Black Surrender

by Lorie O'Clare

  The black of night surrounding him faded to different shades of gray. His vision grew more acute, along with the rest of his senses. As the shift in body weight made it harder for him to stand on two legs, he also heard each raindrop as it plopped onto the large leaves above him. His human ears wouldn’t have heard it, but as the other half of his whole, the being inside him who helped complete who Rafe was, took over his body, his hearing grew so much stronger he easily heard confused animals, well-hidden around him, scurry away in terror. They hadn’t been prepared for the deadly creature to replace the human.

  Rafe fell to all four, opening his mouth wide but not making a sound. He stretched his jaw, which quite possibly was the most dangerous part of his body, then closed it, feeling his razor-sharp incisors press against the inside of his mouth. He blinked. One last shiver rushed through his body. Thick black fur protected him from the occasional large drops of rain that continued to fall from the trees. Soon it would rain hard enough easily to reach the ground through the denseness of tree limbs and large leaves above him.

  He took off again, but this time he ran silently, the thick pads on his feet protecting him from the sharp small rocks, prickly foliage, fallen twigs and small branches scattered across the forest floor. Rafe gained speed, digging his thick long claws into the earth as he rounded the far side of Guarida. He was aware of the last den as he passed it and picked up the lingering scent of the kill they’d enjoyed earlier this evening. Maybe Anna would go hunting with him. Although the thought of her in her fur, running alongside him, got him as hard as picturing her stripping in her human form.

  The rambling creek was indifferent to the noise it made so late at night. Rafe breathed in the enticing smell of the water and began searching his surroundings, ensuring it was secure and at the same time looking for Anna. The moment he spotted her, she snapped her head in his direction. Jumping off the rock where she perched, she took a step backward, lowering her head and letting out a low warning growl. Then, without waiting for his response, Anna turned and took flight.

  You know what happens when adorable single females encourage a chase with a single male, my little cat. Rafe didn’t hesitate but leapt into full pursuit.

  He shredded the ground to bits as he pushed forward, his claws tearing deep into the earth as he gained on Anna. She was running as if her life depended on it, which it didn’t, but something else did. If he caught her, when he caught her, Rafe was going to mount her. The farther and deeper they ran into the forest, sinking deep inside her became the only thought on his feverish mind.

  Anna leapt over fallen trees, causing several small monkeys above them to scream over the violation of their privacy. She disappeared quickly from Rafe’s sight. He followed her scent, latching on to it as he also cleared the fallen trees and ignored the monkeys’ scolding. Rafe slowed a minute or so later when her scent dimmed. He came to a complete stop, turned then meticulously scanned his surroundings. A few steps forward and her aroma strengthened again. When he smelled her strongly enough, he almost swore she stood next to him, Rafe sat, taking a moment to clean some dirt from his paw. He continued to breathe her into his lungs, learning and memorizing her scent. Doing so in his fur would enable him to pick her out among a crowd from this point forward. Rafe let her scent mark his soul—sink deep into the tissues of his lungs. Any time he breathed her in, instantly his body would harden to stone. This natural instinctive trait of his kind was efficient in keeping those a jaguar cared about close and protected.

  It wouldn’t leave each of them marked with the other’s scent. But when they fucked, if he came inside her, their natural smells would be altered. Rafe would carry Anna’s smell on him, and vice versa. In his fur, with instincts dominating, that sounded like a damn good plan.

  Rafe roared, indifferent to the wildlife around him that hadn’t yet taken cover from the pending rain and now scattered, running for their lives. He wanted Anna and he wanted her now! There were traditions among jaguars they didn’t need written down to remember. One of them being if a male and female marked each other with their scent they were mated for life. Rafe had left more than a few willing females in the mountains wishing he’d come inside them. If he pulled out just in time, their scents might linger on each other for a day at the most but then fade. No female would put a leash and collar on him. However, something about carrying Anna’s scent appealed to him. Rafe ignored the human voice in his head that warned him to think twice about such an action.

