JaguarintheSun (4 page)

Just the thought made the jaguar snarl with pleasure.

“Are you all right?”

As though the sound of his voice brought her back to
herself, Cassandra straightened in her seat, brushed at the curls clinging to
her cheek. She took a deep breath, then released it slowly. Her hand wavered
for a moment, as though to straighten her lapel, then fell to her lap.

“I’m fine.” Her voice was rough, her eyes gleaming, still
darker than usual, and the rosy blush across her cheeks and cleavage hadn’t
completely faded. “
By
Sol
, Xbal. That was…”

She shook her head, obviously at a loss for words, and Xbal
found himself smiling, inordinately pleased by her inability to articulate.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

The look she gave him, part amusement, part promise, made
his entire body tighten even more.

“I don’t think that’s the appropriate word, but it will do
until I think of one better.”

By the Heavens, why was it the sound of her voice, so calm
and collected, drove him wild?

Xbal looked away, taking another deep breath as he signaled
to the waiter for the bill. The atmosphere between them was heavy, filled with
the remnants of what they’d just done, the anticipation of what would come
next. Xbal wondered if he would be able to walk he was so hard, so aroused, but
it wouldn’t do to let her know just how painful the experience had been for
him. It was worth every instance of discomfort to give her the pleasure.

“Xbal?”

The hesitancy in her voice made his stomach clench. Was she
about to say she’d had enough, wasn’t willing to go home with him? He had to
force himself not to snarl at the thought, to turn a merely questioning face to
her.

“Would you mind terribly if we just translocate out of
here?” She smiled, but something else, other than humor, flickered in her eyes.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk after what you just did.”

Relief made his head light, and Xbal could only nod, release
the breath he’d been holding and say, “Not a problem, at all.”

In fact it was the best idea he’d heard in a long time, if
he didn’t count Cassie’s initial one that they have sex.

They stayed silent until the waiter brought the bill, and
Xbal watched her look around the restaurant, her long, narrow fingers playing
with the strap of her bag. He could almost see her rebuilding whatever barriers
she may have lost during their encounter, or building new ones in preparation
of whatever was to come next.

He wouldn’t let them stand.

Suddenly he knew, without a doubt, he would be tearing at
whatever walls she built, all the ones he’d felt already existing inside, with
teeth and claws and every trick he’d learned over the centuries of his life.
Cassandra may think they were going to have one day of unbridled sex then go
their separate ways, but he hadn’t lived this long without knowing the
connection between them was something special. It had been built over years of
knowing each other, liking each other, apparently each wanting the other too.
Now that he’d linked to her with his magic, felt her responses, almost lost
control because of them, he wasn’t willing to let it all go so easily.

An unexpected wave of sadness made his stomach clench, but
he wouldn’t let it spoil the moment. It had been too long since he’d wanted a
woman for more than just fun, a few months of sex and enjoyment before he
pushed them away and moved on. There were definite benefits to being immortal,
and decided disadvantages too. He wouldn’t think about the implications of what
he was feeling, what he wanted from her now.

Unfortunately, there would be lots of time to do so in the
future.

Cassie slid out of the booth carefully, not at all sure her
legs would even hold her weight. Her head was still spinning, her insides
vibrating with the aftermath of the best orgasm she’d ever experienced. Xbal
hadn’t touched her with anything but his magic, for fuck’s sake, and she was
already overwhelmed, undone.

Devastated.

He was standing beside the table, waiting for her with his
hand out to help her rise, and for a split second Cassie hesitated, almost
afraid to touch him. If his magic could wreak such havoc with her senses, what
would it be like when they were together physically? When he made good on the
promises he’d whispered while his
atraspa
surrounded her, stroking and
taking her to ecstasy?

Yet, she wanted to know—wanted him even more now than she
had before.

She put her fingers over his, couldn’t suppress a little
shiver of anticipation when his warm, strong hand enveloped hers and he pulled
her to her feet.

Into his arms.

The shiver turned to a shudder as Xbal pulled her close, his
other hand pressed to her back so her body was flush against his and she could
feel the length of his erection against her stomach. A sweet, hot rush of need
bloomed deep inside and fired out, up her back, down her legs and, just like
that, she was completely, utterly aroused all over again.

And this had nothing to do with
atraspa
and
everything to do with the man holding her, looking down at her with an
expression she’d never seen before. There was the unmistakable look of desire
in his eyes, in the set of his mouth, as well as the barely leashed tension in
his body. But there was something else too, and she couldn’t interpret it. Only
knew whatever it was made her blood quicken in her veins and almost caused her
to look away as a frisson of fear tickled across her senses.

“Are you ready, Cassandra Solinar?”

Even the way he said her name, in a deep, velvety growl,
heightened her awareness and lust. And her fear. But that only added a sharper
edge to the moment, to her eagerness for what was to come.

Tilting her face up, so there were only a couple of inches
separating their lips, she whispered, “So ready that if you don’t get me out of
here now, I may have to have my way with you right here, in front of all these
people.”

