by Celia Kyle
He pushed deep once again, fingers curled and stroking that pretty, pretty spot and she shouted her decision to the ceiling. “Inside me!”
Those three syllables had him bolting into action. While it’d only taken moments for him to slice and remove the clothing from her body, he took even less time with his own. He’d hardly left her before he was back, his sweat dampened flesh firm against her and the skin on skin connection had her inner lioness purring and aching to bare its belly to their mate.
He resettled between her thighs, but instead of his mouth floating above her center, it was his hardness pressed intimately against her. He gently rocked his hips, sending a lightning bolt of pleasure down her spine and she shuddered, unable to squash her reaction to his touch.
She wanted him, there was no denying that, but she didn’t want it going to his head either.
“You like that?” He rolled his hips once again and she smiled when her shudder was answered by his own.
“I think we both do.” She smiled widely. Zane growled, baring his teeth in mock anger and she was quick to respond. “Don’t flash ’em unless you’re using ’em.”
That caused him to growl once again and she smiled even wider. Her teasing hit the mark, and now he was serious. His hands were everywhere, stroking and petting her, lips gliding over her skin and sucking on her. In all the while, his hardness lay flush with her heat until she was ready to scream with the need for him.
“Dammit, Zane…”
He rumbled and she had the distinct feeling it was actually a laugh. Her suspicion was confirmed when he lifted his head from her breast and met her stare. “Yeah, baby?”
“Quit teasing. You gave me a choice and I told you I wanted to come with you inside me. That can’t happen if you don’t, you know, get inside me.”
She was pretty sure that part was obvious.
Another chuckle as he carefully lifted his hips enough to position the tip of his length against her moist entrance. He carefully teased her, sliding in a bare inch before retreating.
“Is this what you want?”
She whimpered and nodded.
“Nope, give me the words.”
“Bastard.” She shuddered and swallowed the moan that leapt to her lips. “Yes, that’s what I want. I want you inside me.”
“Then that’s what you’ll have.”
And damn the man, he kept his promises. His hardness carefully slid inside her, stretching her as his fingers had not, and she moaned with the new pain-tinged pleasure that overtook her. He slipped deeper and deeper, his length stroking her and she trembled with the overwhelming sensations of his possession.
He set a maddening rhythm, a careful retreat met by a gentle thrust that did nothing more than make her crazy with need for him. They remained quiet, their bodies and breathing making more than enough sound. Their hips met, each collision pushing her closer to the ultimate joy, and her body called for release.
She hovered at the edge, dangling on the very precipice, and she held her breath as she waited to see if he’d give her what she needed.
Like any good mate, he met her needs. He flashed his white lengthened fangs, his lion obviously prepared to claim her, and Addy found her lioness responded in kind.
“You’re mine.” The words spurred her pleasure, sending it sliding through her veins and it snatched away any hint of control that remained.
She was nothing more than a ball of overwhelming sensation and soul deep need.
“You’re mine.” She bared her fangs as well, letting him know what was to come.
Based on the flare of gold in his eyes, she knew he more than embraced the idea. They became a mass of writhing bodies, both hunting for that ultimate release. Their roars and yells gained in volume with each passing second. His were a constant demand while hers a steady plea for more. Until finally…
Finally the end was there. Her orgasm overtook her in a surprising wave of blinding ecstasy. Her body was no longer her own, but merely a rolling wave of bliss. She trembled and twitched, toes curling and limbs refusing to acknowledge her commands, but there was one thing she could do.
Addy could claim him. Because as he lowered his head, mouth wide and prepared to sink into her flesh, she did the same. She struck as he bit her, going deep and she reveled in the coppery sweetness that rolled over her tongue. Heaven, more and more heaven filled her as she sucked on the wound she’d caused. Pain assaulted her as well, telling her she now belonged to him.
The evidence of their mating continued, her very essence reaching out for his, the glowing ethereal tendrils twining and tying them together. They would forever be linked, mind to mind until their thoughts were no longer their own. There would be no secrets from her mate. His thickness grew even more, knotting their bodies as his release filled her. They would be tied together, body and soul, this reaction only present between true mates, and she gloried in this cascade of events.
