Falke’s Renegade

disappearance. But it didn’t help. All hope of a future, of happiness, was gone with him.

Her fathers wanted to help her, but admitted they were at a loss. Only time could heal the wounds left by the loss of someone she loved, they’d told her.

Time was all she had.

Time devoid of... Just devoid. Empty.

“Oh, God,” she cried and hugged herself. It had been so much better to believe there was no one anywhere for her. That if she wanted to find any contentment, she’d have to settle for a normal man.

But then a beautiful shifter came into her life and ruined all hope for any kind of happiness.

Finally the tears dried, and Heidi fell into an exhausted sleep.

Chata...

Heidi whimpered and clung tighter to herself. She heard Javier’s whispered endearment so often in her sleep.

Chata, you must get inside the tent. It is about to rain.

Something cold and wet touched her cheek, and she jerked in surprise, her eyes opening in alarm.

Standing over her was a massive black jaguar, his face inches from hers, his warm breath against her cheek.

Slowly, she raised her hand and touched his long whiskers. His lip twitched, and he shook his head slightly.

That tickles.

“Javier.”

You have been crying.

She sat up, unwilling to look away from his amber eyes, afraid he’d disappear if she did. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming. Tell me you’re really here.”

I am here.

She buried her fingers into the thick fur at his scruff and pressed her forehead against his. “You’re alive,” she whispered, her heart beating so fast it felt like hummingbird wings in her chest. Her tears returned. “You’re alive.”

I am. He nuzzled her neck with his cold nose.

“You’re alive.” Elation turned to fury. She jerked back, still gripping his fur in her fingers. “You son of a bitch, I thought you were dead. You’ve been here the whole time?”

His only reaction to her explosion of temper was to sit on his haunches and utter a calm admission of guilt. Most of the time I have been here.

“What’s that mean? Answer me,” she demanded when he didn’t speak. But then she spotted the patch of missing fur from his neck, and she shoved his muzzle to the side to get a closer look. Healed wounds on both sides of his throat. Kneeling, she moved down his body, finding more scars, including the bullet wound she’d patched up.

I am not so pretty anymore, chata.

“You idiot. Is that why you’ve been hiding here?” She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his fur.

No, my love. He plopped onto his side in the damp grass and wrapped his forelegs around her. And then he changed, faster than her brothers ever could, and Javier was holding her in his arms, crushing her to his bare chest. “I have been here healing.”

She looked into his beautiful face and touched the ugly red scars on his neck, a couple lighter ones on his cheek, still unable to believe this was all real, fearful she was dreaming. “I could have helped.

I’m a doctor.”

He shook his head. “I could not return to you in that condition.”

The scars would fade with time, but how long had he planned to stay away from her? Did he really think her so vain? “Don’t you know that it doesn’t matter what you look like? I love you.”

“And that is why I could not return to you as I was after the battle.”

“We looked for you...”

“I knew you would. I buried my scent from your brothers, who no doubt gave in to you and tried to help you find me.”

She frowned at him. “Why...”

“Because, Heidi,” he said, his gaze so intense it raised goose bumps on her sides, “the next time I saw you, I would claim you as my own. I was in no shape to accomplish that at the time.”

Her lips parted on a soft gasp.

A small smile curled his lips. “If you are agreeable, of course.”

“Of course.” The words came out hoarse, and she swallowed hard. Her mind seemed to blank out.

Questions swirled, but she couldn’t get any to come out her mouth. Was it over with the snow leopard? Had Javier done what he needed to do? Was he over losing his first mate?

“Mi chatita, you must tell me if you will accept me as your mate, your lover. Your husband. Your only.”

Elation surged through Heidi, and she leaned down and kissed Javier hard, sinking her tongue into his mouth, tasting him once again and falling into the desire that always consumed her when he was near. Her husband. Her mate. Something she thought she’d never have. She pulled back to find him a little glassy eyed and laughed. “Yes, Javier. God, yes.” She kissed him again.

He rolled her under him and kissed her in return, his tongue surging into her mouth, his naked body so deliciously hard against her.

There was no more discussion as Javier stripped the clothes from her body, barely taking his mouth from hers. The grass was cold and wet beneath her, but his body was hot, warming much more than just her flesh with his.

“Please,” she whispered when he nipped at her shoulder, her neck, that special spot beneath her ear.

“Bite me. Make me yours. Please.”

His playful nibbles made her want to scream. The fact he pinned her legs between his, not letting her rub herself against his long, hard cock, made her want to cry. Instead she arched her back as far as his big body allowed, giving him her chest.

“Such beauty,” he murmured, a mixture of humor and depth in his words. He licked her nipple, and she gasped. He suckled the other, and she moaned. “I will thank God each day that it was you who saved me.”

“Me too. God, me too. I love you, Javier. I never thought...” She grabbed his head and pulled him up so she could kiss him.

He kept the pressure light, gentle, when she wanted his passion. Needed it like she needed air.

“You are sure?” he asked between kisses to her forehead, her eyelids. “Once I make you mine, I will never let you go, Heidi. Not ever.”

She laughed.

Javier raised his head to frown down at her. “You find my declaration humorous?”

Still smiling, she shook her head. “Javier, sweet man, I have lived with shifter men my whole life. I know what possessiveness is. I know that we will fight, we will argue, and I will drive you mad by not following everything you decree to be what is right for me.” She put her fingers over his mouth when he looked as if he would speak. “But sweetheart, you must know I have never loved another man. I never thought I would. You are my one. Of that I have no doubt.”

“And you are my one, Heidi.” He kissed her then, slowly, deeply, his tongue dipping repeatedly into her mouth to rub against hers. He nibbled her bottom lip. And then he moved lower, kissing her neck, the swells of her breasts, treating her nipples to a quick lick before he nipped the sensitive skin over her ribcage, dipped his tongue in her navel. And then he spread her legs.

“Javier, come on,” she cried in frustration, bucking her hips. “Get on with it. Mark me and then fuck me. Please!”

He chuckled. “In this, chata, you are not in control.” His hot, wet tongue slid up the length of her pussy and flicked her clit.