Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as if she’d run a long distance. She admired the way the flickering light of the fire gave his skin a burnished glow. He moved toward her, closing the gap between them. And then his arms were around her, his big body flush with hers, engulfing her, her breasts crushed against his hard chest, the rough hair teasing her nipples. His arousal pressed into her stomach, hot and hard and throbbing. She lifted her arms over his shoulders and hung on for dear life when his mouth came down on hers. Groaning deep in his throat, he kissed her with a ferocity that weakened her knees.
Then he was urging her toward the pallet behind her.
Jonah was hard enough to pound nails, growing even harder, if that were possible, when his body came into contact with hers. This was not what he’d intended to happen. He was going to get some answers from her, and then leave. But when he’d entered the teepee, he’d faltered in his purpose. As soon as he’d caught her scent, had seen her standing there, her lush breasts straining against the soft doeskin of that pretty Indian dress, all his blood had rushed to the lower region of his body. He’d gotten his answers, but he was damn sure not going to leave without tasting her one more time.
He lowered her onto the pallet, barely losing any contact with her luscious body on the way down. He covered her, nudging her thighs apart so he could settle himself at her core. With one smooth stroke, he entered her as he kissed her neck, feasting on the satiny-smooth skin there. He worked his way to her collar bone, to the tops of her breasts, and then lower, until he found one diamond-hard nipple. He sucked and licked, swirling his tongue around the rigid peak. She arched her back, crying out as he withdrew and thrust into her again and again.
Consumed with nothing but the need to possess her, to fill her, to let her know that under no uncertain terms, she belonged to him, he lost all sense of reality. Like a fever, he burned for her – lived to please her. They could have been smack-dab in the middle of a stampeding buffalo herd and he wouldn’t have noticed.
Her hands were all over him, touching, stroking, tantalizing every inch of his skin within her reach. It was like being touched by an angel. The sweet sounds she made and the way she cried his name was like ambrosia to his ears. He’d never had such an intense response with any other woman and it shook his very foundations.
He kissed her, devouring her mouth as he increased his rhythm, thrusting harder and deeper and faster.
Cadence was completely lost in him. Her heart – her soul – belonged to Jonah. She wanted to crawl inside him and never leave. As he thrust in and out, all rational thought ceased to exist. She functioned only on instinct – on the need to merge with him – to share herself with the man she loved.
He tore his mouth away from hers, dipping his head to her shoulder. He was breathing harshly, straining, she knew, to hold himself back, waiting for her to find her release. “Come for me, Hellcat,” he rasped in her ear.
He reached his hand down to where their bodies were joined, gliding his fingers over the sensitive nub hidden in her woman’s cleft. The contact was so sublime, Cadence immediately fell over the edge, exploding, shattering into a million pieces, blinded by the brilliance of it.
Jonah’s entire body tensed and he gave a muted shout as he thrust one last time, holding himself so deep inside her, Cadence thought she felt him at her belly button. He jerked with spasms, groaning as he emptied himself into her.
It was a moment of pure clarity, as her love for him washed through her, bathing her in its warmth.
When he collapsed on top of her, she cradled him with her body, her arms and legs, holding tightly while their breathing slowed, and their heartbeats resumed a normal pace. After a while, he slid to the side of her, keeping her wrapped in his arms. They fell asleep that way, neither one of them daring to speak for fear of ruining their last moments together.
Cadence knew in her heart what the dawn would bring. She just hoped she had the strength to let him go. The last thing she wanted to do was beg him to stay like some pathetic creature, to tell him the truth about what it would do to her if he left. She wouldn’t use that to control him. She would have him only if it was what he chose, not because of what he might feel he must do.
Fifteen
CADENCE DROWSILY WATCHED as Jonah added more wood to the fire. It reminded her of the night she’d experienced the magic of their joining, the moment she’d become bound to him. When he returned to the pallet, he took her in his arms, dragging the blanket over them. He held her snugly to his front, her buttocks pressing intimately against his groin.
Once he was settled, he was quiet for a while before he broke the silence. “Tell me how it is that you’re…what you are.”
Cadence was encouraged by his curiosity. “I was born this way. We’re called Pantera, which means panther in my mother’s Romany language. She was one, as are my two younger sisters.”
“So it’s true…you do have sisters. Well, I know of the one Ba'cho had asked about.”
He was remembering when she’d told him about her sisters back when he still thought she was a boy. “Yes, Jonah,” she said with a sigh. “Everything I’ve told you about me is true – except for…well…you know.”
She was afraid he’d become angry again, but instead he asked, “How did you become this way?”
Relieved, Cadence repeated the story her mother had told her since she was a small child. She told him how her mother had been killed by hunters and what had happened to her father.
“Only the women?” he asked when she’d finished.
“Yes, it’s only passed to the females. No man has ever been known to inherit that particular ‘gift.’”
“And why is Ba'cho seeking one of your sisters? More than once I heard him call her ‘the golden sister’ – what does that mean?”
“Ba'cho believes Jaelene, who has pale-blond hair and is a rare golden panther, is the key to breaking the spell that keeps them here.”
