Hearts on Fire

by Serenity Snow

Joslyn tightened the suction of her mouth as she watched Cyanna’s eyes. They were nightglow as a growl escaped her. Joslyn sucked hard, head bobbing up and down. She took Cyanna’s cock to the back of her throat and swallowed.

  “Shit, sweetheart,” Cyanna muttered. “Don’t do that unless you want my cum down your throat.”

  Joslyn did it again and Cyanna grunted hard as her seed pumped from her. Joslyn sucked and licked until Cyanna sighed roughly. Then, she lifted her head and smiled up at her lover before crawling up her body. Cyanna drew her down for a hard kiss, rolling Joslyn onto her back.

  Joslyn’s legs wrapped around Cyanna’s waist as their mouths mated, tongues slowly dueling. Cyanna rocked against Joslyn and she moaned.

  “Cy, you feel so damn good.” She sighed as Cyanna kissed her throat, sucked hard. Joslyn rocked against her, feeling Cyanna’s cock between the folds of her damp pussy. Her clit brushed the shaft and Cyanna ground against her. “Baby, yes. Fuck me.”

  Cyanna pushed into the damp heat of her in a hard stroke. Joslyn panted as they arched and rocked together slowly until they were both coming again.

  * * * *

  He couldn’t believe she had that bitch in her bed. How did two women even fuck? Strap-on? Clit to clit? That wasn’t sex. Only a man could please a woman the way she needed to be pleased.

  He should have killed her last night when he’d had the chance. Well, he wouldn’t allow anything to stop him next time.

  He slammed the stick against the rear of the sports car parked in Joslyn’s driveway. The car alarm went off, the loud whine of it cutting into the silence of the night.

  That should break that freaky shit up. The porch light came on and the dog next door barked in displeasure at the disturbance of its peace.

  He watched her step out, barely dressed. She looked damn good to say he’d nearly killed her last night. What the hell was she? Wolves healed faster than humans, but she’d healed incredibly fast, even for a wolf.

  “Come on, jackal,” she said in a sub-vocal tone. “You want to play? I’m ready for you this time.”

  He growled and watched her look around. Her hearing was as acute as any wolf he’d ever met.

  He stayed put in the shadows of the tree he’d rushed to just before the door opened. He wasn’t a coward, but he couldn’t allow his emotions to overrule him tonight. She might be a female, but a dominant female wolf was as deadly as any male, even more so, depending on the circumstances.

  “What’s this about? Joslyn? Too damned bad, puppy,” she said again in that sub-vocal tone, and he heard the mocking intended to goad him out of hiding.

  Bitch.

  “Cyanna?”

  “Back inside,” she ordered without taking her eyes from the driveway.

  “Keep playing kid’s games, coward,” Cyanna said, and then headed back inside.

  He chuckled softly. We’ll see.

  * * * *

  “Did you see anything?” Joslyn asked.

  “No,” she said. “I’m going to bust that coward’s ass if he keeps fucking with us. He caught me by surprise last night, but that will never happen again.”

  “Do you think it’s Neal?” Joslyn asked. Neal had said something about a woman not being able to give her what she needed. He might have been the one that attacked Cyanna last night. “I can’t tell, but he was more aggressive this morning.”

  “I’m not sure,” Cyanna murmured. “Hell, your pal Seymour wasn’t roses and candy this afternoon. He wants you back. It could have been him.”

  “I know, and I told him and Neal I wasn’t interested,” Joslyn told her softly, “but Seymour would never do anything like this.”

  “I’m not as certain as you are,” Cyanna replied softly. “One of them was out there, so I’m not leaving you alone tonight. I brought a bag in case. I’ll be right back.”

  “You’re staying?” Joslyn asked with a slow smile.

  Cyanna laughed. “You hoped?”

  “Something like that,” Joslyn murmured. “I’ll get dinner on the table.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Do you mind if we shower after?”

  “No.” Cyanna headed out to get her bag. “I’m going to call the police, Joss. I think I should, in case it is Neal, and he attacks you here and I kill him.”

  Joslyn hated the thought of that, but she knew Cyanna was right. “That’s a good idea.”

