ROMANCE: SHIFTER: Shifter to the Max Collection (Dragon, Bear, Wolf and Panther Shifter Romances) (Paranormal Fantasy Romance Collection) (63 page)

              The bedroom was dark, and Caleb didn’t bother turning on the lights. Felicia realized that he could see
her
perfectly fine, but that she would have to navigate his body by feel.

              He deposited her on her mattress, under the spill of the moonlight and hung back in the shadows; she lifted herself on to her elbows, watching, as Caleb came closer and began to trail kisses along her bared stomach. He carefully undid the front of her pants; then, he hooked her underwear in his fingers and glided the remaining garments off her trembling body, barely breaking contact where his mouth pressed against her flesh.

              Her breathing was coming in sharp bursts now, and Felicia tried valiantly to calm herself – but when Caleb lowered his head between her thighs, she felt all control slip away. She moaned explosively, seizing his dark hair in her fingers, but he didn’t pull up to gauge her response; he had heard everything he needed to in that one sweet, accidental sound.

              The tongue that has so rapturously explored her mouth now explored elsewhere; the hands on her thighs pulled them apart to allow himself better access, and Felicia threw her head back.

              “Oh,” she gasped. She could feel perspiration already beading between her breasts as a trembling anticipation took over her body. Caleb tongued along her outer passage, and a tantalising pleasure like she had never known raced through her, culminating in a thrill down her spine that raised goose bumps all over her milk-white skin. Her fingers clenched his scalp, and she could feel Caleb practically
purring
at the pressure.

              When he was satisfied that she was ready to receive him, drawing gasp after gasp until Felicia though her body would combust and she couldn’t take any more, Caleb mounted the bed and pulled her up against him. He turned her around, and Felicia exhaled a short, sharp breath as she settled backwards on his lap; she could feel his rigid erection pressing against her slick entrance. She raised herself up obligingly, and Caleb guided her back down, penetrating and then burying himself to the hilt within her.

              The angle he achieved with her astride his lap was intense. Felicia rocked back with an ecstatic moan, turning her head to look over her shoulder at the strong body beneath her, and then down at the capable hands cupping her breasts.

Caleb’s fingers then moved downward to clench the soft flesh of her thighs, and he held her still as they both adjusted to the intensity of their union. Then, slowly, agonisingly, he lifted her off him in the same moment Felicia raised herself up and arched her back. He thrust up as she bought herself back down again.

              The pleasure she felt was explosive, and her expressive moan filled the darkness. She moved herself into position again, eager to establish a rhythm that would allow her to repeat the intense feeling, and Caleb was only too happy to comply. He thrust into her slowly, carrying them both up off the bed, again and again; he bought his lips down and brushed them along her bared shoulder, his fingers dragging the black strap of her bra down, lightly touching his trembling bicep. Her naked breasts were freed into the cold air of the room. Sheer arousal tightened her nipples; his hands travelled up her arms, and then stopped at her nipples, teasing them and gently pulling on them, until Felicia bucked her hips as Caleb held her tightly in his embrace.

              Darkness descended around them, until it felt like the shadows themselves were making love to her. Felicia craned her neck, though the haze of pleasure she could scarcely see what was transpiring between them – all there was left to do was
feel
. The sensations between them were building, climbing to new and unbearable heights as Caleb sped up his rhythm; soon he was pumping into her, and his every thrust was met with a surprised cry of approval. Caleb filled her up like nothing she’d ever felt, and she suddenly clenched and released unexpectedly, and ultimate pleasure washed over her in unrelenting warm waves; she heard herself call his name as if from a distance, and Caleb gripped her and came groaning in response.

              Felicia collapsed, utterly spent, beside the shadowed figure of Caleb. She turned her head to take in his expression, and found that she was not disappointed: Caleb looked completely content, almost sated, and Felicia felt a secret thrill to think that she’d caused him pleasure to equal her own.

              “Where will you go?” Felicia broke the silence that had descended as they lay there both recovering from their mutual exertion. “I assume you had a life before the car accident, before the zoo…” Before me, was her private addendum, but she didn’t want to say it out loud. Her night with Caleb had been explosive, but it was all it needed to be – one night. She would remember it fondly, and she would miss him, but she would get by without him.

              Felicia turned away from Caleb, she didn’t want him to see her expression. She gripped the pillow beneath her head, and tried to convince herself that her current feelings of attachment would pass, they were just chemicals: human or beast, sex was just a primal, base need and an expression of attraction. Her feelings would fade. She could settle for a one-night stand. She
could
.

              Then why did her chest feel so tight at the thought of losing him?