She was his, and he was hers. They’d shared those words, but now they were connected forever in truth and nothing could ever tear them apart. And now his mating knot would ensure they remained close for minutes after they’d satisfied each other. It wasn’t a time to be rushed or shortened, but a time of connection for a couple.
Except… the soft wail of an infant through a baby monitor had Zane softening in an instant. It was as if nature programmed a parent’s body to…
But they weren’t parents. Not in truth. But in her heart, obviously in Zane’s heart, they were. If only…
Chapter Five
Addy wasn’t sure what to expect. They’d simply received a call, Colton informing that Marcus requested their presence at the pride’s lands situated an hour outside the city. Zane hadn’t yet taken her to the area, his concern for their safety keeping him close to home and Addy and Jack within the apartment unless they had enforcers at their side.
She couldn’t blame her mate for his caution. Things in the city were still very much in the air. The Collettis—human and werelion—were still a big threat despite the leaders being in prison. Criminal life apparently didn’t end behind bars. It simply meant the men had to be more creative.
But something had to have changed if Zane was willing to take them to such a wide open and hard to protect area.
Their SUV carefully bounced over the rutted road, each rise and fall dragging giggles and laughs from Jack. He’d grown so much in the month they’d been with Zane, as if love and care were all he needed to blossom into a healthy and happy cub.
The trees that had surrounded them for the last twenty minutes finally thinned out and then completely vanished, exposing a large area of flat, cleared land. Numerous cars were parked off to one side, many familiar to her. She recognized that Marcus and Brett were there, but also several other enforcers she’d come to know as well. Lennox, Grant, Austin…
“Are we having a pride gathering?” She furrowed her brow.
“Not that I know of.” Zane seemed as confused as her.
Jack continued giggling and enjoying himself as they carefully pulled up alongside the alpha’s vehicle. The second her mate shifted into park, the baby began fussing and yelling to be released. He didn’t mind being in the car, but only when it was moving.
“I know, I know, I’m coming…” Addy quickly hopped from the SUV and went toward the back seat only to have Zane cut her off.
She shook her head and smiled. The big, bad enforcer was a sucker for a baby. “Come to daddy, big man.”
Leaving her mate to it, she stepped back and looked around the space. She spied the small group near the tree line, several of the males in their lion form, while others remained on two feet. She recognized Jennifer and Penelope, and noted what seemed to be hardly suppressed excitement surrounding the women. She wasn’t sure what had the lionesses on pins and needles—there was no telling with them. They bounced around over a night on the town and new baby booties in equal measure.
Zane’s large hand settled on her lower back and she glanced at h
im to see he cuddled Jack to his chest with his free arm. As a family they padded toward the group and with each step, her worry grew. Yes, the two women seemed to be brimming with anticipation, but the men’s gazes were more shuttered which added to her unease.
“Zane?”
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple. “We’re fine.”
Fine. Right. Of course.
Soon they were mere feet from the group, and the delicious scent of fresh meat teased her nose. That was also about the time she realized the few lion males were busily cleaning themselves and licking their whiskers. A recent kill. They couldn’t be delivering bad news if they’d been hunting for celebratory food, right? Unless it was an apology meal because Marcus finally came to a decision about Jack.
She flicked her attention to the large alpha and swallowed hard. An unreadable yet serious expression covered his features and a hint of fear snaked its way through her body.
Jack fussed and Zane rubbed her back. “Calm down. Everything’s fine,” he murmured.
As they approached the small group, Penelope broke away and rushed toward them, her arms outstretched. “Oh, let me snuggle and get my baby fix.”
Addy looked from the alpha’s mate to Marcus and then Zane, hunting for any hint of an ulterior motive. She didn’t see any subterfuge and yet… And yet Addy couldn’t shake the feeling that something huge was in the works. And that something involved Jack.
Acting as only a mama lion could, she darted away from Zane and immediately cut Penelope off with a low snarl and curl of her lip. “What’s going on?”
Penelope drew up short, sliding to a stop before crashing into Addy, and the woman stared at her, head tilted to the side in question. “What do you mean?” Marcus approached and took up position at Penelope’s side. “We kept things small because you don’t trust everyone in the pride yet, but we wanted to celebrate—”
Marcus nudged his mate behind him and Addy spied a glare on Penelope’s face—the expression directed at the alpha—before she was hidden from view.
