Wayward Son (The Wayward Trilogy Book 1)

by Mandi Konesni

  Scrambling to her knees on the mattress, she knelt in front of him, her tiny hands quickly moving to tug at the hem of his shirt. Smoothing her palms over the skin she revealed, she slid it upward inch by slow inch, her eyes lifting to meet his as she licked her lips. Groaning, he tightened his jaw, determined to let her have this tease. He didn't want to rush her exploration, but dammit, the woman was going to kill him.

  It was always like this. He kept thinking they'd settle into an easy rhythm, that they'd get used to each other and sex wouldn't be as primal and urgent each time. So far, he'd been proven wrong. The lure of his mate was just too damn strong for both human and cat. He didn't know if she felt the same way, the same urgency, as he hadn't completed the mating the first time. Did it matter, though? She welcomed him with open arms each time he felt into them.

  Hissing, he was drawn from his thoughts as she started fussing with his belt, nimble fingers undoing the clasp before button and zipper were vanquished as well. Helping her along, Thian stepped out of his jeans, kicking them to the side. Watching her eyes darker in lust was something he'd never get tired of seeing, especially when she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him closer.

  Following without hesitation, he groaned out loud as she took him in hand, palm curling around his already hard length. Her eyes drifted closed as she leaned forward, lips wrapping around her possession, and he couldn't stop from burying his hands in her silken hair as it flowed over her shoulders. The little minx had a tongue that could have the devil himself crying out for redemption. Thian wasn't the religious sort, but if he was? She'd have him praying.

  “God damn, Adele... you're going to drive me insane. You keep doing that and we're going to need a breather.”

  She glanced up at him with an amused expression, but he was quite serious. When she returned to her task with even more determination, he lasted mere minutes before he had to pull her away, panting with the strain. He may be a shifter, but in this, he was only a man, and he'd reached his limit. Nudging her backward, he followed her down, lips meeting hers. He settled between her legs, allowing her to wrap them around his hips, encircling him completely in her spell.

  One hand slid between her thighs as he lifted his head to watch her face. He loved the way her expressions changed as he teased her, the heat that pinkened her cheeks when he began alternating the deep strokes of his fingers with his thumb rubbing against her clit. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin, but he kept his slow pace, building her up at his leisure.

  He simply enjoyed watching her too much, listening to the way her breath caught, turning into quick pants of pleasure. When her legs tightened around his hips, he quickened his pace, nearly groaning out loud as sweet heat bathed his fingertips, bliss suffusing her face.

  “Do you want more, Princess? Tell me. I want to hear it from those pretty lips of yours.”

  Adele moaned, fingers digging into his shoulders once more as she lifted her hips to arch against him, attempting to urge him on further. “Please, Thian... more... I'll always want more of you.”

  Well, with a pretty little plea like that, he couldn't think of a reason not to oblige her. Gripping the headboard for leverage, he sank deep, eyes closing as he groaned. Fuck, he'd never get used to the way she felt tightening around him, the way she fit him like she was created for him and him alone.

  Adele completed him in ways he hadn't realized he'd needed. She'd tamed him, completely. Where everyone else got the feral side of him, she got the protective feline that would never let her fall. Would never let her feel alone in the world again. Come what may, she now had a family, even if it was only the two of them.

  Their cries and sounds of pleasure mingled in the air, a perfect symphony of the pleasure and love they'd found in each other. The acceptance. He could deny her nothing, and he knew it. Hell, she knew it.

  As she trembled in his arms, his leopard paced in his head, demanding to be let out. Demanding to claim his mate once and for all. Thian held off as long as he could... he wanted to watch her just like this awhile longer, to keep her on the edge until she was crying his name. Unfortunately, his cat was right. He was risking pushing her over and needing to wait again if they didn't just get on with this.

  Not that he minded having another go-round, but he knew Adele was already nervous about what was ahead. Giving her more time to think would benefit no one. She'd just worry herself into a state, and then he'd have to deal with the fallout first before attempting again. She was ready. They were ready. It was time.

