Karen Kelley: The Jaguar Prince

“I guess not.” If she knew where he came from, then maybe she could talk him into going back, though. “Where are you from?”

“New Symtaria.”

“Never heard of it. Is that a suburb of Dallas?” New ones were cropping up all the time.

“It’s in another galaxy.”

All righty. “Another planet?”

He nodded, still looking amused about something.

“And you are?”

“Prince Rogar.”

Delusional. Probably escaped from the state hospital. This was worse than she ever could have imagined. Not only was he naked, but he was a nut. Automatically, her eyes strayed downward. She swallowed, then quickly jerked her gaze to a safer place. She had to stop looking…looking at him…down there. It wasn’t like she’d never seen a naked man before.

This was ridiculous. She needed help and all she could think about was staring at his…his nakedness. She had to call the police or something—911. Her cell phone was in her purse. From now on, she was keeping it on her bedside table. If there even was a from-now-on in her future. Okay, keep him talking.

“And why are you here?” She smiled. At least she tried to pull it off as a smile even though her stomach rumbled, and her hands were sweating, and she was probably going to throw up any second.

“To take you home.”

She looked around. “I am home, so…bye-bye.”

He grinned and she noticed his teeth were pearly white, and he had a nice smile. Ted Bundy probably had a nice smile, too.

“You’re part Symtarian,” he continued.

“Okayyy…” He thought she was from another planet, too. This was worse than she could’ve imagined.

“When our planet was dying, some of the people were sent to other places. An expedition went in search of a new planet to call home. Some of our people were forgotten, and became integrated with the aliens. Now we’re searching for them so we can bring them home.”

“And you’re doing it without clothes.”

“It happens when I shapeshift.”

“Well, of course, I should have guessed.” The guy was a raving lunatic. “And what form do you take?”

A fog began to roll across her bedroom. She glanced nervously around, then looked at her crazy guy. Her mouth dropped open as he slowly began to change.

The prince dude gritted his teeth and downed his head. His skin changed from flesh to short black hair with barely visible spots. He stretched out across her bed, his hand curling into a fist, becoming a paw.

Oh, God, she was crazy. Now she would never get her chance to work with the big cats—except in her warped mind. It wasn’t fair.

The fog rolled in thicker until all Callie saw were patches of black fur, a glimpse of golden eyes boring into her. She couldn’t move. She tried, but her legs wouldn’t budge.

The fog slowly dissipated.

The black jaguar from last night lay across the end of her bed, panting slightly. It met her gaze, and seemed as though it was gauging her reaction.

She opened her mouth, then closed it when no words came out. The cat purred from deep in its throat. She swallowed past the lump in hers. What if the jag was real? Maybe she wasn’t crazy. Oh, yeah, now she felt better. She was going to die. Then again, she might already be dead and this was hell.

Whatever it was, the jaguar was still stretched across the foot of her bed.

The room began to tilt, then grow dark, and she knew without a doubt, she was about to faint. She’d never fainted in her life.

Rogar’s spirit melded with that of the jaguar Balam, his animal guide. They were one, yet separate, their thoughts intertwining.

She didn’t take that very well at all. I told you it was too soon to change in front of her. She’s not used to it like we are, Balam’s thoughts mingled with Rogar’s.

Yes, this complicates matters, but surely the woman that bore her explained her existence, Rogar told him, hating that his animal guide had been right…again.

From her reaction, it’s doubtful. She can’t return without some knowledge of her ancestors. The shock would be too much. You’ll need to teach her our ways.

An irritation, but I will learn more about this planet while I’m here so all is not a waste.

Are you so sure she will leave Earth? Balam asked.

Of course she will return with me, she has no choice. This is her heritage. I shall convince her. I am a prince after all.

The fog rolled across the room, and the change began. The familiar ache in Rogar’s gut, the burning sensation that he had grown used to long ago.

Rogar became a man once again. He studied the young woman. She was quite beautiful, with dark hair and deep green eyes. Odd, but beautiful. The oddness must come from her Earth heritage.

She also seemed quite disturbed about his ability to shapeshift. She apparently had no knowledge of Symtarians. Did those she was born unto explain nothing? Others before him had brought back stories. Stories that some of the non–pure bloods were unaware of their origins. He wouldn’t be able to take her home until he taught her the ways of their people. Balam was correct that this complicated things.

He frowned.

She still hadn’t moved.

Could she be dead? He reached forward and took her hand, then let it fall back to the bed. Limp. It was a possibility the shock had killed her. He pulled on the cover, exposing more of her. No her chest moved up and down, so she still breathed.

Her chest moved very nicely. He pulled the cover to her ankles. She had a nice form. Her breasts were full, her waist small, and she had very long legs.

He moved closer, running the palm of his hand over her body, watching the nipples tighten. Her skin was soft and smooth. She moaned when he brushed his fingers through the dark curls at the juncture of her legs.

Her eyelids fluttered, before slowly opening. “What?” She glanced around, then threw her hands across her chest and jerked her legs up.

“You looked at me!” she sputtered.

His brow wrinkled. “And that angers you?”

“Of course it angers me.”

She grappled for the cover but it was just out of her reach so he handed it to her. She seemed quite upset with him.

“You took advantage of me after I fainted.”

“It’s wrong to look at the naked body?”

“Yes!”

“But what about when you look at mine? Is that not equally wrong?”

“I’m not looking at you.” Her gaze moved downward, then shot back up.

“Aren’t you?” He smiled. This part Earthling, part Symtarian, was a mass of contradictions.

She grabbed the cover and wrapped it around her, then stumbled into the other room. She came back a few minutes later with a large white cloth.

“It’s a towel. Do me a favor and wrap it around your waist.”

She really had a problem with his nakedness, yet he could sense a passionate nature within her.

“How did you do it?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Do what?”

“Change into a jaguar.”

“I told you, I’m Symtarian. We are a race of shapeshifters.”

“Or you’re a damned good magician.”

“Would you like me to show you again?”

“No!”

She was very fervent when she was cornered. And he could almost feel the rapid beat of her heart as it pounded inside her chest.

“The towel?” she reminded him.

He slowly came to his feet, noting the way her gaze lowered, then quickly darted elsewhere. He grinned as he knotted the towel at his waist. She looked at him, saw that he was smiling, and frowned. She was even more alluring when she frowned.

“What do they call you?” he asked.

“Callie.”

“Callie,” he said, testing the sound of her name on his lips. “I like it.” It seemed to unnerve her when he said her name.