“Keeps them here?”
Cadence then had to repeat Sons-ee-ah-ray’s story about Itsá and the spell he’d cast that trapped his cousin and his people here. “They’ve been trapped here for a hundred years. They believe my sister can help them return to their world.”
“Stop,” Jonah said with a groan, rolling onto his back. He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t know if I want to hear any more. I’m still trying convince myself I’m not unconscious in the middle of nowhere with a crack in my skull, dreaming all this up.”
Cadence propped herself onto an elbow, leaning over him. She placed her hand on his chest, marveling at its solid expanse, and raked her fingers lightly through the dark, curly hair there. His eyes were closed, giving her a chance to admire his face. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t know how to tell you without—” Without losing you. “—without scaring you.”
He snorted. “Hell, yeah. What’s not scary about a huge black panther?”
“I thought you weren’t afraid of anything,” she challenged.
His eyes snapped open. “A man knows when to be afraid – when something calls for a healthy dose of respect.” His silver gaze dropped to her bared breasts, causing her heart to flutter. “A man also knows when to respect something as magnificent and captivating as these.”
She gasped with pleasure when he reached out with his hand, cupping her. His touch was gentle, almost worshipful, as he caressed her, his fingers brushing lightly over her nipple. He ran his hand down the valley between her breasts before moving on to explore the other one. “Gorgeous,” he whispered.
Shivering with a renewed rush of desire, Cadence moved her hand down, skimming his stomach, and slipped it under the blanket. She found her prize, and wrapped her fingers around the thick shaft, marveling at how soft the skin was – and hot.
He hissed air in through his teeth. “Ah, yes, darlin’,” he said thickly. “Touch me.”
His words, followed by a low groan, gave her the confidence to continue. She stroked the smooth t
ip, her finger dipping into the tiny indentation, finding a bead of moisture there. She spread it over the top, before gripping him firmly, and gliding her hand down, cupping the soft sac at the base.
When Cadence began stroking him up and down, Jonah couldn’t help lifting his hips, thrusting his cock against her small hand. It was heaven, but he couldn’t take much more of this, or he would lose control. “That’s enough, Hellcat,” he growled. He gripped her around the waist, and hoisted her up and over, so that she straddled him.
“Didn’t you like that?” Her sultry voice and wicked grin told him she knew very well he had.
“You know I did,” he said hoarsely. “But if I would have let you continue, you’d have missed out on the best part.”
“Oh?” She smiled seductively. “And what part would that be?”
“This.” He lifted her, positioned himself at her opening and lowered her back down, impaling her. She cried out, bracing her weight with her hands on his chest. “You never could mount without assistance,” he said, his voice deep and breathless, “but you do know how to ride, don’t you?”
“Oh, I can ride, Marshal.”
His Little Hellcat took that challenge and began to rise and fall, finding the perfect rhythm, taking his breath away. She was magnificent, her black hair falling in damp curls around her face. Her ripe lips were slightly parted, her expression one of great pleasure. In the shadows, her green eyes blazed with fiery passion. She was a man’s wildest fantasy come to life, with her flawless skin, full, rounded breasts, her slim waist, and gently curved hips. Her long, lovely legs were strong as they gripped his hips.
And she’s yours. Those words tumbled through his mind with primal intensity.
When she tumbled over the edge, her inner muscles clenching all around him, her juices bathing his cock, he came with a roar of satisfaction. So, who’s the animal here?
She collapsed on top of him, into the cradle of his arms. They lay there breathing heavily, their skin damp with sweat. It was then that Jonah realized he was in deep, deep trouble. After all the years he’d been a loner, had kept to himself, not wanting to get involved with any woman other than slaking his physical needs, he’d finally gone and fallen for this one. He now knew Beth Ann had been nothing but a young man’s naive infatuation.
What Cadence made him feel for her was dangerous. He had to put some distance between them. He needed time to think. Ba'cho and his people wanted Cadence’s sister’s help, and would see Cadence safely home. Jonah could find her again – he was an expert tracker, after all.
CADENCE OPENED HER eyes just as Jonah was about to leave. Somehow he’d wrestled himself out from under her, gotten up and gotten dressed, all without waking her. She bolted upright, clutching the blanket to her chest. “Jonah, wait!”
He paused, his back to her.
She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, shutting out the pain, and then opened them again. “Don’t – don’t leave me,” she said, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I know you’ve had a shock. Please…just give it some time.” She hadn’t wanted to beg, but here she was, doing exactly that.
He spoke without turning around, his tone flat. “I meant it when I said I wouldn’t be taking you to the authorities. You’re free to go home to your family.”
Her heart hammered, panic working its way through her chest. Never mind the fact that she’d soon grow ill with his departure, that it would only get worse the further away he got. The thought of losing him left an empty hole in her soul. Even without the link between them because of the spell, she knew she couldn’t live without him – didn’t want to live without him.
His whispered words were so quiet, she almost didn’t hear them. “Take care of yourself, Hellcat.”
And then he was gone.
