UnleashingtheAnimal

by J L Taft

  “Blair, take a deep breath and take your clothes off.”

  “What?”

  “Just do it!” He pulled his own shirt over his head and let it drop. He could smell her animal and his wolf was roaring to be out. She watched as he pushed his jeans down and kicked off his boots. He left his clothes lying on the shore so he could find them again later.

  “Blair, if you want to keep those clothes then take them off!” He knew the fabric would be ripped to shreds by the time her body was done changing.

  But she stood there motionless as if she could no longer hear him. She dropped to her knees and he saw the shimmer around her as she fell forward on her hands. A low groan came from her throat and he heard the material of her clothing start to rip.

  Shane had never seen someone else change and he stood spellbound as thick, dark hair grew before his eyes. A tail extended and her clawing hands changed to paws.

  It was over quickly and as the last of her clothing fell away she stood before him as a panther, the colors in her fur as strange as her hair color. Instantly his mind rebelled. She was his mate and should be a wolf!

  But she wasn’t. She couldn’t be his. But as he stared at those golden-amber eyes he still wanted her.

  He could control his own change no longer and he let the wolf come ripping out.

  Blair looked around her through her cat eyes and was shocked how well she could see in the darkness. The moon had moved behind some clouds and the night had become pitch-black.

  Shane’s change was even quicker than hers had been and she stared at him in his wolf form. Before she could stop it, a long hiss came out of her. She was a cat and he was a dog. Instincts took over.

  All the new sensations running rampant inside her swelled and she hissed again when he growled, his lips curling back to reveal long, pointed teeth.

  Everything was so confusing. The cat within her told her he was the enemy. But she fought hard against it, bowing her head and dropping her body to the ground. An obvious display of submission. Shane was not her enemy.

  Shane paced in front of her and then slowly moved forward when she remained still. He growled again and she crept closer to him until she was inches away. She felt as if their relationship was just now starting, right at this moment, and she didn’t want to lose him.

  Looking up into his deep-green eyes, she saw the pain and anger there. But she didn’t understand. Suddenly he turned and took off in the trees. She wanted to scream at him to come back, not to leave her, but all she could do was let out pitiful mewls of distress.

  Blair waited several minutes before turning away when he didn’t reemerge. Walking stiffly in her new body, she padded silently in the opposite direction.

  It wasn’t long before the swift need to run overcame her and she shot off in a sudden burst of speed. She was clumsy at first but she quickly got the hang of having four legs. Now she was more thankful than ever to have moved where the people were few and far between and she had acres to run free.

  She didn’t know how long she ran but she only stopped when she could go no further. Turning around, she headed for home at a leisurely pace, her senses intensified with each step. Everything sharpened into focus and not just her senses, her life.

  Far in the distance she heard a long, mournful howl and it reminded her of the first night she had come here. It had been barely a week and yet if felt like a lifetime ago. She was different, stronger than she ever gave herself credit for.

  She had Shane to thank for that.

  Tired from running in her new body, she sat on the shore and simply stared at the water. It was strange to look down and see fur where her pale skin had once been but it felt right. Like being with Shane felt right.

  Damn him for walking away from her anyway. He was the one who started all this and he didn’t have the right to just walk away. She wasn’t going to let him.

  Making her way back to her cabin, she strolled right up to the porch before she realized she couldn’t open the door as a cat. And she didn’t know how to change back.

  Unexpectedly the door was jerked open from the inside and she leapt from the porch in surprise.

  Shane stood in the doorway, incredibly tall as a man from her perspective. He came out of the cabin and stomped down the steps but Blair held her ground.

  “I thought you might need some help. You know, changing back,” he said grudgingly as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

  He cleared his throat. “Well, umm…just concentrate on your human form and breathe deeply.”

  She did as he said and she slowly felt the cat recede and she watched as her paws went back to human hands and arms.

  When the change was complete she collapsed naked in the dirt, breathing deeply. She remembered what it had felt like to be a cat slinking through the trees but it was more like a dream instead of reality. Hearing Shane sigh, Blair saw him reach for her. He scooped her into his arms and carried her into the cabin, kicking the door closed behind them.

  He stood for an indecisive moment just inside the door, staring down at her. For once in her life Blair felt sexy and confident as she lay naked in his arms. She might not understand exactly what was going on between them but her body craved him anyway.

  Carefully she stretched out a little bit, arching her back so her rigid nipples thrust toward him. His gaze lowered and then he let out a big breath.

  “Blair, don’t. I’m trying to do the right thing here and you aren’t helping.” But his eyes were still zeroed in on her breasts.

  “Why are you trying to back out now? We’ve already done this.” Honestly, the man was exasperating! Seemed he couldn’t give her a straight answer if his life depended on it. He always had her confused. But her body wasn’t confused, it wanted Shane.

  Blair arched her back a little more, tempting him. Her nipples were starting to be uncomfortable waiting for him.

  “Damn it, Blair!” he said as he marched to her bedroom and tossed her on the bed. “You want to do this? Fine, then we’re doing it my way.” He started pulling his clothes off as he was talking.

