Predator's Refuge (17 page)

Marci knew if she died in that moment, she would have already seen heaven.

He shifted off her and her hands clenched, needing him. He got off the bed, his gaze traveling the length between her face and her pussy. Anton reached into his bedside table and produced a package of condoms.

She couldn’t help but tease. “A celibate man with so many condoms?”

His low, seductive chuckle made her womb clench, and new moisture coated her sex. “I just bought them a few hours ago at the lodge shop. Somehow I already knew I’d failed as a monk.”

She crooked a finger at him. “You’re too gorgeous to be a monk.”

“I’m better as a sinner, huh?” As he ripped open a condom wrapper and slid one on his cock, he eyed her, frowning, as if he didn’t quite believe her words. As he finished sheathing himself, his face relaxed and he licked his lips. “Come. Sin with me.”

Marci sat up and moved toward him. Anton grabbed her hand and led her from the bed to the couch in the adjoining sitting room. Once there, he turned her about and urged her to bend over the couch. She did, spreading her knees wide. She sucked in a breath and waited for him to breach her opening with his magnificent rod.

And then she waited some more, all too aware of his unsteady breaths behind her.

She looked around. “What are you doing back there?”

His teasing laugh tickled her. “I’m staring at your incredible ass, kitten.”

She grabbed a plaid throw pillow from the couch and launched it at him. He caught it easily and swatted her backside with it. As she protested, he covered her body with his own and drove his cock home inside her.

Marci gasped at the luxurious sensation. She grunted as he filled her and in response, he gripped her hips, keeping her close. Dear God. She’d known he was big, had worried she might not even be able to accommodate the broad head of his cock, never mind the rest of it. She wondered how she wasn’t splitting in two.

“Sweetness,” he muttered. “Please tell me I’m not hurting you because you feel so right.”

“You feel…” she cried. “Oh, heavens!”

Anton laughed and teased her with two slow pumps. “I take it I can continue?”

“God, yes.”

Each expert glide seemed to channel deeper than the one before. Each of his touches produced a swell of aching emotion inside her. And in a dark place in her soul, Marci’s lynx rutted shamelessly with Anton’s tiger, finding nothing but sweet acceptance and delight.

He drove her toward another searing orgasm, hammering away at her as if they were a machine whose parts were slotted to fit together. Pumping, pulverizing delirium. And just as she thought she would dissolve into nothingness again, Anton changed his position. He lifted his long right leg and braced it on the arm of the couch. The move shifted him inside her, angling him even deeper.

In this position, he punished her with a decimating series of thrusts. Gripping and scratching her body, he held her close and shouted in rapture. Her cries met his as she exploded into thousands of shards. She stiffened as the charge shocked through her, tensing every muscle from chest to toes. And as she did, Anton fucked his way to his own orgasm, reaching one hand toward her hair. As he came, he tangled his fist in her messy strands and held on for dear life. Marci felt the tug on her scalp, so much like the tug in her womb, and gave herself to him.

They remained frozen in that position for many seconds. She closed her eyes, whimpering as the harshly delicious sensations faded. A vision streaked through her consciousness, one of her lynx curled up against his tiger, a satisfied smile on its feline face. The animals purred, and the tiger licked the lynx’s fur.

Mine
.

The lynx batted its lashes at the bigger animal.
Mine
.

Emotion looped around Marci’s stomach with a stranglehold. Their animals might be decided, but she’d never been quite so decisive herself. She wasn’t sure what to say to Anton. Wasn’t sure what to do next.

Luckily, Anton took charge. He kissed the back of her neck, licking at the skin there, and then peeled himself away from her. As he went to dispose of the condom in the bathroom, Marci struggled toward the bed and flopped onto her back. As satisfied as she was, the space between her legs throbbed. It was the strangest sensation. Anton had filled her so well, and yet her body almost needed more of him. She lifted her heavy head and looked at her pink pussy. So swollen, and yet still so hungry. She touched a finger to herself, amazed at how wet she still was.

Because of him. Even after the most intense bout of pleasure, she wanted him again.

He emerged from the bathroom, and his gaze locked immediately on the hand at her pussy. Anton drew near to the bed. She moved her finger off her plump lips.

