Cougar by the Tail
J. Hali Steele

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Copyright ©2010 J. Hali Steele

ISBN: 978-1-60521-389-7
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Editor: Chrissie Henderson
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

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Cougar by the Tail

J. Hali Steele

Trent Dallion is screwed. A wily little cougar has him by the balls -- and he can’t get loose! Did she mean it when she thanked him for killing her brother? Or is she playing a game of cat and mouse, waiting for revenge?

Peri Montana tastes her destiny in the blood of the jaguar who took her diseased brother’s life. Mountain born and bred, she wants nothing to do with the jungle cat who possesses more vampire abilities than she’s comfortable with. Can she follow him into the hot desert night without losing her tail?

Chapter One

A heart-wrenching yell pierced the air and echoed through the trees. The rank odor of death reached Trent Dallion, along with a buzzing in his head -- one of his own had gone down.

Even worse, the mental thread that connected with him held human feelings. Aww fuck!

Trent shifted to human form, allowing the fur to recede quickly from jaguar limbs. Not worrying about clothing, he vanished in a funnel of dust and wind, only to materialize naked in the clearing, already running at full speed. He skittered to a stop, seeing Jag appear over the body, and then Leron swirled into view hot on his heels. The female who lay in the clearing had lost a lot of blood. The smell assailed his nostrils along with the foul stench of transgressor. Trent gave free rein to his beast, which emerged again quickly to take in the scene with sharpened senses.

Rocks from the cliff to his left tumbled down and peppered the ground. The jaguar peered up. A cougar -- and he’d transgressed. Trent roared and jumped to the lowest ledge. Blood dripping from its mouth, the tan cat above him continued to climb. Not to be outdone, Trent leapt to the next ledge in pursuit. The bastard would die today.

Reaching the top, Trent saw the diseased cat waiting, its green eyes flashing red, glazed over with hatred and bloodlust. A smaller creature, the cougar still showed no fear. Neither did Trent as he bounded in the air to land on the wiry animal’s back. He was flipped off and felt the sharp points of the other’s teeth bite into his shoulder. Pulling free, he stood, blood coursing from the wound.

Trent feinted a rush attack, then reared on his hind legs and pounced on the little cougar with all of his weight. The smaller cat landing on its side, winded from the impact. Trent’s claws sank into the muddy-colored fur and ripped through the transgressor’s side. The cougar’s death rattle rent the air and echoed around the stony shelf. Not wasting a moment, Trent opened his jaws wide, taking the cougar firmly by the neck, and dug in with his rear claws, disemboweled the smaller cat.

He heard Jag’s roar of pain lift into the air. Pebbles slid down the cliff side, and limbs of the pine trees brushed angrily against each other. An eerie silence followed.

Barbara.

Rushing to the clearing below, Trent saw Jag on the ground with his mate’s bloodied body nestled against his chest.

Leron spoke calmly. “She will die if you don’t change her.”

Tears flowed from the warrior’s eyes. “Oh God, she wanted me to take her out for a picnic.”

Trent had exchanged blood with Leron and Jag in battle and their pain washed over him. His beast still clawed at his insides. It recognized the distress of one of his own, and it felt Barbara’s pain. Her chest heaved with each ragged breath she hitched in.

Leron said, “You should have let the bastard die slowly. Come here.”

Trent’s wound had soaked his fur, turning it red. Barely able to stand the agony any longer, he made it to his trainer’s side.

“Change. You need sustenance to heal yourself.”

He didn’t have the strength to fabricate clothing so he lay naked on the ground. Leron sat beside him and offered his wrist. Trent’s fangs lengthened and sank into the flesh of the stronger warrior.

These two he called friends had taken blood often from humans. They’d gained abilities that wouldn’t come to most of his kind until they grew much older. They were now closer to their vampyre cousins. And so was Trent.

Why won’t he change her? She’ll die. He spoke to Leron using their mental bond. Trent drank his fill from his partner. The shoulder wound began to heal immediately, and strength returned to his limbs.

He’s respecting her wish to remain human.

Trent watched Jag rock his mate back and forth. Her breathing grew more labored. She was near death. It wouldn’t be long now.

Rocks fell over the ledge where he’d left the dead cougar. He felt Leron move but Trent said, “No, you stay with Jag and Barbara. I’m strong enough.” He stood, allowing the fur to climb up his legs and cover his arms. Folding his body, he let his beast take over. Whiskers sprouted on his elongated snout and twitched in the air. Trent climbed the same path he’d used to chase the transgressor.

Before he crested the hill, he smelled her. A small, tan head lifted at his appearance and looked at him warily. She growled low in her throat, not a threatening sound, but sad. The dead animal had remnants of her scent. Relative or mate?

His wound, not completely healed, had seeped a new thin line of blood down his shoulder. After circling the female a few times, he approached her. Green eyes pierced him before she nudged him with her cold nose and licked his fur. She continued to clean his wound, and his beast purred. He prowled around the little cougar. The beast in him was hungry and wanted to taste the frisky female.

Trent waited until she fell to the ground in deference to his bigger cat. Declaring him master, the cougar lay there, waiting. He straddled her, bent his large head to her neck and bit.

Her blood laced through his veins, calling to something in him he didn’t know existed -- it slammed into his soul with a force only nature could wield. She belonged to him. Trent was snared in her web.

Catching him unawares, the tiny beast rose up and flipped him from her back. He growled low in his throat, warning her to obey and remain still. Growling loudly, she glanced at him, turned tail and ran into the trees.

He wanted nothing more than to follow her scent and would have if Leron’s excited voice hadn’t echoed loudly in his head. Trent, down here, now!

Reaching the foot of the cliff, the first thing he noticed was that Barbara’s breathing had relaxed. He changed to his human form, clothed himself, and impatiently eyed Leron, who glared back at him with a funny look.

Jag had given in and changed Barbara. Shit.

You know Barbara -- there will be hell to pay. Trent peered back up the side of the rocky embankment he’d descended. The wily cougar stood there in regal display and glared defiantly, her aroma filling the air. She’d tasted his blood and he felt her stir in his mind. Slipping with ease into her thoughts, Trent saw it was her brother he’d killed.

Thank you for releasing him. Her sadness settled over him like a black cloud.

Feeling Leron’s eyes on him, Trent turned to see the warrior grinning like the Cheshire cat before he nodded to the brim of the hill. “Looks like Jag’s not the only one in big trouble. You’re fucked, buddy.” Jag, Barbara, and Leron vanished and left him standing alone in the clearing. Trent heard his partner laughing in his mind. Take your time, man. I’ll cover for you.

“Go to hell, Leron,” Trent said out loud. The snarling high-pitched roar only a cougar or mountain lion could make split the air. “God damn it.”

Leron was right, Trent was screwed.

* * *

Peri’s glimpse into the jaguar’s mind told her what she didn’t want to know -- he’d follow her because he had no choice.

Familiar with the mountain and its myriad caves, she’d be able to hide easily. Keeping her ignited hormones from layering the air with her scent was another matter. The last thing she wanted was to be hunkered under a mere boy. Even if he was the sweetest thing she’d seen on the mountaintop for a long time.

The Sovereign Kind weren’t welcome up here. Facing Zader and his bunch with a jungle cat in tow was bad enough, but one who was also a warrior would only bring death to their door.

The Kind were an ancient species of big cats infected with vampyre blood. Ruled by a Council of Elders responsible for seeing to their safety, they remained hidden on compounds, or like her people, in the caves of mountainous terrains.

