“What’s a woman like you doing in a bar like this all alone on Christmas Eve?”

Niki rolled her eyes not even interested in turning to face the drunk who dared to hit on her tonight. Feeling surly enough to rip someone’s head off she growled low in her throat. A warning she hoped the idiot would heed.

“What was that?”

No such luck. He was either too stupid or too drunk to realize how close he was to death. Rules be damned she needed a release and a little violence was one way to get it.

She eased herself from the stool, straightening the leather halter she’d chosen for the night, making sure the optimal amount of distracting cleavage showed. Heat surged through her system as she prepared for a fight and she turned to the annoying stranger.

When he got a good look at her his eyes bulged in his head and she could have sworn drool dripped from his mouth. Spying the glazed over look in his eyes and the soft fleshy musculature of his arms, not to mention the beer belly, she knew this would be far too easy. She’d have him on the ground and broken to her will in less than thirty seconds. It wasn’t even worth the trouble. No satisfaction would come from a man like this. She needed a fight or a fuck but it needed to be fair.

“I suggest you move on before I lose what little patience I have left.”

“Want to play hard to get huh?” his words slurred together causing her stomach to roll in disgust. This idiot had no idea what he was toying with.

Concentrating inward, thinking about the cougar inside, she closed her eyes and imagined the ice blue glow of her own eyes when she shifted. Satisfied that she’d controlled herself just enough, she opened her eyes and bared her fangs at the helpless stranger. He may not be much sport but beating the hell out of him would still feel good none the less.

Her hand shot out to grasp his neck but was grabbed instead by someone crazy enough to step between her and her prey. Her snarl of frustration sounded in the bar, garnering the attention of more than a few patrons. But the warmth of the hand encircling her wrist distracted her, reminding her why she’d come to the bar in the first place. She didn’t want to spend Christmas alone this year.

“Hey pal, this lady is mine, no poaching allowed.”

“I just saved your life, now be a good little drunk and order another drink from the bar before I change my mind and throw you out of here.”

His voice flowed over her like warm butter, all silky smooth as he spoke to the idiot without taking his eyes from her. Her heart pounded in her chest as his unwavering gaze traveled over her. Tall and lean, he had the body of a warrior not one sculpted in a gym. She could smell the cougar on him, a wild and reckless scent that made her nipples tighten and her nostrils flare as she took in more.

His olive toned skin and long dark hair was flat out sexy and gorgeous as hell. Without even knowing his name she wanted to wrestle him to the ground and taste that skin. He didn’t look like any other cat she’d ever seen and something about him pulled her to him.

He smiled at her then, white teeth flashing against ruby lips that she could nibble on. The arrogant way he looked at her would have earned any other man a punch in the gut or worse, not the compulsion to wrap her legs around his waist and hang on for dear life.

Now there was an image she could wrap her head around.

Niki shook her head, wondering what had gotten into her. One look at a hot hard stud and she was ready to get naked and horizontal with him. I really need a vacation.

When the drunk finally wandered back to the bar, her hottie let go of her wrist and reached for her hand. “I’m Dean by the way.”

“Niki.” She took the hand he offered and watched him bring it to his lips. His dark eyes sparkled with a teasing light and a suggestive look. Her skin tingled and her body lit up and when his tongue darted out and licked at her palm, fire raced over her, engulfing her in heat that pulsed straight to her clit and nipples.

Her breath caught in her throat as he continued to kiss and lick his way up her arm but when he reached the inside of her elbow she nearly shot to the ceiling. He’d discovered one of her special spots, the kind that always got her hot and wet in an instant and when his nostrils flared at her rush of arousal she knew he’d caught the scent.

Another woman might have blushed but not Niki. Sex was as natural to her as say bathing or hunting. In fact, her feline sisters and she had abnormally high sex drives and regular releases kept them on an even keel, or as their mother told them all the time, kept their aggressive tendencies at bay. Unfortunately for Niki, her releases lately had been solo and she’d grown tired of it. She’d run the woods as the snow fell in big, wet flakes all afternoon, never reaching the level of satisfaction she’d sought.