“Celebrate?” Zane tugged Addy back and carefully passed her the baby and then she was staring at his back so the males faced each other. “What are we celebrating? Why are we out here?” Some of the concern she’d held through their travels now seemed to be making an impression on Zane. “What’s going on?”
“Of course we’re celebrating.” Marcus’ tone left the ‘idiot’ hanging in the air. “Why the hell do you think I dragged you out here? Didn’t Colton tell you that I—”
A movement off to her left drew her attention and she watched as one of the larger males carefully rose to his feet and inched toward the tree line.
“Colton told me to get my family here by four. He didn’t tell me why,” Zane snarled. “He’s left us on edge all day. So what’s going on?”
That distant lion continued on his careful path.
“He should have explained that I met with Tony Davis and we’ve all come to an agreement that Jack Davis is now Jack Edwards. His official parents are Zane and Addy Edwards. In exchange, he gets transferred to a better facility and we stop pressuring him to snitch on others.” Marcus finished his statement with a wide smile and she wondered if that was all Marcus promised. “That’s why we’re here.” Marcus shook his head. “He didn’t tell you, did he? Dammit.” Marcus’ gaze remained on Zane and he tilted his head back to yell. “Colton, get up here.” The alpha peered around Zane and met Addy’s gaze. “I’m sorry if he caused you to worry. Colton probably thought he was playing a joke and that it be funny to keep you in the dark.”
Addy was slowly realizing the stress she’d carried all day was only because some overgrown adolescent thought he was amusing. Now her fear was slowly turning to anger and she recognized that the furball attempting to get away with his tail tucked between his legs and head hanging low was probably the “Colton” in question.
“I think he’s trying to disappear.” Addy gestured toward the now disappearing male.
A low growl escaped and then her mate was snapping questions at Marcus. “Jack is ours?”
“Yes.”
“And everyone knew this? Colton, too?”
“Yes.”
“So he was trying to cause trouble on purpose?”
“It appears so.”
She could practically read her mate’s mind and knew he was a balloon of aggression just waiting to pop. Zane did not take it well when others upset her, and today’s events definitely qualified as an ‘upset.’
“One last question.” Zane tilted his head from side to side, cracking his neck. “Can you look after my family while I take care of something for a minute?”
Marcus’ response was instantaneous. “Of course.”
Zane spun around to face her and dropped a soft kiss to the top of Jack’s head before then placing those lips over hers in a brief touch. “I’ll be right back, baby. I gotta take care of something real quick.”
Then he was gone, racing into the trees. He ripped clothes free of his body as he went and was fully transformed before he hit the forest. Roars, snarls, and growls reached past the trees but otherwise the battle was hidden from view.
Penelope and Jennifer rushed forward, the Alpha Mate easily pushing Marcus aside, and both women spouted reassurances that Zane would come back to her hale and whole. There was nothing to worry about. Sometimes the enforcers needed to let off a little steam. A lot of times Colton needed his ass handed to him.
Addy let it rush in one ear and out the other because truly, she wasn’t worried a bit. She’d find out the details about Tony’s relinquishment of Jack later, but she trusted the alpha to be speaking the truth. He wasn’t the alpha of North America for no reason. No, her mind was whirling around a handful of words from her mate.
…my family…
A loud booming roar shook the earth and she recognized Zane’s frustration. Jack giggled in response, squirming in her hold, and she couldn’t help but smile along with the baby.
Yes, they made up a small family and hopefully it would grow someday. Actually, she lightly brushed her lower stomach, it would grow very, very soon.
The End
If you enjoyed this book, please be totally awesomesauce and leave a review so others may discover it as well. Long review or short, your opinion will help other readers make future purchasing decisions. So, go forth and rate my level-o-awesome!
By the way… below are some links to help you hunt up the rest of the series:
Quick & Furry #1: Chasing Tail – http://bookbit.ly/qfctare
Quick & Furry #2: Tailing Her – http://bookbit.ly/qfthare
Quick & Furry #3: On Her Tail – http://bookbit.ly/qfohtare
Quick & Furry #4: Heads or Tails – http://bookbit.ly/qfhotare
About the Author
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
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Copyright Page
Published by Summerhouse Publishing. Quick & Furry, Book 3: On Her Tail. Copyright © 2015. Celia Kyle. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized
reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About the Author
Copyright Page