by Ruby Forrest
She hurried to the address that Casey had given her, relieved that it was in walking distance, although not surprised, considering she was apparently on their turf. She was frightened, but she was also feeling bold, bold and confident and the nagging fear in her gut only told her that she was alive, she was doing this and it was all going to be okay in the end.
Hanna- Gale reached the address, coming face to face with a dark door and no lights. She wondered about knocking and decided that it couldn’t hurt. After all, he had knocked on her door. So she did. The sound seemed to echo through the night and Hanna- Gale shifted her weight as she waited for an answer.
When the door finally swung open, she was face to face with a very angry looking Dan. He took one look at her and grabbed the door, as if he was about to slam it shut. Hanna- Gale took her chance, ducking inside.
The inside of the house was dark and suddenly she realized that she’d just used the exact same trick that Dan had.
And when the door slowly shut on her, plunging her into darkness, she realized that she had entered the snow leopards den, and there was no telling if she’d make it out in one piece.
Chapter 8
“What do you want?” Dan had a dark tone to his voice and Hanna- Gale bit her lip. She couldn’t see anything, but she could feel Dan moving around, hear him with every step he took and it made Hanna- Gale uneasy. She wished he would flick a switch, would let the light into the dark room where they stood. For the longest time, she was quiet.
Then she spoke, “I want to sort this out.”
He snorted, and flicked the switch. Hanna- Gale regretted her earlier wish as the light burnt her eyes, searing her until she winced.
“Sort what out? You stand where you stand and I do to. What is there to sort out?” His voice was dangerous and Hanna- Gale blinked a few times until he came into focus. Him and a modest place, what looked to be his home. Neat, orderly. The dishes in the sink made her think that he lived alone.
She took a deep breath, trying to regroup the thoughts that swirled around in her mind, “Look….I know we probably got off on the wrong foot.” She winced, knowing that that was nowhere near the right way to bring this up. Dan folded his arms, looking unimpressed.
“But I do not want to mess with any of your affairs.” She shifted her weight, “I do not want to make trouble. I just want to live in my house. I’ll leave everyone else alone.”
He sighed and shook his head, “It doesn’t work that way. It sets a standard and next thing you know, nobody’s in line anymore.” He leaned back against the kitchen counter, “Besides…unless you got a lot of money with that house, you won’t be able to afford the upkeep anyway.”
He sounded almost smug and the thought infuriated her. No one else had realized that yet and the fact that Dan had sent anger sparking through Hanna- Gale’s core and made her feel a little sick, a little giddy with her anger.
“How do you know?” She spat.
“Well, you’re new to this town, so I assume you do not have a job here.” He looked at her carefully, seeming to recover some of his confidence from before, “You probably have a job back home, rent or a mortgage…”
Hanna- Gale’s cheeks grew red, and Dan smirked, triumph written all over his face, “Thought so. So, tell me…unless your job is fancier than you’re letting on…how exactly do you plan on living there and paying your bills?” He sighed and looked at her carefully, “I mean, I bet the commute would be hell. And it’s commute or starve…so…”
Hanna- Gale couldn’t speak, anger lodged in her throat and making her feel very uncomfortable.
“Or…” Dan continued, “You leave. You pay the bare minimum to keep the house running and you stay in your home town, do your job and leave this house and this town behind.”
Dan shrugged, “You do not have to sell it, and we do not touch it. But we can’t have you living in there and tarnishing our reputation. It’s the smarter choice all around.”
He smirked, a dark look in his eyes, “And I would have told you all of this earlier if Casey hadn’t decided to lunge at me.” His eyes darkened further, “In fact…considering what you saw, I’m surprised you haven’t run home already.”
He looked amused and Hanna- Gale found her voice quickly again, “So you’re a snow leopard shifter…big deal.” Her voice was flat and she narrowed her eyes, “And just because you have made a few lucky guesses about me doesn’t mean that you get to decide my future. This is my life.”
