A Jaguar's Kiss (3 page)

He let out a pained groan but didn’t lessen his hold and

managed to grab her free wrist in the process.

She’d never felt so exposed or vulnerable in her life. In

her clandestine profession she was used to being the one

in control. Being able to get out of any situation. Of course

that was because of her agility and her ability to sneak into

places undetected. Not because of super strength. Right

now she wished she was physical y stronger. “What’s

wrong? Nothing down there to hurt?” she taunted. It was

definitely not true. She could
feel
him, but when his eyes

darkened, she took perverse pleasure at pissing him off.

His eyes watered slightly and she realized he was

containing his pain. “Why the hel did you throw those cuffs

at my head?” he rasped out.

A burst of sharp laughter escaped despite her fear at

being held captive. “Seriously?”

“When my brother cal ed and told me what he’d done I

rushed in from the woods. Taking you was stupid. An

impetuous decision.” There was an edge to his voice and

she realized it wasn’t directed at her.

“Impetuous? That little psycho kidnapped me at

gunpoint
.” Gabriela subtly tried to wiggle out from his

grasp, but it was useless. With the cool air of the unheated

cabin rushing over her body and the sharp adrenaline surge

she’d just experienced, she was horrified that her nipples

were hard. Okay, she was horrified to be completely naked

in front of Owen.

Her only saving grace was the fact that he didn’t seem to

notice. He hadn’t looked down at her once. She wondered

if she should feel insulted or relieved.

“His gun wasn’t loaded—not that I’m excusing his

behavior. The attacks around here have been escalating

and he thought our pack could use you.” His voice was

grim.

“
Wh a t
attacks?” When she’d questioned Ethan he’d

clammed up.

Owen’s eyes darkened and she saw his inner wolf

staring back at her for an instant. He sniffed, not subtly, as

he tried to see if she was lying. Apparently satisfied she

was innocent, he continued. “Humans in the area have

been kil ed—massacred—by a large feline. Law

enforcement thinks it’s a cougar but there aren’t any around

here. Not with two other apex predators in the area. Not

enough hunting grounds and…the humans have been

targeted too close to town. One in his backyard. There’s no

way this is a normal animal. The last victim was definitely

hunted down.”

Gabriela frowned as Owen’s words sank in. Her parents

hadn’t said a word to her about this. Of course she hadn’t

been home in four long years so she didn’t real y blame

them. “Wait a minute. You think
my
family has something to

do with this?” He shrugged and it infuriated her. There had

never been any bad blood between her family and his pack.

They weren’t friends, but they respected each other as

shifters. “You’re insane.” When he didn’t respond she

continued, “So your psychotic little brother decided

kidnapping me was a genius plan?”

Now Owen sighed. He looked tired and much older than

his twenty-seven years. “Ethan thought we could hold you

hostage and try to bargain with your family. Convince them

to turn over the perpetrator for you. He figured if it’s one of

your brothers they’d give themselves up if they thought you

were in danger.”

Her body was rigid with outrage. “And your father was

okay with this?” Disbelief laced her voice. Gabriela just

couldn’t fathom Wesley Wright al owing that to happen on

his land.

“Dad died four years ago,” Owen said abruptly, his voice

devoid of emotion even while she could see the agony on

his face.

It was as if someone sucker punched her in the stomach.

No one in her family had told her. Of course no one talked

much about the wolves to her, especial y not about Owen.

They didn’t know exactly what had happened to end their

friendship, but her family was smart enough to figure out

that Owen was off-limits in the conversation department.

She’d been traveling so much the past few years she’d

been pretty awful at keeping in contact, anyway. She let her

arms relax, not bothering to struggle anymore. “I’m so sorry.

I had no idea.” Another sudden thought slammed into her.

“So that means you became Alpha at…twenty-three?”

Swal owing hard, he nodded again and let his hands

drop, freeing her wrists. She didn’t move away but she did

cross her arms over her bare breasts. Looking away he

stripped off his T-shirt and handed it to her. Though he stil

didn’t step back and give her even the il usion of personal

space.

Taking the shirt, she quickly tugged it on. His scent

wrapped around her like a warm embrace and she hated

that her inner jaguar was practical y preening, wanting to

strut around for him. It was a stupid biological reaction

she’d had to him ever since she was sixteen. Her body just

flared to life in his presence. “What happened?” she asked,

her throat tight. She and Owen might not be friends

anymore but she knew how close he and his father had

been.

“Rogue vampire. The pack hunted them down but it didn’t

bring him back.” Owen’s eyes locked on hers and when he

let her see such raw pain there, it ripped at her insides.

For a moment he looked like that seventeen-year-old boy

she’d been friends with. Heck, he looked even younger than

that. He reminded her of the kid she’d first gone hunting

with as a cub. The kid she’d gotten into a lot of trouble with

over the years. She wasn’t supposed to feel sorry for him or

care about him, but she did. Seeing him al vulnerable

made something inside her break.

Without thinking she stepped forward and wrapped her

arms around his waist, holding him tight against her. “I’m so

sorry.” To her surprise he didn’t pul away. He hugged her

with a startling fierceness, pul ing her close as he buried his

head against her neck.