Things were looking up for her now though.

“It’s nice to meet you Niki. I don’t think I’ve seen you in my bar before. I’m sure I would’ve remembered someone like you. You tend to stand out in a crowd.”

“You have no idea,” she smirked. “At least this time of year I can get away with a lot more camouflage than normal.”

He looked puzzled at that but she opted to not elaborate. Revealing that she was one of the rare white cougar warriors was not a good idea when she knew nothing about him or his establishment. How had she not heard of a cougar friendly business this close to home?

“Thanks for taking care of him for me, as much as I might have liked to break a few bones it probably wouldn’t be a great idea.”

“Maybe we could find something else for you to do with all that pent up energy.”

Her ears perked up. Now he was talking. She stepped closer to him, soaking in the heat radiating off his body. “What did you have in mind?” she whispered.

He smirked. “Eager aren’t you?”

She pulled back at his mocking tone, withdrawing from his touch. Despite the immediate feeling of loss she didn’t have to stay where she would be taunted. Besides it wasn’t as if she couldn’t find a willing partner without the sarcasm. She turned away from him hell bent on getting out the door without causing anymore of a scene or looking back at the luscious man who’d turned her on more in a few seconds than any other man had for as long as she could remember.

“Don’t.” His voice sounded loud and clear and she could have sworn the entire bar came to a standstill including her.

It hadn’t been a plea or a request. No the tone of that command sizzled from her head to her toes and everywhere in between. But she was a woman full of pride and she wouldn’t turn and go back. He would have to meet her halfway so she waited.

When he placed his hands on her waist she shuddered in pleasure. In that moment the deal was set. For tonight she would be his and he would be hers, no questions asked. He wrapped her jacket around her shoulders and led her through the back door of the bar. With that first step outside she inhaled deeply, taking in the clean scent of fresh snow and wild earth. This time of year was her favorite from the cold nights to the long hours of darkness giving her the cover she sought to run free and wild.

“Where are we going?” She couldn’t exactly take him back to the house she shared with two of her sisters. She kept her affairs discreet no matter how long they lasted.

“That’s my place right there.” He pointed to a small house nestled in the trees at the opposite end of the parking lot. It was an unremarkable building except for one thing. Surprisingly, he’d strung white twinkling Christmas lights along the porch railing.

Inside his home she admired the fact that while sparsely furnished it was clean and orderly, the kind of place she would have if she lived on her own. “Nice.”

“It’s not fancy but it’s home and I like it.” He moved over to the Christmas tree and turned on the lights, casting a soft glow over the room. “I don’t know what brought you to my bar tonight but I’m grateful for whatever it was.” Dean moved close, removing the jacket from her shoulders, his fingers brushing her bare shoulders sending a heated shudder down her spine.

Her heart fluttered at the look in his eyes. The lust and want shone bright and she sighed in anticipation. “I didn’t want to be alone for Christmas,” she whispered.

He gripped her shoulders and pulled her flush against him before pressing his lips against hers, running his tongue along the seam until she opened and he darted inside, stroking and licking. Niki’s mind whirled with sensations; the tongue devouring her mouth that tasted like heat and spice, the hands that pulled her tight against him, and the stiff erection that pressed against her abdomen.

Her arousal soaked through her panties filling the room with a scent he would never forget and he knew then what he thought would be a one night stand with a beautiful woman would be far more. Mate.

She purred against his mouth and the head of his cock swelled and flexed against his body, eager to be free of confinement. He needed to be buried inside of her more than he needed his next breath. She shifted in his arms, her breasts rubbing against his chest. A sweet movement designed to drive a man like him wild with lust.

He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her like that to the bedroom and fell onto the bed with her. Their kiss broken, she laughed and twisted in his arms. Her tiny top slid up exposing her bare breasts and he dipped his head anxious to taste and tease them. He grazed her pebble hard nipples with his teeth until she squirmed and moaned underneath him. Her hands grasped at his shoulders, her nails biting into the skin of his back.

“Ahh yes, Niki. So beautiful,” he hissed as his tongue laved at the curve of her breast, continuing downward until his tongue swirled into the slight indentation of her belly button.

