Ju DiMello - Jaguar, Be Mine

Good girl.

Confident of her submission, he lifted his paws to adjust himself on her fur and she whipped away from his grip in a flash. Her muscles flexed as she reared back on him, teeth bared.

Damn. He’d underestimated her.

In the blink of an eye, she charged him, while her sharp teeth nipped close to his throat. Way too close. How the hell had he misread her tactics as an easy submission?

She was an Alpha, an equal. Not the ninny females who submitted to him way too easily. His admiration rose to the surface all over again. Ready for her next attack, he countered her midway, and missed his mark. Their bodies thumped against each other as they rolled on the lush vegetation, the forest echoing their grunts.

He readied to leap again, when she took off into the creek. The small stretch of water was no match for their feline forms as he dashed behind her.

She took him on a merry trail, never giving him an inch of leverage. Wind whooshed past his ears. Sinews straining to keep her in sight, he enjoyed the thrill of the chase. After a good ten minutes, he realized he was gaining ground. A few lengthy leaps put him at par as she swerved to the right. He turned at a leisurely pace, recognizing her breathless pants. A few more yards and he made his move.

This time when he pinned her, she didn’t struggle. She growled low, urging him on in the aftermath of their adrenaline rush.

He moved to cuff her throat when he nipped her ears instead, letting her know he wanted her with her full cooperation. However hard his cock was, or however loud his carnal instincts screamed, he wouldn’t rut her without her permission.

Her arousal teased his senses, but he waited, willing her to understand. He sensed her bones realigning and her fur contracting and he shifted back at the same time as her. Time to drop her off at her place and make a graceful exit before his senses overruled his sanity again. Her naked body shone in the moonlight, equally tempting in her human form as well as her jaguar form. She didn’t resist as he carried her back.

His erection dug into the crack of her buttocks with every stride. Karintha stifled a sob.

Why hadn’t he taken her when she’d offered? While her flight had been great, exhilarating and as ancient as a mating dance, he’d bested her fair and square. In the rough and wild moment, she would have abandoned herself to his mercy. Heat spiraled through her, focusing her senses into a sharp ache between her thighs.

He should’ve claimed his prize—by making her his. He hadn’t.

She should be relieved. She wasn’t.

Had she misread his interest? He’d been very clear about leaving the pack, but why had he come to inform her, why agree to spend the night?

His spicy essence overrode the scents of pungent vegetation. Even if she intended to, she wouldn’t have found a worthier mate. Yes, it was time she shed her inhibitions, her fear and open up to the strong Alpha, who’d proved himself more than enough.

The clarity of her thoughts made her bold.

She wound her hands tightly around his neck, and pressed her face into his strong shoulders. Her insides tied into a tight knot, until each breath became a rasp. She placed a soft kiss near his neck, relishing the tightening of his arms on her bare torso.

She shivered in the cold night draft and snuggled closer to his chest, licking the place where she’d marked him.

“Do you want me to throw you down on the dirt and fuck you right here?”

She shivered at the images his hot words invoked. “I wouldn’t mind the latter.”

He grunted and increased his pace, without stopping until he reached her bedroom—where the twisted sheets reminded her of the few hours that had changed her life.

“Can I get back on my feet now, champ?”

He glared at her in reply, but acceded to her wishes. Her chest ached when she spied the stubborn jaw locked together. He went downstairs without a word.

Her heart skipped a beat while she swallowed a whimper of denial. What had she done wrong? She didn’t know.

“Where are you going?”

He swiveled on her, and caught her arms. “Keep your pretty mouth shut.”

His words threw acid on her burning emotions. She refused to allow the tears to fall while she watched his tight ass disappearing down the stairs. He’d been clear from the start—he intended to leave the pack rather than mate with her. A drop escaped her eyes and she turned away, wondering where the heck her clothes were.

“Put these on.” He was back, their clothes in hand, his eyes blazing with suppressed emotion.

“We’re going out? Now?”

“I want to take you someplace.” He rocked slightly on the balls of his feet. “Would you like to come?”

She focused on him. The sudden change in his demeanor, the new tension vibrating off him, threw her off, pulled her completely out from the stupid bout of self-pity.

What were his secrets? What did he want to show her?

Enthusiasm won over skepticism. “Sure. Why not?”

Her voice came out a pitch higher than normal. Of all the times she chose to go gaga over him, it had to be now? After baring herself to him?

The night had stopped making sense since he’d stepped inside and, if this—losing her mind over a male she’d determined to hate—was insanity, then she might grow to love it. Love him. And that’d be a bad thing because… Thoughts trailed off as her brain scrambled to find a concrete answer. Nope. Not even a single goddamn reason not to fall for him.

Wouldn’t it be peachy—if she chose to give her heart to the one person who was determined to walk out of her life come morning?

He’ll not walk out , treacherous hope whispered within her , if you utter three simple words. Ask him to stay with you .

How simple and equally, how hard. Her stomach clenched at the vicious turn of her emotions. Ignoring his curious look and taking care not to touch him, she took her stuff from his hand and turned away, suddenly shy.

Since she couldn’t prance outside naked or in her butt-exposing nightwear, she pulled out her jeans and a cashmere shrug and put them on, not pivoting around until the rustle of his movements stopped.

Being conscious of her body after all that they’d done seemed pointless, but stripping had been easier than covering up. Clothes seemed as though a layer of armor, a barrier between them.

“Must be a new record.” He gave her a thorough once-over, ending with a low whistle of appreciation. “A woman getting ready before me, that is.”

She tied her hair into a loose knot, acting cool, composed while she felt anything but. Could she be any more pathetic or what? Or maybe, she was so starved for attention that one stupid whistle made her flush.

It was one thing to let him into her home, into her heart, but as an Alpha, did she dare hand over the reins of her pack to him?

Not yet. The decision heightened her determination to remain cautious no matter what he revealed during the reminder of the night.

“Thanks, I guess.”

Xander cocked his head, not sure what caused the underlying anger in her tone. “That was intended as a compliment.”

“I know.” She didn’t meet his eyes.

Did that mean he’d affected her—in a positive way, or had plainly offended her? “Then you’re supposed to laugh it off or give a shrug and clock me here.” He turned and pointed to his biceps. When she didn’t respond, he traced the lingering pink on her cheeks with a finger. “You aren’t supposed to be blushing and annoyed at the same time.”

She flinched, as if he’d hit a nerve. “Are we just going to stand here talking or are we going out?”