Tempting the Jaguar Read online

  Nodding, she inhaled deeply, hating the strange effect he was having on her. She knew they were in all sorts of danger if there were more of those scary vampires outside her house and she was touched that he promised to have her back. But part of her couldn’t shake the strong magnetic pull she felt for him. It was getting stronger now that they were touching.

  Her face was still pressed into his neck as his free hand cupped her cheek. Rainer drew back a fraction and lightly brushed his lips over hers. The action was sweet and she might have mistaken it for chaste if not for the way his hips jerked against hers. She figured he was trying to distract her from the threat outside and she appreciated it.

  Grabbing her hand tighter, he stepped away and nodded toward the back of her house. “Lead the way.”

  Her house wasn’t big and he probably could have found the way on his own but she quickly moved through her house. Estrella was relieved that he didn’t let go of her hand. He was clearly protective and the knowledge warmed her entire body. It had been a long time since a male had wanted to look out for her.

  Once they reached the back door he expertly maneuvered so that he was in front of her and barely moved the curtain covering the small window to check outside. After a moment he said, “I see four more.”

  Her heart rate accelerated. So there were at least seven of those creatures outside waiting for them. But why?

  Rainer stripped off his shirt then turned to her. He motioned with his hands that he was going to crack the door open, then they’d shift and bolt through the door. His hand charades might have amused her had the timing not been so wildly inappropriate.

  “Send the female out unharmed and we won’t hurt you, wolf!” A loud, male voice boomed from outside, cutting down any of her humorous thoughts.

  Her skin chilled. It suddenly hit her that these vampires actually wanted her. This wasn’t a case of Rainer being mistaken about their intentions. He’d told her they’d been hunting her but she hadn’t wanted to believe him. And that vampire from earlier had said he didn’t want to hurt her even though he’d told her she was coming with him. She couldn’t deny the facts in front of her even though she wanted to.

  Rainer growled low in his throat, anger practically sparking off him as he eased the lock open and barely pulled the door back an inch. He looked at her and nodded once as he stripped off his pants. His ripped body would put pro football players to shame. And what was between his legs...she shuddered again as warmth spread throughout her. Now was definitely not the time to be noticing that.

  Knowing it was silly to feel self-conscious especially considering the circumstances, she stripped off her own clothes and underwent the change at the same time Rainer did.

  He nudged the door open with his nose, and they both sprinted out onto her back porch. Using all her strength and supernatural speed she flew across her open backyard, which led directly into the thick forest.

  A shot rang out and dirt flew up a foot from Rainer. Straining, she urged her body onward, glad Rainer was just as fast as she was.

  “No! Don’t hurt the princess!” that same male voice shouted, though he sounded a lot farther away than before.

  Princess? What the hell? Once Estrella and Rainer breached the thick trees, they moved even faster. Wind rolled over her fur as her paws pounded the hard, crunchy earth. There was shouting behind them, but she managed to tune it out the farther they ran.

  The trees around them grew thicker, the forest blanketing them in protection. Since there was no way to tell Rainer, she did what came natural to her beast. She took to the trees, jumping from branch to branch, tree to tree, as they raced. It gave her a much better vantage point to spot any possible dangers and she always kept Rainer in her line of sight.

  Some primal part of her wouldn’t let him get away from her. The need to see that he was okay and yes, protect him, was like a living thing inside her. She didn’t understand it and she wasn’t sure she liked it. But it was there nonetheless.

  The voices and shouts had long since faded in the background and once the trees started to thin again she jumped back to earth and fell right in line with Rainer. She wasn’t sure how far they’d gone but it had to be at least eight miles, maybe more. He let out a low yip that sounded almost like a greeting. Maybe he was glad she was running next to him again.

  When he slowed she followed suit. By the way he was moving it was obvious he was somewhat familiar with this territory. Since she was an orange jaguar and therefore stood out in the forests of Alabama, she tended to stay within a two-mile range of her home so she’d never been this far out before. He clearly had.

  Once they’d slowed to a complete walk, she nudged him in the side with her nose. He yipped at her and actually snapped his jaws. It wasn’t in anger, but almost playful. The action took her off guard. She’d never had anyone to run with. Not since she was a cub—and those memories were fuzzy. Her father was the only one she even remembered running with. Never her mom.

  They reached a clearing, but she froze when she saw a man standing near the opening of a cave. He was tall with dark hair and had a similar build to Rainer, but she didn’t plan to cover the rest of the thirty yards to find out who he was. She growled, drawing Rainer to a sudden stop.

  He looked at her, then back at the man and barked. As if she should understand what he meant. Estrella went down on her belly, ears back, and he flopped next to her. He nudged her side with his nose, trying to get her to stand.