  Pulling from her, his lips twitched as she protested, before he laid down, pulling her over him. This was important... he needed her to lead, to know this was her choice. If she balked or shied away, then he'd stop. They'd wait. When she settled back down into his lap, her hips began moving, drawing a groan from him as he clutched her hips. Watching her above him was glorious... a man could get used to this. With her head thrown back, her hair brushed his thighs with each movement she made. It only served to add to the sensations of her surrounding him.

  Closing his eyes, he focused on his other senses... the way she felt, the scent and feel of her skin against his. The sounds they made together. His fingers curled into her hips as he felt his teeth elongating, the leopard peeking out, ensuring it was time. Opening his eyes, he knew the topaz hue of the leopard's gaze was shining through. To her credit, Adele didn't shy away. She blinked, appearing disconcerted for a moment, before she turned her head slightly, pushing her hair behind her back more fully.

  An invitation. A request. Permission.

  Sitting up, he kept himself buried within her, bending to press an open-mouthed kiss to her throat. As she shivered in his arms, he murmured a soft whisper of approval and encouragement to calm her before he sought out the mark he'd made before on the side of her neck. He didn't need to get the exact spot, of course, her leopard would heal the old one once she shifted for the first time. Still, he might as well aim for the same general area.

  Inhaling her scent deep into his lungs, he breathed out as his teeth punctured the soft skin he'd chosen. As the taste of her blood hit his tongue, he heard her gasp, and turned his head slightly, baring his throat to her.

  When she obliged, he felt the sharp bite for only a moment. Next, there was an almost indescribable pleasure. It felt like they were connected, body and soul. Their heartbeats slowed to match one another's, and he swore he could almost feel her emotions and the sensations of how he felt against and inside her. It was as if everything she felt was amplified before being returned to him, and vice versa.

  Burying his hand in her hair, he began to thrust once more, holding her still for his possession, driving deep as he drank from her, securing their connection as it bound them together. Like a live wire, the two simply fed off of each other, the growing climax magnified as it bounced back and forth between them until they broke apart, each screaming their release to the heavens. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt. No one had told him the claiming would bind them that way, even just for those few brief moments.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he tugged her into his arms as they broke apart, Adele still trembling from the experience. Pulling the covers over them, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before he settled down, one arm under his head as he watched her drift off to sleep.

  “I've got you, Princess. I always will.”

  Chapter Twenty One

  The next morning, he woke to find himself alone in bed. That in itself wasn't unusual, but the stressed and pained noises from the kitchen were. Shoving the bedclothes off of himself, he was out of bed and into the kitchen in record time; he doubted an Olympic hurdle jumper could have gotten there faster. Finding Adele crouched on the tile, knuckles white, he knelt next to her, concern growing.

  “Adele? Darlin' what's wrong? What happened?”

  She hissed, pained eyes glancing up at him before she grimaced. “She... won't... leave... me... alone!”

  It took him a moment before he r
ealized what she meant. Her leopard. Adele must be hearing her cat.

  “Ah. Well, that certainly explains this much better. Had me worried for a second.”

  He was attempting humor, but he was actually relieved. Hearing her leopard was an amazing thing. It meant she and the cat would be able to bond, unlike the way he and his beast communicated. Adele would have a fierce protector besides him, someone who could protect her when he couldn't.

  Settling down to sit next to her, he ran his fingers through her hair, attempting to soothe her. “First thing to do is relax, Princess. I know it's hard, but the shift won't come if you're tensing up, there's too much pressure on your joints. Just breathe, focus on relaxing your limbs one at a time. Imagine stupid shit like... hell, I dunno. Rushing waterfalls, oceans, pissing, whatever.”

  His pep talk, idiotic as it was, did at least get a strained chuckle out of her. As his fingers worked in her hair, he could feel her begin to settle, until she was laying down on the floor, her head in his lap. He knew when her leopard was speaking to her, as Adele's face would go slightly blank, her eyes staring at nothing for the briefest moment before she appeared to come back to her senses. Eventually, she lifted her head, getting back up on her knees.

