Unexpected Find

by Nancy Corrigan

  Jazz covered her mouth but not before her gasp escaped. Wide-eyed, she stared at the other woman. Mira stood stiffly with her head held high. Waiting for Jazz to judge her? Not happening. “He forced you, didn’t he?”

  She gave a single nod.

  Jazz reached out and laid a hand on Mira’s arm. “Is that why you don’t want another mate?”

  Mira shook her head. “No. The truth is I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a determined male. Once one sets his sight on you, you don’t get away.” She gave her a knowing smile. “But you know that, don’t you, Jazz?”

  She did. Rafe had pursued her relentlessly from the moment he’d spoken to her in the bar. “Yeah, I suppose I do, but I wish I would’ve known what I was getting into beforehand.”

  Mira sighed. “I’m sorry, but at least as a human you know that if Rafe mates you it’s because he loves you and will be faithful to you. He’s tying his soul to yours so he’ll be driven to please you. And if you are killed, he’ll follow you to the grave.”

  The thought made the butterflies take flight and her heart swell. Marriage, whether the shifter version or the human kind, should be held sacred. So many of her friends had dealt with infidelity that the prospect of Rafe cherishing their union was almost a dream come true. Maybe Rafe was her knight in shining armor, just as he’d teased her about that first night. The giddiness grew, but as she replayed Mira’s words some of the elation dimmed.

  She turned narrowed eyes on Mira. “And if he doesn’t mate me?”

  Mira dropped her gaze. She toyed with the edge of her shirt. “Rafe seems quite taken with you, Jazz. I’ve never known him to show any interest in a human beyond the first time.”

  The last of the happiness fizzled. “If he doesn’t mate me, he’ll move on to someone else, right?”

  “Probably.” Mira’s eyes widened and she quickly added, “But he won’t get rid of you. You’re his beloved human.”

  Great. She’d have to watch him with another woman. If Rafe was always going to watch over her, it meant he’d be close, probably move here. Even if she did avoid him, she’d hear of his new woman. This was a small town. Everyone knew who was screwing whom.

  Jazz squeezed her eyes shut but Josh’s words echoed in her head anyway. There was no escaping it. Is that what you want, Jazz? To be owned by a shifter, even if he is one you’re fucking? No, it wasn’t what she wanted. Because dammit, she was starting to fall for Rafe. It was impossible not to. The man was everything she’d ever wanted.

  “Oh Jazz, I’m sorry if I upset you but I wouldn’t worry. In my experience, when a shifter male is as fixated on a human as Rafe is with you, he’ll mate her.”

  Jazz opened her eyes and studied Mira. Body language and a person’s expression were great indicators of their sincerity. Mira leaned forward and held her gaze.

  Jazz breathed a sigh. “It’s too soon to worry about the future anyway.”

  “Absolutely. Enjoy the present.” Mira motioned toward the living room. “I’m going to go see if I can find Devin.”

  Mira turned and walked to the door. It opened as she approached and Josh came in. They collided and Josh wrapped his arms around her waist to steady her.

  “Sorry, Mira. I should pay better attention to where I’m going,” he said.

  She watched a blush creep up Mira’s neck to her cheeks and Jazz hid a smile behind her hand.

  “It’s okay, Josh.”

  Instead of releasing her, Josh inched his hand up her spine. “Where were you rushing off to?”

  The patio door slid open and Devin stepped through before Mira could answer him. “Have you seen—” Devin looked past Jazz to where Josh and Mira stood. “Get your fucking hands off my sister!”

  Josh lifted Mira, set her off to the side. He stepped in front of her. Legs widened and hands held loosely to the side, he looked as if he were itching for a fight.

  “And you can drop your fucking attitude.” Josh reached behind him and touched Mira’s arm with the tips of his fingers. “This was innocent.”

  Devin strode forward. “You are not allowed to talk to her and you sure as hell aren’t allowed to touch her. Do you understand me, human?”

  “I don’t give a shit about what you want. If Mira wants to talk to me, she can.” A sneer spread over Josh’s face. “And if she wants me to bend her over—”

  Devin stopped his words with a punch to his jaw. Josh groaned then returned the punch. Fists flew and blood sprayed as the two men went at it. The fight took them from the hallway door to the attached dining room. Josh’s body went flying and crashed on the table. Devin landed on top of him and the wood broke under their combined weight.

