TherianPromise (26 page)

She ran her hands down his sides then cupped his flexing
ass, pulling him closer, taking him deeper. Her inner muscles tightened,
assuring him that she was as close as he was.

“Now, Kyle. Now!”

He rode her hard, head thrown back as sensations bombarded
his body. Her pleasure poured across their link, compounding the pressure
ravaging his composure. He jerked her hips up off the mattress and spilled deep
inside her. His pleasure shot across their link and triggered her orgasm. Each
of her gasps and rhythmic spasms in turn heightened his enjoyment and prolonged
his release.

They clung to each other, fighting for breath as the bliss
slowly receded. “You’re right,” she whispered against his throat.

“About what?” He pulled back far enough so he could see her
face.

“It’s better when you control the ending.”

He rolled to his side, taking her with him. Then he pulled
one of her legs up to circle his waist. “Therian males are dominant by nature.
It wouldn’t be honest if I pretended otherwise.”

“Well, thank you for indulging me tonight.”

“My pleasure.” He kissed her with the patient tenderness he
knew she craved. “Any other desires you need to get out of your system before
tomorrow?”

Mischief erupted deep in her eyes. “Tomorrow I need to be as
in touch with my Therian self as possible. Maybe we should let your cat control
what we do next.”

Kyle’s cat surged toward the surface with such violence it
was all he could do to fight back the shift. His recent orgasm might have
satisfied the man, but the cat was still restless and ready to prowl. “That’s a
dangerous offer to make if you don’t mean it.”

Ava had never meant anything more. Kyle continually held
back, suppressed his primitive nature and struggled with his cat. He didn’t
want to hurt her or frighten her. But until she was able to shift, they had to
compromise. He’d allowed her control tonight, had demonstrated his devotion
with restraint and tenderness. Now she wanted to give him something in return.

Wiggling out of his embrace, she groaned as their bodies
separated. She felt so empty without his cock deep inside her. How had she ever
lived without the reassurance of their passionate joining? It seemed almost
impossible now.

She moved to the middle of the bed and folded her legs
beneath her, angling her body so he could see her rounded behind.

“This is how he likes it, isn’t it?” She leaned forward and
rested her forearms against the bed then lowered her head. She couldn’t see him
now, but lust surged across their link, assuring her that he appreciated the
brazen display.

For a long, anxious moment he didn’t move and all she could
hear was the steady beating of her own heart. Then the bed dipped as he moved
in close behind her.

“You sure?” The hushed urgency in his tone made her smile.

“Oh yes.”

Rather than slam into her as she’d expected, he eased his
hand between her thighs and traced her slit. She was slick with their combined
pleasure. The creamy liquid had even lubricated her inner thighs.

“You’re so wet.” He caressed her pussy, teasing her folds
without pushing inside her.

“In me,” she whispered, not sure why he hesitated.

“Like this?” He pushed his long middle finger into her
center, sliding slowly in and out.

“No.”

“No?” He withdrew his finger and brushed his thumb across
her other opening. “Like this?”

His thumb pressed against the stubborn little pucker and she
gasped then twisted away. “Not like that!”

He laughed. “Are you sure? My cat would love to introduce
you to some of the more exotic pleasures.”

“I just meant…”

His hands steadied her hips and he pushed his cock between
her thighs. “I know what you mean and I know what you want.” Reaching beneath
her, he found one of her nipples and firmly squeezed. Pleasure-pain sliced
through her chest and sent a fresh rush of desire deep into her groin. “I
thought this was about what I want.”

He was right. She was doing this for him. Even though her
body was already humming with anticipation, she wanted to give him anything he
desired. “If that’s what you need, I’ll try it. At least once.” The dark
temptation hovered in the distance, forbidden yet intriguing. She trusted him
with her pleasure, trusted him with her life. He would never do anything to
intentionally harm her.

“I’ll take you up on that offer, but not tonight. I’m too
wound up to make it good for you.” He pulled her up and pressed against her
back while his shaft slid between her folds.