The Kind cats who had strayed so far from the fold, sometimes you couldn’t tell there was any cat left in their blood. It was them her baby brother had wanted to imitate. He wanted to be a warrior.

Most cougars had split off and kept their distance from the desert dwelling felines. The big jungle cats were Sovereign Kind, those who trained as warriors and took human blood regularly to remain strong to defend the others, even Peri’s small band.

“Damn vampyres, that’s what they are.” Her words drifted away on the wind.

Her mate was coming for her. Trent. She had plucked it from his mind and rolled the name around on her tongue.

A winter bite foretelling snow nipped at her nose. Lots of snow. She sprinted across a small clearing and darted through a craggy outcropping of boulders. On the other side, Peri jumped down to a small ledge and disappeared into a cave, praying her scent would be blown away by the harsh wind that buffeted the cliffs.

Going to the back of the cavern, she lay down to wait. She’d picked a place she played in growing up, which had small tunnels leading farther into the mountain. The smell of the pools below wafted through tiny openings and would help to mask her hiding place from the jaguar.

There were mineral pools down there she’d enjoyed bathing in as a young woman. Peri hadn’t done that lately and missed it. Hell, if she went deeper there was no way the cat on her tail could find her, and if he did pick up her scent, it wasn’t likely he’d fit through the small openings.

Standing, she moved into one of the tiny passages with a little difficulty. Damn, I’ve put on some weight! Squeezing her shoulders into the space, she inched forward, going down a steep incline toward the place she remembered.

Five minutes later a vista of crystalline walls twinkled in front of her. The place was dark but tubes of light coming from far above on the surface shot spikes of light in the cavern, making it mystical and beautiful.

Not only was it overly warm, her cat wasn’t a big fan of water, so Peri quickly pulled her beast in, letting the fur recede from her limbs and torso. Standing naked beside the steaming pool, she ran her hands over her body.

“Okay, I am a little thicker.” Her voice echoed from the sides of the cave. “But still not bad for my age.”

Peri had seen a few hundred years pass in the hills and before that she’d lived with her family on a desert compound. Distress over too many deaths by hunters and transgressors took her small clan to the mountains where they enjoyed a simple life, much like the cats that lived before the blood curse.

She smiled, flexing her aching muscles. Earlier today Peri had fed on blood from Zader, her older brother and their leader, who took human sustenance occasionally. It was sweet and had made her stronger than her people usually were.

Though not communing with the Kind below, they knew from tales carried to them that the Council thought it was the vampyre blood that caused them to transgress, much like vamps who went rogue.

Blood was a powerful elixir that brought much magic with it and those who took on the thirst of their Balkan cousins gained many of their abilities, like dematerializing and clothing themselves, but they also chanced becoming addicted. Peri never took enough to fear addiction.

Wading waist-deep into the pool, she sat on a natural seat cut out by the water, and taking a deep breath, she lay back. Blissfully, her eyelids drooped and the minerals began to do their job as tiny waves lapped at her breasts.

She sent a silent prayer up for her younger sibling, hoping he was at peace. He’d chosen his own path. She had adjusted to the fact that he wouldn’t survive long. The life of a transgressor was gruesome. He wouldn’t have been happy living that way. Thank you, Trent.

“I’d do anything for you.”

Peri practically jumped out of her skin as her eyes snapped open. What the fuck! How the hell had he snuck up on her?

“Come on, you didn’t think I’d let you get away. Baby, you left a trail that smelled like heaven.” The man stood stark naked at the edge of the pool, gazing at her. “Plus, you belong to me. Like it or not.”

“Go to hell,” she snarled and slipped further into the water. “Jesus, give me some privacy.” Shit, he’d found her far too easily. Glad she’d fed from Zader this morning, Peri locked her mind as tight as she could and mentally scrambled to assess her situation.

Her senses had told her the minute she tasted him they were mates, but Peri wasn’t ready for that. She’d hoped by some long shot she was wrong because no way could she be mated to a jungle cub. He was not just any compound furball, but a Sovereign warrior -- Trent was Reign.

Lord, he looked good though. The warrior was over six feet tall and his engorged cock bobbed in front of him like a joystick. Hell, he was just a boy. Bingo! She hadn’t lived this long for nothing. He was young, and Peri could use that to her advantage.

“Slide over, I’m coming in.”

“You are not!”

“Peri, right? Get used to this, honey. It’s all yours.”

Tell me he didn’t just wiggle his dick at me?

He splashed into the pool like a mongrel dog and sat down across from her with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Yup, all yours.”

“And who says I want it?”

“Don’t you? Anyway, I’m not sure either of us has a choice.”

She had to play this right. Heck, have a little fun with the youngster, then send him scampering back home. She hadn’t been fucked really well in a long time. Youth had its place.

She stretched her leg across the pool, then gently nudged between his legs and flicked his balls with her toenails. “Maybe.” His nuts were hotter than the pool. Her legs squeezed together, tried to stem the flow of cream that slid from her body. “Come here.”

He ducked under the water and came up beside her. His long, striped hair dripped on her shoulder until he slung it to get some of the moisture out.

“Hey,” she yelled. “That was such a doglike thing to do.”

Trent’s emerald eyes resembled thunderclouds, and that’s the last thing she saw before his lips descended on hers. His tongue pushed for entrance to her mouth and she couldn’t keep him out -- didn’t want to. She grabbed him around his waist, pulling him closer until his hip touched hers and sent a flare of desire straight to her pussy.

One of his hands crept over her stomach, down between her legs and found her nether lips. He stroked her, pushed into the folds and teased Peri’s clit, forcing her to arch from her seat.

“Yeah, you want me,” Trent whispered against her lips. “I want you so bad I can already taste it.”

Shit, this had gotten out of control way too fast. She should have been taking the lead here but the cub had her back against the wall and was filling her cunt with electric pulses of pleasure with each thrust of his fingers.

Control. Peri needed to get the upper hand, and fast. She sat up and pushed at his shoulders, moving him back a few inches, giving her room to breathe and get her shit together.

“What’s wrong? I know you liked what I was doing.” He reached for her.

How could she stop him? “You killed my baby brother, damn you.”

Chapter Two

Damn she was good -- the cat and the woman. Her wheat-colored hair was cut short and one curl lay on her forehead giving her a look of innocence that was a lie.

All that mattered was that they were mates, and she damn well knew it. Trent wasn’t going to let her play games with him. “Did you want him to live like that, a blood addicted beast, killing and gorging on flesh? If that’s what you wanted, you’re not what I thought you were.”

He stood, strode from the pool, and leaning on a nearby boulder, he watched her. It tore at his heart to see tears slide down her cheeks.

She glared up at him and said, “He was still my brother.”

“No, he wasn’t. He was an abomination, something that threatens us all, humans and Kind alike.” Trent softened his voice. “I’m sorry.” He walked back to the edge of the water and sat down. “That wasn’t your brother anymore, Peri.”

Looking the other way, she said, “You could become like that.”

He gazed at her and could see her rosy nipples just above the water. Thank God for cat’s eyes. “Honey, any of us could die tomorrow. Shot by a hunter, taken down by a transgressor. I stand a better chance if I embrace my other half. It’s a part of what God allowed me to be.” Shit, he sounded like a preacher man, but he believed every word of what he said. Leron and Jag had taught him that by ignoring the vampyre side of himself, he could never be the man, or cat, he was supposed to be. He inched back into the water and landed at her side, brushing against her hip.

“Doesn’t it scare you?”