  “Stop it!” Jazz ordered.

  Rafe ran into the room but stopped after a few feet. His eyes—completely golden, feline eyes—flicked from Mira to the fight and finally her. He ignored the two men rolling around on the floor and crossed the room.

  She looked from Rafe to the fighting men. “What are you doing? Stop them.”

  Without taking her eyes off her, he said, “No.”

  “But you can’t—”

  “Devin, no!” Mira screamed.

  She pivoted and took in the sight. Blood ran down the side of Josh’s face and Devin’s clawed hand lowered again. Rafe leapt over the counter and tackled Devin, knocking him away from Josh. Their short tussle ended with Rafe baring huge fangs and hissing. Devin stilled, pants sawing past his lips. He had a glazed look on his face and stared unblinking at the ceiling.

  Rafe leaned over the man lying spread-eagle on the floor. He smacked his cheek over and over and snapped, “Get your shit together, Devin.”

  Devin curled into a ball and groaned. Mira ran over to him with tears streaming down her face and pushed Rafe away.

  “I’ve got him, Rafe,” Mira sobbed.

  Mira helped him stand. They disappeared onto the deck. Jazz stared at the open door then whipped her head back to Josh.

  “Sweet Jesus,” she squeaked.

  With one eye swollen closed, bruises around his neck and blood running in steady rivulets from the slashes across his cheek, Josh looked horrible. He sat up slowly and chuckled, then immediately groaned and pressed an arm over his chest.

  “Think the bastard broke a rib,” Josh mumbled.

  She rushed over and hesitantly touched his side. He jumped. “So why are you smiling?”

  Josh reached for the counter and dragged himself up. “Because that was the best damn fight I’ve had in years.”

  She shook her head and turned away to reach for the first-aid kit. With the supplies laid out in front of her, she glared at Rafe. “Why didn’t you stop them?”

  Rafe leaned against the cabinets in a relaxed slouch only a man could pull off. With his legs spread slightly and elbows on the countertop behind him he looked both sexy and nonchalant. “Josh needed to prove himself if he’s going to be hanging out with shifters. So I let him.”

  Josh swiped a tongue over his split lip. “And did I?”

  Rafe’s gaze swept over him and he nodded slightly. “Well enough.”

  “Good. It was worth it.”

  Jazz harrumphed. “You’re going to get yourself killed one of these days, Josh.”

  She reached forward and dabbed at the cuts with an alcohol wipe. Josh hissed and slapped her hands away. “Jesus, you could’ve warned me, Jazz. That shit stings.”

  She ignored him and cleaned the rest of the wound. Without the blood obscuring it, she got a good look at the slashes. “These need stitches.”

  “No way.” Josh pushed away from her, opened the freezer and pulled out a bag of peas. With the impromptu ice pack on his swollen eye, he grumbled, “That’ll make me look weak. Won’t it, Rafe?”

  Rafe nodded. “But you’re only human. You don’t heal as quickly as we do.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Josh picked up a pack of butterfly closures. “These’ll have to do. I’m going to get cleaned up.”

  “I’ll help you
put those on,” she offered.

  “Don’t bother, Jazz. I’m fine.”

  She waited until the hallway door swung closed, then asked Rafe, “You heal quickly?”

  “Very. We’re damn hard to kill too.”

  His answer didn’t mesh with what she knew of shifters. The hyena that attacked her boys had died easily but he’d been in his animal form at the time. Maybe it made a difference.

  Her confusion must’ve shown because Rafe said, “Royals are stronger than the single animal shifters.”

  “Royals?”

  “Multi-animal shifters. We’re revered by the shifter world because we’re direct descendants of the gods.” Grinning, he stepped closer so he crowded her against the sink. “You should feel special, my Jasmine. Not many females get to ride a royal cock.”

  She linked her arms around his neck and let the concern over the past fade along with the worry about Rafe’s intentions toward her. The only thing she cared about now was the man eyeing her with half-lidded golden eyes. She was drawn to Rafe, needed his lips on her. She rubbed against the bulge in his pants. It hardened and the ridge pushed more firmly into her belly.

