Ju DiMello - Jaguar, Be Mine

“You really think this plan will allow me the leverage to be free?” Wasn’t she an unending river of witty quotes? Duh!

His gaze, instead of lightening, pierced her with an unparalleled intensity and his jaws clenched. “I gave you my word. What more do you want?”

You!

His eyes flared, as if he’d heard her, but the expectation in his gaze unnerved her. Throat dry, she swallowed.

“I want the remainder of our night together.”

She stood up, let her robe fall to the ground and sashayed up the stairs to the bedroom, unable to help but add a little extra sway to her hips when she sensed him follow her wordlessly.

Xander let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d laid his cards on the table, giving her nothing but unvarnished truth. He didn’t trust himself with her. In addition to lusting after her body, he adored her intelligence as well. He loved her no-violence vision for their pack, her sharp-as-a-tack mind that made her a financial whiz. Of course, he was the acting CEO of the company after Mike, but he’d meet up with a lawyer the first thing after he left and transfer his shares to her name.

If he stayed, he’d only want her to unequivocally view him as a partner in everything, in the bed and outside. He’d done the right thing, the noble thing in backing off. Why, then, did he feel like a world-class fool for giving her up without a fight?

His father’s words popped in his mind. Live in the moment. Damn right, he would.

He’d decided to grab life by the horns when he’d lost everything he held dear in the unexpected territory war with the neighboring jaguar pack. The same war that had robbed them of his cousin and Alpha, Mike, had also taken away his inspiration, his role model—his father. His mother had passed away because of a rare form of cancer when he’d been twenty and since then, his father had been the only constant in his life. He’d seen the kind of love they shared and wanted the same.

Karin had humored him when he’d been an adolescent, but when she’d moved away after her marriage, he’d bottled his urges, labeling them as forbidden. Now honestly, there wasn’t anybody who’d even miss him if he left the pack or if something happened to him. He wanted her to care about him enough to want him to stay, but he wasn’t the type to build castles in the air and wax poetic to show his love.

Love?

The irony of the one thing he couldn’t hope for sobered him and made him determined to enjoy what the night offered. What she saw was what she got and he’d settle only for unconditional mating or none at all.

She wasn’t outright asking him to get out. Right? At least he didn’t think so, since she obviously wanted him back in the bedroom. For tonight. He tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to quell the heady mix of hope and relief swirling through him, praying he’d have the strength to leave her in the morning.

No matter what, he’d ensure the freedom of the one person he cared about. The reminder chased away any lingering doubts. He bounded up the stairs two at a time until he reached the bedroom.

Karintha had positioned herself on the bed, her hair fanning the pillow while she beckoned him closer with a smile. As he glanced down at her lush, enticing body, he couldn’t help the curiosity snaking through him. Even in the middle of the night, she seemed as fresh and as enticing as a newly bloomed flower. He shoved his fingers through his hair, wondering what she thought of his advances.

Too late to worry about it, buddy.

Her golden skin enticed him; her glazed eyes aroused him further. His cock hardened again, ready and raring to go, while he wanted to relish and savor each moment. He kissed her forehead, grazed her lips, and continuously nibbling and tasting, moved to her feet, kissing the soft pink toes and running his fingers over the underside.

She giggled. “That tickles.”

Good, he’d found a sensitive spot.

Moving upward, he memorized every inch of her, stroking her calves, thighs and sleek muscles covered with satin-soft skin.

She opened her thighs for him, the pink glistening lips of her vulva and the scent of her arousal heightening the fever raging through his blood. Even if she hadn’t been in heat, he didn’t think he’d feel any different. His senses sharpened with the need to mate, her scent of arousal driving him insane.

Slow might not be an option at all, he realized as he positioned himself over her, intent on baring her secrets and more.

“Please.” Her broken whisper was all the invitation he needed.

She pulled him down for an open-mouthed kiss that had his toes curling. Her hips lifted against him, grinding into his.

His cock stiffened further. She reached out to caress him, stroking and squeezing and he was in danger of exploding. To avoid the sudden onslaught of his climax, he pulled aside from her hands.

Tearing away from her panting lips, he licked the tender spot on her neck and she shuddered, raising her knees to caress his erection instead. The skin on his cock felt too tight as if he were about to explode.

He growled. “Too soon.”

Her soft whimper and her hands clutching the sheets threatened his control. He moved to her breast, drawing on a nipple and his canines elongated with the need egging him on.

“God! Xander!” Her breaths, rapid and hard, fueled his.

Damn!

He cupped her ass and spread her while dipping his head to her abdomen and lightly nipping the soft skin near her navel. She almost jumped off the bed, but he held her tight. She kneaded his shoulders, her cries turning into a constant moan. Her hands dug into his shoulders and she trembled. A fierce satisfaction raced through him in having her at his mercy. The satisfaction soon turned into a roaring beast intent on sucking him under.

She tugged him upward while lifting her hips. His cock, having a mind of its own, sought the entrance to her tight, wet heat. Mindless with passion, he bent to her pussy, parted her dripping folds and laved at her juices, relishing, drowning in her taste. Branding her as his with his mouth.

“No, please.”

Her begging set the leashed beast free and his restraint snapped. With a fluid movement, she rose to meet him while he settled himself on her. Her wetness pressed against his cock, inviting him in. Her soft breasts cushioning his chest, he gulped in some much needed air and entered her clinging heat, one excruciating inch at a time. He wanted to be gentle, but her squirming made it impossibly so.

“I need you inside, deep inside me.”

Hell, yes! With a growl, he speared her to the hilt. He froze, and pressed against her, his mouth seeking hers. Blood thundered in his ears and their heartbeats mingled as one.

Perfection. Bliss. Home.

She dug her heels into the bed and raised herself again, rocking him, moving with him. His thoughts shattered. Pinning her hands over her head, he lifted himself, gazing into her heavy-lidded gaze, withdrawing his cock then sliding back into her. Her silken walls gripped him, swallowed him, and begged him to spill himself. He gritted his teeth and took a few deep breaths, relishing the moment, prolonging the inevitable.

“Again.”

Her demand cut through any semblance of control as he withdrew and tunneled into her. He bent down, releasing her hands, crushing her breasts with his palms and dived in for a taste of her lips.

He filled her mouth the same way he filled her with his cock, thrusting his tongue and retreating in rhythm. Every squeeze of her rippling flesh pushed him a notch higher, closer to the bliss taunting him. He needed her to come first, instead of losing himself inside her too quickly.