“Rafe,” Anna groaned the moment he left her mouth and began a trail of kisses down her neck.
She wasn’t asking him to stop. If she were, she was doing one hell of a lousy job of it. Their lustful smells wrapped around each other, enclosing the two of them in a thick shroud of sensual need and craving. Her body remained relaxed, so much so he held her up with both his hands while slowly tasting every inch of her long, shapely neck.
Something crackled and the sound exploded in his brain. Rafe believed it was his brain sparking as currents of desire snapped up his spine, calling forth the more primal side of him. He wanted to shred her clothing. More than anything he wanted to sink deep inside her, feel how tight and hot her soaked pussy would be. And he knew it was wet, drenched. Anna wanted to fuck him as much as he wanted her.
A second later reality managed its way into Rafe’s fogged-over brain. He stiffened the same moment Anna did. She lowered her head, gasping for breath as she moved her hand to her heart. “Oh crap,” she hissed, every inch of her tensing.
Instinct took over and Rafe pushed Anna behind him, turning to face and attack if necessary whoever dared to interrupt them. He laid eyes on John Hunter, who’d just appeared out of the trees and into the clearing in front of the den. He paused only for a moment to stare up at Rafe.
The deadly roar that escaped John’s mouth promised a bloody death. “You lousy-ass son of a bitch,” he yelled, his instant hatred bitter and dangerous as he broke into a hard run. Within seconds he was bounding toward Rafe, his teeth already pressing against his lips as he snarled loudly.
“God! Rafe! Get the hell out of here.” Anna shoved him.
Chapter Three
Anna heard the footsteps on the stairs at the same time she smelled the fresh raw meat. Her stomach growled as she hurried to the den door. She was still pissed as hell at John and planned to let him know how it was going to be. But it was just the two of them now in their litter, and they needed to eat. She pulled open the door and couldn’t help grinning at the fresh kill in her littermate’s hands.
“Are you preparing a peace offering?” John asked when he padded into their kitchen barefoot, wearing his jeans but having removed his shirt. In the hour since he’d been at their den, he hadn’t said a word about Rafe.
“I like to call it supper.” If he was through stewing in his room and ready to discuss Rafe, he could bring it on. Anna was ready for him. “But if you think you can do better, I have no problem kicking back and allowing you to serve your kill to me.” She shot him a scathing look and didn’t quit glaring at him when he leaned against the back of the kitchen chair tucked into the table.
“You’re right,” he said as if he’d read her thoughts. John moved the chair then made himself comfortable, stretching his long legs under the table and resting one arm over the back of the chair. “We do need to clear the air.”
If she weren’t so damn pissed at him at the moment, she might have been willing to do some plotting to help him get a female. Not that John should need the help. For a littermate, he was decent-looking, tall, strong, not too old or too young. But hell would freeze over before she lifted a paw to help him now.
John sighed, staring at her. All Anna wanted to hear was an apology. John had ripped into Rafe as if he were some rabid animal that needed put down fast. More than once now she’d considered storming out of their den and going to make sure Rafe was all right. Laws and traditions be damned!
“It’s time we talked about David.”
Anna dropped the meat she’d been turning and the flame under the frying pan slapped noisily at the side of the pan as it grew in size. She saved the meat, turned and gawked at her littermate.
“You don’t smell crazy,” she snarled at him.
“Since his death, I’ve buried myself in learning the ancient writings, doing everything I can to show this community I smell of honor in spite of what David did to us.” John’s expression was dead serious. His green eyes were solemn, almost morose when he focused on her. “You’re reacting to his death, little cub. It’s a part of mourning.”
If he didn’t seriously appear to be believe every word he said, Anna might have burst out laughing. As it was, he’d attacked where she hadn’t seen it coming. Returning her attention to the meat, she poked at it with the corner of the spatula. There was no option here other than to howl the truth.
“David deserved the death he got, John.” She endured the silence that followed, focusing on the filets and pulling them from the pan before they cooked all the way through. She dropped the next two in the pan. “What he did was wrong,” she added. “And a disgrace to us.” It was enough said about her dead littermate. She’d come to terms weeks ago that she wouldn’t hate her flesh and blood for being so misguided but mourning him for his despicable acts was more than she could stomach. “We’re not going to discuss David tonight. You’re not going to make him a scapegoat.”
The silence grew between them as Anna finished the second set of fish filets. Then placing them on a plate, she turned off the flame, carried both plates to the table and set one in front of her littermate. Normally she didn’t wait on John. Feeding time in their den meant the two of them tripping over each other as they gathered their kill and brought it to the table. She’d allow him to wallow in his emotions out of love, although she doubted he’d smell it that way.
Anna put bread on the table and added cold cuts of meat left over from a previous meal as a side. Then sitting, she fingered the edges of her plate before shooting her littermate a calculating look through her lashes.
“This is only about Rafe.”
That got his attention. “He attacked you,” John snarled.
“Nope.”
“I witnessed it,” he added with finality, and stabbed his filet with his fork, tore it in half and stuffed a large piece of fish into his mouth.