  “Well, I hope you don’t mind that I’m a commoner. My pappy came over to America on the boat from Poland. There isn’t an ounce of blue blood in my veins.”

  Rafe kept his hands planted on the surface by her waist and bent over her. He pressed his lips lightly to her forehead. “I don’t care about your heritage.”

  “What do you care about?”

  He skimmed his lips over her temple to her ear and whispered, “Getting inside you again.”

  He kissed his way across her jaw and covered her mouth with his before she could speak. Her thoughts drifted away. She opened to him. He swept inside in a confident, lazy way that left her breathless, aroused and eager for more of his attention. She slid her foot up along the length of his calf. With his hand under her other leg, he urged her to wrap around him. She did and linked her ankles behind him. He tilted his head and continued to lead her in the dance she’d rarely shared with another man. Rafe worshipped her, made an art of joining their mouths. It was the only way she could describe the deep swipes and rolling thrusts.

  She turned her head, breaking the kiss, and panted, “Rafe, I need…”

  Rafe bent his head and sucked her nipple through the loose tank top she wore. The words got stuck in her throat. He licked the erect peak and the wet cloth rubbed the sensitive tip. She squirmed, tried to get away from his teasing licks, but he moved his hands to the middle of her back, holding her still. He latched back on to her cotton-covered breast and drew it into his mouth. The deep pulls on the flesh created an equal tug in her womb. The sense of emptiness returned, more pronounced than earlier. She ground against his trapped cock. She wanted him inside her, thrusting and taking her to the edge of paradise—but a different hunger built, one she knew Rafe wouldn’t mind squelching.

  She grabbed handfuls of his hair and pulled until he released her breast. Completely golden eyes met her gaze. She liked knowing she brought out his animal side. It made what they were doing seem dangerous, but in a good way, one that had her cream flowing and clit thumping.

  “Take me upstairs, Rafe.” She licked her lips and purred, “I want my dessert.”

  Those feline eyes widened and a grin spread. Fangs slid into place. She pressed a finger between his slightly parted lips and traced each one. Rafe shuddered. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand back.

  “Not here, baby. That feels like you’re stroking my cock. Save it for when I’m balls-deep inside you,” he uttered in a voice slurred by the distended teeth.

  He swung her into his arms and jogged up the rear kitchen steps. He took her down the short hall to her bedroom. The door clicked behind them. He dropped her onto the bed and she scrambled up in time to watch Rafe pull his shirt over his head. Ridges of muscles bunched with the move. Other than the few minutes when she studied his sleeping body in the hotel room, she hadn’t seen him naked long enough to appreciate him.

  The heavily muscled chest that felt good under her cheek was flawless, a natural curving of flesh body-builders strived for but never achieved. Only a fine dusting of blond hair covered his chest and arrowed down to his groin. She let her eyes travel over the expanse of muscle, down his abs and stopped at where Rafe’s fingers were stilled over the waistband of his jeans. He popped the button and slowly dragged the zipper down, but instead of letting his erection free, he covered it with his hand.

  She flicked her gaze up to his and found him watching her.

  “You want this?”

  The sex or his cock? She wasn’t sure what he was asking for but she nodded anyway. Once she put her mouth on him, she’d get exactly what she wanted. She didn’t doubt that for a minute.

  A pleased look passed over his face. “Clothes, Jasmine. I want you naked.”

  “I don’t need to be naked to do this, Rafe.” She curled her fingers. “Come here and let me show you.”

  He molded the length and the swollen head peeked past his fingers. She dropped her gaze and stared open-mouthed at it. The tip glistened and her mouth watered.

  “You’re not the only one hungry. I crave another taste of you, my female.” She shook her head and he ordered, “Take them off. Now.”

  “You first,” she countered.

  Rafe kicked his boots off and dragged the denim down his legs. He strode toward the bed, the straight length of his erection pointing toward her, but stopped just out of reach. She dropped her gaze to his penis. Veins ran from head to root, offering her a perfect path to lick. Its width would make it hard to take in. It didn’t deter her. She was determined to swallow him, make him as crazy as he made her. She crawled to the end of the bed and yanked her top over her head. She undid the clasp on her strapless bra and let it fall.