He continued to move lower until he was draped across her legs and his face hovered over her skirt and panties. Pushing her skirt up and out of the way, he buried his nose against her sex, inhaling a deep breath. “Oh so sweet. I can’t wait to taste you, feel your wet flesh against my tongue.” He peeled her panties slowly down her legs before tossing them somewhere in the room. He didn’t care when all he could think of was that tender, aroused pussy waiting for him.

Her thighs fell open and he licked his lips at the sight before him. A sprinkling of fine light blond curls covering swollen lips begging for his touch.

“Please Dean, you’re driving me crazy.” Her breath came in excited pants now as she tilted her hips for easier access.

“Am I?” He liked that she had turned desperate for him because he was exercising every ounce of control he possessed to not rush. He bent his head and licked his way from her heated entrance to her protruding clit, the flavor of her exploding on his tongue, searing into his brain forever.

She gasped and cried out his name as her fingers dug into his hair holding his head to her. Little did she know he had no intention of going anywhere. He settled further between her legs and continued his feast with licks, nibbles and small bites to her inner thighs. She squirmed and cried out as he edged her closer to release. His dick ached with the need to be buried inside her as the heat between them licked at his balls.

He pushed up and brought his body above hers looking at the creamy white skin of her beauty, so translucent she looked nearly ethereal to him. Some of her white blonde hair clung to her face where perspiration had popped out on her forehead. Staring into her eyes, loving the undisguised desire that shone there, he placed his cock head at her entrance.

“Tell me this isn’t a dream Dean. That you feel it too.” She moaned as he pushed just the tip inside her.

“No, this is definitely not a dream.”

She held her breath as he separated her folds when he pressed forward. Nerve endings ignited and a cry tore from her throat as he filled her achingly slow. A taunting pleasure swamped her until her screams turned to whimpers of pleasure when he buried himself to the hilt. Her orgasm built like a flash fire, sudden and combustible tearing through her with a force that took her breath away. The explosion went straight through to her soul until her pleasure swamped them both. He moved then, short hard thrusts as her pussy clenched around his hard flesh losing his own tightly held control.

His canines poked at his lips as he snarled and bent to her shoulder. Niki cried out when he sank his teeth into the skin as he pumped his release into her. Together they rode the wave until they finally collapsed together on the bed, bodies slick with sweat and an aura of satisfaction surrounding them both.

“Fuck Niki, what the hell was that?” The genuine surprise in his voice made her smile but she was too sleepy to talk. She simply wanted to curl up in his embrace and sleep securely for one night.

“So sleepy.”

He tightened his arms around her and pulled her tight against him.“Sleep then. I’m not going anywhere tonight.” She wondered what he meant as she drifted off into a deep sleep.

Dean kissed her awake as he crawled over her, trailing his lips from her feet to neck, paying close attention to her pretty pink pussy and tight nipples. He wanted to play again.

“Merry Christmas, Niki.”

She cracked open her eyes and looked at the sunshine just peeking into the room.

This was normally the point he would get up and get dressed encouraging his lover to do the same, but Niki was different. Despite the many times he’d had his way with her through the night, his cock was already rock hard and eager for more.

She looked down the length of his body. “You are insatiable aren’t you?”

“Are you complaining?”

She looked down at him and licked her lips, a rumbling purr coming from her throat.

“You wont hear any complaints from me. But isn’t this the part where we kiss and promise to call and then never do?”

He watched her as he thought about what she’d said. He wondered if she realized she was rubbing the spot where he’d marked her.

“Is that what you want?” If she said yes he would have to show her just how wrong she was. He could take it nice and slow if he had to but one way or another she would be his.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be for the holiday?” She looked at him expectantly as he trailed his fingers along the curves of her hips.

“I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” His voice rumbled.

She smiled at him and shifted onto her knees pushing him to his back. She fisted the root of his erection and brought the tip to her mouth. “Then it’s my turn to give you a Christmas gift.”

He hissed in appreciation. He’d already gotten the best present of his life. A Mate.

The End