The Jaguar Prince

she had. She’d finally had the earth-shattering orgasm that she’d always thought some fanciful author had made up while eating a chocolate bar or something. No, this was the real thing.

She turned on her side, watching him with more than a little wonderment. If there was ever a bumper sticker that read, ALIENS ARE A GALAXY ABOVE THE OTHERS, she was getting it. She’d never had sex like that. He was magnificent, superb…

He suddenly doubled up, groaning.

Oh, no, sex with her had been too much. She’d killed him. Been overly aggressive…or something. Was she doomed to never have another orgasm like the one she’d just had?

“Rogar? Rogar!” She sat up, grasping his shoulders as he seemed to struggle for air. A thick fog rolled across the room. His shoulders began to sprout hair. Oh, crap, he was shifting. Maybe making love wasn’t nearly as good for him as it had been for her, and now he was going to eat her. Not good! Well, not when it was literal.

She jumped up and ran for the bathroom door, slamming it closed, and then fastening the latch. She’d never realized how flimsy the door was. She started to unlock it and hurry through to the living room, but she heard a deep throated purr and froze. Okay, maybe it wouldn’t be prudent to leave just yet. She eased over to the toilet and plopped down on the lid.

The purring grew louder, as though the cat was right outside the door. Cold chills washed over her. Not just from being nervous, either. She glanced around, then breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted her white terry cloth robe on the counter by the sink.

Wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to ward off the chill in the air, she tiptoed over and grabbed the robe. Pure bliss. Now if only Rogar would change back to human form.

She stopped in the middle of tying the belt. It was true. Everything he’d told her about being an alien was true. And what was worse, she was part Symtarian, too. She’d changed into a bunny rabbit.

A host of questions swarmed inside her. She nibbled her lip as she looked at the door. Was the black jaguar still in the other room? She really found it hard to think of the jag and Rogar as being one and the same.

If he’d changed to a bunny, she wouldn’t mind opening the door. Bunnies couldn’t really hurt anyone. They ate lettuce and dropped pellets on your floor.

Maybe he’d changed back and had fallen asleep. She’d felt tired when she’d changed back to herself. Well, until Rogar kissed her. After a few moments, she hadn’t even been thinking about how tired she was.

But did she want to take that chance and possibly get eaten alive? Nausea rumbled in her stomach. She was a coward, so what.

She knelt in front of the door and peered through the keyhole. Damn it, she couldn’t see anything. She lay down on the floor and moved her face as close to the crack at the bottom as she could get it, peering from underneath. Everything was black. She let out a deep breath. The blackness moved. There was a loud purr just on the other side of the door.

She rolled away, probably looking like a white tootsie roll with arms and legs. She didn’t stop until her head banged into the side of the tub.

“Ow.” She sat up, rubbing her head.

There was another loud purr.

Was the stupid jaguar laughing at her? She crawled into the tub, tucking her bath pillow beneath her head. It wasn’t as good as her pillow on the bed. This was just one of those cheap ones that you inflate. It was an indulgence, but it had only cost a dollar.

She tried to get comfortable, but finally gave up. It was a lost cause. She sniffed. Her first major orgasm and what happens, the guy changes into a jaguar. She snorted. That was one for the advice columns. Maybe she should write Dear Abby. She could see it now.

Dear Abby,

What do you do when you have the greatest sex for the very first time in your life, and your lover turns into a jaguar? Is it a reflection on your performance?

Need advice ASAP!

Signed,

One Who Sleeps in a Bathtub

This was so not fun.

Chapter 8

What happened? Rogar’s thoughts filled the jaguar.

Ahh, you’re awake, Balam communicated the same way. I had begun to wonder if you would ever regain consciousness.

Where’s Callie? Fear filled him. Rogar wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he’d harmed her in any way.

We didn’t eat her if that’s what you’re asking.

Then where is she?

I believe she’s in the other room. She slammed the door and locked it.

Rogar felt relief wash over him. I’ve never lost control like that before.

Because you’ve never lost control at all. It was not I who initiated the change. This sometimes happens with the males of our species when passions rule. Don’t worry, I have no desire to dominate.

Don’t you? Rogar could feel Balam’s amusement. Guilt filled him for even having those kinds of thoughts. Balam was a friend, not just his guide. I’m sorry.

You lead a more exciting life than I ever could. I don’t mind living vicariously through you. There was a deep sigh. Besides, our bond is stronger than most. It’s when man and beast don’t respect each other’s needs that trouble begins.

You’re right.

Of course I am. The jaguar jumped to the bed. You’d better go to her. I’m sure she didn’t sleep well last night.

Rogar flinched. I doubt she’ll be happy with me.

She’s very beautiful you know.

Yes, I do.

Rogar closed his eyes, felt the transformation begin, the damp fog as it began to roll in. He was used to it. The first time had been the hardest. At one point during the change, his thoughts were no longer entirely his. Rogar knew Balam experienced the same feeling. It was as though they stopped being two, and became one, if only for a moment in time. Never once had Rogar felt threatened—which made his guilt all the more harder to swallow. They’d always respected each other’s identity.

He growled from low in his throat. It changed to a moan. A paw became a hand, a jaw that could crush a human head returned to human form, hair changed to flesh.

Rogar opened his eyes, blinking several times until the room came into focus. It was always the same—as if he’d walked from darkness into light. Tiredness washed over him in waves. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, and waited for everything to come into focus. To catch up to being human again.

He finally stood, remembered he was naked, and quickly slipped on his briefs and slacks. Rogar wasn’t quite sure if Callie would feel the same way about his nakedness as she did last night before they mated. And since she’d spent the night in the bathroom, he thought it might be wiser not to push his luck.

When he turned the doorknob and pushed, there was a catch that prevented him from opening the door all the way. He peered through the small crack, but he couldn’t see Callie, nor did he hear her moving around. She might be sleeping. If he could manage to get inside, he would know for sure she was all right.

He looked around, spotting a card on her bedside table that might work to unlatch the door. He picked it up, and slid it through the crack, then upward, unhooking the latch. He tossed the card on the bed, and opened the