And didn’t let go. “I…haven’t been able to mourn much.”

The statement seemed to rip from his throat. Even more

surprising than his hug was the honesty in the admission.

They hadn’t seen each other in a very long time. Once

they’d been closer than anything, even family, but…she shut

that thought down and just held him.

It felt strangely right to be in Owen’s embrace. Even if she

was wearing only his shirt and his crazy brother had tried to

kidnap her a few hours ago. Being with him now reminded

Gabriela of when she’d been sixteen. She’d entered her

first mating cycle and her body had become aware of Owen

almost overnight. It didn’t matter that they’d been friends

since they were young cubs. She’d been so stunned by the

realization that Owen was attractive and strong and exactly

what her inner jaguar wanted in a mate. Then to discover he

wanted her, too had been another surprise. Of course their

relationship had been short-lived after that.

When she started to pul away he held her tight. “Don’t,”

he murmured against her hair. The uncharacteristic note of

need in his voice made her heart turn over.

That’s when she felt his erection against her lower

abdomen. She’d be lying to herself if she said it didn’t turn

her on. Gabriela was glad she had the power to get him

hot, but she knew it wasn’t because of his attraction to her.

It was just biology and the mating heat she was putting off. It

wasn’t real. “Owen, I’ve literal y just started my mating cycle.

What you’re feeling is because of my pheromones. I need

to leave—”

“What I’m feeling has nothing to do with that and you

know it,” he growled softly, his hold on her completely

possessive.

Uh, what?
Maybe his brain was more rattled over the

subtle scent of her heat that seemed to be growing stronger

each second that ticked by. The cycle only happened once

a year for jaguar shifters and usual y she just took a week

off work and holed up in her condo in a desperate attempt

to ease her sexual frustration. It had hit her a couple weeks

early this year, on one of the plane rides home. She’d been

able to contain her discomfort and sexual frustration but

being around Owen was going to disrupt everything.

Hugging him had definitely been a mistake. Any sort of

touch with this big, very sexy male was stupid. Her body

was tingling in raw awareness and she needed to get away

from him now.
“Owen—”

His mouth was on hers before she could blink. She

couldn’t breathe, could barely think as his tongue delved

into her mouth.

There were no teasing little strokes. This was hot and

needy and very grown-up. None of the innocent kisses from

when they were teenagers.

Gabriela wanted to push him away. She real y meant to.

When her hands slid away from his waist, they somehow

wound around his neck instead of shoving at his chest like

common sense told her to do.

His hands were holding her in a very possessive manner.

One was cupped against her behind, tugging her so that

her hips were flush against his—like she needed the

encouragement—and the other threaded through her hair

as he cupped the back of her head.

She was too physical y on edge to fight what he was

offering. Lifting one leg, she wrapped it around his hip and

began slowly grinding against him. Without any panties,

she didn’t have much of a barrier against him and the

rubbing sensation was deliciously erotic. She couldn’t

believe what she was doing but she also didn’t have the

strength to stop herself. It had been so long since she’d

been with a man and to be held in Owen’s arms like this

was too good to walk away from.

She thought about blaming it on her mating heat but she

wasn’t stupid. Right now, not just any man would do for her.

She knew she was stupid for letting him kiss her and hold

her like this but just once she wanted to feel what Owen had

to offer. Then she could get him out of her system. And a

tiny, very dark part of her hoped that when she walked away

from him, it hurt him, too.

Of course that would imply she meant something to him

other than a warm female body. And she didn’t. To him, she

was a feline and would never be good enough. He’d made

that clear years ago.

That thought was like someone throwing ice-cold water in

her face. Jerking back, she tore her mouth away from his.

His eyes reflected a raw primal desire that rendered her

speechless and canceled out that coolness, injecting

another shot of heat into her veins.

Owen had never looked at her like that when they’d been

teenagers. He’d wanted her physical y but this was

different. The look in his eyes was al -consuming and a little

terrifying. Before she could tel him they needed to stop, he

was kneeling in front of her.

He hit the hardwood floor so fast she didn’t realize what

he was doing. Until he’d shoved her shirt up and his mouth

was on her most sensitive area.

The abrupt and intimate action of his tongue teasing that

sensitive bundle of nerves made al thoughts of stopping

whatever this was, fade into oblivion. She let out a sharp cry

at that unexpected first contact. His mouth was hot,

searching and so very teasing.

There was no way she’d stop now. It was as if there was

a dam inside her, holding back that sweet release and only

Owen could set it free. Threading her hands through his

dark hair she gripped his head while he pleasured her.

As he worked his tongue against her, teasing and flicking

and driving her so crazy her knees threatened to buckle, he

also slid a finger inside her.

She was already so wet for him she wondered if she

should be embarrassed. But when he groaned against her

clit, she final y let herself relax.

Slowly he began moving his finger in and out of her. The

action was so gentle and restrained it was in direct

opposition to the hungry way he was teasing her with his

tongue. And she needed more if she ever wanted to find

release.

Lifting a leg, she put one over his shoulder, spreading

herself open even more to him. Her clit was pulsing with

uncontrol able need and her inner wal s clenched around his

finger. Her body wanted more than just that, but there was