they approached.
There was fresh kill at the den. If she made it there soon enough, she could grill it and have it ready by the time John returned from Guarida, the small jaguar community buried deep in the Costa Rican rain forest. Just the thought of a nicely grilled, rare piece of meat made her tummy growl. Anna pounced to the ground on all fours and broke into a run.
After making a full circle around the tree where her litter had built their den, searching through the surrounding trees and breathing in the heavy breeze, Anna determined no one had been to their den since she’d left. She headed up the straight flight of stairs to the front door, her tail slapping at the railing as she climbed.
Anna and her littermates David and John had started on the den the day they’d arrived in Guarida. One thing they’d all agreed on was the location of their new den, just outside of the community. Anna preferred not having neighbors sniffing at her fur. The first few nights they’d slept in their fur, but she and her littermates worked day and night building the sturdy three-bedroom den lodged up in a large old tree. It was a den built of their own sweat and blood. She should love it here. Ever since her littermate David had been killed for turning traitor, Anna had a hard time feeling anything. Including remorse over his death.
Anna climbed the wooden stairs and pushed the door to the changing room, just outside the door to her den, open with her head and entered the dark, small room. It smelled of fresh wood.
She stood on all fours, lowering her head and sniffing the clothes she’d stripped out of before her run. The human side of her emerged from deep inside and began embracing the change. Sparks ignited, rushing up and down her spine as her body altered.
Her black fur receded into flesh, and her hide softened, becoming soft and smooth.
Anna straightened too fast at the sound of something cracking. There was a sharp pop as her spine shifted into position to hold her human body. Hot pain stabbed down her middle and she groaned loudly.
“It’s what you get for not focusing while changing,” she chastised herself, feeling a slight breeze through the non-insulated walls around her.
She arched her back and stretched her arms overhead then bent them, relaxing her hands on her tousled hair as she continued to stretch and twist. Getting caught off guard once while changing was stupid, but letting it happen twice was downright insane. The incredibly alluring transformation was something she’d always loved. Changing from human to jaguar—or back again—was a gift, making her a whole creature. Abuse or neglect it though, and she would pay with the intense pain of not letting the change transform her body at its own pace. Try to stand too soon or turn in a way her current form wouldn’t allow and she’d feel it.
“At least no one else witnessed you behaving like a silly cub,” she muttered then sniffed the air, making sure she was still alone. “Jumpy over the wind,” she grumbled, and sighed. They’d moved their litter here so she wouldn’t have to sniff over her shoulder all the time. The recent attack on Guarida still had her more cautious than usual. She’d managed to enjoy a run today, which was progress. The jaguar community had increased measures to secure their safety. Anna wasn’t ready to run with all the other single males and females. She was going nuts though and taking the afternoon to cut loose a bit had been just what she needed.
It was tempting to grab her clothes instead of dressing first and then heading for the shower. The door to their den wasn’t more than a meter from the changing room. She scooped her clothes into a pile and clutched them to her breasts then stuck her head out the door, glancing down the stairs. Anna covered her upper body with her clothes, which seemed rather pointless since her lower half was fully exposed. The warm, moist air felt good against her skin and a breeze immediately blew her hair away from her face.
Other than the smells of the forest, with its wide variety of trees and undergrowth, Anna didn’t smell anyone nearby. If someone were to appear out of the trees, they would be coming to see her since there weren’t any other dens out this way.
She stood, facing the closed door for a moment, listening to the sounds outside as she continued breathing in the rich, freshly cut wood smell surrounding her. What if someone were coming to see her?
The black jaguars in the community still had their hackles up over the scandal surrounding the recently discovered laws and traditions. The ancient writings describing and predicting behavior of her kind had everyone behaving differently. Anna wasn’t sure if she’d been spending time with Rafe VicMoran since arriving in Guarida because he didn’t smell as impressed with the old writings or if the reason was more carnal. On her end, it was a bit of both. Rafe wasn’t the easiest jaguar to sniff out though.