“No,” he commanded. “Keep touching yourself.”

She didn’t dare disobey after hearing the imperial tone in his voice. Slowly, she slid her hand back toward her pussy and allowed her fingers to slide through her labia. As she spread her moisture through each soft crevice, Anton’s nostrils flared. As he watched, he leaned toward the bedside table and pulled another condom from the box. His gaze always on her, he unwrapped it and put it on his once-again engorged cock.

Just knowing he wanted her again had her spinning toward another orgasm.

Anton kneeled at the side of the bed and pulled her to him by her legs. “Spread your lips and show me that pretty clit.”

She did, as her chest heaved with unsteady breaths.

He stared at her body for a moment, his own chest rising and falling. And then he looked her in the eye. “I’m going to take you many times, Marci. I’m going to drive you to the point of exhaustion, and still you’ll beg for more. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be screaming my name and you will have forgotten your own. And just when you think you can take no more, I’ll take you again. Tonight, I will master my beautiful little lynx.”

Swallowing through her dry throat, Marci searched her brain for a pert reply. But then Anton plunged his tongue into her pussy and all thought ceased.

Chapter 9

Early the next morning, Anton watched Marci sleep with a smile on his face. She was dead to the world. He’d felt a little guilty at first for pushing her sexually, for driving her past her physical limits when she was already so tired. However, knowing she would now get a really good sleep, he didn’t feel so badly.

She lay on her stomach, face almost buried in his pillow, tangled in his flannel sheets. Her hair fanned out over the plush bedding, like rivers of melted milk chocolate. He touched a finger to the bare shoulder peeking out of the blankets, and made gentle circles on her skin. She didn’t even move. Grinning, he hooked his finger in the top of her blanket and slowly pulled it down, exposing her body to him.

At the sight of her soft back, cushy ass, and round thighs, he hardened. Fuck, he’d never been so hard in his life. Unable to resist, he palmed her ass cheek, moaning quietly at the greedy feelings it inspired in him. He licked his lips. They’d done many things over the course of a few hours, but one day he’d show little Miss Marci exactly how many tricks he had up his sleeve. One day, he’d part these sweet ass cheeks and find a home there too. He was already salivating at the thought. He’d have to find the nearest sex store to the island. Already, he felt inspired to tease her body with a variety of interesting toys.

She’d taken all of him, every last inch. He knew he was a big man, and his size had put expressions of near fear on other women’s faces in the past. There was a part of him that always worried he’d hurt his partners. But Marci had gobbled him up; she’d accepted him as if he belonged inside her.

And somehow, he knew he did.

It was a bit much to swallow so soon. This need for her, his ever-present ache, commanded his every thought. His heart raced, a little too much for his own good. Deciding he’d better take a little break from her, before he broke her, Anton pulled the sheets up and tucked her back in. He rolled her toward him and kissed her forehead. “Baby. Are you awake?”

Her eyes cracked open. “Hmm?”

“Stay here and rest. I’ll be back shortly. There’s something I need to do.”

She closed her eyes and murmured something unintelligible.

Smiling, he kissed her again, and breathed in her scent so he could carry it with him. And then, with regretful pains in his chest, he rolled out of bed and began to dress. He kept an eye on her the whole time, feeling such warmth at the sight of her in his bed.

His tiger bolted awake, and roared its disapproval at being separated from its lynx.

“Don’t worry, you drooling beast,” Anton chastised it. “I’ll be back soon.”

He finished dressing, grabbed his keys, and headed toward the door. As he took a look back at the slumbering Marci, his heart performed a series of pings inside his chest. Stark realization hit him.

It hurt so much to leave her.

* * * *

Anton found Shawn just where he’d expected to find the teen: hovering on the edge of a group of girls down by the lake. The boy hadn’t yet learned the intricacies of subtle seduction.

He approached the picnic table where the boy was seated by himself. “Hey, Shawn. Nice morning, huh?”

Shawn looked up and delivered an eye roll so perfect it could have been patented. “Shit, man. Is this the part where we have to make small talk? Are you going to make me
share my feelings
?”

Anton threw his leg over one of the benches and sat across from him. “Wouldn’t you feel better if you did?”