Dan took a step forward and, for a second, Hanna- Gale regretted her words. Something had shifted in Dan and Hanna- Gale didn’t know how dangerous that look in his eyes really was. It wasn’t until he was almost on top of her, and Hanna- Gale felt her back against the wall, that she realized he could really threaten her, if he wanted to. She swallowed.
“You’re an interesting woman.” He smirked and then his lips were on hers. The kiss was so different from the kiss with Casey. His lips were sure and forceful and Hanna- Gale didn’t think he’d even break away for air.
Thoughts of Casey flashed in her mind, but it didn’t take long for Dan’s hands to find the hem of her skirt and Hanna- Gale felt herself melting. It must be a snow leopard thing, she thought idly. She never did this, never…and now she couldn’t help herself. His body felt hot and strong as it pressed against her and she found herself moaning into the kiss.
She parted her lips and their tongues met, leaving Hanna- Gale feeling a hot tingled rush down her skin, a warmth spreading between her thighs and making her shiver. He felt so good, so, so good and Hanna- Gale couldn’t even think straight.
The feel of him thrummed through her body, shuddering and making Hanna- Gale lose her head. She knew that she shouldn’t do this, that Casey might not approve and that their relationship was too new and precarious to be doing this. But on the other hand, they were not in any sort of formal relationship and she could only hope that he was the type of man who understood.
Because Hanna- Gale didn’t think she had the strength to stop this, to end the searing passion and the smoky taste and the way that her mind was filling with desire and passion and pleasure and leaving no room for anything else.
It was impossible to think of anything but the feeling of his hands against her skin, the way he brushed her skin and pushed up her skirt, the way her panties were slid off her skin and onto the floor in less than a minute.
She stepped out of them without even realizing that was what she was doing. Then his hands were tangling in her hair and she felt her dress slipping from her skin, hands sliding around her body to undo her bra and let it fall to the ground.
Hanna- Gale felt a flash of worry, about what the heck would happen when Casey arrived, worried about her, only to find her with Dan’s hands on her body. Despite herself, she felt the heat of desire spike at her own thoughts and she kissed him back harder.
Before Hanna- Gale knew it, she was naked aside from the shoes that she balanced on, high heels and nothing else. Dan hadn’t even taken off his jacket and the thought made Hanna- Gale blush red and shiver with lust. She grabbed his jacket in her hands and pressed her skin against the fabric he wore, feeling shudders pass through her as it rubbed against her breast, setting her nipples on fire and making her groan with a burning heat and need for him.
Dan chuckled, a low sound that suddenly sounded a lot warmer than before. He lifted her into his arms and before she realized, they were at the couch. He sat down and pushed her gently down. Hanna- Gale blushed, finding herself on her knees and Dan undid the buckle of his belt, unzipping his jeans. Hanna- Gale blushed at the sight of him- he was big and it sent shivers of warmth through her.
Then Dan’s hand was in her hair and she was taking the whole of him past her lips and into her mouth. He was hot and the taste of him flooded her senses, making her groan with pleasure. When she had woken this morning, she had not expected to be naked and on her knees for a man that she had only just met. The realization had her moaning softly with pleasura
ble lust as she sucked and licked, feeling the heat between her own thighs reaching a fever pitch.
She was so lost in thought and the feel of the pleasure coursing through her body that she jumped when the door slammed open. Dan held her in place, glancing casually at the door, “Casey, nice to see you.”
Worry and fear flooded Hanna- Gale, and she braced herself for his understandable anger. Instead, all she heard was his laughter and his footsteps. She prayed that he would be okay with this, and from the warm sound of his laughter, she was starting to hope that he was. That everything would work out. Her head was spinning with lust.
“Hanna- Gale, when you said you were going to sort things out, I didn’t think you’d go this far.”
A blush crept deeply up Hanna- Gale’s cheeks and she moaned softly with embarrassment. When she felt Casey moving behind her, shivers crept up her spine, “Mind if I join you?” His voice grew husky and Hanna- Gale thought she would be overwhelmed by desire right then and there.