“The only thing that scares me right now is I know you were put here for me. I’ll follow you through these mountains until the cows come home. I will have you.”

“You’re so young. You have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Just let me love you. Once.” He reached for her chin and pulled her head around to look at him. He smiled at her. “That’ll hold me while you wrestle with this.”

“You bastard. That’s what you want? Something to hold you over?”

“No, sweetheart. I want you but you got a little growing up to do first.” He ducked, avoiding the swing at his head. “See, that’s one good thing about being a vampyre, we’re pretty quick.”

Capturing her wrists in his large hand, he pulled her into his lap and realized what a big mistake that was when the tip of his cock wedged tightly between her ass cheeks. Shit.

Shifting Peri so she lay across his lap, he gazed at her. Try as he might, she’d managed to keep him from her mind. She’d taken some strong blood somewhere, and recently, yet he didn’t smell human on her.

There was the slight odor of wolf, and it was female, which could have been her breakfast. Even a cat as small as she was could take down one of those dogs, but this pup was Kind. Not even they escaped the vamp curse, mostly because the cats infected other animals all over the world.

“You’ve had strong blood today and why do you smell like a she wolf?” Trent didn’t try to hide the jealousy or anger in his voice. This was his mate and only over his dead body would another beast have her. “Who is she?” His brethren weren’t attracted to the same sex, what if she was? He would have to look into that later. How the hell could another woman satisfy her the way he could? Those damn magical tongues.

She wrested her hands free, grasped a handful of hair and pulled his lips down on hers. His fangs had partially dropped and he nipped her lower lip. Tasting her blood as it seeped into his mouth set him on fire. Lifting her from his lap, he bent her over the edge of the pool. “You do want me and you can’t fight it.”

“You’ll do for now,” Peri snapped back at him.

He stood behind her, wrapped one arm under her belly and, easing her full ass high in the air, Trent sunk his cock to the hilt in her pussy. “Oh shit,” he growled. She was so tight, so good, as he thrust in and out with long, slow strokes. Leaning over, he nipped at her neck and licked a wet path across her shoulders, stopping in spots to nibble on her soft skin.

“I like it hard.”

That made him push deeper into her cunt. Standing straight, he placed his hands on her hips and yanked Peri back onto his dick each time he jammed into her. Pulling out far enough not to lose contact with her hot flesh, Trent rammed in again and again, taking all of her. “Damn, you’re tight.”

“Ooh, Trent.” She moaned as she ground her ass into him. “Yes, fill my pussy. Fuck me good.”

He stroked in and out like a damn machine and still couldn’t get enough. Leaning back down, he let his fangs lengthen all the way and he bit down on the side of her neck. Her sweet blood flowed like a river into his mouth. Letting go, he licked and closed the wound, covering it with kisses. She yowled like the wild cat she was under him, her cunt convulsing around his thickness.

“That’s it, sweetheart, come for me. Give me what’s mine.” Trent bumped his hips against her ass cheeks with each plunder into her pussy, and Peri squeezed her vagina around him, milking his cock.

Slowing, he shortened his thrusts, prolonging the delicious agony of fucking her, feeling her tightness surround him. In and out, slowly. He swept his hands up her back, dug them into her hair. Christ, he wanted to touch every freaking inch of her body, taste every part of her.

“Don’t stop. Fuck me.”

“I’m never gonna stop. This is my pussy.” Going faster now, he shoved his dick into her with short, shallow strokes, keeping the full length of his penis from her, making her want more and more. His balls were tight, ready to burst, and he wanted to come. But not yet, not until she begged him for it.

“Damn you, I need it all.” She jammed her ass back, trying to get more, but he was ready and each time he bowed over her, not letting her get all of his cock.

“What do you need, honey?” He continued to push into her with short, easy thrusts to tease and bait her. Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, “Tell me what you want.”

He lapped at the closed punctures on her neck, tasted traces of blood there.

“Please… please… please,” she moaned. “I want you, no one but you, never anyone but you.” She swiveled her hips, trying to capture him.

“It’s all yours, sweetheart, forever.” Trent gave her just what she wanted, every inch of his cock.

He plunged into her pussy with everything he had, deep and hard, over and over again. He placed his hands on her shoulders and he held her tight, not wanting her to move while he slammed everything he had into her cunt. Everything she begged for.

“Trent!” Peri cried out, and he felt her body trembled beneath him, cream surrounded his cock. She clenched so hard he exploded, sending a spurt of cum far inside her.

“Oh fuck,” he grunted. He continued to ease in and out of her while he caught his breath. Standing straight, he put both arms around her and twisted his body to sit down, pulling her with him into the warm spring waters. “Draga moja, don’t make me chase you through these hills.”

* * *

There it was -- the words she’d avoided -- but knew to be true. Shit, she was the oldest one here and handling him should have been a piece of cake, but this young cat was no pushover. And, Christ, he had fucked her brains out.

Peri’d had to do it, she had to make love to him, and it was the biggest mistake of her life. She’d done it because she couldn’t let him know about Zader.

Lying in his arms, she watched icy particles float from the tubes of light, trapping bits of sunlight from aboveground. Snow had come to the mountains early this year, and once started, it wouldn’t let up until spring. How would her desert baby fare in this weather? Continuing up the mountain wouldn’t be a problem for her, but what would be the harm if she stayed in the cave longer and slaked her desire with the virile young jaguar?

Providing liquid food for the vampyre part of him had already proven to be a pleasurable experience. Peri could snag a rabbit or two for their dinner. Maybe she’d even take a little bite out of him and erase the smell of her older brother’s wolf from her body.

In the mountains they lived a different way, where sometimes your worst enemy turned out to be your best friend. Goddamn Zader and his wolf cohorts.

To protect the only family she had left, Peri would do almost anything. If it meant staying here with the cub, so be it, because no way could she allow Reign to find out her people had forged an alliance with wolves. She also knew there was no way she could live without her draga. Shit, shit, shit, what a mess.

“What are you thinking about?”

She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until air whistled through her lips on a sigh. Peri hadn’t been sure she was strong enough to keep everything from him. So far, so good. “It’s snowing.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No. See it floating down the light tubes?”

“No shit? Real snow?”

She laughed at the glee in his voice. Was it possible the cat had never seen or frolicked in the cold powder of the mountains? “You’ve never seen snow?”

“Let’s go outside.” He jumped up on the side of the pool and his eyes sparkled when he looked back at her. “Come on, come play with me.”

“Uh, Trent, you’re a jaguar, a jungle cat. Are you serious?” Peri felt giddy with the idea of romping around with him in the cold.

“When I arrived from my homeland, I trained hard and never went to the mountains in Arizona. I’ve visited Arrowhead and saw a little of the manmade stuff at the end of the season. I want to do this with you, Peri. Come on.” He tugged her hands and pulled her out of the water. “Anyway, if you get cold, I can warm you up.”

His green eyes were alive with joy. Christ, he was like a kid in a candy store but damn if his excitement wasn’t rubbing off on her. It’d been far too long since she did something as simple as roll in the snow.

“Let’s go.” Golden fur flowed smoothly up her legs and over her torso. Hair marched quickly down her arms. The whiskers sprouted from her snout and twitched in the air. What are you waiting for? She opened her mind, not afraid to let him in while they talked jovially.

Umm, I couldn’t fit through the hole so I had to dematerialize.

Ahh, that’s how you snuck up on me. She scampered across the cavern floor. Your ass is going to be cold. Yup, blue balls cold.

“Goddamn it.”