              She felt a pair of arms wrap her waist from behind, and Caleb pulled her against him. The solid warmth of his body aligned with her back felt so right, and Felicia couldn’t help but melt into his embrace once again. Her worried thoughts and fluttering pulse calmed somewhat as he stroked her hair back from her temple; she even smiled a little at the irony of his attentions, remembering how she used to caress him in a similar manner when they were in the enclosure together.

              “I do have a home, yes.” His voice sounded wistful, and his words pierced her heart. What if he had a woman waiting for him? A family even? The realisation of how little she knew him was like a bucket of ice water being poured over her.

              “It will need my attention in the morning. I’ve been away too long,” he continued, and she could tell his mind was far away. The too brief spell of their union had been broken, and though he didn’t let her go, she felt a wave of loneliness wash over her.

              A short while later she could hear the soft sounds of Caleb sleeping. She stared out of the window, still draped in his arms, watching the moonlight break through the black sky and felt desolate. She slept, eventually, but it was with an aching heart.

              Caleb awoke just before dawn. He looked down at the sleeping body next to him, her porcelain white skin looking luminous in the drowsy morning light, and her fiery red hair spread across the bed sheets. Her face looked even more peaceful and beatific in sleep. He felt himself harden at the sight of her, and longed for Felicia to open her eyes, inviting him to continue their pleasures. His musings were interrupted by a noise coming from outside – a low, calling whine that had woken him in the first place.

              He looked out of the window. A prowling black shadow stalked back and forth outside Felicia’s apartment block.

              Caleb hurriedly grabbed another towel from Felicia’s bathroom and made his way outside.

             
Caleb?
A familiar voice called out to him as he quietly shut the front door behind him. Giving the area a swift glance, Caleb dropped the towel and transformed rapidly, gracefully landing on all fours.

              Jackson walked toward him,
shit – we were so worried about you. Welcome back.
His voice was quavered slightly with emotion, and Caleb gently head-butted his pack brother in greeting.  

             
Glad to be back. Though the zoo definitely had its plus points,
he smirked inwardly as he thought of Felicia warm and ready in the bed upstairs,
but on the whole it wasn’t much fun. Not great for my reputation either
.

             
We think Shelia’s behind the car accident – what happened?
Jackson asked.

              Caleb hissed in response,
I thought as much – the break-lines went. She’d got Derek working for her, right? There was only one person that had access to the keys.

             
Yeah. We haven’t busted her yet – we just kept her away from learning that you were in the zoo, and came as soon as we could – but you’d gone.
He paused.
She‘s been running the business in your absence, Caleb
. The panther hung his head in shame, and pawed at the ground. 

              Caleb let an animalistic growl escape his throat. His rage overtook him for a split second – envisioning tearing into his office and ripping her from his seat, before he returned to sanity.
It’s not your fault Jackson. But her days in this pack are over. We’ll send her back to where she came from.

             
Let’s go
. Jackson replied, moving to turn toward the open road that would lead them back home.

             
Wait
, commanded Caleb. He pounced elegantly upward onto the ledge of one of Felicia’s half-opened windows. Once balanced there he transformed back into a man, and gracefully eased himself through the gap.

Inside he found a paper and pen and wrote Felicia a note, explaining that he’d be back later. He left it tucked by her sleeping figure. Leaning down he kissed her gently on the cheekbone, inhaling the sweet, musky floral scent of her hair.

              Caleb and Jackson raced through the sleeping city in panther form, with a few minutes left before dawn emerged, they found they could easily stick to the shadows to avoid detection – the humans about were the drunk and destitute, oblivious to the world around them.

              They stopped off at Caleb’s apartment for him to shower and change. He revelled in the clean water, and the quiet luxury of his modern apartment. Putting on a crisp white shirt and trousers he began again to feel truly human, and less like a caged animal. It was strange to be back on two feet, the past few weeks were the longest he’s spent continuously in animal form – and whilst it felt natural and freeing in certain respects, he had missed being in this body.

              Looking around at the apartment he tried to see it through Felicia’s eyes. Perhaps it could do with a female touch, he mused, looking at the dark, neutral tones that made up the sophisticated décor. He imagined her at the kitchen island, bare legs, naked beneath one of his shirts.

              He re-focused his mind on the task at hand. Before he brought home his mate he had a complication to remove.

              The pack had gathered in the warehouse. The cheering and evident joy at their leaders return had been doused by the reality of the packs immediate threat.

              “I want Shelia and Derek found, and bought to me. Jackson and I will prowl north side and the Navy Pier, the rest of you break up and spread out – I don’t want a zip code of this city left unsearched. Derek’s human, so go easy on him. I don’t want their deaths on your hands - I just want them bought to justice.” Caleb stood on a pile of pallets, with the pack hanging on to his every word, relieved to have their leader in his rightful place.