She wiggled and rocked, trying to bring him into better
alignment with her aching body. He refused to cooperate. He squeezed one
breast, his fingers splayed against the soft mound while he teased the other
nipple. The firm, rolling motion of his fingers drove her pleasure to the very
brink of pain before easing and letting blood return to the pebble-hard tip.

Then his fingers tangled in her hair and he pulled her head
back, turning her face sharply to the side. He brushed his mouth over hers,
making her crave the deep, tongue-tangling kiss he refused to deliver. She
arched and wiggled and finally twisted around far enough to hold his head still
so she could take what she wanted.

Her mouth meshed with his and her tongue pushed boldly past
his lips. His fingers tightened in her hair and a feral growl vibrated his
throat. They’d barely begun and already he was wild and demanding—and she kept
up with him kiss for kiss.

Pressure built between her thighs, her inner muscles
clenching in on themselves. She whimpered into his mouth, unable to plead with
their tongues curling around each other but unwilling to lose the sweet
intimacy of their kisses.

Touch yourself
. He went right on kissing her, but his
thought was clear in her mind.
Let me feel your release and maybe I’ll give
you want you want.

Was he serious? She could feel the considerable thickness of
his erection between her thighs and he wanted her to masturbate?

He pinched one of her nipples hard enough to make her cry
out. “Decide.” He whispered the word against her kiss-dampened lips. “Touch
yourself or I’ll go take a shower.”

And then she understood. This wasn’t about patience or
prolonging pleasure, it was about control. He needed her to obey, to willingly
surrender to his will.

Slowly easing her hand between her legs, she moaned as her
fingers were surrounded by heat and softness. Her folds were slick and warm as
they curved around the head of his cock.

“That’s right. Feel what I do to you. What we do to each
other.” His voice was deep and caressing and his arms encircled and supported
her trembling body.

She rested her head against his chest as she found the
strength to explore. She’d never been uninhibited before she met Kyle. He made
her feel sexy and confident. She caressed him softly then rubbed her folds over
him, stimulating herself in the process.

He shifted his hips, positioning his cock at the entrance to
her body. “I’m not going to wait all night.” His arm wrapped around her waist,
yet he didn’t thrust into her. He was waiting for her to accommodate his needs
as he’d accommodated hers.

Hesitantly, she circled her clit with her middle finger.
Sensations spiraled through her abdomen, but mostly she just felt tension. Her
thighs quivered and she rubbed a little harder, over, around and across. “I
need you inside me.” She blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t think I can come
like this.”

“That’d be a shame because you’re not getting
this
until you do.” He pushed a bit deeper then withdrew.

She let out an exasperated cry then focused on pleasuring
herself. She always used a vibrator because it took forever to rub herself off.
But she wasn’t alone right now. Kyle held her, poised ready to take her, and
his scent was still heavy in the air.

He squeezed one nipple and then the other, and her inner
muscles tightened.

“I’m trying,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me, please.”

“Never.” His mouth opened against the side of her neck. His
teeth scraped then he sucked hard enough to draw blood to the surface.

His hand covered hers and she whimpered. She was still
technically touching herself, but he controlled the motion and speed of each
caress. Her body came alive, tingling and pulsing. She rotated her hips, unable
to keep still.

The pleasure crested suddenly, dragging a cry from her
throat. Her core rippled with long, deep spasms as Ava shook in his arms.

Before the last pulse faded, he urged her forward and she
lowered her forearms to the bed. His hands swept along her sides until he
grasped her hips. Then he thrust his cock deep into her center and moved one of
his hands to the back of her neck. The sudden fullness kept the spasms coming.
She cried out, clawing at the bedding as he began to move.

He pounded into her relentlessly, the momentum reverberating
through her entire body. She came in a violent burst of sensation and the
bedding muffled her screams. He released her neck and moved both hands to her
shoulders, holding her in place to maximize the depth of each penetration.

So deep, so demanding. She felt as if each individual thrust
was an attempt to claim her body and soul. She moved her knees farther apart
and pressed up into each stroke. She wasn’t afraid of his aggression. In fact,
knowing how wild she made him felt liberating and empowering.