  She knew she was being stupid and maybe a little irrational, but she was terrified. The reality of what had just happened was slowly sinking in. Freaking vampires had chased them down and she was on the run with a very sexy wolf shifter. A shifter she knew next to nothing about. She didn’t think he’d lured her into a trap or anything, but fear clawed through her as past experiences raced through her mind.

  Rainer let out what she thought sounded like a frustrated bark then shifted to his human form. He crouched down in front of her and she tried to ignore the fact that he was naked. “That’s one of my brothers,” he said quietly, reaching out and stroking a hand over her head.

  How could he have known they’d be there? Alarm surged through her and she started to back away but Rainer shook his head, as if he understood exactly what she was thinking.

  “My brothers and I communicate telepathically. When the rest of my family was alive, we all did. Some blood relatives are like that. Do you remember being able to do that with your parents?”

  She shook her head, though an elusive memory tickled her thoughts. Did she?

  Rainer sighed. “My brother brought us clothes. I’d like to take you back to my pack’s land. You’ll be safe there. The sun will be up in a few hours and we can check on your house then.”

  She shook her head again. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  Sighing once more, he stood. “Leave the clothes!” he called out to his brother, which she figured was for her benefit since they could apparently communicate telepathically.

  The man by the cave opening paused and Estrella was under the distinct impression that he and Rainer were having a conversation. Finally the man tossed the clothes down and stalked off into the forest.

  “Come on,” Rainer murmured.

  As they moved she tried to ignore the fact that he was naked but it was pretty hard considering the man was walking, talking sex appeal. All those hard muscles and sharp, flat planes made him an artist’s dream. Of course she wasn’t thinking about actually sculpting him
because she didn’t want anyone else to see him naked. But she wouldn’t mind running her hands all over him. Then following up with her mouth and tongue.

  When they reached the pile of clothes he turned around to give her privacy as she shifted back to her human form. She didn’t sense anyone else in the immediate vicinity so she didn’t mind being naked. The change was fast and part of her didn’t want to put clothes on. Especially as she stared at his sculpted backside. She inwardly chastised herself. He was being perfectly polite and giving her privacy and she was ogling him like some lovesick teenager. Being naked around him sounded like a lot more fun than being clothed, but she tugged on the plain green T-shirt that left a good three inches of her stomach bare and a pair of drawstring lounge pants.

  Rainer turned just as she put on her pants. Those startling green eyes of his seemed to practically glimmer as he raked them over her in a very appreciative sweep. When his gaze landed on her face, the look in his eyes scorched her. Her nipples instinctively reacted, pulling into hard buds.

  Despite the cool April breeze whistling around them she felt as if she could combust on the spot. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling nervous. “Do you think the vampires followed us this far?”

  He shook his head. “They won’t venture into my pack’s territory. Besides, two of my brothers and a few more pack mates are out patrolling.”

  “Oh.” She had a lot more questions but couldn’t formulate a single one into an actual sentence.

  “I want you so bad I can’t think straight,” he practically growled, the bewilderment on his face and in his voice mirroring her own insides.

  Her eyes widened at his bluntness, especially since he seemed almost surprised he’d admitted it. She felt the same way. She hadn’t taken a lover in years so this searing need for Rainer had taken her by surprise. “I want you, too,” she finally whispered.

  She did want him. Bad. After what they’d just run from she was pumped up on adrenaline and the thought of losing herself with the sexiest man she’d ever met felt like the best decision in the world.

  Too many emotions twirled through her and when his gaze landed on her lips, she knew she was about to do something she might regret. She didn’t care though. In a flash of movement she started to cover the distance but he was faster.

  Rainer’s hands settled on her hips as he tugged her close. His mouth landed on hers, his tongue immediately invading her mouth. His kisses weren’t gentle or sweet. Nothing like the tender brush of his lips from earlier.

  Right now he was taking and claiming.

  The thought of being claimed by this male made the warmth between her legs spark into full-blown heat. The last man she’d been with had been in college years ago and he’d been human and fragile. Nothing like Rainer.

  She wanted to let loose. To be free. To be herself for once.

  Grabbing her hips, Rainer hoisted her up so that she had to wrap her legs around his waist. His erection pressed against her core and she couldn’t help but rub against him. Even though he was wearing thin pants, the friction against her clit made her buck harder against him.

  He chuckled against her mouth and pulled back slightly as he strode into the cave. “I’ve wanted to do this from the moment I saw you wearing that black dress and those fuck-me heels. I wanted to take you right on the floor of the art show and I didn’t care who was watching.”

  The image that evoked made her face flame. Since she didn’t trust her voice, she grappled with his shirt and tugged upward. Raising his arms, he let her take it off. Her throat tightened as she got to see his body up close and know she was about to put her hands all over him.