“No. Why won’t everyone just leave me alone? Mr. Moon’s been following me too, asking me questions. I told my mom and dad I didn’t want to come to this stupid place.” He grimaced. “I hate it here.”

“Why?”

“Because!” When Anton remained silent, waiting for elaboration, the kid was forced to continue. “Because I’m surrounded by freaks and idiots.”

“Is that what you think of being a shifter?”

His eyes widened. “Hello? Don’t you? Earth to Pops. We’re not normal.”

Anton stared at him for a long time, seeing something so familiar in the teen’s raging eyes. So much hurt, so much hatred. He’d met the boy’s parents, and they seemed supportive. And yet, someone had destroyed his self-worth. “Who was it that beat you up?”

The mask of anger fell from Shawn’s face. Something inside him slipped, and Anton could almost see the invisible barrier fall. There was nothing like shared agony to get through to someone. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but I do. You see, in my family, it was my father. My younger brother as well, once he equaled me in size. They were the ones who battered me. I learned from them which walls to erect and how to hide, so don’t think for a moment that I don’t recognize the same walls inside you, Shawn.” He paused for effect. “Who hit you?”

The boy swallowed and his blue eyes teared up. “My uncle. He stays with us sometimes. He gets drunk a lot. When he does, he takes it out on me.”

“Do your parents know?”

“No. I let them think I get into fights at school.” He began making excuses for his uncle. “He doesn’t mean it—”

Anton cut him off. “Shawn, no. Your uncle should never have laid a hand on you. He’s an adult and he knows better.” He sighed. “You know we have to tell your parents.”

He swiped at his wet eyes. “It’s just easier if they think I’m a shit disturber. It’s my dad’s brother. He’ll kill him.”

Smiling, Anton shook his head. “He won’t kill him. But we need to make sure you’re safe.” He put a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “No one did that for me, so you’d better believe I’m going to do it for you. Okay?”

He nodded. “Okay.”

Anton nodded toward the girls huddled by the lake, and couldn’t help but notice one of the bear shifter girls staring at Shawn. “The little blonde over there can’t take her eyes off you.”

Shawn’s eyes bugged out. “No shit?” He darted a glance toward her and then looked away. He ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Oh, fuck, I hope she didn’t see me cry.”

“You’re safe. She didn’t see.”

A relieved breath fizzled out of the boy’s lungs. “I don’t know what to say to her.”

“Just walk over and say hello. Girls respect that instead of a corny line.”

“They do?”

“Yeah, they do.” He ushered him away from the table. “Go, little man. Say hi to the pretty girl, and then we’ll go talk to your parents.”

Shawn’s face crinkled with a show of nerves, and suddenly he didn’t appear the brash teen hoodlum anymore. He looked like a scared kid. “You’ll stay with me when I tell them?”

Anton smiled. “I’ll stay with you.”

* * * *

A couple of hours later, Anton walked back to his cabin, feeling a sense of tremendous pride, but also some sadness. He and Shawn had indeed talked to the boy’s parents, sharing all the terrible details of his beatings. The Dixons had at first gaped, unbelieving. But then, much to Anton’s great relief, they had come through with shining colors. Both parents hugged their son, apologizing for not seeing the behavior under their own roof. Apparently, both parents worked odd shifts and weren’t always home. Shawn’s uncle was often relied on to be there for the boy, an extra helping hand around the house. Both Shawn and his uncle had so cleverly hidden any evidence of beatings, and the parents had never clued in. Shawn had always been the sort to scuffle at school, and they’d assumed his fighting had escalated. It was the reason they’d brought him to the Ursa Lodge.

Anton provided them with his personal cell number, in case they or Shawn ever wanted to talk, and the parents promised to remove the uncle from their house as soon as they got home. He was pleased that he’d made a difference in this family’s life, and felt certain they were back on track. He could see it in Shawn’s relaxed face. The great burden had been lifted off the boy’s shoulders.

Now, all Anton wanted to do was return to his cabin, get naked, and hold Marci close. He hoped she was still asleep in his bed. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to wake her with some very intimate kisses. However, figuring he should make some attempt at being a gentleman, he’d stopped at the resort buffet on the way over and picked up the makings of a sexy breakfast: hot coffee and a basket filled with sticky Danish and warm crullers.