The Jaguar Prince

her completely.

Her body felt as though it was on fire as the heat inside her began to build. Higher and higher.

“Now,” she cried. “Oh, God, now!” Her body tightened, convulsing into spasms of pleasure.

Rogar growled from low in his throat, then flung his head back as he came. The growl became a roar, and then they were both falling on the bed, their ragged breathing filling the room. She couldn’t talk, she couldn’t think. Not that she wanted to.

He moved, and her body jerked and quivered again. She grasped his shoulders then relaxed. That had been so good. No, better than good. It had been fantastic. Better than even the last time. It had been…

Rogar suddenly pulled away from her, rolling onto his back. His arms stiffened as he stretched out, then curled into a ball.

What the hell was happening?

A gentle fog drifted across the room. Crap!

He was shifting form again. She scrambled out of bed and aimed toward the bathroom, then remembered the last time, and how uncomfortable it had been sleeping in the tub, and made an abrupt about-face.

She firmly shut the door and ran naked into DeeDee’s bedroom, slamming the door behind her when she heard the deep purr of the jag. She leaned against the door and took deep breaths until her head stopped spinning.

Then she frowned. This was so going to have to stop. Not the sex part. That had been great. But cuddling with a black jaguar was not on her list of things to do. Sure, she loved the big cats, but snuggling with one—she wasn’t that naïve.

She walked to the closet and flung the door open. At least DeeDee had left clothes. Her friend’s taste usually leaned more toward the provocative, though. Rogar should love that since she didn’t have much of a choice. Her suitcase was in the other bedroom.

Callie grabbed underclothes, a pair of shorts, and red T-shirt that she was certain would show most of her midriff, then headed for DeeDee’s bathroom.

Yep, this could get old in a hurry. She was thoughtful as she walked into the bathroom. Maybe it wasn’t too bad. The alternative was really bad sex, then snuggling with someone who snored or had bad breath, or worse, both.

Maybe she could put up with not snuggling.

She smiled as she turned on the shower. She had a feeling she could put up with just about anything, as long as Rogar made her feel like he had a little while ago.

She stepped under the spray, marveling that her body was still so sensitive. The water lightly pelting her nipples made her want to have sex again. She squirted gel on her washcloth, thinking that she and Rogar would definitely need to have a long talk when he shifted back to human form.

A long talk, then maybe more sex. Her smile was very self-satisfied.

Chapter 20

Rogar stretched and yawned, then looked around. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was, then it all came back to him.

“Damn,” he muttered as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

You’ve been using that word a lot, Balam said. What does it mean?

I’m not exactly sure. It wasn’t in the database. It’s a curse of sorts, from what I gather.

You curse me? It’s certainly not my fault you get so…involved emotionally that you change form.

I’m not cursing you, he said as he came to his feet and went into the bathroom. He marched over to the tub. Empty. He walked out, looking around. Okay, where is she?

She left.

Rogar quickly pulled on his slacks, his heart thundering inside his chest.

Your heart is pounding rather fast. Are you all right, Rogar?

I’m fine. I just need to find Callie.

She means that much to you?

He raked his fingers through his hair. Yes, she does.

Could she be your lifemate?

It doesn’t matter if she is or not, if I can’t convince her to travel to New Symtaria, now does it? And if I keep changing form, she’ll be too scared to go anywhere with me.

They say some Symtarians go crazy if they don’t have their lifemate with them.

Thanks so much for reminding me.

This affects me as well as it does you. I certainly don’t want to end up like Zerod. You’ll have to convince her to stay with you.

He left the bedroom and started down the hall. And how do you propose I do that?

You have to introduce us.

Seriously?

I won’t eat her, sarcasm dripped from his words.

I don’t know. But it was an idea. If Callie met one on one with Balam, she wouldn’t be so terrified. She already loved the cats—as long as they were behind bars. I’ll think about it.

Rogar walked down the hall, and opened a door. It had a bed in it, but the room was empty. There was an open door inside the room that he assumed led to another bathroom. He could hear Callie mumbling, and breathed a sigh of relief. A few moments later, she walked out, not noticing he was in the room. She was trying to tie her shirt just below her breasts.

“This is scandalous. I can’t go around wearing this. I’d get arrested,” she mumbled. “I look like what’s-her- face from The Dukes of Hazzard. Verrry slutty.”

Rogar leaned against the door facing, crossing his arms. He liked what she was wearing. The undergarment she wore pushed her breasts up, and the top she had on was cut low enough that the curves were exposed. A great deal of her abdomen showed, too.

Then she faced away from him. The shorts were cut high, and exposed just a little of the cheeks of her butt, enough that he was starting to react.

She turned, and screamed.

He straightened. “I’m sorry, did I frighten you?”

“What do you think?” She planted her hands on her hips.

His gaze slowly roamed over her. “I think I want to scoop you into my arms and carry you back to bed so we can mate again.”

“I…uh…” She shook her head. “We cannot lie around and make love all the time.”

“Why not? Don’t you like mating with me?”

“Of course I do…Wait, we’ve already had this conversation before. I’m here to learn everything I can about New Symtaria, and my animal guide, so I can protect myself if I have to.”

“Then we will mate tonight, after we go to bed.”

“I…uh…need to get my own clothes. DeeDee’s are too revealing.”

She started to walk past, but he took her arm and pulled her against him, brushing the back of his hand over her breasts. She looked into his eyes, and for a moment, he saw passion flare.

But she was right, he needed to teach her everything he could, just in case she had to defend herself