  “She wants me to try again. She said now that you're here, it might be easier for me. She's insisting I'll be able to do it if I just stop being stubborn and stop fighting her.”

  He laughed at that. His little minx, stop being stubborn? They'd have a better chance of building a beach resort in Antarctica. But hey, he wasn't the one currently in his female's head, so he wasn't about to argue with the kitten.

  “Alright, darlin'. We'll try again. Focus on her voice. Remember, she won't steer you wrong... she will protect you above all else, she's a part of you, so your safety is her top objective. Your safety is her survival. She'd never ask you to do something that could harm you, and therefore herself. Listen to her voice, let it wash over you. Allow her to take control of your body, she'll know what to do.”

  It took a few fits and starts. One time, Adele was so close... she saw her hands shimmer on the floor, the ghost of claws and paws appearing and panicked, ending the change right then and there due to the stress she was putting on herself. They took a break, getting her something to eat and drink before trying again. And again. Thian didn't rush her, neither did her leopard. This was something she had to want, something she had to let come to her in her own time.

  Rushing her meant possibly getting her stuck between forms, something neither was willing to risk. After the better part of a few hours, Thian had somehow managed to pass out on the floor, exhaustion getting to him. Worrying about his mate was more tiring than he thought it'd be. He woke to the feel of a cold nose pressing against his hand, and the sound of a soft snuffle of confusion.

  He was wide awake instantly. “Adele? Princess?”

  Sitting there with her rump on the floor, a puzzled look on her face, was the most beautiful leopard he'd ever seen. He'd expected a black leopard, as most mates took on the characteristics of the animal they'd mated with. The cat next to him was not black. She was... indescribable. It was like she was an inverted form of him. Her fur was a silvery blonde, almost like the moon glinting off the water at night, the black rosettes a darker gray. Not quite black, but almost. He'd know those inquisitive green eyes anywhere.

  Thian chuckled, running his fingers through her hair as she purred and leaned into his caress. “Leave it to you to be a pain in the ass, Princess. You're beautiful, darlin'. The prettiest unblack black leopard I've ever seen. You feeling okay? Nothing hurt or achy?”

  She shook her head after rising slowly, testing to put her weight on all four paws. Her growl of indignation had him hiding another laugh as she attempted to take a step forward and fell flat on her face. Switching from two legs to four was a bit of an adjustment, she'd get used to it.

  “Ah, yeah. You'll gain your balance. It's a bit of a pain at first, but you'll learn to use four legs instead of two. Your tail will help you balance, as well. It gets easier every time, I promise. Soon, it'll end up being just second nature.”

  To prove it to her, he began his own change. Allowing the cat to come forth, he gritted his teeth as his joints popped, bones realigning as they stretched and contorted to accommodate a new skeleton. Within minutes, his sleek panther form stood before her, topaz eyes regarding her with interest. This was the first time his leopard was able to fully appreciate his mate in all her glory.

  Nuzzling her cheek, the two spent a few moments acclimating to each other, allowing their scents to mingle, before Thian stood, nudging her to follow him. Padding to the side of the house, he hit a gnarled knot in the wooden beams of the cabin. He'd designed this specifically for himself... the wooden cabin concealed it perfectly.

  The small door opened inward at the push of the switch, concealed to look like just another piece of knotty wood. It led to a short tunnel, opening into the carport at the side of the cabin where he stashed his bike. From the outside, it was hidden by the trash cans and a grill he rarely used. He'd even covered the fucker with bear repellents... nothing that would be amiss in this area, but was strong enough to hide his scent coming and going from that particular area.

  If anyone came for him here, they'd be heading to the front door or windows. He could make a quick escape via the tunnel, and they'd never even realize it was there. It was a good plan for protection, but even better for sneaking out in cat form without needing to deal with door handles and shit. He could come and go as he pleased without risking being seen on the large porch by any of the vacationers who might randomly be in residence, depending on the season.