Cadence fell back onto the blankets. She could only lay there, tears rolling down her temples, unable to move, refusing to humiliate herself even further by running after him. Back in San Antonio she’d suspected he’d changed his mind about turning her in. It was evidence that his feelings ran deeper than he made it appear. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was something to hope for at least.
Jonah’s heart was aching for him to go back to her, but he couldn’t. He needed to put some distance between them. He found Athos among the horses in the small corral, his saddle resting on the ground near the fence. Dawn was still a couple of hours away, so he kept to the shadows along the outskirts of the village.
He was leading Athos past the last teepee when Ba'cho stepped into his path. “So, you are leaving her.”
Jonah blew out an irritated sigh. “I have no choice.”
“Life is full of choices.”
“Not for me – not right now.”
“You are blood bound,” Ba'cho said with a hint of anger.
“What?”
“You have tasted Ndołkah’s blood.” It was said as though that explained everything. “You are bound together, even stronger than you already were.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean – even stronger than you already were? “I don’t have time for more of your riddles,” Jonah snapped. “I have to get moving, it’s a long way to New Orleans.”
He started forward, but Ba'cho placed his hand on Jonah’s shoulder to stop him. “She is a good woman,” he said softly.
“She’s not…human,” Jonah choked. He was still more than a little rattled from last night’s revelation – in more ways than one.
“What is your definition of human, Jonah?”
“Someone who doesn’t turn into a fucking panther!” he snarled angrily, shoving Ba'cho’s hand away. What kind of future could they have together? Even if he could accept what Cadence was, how could he bring her home to his family after what she’d done to Robert?
Something feral flashed in Ba'cho’s eyes. It was the first time Jonah had seen the Apache lose some of his calm veneer. “It has always been hard for the pale-faces to see beyond their own importance. Soon, your eyes will be opened.”
Jonah made a sound of disgust. “I don’t have time for this.” He started walking, but then stopped and turned back to face Ba'cho. “You’ll take care of her?”
Ba'cho nodded. “She is our sister. We will see her home safely.”
“Thank you.” Jonah should be relieved and grateful for Ba'cho’s assurances. So, why did his heart feel like a ball of lead? He was leaving Cadence in the care of another man. Every male cell in his body screamed at him to stay, that she was his responsibility. She belonged to him. Suddenly, he was hit with a wave of jealousy so fierce it nearly sent him to his knees. What was he doing? He’d never felt so torn. There was a part of him that didn’t care about what she’d done and yet there was that other part that wouldn’t allow him to forget it.
No. It was better this way. Mounting Athos, he reminded himself of all the reasons he was doing the right thing. He rode out, willing his doubts away with a strength and determination honed during his years in the war.
HE WAS GONE.
Cadence felt his absence in her very bones. He wasn’t even that far away yet, and already she was becoming weak. Their bond must be unusually strong for it to affect her so soon after his leaving. She thought she’d at least have a day or two before her suffering from the separation began. This was very strange and it frightened her.
How she wished her mother was here to comfort her, to take her in her arms and tell her everything would be all right, as she so often had when Cadence was a child. But she was all alone now, with no one to give her guidance.
Cadence lay on the pallet she and Jonah had so recently shared, feeling desolate and hollow. Where was he going? Was he heading back to New Orleans, or was he off to track down another wanted criminal? If he was going to New Orleans, she might have a chance. And if he were to reject her again, she would be doomed to live a life of pain and torment. To have him in the same city was not enough. It would barely sustain her. It would be better to die.
Suddenly, a wave of evil wash
ed over her, before a man appeared and stood over her. His muscular, bronzed body was bare except for a white loincloth that reached to mid-thigh, revealing his strong, well-shaped legs. He was tall, his smooth, hairless chest broad, his stomach ridged and firm. Both of his bulging biceps were banded with strange tattooed symbols.
He looked like Ba'cho, except this man’s cheekbones were more angular, his lips not quite as full, but just as sensual. Where Ba'cho’s eyes were black, this man’s eyes were a rich amber color, shimmering with an odd light. A scar bisected one black eyebrow, the only thing marring his perfect beauty. His straight, inky-black hair was pulled away from his forehead and tied with a leather thong decorated with white feathers. The rest of his long hair fell well past his shoulders, almost reaching his waist. Most women would commit murder to have such thick, silky-smooth hair, and on any other man it would have looked silly, but on him, it only accentuated his masculine appeal.
He stared at Cadence with those strange eyes. He seemed…surprised, and…disappointed. “You are not the golden sister.” His voice was deep, with a slight raspy quality to it.
The golden sister. Jaelene?
“I sensed your power, so similar to hers.” Then he sniffed the air. “Your mate has left you.” Those sensuous lips of his curled into a sneer.
Cadence raised herself up onto her elbows. Even that small movement weakened her. “That’s none of your business…Itsá.”
His black brows drew together. “You know who I am?” And then understanding dawned. “Ah, I see Sons-ee-ah-ray is still the keeper of stories. So…he thinks to break the spell.”
Cadence could feel Itsá’s anger, sense the darkness inside him, along with his determination to see Ba'cho’s plan fail. How could such a beautiful man be so evil? “I can see how you’d have a problem with that,” she taunted.
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