Peri laughed and let the sound of it echo in his head as she darted into the opening of a tunnel. She waited on top of the cave, wondering where he’d appear. Snow fell furiously this high up and a few inches already covered the ground.

She didn’t have long to wait. Trent materialized a few feet from her, his hands clasped together covering his dick, which was shriveled between his legs.

If you laugh, I’ll roll you down this damn mountain. Spotted fur shot up his legs, covered his muscular thighs and proceeded to run over his torso and down his arms. After folding his body, large paws sent a flurry of powder into the frigid air. Her people couldn’t change that fast. It was spectacular to watch his transformation, one she could watch over and over.

Trent raised his jowly head and roared into the air, sending a flock of birds twittering out of their hiding place. It was not a sound they were familiar with up this high. Shit, baby, it’s cold up here.

You’re like the living dead. You should be used to a little cold. His snarl didn’t scare her. Trent would never harm her, not now. Peri couldn’t help admiring how huge he was in comparison to the cats she saw on a daily basis. His spots, the golden fur, didn’t blend in with the snow at all. You’ll warm up running. Follow me.

She spun and took off across the mountainous terrain, leaving a trail of powdery snow in the air. Peri felt him behind her. His heavy body made a sound each time his paws struck the ground. Christ, you’ll wake the dead. How do you hunt making that much noise?

I swoop in on ’em using my bat wings. It’s too damn quiet on your mountain, that’s all. I’ll adjust. He came abreast of her and slowed his steps to match her pace. Minutes later, they reached a steep path that headed straight up and she sprinted in front of him.

You got a cute little cat ass.

Be careful, it’s pretty steep.

You don’t think I can… Oh shit, he hollered, slipping off the edge.

Peri skidded to a stop and glanced over the side to see Trent lying naked a few hundred feet down. She navigated the slope slowly until she reached him. She leaned over and licked his face. Nothing. His chest didn’t even rise and fall, and sweeping her tongue down his neck, she felt no pulse but she knew he was alive. Damn if the vamp part of him didn’t taste sweet.

Lick my balls and I’ll fall for you.

She heard his chuckle. Bastard. She swatted his head with her paw.

Trent rolled quickly and wrestled her to the ground, and when she lay still, he vanished them back into the underground cavern -- smack in the middle of the warm pool.

I’ll fucking kill you for this. Peri thrashed about in the water, her heavy fur keeping her from getting to the edge quickly.

Teach you to poke fun at me.

You’re a clumsy oaf. Reaching the side, she scrambled out. She shed her fur as quickly as possible, and even though the air was warm, chills shook her body. “If I took more blood I’d…” Playtime was over. Peri slammed the doors of her mind shut, but it would gradually become more difficult to keep him out.

“What? You’d do what? Come here, honey. I’m sorry. It was cold up there.”

“You’re like a little boy.” She stood shivering on the pool’s edge and watched the thunderclouds appear in his eyes again. Oh hell, she’d hurt his feelings.

“I’m not a kid and I’m tired of hearing that. It wasn’t a boy who made love to you earlier. That was me, Peri. I can leave if that’s what you want.”

He’d be unable to stay away from her for long, but what if he left and ran into one of her clan? She had to fix this and fast. She moved quickly to the pool and slipped in beside him. “I’m sorry and you’re right.”

“Don’t play me, draga. You’ll lose.”

The storm still brewed in his green eyes. His broad chest heaved up and down with anger. She looked up at him and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t pull her gaze away. Peri glimpsed her life in their emerald depths -- happiness, sadness, and most of all, togetherness. “I’m not playing.” Good Lord, she meant it! Peri wanted him, wanted to be right here with him, or up there, anywhere. How the hell had this happened and how was she going to explain it to Zader? “Trent, fuck me.”

Her raspy voice was so low, she wasn’t sure he’d heard until he reached out for her, pulled her into his arms. He stood, and carrying her with him, he went to a soft spot of soil in the cave where he fabricated cloth and placed her on it. “Fuck you? Is that what you want?”

“Trent…”

“Open your mind. Let me in, Peri.”

“I can’t.”

Chapter Three

Trent couldn’t leave her, but he needed to know who or what in hell she was hiding from him. Her shields had slipped and there had been brief flashes of -- wolves. He’d tear the fucking dogs apart if they thought they were going to have what was his. At least she no longer smelled like one. Peri carried his scent now, and would until the day she died.

He felt her weakness, knew she’d need blood soon and he was going to make sure she got his. “You’re hungry. I can feed you.”

“Make love to me.”

She ate him up with her eyes and sent the blood zinging through his veins. He’d have to take sustenance soon and he couldn’t deplete her by taking more of her blood. Later, when she slept, he’d hunt. Lying down beside her, he pulled her against his body. “So, it’s love now?”

“Don’t tease me.” She pushed him onto his back and rolled on top of him. “I’ll take what I want.”

Damn, she was hot and he enjoyed the weight of her. He could gaze at the soft swells of her breasts, and his hands could span her tiny waist which fitted well above her rounded hips. The hair on her mound glistened from the drops of water that slid down her golden skin and ended up trapped there. “Do it.”

Her head came down and she covered his mouth with her lips. Her tongue drove in deep, giving him a taste of heaven.

Trent used his hands to caress and stroke her back. Peri’s skin was like silk and he couldn’t touch it enough. He feathered over her rounded ass, stopping at the crease there. He moved his fingers through it slowly until he came to the tiny rosette hidden there.

“Yes,” she breathed against his lips.

“I want to be in every part of you.” He pushed the tip of his finger in, just a little. Damn, she was hot. Easing more inside, he squeezed her ass cheek with the other hand and she shuddered over him. “You like that?”

“I like when you do it.”

“Peri, I’m never going to let you go. Whatever you’re hiding from me, it won’t make a difference.”

“You need a younger, friskier cat to run with.” She nibbled on his earlobe, ran her tongue down the side of his neck and bit him lightly, sending tremors through his body and causing his cock to jerk between them.

“Fate gave you to me. I’m not letting you go, draga. You just need more blood.”

She moved back to his mouth and kissed him deeply. Trent pushed his finger all the way into her butt and pulled it out. He repeated the motion, back and forth, until she rocked against him, wriggled her ass and made his penis drip.

Breaking the heated kiss, she began a slow slide down his body. Her teeth bit and teased his nipples. Her tongue circled the bud until he jutted up and pushed his dick into her firm belly.

“God, woman, you make me crazy.” She continued to slip down his body and he opened his legs to give her space. Lord, he hoped she was going to do what he thought.

“Suck my cock.”

Her lips had reached the tip of his erection and, without playing around, she grasped it in her hand and swallowed the head of it.

“Holy shit, baby.” He forced his hips up until his cock sank all the way in her hot little mouth. Using his elbows, Trent pushed himself up so he could watch her take it.

“Oh, Peri,” he groaned. The sight of her lips covering his shaft urged more precum from his cock.

“You taste good,” she murmured, coming up for air. She went right back to the tip, nibbling, tasting him. Her tongue lapped circles around the sensitive edge of skin there. Using her hand, she edged his cock out of the way so she could reach his balls. “Have to keep these warm.” She sucked one nut into her mouth and drew on it so sweetly. Going to the other, she teased it the same way. When her tongue slipped behind his sac, his hips surged forward.

“Christ, you’re good.” He pumped his shaft into the air. “Enough. I want to come in your pussy.”

Peri stopped and raised her body. She placed one leg over his thigh and got on her knees. Lifting her other leg, she leaned to the side, allowing him to close his legs so she could straddle him. Gripping his shoulders, she rubbed her cunt up his legs, and when her pussy met his cock, she eased herself up enough for him to sink inside her.

