by Zoe Chant
He looked down at her, and she could see that he was fighting as hard as she was to hold onto control.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Very,” she replied, and led the way towards the bedroom.
Luke already had his shirt removed and thrown on the floor by the time they stepped over the threshold. Octavia’s room was not personalized in any special way, but the dark wood of the walls contrasted with the pale wood of the furniture. With his dark skin, Luke stood out strikingly.
Octavia watched his muscles ripple as he sat on the bed, and motioned to her. She reached for the hem of her top, but he shook his head.
“Let me,” he said.
She closed the distance between them, and he raised his hands to the waistband of her pants. He carefully eased them down over her hips, bending over to coax them over her feet. He was leaning in so close that she could feel his warm breath against her panties.
“Silk,” he murmured with approval. He left them alone though, lifting the hem of her shirt up over her head, revealing her matching white bra.
The warm look that he gave her ignited her core, as he dropped the shirt to the ground.
“You really are stunning,” he said admiringly as he ran a caressing hand down over her silk covered breasts and over the curve of her hip.
He urged her back a pace and stood, sliding down his jeans. His erection tented his boxers, and Octavia pressed a gentle hand against it.
She squeaked in surprise as Luke grabbed her and pulled her onto the bed.
“Do you always make such cute noises?” he laughed, as he kissed the top of her nose, while his hands roamed to her bras fastenings.
“Not usually,” Octavia said as she braced herself on her elbows, seriously contemplating tasting the lush expanse of skin before her.
“I feel special,” Luke said, unhooking her bra, and sliding it down her arms in one swift motion, before he latched onto a nipple.
The shock of the warmth sent an answering surge through her, and she felt her panties become even more soaked. Her elbows weakened and she would have collapsed to lie on top of him if he hadn’t gripped her shoulder.
As he teased at her breasts, Octavia writhed in pleasure, seeking friction from her panties to heighten the sensations. Without stopping, Luke rolled them, so that he was on top.
Octavia arched her hips upwards in response, and slid her hand between them, pulling at her panties to try and loosen them, or tear them off. Luke lifted himself up and helped her slide them off, fully removing her bra as well. He cupped her hand against her cheek, and she tilted her head into it. She could feel his hips flexing as he positioned his cock just right.
He hesitated right at her entrance, and Octavia grumbled, and moved. She knew she was wet enough and ready enough to take him. She moved, and felt him slide into her. His eyes opened wide with her movement, and she smiled, leaning in for a kiss as she sank down on him.
His groan of pleasure vibrated pleasantly against her tongue, and his first tentative thrust sent sparks of pleasure through her body. There was no push now, no urgent drive to complete. He moved against her, at first with short and gentle thrusts that brushed past her clitoris, teasing and tantalising. With each stroke he kissed her languidly, and she returned it in the same fashion.
Gradually, his thrusts became deeper, more powerful, and Octavia moved with him, shivering with a delighted frisson every time he was deep inside her. He was larger than anyone she had slept with before, but he was far gentler, for all his size. She felt protected, comforted, and with every flash of pleasure, just a little bit more loved.
Her brain turned off as her pleasure ramped up, stirrings of fire coiling in her belly and spreading outwards. She closed her eyes and abandoned herself, writhing on his cock and devouring his mouth.
He picked up the speed and pressure in response to her movements, and Octavia felt the fire within uncoil with startling swiftness as her orgasm washed over her with a shocking suddenness. It took her breath away, and the fire stole the strength from her limbs. In the back of her mind, she felt her jaguar’s sleepy contentment.
Above her, Luke continued to thrust, making an inquisitive noise in the back of his throat. Octavia murmured something that she meant to sound reassuring, before she opened her eyes in time to see Luke tense and the muscles of his shoulder flutter. He ground against her for a moment more, shuddering, before going limp.
He was heavy, and Octavia, as feeling returned, shifted him so that he was more on the bed than on her. His eyes were closed, and his breathing had slipped into the calm and even pattern of sleep. Unable to resist the urge, she freed a hand and began to card her fingers through his hair. He murmured sleepily, and cuddled into her as if she were a human teddy bear. Contented and satiated, Octavia let her thoughts drift even as she caressed her new lover.
***
Octavia half dozed for a while, until her body decided that it wanted to get up. Carefully, she extracted herself. Luke, now deep in sleep, didn’t stir.
She gathered up clean clothes and stopped off for a quick shower before grabbing the satellite phone from the desk. She settled herself at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, absently snagging a sandwich, and dialling Nicodemus’s number.
“Hello, Octavia. This is quick. Did you arrive safely?”
“Safe and sound, uncle. And it’s quick because it turns out that absence makes a trapped shifter eager to not be trapped anymore.”
Over the phone, she heard Nicodemus draw in his breath sharply. “So you were right about him?”
“No need to sound to astonished, but yes. His name is Luke Covas, and he’s a fire-fighter. He was stuck, but I helped to remind him that he was human, or so he tells me.”
“Good, good,” he said amiably, and Octavia could hear pen scratching against paper. “Any more details?”
“It wasn’t an interrogation, uncle.”