For a moment he reminded her of their sire and how he would make it clear when he’d howled his final say on a discussion. John could smell as stubborn as he wanted. He wasn’t her sire.
“You witnessed me kissing him,” she clarified.
He glared at her.
“I might do it again.”
“Might?”
She shrugged. “Okay. I will.”
His fist came down on the table so hard she jumped in spite of the calm resolve she’d experienced a moment before.
“Do you embrace rape?”
“How dare you!” she screamed, sliding her chair back with enough force it hit the cabinets behind her when she stood and glowered down at her littermate.
John stuffed the second half of his fish into his mouth and chewed slowly, leaning back in his chair and watching her, his expression a bit too cool, as if he’d just won an argument.
She’d lost her appetite and tossed her fork on her food to make the fact clear. “Clean up when you’re done. I won’t sit here and be insulted.”
“So he’ll come to me about a mating?” John asked before she could storm out of the kitchen.
Anna stopped in her tracks, his words imprisoning her as their meaning and the clarity of how things were sinking in. John held the right to demand a mating in his paws. She turned slowly and stared at him. Rafe had mentioned mating and she’d challenged him. Yet when John had attacked Rafe, he hadn’t hauled ass with his tail between his legs but faced her littermate, dodging tooth and claw but not returning the attack.
The room seemed to teeter and she grabbed the counter, positive John had to notice all blood drain from her head. Suddenly she was dizzy while the sensation of everything closing in around her created an urge to run in her so fast her heart already pounded with anticipation.
“He is a VicMoran.”
“He’s a male as honorable as you are,” she stated.
John placed his fork by his plate and stood slowly, facing her. “Good. I’m glad you’re at least smelling clearly.” He took her hand from the counter and she realized she’d had a white-knuckled grip on it. “Anna, y
ou’re my littermate. You know I love you.”
“I know,” she whispered, and she loved him too. She wasn’t ready to play nice yet until she could sniff out what direction he was heading with his mention of mating.
“Many view the VicMoran litter as prophets since discovering the laws and traditions.” The dark shadow from his unshaven face and coarse waves of black hair that tumbled past his collar gave John a dark, forbidding look. No one in Guarida knew the laidback male, relaxed and happy, because as she stared up at him, Anna worried he no longer existed. John focused on her with serious, brooding eyes. “I believe in our laws and traditions. They are profound and amazing. But, Anna, for them to work all must run with them and not stray just because they see a piece of hunting ground that looks pleasurable for the moment.”
“Is that what you think? Do I smell like the type of female who chases down a male because he turns me on but then leaves him for fresh hunting ground, as you put it?” she snarled. Anna shook her head. “Give me more credit than that.”
“I think you’re a young, beautiful female with everything to offer who is starving for love. What if someone else had seen you two kissing like that? Whether you like it or not, your honor is all you have. If you’re ready to consider mating, there are several males in Guarida who would make outstanding mates. I can talk to their litters, if you would like.”
“Why don’t you focus on finding yourself a mate and leave my mating to me.” Anna rolled her eyes and fought to keep her temper from soaring out of control again. “Do you hear yourself, John?” she demanded. “I know you can smell the determination in your words. What happened to the cub who used to growl and hiss the moment our sire left the den that you were being left on a chain? I don’t want my life controlled any more than you ever have.”
“Anna.” His exasperation was so pungent it damn near drowned out the smell of the fish. “Our sire wouldn’t let me hunt with the males because I was too young not to trip over my own tail. That situation has nothing to do with this. The laws are so incredibly clear.” John lowered his voice, uttering the words in a reverent tone. “No male shall sniff out an unmated female without an escort being present. You know the laws. I know you’ve memorized them. Tell me what we need to do now.”
“Those damn laws can go to hell!” Anna stormed out of the kitchen before howling more of what she thought of any law deciding for her how she would think and behave. As if she hadn’t been reared properly, so continually needed someone better, stronger watching over her.
* * * * *
“You look like hell.” John sat on the couch when Anna traipsed out of her bedroom the next morning.
“Thanks.” She didn’t look at him but headed straight for the coffee, using its strong scent to help wake up.
“You howled a lot in your sleep last night.”
Anna loved their new den but had never wanted all three bedrooms to be at one end of the hall. Granted, she had a door she could shut and close herself off from the rest of her litter, even if it was just John and her now. That was more than she’d ever had growing up.
“Who said I slept?” She finally looked at John as she sipped her coffee greedily. It was hot, but she needed that kick-start this morning. The way she felt right now, she wouldn’t make it up a tree in her fur let alone get anything done in her flesh.
John stared at her, the smell of sorrow, or worse yet, pity filling the room. Anna shifted her attention to his boots, which he was putting on. He was getting ready to leave. That would be for the best. She would take a long hot shower, down a few more cups of coffee then possibly wander into center ground. She might hear something about Rafe, or better yet, see him.
“I’m sorry about last night,” John said, and stood, stretching, then made sure his shirt was tucked into his jeans.
