The Mating Intent-mobi (11 page)

Jake stared straight ahead in the direction Gabriel had taken. “There are other Lupines, but they’re not quite the same as me. Largest is the red wolf Lupine pack in Stuart. Native to the land.”

“Do you run beneath the moon with them?”

He turned and studied her, pulling his hat low on his forehead. “You’re very inquisitive.”

“Sorry. Shifters fascinate me. I was assigned to guard a half-Lupine shifter recently.”

“Samantha, mate to Darius.”

Sienna laughed. “Word does get around.”

He shrugged. “I’m still friends with the pack and talk with Aiden, my former alpha. He told me Darius was mated to Samantha. I was very happy for him. A male in that pack shouldn’t be alone. Too many damn males and too few females to keep them happy.”

Intrigued, she studied his tense body language, sensing a secret. “Is that why you left? To find a mate?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why I left is my own business and I’ll thank you to stop asking questions.”

“I don’t mean to pry.”

“But you do.”

“Ok, I do. I’m a female. I like to know about everyone’s love life.”

As she grinned at him, the big Lupine finally relaxed and chuckled, shaking his head. “Gabe’s got his hands full with you. Hope he can handle you being his own.”

Now it was her turn to stiffen. “I don’t need handling, and I’m not his.”

Jake’s gaze sharpened. “Not yet, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Gabe’s not a tomcat like some shifters. Once he gets his eye on a lady, his mind’s made up. He’s more wolf that way than panther. No love ‘em and leave ‘em for Gabe.”

Right. “As if he hasn’t had other lovers in twenty-five years?”

She hadn’t meant to let that slip, but the Lupine’s grin widened. “Not my place to say, but ask him.  I think you’ll be surprised.”

Stunned, she watched him walk away. As Jake started examining the plant life, Sienna craned her neck toward the sky. She didn’t like Gabriel prowling about on his own.

Removing a knife at his belt, Jake sawed off a twig from an oak branch and studied it. Sudden anger flared inside her, destroying the camaraderie they’d established. The Elf inside her howled with anger. How dare he harm a tree?

The darkness inside her rose up, nudged her to action. The Lupine held no respect for the forest. Maybe he liked hurting trees, liked hearing them scream inside, their cries rippling through the silent air…

Her hand dropped to the stiletto strapped to her right thigh. Sienna slid out the blade, staring at the tall Lupine’s neck. So easy to creep up behind him, cut him quick, see his blood bubble bright red as he gasped as surely as the tree had gasped when he cut the branch…

Advancing toward the Lupine, knife held behind her, she kept her gaze focused on his back. Close, closer still….

Dear Gods, what was wrong with her?
The blackness inside her, the toxicity, was urging her on.

She would not surrender to it. She would fight the evil inside her.

Make him suffer
, the darkness urged.
Make him scream…

Sienna reached deep inside herself, pulling free the dim white light overwhelmed by the darkness. Rage filled her, wanting her to hurt Jake for hurting the land.

No, you’re not going to win
, she silently told the darkness.

And then deep inside her, the light doused the darkness, reminding her of the torment etched on the Lupine’s face as he’d recalled the female who’d died at the Mitchell Ranch. Sienna forced her gaze to the crisp uniform. Jake was a ranger, a protector of land. Not a threat.

Deeply ashamed, she slid the blade back into the sheath as he turned, holding out the twig like an olive branch. The twig was covered with green scales.

“The tree’s got fungus. It’s spreading from the younger saplings to the big old pines that have stood here for years. You’re Elven. Can you fix this?”

Horror crept through her. He asked for help and she’d been ready to cut his throat for hurting the tree. She truly was dark and evil for entertaining such thoughts. If she lingered longer without using the spring of Danu, the darkness would take over and she’d hurt someone badly.

Maybe even Gabriel.

I have to get rid of this evil inside me before I lose control for good.

Sienna spread out her hands, trying to control their trembling. “I can’t. Not now. But I promise when all this is over, I will return and heal your forest.”

Jake nodded and dropped the twig. “Appreciate it. I’ve considered other natural methods, but it’s spreading fast and I’d hate to see the big old guys die from it.”

“You really love your park,” she mused aloud.

