Purr-Fect Mates: Shapeshifter Romance Page 16

  “Want to hear something really crazy?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  “I’ve never talked about it. Never. I don’t talk about what my father did. Or the territories. Everyone in the Tribe knows. They accept it. And I accept it, but we don’t talk about it.” I squeezed her hand, absorbing the warmth. “But I just told you. It felt right. And I have no idea why.”

  She smiled. “Maybe because I’m a good listener.” She paused. “And a stranger. You know you’ll never see me again.” Her eyes changed. Her teeth bit into her lower lip, and it took everything I had not to jump over the table and try to kiss her.

  Her lips were luscious and plump. I wanted to feel them under mine. I wanted to kiss and bite her. More than anything, I wanted to take this girl to my bed. Sharing the details of my past opened some kind of bond with her. It was quick and unexpected, but I felt it just as deeply as if we had known each other a lifetime.

  The waiter interrupted the moment with two huge, steaming plates of food. He presented Caroline’s first and then mine.

  “Anything else?” he asked.

  I could tear into him for making me release her hand. I didn’t want to let go. I wanted to feel like this for the rest of the night. The connection I had to her was unreal.

  “No,” I snarled.

  The man scurried back to the kitchen and Caroline laughed.

  “I think you scared the poor guy.”

  “Serves him right. I thought waiters were supposed to interrupt when you had a mouth full of food, not when…” I didn’t know how to finish the sentence, only to say that my heart was about to jump out of my chest.

  “When?” She looked at me expectantly.

  “When you’re looking into the eyes of a beautiful woman.”

  There was a swirl of blush climbing up her neck. If that made her blush, I wondered what she’d think about all the other things I could do.

  “Tell me something about Campbell,” she requested. “I’ve never been to that part of Tennessee before.”

  “It’s nothing like Charleston. No palm trees. No water. No bridges.” I sighed. It was stupid, but I felt a little homesick. “I love the forest. I do. It’s true. I’m just going to say it. Trees are the best.”

  She laughed so hard she had to press her napkin to her lips.

  “I guess you haven’t tried to scale a palm tree yet?”

  “Right. A jag in a palm tree. Not going to happen.” But I laughed. Her happiness was contagious. Her smile. Her light. I was drawn to it.

  By the time we left the restaurant we had finished a bottle of wine, our meals, and a chocolate dessert Caroline insisted we split.

  I didn’t know if she was dragging out the inevitable or if she really enjoyed food that much. I held her hand as we walked to the Jeep.

  “Can we walk on the beach for a minute?” she asked.

  My keys were already out. “Sure.” I stuffed them back in my pocket.

  We walked over the dunes on the same path I had chased her a few hours ago.

  “Isn’t it amazing here?” She looked up at the sky. “All the stars are brighter.”

  I wrapped an arm around her waist, sliding my palm against her hip. God, she felt amazing. We walked toward the shore.

  “You really like the beach? It’s kind of strange,” I commented.

  “Why? Because everyone else like us prefers the forest?”

  “That’s exactly why.”

  She turned toward me and I inhaled the scent of her shampoo in the air. My thumb traced over her lower lip and she stopped talking. Her eyes closed as I leaned down to her lips. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, but I couldn’t hold back. My arms encircled her as I devoured her mouth. My tongue slipped between her teeth and began to roll against hers.

  I heard the purrs coming from her chest as her hands crept up my back and locked around my neck. Everything intensified so quickly. I couldn’t get enough of her. The wine on her lips. The softness of her body pressed to mine. The smell of her hair. The sounds she made. All of it was fucking sexy. I bit her bottom lip, dragging it with my teeth.

  “Oh,” she purred some more.

  My hands tangled in her hair and I thought about how I could take her here on the beach. How my body craved her more than I knew was possible. I inhaled deeply, trying to balance myself.

