Passion's Prey

was still rushing through her body even after the cool-down of the ride home and the meeting with Rome. He’d seen it in her eyes, in the way she couldn’t keep still. There was still energy she needed to dispel.

He kept up with her easily as she explored the area. She would burst free in an all-out run that had both their legs stretching to cover as much territory as possible. Then she’d slow and move her body along a tree. Only once had she come up on hind legs and scored the tree’s bark with her claws. X only watched, pacing slowly, remembering this spot because she would come here often now. When she broke into a run again he followed, determined to simply let her tire herself out.

Before long he heard the rushing of water, knew they were nearing the section of the park where the Potomac River poured into a seventy-seven-foot drop on its journey to the Chesapeake Bay. She would stop at the water, he knew instinctively.

Caprise shifted before X right at the water’s edge. It was gorgeous here, the raging water possessively dominating this entire area. It fell in roaring waves over edges, pooling into the river that would swirl and continue out to the open sea. It was majestic, she thought as she stood there naked, looking around at the wonder that was nature.

She could see the same wonder by looking in the mirror. Shifters were an anomaly, a creation by a higher, all-knowing being. They had evolved over time until they were now all spread out over the globe, probably all looking for a home, wanting desperately to belong somewhere. And yet, they already belonged. They were a part of the grand plan, she realized, a part of the humans and animals that all roamed this earth in their own type of harmony. The Shadow Shifters only needed to find their harmony, to carve out the spot in this big old world that belonged to them. And when they did, she thought, taking a step toward the water and dipping only a toe in at a time, she would stand with them. It was time she stood somewhere, with someone.

Speaking of someone, she turned, knowing he was there, behind her, as he had been for the entire time she’d been running. She’d felt his presence, like a coat on a cold winter’s day, had scented him as the other half of her, the piece to the puzzle she’d been searching for so long. If anyone had ever told her she’d fall in love with Xavier Santos-Markland and want nothing more than to be in his arms every night she probably would have punched some sense into them. But here she was in a state she’d never thought she’d return to, running through this park in her jaguar form and absolutely loving the feel of the cool air against her fur, standing near this cool water touching her human skin, and finding herself enjoying it all.

All her life she’d rebuked her heritage, hated the very thing that made her who she was. Until now. At this precise moment she fully grasped the Topetenia and all that the tribe stood for. Because here, in this beast that was also a man, was all she’d been searching for. Strength, power, protection, desire, and finally compatibility. As X had told her once before, they were two of the same kind. Even as humans they were alike, having both been irrevocably scarred by people they trusted. And they’d both survived, they’d fought like hell for the life they wanted to lead until finally bumping into each other and realizing that their lives could only be led happily if they were joined. Yes, she’d admitted it, if only to herself: She wanted the joining ceremony and all the official crap that came along with it. Because there was no way she was letting this man walk out of her life, not now.

He was still in cat form, his green eyes grasping hers and holding. The intensity between them never seemed to waver, no matter where they were or in what form. She went to her knees and opened her arms to him. Her heart did an amazing flip-flop the moment the big cat began making its way to her. When he was close enough, she stretched her arms around him, laying her head against his. His tongue licked at her cheek, down to her neck, and she sighed. She was so in love with this shifter, a feeling she’d never thought to feel again.

“I love you,” she whispered, her fingers buried deep in his fur.

Then he shifted. She jerked back with the force of his change. Just in time he reached out human arms, catching her before she could fall back into the rushing water. He held her there for what seemed like endless moments, just staring down at her. Her fingers flexed on his biceps, loving the firm feel of his muscles. He was so perfect in either form, brown skin marred only by the inked artwork that she’d memorized after the first time seeing him naked. She knew where each tat was precisely, knew their meaning, their feel against her tongue.

“I didn’t think I’d be here,” he said, his voice gruff and low against the roar of the water. “I didn’t think I’d ever be mated.”

Caprise shook her head. “I didn’t, either.”

He chuckled. “We’re some pair, huh?”

“I think we’re the perfect pair.”

X nodded then, his lips spreading into a smile. “I think we are, too.”

“You don’t have to say it,” she told him, biting her bottom lip. “It’s okay.”

“I know,” he told her, then pulled her closer, touching his lips to hers, letting his tongue slide inside for a quick tussle with hers. “But I do,” he whispered as his lips slid over the line of her jaw, down to the tender spot just beneath her earlobe.

“You do what?” she heard herself asking in a breathy whisper.

After a pause that had her insides churning, her breasts and center aching, she heard him say softly, “I love you.”

Absolutely perfect is what she thought until he began moving. The next thing Caprise knew they were up to their waist in the chilly river water.

“Are you crazy? It’s cold out here.”

“I was going to wait until we were back in your room, but you couldn’t keep still. And now I can’t wait a moment longer.”

Her arms circled his neck; his arms clasped her waist. “You can’t wait for what?” she asked teasingly.

He grabbed the backs of her thighs, lifting them so that she could now clasp her feet behind his back just like her arms. And without preamble he slipped his heavy erection deep into her waiting center.

“For this,” he said when she’d opened her mouth to gasp at the immediate fullness.

There was nothing like this; not ever in her life had Caprise felt anyone like this man. He was so big and so stern and yet he filled her so precisely, so sweetly, all she could do was sigh. His pumps were fast, just as she liked them, and as the water slapped around them, falling and rushing in its natural rhythm, she and X made their music. Her moans coupled with his repeating of her name, his grunts to the background of her high-pitched screams, their climax came simultaneously like a practiced concerto.

Chapter 30

Dorian downed another glass of straight scotch. He’d returned to his apartment over an hour ago, after one night of pure adrenaline. Eric had delivered more details as Dorian had driven to Woodland. There was an arms deal going down; Senator-elect Ralph Kensington was involved. The address was to Slakeman Enterprises. Dorian hadn’t initially thought any of this had anything to do with the drugs he was tracking or the killings that had taken place in the last nine months, but Eric believed it did.

By the time they’d arrived, MPD were there in deep numbers. Helicopters roamed the dark evening sky, the moon hidden by ominous clouds. There had been no alarms tripped, and all seemed to be well inside the building.

Then it happened.

The explosion that killed three seasoned police officers and injured seven more. The blast had come as a complete surprise, and only by the grace of God did Dorian and Eric not get hurt. Dorian had parked outside the gates because there were so many police cars already pulled into the parking lot. He’d just phoned Eric to let him know he was there. A few seconds later Eric had come up to the car, giving Dorian more details about what seemed to be a false alarm.

It wasn’t a false alarm.

Right now they had no idea who had set the bomb. Preliminary reports indicated it was a bomb and not some sort of accidental explosion—Eric had texted him that information just before he came into the house. But who would bomb Slakeman Enterprises? That probably garnered more than one suspect, especially since