He gave her a level look. “It’s not my park. It belongs to itself. I’m just a caretaker. Like you, only I lack powerful Elven light. Or an even more powerful dark.”

Sienna’s shoulders drooped. “How did you know?”

“Word travels fast among the Lupine grapevine. Aiden told me about the Elf who saved the earth when she siphoned away the evil from the soil.” Jake looked deep into her eyes. “I’m sorry about what happened, and I understand what it’s like. Anything I can do to help you, Lady Elf, you give the word.”

Deeply uncomfortable with him knowing her defect, and even more uncomfortable with the praise, she gestured in the direction Gabriel had taken.  “I should go check on him.”

Jake’s mouth quirked upward. “He said you were like that.”

“Like what?”

“Stubborn.”

“Not as stubborn as a certain Florida panther shifter.”

His smile dropped. “Go on, but be careful. When Gabe’s in cat form, he can be very aggressive, even to those he cares about. Watch yourself.”

“I can handle him.”

Pine needles crunched beneath the soles of her boots as she walked south, following the line of power poles. She scented nothing unusual, heard nothing except the hum of insects in the trees and the occasional chirp of birds. It was very quiet.

Too quiet.

After a half-mile, sweat dripped down her neck, matted her hair. Sienna wiped her forehead with the tail of her shirt.

Something crackled in the undergrowth. Her head snapped to the left, tracking the movement. There, amid the thick tangle of saw palmettos… was an animal.

Nostrils flaring, she tried detecting the scent. But her senses weren’t as developed as a shifter’s. Sienna advanced toward the scrub. Heart thudding hard in her chest, she kept one hand  on the blade strapped to her right thigh.

Anything could lurk in that scrub. Anything that wished to hurt her…

The saw palmetto near the power poles rustled. She turned, gripping the blade’s hilt.

A low snarl came from her right. She stilled.

A big cat prowled out of the undergrowth. Green gaze holding hers, he padded closer. The musk of cat and the unique spice of Gabriel flooded her senses. She released the knife, fear replaced by another, sharper emotion.

Pure lust.

Gaze holding hers, he advanced, muscles moving fluidly beneath his fur. He growled his displeasure. She held her ground. Cowering before him would make her vulnerable.

The cat studied her. Its furry, triangular ears twitched as he sniffed. As he turned away, she felt a sharp stab of disappointment. Such a beautiful creature of the wild. Untamed and free. And he turned his back on her like everything else she’d ever admired and longed to emulate. Gabriel would not turn his back on her now. After all, she’d come to make sure he was safe.

She was so tired of everyone ignoring her, taking her for granted, treating her as a lesser being.

“What’s wrong, panther? Hungry for other game? What about me?”

The darkness inside her rose up, nudged her into action.
Do it. Do it.

Sienna unbuttoned her blouse and yanked it open. Not good enough. She pulled it off,  unhooked her bra and tossed them both aside.

“Never seen a naked Elf in the woods before? Take a good look, but make it quick. I have places to go, people who are interested.”

Dear goddess Danu, had she actually spoken those words? What was wrong with her? Exposing herself to a beast shifter like Gabriel, whose sexual need was only equaled by his fierceness in protecting the land?

You can’t blame the dark magick inside you for this. It makes you behave irresponsibly but you want him. You’ve wanted no one else ever since he took your innocence. That’s why you’ve avoided this area for so long, until you had no choice but to use the spring of Danu. Gabriel breaks all your will power. Run now, before he takes up the invitation.

The cat stared at her breasts and then licked its lips. It gave a low growl.

His balls swung gently from between his legs. Sienna drew in a deep breath. A reddened shaft, slick and wet, protruded from his sheath.

He was hard and ready to mate.

Sienna quickly retrieved her blouse. My bad, she thought, staring at the cat. But it advanced, prowling silently toward her.

The panther snarled, showing fangs that could render and tear. The cat’s nostrils flared. He’d scented her arousal.

He wanted her equally.

Sienna turned her back.

She did not hear him, not even as his paws clambered through the soil and needles. Sienna barely had time to glance over her shoulder.

Gabriel pounced, shifting back to Skin form as he leapt through the air. Never had she seen such astounding speed and power. She barely had time to draw in a breath when he was upon her. Naked, straddling her, he pinned her to the ground.