Anna closed her eyes, shaking her head as she lowered it and let her hair fall around her face. Rafe was a wild male, a rogue, and too damn sexy for his own good. He was the last jaguar she needed to be spending time with as a single female new to the community. Rafe would tarnish her reputation and leave her as damaged goods. But damn, she would probably enjoy every minute of it.
Growing up with two male littermates, Anna was more protected than most females. Especially since neither of them had been there the one time she’d needed them most as a cub. David and John had spent the rest of their youth making sure Anna was guarded better than any female had ever been protected. At least it had smelled that way to her. And she’d appreciated their loyalty to their den and to her.
Today, as a grown female, strong, healthy and with growing wants and needs, she wasn’t sure how much protection she wanted from Rafe. The sane part of her brain insisted she keep him at arm’s length. The problem was Rafe always seemed to be nearby. All she needed to do was catch a hint of his scent and her body was instantly hot, wet, pulsing with blossoming need that was growing stronger every day. At this rate, she wouldn’t have to worry about him capturing her. Anna would attack him.
God! She wanted him. David was gone, but John didn’t like Rafe. Anna smelled it on him. Her littermate seemed distrusting and disapproving whenever he was around Rafe. That was John’s problem though. Anna didn’t see anything wrong with Rafe at all.
Rafe didn’t smile a lot. He never smelled grouchy, though, or mad. His beautiful green eyes were intense, always watching everyone around him. His brooding expression wouldn’t change whenever he spotted her, but his eyes would darken, his incredibly muscular body would appear to harden, and it made her itch to run her fingers over it until she knew every inch of his body. If that was why John didn’t like Rafe, Anna guessed she understood. Not that she’d ask John directly. Maybe if Rafe came up in conversation—maybe. If Anna broached the topic of Rafe or any of the VicMorans, her littermate would fill the den with his putrid anger in seconds. Anna had no doubt.
Her body reacted to the image of him in her mind. She pictured herself daring, reaching out and pressing her palm against his chest. Anna doubted it would take any effort to turn Rafe into her lover. Females were always sniffing around him. The howlings indicated he’d fucked a fair amount of them, but she’d never seen him with any of them. Nor had she ever smelled a female on him. If her scent was on him, no other female would touch him, not if she wanted her hand back.
Anna curled her lip when she pictured another female trying to raise her tail for Rafe. At the same time her pussy swelled, moistened, and using her free hand, reached between her legs and spread the fresh cream over her shaved pussy. She dropped her forehead against the wooden door, dragging in a ragged breath, and imagined Rafe touching her breasts. A grin pulled at her lips. Rafe wouldn’t simply touch her. He would be rough, wild, a demanding and aggressive sexual partner.
“Fucking tail,” she cursed under her breath, her legs suddenly trembling as she imagined him stalking her, waiting until he knew no one was near then cornering her, demanding she submit.
Her grin widened. Like hell she’d submit. Anna already knew she’d fight him. All his strength, mixed with his commanding nature, would make it impossible to refuse him. Not that she would, not in the end. Rafe would learn right away she wouldn’t be just another piece of tail.
From what she’d learned of the laws and traditions so far, they were incredibly clear about no sex without mating. Anna understood the argument around it, but at the same time, she had no idea if she would want a male as a mate unless she knew him intimately. Very intimately. So far, Rafe hadn’t even touched her, but they would fuck. And soon.
Anna straightened, exhaling and adjusting her clothes against her damp body. She definitely needed that shower. If her littermate came home and smelled her right now, he’d throw a damn fit. And jump to all the wrong conclusions. She appreciated how strongly John protected her, but he wouldn’t be around when she decided to corner Rafe and allowed the male to believe it was his idea to fuck her. Anna would see to it.
She stepped out of the changing room. The warm sun felt as good on her naked body as it had when she’d been basking in her fur. She reached for the handle to open the door to her den.