He moved his hands to her waist as his hips maintained the
steady rhythm. Then he opened his mouth against her shoulder and held her
firmly with his teeth. It wasn’t a bite, exactly, but the savagery of the act,
combined with the shockingly intense sensation catapulted her to an even higher
peak. She bucked and trembled as wave upon wave of dizzying pleasure crashed
over her.

Their link dilated and his cat growled in her mind. He
ground his groin against her ass as his seed burst deep inside her. She
collapsed on the bed and he followed her down, pulse after pulse of sensation
flowing across their connection, leaving them breathless and weak.

He used the last of his strength to roll off her then gather
her against his side. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” She smiled, the expression downright dreamy. “Does
your cat forgive me for continually shoving him into the background?”

“You’re still latent, love. Someday it will be different,
but for now we are both content.” As if to prove his point, Kyle’s cougar began
to purr.

* * * * *

The following morning Kyle shifted restlessly on the
passenger seat as Quinn’s truck bumped and jerked its way along the barely
discernable trail. In many places the path was overgrown or obscured by
landslides and upended trees. Quinn used the GPS to navigate around the
obstacles and followed the contour of the land.

“This should go a little faster now that we know where we’re
going,” Kyle said to no one in particular.

Carissa and Ava were strapped securely to the backseat, each
looking a bit unnerved. The blood ritual might have given Carissa access to her
Therian abilities, but she had no more experience in battle than Ava did.

Therians expected their Omni Primes to be competent and
brave in the face of danger. This mission should be contained and controlled.
It was a good opportunity for the sisters to prove themselves to supporters and
doubters alike.

Following close behind in a rugged SUV, Payne, Ian and Erin
were likely more composed. Potentially violent conflicts were nothing new for
any of them. Erin’s role would be indirect. She had been included as a
precaution in case anyone was badly injured during the confrontation. If the
plan was executed without a hitch—which was a damn big if—no one would fire a
shot and not a drop of blood would be shed. They would attack fast and
stealthily, overtaking the complex in a matter of minutes.

“Hold up,” Payne’s voice came over the two-way radio. Kyle
adjusted the volume and reseated the tiny transceiver in his ear canal. “Ian’s
going to fly ahead and make sure the situation hasn’t changed.”

“Copy that,” Quinn replied then found a relatively safe
place to stop.

Ian climbed out of the passenger side of Payne’s SUV and
took off his shirt. After tucking his earpiece into the pocket of his jeans, he
spread his wings and leapt into the air.

“Why’d he take off his radio?” Ava asked after Ian
disappeared above the trees.

“Didn’t want the wind to blow it off,” Carissa guessed. “I
flew with him once and it’s really windy up there.”

“You flew with Ian?” There was a little too much envy in
Ava’s voice for Kyle’s comfort. He had no doubts about Ava’s loyalty, but her
fascination with the raptor was still annoying. “When? Why?”

“Long story,” Quinn grumbled, and Carissa laughed.
Apparently, Kyle wasn’t the only one annoyed by their interest in Ian.

“I’ll tell you later,” Carissa promised. “We better focus
right now.”

Quinn took off again, his pace slow and steady. Suddenly the
truck lurched violently to one side and then the other. Kyle bumped his head
against the window before he positioned his hand against the dashboard. “Take
it easy.”

“Tell that to the trail. What little there is of it.” Quinn
wrestled the wheel with both hands and shifted his gaze between the truck’s
mirrors. “They must fly in and out. This is painful!”

Silence spread as the climb grew even more treacherous.
Several times the trail was so steep Kyle was tempted to get out and steady the
truck. Tree branches scraped against the windows and the seat belt bit into his
chest. He glanced at Ava and Carissa, finding each pensive and still.

He accessed his link with Ava, knowing there would be little
time for reassurances once the raid began. Despite the looming danger, her
emotions were remarkably grounded. An occasional spike of fear flared through
her determination, but overall she was calm and—ready. He pushed affection
across the connection and she responded with a smile.