  There wasn’t any sight of her, although her scent was still strong and pure. He felt several large raindrops sink into his fur on his broad cheekbones and raised his head, willing to curse the elements if it started pouring before he found his little female. Every one of his muscles suddenly tensed and his heart began thumping hard and determined against his chest.

  Rafe opened his mouth, letting Anna’s scent seep over his tongue and down his throat as he stared up at her. She lay draped over a thick branch, looking at him with triumphant indifference. The feisty cat really believed she’d bested him. As if to prove the point, Anna lowered her head and curled her lip, releasing a low, rumbling growl as she lazily swished her tail from one side of the branch she lay on to the other.

  Are you proud of yourself, little cat? Rafe sat, cocked his head and stared into her eyes. They glowed against the darkness surrounding them and he swore she was grinning at him when she opened her mouth and showed off her deadly white teeth.

  Anna didn’t need to make a sound. He saw it in her eyes. She challenged him, believing she’d found the perfect tree with its twisted trunk, and the long, sturdy branch she was stretched out on as her sanctuary. Anna thought there was no way he could get to her.

  Rafe watched the rise and fall of her chest. Her breathing was slow, relaxed and steady. Proof either she was positive he couldn’t reach her or it didn’t bother her if he did reach her and would enjoy watching him struggle and fight to have her. He preferred believing the latter and didn’t mind struggling a bit if his prize was Anna.

  When he shifted his attention to the trunk of the tree, he was acutely aware of Anna watching him. She turned her head to keep her eyes on him as he sauntered closer to the tree trunk. Rafe managed to move at just the right angle to keep her in his peripheral vision. He swore she started panting and doubted it was from the humidity built up by the storm. She drew in a deep breath, her excitement growing while she probably tried to determine his next move by his scent. Rafe wished he could stop time and suck in the sweet, tangy aroma suddenly filling the air. He was going to capture his adorable cat, and the thought of it was making Anna hot.

  Thinking about how it would feel to bury his cock deep inside her hot, tight pussy almost made walking difficult, let alone climbing. He needed to remain focused, not dwell on the prize before earning it.

  You picked one hell of a tree to befriend. Rafe looked over his shoulder, pulling his attention from the twisted, knotted tree trunk. He took his time raising his gaze to Anna’s lean, slender body. Her chin still rested over her paws and her thin, perfectly shaped body was stretched along the thick branch, relaxed, comfortable and absolutely tantalizing. He thought of jumping up the trunk, leaping onto her branch and grabbing her as they both fell to the ground.

  Give it up, black jag. There was a growl in Anna’s purr. She really didn’t think he could reach her.

  Possibly if he’d been in his human form, he might have seen the logic in toying with her for a while. He might have gone as far as to seduce her out of the tree. In his fur, however, Rafe didn’t see the reasoning behind prolonging what was already a fact. He would capture what would be his, and the sooner the better. He didn’t care about long-term planning. His carnal, raw and untamed desires were foremost in his mind.

  I have no intention of giving up on you. Rafe’s sharp growl alerted Anna.

  She raised her head, but Rafe didn’t wait to see what she might do next. He leapt at the gnarled tree trunk and dug his claws into the hard, thick trun
k. In less than a minute he was at the edge of her branch.

  Anna leapt to her feet, arching her back and lowering her head as she growled. If the sight of her ready to attack didn’t look so damn enticing, he would have moved in to capture her faster instead of standing on the branch in awe of her beauty.

  Her black coat looked so smooth and silky he ached to feel it pressed against him. The energy glowing eyes captivated him. But it was her scent—tangy, spicy, thick and heady. It was as if she’d managed to twirl her lust and domination together with a rich cream, which, when combined, created the most intoxicating scent he’d ever smelled.

  I dare you to run. Although he rumbled deep in his throat, keeping the sound low and dangerous, Anna caught his meaning.