“Do I need to come up and chaperone you then, dear niece?”
Octavia was grateful that Nicodemus couldn’t see her face, and kept her tone dry. “I think we’ll manage on our own. But I do have another research project for you.”
“You are too good to me, Octavia. What do you need to know?”
“We touched, accidentally, in passing, and there was a very peculiar sensation. It felt like I’d imagine being electrocuted might.”
“Physical effect, or mental effect?” Nicodemus asked
“Mental,” Octavia said decisively, deciding that Nicodemus didn’t need to know about the strong need to jump Luke’s bones.
“You still feeling any of the effects?”
“No, it all seems to have settled.”
“Hmm. I may be able to help you. I remember a reference. I should have an answer for you within a day or two.”
Octavia grinned, and it was reflected in her voice. “I knew you’d come through, uncle.”
“Will your new friend need me to do any contacting?”
“I doubt it. I’ll loan him the phone to call anyone he needs to. Thank you, Nico.”
“You’re family. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Too late, Octavia thought, but she laughed and hung up.
She contemplated climbing back into bed with Luke and enjoying herself, but decided against it. She stripped her clothes off again, scrawled a quick ‘Gone Hunting’ note, and shifted.
***
Luke slowly came back to awareness, his mind climbing out of a comfortable darkness. His body was limp and languid, and it slowly seeped into his mind that he was human again. His other half no longer dominated his mind, and was, in fact, radiating contentment. He felt as if an ache that he hadn’t realized was there had been soothed.
He opened his eyes, and stared up at the ceiling. Dark wood, unfamiliar beams. After a moment of confusion, they triggered a rush of memories. The spot next to him was cold and empty, but he could hear soft humming from the next room over.
He lay there, enjoying the feeling of the cool sheets aga
inst his skin, twitching his fingers and toes just to feel the slipperiness of the fabric. It felt like silk, or maybe high quality linen, but he wasn’t sure. What he did know was that it felt wonderful after nothing but dirt and undergrowth. It felt like a sybaritic luxury to just lie there in comfort, remembering the glorious sex. It was something that he never thought he would experience again, after he’d gotten stuck in jaguar form.
His jaguar stirred faintly at the reminder, but then subsided, ears pricked as the humming from the other room increased. Luke grinned to himself and stopped reminiscing, instead working the sheet loose from the bed and using it as an impromptu toga.
Octavia was curled up in a comfortable-looking armchair near the window, eyes focused on the tablet that she held. The afternoon sun streamed in, making her black hair gleam. As she glanced up at him, her eyes were shadowed pools, but her beautiful lips were curved in a smile.
She was astonishingly attractive, that fact was undeniable, but Luke had never met a woman quite like her. Her perceptiveness and kindness were as alluring as her looks. She’d gone all-out to rescue a stranger, a lost jaguar whose name she didn’t even know. She might not have a job like his, saving lives, but she too was a rescuer.
“Greetings, sleepyhead,” she said lightly.
“How long was I out for?” Luke asked.
“An hour, hour and a half, maximum. You looked comfortable.”
“Someone wore me out,” he said with what he hoped was an engaging grin.
“In the best possible way?” Octavia archly.
“Absolutely,” he said firmly.
Octavia grinned and set down the tablet on the arm of the chair, balancing it carefully. She uncoiled from her seated position and stood, sashaying over to Luke. He was struck again by the fluidity with which she moved. He had met a few other shifters, and none of them seemed to have the connection with their inner animal that Octavia had. She moved like her cat, lithe and sleek, a beautiful predator. She closed the distance between them in a few strides, and moulded herself to his body. She was warm and pliant in his arms, and in contrast to her fiery approach, her kiss was soft and sweet.
When they parted, Luke drew in a shaky breath, and Octavia had a blissful smile on her face.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“Very. Hungry?”
“I could eat.”
Although he would have been quite happy to rummage around in the cupboard, Octavia insisted that he sit, and Luke obliged. He rested his elbows on the counter, and watched her.
He had never felt this comfortable with someone so quickly. There was just something about her that was... homely. Already their silences were comfortable ones, and he felt that he could say anything to her. For the short length of time he had known her, human-to-human, he knew that he shouldn’t feel this way, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Octavia was beautiful, intelligent and so far out of his league it was ridiculous. And yet she had come back for him, worried about him, and wanted him.
He was broken out of his musings when a plate was slid in front of him. As her hand passed by him, a shiver of electricity made his fingers twitch.
It looked like an ordinary B.L.T, but the second that Luke bit into it, he realized that he was mistaken. Calling that sandwich a B.L.T was like calling the White House an office building. In essence they were the same thing, but in reality they were completely different. Octavia was watching, anxiety in her expressive eyes. Luke swallowed his mouthful.
“Can I hire you as my chef?” he asked.
Octavia laughed. “You might be able to. Can you afford my fees?”
“I could pay you in kisses?” Luke offered, munching on another mouthful.
Octavia contemplated this, tapping one finger against her smiling lips. “I’ll think about it.”
Luke fished a piece of tomato out of the sandwich and offered it to her on his fingertips. She leant forward and took it, nibbling on his fingertips in a way that instantly heated his blood. He contemplated the remains of the sandwich.