The sound he made was indescribable, part snarl, part huff
of laughter—all male, all agreement—and Cassie felt the rush of magic as he
cast his translocation spell.

She had a brief moment to realize, by the warm humidity and
lack of noise, they hadn’t reemerged anywhere in the city, before Xbal cupped
her cheeks, holding her head tilted up to his. The darkness of his eyes, the
intent in his gaze, made her shiver again, made her desperate for the sensation
of his body over her, in her.

“I’m going to make you scream, Cassie. Make you beg me to
take you again, make you come again.”

She shook her head, although she couldn’t force her lips to
fall into their habitual confident, slightly dismissive smile.

“You can try, and I have no doubt I’ll enjoy every moment of
the effort, but don’t be disappointed when it never happens.”

His expression didn’t change. He didn’t smile, or frown, or
look challenged, only held her gaze with the predatory stare that did such
destructive things to her control.

“It will happen.” It wasn’t a boast, just a statement of
fact. “You can’t beg for what you don’t know you can feel, what you don’t know
you can have. I’ll show you how it can be between us, find all your hidden
secrets, the places and positions you never knew would make you wild. Then
you’ll want me enough to beg.”

Swooping in, he claimed her mouth, his hot and hungry, his
tongue sweeping over her lips, demanding entrance. Unable, unwilling to deny
him, craving his kiss, she opened for him, expecting the plunge of his tongue,
a claiming of her mouth. Instead he began a slow, thorough exploration that
seemed to seek more than just the physical pleasure of mouth on mouth.

Increment by thrilling increment he deepened the contact
until she was breathless, needy, her body arching and rubbing against his. A
low rumbling growl came from his throat, an untamed, feral sound so out of
character with the urbane façade he presented to the world it weakened her
knees. When he lifted his head she clung to his shoulders, needing his strength
just to stay upright.

“If you come inside with me, Cassandra, expect no quarter.”
The velvet was gone from his voice, leaving it raw and ravenous. “I want you,
want to glut myself on your sweetness, on your pleasure.”

Fear—no, terror—drove through her. Not enough to make her
back off but sufficient to take the wild edge off her desire, and she was able
to reply, although she had to lick suddenly dry lips to get the words out.

“Is this where I start begging, Xbal? Because I’m not
inclined to do that.”

One side of that delectable mouth tipped up, and he shook
his head. “Not yet, Cassie. Not yet. There’ll be time for that later, if you
come in with me.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the house behind her,
finally able to give attention to something other than him. The long,
single-story structure, with its row of arched windows set into smoothly
plastered walls, glinted in the early-afternoon light. With the sun high in the
sky it was impossible to see in through the windows, and the tall, arched,
wooden double doors were closed.

Looking back at him, ignoring the insistent thrum of
arousal, the urge to drag him closer and end the discussion with another
mind-altering kiss, she smiled slightly.

“It doesn’t look too dangerous.”

With one of his swift, smooth, surprising movements, he bent
and picked her up, eliciting a gasp from Cassie as she found herself being
carried sideways against his chest.

“It isn’t dangerous.” Impossible to miss the hint of
laughter in his tone. “As long as I’m out here.”

Cassie chuckled, winding her arms around his neck and
tunneling her fingers into the black satin of his thick hair. Wanting to tease
him, make him want her just a little more, she leaned against his shoulder and
put her lips close to his ear. “I’m willing to risk it, if you are.”

Using the tip of her tongue, she traced the inner whorl of
his ear and was rewarded with a rumbling vibration from his chest as he began
to stride toward the house. There was a tingle of magic while they were still a
few feet away from the door, and Cassie leaned back slightly so as to be able
to see his face.

“You ward your house?”

He shrugged slightly. “An old habit. A holdover from the
days when things weren’t as peaceful as they are now.”

Cassie contemplated his words, thinking back on what she
knew of their world’s history, the conflicts that had occurred over the
millennia past, wondering how old he was, exactly. It wasn’t the kind of
question considered polite to ask, but she was tempted nonetheless. What had he
seen, experienced? Which of the figures, now consigned to the mists of time,
had he known or seen personally?

As the double doors swung open, she also found herself
wondering how many other women had crossed the wards and entered his home,
knowing they were about to be thoroughly, completely seduced?

It was none of her business, just as the men she’d been with
were none of his, yet the thought made her bristle slightly, even as she was
chastising herself for what could only be described as a flash of jealousy.
This was a one-time thing, hopefully a fuck-fest for the ages, but not a love
story. There was no need to tangle any emotion into it.

Inside the house was cool but bright, with light streaming
in through the multiplicity of windows to illuminate the white walls of the
corridor he was carrying her along. Outside she could see a swathe of grass
leading to a tangled jungle beyond. Inside, through arches set in the wall
opposite to the windows, she saw what looked like a courtyard complete with a
fountain, the tinkling of the water a musical underscore to the beat of his
footsteps on the stone floor. There was an almost dreamlike quality to the
moment, a sensation of coming home, as though the house welcomed her not as a
guest but as a long-awaited resident returning from a distant place. She tried
to shake the feeling away but the movement of Xbal’s muscles against her side,
his heat and scent, which both enfolded her as tightly as his arms, only
intensified it.

