Cat's Cradle: String of Fate, Book 1

by Bianca D’Arc

  She couldn’t wait.

  “You’re beautiful, Cade. I really appreciate your sharing this with me,” she whispered to him as he lay beside her in the big bed, his cat eyes following every move she made. “Change back so I can show you how much.

  The process she’d witnessed only minutes before reversed. His entire body shimmered as he shifted, the air around him vibrating with something she could only describe as magic. She had no idea what it really was, but it felt like electricity wrapped in velvet.

  She blinked, closing her eyes against the strange feeling and when she looked back, the sultry black cat had been replaced with an equally sexy man. Cade grinned at her as he moved closer.

  “So you like my wild side?” He rose on one elbow, leaning over her.

  “You know I do.”

  She wrapped one hand around the back of his neck, drawing him down to her lips. She nuzzled him as he moved closer, using one hand to remove the towel that covered her body. He threw it behind them, off the bed. She vaguely heard it land some distance away, but she didn’t really care where it went or if it broke anything in the room when it landed. All that mattered was Cade, over her, soon to be in her. She hoped.

  “I like the way you show your appreciation, baby.” He captured her lips with his.

  The kiss was shattering, earth moving and totally undeniable. He licked inside, making her want him even more—if such a thing was possible. She didn’t think she could get any hotter, but Cade had a way of making her surpass all of her prior experiences. Everything was new with him. Fresh and clean, and perfect in every way. It was a far cry from what she was used to in her dealings with the opposite sex.

  Cade eased up, rolling over her. He pinned her with both his body and the wicked gleam in his eye.

  “Let’s try something a little different this time. Are you game?”

  She couldn’t resist the dare, though she wasn’t sure what this wild man might have in store. Still, he hadn’t done anything but protect her from the moment they’d met. Judging by their encounters to this point, she seriously doubted he’d do anything she wouldn’t enjoy.

  “Do your worst, big boy.”

  He took one of her wrists in each of her hands, raising them upward until they rested on either side of her head, above her ears. His sexy smile warmed her as the feeling of being exposed and under his complete control nearly overwhelmed her.

  “This is a game of trust,” he said, lightly holding her wrists in place. “I just showed mine by shifting in front of you. Now it’s your turn.”

  “Does trusting you not to eat me alive count?” she quipped.

  His eyes glowed as he looked at her. “But that’s just what I want to do to you. And you’ll love every minute of it. I promise.”

  She realized they were talking about very different things, and her pulse leapt at the images his words conjured in her mind.

  “Leave your hands exactly where I put them, Ellie. No matter what. If we were in another place and time, I’d tie you to the bed while I had my wicked way with you, but this will have to suffice for now.” He leered at her in an almost comical way, diving in for a quick kiss before he released her hands and moved downward.

  He paused at her breasts, giving them each the attention she craved. He teased her with his mouth, tongue and even his teeth. His touch was alternately demanding and gentle, and incredibly arousing. By the time he moved on, she was gasping for air.

  Cade leaned back and spread her thighs as far as they would go. He grinned up at her, displaying his sharper-than-human teeth. The sight sent a shiver down her spine of mixed excitement and the most delicious sort of danger.

  “You’re a flexible little thing, aren’t you?” His growly voice said he approved.

  “I took years of ballet before I ever started doing martial arts,” she admitted, her voice sounding breathy to her own ears.

  “Mmm. A dancer. No wonder you’re so graceful and strong. Will you dance for me sometime, Ellie?”

  She had to bite back a laugh at the leering look on his face. “I did ballet, Cade, not exotic dancing.”

  “Anything you do is exotic to me, baby.” He leaned in and blew a breath of warm air over her exposed body, reminding her of their intimate position. She’d never been so turned on before—or so comfortable with a man in any and all situations.

  With her hands up around her ears she was utterly exposed to him, vulnerable in the most basic way, but she knew he would never take advantage—not in a bad way, at least—of her vulnerability. No, Cade was an honorable man. He might make her scream, but it would only be in ecstasy. She trusted him that far at least.

  Trusting him with her heart was another matter entirely. She didn’t trust her own judgment when it came to taking that final headlong leap from lust into love. Her track record wasn’t stellar where relationships were concerned and this one had all the earmarks of a disaster waiting to happen.

  He’d just shown her why. Could a pantera noir shifter and a regular girl really make a go of it on a permanent basis? And for that matter, did Cade really want her for a lifetime? He seemed possessive, but maybe that was just a big cat thing. He might be thinking in terms of weeks or maybe even months—not years or lifetimes. Elaine had to tread lightly and try to protect her heart as best she could.

  It wouldn’t be easy, but she had to at least try. For both their sakes. She knew him well enough by now to realize he wouldn’t enjoy breaking her heart, but he’d do it if he had to. He’d already turned away from her once by leaving her after that first night. She would never have seen him again if not for the arson happy fireman and his friend.

  But depressing thoughts of the future went up in smoke the moment Cade touched her. His fingers framed her as his head dipped to place nibbling kisses on her tummy, then farther down.