  * * * *

  The next morning, Joslyn woke to the feel of Cyanna’s warm skin against her cheek. Her body immediately sparked to life with sensual heat, but she tamped it down as she just reveled in having Cyanna next to her.

  She rose on her elbow and just watched Cyanna sleep as she imagined what it would be like to wake up with her every morning. Logically, she knew her time with Cyanna could be as brief as a few weeks. She wanted it to be longer, to be forever.

  Just one night with Cyanna had filled her with so much happiness that Joslyn knew it would break her heart when Cyanna decided she’d had enough of her. Tears misted her eyes and her chest tightened.

  “Joss?” Cyanna asked sleepily and then stretched lazily. The movement was almost cat-like.

  Joslyn dashed away the tears quickly. “Morning,” she said softly and Cyanna’s eyes met hers. The darkness of them startled, shocked Joslyn. They were almost black.

  Cyanna reached for her and Joslyn laid her head on Cyanna’s chest. Cyanna held her close, making Joslyn’s breath stall in her lungs even as her body tingled.

  “Your eyes are so dark,” Joslyn murmured, chancing a look up at her.

  “They’re like that when I wake,” Cyanna said softly. “I like waking up with you.” She stroked Joslyn’s back. “It feels so right.”

  “I was just thinking that.”

  “And it made you sad?” She frowned.

  “No.”

  She tugged at Joslyn’s hair. “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m just worried about this weekend,” Joslyn lied as she stared across the room at the curtains. “I know my parents are going to be upset.” She listened to the silence, wondering if Cyanna knew she was lying. She was concerned about this weekend, but at this moment, losing Cyanna was something that concerned her more.

  Cyanna tumbled Joslyn to her back and rose on her elbow to look down into her eyes as she cupped her jaw. She searched her gaze. Her eyes were still dark and enigmatic. “I generally go into a relationship knowing what I want, and this is no different, Joss. I don’t normally stick around long.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Most women aren’t as accepting as you appear to be. They look at me and then they find out I have a dick. At first, it’s like a new toy, and then the new wears off.”

  Joslyn heard the pain in her voice and an ache tightened her chest. She caressed Cyanna’s back lightly wanting to soothe away the hurt.

  “I’m not ashamed of my body, but I don’t have the patience for assholes who think I’m a freak.”

  “They think you’re a man going through a sex change?”

  “Some. Some are just confused about nature’s trick on me.” She shrugged. “I’m not. I know I’m a woman. I just have more to offer.”

  “I’m not expecting anything from you,” Joslyn told her honestly. She wanted more, ached for it, but accepted it just might not happen.

  “Ditto, but I’m hoping I’ve finally found someone that can accept me as I am.” Cyanna brushed a kiss over Joslyn’s lips.

  Joslyn closed her arms around Cyanna’s neck as her lips parted and Cyanna’s tongue slipped into her mouth.

  Chapter Seven

  Two days later, Cyanna went over some drawings, or tried. She was a little uneasy despite the protection she’d hired for Joslyn. Her wolf and her eagle were growing more attached to Joslyn with each day, and she knew it was because Joslyn was her mate. However, she didn’t want to rush the mating. Her pack would accept Joslyn, but Redwood wouldn’t accept their union. They had a problem with gays. That was evident in the way they kept them in the
closet like a dirty secret.

  Her immediate concern was Neal and Seymour. They both irked her because she couldn’t figure out which one of them was stalking Joslyn. The hang-ups, the sly little email messages she’d started getting two days ago, and someone had broken a window in Joslyn’s bedroom last night while they were making love.

  It was starting to piss her off, but she didn’t want to bash both their heads in. She just wanted to beat the shit out of the one responsible for keeping Joslyn fearful.

  “Is everything okay?” Rory asked.

  “Fine.” She looked up, remembering Rory had come into her office. She hadn’t been here long. She’d come in late after leaving Joss. She’d gone straight to her brother’s friend. She needed security for Joslyn. She wouldn’t always be around to protect her, but a bodyguard would.

  “Okay, well, I need you to sign off on these,” Rory said. “That shipment is coming in Friday afternoon.”

  “Can you handle it?”