“Anna?” A male voice boomed through the forest, calling out to her.
Anna struggled with the door, suddenly in a panic to open it. Her curiosity bested her though and she turned, glancing down at the clearing in front of her den. Rafe VicMoran paused as he walked between two trees. He appeared out of the shadows of the dense tree line, not far from the tree her den was in. Rafe stared up at her, his jaw dropping before a slow, rather carnal grin appeared on his rugged and incredibly handsome face.
She almost fell into her den, having tripped over her own bare feet. Then slamming her door shut without bothering to return Rafe’s greeting, she fought to settle her pounding heart.
Crap! John would probably arrive soon. He’d attack and go immediately for the jugular if he caught Rafe here.
Why was Rafe at her den?
What if he caught the smell of her lust?
Anna was suddenly very torn. If she raced back out into the forest, Rafe would be on her tail in seconds. Just thinking about it drenched the room around her with her ripening scent.
“This definitely sucks!” she snarled, staring at the long shadows crossing the floor from the windows in the living room.
It was the time of day when John usually returned to the den.
Anna raced into her room and searched for clean clothes. The shower would have to wait. She needed to get Rafe the hell out of there.
Chapter Two
Rafe VicMoran stopped when he cleared the thick grove of trees. He would have to remember to thank John Ramos for asking him to take his shift. He stared up at Anna Hunter, at the slender curve in her back, at how her hips were also slender but shaped into the nicest-looking ass he’d ever seen. Anna’s legs were firm, muscular and slim. Her thick black hair tumbled over her shoulder, blocking his view of her breasts when she turned and spotted him.
When he’d called out her name, he’d thought she was inside her den. All he had done was announce himself—respecting her single status and knowing she was out here alone, her den more secluded than the dens closer to center ground in Guarida. Rafe considered himself one hell of a lucky son of a bitch. Who would have known she was outside her door, looking as if she’d just returned from a run, naked and sexy as hell?
He sucked in a deep breath, beckoning her scent to come to him, and grew
harder than stone when he smelled lust clinging to her sweat-covered body. The combination of aromas, ripe and fresh, was a dangerous mix. Rafe bounded to the stairs, his drive to reach her suddenly so strong he barely controlled his own body. He’d cleared half the space between them when Anna flew inside her den and slammed her door closed.
Rafe left marks in the soft earth underneath him when he slid to a stop. “Damn,” he mumbled, dragging his fingers through his thick black hair as he stared at the ground. If she’d been closer, he would have attacked her. “Some protector you are. Fucking hypocrite.” It was easy to ride his own ass when his senses returned to sane, human emotions instead of allowing the more carnal and untamed half of him to control his actions.
Rafe continued to scowl with the realization of how strong his reaction had been toward seeing Anna naked. Both of his littermates thought he’d jump on anything with her tail cocked to the side, which was far from the truth. Possibly not having had sex for so long was the reason he’d reacted so strongly to Anna just now. It wasn’t as if he didn’t see many of the females naked when they went on group runs. In spite of escorts surrounding all of them, a female knew how to undress where she could be seen, if that was what she wanted. Anna had never been on any of the group runs designed for single males and females of age to get to know each other.
Either way, his reaction to her still made him a hypocrite. Rafe sniffed her out the moment her litter arrived in Guarida from the States. His litter and the Hunter litter grew up together in Colorado in the large jaguar community of Colony, buried in the Rockies. Although Rafe never spent much time with Anna as a cub, he knew he’d used it as an excuse to strut over to her during a huge rain storm after she arrived. Chaos broke out during the time Anna and her litter moved to Guarida. Rafe had thought it unfortunate timing, and an even better reason to move in alongside her, during many of their community meetings. It didn’t take long to sniff out the truth. Her littermate David had turned traitor against them and had been trying to steal the laws and traditions. He’d failed and died for his crimes. Anna never smelled resentful toward Rafe afterward, and he didn’t hold the despicable actions of her littermate against her.
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