“Yes,” he shouted as he lay back. She rose up and down, ground her hips on him, took all his cock.

Trent spanned her waist with his hands and arched up, trying to give her more. In and out, he thrust hard and deep. Her channel tightened around his dick with each stroke and pulled him closer to the edge.

He moved his hands to her breasts, tweaked the taut buds, twisted them between his fingers, and she moaned, the sound bouncing from the walls of the cave. Building speed, she tugged his penis with each stroke up, her pussy holding him tight. The friction drove him crazy, made him want more and more.

The jaguar purred and prowled inside, hungry for its mate. Trent couldn’t wait to feel his cat in her and soon he’d have to give his beast what it wanted, what it clawed for. But for now it would have to settle for what Peri gave him, and damn, she was giving it to him good.

He grasped her hips, lifted and rolled with her ending up on her back. His cock stayed buried in her and, coming to his knees, he never missed a beat.

“Take me, Trent, take what’s yours.”

Placing his hands beside her head, he bent and captured her lips under his. His tongue swept into her mouth, scoured for every delicious secret there. Long and hard, he kissed her -- couldn’t get enough. Breaking from her, he licked her face and planted tiny kisses on it while he pumped inside her pussy. “I have to taste you, honey. I won’t take much.”

“It’s yours. Take it.”

His teeth sunk into her vein on the side of her neck and her sweetness, her life, splashed the back of his throat. Yes. Each time he took sustenance from her, the better he’d know her. Trent licked the pinpricks to close and heal them.

He’d not yet felt her bite and he needed to, and she needed blood. “Take mine, Peri. Taste my essence, see how much I desire you.”

“I already feel that. Give me more of it.” She pressed her feet into the ground and lifted her body into his, stole more of his dick if that was possible, and made him forget anything else in the world existed but being inside her.

He jammed into her pussy with a vengeance, over and over. Trent shoved his cock in her fast, giving her what she wanted. His hips pumped hard, meeting her halfway, then thrusting her ass back to the cavern floor with each jab in her wet canal.

“Is this what you want?” he growled in her ear. “You want fucking, I’ll give you fucking, honey.” He reared up, his hands took hold of her hips, and he pistoned into her, again and again. She met him, stroke for stroke, taking everything he gave, and more.

“God, yes.” She arched her back, locked her knees and screamed, “I’m… coming.”

Trent didn’t let up, couldn’t stop until he felt her cream surround his thickness. His cum barreled out of his sac, slid into her hot, wet pussy, and his beast roared inside him. On its hind legs it clawed and growled, wanting to take her too.

“Fuck,” he shouted. He kept coming forever. One, two more strokes, and he collapsed on top of her, satiated, empty. Rolling to the side, he pulled her body to his, snuggled his flaccid penis into her butt, and Trent held her tight. “An old lady couldn’t move her ass like that.”

With her back against his chest, he felt her chuckle. “You ain’t seen nothing yet. Rest. You need it.”

“Don’t try and leave me.” She was slicker than oil, but Trent would have more of her. Now he wondered if he’d ever have his fill of the wild mountain lion.

* * *

She watched the light disappear from the tubes to the surface. Darkness blanketed the mountain, but her cat’s eyes could see in the shadows.

Peri was afraid of the monsters lurking there, scared they could take this young and untried man from her. She reminded herself the monsters weren’t in here, they waited up the mountain.

She kept Zader out of her head all day. She had to reach him but was afraid to try their mental path. Trent had drunk from her again and it would be much easier for him to read her if she wasn’t vigilant.

By now Zader would have his crew out searching. He’d want to know what happened to their little brother, even though he’d expected his death, just as she had.

Waiting until his breathing was even, she slipped out of Trent’s arms. The warriors, much like their vampyre cousins, often slept the sleep of the dead. Peri smiled. She’d taken all the steam out of his sails for now.

It didn’t take her long to travel to the surface as her cat and she bounded up the path heading to her home not many miles away. It was refreshing to run through the snow; it made her come alive.

As she raced along, she thought back to the nights she’d spent in the desert when she was younger. She’d liked the beauty of the crystal clear sky with stars twinkling overhead. Could she live there again?

The man-child she’d just left had no place on her mountain. Without him, she had no place in this world. Peri skidded to a stop at the odor of wolf, a very familiar wolf.

Well, well. The she-cat returns to the fold.

Zader’s piece of tail. Brit. They weren’t mates, if that was even possible between the two species, but for now, she was what her brother wanted. They’d even exchanged blood and it made it possible for this beast to enter Peri’s mind rather easily. I don’t need your shit, Brit. Where’s Zader?

Hunting for you. The wolf scanned her closely, its eyes glowing yellow in the dark. Girl, you smell like… like a freaking jungle cat.

At least Brit hadn’t pick up the smell of vampyre. So? I can have a sex partner if I want one. In fact Peri had had a few through the years, but had never figured on finding her mate.

Trent would be her last.

The wolf fell into step beside her and they covered the rest of the distance in silence. Probably because she’d locked the bitch out, which wasn’t easy in her present state. She needed to feed, and a rabbit wasn’t going to work.

Reaching her home, she pulled her animal in, and stood naked at the door. She spun to face the wolf and found she’d changed also. Carrying Zader’s blood made Brit formidable, but Peri didn’t fear her one bit.

“Have a good night.” She opened the door, went through and banged it in the woman’s face. “Bitch.” Peri didn’t understand what Zader found attractive about the dog at all, but it wasn’t her place to pick his consorts.

She’d take a warm shower and prepare for her big brother’s visit because it was unavoidable. Maybe if she doused in cologne he’d miss the smell of Trent. Doubtful, but worth a try.

Finished and dressed, she sat on her sofa nibbling on the tip of a fingernail. Her nerves were so frayed Peri felt like changing and going out to gouge the side of a tree, but she was afraid if she did, she would go off on a hunt. Damn, she needed blood and fast.

Her door sprung open with a bang that shook the glass panes and made her jump in her seat. “Where the fuck have you been?”

“You’re not my father. I go where I please.” She didn’t break eye contact with him, a sign of weakness which Peri would never display, not even to the leader of the mountain cats. “Castor is dead. It’s for the best. Maybe now he can find peace.” Tears wet her cheeks, and Peri brushed them away.

Zader nodded. “You’re right.”

“I needed to stay away for a while, that’s all.”

“Why is the stink of perfume so strong in here?” His green eyes pierced her and he stepped closer. “You can’t hide the stench of jaguar. Who’ve you been with? We don’t have any of them in our clan.”

“That’s no concern of yours.”

“Oh shit, Peri, tell me you’re not mated to a jungle cat.”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Who is he?”

It was now or never. Peri knew the minute the words left her mouth she’d have to leave the mountaintop. Already she could feel her brother prodding at her mind, and soon he’d get in. There was no way she could bring the Reign down on those that had been her family and protected her most of her life.

“That’d be me.”

They both spun toward the open door. Neither of them had been vigilant and that was dangerous. Brit stood behind the man who filled the frame with a vicious smile on her face.

Her brother snarled and stepped closer to Trent.

Damn, this was not how Peri wanted this to happen. “Zader, no. I’ll leave with him.”

“Honey, I’m not afraid of him.” Trent turn to face Brit. “I’m guessing he feeds from you before he feeds his sister because your scent was on her.” Reeling back around to her brother, he said, “That’ll never happen again.”