He’d always been so quick to ask for forgiveness if they fought. Unlike David, who could hold a grudge longer than anyone she’d ever run with, John cooled off fast and wanted everyone he was close to do the same. Anna watched him straighten his clothes and didn’t look away when he stared at her. Was he really sorry? As in he regretted what he’d said?
“I want you to always smell happy, Anna,” he continued, and grabbed his coffee cup, picked up a plate that had crumbs on it and headed around the long counter that separated the living area from the kitchen.
“Then don’t sniff your way into my affairs,” she said, speaking quickly before he could add anything else to his apology and tarnish it. “Especially when it comes to Rafe.”
“All I saw was a male with his paws all over you.” He placed his dishes in the sink then turned and faced her.
Anna shivered in spite of herself and gripped her coffee cup harder, giving her littermate a harsh stare. “That isn’t always a bad thing,” she whispered.
“Little Anna,” he purred, patting the side of her head gently. “You really like the male?” His pathetic smell of worry and concern was annoying as hell. “It destroys me seeing you in pain. You know I’ll kill to ensure you’re never hurt.” The word again lingered in the air between them. John couldn’t let it go.
Anna couldn’t completely blame him. It was hard for him to put the past behind him. The nightmare was hers, but in a way it was his too. John wasn’t a small cub anymore. He was full grown, mature, strong and fast as hell. There were days when Anna believed he’d worked twice as hard as any other male to ensure when he was grown, all would be safe around him. She leaned into his hand. John still hadn’t shaved, and if he was going for a beard, she didn’t like it. If she were going to howl clearly so he understood, Anna couldn’t start telling him how to take care of himself. Both of them were grown, mature jaguars.
“Maybe we should strike a deal.”
“What’s that?” John dropped his hand and stared down at her, already smelling suspicious.
Anna smiled and took her turn patting the side of his head. “If I need your help, I’ll howl. If I don’t cry out for you, I’m doing fine.” She gave him a gentle pat and grinned wider, content when her happiness drowned out his sour smell.
“I tell you what. As long as he honors our laws, I won’t interfere.”
“I’ll let him know.” Anna thumped his biceps with her finger and thumb. “And if you attack him again, I’ll kick your ass.”
* * * * *
John was hard to stay mad at when he was being nice, but Anna wasn’t sure how smart it was to come into center ground with him. He’d dropped the subject of Rafe though, and instead began talking to her about a new translation he planned to go over today. Anna worried he spent too much time mulling over their ancient writings and not enough time in his fur. But when his eyes glowed with happiness, reminding her of the male she knew and loved before their littermate had been killed, she simply listened and enjoyed the fresh smell on him. Once again she reminded herself she couldn’t lecture him about his behavior if she didn’t want the same from him.
Anna spotted the young female sitting at the bottom of the stairs to the gathering den the moment they walked out of the trees and started across center ground. She also noticed how the female straightened and a small smile played at her lips when she saw John. Maybe Anna had been worrying about her littermate prematurely.
“Hi, John.” The female stood, smiling as sweetly as her scent smelled. It dulled slightly when she shifted her attention to Anna.
“Anna,” John began when they reached the female. “This is Georgina Rodriguez. She’s helping preserve the laws and traditions. And, Georgina, this is my littermate Anna.”
Georgina noticeably relaxed. She was rather full-figured, and as her expression shifted and turned warm and friendly, she tugged on her low-cut blouse and put a fair amount of cleavage on display. Anna was curious if the female dressed that way to grab John’s attention.
“I’m honored to meet you,” Georgina said, clasping her hands behind her back in a non-hostile pose. “Are you going to help us today?”
Anna glanced around ce
nter ground for the first time. It smelled as if it might rain, and somewhere deeper in the forest she thought she heard monkeys playing. She shifted her attention to the trees, the thought of racing through the trees sounding good. A few mated females were engrossed in a lively conversation on the other side of the large clearing the community referred to as center ground. They didn’t look her way when Anna stared at them for a moment.
“You’ll enjoy the work,” John said, making her decision for her as he took her arm and guided her up the stairs to the gathering den.
Georgina bounced up the stairs ahead of them, forcing them to follow her almost too-sweet scent. It was obvious she was prancing around John with specific intentions in mind. Anna couldn’t help wondering who Georgina’s litter was. They weren’t too concerned about their single female littermate running around with her tail half-cocked.
Maybe the female was shunned. Anna glanced around center ground once again before entering the gathering den. Georgina had been sitting alone. No one was talking to her. Anna had always thought shunned meant not welcome into the community, but jaguars needed time to adjust to how they’d been running, if they chose to run according to the laws and traditions now blatantly under their noses. If someone had changed the rules around shunning, no one had howled that news to Anna.
“You’re going to enjoy this,” John said, speaking quietly as he caught up with her inside the large meeting hall all the litters in Guarida used for meetings, celebrations or any other event too large to take place in a den. “The laws and traditions are so old. The paper they were originally printed on is dry and dangerously close to falling apart. We haven’t sniffed out the reason why copies of it weren’t ever created, but I believe it was because jaguars were a small, tight community. Not everyone could read. The emphasis was more on hunting and mastering our skills to kill.”
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