  She stretched her hand toward him but her fingertips didn’t reach his cock. She crawled off the bed and went to him. Her pants lifted her breasts and the erect tips rubbed his thighs. Electricity skipped across her skin. It was nice, made her desire grow but it wasn’t the kind of pleasure she wanted. With one hand on his ass to hold him in place, she ran her fingertips along a raised vein.

  “Take it in your hand,” Rafe encouraged her.

  She ignored his instruction and traced the ridge around the head. With a finger, she swiped up a drop of his essence and brought it to her mouth. She licked it off and moaned. Strong and earthy, he tasted potent, full of life. Eager for more, she leaned close and teased the slit with the tip of her tongue until more welled. Perfect. He slid his hands into her hair and tugged to pull her back, but she refused to be dissuaded. She sucked the head in, swirling her tongue around the edge.

  The bite of pain from his tug only added to her pleasure, made her feel as if she were doing something naughty. She moaned around the head. Rafe cursed. His fingers went lax.

  No longer trying to drag her off, he massaged her scalp. “That’s good, love. Take more of me in.”

  She nibbled on the tip. Rafe squirmed. He shifted his hips to escape her teasing but she drew him deep. The head hit the back of her throat. Using the edge of her nails, she traced the shaft from the nest of curls to her lips. She luxuriated in the groan he offered up in response.

  It might’ve been a long time since she’d given oral sex but she hadn’t forgotten this. The vulnerable, yet powerful position of having a man’s cock in her mouth. With his hands holding her head in place, Rafe could easily take control of this moment but didn’t. He held perfectly still and his rough pants told her he waited eagerly for her attentions.

  The control was hers and she took it. She molded the length. Holding the root of his shaft, she drew back, sucking as the length pulled free of her mouth. She studied the shiny head while she danced her fingers lazily over his rod. With a flattened tongue, she licked from the ridge down the length of the wide shaft. The wetness from her mouth made his cock glisten, lubricating the slide of her hand. She stroked hi
m languidly and pressed kisses to the head.

  “Jasmine,” Rafe groaned.

  He thrust into her loose grip and pushed the head to her lips. No, she wasn’t ready yet. She flicked the seam and eased her mouth farther away, working him instead with her hands. Rough tugs followed by quick strokes left him groaning. She let her free hand linger on his flexing buttocks a moment more, then slid it around and linked her fingers around his cock, forming a tight circle. He fucked the ring she made without any prompting from her. The silken rod she held swelled more. More groans fell from his lips. She released him, sucking him deep in one quick move.

  “Fuck,” Rafe grunted. The hands in her hair tightened. “More baby, take more.”

  The cock in her mouth filled her, stretched her lips wide. She fought her gag reflex. With slow breaths through her nose, she relaxed her throat, took him in. Rafe pushed deeper, lodging more of his length inside. Her throat closed around him. She couldn’t breathe. The panic that only came with the loss of control swept through her. Another long heartbeat passed but he pulled back until only the head was trapped between her lips. She sucked in a breath. The next thrust filled her but the shaft dragged over her tongue before the feeling became uncomfortable.

  “So good, so tight,” he bit out.

  Rafe fucked her mouth with short strokes that quickened along with his pants. He pushed deeper until once again she couldn’t breathe. She dug her nails into his ass. The muscles under her palms tensed and he came with a rough grunt. Blasts of hot seed shot down her throat, but he pulled back before it choked her and filled her mouth. She swallowed his release, swirling her tongue over the head to get the last drops.

  She let his penis slip from her lips. In the next breath, he lifted her and covered her mouth his. The rawness of his kiss fed an equal primal hunger within her. Teeth banged and the tips of his fangs cut her tongue. Blood flavored the kiss along with the last of his cum. Rafe growled, shifted the angle of his mouth and thrust deeper. His sweeping tongue left her exposed and vulnerable, this time to a passion she couldn’t quench. Every encounter with Rafe made her crave another. She couldn’t get enough of him.