Hair slid over her brother’s limbs, but Trent was much quicker and already in his beast. He prowled back and forth in front of Peri.

“Stop it, both of you.” She watched the fur recede from each cat and they remained naked in their male forms, filling her small room with the smell of testosterone.

“Umm, um,” Brit said.

“Get the hell out.” Peri walked over and slammed the door in the woman’s face. “We’ll leave in the morning and I won’t come back.” She walked back over to stand by the sofa.

“This is your home. I won’t let you go with this… this --”

“Trent, call me Trent. And Peri goes where I go. We’re draga.” He moved to stand beside her. “You’ve been gone from the compound for a while, but I know you understand that. She’ll be taking my blood from now on.” Trent zapped clothes out of nowhere and was fully dressed head to toe -- in the blink of an eye.

Oh hell, now her brother would definitely know what her mate was. Only those that took human sustenance regularly could perform the feat he just did. Those that took the blood often were equated with one of two things, and transgressors you could smell a mile away. That left only one.

Zader sniffed her mate, then pounded her table in agitation. “Goddamn it, Peri, not just a jungle cat, you’ve brought a fucking Reign down on us?”

“I didn’t have much choice, now, did I?”

“Look, it’s not my business how you live up here. How you can befriend those that are natural enemies to us is beyond me.” Trent wrapped his arm around Peri’s waist. “I’m not here to censor you, but I’m taking Peri with me. We can do this easy or hard. Either way, she’s mine now.”

Her brother strode to the door. “We’ll talk in the morning.” He banged it shut behind him.

“Why did you follow me? Are you stupid? He’ll kill you, Trent, to protect his mountain.”

“Do you have so little faith in my ability to fight for you?” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “You still think of me as a boy.”

Sadness laced his words and ripped at her heart. He still didn’t understand what he was up against. Her brother took blood sometimes and, combined with his friends, they could tear Trent apart. She rose on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips. Peri looked into his eyes. They were forest green, not angry but sad. “I want to taste you.”

“Take what you need.” He didn’t wait for her. His fangs lengthened. He pierced his wrist and pressed it to her lips. “I offer you everything I am.”

Peri couldn’t have resisted if she’d wanted to. She latched onto the wound and sucked hard. The warmth, the sweetness, shocked her -- it was nothing like her brother’s. Trent’s blood was strong and it raced through her veins. It gave her the feeling of flying and being free.

Finishing, she licked the small dots and closed them. Grasping his hand, she pulled him along behind her to a beautiful, large bedroom. She sat down calmly on the edge of the bed. “He will give us tonight.”

Chapter Four

How could he convince this woman he wasn’t the young weakling she thought him to be? It broke his heart that she didn’t feel he could protect her.

Trent didn’t want to cause her any more pain -- he’d already taken a brother from her and didn’t want her to lose another. When tomorrow came, if necessary, he would kill Zader. He’d kill whoever tried to stop him from taking Peri off this mountain. He could use his powers and whisk her away, but Trent was no coward. Whether or not he could take care of her wouldn’t matter then, he would have robbed her of her whole family.

Yeah, they had tonight. Tomorrow would bring what it would. His clothes flew from him and he stood naked before her. “I want you.” He said it plain and simple.

“Show me how much. Make love to me.” She stared up at him with tears in her green eyes. “Then leave. Vanish, disappear. I don’t want your blood to be shed over me.”

He ruffled her dark blonde locks, pulling her head to rest on his stomach. “I’m not leaving you here, draga. You know I can’t.”

Peri found his stiff cock and she slipped her mouth over the head, sucking softly. She pulled it further down her throat, bringing him up on his toes.

Trent kept his hands in her hair and urged her mouth back and forth on his length. The wet heat of it, her tongue drawing circles around the tip each time he pulled out, took him to a place he’d never been, one he didn’t want to leave.

Pushing his erection out, she licked up and down his dick, taking her time. When she reached his balls, she laved them all over, taking his nuts one at a time into her sweet mouth.

“God, don’t stop.” She didn’t. Moving her hands over his thighs, caressing his butt, she nudged a finger into the crevice and stroked his anus. “Shit, Peri, you’ll make me come.”

That didn’t stop her either. She inched the finger further into him while one hand on his ass pulled him deeper into her mouth on each stroke, satisfying him beyond belief.

Not able to take any more, he pulled away from her. Trent pressed her back on the bed and bent to take a taut nipple in his mouth while he feathered his fingers over her stomach and down to her mound. He swept through the light hair there and pushed into the wet folds of her pussy.

“Mmm,” she murmured, her eyes closed tight.

“Open your eyes, baby. See me.” He needed her to see who made love to her. Not some young untried kid, Trent needed Peri to see the man he was as he took her. “See who I really am.”

He played with her clit, teasing it until she bucked on his hand. Her hips arched up all the way from the bed and his finger sank deep into her cunt. Pushing a second one into her canal, he stroked in and out, finger-fucking her until she growled low in her throat.

“Damn you for making me yours.” She glared at him above her.

“You were mine the day you were born.”

He lifted her legs and eased them onto his shoulders. Grabbing his cock, he ran the tip of it through her nether lips, wetting it with her juices. Reaching her entrance, he eased it into her pussy, inch by slow inch, until he filled her.

She dug her heels into his back. Trent grasped her hips and he began a slow rhythm in and out, his cock aching to drive harder and faster with each thrust. Not this time. He wanted this to last all night long, and he planned to take her again and again. After feeding, his stamina was unmatchable -- because he was a young cat.

Before arriving on her doorstep, he’d visited a farmhouse down the mountain a short piece. The man was beefy and healthy. After taking sustenance from him, Trent had remained to make sure the human breathed regularly and was well. He’d wake thinking he’d had one hell of a dream.

And right now that’s how Trent felt, like he was in a dream. The sweetest, hottest dream, one he never wanted to wake from. Over and over again he drove into her slow and deep, taking his time. Peri’s hands were locked on his forearms, her nails digging in. The pain called his beast out, and made him rake his claws, looking for release.

Oh, he couldn’t wait to let his animal have what also belonged to him. That time was closer now that she’d taken his blood. The more she took, the more she’d be like him and her cougar would get lost in the bigger, stronger cat.

Her channel clenched around him, squeezed him hard, and he could tell her orgasm was close. Trent pulled out and she growled loudly this time. “Noo, don’t you dare stop.”

He lifted her legs from his shoulders and turned her over. Reaching to the top of the bed he drew the pillows down and shoved them beneath her belly. “Honey, I’m going to take you every way I can tonight.”

“Yes, yes.” Peri ground against the pillows. “Hurry.”

His cock wet from being inside her, he poked at the rosette between her cheeks and smeared the drop of cum that had slipped from his dick. He nudged harder. The tip slipped in and he stopped, allowing her to adjust to the thickness of his cock in her anus.

“More,” she cried, shoving back into him.

Trent eased in another inch. “Damn, it’s tight and feels so good, honey.” He pushed in a little more and before he could move she wedged back, taking it all. “Yeah, that’s it.”

He pulled out, slowly thrust back in, and when he felt her completely relax he began to really move into her. One hand rested on her hip, while the other found her pussy, and he ran his fingers through the moist crevices until he reached the spot he wanted. Sinking his finger into her cunt, he used his thumb to stroke and tease the pearl-sized bump in her folds.

Peri pounded back into him, forcing his cock deeper and deeper in her ass.

“Trent, fuck me harder. Give me everything.”

