By the Tail

females had to offer, now that Stacey, Amy and Melissa were unavailable.

What the hell did he think this kidnapping would prove? Fuming, because she’d known he shouldn’t be trusted, she gave in to the drug and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke, she found no trace of a headache. A little dry mouth, but when she moved, no other aches or pains.

He’d removed her restraints, as well as her clothing, and watched her sleeping from a lazy pose on the floor. Once again fully cat, his glossy black fur shone under the spill of moonlight filtering through a skylight in a bedroom.

She immediately recognized her surroundings. The pride’s central meeting area in the Everglades—what they called the House—was like a cabin gone horribly huge. Full of smaller rooms for privacy, the place had an expansive, open main area complete with a full kitchen, fireplace and entertainment area large enough to satisfy the pride.

And speaking of the pride… A short moment of silence alerted her to the fact they were alone. No scents or sounds of anyone nearby.

Good. When she tore him apart with her bare claws, there’d be no witnesses.

She sat up and deliberately ignored the way he stared at her breasts. Ac-taw were casual about nudity. She never minded, unless it was Quince doing the looking.

She drew in a deep breath, then exploded. “What the hell do you mean by kidnapping me? Isn’t it enough I came back to handle the female problems you stupid males started with the pride?”

He grinned at her, showcasing sharp teeth.

“Oh no. Don’t even try charming me.” She ignored his loud purr. “And quit staring at my breasts,” she snapped.

To which he grinned wider and chirped his amusement.

“I don’t think Alissa is going to appreciate you ogling me.”

He cocked his head. “Alissa?”

“You know, your fiancee? Alissa Roberto?” she said nastily, wishing the woman’s hair would fall out. She was a bitchy woman who’d done her best to create tension in the pride from the time she’d hit puberty. It didn’t help that Alissa’s beauty rivaled her ego.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“You know. Your future ‘mate’. The one you need to secure your position as pride leader.” With Alissa by his side, no one would think to question him. Not even Lex’s supporters. Her family money nearly matched Bermin money for sheer power.

He groaned and lowered his head to the floor, covering his nose with his paws. She hated that he looked so cute in his misery. A predatory cat she wanted to pet and hug and…hit hard. She told her inner cat to back off and let her handle this mess.

“Yeah. Her. So if Alissa isn’t your new squeeze, did you bring me back here to mate, so that you can stem the doubters wondering about your ability to financially manage the pride? Or am I just back to fix the female problems you asshats created in the first place with all that, ‘Mine is bigger than yours’ posturing? Which is it?”

He dropped his paws to the ground, rose and roared at her with such violence she took a step back, then scowled because she’d let him intimidate her.

His tailed whipped back and forth. His whiskers twitched, and he glared at her. “You are the most difficult, annoying, aggravating woman I know.”

“Aggravating and annoying mean the same thing.”

“Fuck. I know that!” He snarled and scratched at the nearby wooden bedpost, gouging the wood with his lethal claws. “I’ve been trying to get you to spend time with me. To see I’m more than a dickhead who once helped Lex. But anytime I get close, you run away.”

“Bull.” Okay, he had a point. She’d needed distance from the sexy male to build her resistance to his lethal charm. Her poor history with men wanting to use her had soured her on relationships. Especially considering her one-time crush on Quince had returned full-force since they’d had sex, when he’d looked at her with affection that made her think—hope—he might feel something more. So foolish to hope. You know he’s just playing you. She swallowed hard. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yeah, because I drugged you.” He hissed his irritation.

“I meant in Miami. I came with you because I wanted to help the pride.”

“But what about me?” He shifted back to six feet four inches of man, throwing her for a real loop. Quince was huge, angry and sporting a mouthwatering erection. “Why couldn’t you be here for me?”

“Right back at you,” she yelled, more than irritated because she wanted to jump into bed with him all over again. Stupid, and Joy prided herself on her intelligence. “Why can’t you be here for me?”

He closed the distance between them but stopped when she held up a hand. “What the fuck does that mean?”

All her frustration with her position in her family, the pride, Alissa, Quince and men in general came rushing out. And it felt righteous. “It means where were you thirteen years ago? Why did it take you this long to realize you want me? Because I’m convenient?”

“Convenient?” He snorted. “Please.”

She talked over him. “Why did you never once ask me out before my family left the pride that first time? You show up, Lex’s right hand man, talking about how you want to save us. Well, where the hell were you when I was right here not even a year ago? I don’t remember you knocking on my door then.” She planted her hands on her hips, furious with him. “No, you were dating Linda. Then sleeping with Gloria. Or was it Karen?”

He blinked. “I wasn’t—”

“Save it. You want me to believe you all of a sudden want to date me? Hell, mate me? Do you love me?” she asked boldly.

When he goggled at her, she hissed and stepped forward so she could smack him on the chest. “Of course you don’t. You just want another fuck. Couldn’t get Stacey or my sisters, so you chose me. I mean, I have the Bermin fortune at my back. That will surely help with the pride’s resources.”

“Hell no. Don’t even think of accusing me of using—”

“Miles hates you. You think dating me might soften him up? I hate to break it to you, but it won’t. And for you to think fucking me while you’re doing every other woman in heat is going to work, no matter how big that cock is, you’re out of your—”

He dragged her into his arms and kissed the mad right out of her. Anger transformed to desire in a heartbeat, and she couldn’t think as he sucked the breath from her.

The kiss turned hotter. His hands were everywhere. Over her breasts, pinching her nipples. Down her belly and between her legs. Rough and fierce and hot. Then he was backing her against the wall, lifting her up and over him. He speared her in one deep thrust, and she screamed her pleasure as he fucked her. His kiss returned, and as he hammered into her, he stabbed into her mouth with his tongue.

She didn’t need any more stimulation than his huge cock and pelvis grazing her clit with every push. She stiffened as her body seized in an earth-shattering climax, more than satisfied when he pulled his mouth away and shouted while he slammed home one final time and came hard.

After several moments of embarrassing panting, she squeezed around him and had the gratification of hearing him moan her name. He moved again, sliding easily in their shared passion.

Shit. He’d come inside her again. Just what she’d been trying to avoid. But when he started to layer his scent over her, to renew that blasted mating call, she pulled her animal spirit back. Her cat hissed and spat its displeasure, but she wasn’t ready for anything more from the big fat liar, no matter how good he felt inside her.

“Not again,” she complained as she tried to move away from him. Oh God, he’s still hard. She bit her lip, not wanting to move and stir her body into another ripple of pleasure.

“Yeah, and again and again. What are you going to do to stop me? I want you, I’ll have you.” Quince had the audacity to grip her ass and squeeze as he rocked into her again. “You’re so easy.”