              At his word, the pack transformed in unison to become a seething mass of muscular force, teeth were bared and the deep cries of revenge-hungry panthers echoed loudly throughout the warehouse. A second later they thundered out of the entrance, shaking the ground as their weight pounded the concrete and shook the building’s foundations.

Shelia’s freedom in Chicago would be cut short today, just as Celeb’s had been.

Felicia awoke with a start. Morning sunshine and a light breeze streamed through her half-open window, and she smiled warmly in greeting to the glorious morning.

Turning she looked for Caleb, the mysterious shape shifter who felt like a half-dream this morning.

A half-dream he turned out to be; the covers that were still indented by his presence were stone-cold, he must have left hours ago. She stared down at the empty spot as if her wilful imagination could bring back his form, and tried to ignore the hurt that was left in his absence.

She had known it would be a one-night event; his absence should come as no surprise.
I shall not care
, she repeated as her mantra, over and over again.

              She stood up, grabbing the bottom of the duvet to shake it out – erasing his memory, letting the breeze carry off his scent. As she did so, a piece of paper floated gently to the floor.

             
Felicia – I’m sorry I had to go. Pack business. Will see you soon, C
she read. It was a gentlemanly note, but she was smart enough to know that it didn’t mean a thing. It was a polite goodbye, empty of promise, and she couldn’t hold it against him.

She rejected the dull ache of misery in the pit of her stomach; she had a media shit-storm to sort out today – a hotly anticipated and now missing panther at Chicago’s biggest zoo. She moved toward the bedroom to shower and get on with her day. If there was one thing that Felicia was a pro at, it was drowning her mind in work when faced with heartbreak and disappointment.

              Felicia let the hot water cascade over her face and body, enjoying the intense temperature as it numbed her senses. She closed her eyes and tried to focus only on the feeling of the water, letting the images and memories of last night be washed away with Caleb’s touches and caresses.

              As she tried to let her mind drift, it was bought back sharply to the present. A loud creak from one of her bedroom floorboards could be heard over the pounding water, the board was slightly loose and she’d never got around to fixing it.

She reduced the water pressure, but didn’t hear anything further. Felicia wondered if a stray cat had gotten in through her window – there was a ginger tabby from next door that she often saw exploring the front yard. 

              She left the shower reluctantly, and vigorously dried herself off. Her dressing gown was hanging on the back of the door, and she wrapped the soft fleece around herself, letting damp hair hang loose down her back.

She had hoped the shower would revive her, but as she opened the door to her bedroom and her eyes came to rest of the now-made bed, she just felt deflated and exhausted.

              At her dressing table, Felicia surveyed the shadowed circles beneath her eyes despondently. She felt cheated; she should have been glowing and sexily rumpled after last night’s activities, but instead she appeared washed out and anxious – not great for a day when she’d need to go and take on the Chicago media, the wrath of her boss, Ben, and the rest of the zoo staff.

              Half-way through the application of her make-up she began to feel uneasy. She thought she saw something move, swiftly, out of the corner of her eye. When she turned to look there was nothing there, just the empty wooden chair in the corner of her room. 

Then she thought she heard something, coming from behind her wardrobe – the door was slightly ajar, but there was nothing unusual about that – it frequently swung open, especially if any of the windows weren’t shut. She turned back to the mirror again, but now she felt alert, tense, and could feel a prickling at the back of her neck. Someone was watching her.

              “Caleb?” she called out softly. Her heart beat perceptively faster as only thick silence met her call. “Caleb, is that you?” There was a noticeable tremor to her voice that Felicia wished wasn’t there.

              A split second later two hands grabbed her, one pulling back her hair and exposing her neck, the other holding a huge hunting knife that rested within a millimetre from her throat.

              “Caleb’s not here. He’s never going to be back.” A voice hissed at her, and yanked her hair backward again, so that she could see, upside down, the face looming behind her. Flashing yellow eyes met hers, and a beautiful face spoilt by too much make-up and a disfiguring scowl of seething hatred.

              “Who are you?” Felicia was panicked and baffled by the appearance of the woman – she’d never seen her before, what did she know about Caleb?

              “Doesn’t matter.” Her face leaned in close, and she caught a strong whiff of the woman’s intense, sweet perfume that smelt cloying and stale, “what matters is that you messed with the wrong man, and you’re going to pay for it.” The woman let go of Felicia’s hair, and then smiled sweetly at her in the mirror. 

The next moment Felicia felt a sharp thwack to the back of her head that was so intense it made her want to vomit, and sent her reeling forward in her chair. Darkness descended rapidly, and she was lost to the world.