  “That’s fine by me.” And it was. Anything he wanted was fine by her. She felt different, stronger and more desirable. No doubt it had to do with her finding her inner animal.

  “You say that now,” he said as he stood on one foot and tugged his jeans off.

  “Do you think I might change my mind?”

  He shrugged. “But you can, all you have to do is say so.”

  What was he trying to say? She wanted him and she wanted to be done talking. “Okay, Shane.”

  Just by watching Shane take his clothes off she was wet enough that her thighs were sticky. It was a totally new experience to want someone so desperately. He stood looking down at her, fully naked now, and she stared, greedily memorizing his body.

  His chest was smooth and his stomach looked like something out of a magazine. It was so perfectly shaped even if it did have those fine white scars. She especially loved the deep lines on his hips that pointed straight to his large…cock. Because penis didn’t come close to describing it properly.

  She held her arms out to him in need. He was on her in an instant, his mouth covering hers and his hands wandering all over. She maneuvered her legs until she could wrap them around his waist and lock her feet together. She wasn’t letting him go.

  Grabbing his head with both hands, she pulled him down so she could run her tongue along the shell of his ear. He groaned and ground his hips against her. All that warmth down there was driving her crazy. This time instead of licking his ear she nipped on the lobe with her teeth.

  “You’re not playing fair,” he grumbled. “But that means I don’t have to either,” he said as he lifted up on his arms and grinned down at her devilishly.

  Sitting up on his knees, he moved away and she sat up, reaching for him. “Where are you going?” she asked as she clasped his arm.

  “I’m not going anywhere, relax.” He pushed her back down on the bed
and settled between her legs. Gently he placed his hands on her knees and spread her legs apart farther, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

  Kissing his way to the top of her thighs, he hovered over her hair-covered mound and she waited, holding her breath, for his next move. His tongue found her clit and he flicked it up and down, gently at first and then faster and harder, driving her to the edge in no time.

  Her body tensed, she was so close. But he pulled away at the last second, leaving her hanging.

  “See, I told you I wasn’t going to play fair,” he mumbled as he kissed her belly, dipping his wet tongue in her navel.

  Blair gulped in several breaths as the pumping of her blood slowed and she slid away from release.

  “I’m going to be inside you when you come, Blair.” He dug out a condom from his jeans and slipped it on. Then he leaned down to kiss her, hard and insistently. His teeth grazed over her lips and his tongue invaded deep inside.

  Suddenly his hips thrust and he slid home within her, impaling her on his hard cock all in one move. There was a little pain as he stretched her out but he restrained himself from moving, his shoulders tense and his arms trembling.

  The pain receded quickly and she wiggled her hips, letting him know she was ready. He pulled all the way out, leaving just the head in and then thrust hard back inside her. She moaned when he did it again and then again before moving faster.

  This time was different. He wasn’t as gentle with her as he had been before. She felt as if he were trying to make her his. Or he was saying goodbye. But she refused to believe that.

  But then he growled deeply above her and picked up the pace to plunge within her even faster and all she could do was let him sweep her away. Her brain shut off and she gripped his biceps harder to keep herself from sliding up on the bed.

  Her breasts bounced up and down in time with his thrusts. Her hands came around his ribs to grip his back, her nails digging in as she felt her body tense up again.

  She exploded around him unexpectedly, a mindless cry escaping her parted lips. The crashing inside her continued as he slowed his movements. Gradually he stopped but she was still quaking as her body relaxed down into the blankets.

  Grabbing her legs, he flipped her over onto her belly. His hands ran up over the backs of her legs, cupping her cheeks and then rubbing her lower back. She purred as he continued the trail up and down several time before stopping at her rear.

  Gripping her cheeks, he spread her and she jerked when she felt his face there, the stubble on it rubbing against sensitive skin.

  His tongue snaked out and swirled around her puckered hole and she lay still, getting used to the new sensation. He pulled back and she felt one of his fingers there, pushing gently for entrance.

  She tried to squirm away but he held her too tightly.

  “Just lay still, baby, stay relaxed and let me have this. Please? I’ll be careful, I promise.” He pleaded and she didn’t want to tell him no, she wanted to give him as much pleasure as he had just given her.

  “Okay,” she conceded after a moment’s hesitation. “What do I do?”

  “You have never done this either?” he asked, but he didn’t seem surprised about her lack of experience anymore.

  “No.”

  “You don’t have to do anything, baby, just stay relaxed and tell me if I hurt you.”

  “Okay.” She was getting more nervous by the second so that was easier said than done.

  He wet her again with his tongue and gently worked his finger in. It was incredibly intense and he rubbed her back and cheeks with his other hand to keep her relaxed.

  She heard him rummage in his clothing again and then something cold and wet was coated on her and he worked it inside her back hole.

  She felt him shifting around behind her and then he was there, his warm chest pressing into her back. He put his legs on the outside of hers, forcing hers to press together.

