Big Cat Mates Leopard Territory (3 page)

Jeanine gazed up at Adar with awe. “Definitely a vote for fucking.” She allowed her thighs to fall open, her pink folds glistening with moisture, her pussy aching to be filled.

“You’re beautiful.” Adar stroked his rough palms up her ankles, calves, knees, thighs, her body trembling with need. As she pinched and tweaked her nipples, he crawled between her legs, spreading her wider, opening her more to his gaze, to his touch.

“I won’t be able to last, kitten.” Adar threaded his fingers through her private curls and found her wetness. He strummed her up and down, up and down, heightening the desire within her.

A dab of precum formed on his tip, and Jeanine licked her lips, hungry for a taste. He groaned. “Especially when you look at me like that. Have mercy on me, mate.”

“Mate?” Her eyes widened.

“Mate.” Adar clasped her hips and prodded her entrance with his cockhead, his teasing dissipating her thoughts. “My mate.” He pushed into her, her body stretching tightly around him, his girth too much, his movement too slow.

Jeanine winced and drove her hips upward, seeking to speed up the torment. He groaned and lowered over her, sinking deeper and deeper into her, blazing a trail with his cock. The burn drew more moisture from her core. She dug her fingernails into his back, pulled him down on her. His chest flattened her breasts, his cheek slid against hers, his breath hot on her ear.

I can’t take him
.
He’s too big
. Panic coiled within her. She raked his back with her nails and Adar hissed, pushing relentlessly forward. “Adar,” she pleaded.

His base touched her pussy lips and he stopped. “Shhh…” He scattered soothing kisses over her heated face. “It’s done.” His weight covered her, heavy and reassuring. “We’re one.”

Jeanine rubbed the tip of her cool nose against his. “I belong to you.” But to belong to him meant being solitary, giving up her dream of a large extended family, of having a group she’d always belong to. She traced a scar on Adar’s face, sadness mixing with her joy.

“I’ll protect you, mate.” He pressed a kiss between her eyebrows.

“I know you will.” She summoned up a smile and tilted her hips. He eased deeper inside her, and they both groaned, their connection tightening.

Adar’s legs shook and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. “I have to move.” He rocked, the slide shallow and short and exquisite. Jeanine learned his rhythm and then undulated with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her heels into his firm ass.

Need grew within her, a need beyond their leisurely fuck, a need beyond anything she’d ever experienced with any other male, human or shifter. It was as dangerous and as ruthless as the leopard shifter stroking into her, the emotion demanding more than her body, spreading to her heart and to her soul.

“Harder,” Jeanine demanded, seeking to feed that wild desire. “Faster.” She arched, smacking her breasts against his chest, her hips against his. Adar growled and complied, thrusting hard and deep, in and out, in and out, in and out, the friction eased by her pussy juices.

The bed slid along the floor, and the headboard banged against the wall, the noise emphasizing each vicious drive forward. Jeanine panted, unable to drag enough air into her starved lungs. Adar grunted, his animal noises appeasing her savage passion.

A sheen of sweat covered their bodies, slickening their skin. She licked the moisture off Adar’s right shoulder, tasting the proof of his exertion, and he shuddered, pale yellow fur softening his hard muscle, black rosettes decorating his torso.

“Jeanine,” he growled, his leopard reflecting in his eyes. His claws pricked her skin, and she trembled, the quivering in her limbs building, building.

“Adar.” She raised her hips into each thrust, meeting him stroke for stroke, fighting the release barreling toward her, determined to be this powerful male’s mate in every way, to find fulfillment together, as one.

“Come for me.” He skimmed his teeth down her neck, shredding her control one strand at a time. She clung to him, focusing on the ripple of muscle under her fingertips, the slide of cock in pussy, the waft of hot breath against her skin.

“Come now.” Adar bit the base of her neck, and she screamed his name, bucking upward, her world bursting into a tantalizing rush of light and pleasure and sound. She thrashed and she writhed, trying to bring him closer and then pushing him away.

Adar thrust into the fury of her orgasm once, twice, three times and he roared, temporarily deafening her, hot jets of cum shooting from his cock, his body stiffening. He held that savage pose for five heartbeats, pinning her ass to the mattress, and he collapsed, flattening her.

Her tremors eased and she lay still, covered by his comforting weight, his soothing heat, his cock limp and spent inside her. Jeanine petted the short fur on Adar’s back, enticed by the softness, a sense of belonging, of rightness settling over her.