  I pressed my forehead to hers. “Let me take you home.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I stopped to kiss her again, but within seconds, we were both swept up in another passionate kiss. At this rate, no one was getting off this damn beach. My hands snaked up the back of her skirt, squeezing her firm ass with one hand. Fuck, she was hot.

  “Caroline,” I breathed. “I want you.”

  “Me too,” she moaned. “I want you too.”

  No more stopping. No more beach kissing detours. I pulled her by the hand until we were both strapped into the Jeep and headed toward our apartment building. I didn’t care about red lights or late night joggers. I needed her.

  8

  Caroline

  We ran up the stairs to the second floor. Donovan had the door of his apartment open before I even saw his keys. His hands were in my hair and his mouth covered mine with the most delicious kisses. I groaned as we stumbled to his bedroom.

  I’d never done anything this reckless, but it felt right. It felt perfect with his lips on mine and his hands caressing my shoulders. I felt the tiny straps on my dress snap as he flicked them with his fingers. He stood back to shimmy the dress down over my hips.

  I saw the hunger in his eyes as he took in my body. I was wearing my best black bra and panty set, and right now I was glad I had gone with the sexy look. He didn’t hide how much he enjoyed it.

  “God, you’re gorgeous.” He kissed the tops of my breasts and I felt the heat from his lips.

  His hands palmed my sides, digging his fingers into my skin. I groaned. “I want you.” My hands landed on his belt. He had dressed up for our date, but I was dying to see what was under all the layers of clothes.

  My nails scratched against his stomach until I worked the belt free. I popped the button on his pants. He had ripped my dress, after all. I sank to my knees, dragging the pants to the floor with me.

  I wanted to breath him in. I wanted to see the rest of his gorgeous body. I tugged on his boxer briefs, freeing his cock.

  “Caroline,” he moaned. But his hands were on the back of my head and he was guiding me to the same place I wanted to go.

  I licked my lips before licking him up and down with a slow, torturous purr. His skin was silky and sweet. He had the most glorious cock I had ever seen. I prepared to take him deep in my mouth as he pushed lightly between my lips. I’d never felt so turned on as I tasted him. I craved him. I began to suck and lick, swirling my tongue over the sensitive part of his shaft. I felt like a hellcat on my knees, coaxing growls from his jaguar as he pumped harder.

  Just when I thought I had taken him to the edge, he pulled back and scooped me off the floor.

  “It’s not ending like that the first time,” he whispered in my ear. He cradled me to his chest.

  “But I loved it,” I whimpered. “I want it back.”

  He kissed behind my ear and I pulled hard on his neck until I felt his lips cover mine.

  “My turn.” He winked. He lowered me on the bed and before I could get my bearings he peeled my lacy panties over my ankles and threw them across the room. I wiggled under him, but he pinned me in place as his tongue began to run a straight line along my thigh. He slipped a finger between my folds, smiling.

  He knew he was the reason I was soaking wet. He had done this to my body. Started a fire that was burning deep inside me. His fingers ran over my clit as I whimpered. On the next pass, he pressed my knees wide and dipped his tongue inside me.

  My head rolled back with shattering ecstasy. Donovan didn’t let up. His tongue was relentless as my hips rocked into a rhythm that matched his. I grasped at his shoulders, trying to bring
myself back to earth, but he had taken me to a place I didn’t know existed. My orgasm hit me with sudden bursts.

  I screamed with pleasure as it ricocheted in my veins, spiraling out of control.

  “Oh yes. Yes,” I moaned.

  With a slow lick, he raised his head and kissed my stomach. “I want you, kitty.”

  “God, take me. Fuck me.”

  He grinned. “Say that again.”

  “Fuck me,” I whispered.

  He reached into the nightstand and rolled a condom on. I sighed when I felt his cock settle between my legs. The orgasm was still vibrating through my body when he pushed inside me.

  I clawed at him. It was more intense than I expected. He stretched me, pumping in and out while I purred under him. It was blissful, the feeling of his body slamming into mine with urgency. It was as if he needed me to be whole.

