the crook of her knee, he kissed the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. Mia propped herself up on her elbows. “I don’t understand—why are you stopping?” Exeter closed his eyes and continued to softly stroke the inside of her trembling thighs.
Having allowed himself a moment to recover, he reached for his medical bag, which he always kept on the nightstand when traveling. He removed a palm-sized tin and opened the lid. She lifted her chin for a better look. “Condoms?”
“Used primarily for the prevention of venereal disease. However, the doctor also recommends their use for contraception.” Exeter removed an individually wrapped latex sheath and set the tin aside.
Reaching over her, he picked up the red leather case and placed it on the flat of her abdomen. Mia ran her finger over the embossed gold leaf letters and smiled, shyly. In the dusky light of early evening there was a sultry look about her—disheveled, and so very beddable. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “Open your present.”
She fiddled with the small latch for a moment or two and then lifted the lid. Exeter never took his eyes off her. He wanted to read every nuance of her expression—good or bad.
“Exeter,” she whispered. “So many emeralds.”
Chapter Sixteen
MIA LIFTED THE NECKLACE out of the velvet lined case. On closer examination she arched a brow. Three rows of sparkling green stones studded a black leather collar. “Is this for me . . . or her?”
“You are one and the same, Mia—not either or.” Exeter scolded lightly. “I must confess, I have been colluding with Cartier for over a week now.” He wore a happy conspiratorial look on his face. “Julian Cartier and I were schoolmates at Harrow.” He appeared as fascinated by the gem-studded choker as she was.
“Ah, there’s a note.” He opened the small crisp envelope and removed the card. “This is a first sample—sent over for approval.” His gaze met hers. “Does it . . . meet with your approval?”
How was it this man could thrill her one moment and anger her the next? The collar was beautiful, but it was also disturbing. “I’m not sure—what do you intend to do with it?”
“As I explained earlier today, you are learning to control the emerging cat, but we also must work together to train her, when you are not in human form. I’m hoping this collar can restrain as well as persuade.” He reached for her and she flinched, involuntarily. “Mia, let me help you.”
“I’m afraid of her.”
“I know you are.” His demeanor shifted from tutor to something gentle and intimate. “Perhaps, and this is just a theory, but what if we can get about together in daylight? The Tuileries, for instance, a gentleman and his exotic pet out for a walk together. Might it not help you settle into your new alternate persona?”
Dear Exeter! He was always trying to create some sense of normalcy for her, as if such a life was possible. She had become a creature who existed in the half-light.
“So I am to be your curious pet. I suppose it is all the rage in London.” She had seen the Duke of Grafton and his magnificent Peruvian jaguar riding in an open carriage in Hyde Park. And the Marchioness Woburn, who never went anywhere without her pet ocelot. She shrugged a bit and sighed. “Is this behavior also fashionable in Paris, or might we get arrested?”
One side of his mouth twitched upward. “It might be wise to do a few late-night strolls before we promenade on a Sunday afternoon.”
Exeter pressed her further. “You need to be with your cat for longer periods of time. Your body needs a chance to recover—you’re dragged out and far from lucid when you return, Mia. You suffer hot and cold chills, a faint, rapid pulse—all signs of shock. It’s worrisome.” Exeter hesitated, which meant he was holding something back.
Mia swore the cat licked her upper lip. “What . . . ?”
He swept a tangle of waves away from her neck. “This time, when I bring you to orgasm . . . instead of pacifying her, I want you to let her loose.”
Mia sucked in a breath. What little control she had gained over her shifting was about to be sorely tested. She felt as though they were headed into dangerous territory. Fearful thoughts deluged her. “Exeter, you’ve seen how she is. You could be injured—severely this time.”
Mia wasn’t quite sure how to say this next bit—so she blurted it out. “And . . . as stunning as this collar is, I am put off by the notion of being treated like a pet.” She suspected her distaste for the gorgeous collar came more from the feral feline, than herself. A snarl gurgled through her body at just the thought of being led about—even if it was by Exeter.
“You’re angry with me.” He was taken aback. His brow wrinkled in concern.
“What if she leaps out at you—like the first time? She came dangerously close to your jugular vein with those fangs. I take it you mean to control her with the collar, but she will also have her claws this time.” Mia moistened her lips, nervously. “She’s very strong. How will you hold onto her?”
“She is part of you, Mia—you have more control than you allow yourself to believe. On the roof of the train to Paris—you shifted and came to my aid. We fought the wraiths together.”
She ran a bare foot up and down the quilted counterpane. “You held the spooky creatures down and she tore them apart.”
Exeter studied her. “I can only image how miraculous and how terrifying it must be to coexist with a wild creature—and yet, I always feel you inside her.”
He pulled a loop of satin ribbon and revealed another layer, beneath the velvet-lined tray. “My hope is that your affection for me will be enough to control her fright at being tamed.” Strands of delicate silver mesh twined together, forming a long leash. Exeter tugged, then snapped the leash harder. The flex and bulge of his upper arm muscles reminded Mia of how wonderfully fit and muscular he was. Her body stirred.
“All these small silver rings linked together create a resilient length of chain mail.” He attached the lead to the collar. “May I?”
She stared for a long time before nodding.
He slipped the leather around her neck and fastened the buckle. “Too tight?”
She swallowed. “Fine for me. Shall I ask her?”
But for the lust in his gaze, Exeter appeared slightly amused. He turned the collar so that the silver chain fell down between her breasts. The feel of slithery metal sent shivers through her—or was it this man who made her pulse leap? She reclined onto her elbows. “How do I look?”
He crawled on top of her and pulled on the leash—enough to raise her lips to his. “Edible.” His gaze moved over each feature of her face, memorizing the smallest detail. He even touched the tiny mole beside her upper lip. “Before I ravage you, my lovely black panther, you will kiss me.” His body was hard and warm against hers and so close she could easily detect the subtle musk of his scent. “Now,” he demanded.
Her breasts rose and fell against his chest as she caught her breath. “Make me.” Slanting her eyes, she turned her face away.
He tightened the silver chain until her lips were nearly upon his. “I am so ready for you it hurts.” His kisses began as soft, openmouthed busses, his velvet lips passing gently over hers. A sensuous, probing tongue teased her lips open and invited her tongue to meet his own. And she returned his passion with a surprising amount of intensity. Her lips brushed back over his, both tongues playing a tangled, thrilling chase, heightening their desire —plowing into each other as if to simulate what was to come.
Breaking the kiss, Exeter perused her body as though he really did wish to eat her alive. “You are even more beautiful dressed in nothing but emeralds.” His penis appeared to enjoy the view as well, as it pitched about like a ship’s mast in a storm. He tore the paper wrapper off the condom and rather expertly tamed his twitching member long enough to roll on the rubber goods.
His gaze was heavy, eyelids half-closed by desire. He reached through moist folds and found her throbbing center of pleasure. Her arousal rose quickly, as his finger circled and flicked over her swollen secret place—the one he so expertly manipulated.
“Make it pulse,” she whispered. He placed a warm, vibrating fingertip against her clitoris until her hips