“Do you mind crumbs in your bed?” he asked.
Octavia grinned wickedly, and took his hand. Luke noted the flash of electric again and barely managed to grab the plate before he was dragged back to the bedroom.
***
And that was how their weekend progressed. They alternated between the bedroom and the kitchen, and occasionally went for a run as jaguars. There was only a little conversation, usually focusing on the moment.
And both Octavia and Luke were happy with that. At least until the Sunday night.
The air was warm, and the wildlife were full of noise. The sky was clear and cloudless, with the Milky Way spread out above. There was no wind, and the air hung still, warm and heavy.
Luke was sprawled out on his favourite gravel bar in jaguar form, drowning his senses in the wilderness. He was occasionally distracted by a human Octavia tickling his stomach. It had been at least five minutes since her last assault, and Luke was half expecting another any minute. When she did move, it was simply adjusting to another position, then she sighed. Even as a jaguar, Luke knew that something was wrong. He rolled over to his feet and padded to her side, rubbing the side of his head against her arm. He then shifted back, and ended up with his head in her lap, looking up at him.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked.
She looked down at him and offered a wan smile. “This has just been too perfect, that’s all.”
“And what’s wrong with perfection?”
“It can’t last, can it? I have a business to run, and you have your life to reclaim.”
Her face and her voice were so stricken that Luke couldn’t take offence. The thought of parting from her sent a pang of pain through his chest.
“You don’t sound keen to be rid of me,” he said, trying to lighten the mood a little. Octavia shook her head. “We’ll just have to do things backwards then.”
“Backwards?” she asked.
He looked up at her. “You’re just seeing the obstacles. Yeah, we’ve got our own lives to lead, but after what we’ve shared, I don’t want to lose you. So we’ll just have to try dating for a while. Get to know each other. Not that I regret jumping into bed with you practically as soon as I met you, but it is a little bit backwards.”
The smile he had been hoping for broke through the misery on her face, and made Luke’s heart beat a little faster.
“When did you get so smart?” Octavia chuckled, bending down to plant a kiss on his lips.
“When I met an astonishing women,” Luke told her honestly after he caught his breath. “So we exchange numbers, we ring, we arrange dates, and we get to know each other.”
“And sex?” Octavia asked mischievously.
“I’m sure we can find time for that.”
***
Luke watched from the side of the road as Octavia smoothly merged back into the flow of traffic. His hand was still warm from hers, and her taste still lingered on his lips. She had pressed a handful of change into his hand just before leaving. And now he was alone again. But the slip of paper in his pocket with her phone number was burning a hole.
They were on the outskirts of Mexico City. It had been an eighteen-hour drive from Octavia’s hideaway, and the time had been spent in idle, meandering conversation and heavy sighs. They had traded off driving duties every so often to keep themselves fresh, but Luke still felt heavy with tiredness and sadness.
She had let him off at a rack of payphones. He slid a handful of coins into the machine, dialling a number he knew by heart.
“Covas residence,” it was answered on the third ring, and Luke grinned.
“Brace yourself, Mom. I’ve been found.”
He had to hold the receiver away from his ears as her exultant shout of his name threatened his eardrums.
“I couldn’t think of anything less dramatic than ringing,” he apologized when he thought she was listening again.
“How
are you? What happened? Where are you?”
“Who’re you talking to, Mom?” he heard a voice in the background, belonging to his brother Tomas, probably.
“Lukie!”
“I’m in Mexico City, heading home,” Luke interjected. “I’m fine, I’ll be with you soon, and I’ll explain when I get back. Not a story I want to tell on the phone.” Hopefully she would pick up that it involved shifting.
“Mexico City? In Mexico?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“What on earth are you doing there?"
“I was in Cancun, so at least I’m getting closer."
He heard her repeat the information to his brother, who whistled. “That’s going to be a story we all want to hear.”
“I’m aiming to be in Laredo in a day or two. Hopefully someone can meet me there.”
She hummed quietly to herself for a moment. “You must be crossing the border in your other form,” she said. “Since your passport is still sitting in your father’s desk.”
“Exactly,” he replied. “I have to go now, Mom, but I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
“See you soon,” his Mom said, just before he ran out of credit.
Luke grinned to himself, touched his pocket for luck, and headed off in search of a safe place to shift.
***
It was actually easier than he thought to sneak across the border as a jaguar. Border patrols were looking for humans, not large cats. It was a long trip on foot, so he took it slowly and steadily, making sure to take care of himself.
Laredo, Texas, was not a place that he was familiar with, but as soon as he reached the suburbs, he caught a familiar and fresh scent. His brother Saul had been here, and recently.
The tiredness melted away from him, and it was with a spring in his step that he started to track down his brother. The trail led to the outskirts of the suburbs, to a relatively deserted parking lot. The station wagon tucked in next to the building was the stopping point for the trail.
Cautiously, Luke looked around, testing the air for any sign of normal humans. Finding that it was clear, he broke cover and moved to the side of the car, rearing up on his back legs to tap his front paws on the driver side window.