  “More,” I urged. “Please, more.”

  He took his time, slicing into me until his thick cock was all the way inside me, hilted against the deepest part of me. His mouth came down on mine, sucking and kissing. Licking and biting. I fisted my hands in his hair, feeling the heat between us burning out of control. Sex had never felt like this. I didn’t know what this was.

  “Donovan…” I looked into his eyes, and they were glimmering in the dark.

  He growled and I wanted more. I wanted to give him everything I had. Anything he asked for. His lips crashed into mine and we held onto each other while our bodies moved wildly, pushing the other closer to the edge of the cliff.

  “Fuck, Caroline,” he growled in my ear.

  “I don’t want it to end,” I moaned. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop fucking me like this.”

  The pain had turned to bursts of pleasure that tore through my body every time he pushed deep inside me. He kissed my neck and throat until his lips brushed against the top of my bra. His teeth clamped against the lace, dragging it down under my nipples.

  He growled loudly, taking one between his teeth. He sucked hard until I couldn’t hold back.

  “Oh, God.” I tried to keep the orgasm from ripping through me but he found my other nipple and began to suck harder while he pumped in and out of me. I had no resistance to the beautiful wave of sensations running from my breasts to my core.

  “Come for me,” he demanded. “Come, baby.”

  I let myself go. I let the orgasm take control and spiral through my body. I clenched and clasped against his hard shaft while he sucked desperately on my nipple. The explosion in my body was like a thousand shards of colored glass scattering in my veins. They were sharp and beautiful. Each filled with their own texture of sensation.

  Just when I thought I was coming down from the high, Donovan reared up and began to ride me harder and deeper. I saw the shimmer in his eyes as his orgasm built in his body. His muscles tensed, making him feel like granite under my fingertips. I held him while he pumped inside me, making me go weak from the power of his release.

  He nipped at my shoulder and fell to the side. I rolled to face him. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to describe what had happened between us. But I felt something in my heart I hadn’t felt before. I wanted this man to be my mate.

  9

  Donovan

  I didn’t know what in the hell had just happened. Sex had never felt like that. I wanted her. And not just for the fun of it. I wanted to possess her. Own her. Make her mine. I wasn’t supposed to want any of those things. She wasn’t mine.

  I traced her swollen lips with the pad of my thumb.

  “You’re amazing.”

  She grinned. “That was amazing.”

  My hand rested on the curve at her hip. Every part of her skin was soft and delicious. I hadn’t had enough of her yet.

  She moved to sit forward.

  “Stay,” I urged.

  “Really?”

  I nodded. “Stay with me. Tonight. As long as you’re here. Stay.”

  I crawled on top of her, feeling the points of her tits rub against my chest. I devoured her mouth with another kiss. She moaned as my tongue twirled.

  She nodded. “I’ll stay.”

  Neither one of us was going to say it, but something had happened between us that wasn’t supposed to happen. I had seen the way her eyes glowed green when she came. Her body was made for mine. I could feel it when I pushed inside her. The way she wrapped around me. The way she purred for me. Caroline was meant to be mine. I could taste it. I could feel it.

  My hands circled behind her back and I unclasped the bra. I pulled it from her arms.

  “Aren’t you doing that out of order?” she giggled.

  I shook my head. “You looked hot in that. But I need these—all of them.”

  My head bowed to her breast and began to layer kisses on the under side and worked around, moving to the other one, careful not to touch her nipples. She bucked and wiggled, trying to move them toward my mouth. I liked the game. I sucked hard against her skin until she was panting.

  “Is there something you want?” I taunted.

  She nodded rapidly. “Take me in your mouth.”

  I smiled. God, I could get used to this girl. My teeth clamped down on one of her hardened peaks and I growled when I heard her squeal with pleasure. How could she not be made for me? My hands slid between her legs and I groaned again. She was wet again and all I could think about was burying myself in her.

