I kissed down her neck as I unhooked the front clasp of her bra. Feeling the weight of her perfect breasts in my hands made me growl against her skin. When her back arched toward me, offering her body to me, I bent to take her breast into my mouth. Her skin was so soft, with a faint salty taste, and the sound of her gasping my name made me want to take her even higher. I wanted her to shiver with desire when she looked at me later. I wanted to see her glow and know it was because of me.
I licked each nipple slowly, watching her mouth while her fingers clenched my hair. She ran her hands down my back and around my waist to unbutton my jeans. I groaned with hunger when I felt her slender fingers slip inside to stroke me. I couldn’t take any more teasing. I needed to be inside of her.
I opened her jeans and pushed them down her hips. I knew she was wet and ready for me. Her lace panties were next. Kissing her hard, over and over, I lifted her onto the side of a saddle.
She broke the kiss with a gasp. “It’s cold.”
I grinned, hooking her leg over the saddle horn so she was totally open to me while I freed myself from my jeans. “Want to stop?”
Her eyes sparkled as she watched me move closer. She wet her lips and shook her head. “Never.”
I kissed her again, humming into her lips as I brushed against her. Slowly I rocked my hips, rubbing, teasing, enjoying the way she moaned and clutched at my ass trying to force me into her. When I couldn’t wait any longer, I drove my hips forward, moaning as I felt her surround me inch by inch.
I stared into her eyes, watching every emotion play across her face as I sank deeper inside her. The cool evening breeze teased our skin, and the moonlight filtered through the open door. I worked into her, harder, unable to take my eyes off of her perfect body as she tipped her head back.
“You are so sexy, Lana.”
She opened her eyes, looked up at me, and hooked one leg around my waist, grinding her hips into my thrusts. I could feel the pressure building, but I wasn’t ready for this to be over. Not yet.
I slid one hand between us, teasing her until I found the right spot. Her entire body shuddered as she gasped, “Faster!”
Her hands kneaded my buttocks as I slammed into her hard, my fingers working faster until I thought I was going to ignite. “Let go for me,” I growled. “You’re mine.”
And she was. In that moment we were one. Every muscle in my body contracted as I felt her orgasm seize around me. I peaked with her, rocking until I couldn’t move anymore. I held her close, fighting to catch my breath. I felt her lips kiss the left side of my chest, right over my heart.
“I love you, Adam,” she whispered. “Forever.”
I closed my eyes and kissed her hair. “I love you too, Lana. Always.”
…
I watched Lana sleeping in my bed and my heart felt too big for my chest. I’d carried her up from the barn after we made love and dozed for a couple hours. Her black hair was strewn across the white pillowcase, and her face looked peaceful. For a second I caught myself wishing we could just be normal people. No wolves, no jaguars. Just people. We could get married and have a family. There would be Little League, horseshows, and Lana could write the novels she dreamed about.
But it wasn’t so simple. I was going to have to wake her up before the sunrise and rush her out like an unwanted stepchild. I’d open all the windows and put new sheets on the bed so Luke wouldn’t catch her scent in my house. It wasn’t right or fair. Yet, it wouldn’t matter after today. Tonight was the full moon, and in the morning, we’d pack up and hit the road. That wouldn’t be simple either. The Nero Organization wasn’t going to give up searching for Lana. I’d have to be on alert all the time.
I went in the kitchen and poured a can of Dr. Pepper over a tall glass of ice while I tried to push the thoughts from my head. I didn’t have any control over those things so why worry about them, right?
Except I did, I realized.
I took a swallow of caffeine and stared out the darkened kitchen window. This was usually the time I’d sneak out of bed and try to figure out how to get rid of the bimbo I’d brought home. That seemed like ages ago now.
I walked around the corner to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorframe with my glass, I smiled. Lana was still sound asleep in my bed. It made me want to snuggle up with her and doze off, and at the same time I wanted to pull her in my arms and kiss her awake and make love again until the sun broke over the horizon. Just the thought had my blood pumping.
What a way to start the day.
“Is she still here?”
“Yeah.”
“So when are you going to tell the Pack?”
“I’m not.”
Aren shot me a look as he leaned on a crutch and bent into the fridge. “You’re just going to keep her a secret? They’ll find out eventually.”
I took another swig of Dr. Pepper. I couldn’t tell Aren we were leaving. I knew he’d break and Malcolm would find out. Why did finding my mate drag me further and further away from my family? Love was supposed to enhance your life, not tear it apart.
Aren turned around. “Well?”
“Didn’t Jason say you needed to keep your leg elevated?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Aren popped open a can of Dr. Pepper for himself and took a gulp. “I’m your brother. I’ve been keeping this secret too. I didn’t tell Dad or the Pack.”
“Tell me what you think of Lana.”
Aren looked confused. “Why? If what I thought mattered, you never would have gone to San Antonio with her, and I never would’ve gotten shot.”
“Low blow.” I shook my head. “No one asked you to come along.”
“You never would’ve let me leave town with a jaguar either.” He stared at me, daring me to deny it.
Instead I shrugged it off. “Probably not. But now you know she wasn’t trying to set me up. She saved your life. None of that makes any difference to you?”
He stopped making eye contact and stared at the soda can. “I just know Gabe would be alive and I wouldn’t have a broken ankle if Lana had never caught your eye.”
I set my glass down on the countertop harder than I meant to. “How can you put all this on her? She didn’t even know what she was the night I met her. She can’t remember when she shifts. Until I told her, she had no idea she was a jaguar.”
“And now she does. That doesn’t make her your mate.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Lay off, Aren. You’re in no place to give me relationship advice.”
“Just because I haven’t found my mate doesn’t mean that you have. That’s all I’m saying. Can’t you see what she’s doing to you? You’ve been my brother and my closest friend our entire lives, and now in the span of two weeks, she’s already come between us, and if the Pack finds out they’re going to want to know why you think you’re in love with Gabe’s killer.”
I stepped in closer until Aren had to lean back. “Lana did
“Then who did?”
“Sebastian.”
Aren’s eyes widened. “The one who came with you to Vegas?” He shoved at my chest, pushing me back so he could hobble by. “I’ll kill him.”
I sighed. “He’s not so easy to kill.”
Aren wheeled on me. “Jesus, Adam! Are you the protector of jaguars now? Have you forgotten who you are?” He shook his head. “Forget it. You do whatever the hell you want. I’ll watch over the Pack and bring Gabe’s killer to justice. Have fun with your kitty.”
He rounded the corner, and I punched the cabinet so hard that the wood splintered and cracked open. When