He did. His body bucked against her ass, delivering more and more to her with each shove of his dick. Her tightness, the muscles grabbing at him, started to build his orgasm. “Come, come for me, Peri.” He jabbed his fingers in her cunt in time with his penis in her ass. He wanted to feel her convulsions, feel the cream slip from her into his hand. A long, low wail filled the room as she tightened on him, and her orgasm rushed from her, giving Trent all he desired. “Let it go, honey.”

Trent rose onto his toes, slammed into her once more and came with the force of gale winds. Cum ripped from him and spurted into her, leaving him weak at the knees.

Bowing over her back, he lay there, air hitching into his lungs.

When he could, he stood and pulled from her. Dragging the pillows from beneath her, he threw them across the bed where they slid to the floor. He drew down the covers, and lifting Peri, he put her up further in the bed before he crawled in beside her and covered them. “Tomorrow, I can protect you.” On the off chance things got out of hand, he reached for Leron.

Cub, you okay?

Don’t call me that. I’m not in the mood for your bullshit. Leron’s chuckle slid over his nerves.

Old lady got you going, huh?

Do you have a death wish or what?

Figure of speech and no need to say anything else. I’ve got it already. I’ll be there as soon as you stir.

Thanks, man.

I’m proud of you. Before Trent left his mind he heard Leron’s last word loud and clear. Boy.

“Bastard.”

“What?”

“Nothing, honey. Go to sleep.” Tomorrow would come far too soon.

* * *

Peri lay still and controlled her breathing. She’d been in his mind and knew exactly what she feared was about to happen. Trent had called for help from his warrior friends. Tomorrow, Reign was coming.

How could she protect everyone she cared about? Trent, her brother, her people. The fates were so unfair by finally giving her a mate just to snatch him away from her.

Somehow, someway she had to keep Trent occupied, keep him from stirring things up and bringing the Sovereign Kind down on her people. But for now, she snuggled into his arms to enjoy having him for as long as she could.

When she woke, the sun was rising and all she thought about was having him. Just once more. “Trent?” she whispered. He’d moved away from her sometime during the night.

“Yes, draga, I’m here.”

He reached over and touched her face so gently it made her eyes water. “Feed me.” If she took more of his blood, weakened him, maybe she’d be strong enough to draw him away from here if she could get him in his cat form.

“You’re a greedy little minx.” He held his arm out.

She rolled on top of him. “No, I want to do it here.” She touched his jugular.

Peri kissed his face, rubbed her knuckles on his cheek and stroked his neck. Pushing his head to the side, she let her fangs lengthen and lowered her mouth to his vein. She licked the spot she wanted, tasted the sweetness of his satiny skin. Nipping him a little, she felt him shudder beneath her. Peri knew it was with pleasure by the way his cock nudged into her belly.

After filling herself with his strength, his power, she closed the wound with her tongue and moved her lips to cover his. Trent opened his mouth, kissing her back deeply. Neither of them let up. Tongues tangled, licked and tasted. Peri didn’t want it to end but she needed to tell him something very important. “I love you.”

“I know, babe. It’s okay. I understand.”

“What do you mean?” There was a hesitation in his voice but she couldn’t be sure, and entering his mind had been impossible this morning. Something had changed. He was different. His eyes seemed to see through her. She’d better do this before she lost her nerve. “Run with me.”

“Now?”

“Come on, lazybones.” God, please let this work. Peri hoped her randy brother was still wrapped up in his wolf. “Travel with me.”

Trent grabbed hold of her and vanished them both to the edge of the snow-covered meadow. She’d never get used to that.

They both changed -- her cat coming much slower than his. He ran in circles around her while he waited. When he suddenly stopped and stared down toward her feet, she looked at her paws for the first time.

Faint spots decorated them, and she quickly swiveled her head to look at her side which was covered with the same faded markings. Shit, Peri hadn’t known what to expect but damn if she’d seen this coming. She’d heard when the different species started mixing the female usually took on the traits of the male, especially when his blood was much stronger.

Trent moved in and sniffed at her, bumped her shoulder with his nose. Mine.

Oh hell, he wanted her like this.

You belong to my jaguar too, draga. Both of us will always want you, protect you.

The bigger cat moved around her, sniffing and licking at her, and Peri liked it. She knew this would be a quick romp because, well, their beasts came pretty fast. But damn, it’d be hot as hell. Already her mouth watered for him.

She lay down, rolled onto her back, and came back up again tasting the air. The jaguar was ready. They didn’t have the problem of waiting to be in heat, but they would still be brutal with each other.

He slid behind her, put his paws on her rump, and dug in, trying to take her down. Amazed at her own strength, she wriggled away from him. You want this pussy, you’ll have to catch it. She bounded across the snowy field, disappearing inside the sparse tree line.

Oh, baby, it’s on.

He was right on her tail, but being smaller, she made a sharp turn around a large tree trunk and he skidded past her in the snow. She heard the growl when he turned and headed back in her direction. Trent would be lost in his beast when he fucked her.

Peri stood stock still and glared at him. The cat reached her and walked in a slow circle that she followed with her eyes. She wouldn’t get away this time. Didn’t want to. Her limbs trembled with desire and she throbbed with need. The smell of him was a powerful aphrodisiac to her cat.

She moved toward him, her eyes never wavering. Wanting him and submitting to him were two different things. Peri intended to be an equal in this mating dance so she wasn’t going to lower her eyes. But she understood she’d take the submissive posture.

Trent shook his large head and sniffed, tasting the air to see if she wanted him.

Boy, would he get a mouthful. She reached him and sat back on her haunches, nose to nose with him. The jaguar circled around behind her and she lay down on her belly, ready to take him. He ran his rough tongue over her back before he reared up and clawed at her shoulders. Holding her in place, he mounted her, shoving his cock in her pussy with one hard stroke.

Trent growled, and biting down on her neck, he began to ride her hard and fast. The jaguar’s cock was thick, and got thicker. It stretched her with each plunder into her cunt. The pain was sweet.

Peri lay still, letting him jab her again and again. Her pussy started to cream and it eased the friction from his swelling. She knew there was no stopping this. As much man, or vampyre, that they were, the Kind were really and truly animals. This was a natural, beautiful thing.

She wanted him, her cat wanted him in the primal way, and she knew instinctively not to fight. She raised her head and roared her delight.

Reaching his ejaculation he bit deeper into her neck and drew a cry of pain from her, but it was surrounded with sweet, sweet pleasure. She felt his hot stream of semen slam inside her, and he released her neck but held her still with his paws. Peri wouldn’t move until his cock shrank and he backed out of her. That’s when she’d feel the barbs scratch at her. There would be discomfort, but not the pain humans associated with the act. After he backed out, Peri rolled over, rubbing her body in the grass. Damn, she felt good.

Trent moved beside her and fell to the ground, spent. I didn’t hurt you, did I?

Still rolling in the grass, all she could say was Mmm.

You’re something else, you know that?

If she could have, Peri would have grinned. The jaguar sat up beside her, his large head tilted as though listening to something.

Holy shit! They were here. Try as she might, she couldn’t feel anger, and she didn’t feel as though she was being disloyal. Trent was her mate for life. Her brother would have to take care of himself. Peri had finally realized she belonged with the cat beside her.

He stood and the muscles rippled along his back, the fur began to recede as he pulled his beast in. She stayed on her belly, remaining in her cat form, and watched him clothe himself.

I know you tried to stop this and I understand. A day ago he would have gotten angry, but Trent was no longer a boy.

How would he react when he knew what else she felt? I don’t want to be a vampyre.