“I choose you,” she whispered, choosing solitude with Adar, a male she desired, a male she loved, over her lifelong dream of belonging.

“And I choose you.” Adar licked the bite mark on her neck, easing the sting. “You’re mine, mate.”

* * *

“Do you know everyone here?” Jeanine turned her head, staring at the people crowding around them, her curiosity open, natural, real.

The club was filled to near capacity. Waitstaff circulated finger food. Bartenders served brightly-colored martinis and mixed drinks. Music played softly in the background, allowing conversations to flow and business deals to cultivate. Males lounged, clad in dark suits. Females preened, seeking attention.

None of them caught Adar’s gaze. All of his attention was focused on his sexy mate. Jeanine wore a snug-fitting black dress, high heels and nothing else. Her small breasts and tight pussy were delightfully bare under the clinging fabric.

“They’re all our guests.” Adar breathed deeply, and a satisfied smile tugged at his lips. Before leaving for the party, he had rubbed his scent into every inch of Jeanine’s skin, primitively proclaiming to the paranormal world that she belonged to him and only him.

“Because you often arrived for meetings alone, I thought…” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

“Ahhh…” Adar nodded, now understanding more of his mate’s concerns. “You thought I didn’t play well with others.” He fitted her closer to him, savoring her slight curves. “Instead I merely wanted to have you to myself. I don’t like to share.”

Her beautiful face flushed a delicate pink. “I don’t either.” She gazed up at him, her lips parted in a clear invitation.

An invitation he’d happily accept. Adar bent his head, intent on his prize.

A glove-clad hand swatted his arm. “Enough of that.” Violet, Nikhil Baagh’s mate, grinned at him, the purple strand in her platinum hair draped over her right eye. “You can’t hog your mate.” Her gaze shifted to Jeanine. “You must be our latest member, Jeanine.”

“Member?” Jeanine squeaked as she was pulled into the voluptuous woman’s enthusiastic embrace. She looked at Adar, her brilliant green eyes wide.

Adar shrugged, having no idea what the hacker was talking about. Violet thrived on creating chaos wherever she went.

“Member.” Violet laughed and hugged Jeanine again, almost bouncing with energy, her big breasts threatening to burst from her purple dress. “We’re the Big Cat Mates, you and me and Starr. We bagged ourselves some big game, and now we have to protect them.”

“Prepare to be thoroughly investigated, Adar,” Nikhil advised dryly, the exotic technology billionaire’s doting smile belying his emotionless tone.

“I investigated Adar months ago.” Violet waved her hand dismissively. “I know where all of his dead bodies are buried, and, in Adar’s case, I mean both literally and figuratively. He’s been a bad, bad cat.”

Is she threatening me
? Adar’s body temperature rose, anger heating his skin, awakening his cat. “Violet,” he growled, his claws pricking at his skin.

“You won’t hurt him.” Jeanine stepped in front of him as though trying to protect him, her action distracting Adar, diffusing his anger. “Because you’d be surprised at what a receptionist hears.” She glanced pointedly at Nikhil.

Adar stared at his mate, his cock hard and his cat howling his claim, yearning to be free, her defense of him so damn stimulating.

Violet laughed. “I love you already.” She gave Jeanine another squeeze. “We’ll cause chaos together, you and I, but first we should talk to Starr. I have
news
.” Her smile wavered, and Adar stiffened, sensing danger.

“You don’t need me.” Jeanine glanced longingly at the Leone pride. Tanner sat at a table facing them, his laughter reaching them from across the room. Females watched the young lion, sexual hunger reflected in their expressions.

Jeanine still wants that cub’s approval
. Adar sucked back his jealousy, willing to do whatever he had to make his mate happy. “I need you.” He wrapped one of his arms around Jeanine’s waist and pushed her forward, her lack of sexual interest in his rival the only thing keeping him sane. “And I should hear this.”

“Yes, you should hear this.” Violet hooked her arm in Nikhil’s. “The Big Cat Mates Club has only one rule.” Nikhil snorted. Violet was not known for following any rules, and Violet smacked his shoulder. “No secrets. What we know, our mates know. Plus this threat extends to Jeanine also.”

Threat
. Adar slid his gaze to Nikhil. The CEO appeared grave.

Royce, his mate Starr, and his two brothers stood as they approached. “Adar, Jeanine, Baagh, Violet.” Royce, the alpha lion, nodded.