She glanced up at him, found him watching her in turn. The
tender set of his lips was at odds with the heat in his eyes, and the
contradiction made her heart stutter.

“What?”

The word was combative, but she couldn’t help it. Suddenly
she knew she was entering even deeper waters than she’d anticipated and it made
her want to pick a fight.

“I like having you here.” The intent in his gaze was
unmistakable, and her body tightened in response. “I don’t usually invite women
to my home.”

She raised her eyebrows in disbelief, even as a tingle of
warmth shot through her at his words. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”

His lips quirked and he shrugged slightly as he turned into
another corridor. “Believe what you will, but it’s the truth.”

“Why don’t you?” She glanced ahead and saw a door open for
them, making her pulse begin to pound at the thought it would, finally, be his
bedroom.

Turning into the doorway, he paused, holding her gaze in
that effortless way he had. “Any person who enters your home leaves a residue
of themselves behind, no matter how innocent their visit, or how little time
they spend there.” For a moment there was a flash of something in his
expression, sadness, she thought, or weariness. “I have enough ghosts here. I’m
careful about adding any more.”

Her heart dropped into her toes. If what he had said was
true, he was about to add another and she just couldn’t allow him to do it. As
much as she wanted him, she couldn’t let him add her to whatever list of
regrets he was carrying around in his heart.

“Xbal—”

He stepped forward into the room and let her legs swing down
to the ground, but before she could finish what she wanted to say, the door
slammed closed and he had her backed up against it. The heated expanse of his
chest and strong arms caged her there, and his mouth was so close to hers when
he spoke Cassie swore she could feel the vibrations in her lips.

“Oh, no, Cassandra. It’s too late for second thoughts.”

“You don’t understand…”

And how could she explain it? He wouldn’t understand—no one
outside of The Children of Sol would. If he wanted an explanation for her
sudden change of heart, she couldn’t tell him she didn’t want him. Her body
wouldn’t support that lie. Just being close to him made her breathing grow
shallow, her heart race. The heat between them was unmistakable, inescapable,
and growing hotter every moment they were together.

“I want you here, Cassandra. I want to see you spread out in
my bed, your hair like fire over my pillows, your body coated in sweat, your
lips red from mine. I want to lick every inch of your skin as though it were
cream, sink my cock into your mouth, your cunt, your ass. The next time I walk
into this room I want to smell your sweet scent in the air, hear the echo of
your pleasure in the wind, close my eyes and be able to see you, sated and
spent, on the sheets.”

“Even—”
By Sol
, she could hardly speak, his words
robbing her of breath, making her burn. “Even if the memory is all you have?
This is a one-shot proposition, Xbal. That’s all I have to give you.”

He drew back slightly, so his eyes came into focus and he
could search her face. She wasn’t sure what he saw, but whatever it was, he
obviously didn’t believe it, for he shook his head and repeated what he’d said
before.

“It’s too late.”

There was no time to ask anything more, say anything more,
for his lips found hers again and Cassie lost breath, thought and the ability
to articulate under his potent, concentrated kiss.

Xbal had said he wanted to devour her, glut himself on her,
and it was impossible not to think this was the beginning of the feast. Their
lips were the only point of contact between them but she felt consumed, as
though he were trying to absorb her into himself through that kiss. He tilted
his head, fitting his mouth over hers even more securely, their tongues
tangling in glorious combat. Cassie felt her head begin to swim under the
forceful, erotic onslaught and she loved the sensation, the feeling of being
overcome, overwhelmed by what should just be a foretaste of what they were
about to do.

Fisting her fingers into the sides of his shirt, she yanked
it out of his waistband, seeking the skin below. The need to touch him was
atavistic and her hands were trembling as they plunged beneath the fabric.

Hot. His flesh was so hot. And smooth. Like the richest
satin. Beneath her palms his muscles coiled and flexed, hard, masculine and
enticing. Cassie pressed her fingers against his sides and then slicked around
to investigate the ridges of Xbal’s stomach, earning a low growl of approval.
Spreading her fingers wide over his abs, she dipped a thumb into his navel
while using the other to ruffle the thin line of soft, straight hair running up
toward his chest.

Xbal hadn’t moved. He still held his body slightly away from
hers, arms braced on the door, and Cassie made full use of his position,
learning through her fingertips the contours of his chest and back, the width
and strength of his shoulders. He let her, signaling his pleasure with echoing,
primitive sounds coming from deep in his throat, each one sending a shiver of
lust through Cassie’s body. When she found his nipples with her fingertips,
pinched them lightly between forefinger and thumb so they puckered to tiny
points, a hard shudder fired through him.