  “Yes,” Rory said with a little laugh. “We need a new assistant manager, too. I’ve had enough of—”

  “Hire someone,” she cut in. She knew the girl they had was a bit of a flake. She always had some excuse. “Make it someone who’s interested in working and design.”

  “Okay. How are things with Joss?” Rory smiled. “That girl has you all over her.”

  Her scent wasn’t skin-deep, but the fact that Joslyn was already taking her scent meant she was right. Joss was her mate.

  Cyanna shrugged. “We’re having some outside issues that are bugging me.”

  “Like what?” Rory frowned.

  “Her ex and her neighbor.”

  “We can kick some ass,” Rory said with a shrug.

  Cyanna smiled. Rory had been her close friend for years and was also an intersex female. They had both gone through the pack’s grueling training to earn the respect of the dominant males.

  “I’m thinking about it,” she admitted. “The neighbor is a jackal and the ex has a confusing scent. I can’t tell if he’s a tracker or a jackal, too.”

  “I vote for jackal,” Rory said with a frown. “He makes my wolf and eagle prickly.”

  Cyanna nodded. “Mine too.” She leaned back in her chair. “I hired protection for her. I’m going to talk to the ex at the wedding this weekend.”

  Rory nodded in approval. “Good , but tread carefully—wait, she’s Redwood?”

  “Yep.”

  “Whoa,” she said with a shake of her head. “This could be—”

  “Dicey, I know. I’m treading carefully,” she said. “They’ll never accept me and Joss has no idea the depths they’ll go to, to prevent a mating between us.”

  “I don’t think they’ll risk the alliance, Cyan,” she said with a shrug.

  “Let’s hope not. I’d hate to be the cause of it being wrecked.”

  Rory laughed. “Oh, please,” she said, her tone full of humor. “You’re the alpha’s daughter. He’d never blame you. He’d just sit you down and give you another crash course in inter-pack politics.”

  “Yeah, well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Cyanna said quietly. Her father loved her, but he was alpha. He’d never allow her or anyone else to bring harm or disruption to the pack.

  A knock on her door made her smile.

  “I get it,” Rory said with a grin. “Romance your woman. Just don’t make her scream too loud.”

  Cyanna rolled her eyes. “When it’s good, it’s good,” she replied with a grin as she got to her feet, too. “I do have a ball gag at the ready.”

  Rory chuckled. “Later.” She pulled open the office door and smiled at Joslyn. “Hi, Joslyn.”

  “Hi.”

  “Come in, Joss.” Cyanna gave her a smile.

  “Your lunch just came,” Joslyn murmured and shivered at the look Cyanna gave her.

  “Good. I’m hungry.” She took the bag and Joslyn stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Cyanna wrapped an arm around her waist and drew Joslyn against her before kissing her. “I’m working late tonight, but we can have late dinner.”

  “Mrs. Hines?” Joslyn pulled out of her arms and crossed the room to Cyanna’s desk.

  “Yes, but it won’t take too long.”

  “I hate her,” she muttered. “She’s just trying to get in your pants.”

  “Don’t start, Joss,” Cyanna said patiently.

  “Don’t start? She called you five times yesterday and three the day before. You were with her all afternoon yesterday.”

  “I know.”

  “Make her back off!”

  Cyanna growled. “Quit the damn whining, Joss, and stop shouting,” she snapped as she set the bag on her desk.

  “You can eat alone,” Joslyn muttered. “You’ll probably be fantasizing about her, anyway.” She turned to leave and Cyanna grabbed her arm and jerked her back against her.

  “I said quit it,” she said softly in Joslyn’s ear. “I’m not into her.”

  Joslyn tried to jerk free and Cyanna quickly turned Joslyn to face her. “Let go of me,” she ordered.

  Cyanna’s eyes darkened further to bitter chocolate, and she shackled Joslyn’s wrists in front of her.

  “Your defiance has gone far enough, little wolf,” Cyanna said coldly. “You’ve earned yourself eight lashes, and you’re going to take them like a good girl.”

  Joslyn’s head lowered as her wolf gave Cyanna her willing submission. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Face the desk and lift your dress. Then, push down your panties.”