“Forget this formality.” Violet hugged Starr, and the two women laughed. Jeanine hung back. “You know Jeanine, of course.”

“Of course.” Starr smiled. “Though we haven’t had an opportunity to talk since my interview.”

Adar frowned. Starr had been hired months ago.

“The interview Jeanine called me cruel to arrange,” Tanner added, a grin on his unblemished face. “She thought I was raising your hopes unnecessarily.” The lion shifter laughed, and Jeanine stiffened in Adar’s arms.

“If Starr hadn’t been your brother’s mate, Jeanine would have been right.” Adar edged his voice with ice, having zero tolerance for anyone mocking his mate. “You told a waitress she might have a job as an executive assistant, raising her hopes, knowing there was little to no chance she would be hired, and then you left Jeanine to clean up your mess.”

Tanner’s eyebrows lowered, and his mouth flattened. “I didn’t ask her to clean up anything.”

“You didn’t have to ask. Cleaning up your messes is her job.” Adar ran one of his palms down Jeanine’s bare right arm, his cat seeking to mark his territory, physically reinforce his claim on his female. “She deals with the crushed job applicants, the rejected salespeople, the callers you don’t want to talk to, and she does it with a smile, never losing her cool.”

Jeanine met his gaze, a sheen covering her brilliant green eyes. “I lost my cool that night. I called him an ass.” A nervous chuckle rolled through the group.

Adar’s heart lightened. “Did you, kitten?”

She nodded, a small smile curling her lips. “I was quoting someone I knew and respected. This male is very strong and intelligent and handsome.”

Adar rubbed his fingers over his face. “And scarred.”

“His scars are proof that he’s willing to fight to protect his territory.” Jeanine caressed his cheek.

“And to protect his mate.” He pressed his lips to her fingertips, and she trembled. “He’d die to protect his mate.”

“That’s good to know, lover boy,” Violet said dryly, and Jeanine snatched her hand away, her face flushing bright pink. “Because I was… ummm… visiting the wolf shifter forum,” the hacker continued, and Adar lifted his eyebrows. The forum was locked to outsiders. “And they’re planning a strike against Leone Media, something about seeking revenge for their fallen brethren.”

“Oh shit.” Starr’s face paled, and she tucked her body into Royce’s. “They’re coming after us, Royce. Because of that fight in the parking lot.”

“They won’t harm you,” Royce assured his mate. “They’d have to get through me first.”

“And me,” Jeanine whispered. “I’ll be the first being they meet.”

“No.” Adar strapped his arms protectively around her. She was right. They’d kill her to get to Royce. “You’ll have to find another receptionist, Royce. I’m not risking my mate.”

“It’s my job, Adar.” Jeanine pushed at him, wiggling in his arms. He didn’t ease his grip. “I know the risks. I’ve always known the risks.”

“The risks,” Royce repeated. He and the other lion shifters stared at her, realization dawning on their golden faces. “You knew she didn’t feel safe.” The alpha lion accused Adar.

“You should have known that also.” Adar met his gaze squarely. “She’s a human guarding your precious firm from shifters. I thought you were protecting her. That’s why I didn’t step in before today.” He jutted his jaw, not wanting to think of the dangers she’d been exposed to. “Instead you’ve been treating my mate as though she’s expendable.”

“Are you accusing me of deliberately endangering one of my employees?” Royce stepped toward him, his eyes flashing.

“I was aware of those dangers.” Jeanine held her arms out, seeking to stop a full-grown lion shifter with her bare hands. “But I’ll need help dealing with this new threat.” She looked at Adar. “What should I do?”

“Nothing,” he growled. “I don’t want you going anywhere near Leone Media. If you were hurt --” His voice broke, the thought of a future without Jeanine unbearable.

“I won’t be hurt. You’ll protect me,” Jeanine stated with a confidence Adar didn’t share. “And when you’re not there --”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” She was his to safeguard.

“Oh.” Jeanine blinked. “Then we’ll be working together.” She smiled brightly at him, her beauty temporarily blinding him. “I can help you, when I’m not answering phones and cleaning up Tanner’s messes.”

Tanner muttered something even Adar, with his cat hearing, couldn’t decipher, and Jeanine’s smile widened even more.

“We’ll be a team, you and I.” She splayed her frighteningly fragile fingers over his rough hands. “Belonging to each other.”