  Bracing his weight with one hand, he reached between them and, grabbing his own cock, he worked it in the right position. She felt the pressure and he slowly but steadily pushed. Then all at once the large head slid in and she shrieked and tried to move away.

  He pulled back instantly and turned her head so he could reach her lips with his mouth. Kissing her gently, he held her close.

  “Do you want to stop, Blair?” he asked quietly. “It’s okay if you want to. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Is it supposed to hurt?” She was curious about it now. His finger there had felt good.

  “No, of course not. It just takes some getting used to,” he answered. He was still laying on her and rubbing any skin of hers that he could reach.

  “Let’s try again, Shane.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  He smiled and kissed her before reaching between them again. His finger slowly worked its way back in and she released a deep moan.

  Very carefully he replaced his fingers with his cock and gently worked the head back in. It wasn’t as painful this time but it was intense. The pleasure quickly overrode the pain.

  “Relax, baby, it’s okay. The worst part is over,” he murmured in her ear and pushed her hair away from her face. “Breathe, baby.”

  Blair sucked in a breath and released it slowly, concentrating on doing what he asked. His hands came up to her shoulders and rubbed in gentle circles as he kissed the back of her neck. Little by little her body relaxed and gradually the pain went away.

  This time when he pushed in a little farther it didn’t hurt at all and she found she liked the feeling. He pushed in little by little until she could feel his hips pressing into her ass. He lay down fully on her so she could feel his body from her shoulders to her waist and their legs tangled together.

  Taking her hands, he spread her arms out and laced their fingers. She was helpless under him as he began to move.

  “Oh god.” He groaned and moved faster, ripping a scream from her as she climaxed again. Clamping around him, she felt each twitch of his cock as he came with her. His open mouth on her shoulder muffled his moans and his teeth sank in as she bucked under him. But the pain from his bite only added to the pleasure.

  Carefully he pulled away and Blair lay limply as he fell to the bed heavily next to her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he rolled to face her.

  “Mmmhmm,” was all she could manage.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked as his fingers trailed up her arms.

  She nodded. It took too much energy to talk.

  Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the bathroom, setting her on her feet carefully and turning on the faucet in the tub. When it was full and the water was steaming he helped her in. Quickly he joined her, sitting in the back so he could pull her back against his chest and wrap his arms around her.

  He was quiet and after a few minutes of the warm water washing away her sleepiness she realized she had a ton of questions.

  “Shane?”

  “Yeah?” he answered quietly.

  “Why did you leave me on the shore?” It still hurt and she wanted to understand.

  “I’m sorry, Blair. I just didn’t expect you to be a cat.”

  “Why does it matter?”

  Sighing, he grabbed a cloth and dunked it in the water then brought it up to squeeze out on her chest. It felt amazing on her chilly skin and she leaned her head back, moaning when he did it again.

  Swiftly she popped her eyes back open and stilled his hand. He was damn good at distracting her but he wasn’t getting away with it this time.

  “Why does it matter that I’m a cat, Shane?”

  “It doesn’t. I just thought you were my mate. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I want a wife and family and I thought you were the one.”

  “Your mate? Like together forever and soul mates?” She wasn’t surprised to hear he wanted a wife. He was one of those men who inspired thoughts of forever.

  “Yeah, just like that. But now…
”

  “But now what?” she asked, turning to look at him.

  “Now I know you aren’t.”

  “I’m not your mate?”

  “No, you can’t be.”

  “Why not?” she asked.

  “Because dogs and cats don’t mix,” he told her bluntly.

  “Then why did you have sex with me?”

  “Don’t do that Blair, you wanted me just as much.”

  That might be true but she didn’t have to like it. “So, that’s all it was to you? Sex?” His silence gave her the answer.

  She couldn’t be his mate? Her mind struggled to catch up. Then it hit her—he didn’t want her to be. Because of what she was. It might not be for the same reasons as before, but she was still hearing she wasn’t good enough. It was the same thing happening all over again and she didn’t want to hear any more.

  Standing up and getting out of the tub, mindless of the water falling off her body and onto the floor, she turned to face him, fire in her eyes.

  “Get out,” she flung at him as she stomped from the bathroom, throwing on her robe as she went.

  “Blair, wait!” she heard behind her but she didn’t pause.

  He met her in the kitchen fully dressed seconds later.

  “Blair, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “Just leave, Shane.”

  He nodded and went to the door but she wanted to hurt him like he had hurt her.

  “You know, Shane.” He paused at the door but didn’t turn to face her. “I don’t know what made you think that I would have you anyway. After all, you are a little below my social scale. I don’t need your help. I can take care of myself. It was fun while it lasted but it was little more to me than great sex.”

  She saw him flinch but he still didn’t turn. Instead he nodded once and opened the door to disappear in the night.

  Chapter Nine

  As soon as the door closed behind Shane, Blair burst into tears and lowered herself to the floor. It had hurt more than she would have imagined throwing those words at him. She had figured out too late that she was in love with him. But he didn’t want her.