His hands stroked her skin and she felt him press against her warmth, slowly sliding between her thighs and making her moan with pleasure. He was big and the feeling of him entering her was delicious. Her vision danced with stars and she felt like she was floating.
Hanna- Gale gasped as Dan gripped her hair tighter and the waves of pleasure threatened to drown her. She was lost in the feel of them, Casey thrusting deeply within her and making her moan and shiver with delight, the feel of his body against hers making her tremble all over.
She held on tight to the couch as the overwhelming feelings flooded through her, heady and hot and blissful. Hanna- Gale moaned, feeling her climax overwhelm her, crash into her and leave her gasping and trembling and trying to hold onto the feelings that felt too overwhelming to handle.
Casey and Dan climaxed soon after, and their groans made Hanna- Gale tremble with sheer pleasure as she swallowed and shivered and tightened. She felt them both and she felt the bliss overwhelming her senses.
It was blissful and dizzying and everything that she could have possibly hoped for, all wrapped into one and Hanna- Gale never, ever wanted it to end, never wanted to stop the pleasure that coursed through her veins and made her want to gasp for breath and lose her head all at the same time. She felt perfect and Hanna- Gale could never remember feeling this good.
It was wild, it was thrilling, it was contentment and danger all wrapped in one and Hanna- Gale was finding more and more that she absolutely loved it and wanted it so much more than she could dare to admit.
She swallowed and shut her eyes, letting the whole moment wash over her slowly. Perfect.
Dan sank back into the couch and Casey pulled out, pulling Hanna- Gale into his arms. Hanna- Gale gasped and sank back against him, feeling the heady pleasure blur her vision. She shut her eyes and sighed in contentment, letting the moment wash over her and leave her content and comfortable in the moment, the warmth blissful and sweet.
And for that moment, it was more than enough.
Epilogue
The feel of him thrummed through her body, shuddering and making Hanna- Gale lose her head. She knew that she shouldn’t do this, that Casey might not approve and that their relationship was too new and precarious to be doing this. But on the other hand, they were not in any sort of formal relationship and she could only hope that he was the type of man who understood.
Because Hanna- Gale didn’t think she had the strength to stop this, to end the searing passion and the smoky taste and the way that her mind was filling with desire and passion and pleasure and leaving no room for anything else.
It was impossible to think of anything but the feeling of his hands against her skin, the way he brushed her skin and pushed up her skirt, the way her panties were slid off her skin and into the floor in less than a minute.
She stepped out of them without even realizing that was what she was doing. Then his hands were tangling in her hair and she felt her dress slipping from her skin, hands sliding around her body to undo her bra and let it fall to the ground.
Hanna- Gale felt a flash of worry, about what the heck would happen when Casey arrived, worried about her, only to find her with Dan’s hands on her body. Despite herself, she felt the heat of desire spike at her own thoughts and she kissed him back harder.
Before Hanna- Gale knew it, she was naked aside from the shoes that she balanced on, high heels and nothing else. Dan hadn’t even taken off his jacket and the thought made Hanna- Gale blush red and shiver with lust. She grabbed his jacket in her hands and pressed her skin against the fabric he wore, feeling shudders pass through her as it rubbed against her breast, setting her nipples on fire and making her groan with a burning heat and need for him.
Dan chuckled, a low sound that suddenly sounded a lot warmer than before. He lifted her into his arms and before she realized, they were at the couch. He sat down and pushed her gently down. Hanna- Gale blushed, finding herself on her knees and Dan undid the buckle of his belt, unzipping his jeans. Hanna- Gale blushed at the sight of him- he was big and it sent shivers of warmth through her.
Then Dan’s hand was in her hair and she was taking the whole of him past her lips and into her mouth. He was hot and the taste of him flooded her senses, making her groan with pleasure. When she had woken this morning, she had not expected to be naked and on her knees for a man that she had only just met. The realization had her moaning softly with pleasurable lust as she sucked and licked, feeling the heat between her own thighs reaching a fever pitch.