  Joslyn did as she was told and heard the slight whisper behind her. Her breath lodged in her throat, and she waited as Cyanna rounded her desk and opened a drawer. She didn’t see what she grabbed ,but a moment later, a paddle landed on her ass.

  “I don’t need you to count them off this time, wolf. I need you to keep your mouth closed and just take your punishment.”

  The next tap was a painful sting that made her grimace. The third thud kissed her left ass check and the fourth brought tears to her eyes. She bit her bottom lip on the fifth as tears spilled down her cheeks.

  “Accuse me of anything you want,” Cyanna said, “but use discretion. Your fucking shouting with other shifters in the building is as good as using a bullhorn.” Another tap was delivered to her ass. “They don’t need to know my business.” Tap. Tap. “Understood?”

  “Yes.”

  Cyanna put the paddle on the desk. “Down.”

  She pulled up her panties and let her dress tail down before wiping away tears.

  “I’m on edge, too,” Cyanna told her. “A weekend away is what we both need. At least only one of them will be there.”

  “I feel like someone’s watching me all the time,” Joslyn said softly.

  Cyanna turned Joslyn to face her. “I hired bodyguards.”

  Joslyn’s eyes widened. “Why?”

  “I just felt it necessary,” she said and brushed away a last tear. “I want to keep you safe.”

  Joslyn nodded in acceptance. She looked up at Cyanna. “I can deal with your BDSM stuff,” she said quietly. “Just don’t hurt me by cheating on me.”

  Chapter Eight

  They decided to drive down to Ridge Hollow together Friday before lunch. Cyanna passed through town to Wind Haven. The Berkshire Mountains, or the Northwest Hills as the locals called them, stood gracefully at the side of both towns.

  “My father asked me to come see him,” Cyanna explained. “Then we’ll grab some lunch.”

  “Maybe you’ll show me a little bit of the town. So much of it is undeveloped,” Joslyn murmured.

  “Well, there is the central part of town, the public face where you’ll see many citizens, including some of the soldiers which are just called the police for human tourists’s sake.”

  “Like in our town,” Joslyn said.

  “Exactly, but the alpha pair don’t live in the town proper, and neither do all of the sentinels,” Cyanna told her. “No one knows where their lair is excep
t those the alpha trusts.”

  “My dad’s home isn’t hidden and neither are our healers. We have two.”

  “Your people are entitled to do as they please,” Cyanna murmured, and reached across the seat to caress Joslyn’s thigh. “They’ll ask how serious we are. My father knows I’m a lesbian and accepts it. All of my family does. Not all of my people accept that being this way just is, but there are other gay people living here.”

  “There’re gay people living in Ridge Hollow, too, but they keep it quiet and everyone pretends they don’t exist,” Joslyn murmured.

  “There’s no pretense here.” Cyanna pulled into the parking lot of an old square building with a pretty park in front. Cyanna swung the SUV she’d rented into a parking space and cut the engine. She undid her seatbelt and faced Joslyn. “My mother is probably going to take you aside while I’m talking to my father. Don’t give her the impression you mean something you don’t. Just tell her the truth.”

  Joslyn studied her, curious as to why they were having this conversation. Cyanna had made it clear she wasn’t looking for anything serious.

  Joslyn touched her hand. “We don’t have to have this conversation.” She swallowed tightly. “I know you don’t intend to take this too far.”

  Cyanna reached out to glide her fingers over Joslyn’s jaw. “We’re having this conversation because I like you a lot.”

  “Well, I like you a lot, too,” Joslyn told her quietly as she caressed Cyanna’s thigh. “I like this, too.” Her hand brushed the bulge in Cyanna’s pants. “And I hope you’ll give me a chance instead of allowing fear to push me away in a few months.”

  Cyanna gave her a curious look. “We better go in.”

  “I mean it, Cyanna. I want to see where this goes. I mean, we both kind of have a vested interest in this. I could end up with some guy, even Seymour, if my father decides to force the issue. You could end up alone because you never learn to trust your heart or your instincts where romance is concerned.”

  Cyanna nodded. “True.” She climbed out of the truck and Joslyn sighed.