  This time, he was taking his mate on her first run, so discretion was even more important. His coloring enabled him to hide in the shadows a bit. Hers? While she was stunning, her fair coloring would stand out until they got into the treeline, the darkness wouldn't protect her from notice. Ducking into the tunnel, he heard her scrambling a bit as she followed, still getting used to her legs.

  Once they cleared the cabin, he led her toward the woods that wrapped around the small lake. The houses here were situated to circle around it in two tiers. The first were right on the water, his was higher up. It kept him away from most of the people, as they tended to congregate around the vacation homes closest to the lake and its amenities. His cabin was in the more wooded section, the temporary rentals that were cheaper, and very few full term residents like himself.

  Beyond his ridge, the woods grew denser, ensuring privacy. Even hikers didn't venture too far, as woodland predators were commonly found. Thian himself had run into a few on his excursions... some of the smaller ones were common, including coyotes, bobcats, lynx, and foxes. There were bigger predators as well. He'd run into cougars, black bears, and wolves on occasion. For humans, they were scary as hell, though most didn't bother anyone all that much unless they were threatened.

  For shifters? The animals seemed to sense something was 'off' about them. Thian didn't know what it was, but the normal predators seemed to be skittish around the shifters, wary. If he was in the area, they'd scent him and come to investigate, but as soon as they made contact, they'd leave in a hurry. He didn't bother them, they didn't bother him.

  It meant he and Adele had the run of the place for a little while. Humans wouldn't venture this far, and the animals would mostly leave them alone. After gentle encouragement, she got her balance down. Then he began teaching her to run... to jump. To take joy in the freedom her animal provided her.

  Getting her to climb trees was a bit harder. She balked at the heights, at the weightlessness of allowing her claws to hold her as she shifted to a new position on the underside of a branch. After watching him a few times, though, her competitive spirit got the best of her. Soon, she was leaping at him from the branches, attempting to knock him from his perches in the trees with a feminine snarl of glee.

  He took her to his favorite stream, where the water was cold and the trout and bas
s would swim right up to you without a worry in the world. He didn't much care for fish, but if you were hungry, they made a damn easy catch here. They laid in the sunshine there for over an hour, basking in the warmth and relative peace they'd found.

  Thian still couldn't believe his luck. He'd found a woman that he couldn't live without. She matched him in every way, like fire and flame. Adele handled his worst and smoothed his rough edges. She accepted him.

  In return, he cherished her. Hell, he'd give her the world if she asked for it. No matter what she wanted, he'd figure out how to get it for her, damn the consequences. She'd become his entire world so goddamn quickly, it defied reason. He'd always thought the idea of fated mates was horseshit, that the idea of something else knowing what was best for him was insanity. He'd been proven wrong. He doubted he could have picked someone as perfect for him as Adele, even if he tried.

  Can you hear me like this, Princess?

  She blinked, glancing over at him for a moment, before he heard the soft reply in his head. Yes? We can talk telepathically too, now? You didn't tell me that.

  I wasn't sure if we could. Some mates can. Since my leopard and I don't really talk, I didn't know if he'd allow me to talk this way to you. I guess being mated changes things. What do you say we head back to the cabin, get some food? Eventually I'll teach you to hunt, but I think that'd be a little more than you can handle right now.

  Adele ran several charities. At least one was for animals that he knew of. Even in leopard form, he wasn't sure if she'd ever feel comfortable hunting for a kill.

  She sniffed. I think that can wait a long while. Maybe forever. I prefer my food cooked, thank you.

  Thian would have grinned if his mouth wasn't currently full of teeth. He knew his female well. Thumper's off the menu. Understood. Let's head home, darlin'.

  This time, she kept up with him, even occasionally darting in front of him and daring him to keep up with her. He enjoyed their play, but they slowed as they approached his cabin. Cautiously checking for any humans or shifters that might be lurking, he nodded once to give her the all clear. She'd have to learn how to sort out the overwhelming scents and sounds surrounding her, as well. It could end up saving her life one day. Her cat would help, of course, but Adele would need to learn how to sense danger for herself, too.