She was so lost in thought and the feel of the pleasure coursing through her body that she jumped when the door slammed open. Dan held her in place, glancing casually at the door, “Casey, nice to see you.”
Worry and fear flooded Hanna- Gale, and she braced herself for his understandable anger. Instead, all she heard was his laughter and his footsteps. She prayed that he would be okay with this, and from the warm sound of his laughter, she was starting to hope that he was. That everything would work out. Her head was spinning with lust.
“Hanna- Gale, when you said you were going to sort things out, I didn’t think you’d go this far.”
A blush crept deeply up Hanna- Gale’s cheeks and she moaned softly with embarrassment. When she felt Casey moving behind her, shivers crept up her spine, “Mind if I join you?” His voice grew husky and Hanna- Gale thought she would be overwhelmed by desire right then and there.
His hands stroked her skin and she felt him press against her warmth, slowly sliding between her thighs and making her moan with pleasure. He was big and the feeling of him entering her was delicious. Her vision danced with stars and she felt like she was floating.
Hanna- Gale gasped as Dan gripped her hair tighter and the waves of pleasure threatened to drown her. She was lost in the feel of them, Casey thrusting deeply within her and making her moan and shiver with delight, the feel of his body against hers making her tremble all over.
She held on tight to the couch as the overwhelming feelings flooded through her, heady and hot and blissful. Hanna- Gale moaned, feeling her climax overwhelm her, crash into her and leave her gasping and trembling and trying to hold onto the feelings that felt too overwhelming to handle.
Casey and Dan climaxed soon after, and their groans made Hanna- Gale tremble with sheer pleasure as she swallowed and shivered and tightened. She felt them both and she felt the bliss overwhelming her senses.
It was blissful and dizzying and everything that she could have possibly hoped for, all wrapped into one and Hanna- Gale never, ever wanted it to end, never wanted to stop the pleasure that coursed through her veins and made her want to gasp for breath and lose her head all at the same time. She felt perfect and Hanna- Gale could never remember feeling this good.
It was wild, it was thrilling, it was contentment and danger all wrapped in one and Hanna- Gale was finding more and more that she absolutely loved it and wanted it so much more than she could dare to admit.
She swallowed and shut her eyes, letting the who
le moment wash over her slowly. Perfect.
Dan sank back into the couch and Casey pulled out, pulling Hanna- Gale into his arms. Hanna- Gale gasped and sank back against him, feeling the heady pleasure blur her vision. She shut her eyes and sighed in contentment, letting the moment wash over her and leave her content and comfortable in the moment, the warmth blissful and sweet.
And for that moment, it was more than enough.
Thoughts of before rushed through her head, playing on repeat and Hanna- Gale smiled as she stood outside her house. It was about a week after her meeting with Dan and Casey and things couldn’t be going better. She’d finally found the solution to all of her problems and the future looked bright in front of her.
Dan had been the one to suggest it and Hanna- Gale was thrilled. The Snow leopards would be renting out the building as a sort of base/ club house, especially for when they needed to deal in more upmarket meetings. It was important to make sure that clients and guests were treated well and Hanna- Gale’s home would work perfectly.
Not to mention, she would get a nice income from the business, allowing her to pay for the basic living costs of the house and herself, and give her enough to live on very, very comfortably. Comfortably enough that she could quit her job and move here permanently.
She would keep a whole wing to herself, including several bedrooms and bathrooms, kitchen, lounge room and study. It was bigger than any house Hanna- Gale had ever stayed in, and it suited her perfectly. It could comfortably house a large family and then some, so Hanna- Gale wasn’t complaining.
She would stay in her house, retain ownership, and be paid to lease out parts of it. The club would be kept happy about their turf and property, and Hanna- Gale got to keep everything she wanted, as well as ending her income woes.
It was perfect. It freed up time for her to search for work, if she wanted, or to spend time with Casey and the club. Casey and Dan had both insisted that she be fully welcomed into the club and Hanna- Gale was thrilled at the thought.