  He licked her folds, lapping at her like the big cat that hid inside him. Her breathing hitched as Cade’s motions hit her with a blast of sensation that made her whole body tremble. Her muscles quivered, and she longed to move her arms, but he’d told her to keep them where they were.

  She feared if she disobeyed and clutched at his soft hair the way she wanted, he’d stop. And that would kill her. She knew it. Nobody could live through that kind of torment—or this kind of pleasure.

  Cade played her body like a master violinist played a Stradivarius. He made her moan and pant, and when his fingers joined the action, dipping inside her thrust and rub against her most sensitive places, she went off like a rocket. Pleasure rose to a crescendo within her spilling outward as her body vibrated and shook with release.

  She screamed his name as he rode her through the peak and subsequent lull, only to bring her back to trembling need faster than she thought humanly possible. She felt the rumble of his purr against her thigh and heard the deep, rich sound that made her feel a kind of feminine satisfaction. She’d done that to him. He purred for her. She’d heard it before and it never failed to turn her insides to molten lava.

  She didn’t quite know what it meant, but it had to be a good sound. After all, even Chuck purred when he was happy. Not that Cade was anything like her housecat, but he was a cat and maybe the two very different breeds were similar in this small way at least.

  She was fully recovered and getting into the swing of things again when he lifted his head. She bit back a curse, knowing he probably had something even better in store for her now, though how he could top what he’d just made her feel, she had no idea.

  “I see you kept your hands where I wanted them.” He licked his lips with a satisfied grin. “For that, you deserve a reward.”

  She nearly came when he stalked up her body, crawling over her inch by inch as he sought her mouth. She could taste the faint echo of herself on his skin, and the very idea of it made her feel naughty and deliciously hot.

  “What do you want for your reward, baby?”

  “I want you, Cade. Now!”

  He reared back, a dangerous mile lighting his face
. “I think that can be arranged.”

  Cade laced his fingers through hers, aligning their bodies perfectly on the first try. He was so ready, he didn’t need anything to guide him inside. He surged forward, his gaze holding hers. His eyes glowed with mesmerizing desire as they became one. Elaine couldn’t look away, he held her enthralled even as he started to move.

  “Wrap your legs around me, El. Show me how much you want this.”

  The silky ends of his hair drifted forward to frame his face, swaying with his thrusts as he increased his pace. Elaine did as he asked, thrilled by the feel of his muscular body against her thighs. He was all lean muscle and hot kinetic energy as he took her in the most primal way.

  “Harder, Cade,” she begged, and he immediately gave her what she wanted. He was an intuitive lover. A spectacular lover.

  She writhed under him, meeting his thrusts with upward pulses of her hips. Anything to bring him closer, to drive them both higher. They were almost there.

  Cade leaned down and kissed her, swallowing her moans of desire as he pushed her higher. He broke the kiss, trailing his lips down her neck.

  “I’m going to bite you again,” he whispered in her ear, his hot breath skating over her sensitive skin. “Do you want it? Do you accept me?”

  “Do it, Cade. I want it.”

  “Do you want me?” He held out, demanding her answer.

  “I want you. Cade. Please.”

  Her cries finally got through to him. He bit down on the place where her shoulder met her neck as he thrust high and tight within her. The world exploded around them as she screamed. She could feel Cade’s body tense above her and within her as his warmth filled her, renewing her, drowning her in the pleasure he created and controlled.

  She still couldn’t move her hands, but it didn’t matter. He held her, he guided her, he was in charge and she loved every minute of his mastery.

  It was a long time before rational thought was restored. She floated on a sea of clouds, pleasure her only sensation, Cade her only companion. That’s all she needed. Cade and the pleasure he gave her.

  They drifted together, joined in sensation for endless minutes before Cade finally moved away. He rolled to her side, gathering her close, his strong arms a little wobbly as he licked the new marks he’d made on her neck. She was wobbly too. Cade was that good.

  “I didn’t mean to get so rough, Ellie. I’m sorry.”

  The contrite tone touched her heart, and she rushed to reassure him.

  “You don’t have a single thing to be sorry about, Cade. I loved what we just did. Couldn’t you tell?”

  She felt his smile against the skin of her throat.

  “I had a small inkling. You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Better than okay.” She turned to face him, stroking his cheek with her fingers. “I don’t have words to describe how okay I am.”

  He turned his head, nibbling on her fingers. “I’m glad. I feel the same way.”

  Her breath caught. He hadn’t spoken of love, but she knew with every touch, every caress, he told her how much he cared. It might not be the forever kind of love she’d dreamed of since she was a child, but it was more than she’d ever had before and it meant something. Never one to jump into bed with a man, Elaine needed to know the man cared before giving herself. She felt that with Cade and longed to feel more even though she knew their relationship was probably doomed from the start.

  “Let’s sleep for a while. We had a long night and nobody expects to hear from us today. I took care of all that earlier.”

  “You’re a genius,” she said on a sigh, snuggling close to lay her head against his chest. He seemed to like her there, and she loved the way they fit so perfectly together. Plus, she was too weak from pleasure to move too far away. Better to snuggle with her pantera noir lover while she could.