  Straightening, taking her time, her gaze remained locked on his until she stood straight, facing him, her breathing once again slow and calm. Rafe took a step toward her, feeling every muscle in his body quiver as his need for her burned through him. He didn’t want to think about how long he’d wanted Anna. It would have been smarter to have pushed harder, seduced her into his den or taken her at hers. He hadn’t done that though. Instead, for whatever fucked-up reasons, Rafe hadn’t hunted her the way he had other females in Guarida. Instead he’d spent time with her, learning her mind. Which was why he was able to catch the slight change in her scent when she lowered her lids and her gaze grew hooded.

  There wasn’t more than a minute to think about his options. Anna spun around, leapt from her branch and soared through the air, landing on another branch on a neighboring tree.

  Rafe roared, bounding after her and ignoring the warning signs from the branch where Anna had perched as he leapt through the air in pursuit. The chase was on once more. This time the chase wouldn’t last long. Just watching her tail skillfully slash from one side of her to the other as her slender, fit body limberly leaped from branch to branch made him so damn hard he had to capture her soon. Her scent was as torturous as it was appealing.

  Anna was determined. Her adrenaline rushed through her as fast as it did him. There wasn’t any fear. He would be shocked if she believed he would hurt her. And when he took a moment and let his brain decipher, the tangy aroma was determination to control, not only this game they played but the outcome. Unless he overpowered her, Anna had every intention of determining the outcome of this hunt.

  Anna was several trees ahead of him. She leapt from one branch to the other, almost as if she’d plotted her course ahead of time. Rafe wasn’t sure she’d planned the branch she just landed on crashing to the ground however. She fell with it, landing on all four paws and taking a moment to glance over her shoulder. Birds and monkeys, who’d believed these trees were their sanctuary, filled the forest with their squawking protests until they realized who and what had woken them. Rafe and Anna left a trail of angry creatures behind them.

  Neither of them cared what the locals thought. Rafe flew to the ground, landing on top of Anna. She hissed and screamed at the same time, rolling to her side, ready to attack him with tooth and claw.

  Oh no you don’t, little cat, Rafe snarled, shifting his weight at the last minute so he wouldn’t crush her. Just as fast as he rolled off her, he again leapt on her, only to be greeted by her attempt at slashing through his flesh with long claws and teeth. I’m not returning to my den with marks of humiliation.

  Anna stilled when he growled, breathing hard and panting as she stared up at him. Rafe quit moving as well, feeling her heart pound against his chest and drunk from the growing tanginess seeping from her.

  Her eyes were deep pools of green. Her black coat smooth, silky and warm. But as she relaxed under him, her attention never leaving his, he picked up on distinct curiosity and lust in the air. Although he knew somewhere in the back of his fogged brain he’d never force himself on Anna, he couldn’t hide the relief when he accepted she wanted him as much as he did her.

  He didn’t stop her when she slid out from underneath him. Anna wouldn’t be able to outrun him twice. If she tried to flee, he would pounce on her. Either she sensed this or it wasn’t a concern. Anna moved alongside him, rubbing her body against his. Rafe damn near teetered to the side as his world shifted. Not only did she want him, she was demanding he give it to her now.

  Rafe didn’t need to be told twice. Reaching for her with one paw, he managed to grab her shoulder then use his weight to topple her to her side. In their fur, there wouldn’t be extended foreplay. It wasn’t that they were simpler or lacked intelligence. After all, they only had one brain and the same one existed whether they were in human form or cat. It just wasn’t necessary to douse her with soft murmurs, praising her as he adored her body. There was little point in fondling her body, especially when he didn’t have fingers. Without lips, kissing her was impossible. They didn’t need to focus on arousal. Both of them were already aroused. Worry over making sure a human sexual partner was satisfied was a human emotion.

  Anna wanted him. His attraction to her was equally as strong. Rafe had her alone in the forest. He would fuck her, appeasing the need both of them possessed for each other. He kept her pinned to the ground with his other paw and easily stepped over her. She shifted and again his brain boiled right along with the blood inside him. His cock was so hard, throbbing and swollen with a fire he wouldn’t be able to endure much longer.