  The jaguar in me told me to skip the condoms. Screw the hell out of her. Make her mine. Bury more than my cock in her—give her my seed. Claim her like she deserved.

  My eyes flew to hers and saw the glitter start to sparkle.

  “Donovan,” she whispered. But she began panting and writhing under me. She clutched my shoulders as the orgasm vibrated through her body.

  She smiled. “Your tongue is amazing. I swear I’ve never come from someone licking or sucking me.”

  My heart about beat out of my ribcage. The thought of her being with someone else made me growl. I didn’t want there to be someone before me and I sure as hell didn’t want there to be someone after me.

  But it couldn’t happen like this. She had already told me tonight she expected a romantic dinner. A proposal. The whole traditional road. Taking her home after the first date and claiming her didn’t necessarily fall into that category. I had to put my jaguar in check. She might be a hellcat in bed, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t raised to be a devoted panther.

  I reached into the drawer for another condom. I wouldn’t claim her tonight. But I wasn’t letting her out of my bed either.

  The next morning, I heard the shower running. I stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom.

  “Good morning.” Caroline smiled at me from behind the glass wall. Her body was amazing. The water trickled over her breasts and hips.

  Thank God it wasn’t a dream. I didn’t hallucinate my night with her.

  I opened the door and stepped in. “Good morning.”

  “I wanted to take a quick shower and then I was going to make you some breakfast.” She threw her arms around my neck and reached up to kiss me.

  “Breakfast?”

  “Mmmhmm.” She grinned. “I can make a mean omelet. I mean it’s not actually mean. It’s really good.”

  I chuckled. “I thought that’s what you meant.” I gripped her firm ass in my palm. “Did I tell you last night what an amazing ass you have?”

  “Maybe a few times.” She bit her lip and I lost it.

  I picked her up and pushed her against the shower wall. Her legs wrapped around my hips and my cock grew hard in an instant. I wanted to spear her. Claim her. Make her mine under the running water.

  “Donovan, we can’t,” she whispered. “Not like this.” Her chest heaved with heavy breaths.

  “You know I want you.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  My mouth covered hers and I inhaled her lips and her tongue. I pulled back to study her face. “Last night I stopped myself. I remembered what you told me on
the beach. That you wanted the perfect mate proposal. The candles. The ring.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “And I want to do all of that. I can do all of that. I swear. But, God, I just want to make you mine.” I inhaled her lips again, pressing my erection between her folds. She pulled her hips closer to the wall.

  “But I’m not on your list.” She searched my eyes.

  “How do we know that? I don’t have my list yet.”

  “You don’t?” I saw the hope in her eyes. The realization that maybe what we felt was because we were supposed to feel it. Maybe she had been on the list all along, but we had found each other on our own. Fate brought us together like it was supposed to.

  I shook my head. “But you have to be on it. Why else would it feel like this between us?” I pressed again and her legs started to give way.

  “I don’t know.” She kissed my bottom lip. “All day yesterday I thought you were my mate, and then last night in bed, it was all I could think about. I wanted you to claim me.”

  “Then ask me,” I growled in her ear. “Right now. Ask me, Caroline. Tell me to make you mine. Let me inside you. Let me do what we both know we want.”

  Her head rested against the wall. “I have to be on your list, right?”

  I kissed her throat. “Hell, yes. You have to be on it. There’s no other explanation for what we feel between us. I want to make it real.”

  My body ached. My arms held her, but she wasn’t mine. My lips could kiss her, but I didn’t know for how many days. I had to have her. I was in pain thinking she could belong to someone else.

  “Please,” I begged. “Evoke the bond. I want you.”

  “I want you too. I want to be yours.” Her ankles locked against my back as the water sputtered over us.

  I didn’t have all the things that she deserved. The romance. The ring. But I’d get them. I’d make sure that being my mate was everything she always dreamed of.