“Gotcha.”

“Gabriel…”

“Never tease the panther, pixie.” His gaze darkened, the jade irises overshadowed by the black pupils. “Tease the cat and pay the price. Now, give me your mouth.”

Her lips parted. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…”

“Too late.”

He kissed her.

His mouth upon hers was warm and firm, slightly authoritative. Gabriel kissed her slowly, coaxing her to open to him. Feverish with want, she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

He started rubbing against her, slow, sinuous moves that put her hormones on overdrive. It had been too long, far too long.

Moaning, she ground her bottom into the bed of pine needles. Not caring that she had sand in her hair, her clothing. Only caring about the hot pressure of his firm mouth upon hers. Gabriel closed his mouth over her right nipple.

The shock of pleasure made her gasp as he suckled her, flicking his long tongue over her nipple. Arousal bit hard and she undulated her hips, silently pleading for more.

A tiny voice inside her protested. This wasn’t right, caught on the ground with a beast shifter, out in the open where anyone could see her disgrace…

He suckled her harder. Then his right hand skimmed down her belly, unfastened the steel button of her jeans. Sienna lifted her hips.

“Take them off. Be careful of my blades,” she told him.

The slow rasp of a zipper accommodated the slow strokes of his tongue upon her shivering flesh. When her jeans were down to her ankles, he slid his hand down to her panty line, stroked along the dainty lace and then slipped into her panties.

His hand was between her legs. Wetness gushed from her as his fingers probed and dipped inside her. Gabriel found her clit and stroked gently with his thumb. Moaning,  she clung to him, her anchor in a storm of erotic bliss.

“I’m going to make you come now, pixie. Here, in the open, where anyone can see us. No more prim and proper Elf. And then after you’ve come, I’m taking you into the bushes and fucking you until you scream and scream. Putting my thick cock into you and pushing harder and harder until we shatter, lying there, sweating and naked, nothing but sun and sky covering us.”

He thrust his finger into her hard, and all her internal muscles clenched. Sienna whimpered. Dimly she knew she must stop this before it was too late.

But the tension built higher and higher until her body became a giant bow, arching and ready for release. Gasping, she clung to him, forgetting everything except the pleasure of his fingers and his mouth upon her most intimate flesh. It had been too long, oh gods, far too long…

Every nerve screamed as she exploded, the orgasm like a firecracker. Sienna buried her face into his sweating shoulder to muffle her cries. Wetness gushed from her, soaking his fingers and her panties.

Sitting up, he withdrew his hand from her legs. Holding her gaze, he sucked his two fingers deeply, licking off evidence of her sexual arousal.

“You taste so damn good, pixie. I can’t wait to put my tongue down there, too. But first I have to fuck you hard or I’m going to die.”

Boneless and shaken, she lay upon the sand, feeling the grit against her arms, in her hair. The sun blazed upon her face, but her insides felt chilled from the knowledge of what she’d done.

She wriggled back into her jeans, but left her blouse off. His gaze intense and unwavering, Gabriel looked impassive and hard. He would have her, and now. Already she felt the lust take over, begging for more of his touch.

Sienna put her hands to her flushed face.

“Come Sienna. It’s time,” he said in a deep voice.

Peering through her splayed fingers, she looked up at him. Clasping her hand, he pulled her upward with little effort. Gabriel’s expression remained blank, but the hard edge of desire danced in his darkened eyes. Her gaze roamed over his naked, beautiful body.  He had such a perfect face, from the arched brows to the chiseled cheeks and his wet, red mouth framed by beard and mustache. His deeply tanned skin stretched smoothly over muscled biceps and well-defined shoulders. A thick triangle of dark gold hair covered his chest, marching in a line down to the thicker hair at his groin and his penis…

It jutted upward, an angry purple. Droplets glistened at the tip.

She’d pushed him way too hard.

But, overwhelmed with her body’s demands, she did not pull away. Why couldn’t she be like others who enjoyed sex? No one would know…

Gabriel’s gaze sharpened and he swore softly. “Jake’s coming. Put your clothes on.”

She turned and saw someone in the distance. Then Sienna glanced at Gabriel’s erection. “Shouldn’t you do the same?”