  Apparently Anna had no intention of prolonging his misery. She adjusted herself underneath him, lifting her tail as she arched her back. Rafe didn’t have to try twice to find her entrance. Incredible heat wrapped around his dick, drawing him in until moisture began soaking him and slick, tight muscles wrapped around his shaft.

  Rafe grumbled. His entire body was tense and trembling. Anna was so damn hot, incredibly tight and more soaked than most females. Her body latched on to his cock, sucking it deep inside, while her scent grew muskier and she began panting hard underneath him.

  Fucking tail, my beautiful cat, you’re better than I ever imagined. Rafe lowered his head and grabbed the loose fur at the nape of her neck with his teeth. Holding on and keeping her still, Rafe lunged into the scalding heat. The two of them howled together as he began fucking her.

  Chapter Five

  Anna knew she’d just screamed. She never imagined sex with a male could feel this good. The soft voices in the back of her brain, which had taunted her during the chase, disappeared. They wouldn’t have won anyway. Anna knew what happened when a female instigated a high-speed chase. She hadn’t planned on losing. But the thrill of it, the continual adrenaline rush that had climaxed again and again as he’d chased her, had only intensified the need for him to fuck her. She didn’t care about the repercussions. Damn those idiotic laws and traditions to hell and back.

  This was right. It wouldn’t feel this damn good, turn her entire body into smoldering, hard-core lust if this weren’t the right thing to do. She might be in her fur but she understood the strong attraction she felt toward Rafe and had endured long enough. This was supposed to happen, and no one would make her think otherwise.

  When he gripped her at her nape, Anna’s eyes damn near rolled back in her head. The slight pinch seared her insides, shooting a spark of desire down her spine. It exploded into a pool of lust and simple, carnal need. Yet it wasn’t simple. Her breath came in hard pants. She would drown in the sensuality flooding the air as she gulped it in greedily.

  Everything inside her swelled. Her skin grew hypersensitive as tingles continued to race over her flesh, making her acutely aware of every place on her body he touched. You’ve got skills, jaguar, she growled, the raspiness of her grunts making her feel even more turned-on.

  Rafe had her pinned to the ground. She couldn’t move. He wasn’t crushing her though, and in his fur he was almost twice her size. If she could smile right now, she would be grinning from ear to ear. She closed her eyes, feeling him thrust deep inside her. He wouldn’t be able to deny she’d put on one hell of a chase. Rafe had a reputation. One that didn’t bother her. She hadn’t jumped h
im, flipping her tail to the side the way she saw so many eager bitches try to do since she’d moved to Guarida.

  Anna wasn’t convinced all the howling about Rafe was true anyway. She hadn’t seen him sniffing after any other females since she’d moved here. If anything, he seemed to ignore females when they came around while he was with her. Her interest in him wouldn’t have blossomed otherwise.

  At first she thought he had wished to console her over David’s death, although he had sniffed her out within days of living here, and David had still been alive. She was glad he never mentioned David. It would have been awkward since Rafe probably howled in favor of David dying. Instead, time with him had been casual, simple discussions about current events. He was intelligent, an incredible carpenter, and she imagined good with his hands in other ways too.

  He sure as hell was good with his teeth and paws.

  Rafe pressed deeper, stretching her flesh, drawing more moisture out of her until he felt as soaked as she was. When he released her neck, giving her the power to twist underneath him, his mouth moved to her ear and he licked her. At the same time he drove deep inside her again. When he growled, her world toppled to the side.

  Anna dug her nails into the earth, matching his groans as he continued to thrust and recede, building her pressure to the near-exploding point but receding just before she got there. She turned her head, snapped at him and willed him to see how he’d pushed her to the edge but wouldn’t give her the pleasure of the climatic fall.

  Their eyes locked when he drove inside her again. He didn’t pull all the way out this time but continued to thrust, hitting the same tender spot deep inside her pussy until keeping her attention focused on him was almost impossible. More than anything she wanted to stare into those deep, captivating eyes. They had been a distraction to her since her litter had arrived in the rain forest.