  All those defined lines and striations. Unable to stop herself she leaned forward and nipped his hard skin. She kissed a path across his chest until she reached one nipple. Drawing it between her teeth she pressed down until he shuddered.

  Her legs were still wrapped around him and she was vaguely aware of him moving them, then kneeling on something soft.

  She looked up for a brief moment and realized they were on a quilt—no, sleeping bag. Whatever it was, she didn’t care. She just wanted more of this mysterious man. And she desperately wanted to feel him inside her.

  Pushing up on her knees, she straddled him, sinking deeper against his body and he practically tore her shirt off. A shiver stole through her as his hungry gaze landed on her breasts.

  Before she realized his intent, she was flat on her back and his mouth was on her breast. He sucked, hard. Her back arched off the ground as he tugged her already hard nipple between his teeth.

  A rush of warmth flooded between her legs as he cupped her other breast. He tenderly caressed it while he ran his thumb over her nipple in teasing flicks. The simultaneous yet opposite actions of his gentle hand and rougher mouth against her breasts made her moan in pleasure.

  She clutched his head as she squeezed her legs around his waist. Feeling his hard length pressing against her lower abdomen wasn’t enough. She wanted all of him.

  Despite having a human best friend and her deceased adoptive parents, she’d felt isolated for so long. Having to pretend her entire life she wasn’t a shifter had been difficult. Not around Rainer. She could completely be herself with him and it was refreshing. Her inner walls clenched with the need to be filled by him.

  As if he read her mind, he slid his hand down the front of her pants. There was no teasing. He cupped her mound and slid two fingers inside her wet sheath. The abrupt action had her rolling her hips against him.

  She let out a strangled sound as he dragged his fingers against her inner wall. Surprising her, he kept his strokes gentle and slow. Almost too slow.

  When he raised his head to look at her, she tunneled her fingers farther back through his hair, loving the silky feel. “Tell me something about yourself,” he demanded in a low voice.

  She blinked, unsure she’d heard right. Her inner walls clenched around his fingers in desperation as he slowed even more. She needed him to move faster. “Now?” she rasped out.

  He buried his fingers completely inside her and rested his thumb right on her clit, but then stilled his movements.

  “I hate avocados,” she blurted, feeling silly but so turned on with no release that she wanted to scream.

  Rainer grinned and it completely softened his face. A tiny dimple appeared on his left cheek, giving him a boyish quality. Looking supremely satisfied with himself, he resumed stroking his fingers inside her, this time with urgency.

  She let her head fall back and when he began rubbing his thumb over her clit she lost it.

  Growling low in his throat, he sucked her breast into his mouth again and tugged her nipple in that almost-but-not-quite painful way. She let out a silent scream as her orgasm surged through her.

  It was sharp and fast and had her grasping on to his shoulders in a fruitless effort to ground herself. The orgasm just kept going, punching through her and stealing her breath until she limply fell against the sleeping bag.

  As her orgasm faded, Rainer finally withdrew his hand and tugged her pants off. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he growled in that deep, intoxicating voice she craved. “And your scent—it’s like you’ve drugged me with it.”

  Something warm blossomed inside her at his words. Estrella reached for him, eager to take his pants off too, but he beat her to it.

  Her eyes widened when she finally saw his cock. And not just a glimpse of it like earlier. Seeing it up close and per
sonal made her shudder in primal awareness. The man was certainly proportional everywhere. Then she remembered...”Condom?”

  He froze, looking at her in curiosity. “You’re not in heat.”

  She blinked, uncertain of his meaning. Since she’d turned sixteen, she went through an unbelievably painful week twice a year where she was sexually frustrated and almost nothing could ease her. “You mean those are the only times I can get pregnant?”

  He nodded, his frown increasing, probably because he was surprised she didn’t know more about shifters. “And we can’t get diseases,” he said quietly.

  Clearly she had a lot more to learn about shifter life but right now she knew all she needed to. Sitting up, she reached for him but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head as they tumbled back onto the softness. She squirmed, trying to get him to push inside her but he remained firm.

  Those pale green eyes had turned dark and smoky as he watched her. Under his gaze her breathing increased, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Why aren’t you moving?” she whispered, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

  “I don’t take lovers lightly.” His voice was raspy, almost edgy.

  “Me neither.” It had been almost five years for her, but she didn’t plan to tell him that.

  “Good.” There he went again with that growl. The sound was so sexy her inner walls clenched.

  “And...I’ve never been with a shifter before.” She felt like she needed to tell him something more about herself. Something personal.

  His eyes flashed darker for a moment, then a purely masculine smile covered his face as he captured her mouth again.

  Still keeping her wrists captive, Rainer reversed their bodies, moving so that Estrella was on top. He wanted to see every inch of her as she rode him. The most primitive part of him scoffed, wanting to ride her hard and claim her. But not this first time.