  She fell asleep with a smile on her face and tiny wrinkle of worry on her brow.

  He woke her twice more during the day as they dozed lazily in the big bed. Once was a slow, languorous loving and the second was a quick, tempestuous romp that would’ve knocked her socks off if she’d been wearing socks. After the rough quickie, Cade took her back into the luxurious bathroom where they lazed in the big tub again.

  He washed her hair with gentle fingers, stroking her like she was the cat in this relationship. She had to chuckle as the thought crossed her mind.

  “What puts that sexy little grin on your face, my lovely?” Cade didn’t miss a thing.

  “Just enjoying the attention. I’ve never had a man wash my hair for me before.”

  “Mmm. I’m glad to be your first.” His chuckle rumbled against her back as he spooned her from behind in the giant tub. “It’s a first for me too. Now I wonder why I deprived myself of this pleasure for so long.”

  She reclined against him after he finished rinsing her hair with the hand sprayer. There were bubbles all around them from the shampoo but neither of them cared. The scent it gave off was subtle and clean, sort of woodsy, like herbs. Whatever brand it was, she liked it.

  His hands skated over her body, the slick water adding something to the experience. He cupped her breasts through the bubbles, and her breath caught. He spent a long time playing with her nipples, sending her temperature and her passion soaring.

  He moved his caress lower, one hand claiming her pussy, the other reaching around between their bodies to tease the cleft of her ass. She squeaked when he pressed inward on the tight rosette there, while his other hand played with her clit.

  “Ever done it this way, kitten?”

  “Um…no.” Was that anticipation in her voice? She’d never done it, but she’d thought about it a time or two.

  “Is that interest I hear in your voice?” He pressed in deeper, making her squirm as she felt new, forbidden things that made her want more. She didn’t dare answer as he moved deeper. The slickness of the water made his entry easy. It almost seemed too easy.

  “What’s in this water?”

  “You found me out. The shampoo as well as the bath oil I put in the tub are made by one of our herbalists. It’s good for your skin and will ease your muscle aches. I put some in our last bath too, but this time I added an extra dollop.” Cade’s dark chuckle only made her hotter.

  “You planned this?” The words came out in a gasp as he added another finger in her bottom.

  “Not this exactly.” His words rumbled near her ear. “I only wanted to soothe your body.” He nipped her ear with a little more force than he had before as he stretched her wider.

  “I wouldn’t say this was soothing, exactly.” She murmured as he began to gently move his fingers in and out. The sensation was…well, it was indescribably delicious. Better than she’d expected, in fact. She couldn’t wait to learn the way his cock would feel inside her.

  So far, everything she’d done with Cade had brought her incredible pleasure. He’d been rougher with her than any other man, but she loved it. What she probably would have objected strongly to with the few men she’d bedded in the past, only drove her higher with Cade. She wanted it all with him. Everything she could imagine and anything he could introduce her to as well.

  “I want you, Cade.” The words ripped from her lips as he withdrew his fingers, allowing the magic potion in the bathwater to soothe her skin.

  “You’ve got me, kitten. Anywhere and everywhere.” He repositioned her in the tub, sliding her slick limbs over his.

  The position was a little awkward but it worked. Cade made it work. He lifted her over his hard cock and let her take him in small degrees. The entry was shallow at first, which allowed her time to get used to the girth of him inside her.

  “Okay, baby?” his words whispered past her ear as he pushed down on her hips, driving himself deeper.

  “Yes.” She was beyond words of more than one syllable as he began to move.

  Whatever was in that bath oil, it eased his way, allowing him to thrust easily into a place that had never been invaded in such a way
before. The pleasure struck hard and fast, driving her to a small peak of pleasure that made her cry out.

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet, kitten.” Cade’s mouth nuzzled her neck as he increased his pace. One hand guided her on his hips, the other reached around and toyed with her clit, sliding and rubbing until she began to pant. He nipped her shoulder, biting down as her passion rose again.

  “Cade!” She was so close. She cried out his name as she neared another devastating peak of pleasure.

  “Come with me now, El.” He ordered, and she complied. She went off like a rocket, reaching for the stars as he pressed deep, pulsing and straining within her. She felt his cock spurt its release and she screamed his name, riding him as the water sloshed against the sides of the big tub.

  The pleasure lasted for long, long minutes while their pleasure peaked, and Cade held her, supporting her. He was there for her. Taking care of her. When they began to descend from the high point of passion, he gently nibbled on her earlobe, sucking and nipping.

  “Are you okay, kitten?”

  “I’m good.” She loved the sexy purr of his voice.

  He pulled out in a gentle slide that was soothed by the heated oil in the bath. That stuff was pure magic as far as she was concerned. She’d never have been able to do this so easily otherwise, she was sure.

  “How are you?” She turned her head into his neck, lolling all over him as he spooned her tired body in the still warm water. She felt like she was floating, supported by his strength. It was a heady sensation.

  “Never better.” He growled. Actually growled. “I mean that. I’ve never had better, Ellie. And I suspect I never will.” His words drifted off as she did, a pleasant fatigue claiming her in a light doze. She slept, secure in the knowledge that Cade would take care of her.