“It’s too late, Peri.” He disappeared.

Chapter Five

Trent appeared in a whirlwind of snow in the middle of the mountain cat’s territory, and remained in his vampyre form. Zader waited with a group of small cats and wolves who had already turned, their teeth bared and dripping saliva.

Zader spoke first. “You will not bring destruction to us because we choose to live differently. We do not embrace the vampyre way.”

Snarls and growls from the wolves didn’t distract Trent. “I’ve said I don’t care about your ways.” He kept the other beasts in his sight. “But Peri leaves with me.”

“My brother died wanting to be one of you.” Zader’s lips curled in a snarl.

“We’ve protected all Kind and humans and we will continue to do so. I’m sorry your brother transgressed. It’s the plight of our people, a cross we must bear.”

The wolves began to close in on Trent. The mountain cats hadn’t moved. Their growls and head motions indicated they might be listening.

Dogs -- they were another matter.

The wind picked up, blowing a flurry of white powder through the paths leading to the center of the village Trent stood in. Leron appeared to stand beside him. “Shit, I’m dead, but Goddamn, it’s cold up here. Couldn’t find a warm cat to love your sorry ass, huh?”

“Screw you.” Trent smiled, glad as hell his trainer and mentor had arrived. The wolves were getting frisky.

Another howling wind rose up and Jag stood on his other side. “Cub.”

“How’s Barb?” Trent hoped she’d made the change safely. He’d heard it could be very painful for humans.

“She’s going to kick my ass if I’m late for breakfast so let’s get this show over with.”

A growl at the edge of the center drew Trent’s attention. He knew that sound, had felt her coming. Peri. Damn, she was a pretty kitten.

Screw you.

Now? He chuckled. Talk about feisty women. Trent stopped laughing immediately when he felt her fear.

Don’t hurt him.

Honey, that’s going to be his choice to make. It struck him suddenly that she was now more afraid for her brother than she was for him. Peri no longer thought of him as just a young stud.

His heart opened totally to her along with his mind. He let her feel every emotion, every thought that rested there. This was his mate and damn if he wanted to live the rest of his life on a cold, Godforsaken mountaintop with a bunch of wolves at his door, but for her he would.

I will live where my warrior lives. She rose on her hind legs and roared as though it was her last time. The mottled fur that covered her receded and her female form came into view. And damn if she didn’t clothe herself in the way of their cousins. His old lady was hot!

Leron nudged him with an elbow. “Shit, you did good, kid.” His mentor turned back to face Zader. “We’ve known you were up here for years. I can also tell you imbibe in the blood a little yourself because your mind is strong enough to keep me out. Don’t cause trouble and there won’t be any trouble. Understand that?”

Trent saw Zader wasn’t paying attention to them. He watched his sister with tears in his eyes. Then Trent understood everything -- this man fought for his clan, too, did what he thought was right for them. He’d lost his brother to a curse they all battled daily and would never ever be rid of. All because of the vampyre blood.

When Zader looked back toward Trent, Trent spoke to him softly. “We must embrace that part of us so we can all live and be safe. We still enjoy running and being cats on our compounds below. We’ve not forgotten the old ways.”

Trent liked her brother’s strength and respected his reason for staying away. He only had to convince the cougar he’d protect Peri. She was all he had left aside from the ragtag band that had followed him here. They’d grown weak from not taking blood.

He was concerned about Zader’s tie with the wolves but they seemed to respect him. There really was no reason he couldn’t befriend the dogs if he wanted to.

“I’m Reign and can be nothing else. I’ll protect Peri with my dying breath if need be.” He glanced from Leron to Jag, then back to her brother. “So will they. Zader, I love Peri.”

Her brother walked slowly over to the warriors and, in turn, clasped each of their hands. When he reached Trent, he said, “Her adjustment will not be an easy one so you had better, boy. She’s all I have left of my family.”

“Why in hell does everybody keep calling me a boy?” Laughter rang in his ears as Leron and Jag disappeared. The tension lifted like a cloud from everyone, and even the wolves pulled their beasts in, returning to their human form. Trent turned to find Peri right behind him.

“Because you’re a sweet young thing,” she whispered in his ear before she covered his mouth in the hottest kiss she’d delivered yet.

He wrapped her in his arms and vanished from the mountain. Trent was taking his mate home. All he had to do was make Peri understand she was Kind through and through, and now with his strong blood, she’d have to learn to accept her other half.

When they appeared in front of his cabin on the compound below, Peri pulled at the collar of the heavy shirt she’d fashioned on the mountain. “How do you stand this God awful heat?”

“Replace the flannel with a T-shirt, and you’ll be much more comfortable.”

“Where can I change?”

She’d used her powers once today, so Trent wouldn’t force her to do so again. “Come on, mine will look good on you.”

“You buy clothes?”

“Peri, we don’t use our powers all the time. It’s good for us to act like men. It helps us blend in better. Anyway, you’ll quickly become bored with it.” He watched her emerald eyes dart around his small home. Everything was kept clean by a lady who came in regularly. His belongings suddenly didn’t look good enough.

“I like it. It’s nice and cozy.” She smiled for the first time.

“You slip into my head pretty easily now.” He could read her too, and she hadn’t had time to consider what it would be like to leave what she’d known most of her life. More than anything, Peri feared becoming a vampyre and turning into what her brother, Castor, had -- a transgressor.

“Honey, don’t conjure up things to worry about. I’m going to introduce you to two other ladies you’ll love. They’ve got bite but I think you can handle them.”

After she changed her shirt he was ready to transport them to the Coffee Swirl. He thought she’d feel better if she met Barbara and Cory.

“Can’t we drive? Don’t you have a car?”

He’d meant to get his clunker fixed but hadn’t had time what with Barb’s mishap and his following Peri up in the mountains. His mind turned to Leron. He should have remembered to ask him to handle that for him.

Kid, I got you a mating gift. It’s behind your house.

“Come on.” He pulled her through the rooms and out the back door so fast Peri had to run to keep up with his long strides. When his eyes lit on the Mustang, his lips curled into a wide grin. Thanks, man.

My pleasure. Oh, Cory and Barb are expecting to meet Peri.

I’m taking her to the Swirl now.

See you there.

* * *

Peri had visited the Swirl a few times now with Trent and she loved bonding with the women and couldn’t wait to see them again. Barb and Cory took the whole vampyre thing in their stride and thought with Peri being Kind, it would be easier. She smiled, remembering how bold they were with their mates and when they told her not to take any of Trent’s shit either.

The sun had finally started its descent below the horizon. She sat on the deck of Trent’s cabin, waiting for him to come back from wherever his Reign duties took him. She only wore a thin cotton shirt over a pair of underwear, and she wished the late-in-the-day desert breeze would hurry. She wanted to let her cat out and explore some more, but damn if she was changing in this heat.

Trent whirled into the yard and flashed to the porch. “Come on, there’s someplace I want to show you.” He gave her a toothy grin and his green eyes sparkled with delight. Man, he still looked like a boy sometimes. “Hey, we gave that up, remember?”

And for the life of her she couldn’t keep him out of her head, but she only got into his when he let her. Something about keeping his gruesome responsibilities from her.

He embraced her and they disappeared, which he knew she disliked. “Sorry, didn’t want to make you walk in the heat, which I promise you will get used to, honey. Give it time.”

Peri turned away from him to see a crystal clear lake, and she jumped when the water lapped at her bare feet. Without a backward glance at Trent, she dashed waist deep into the cold water and it took her a minute to realize she’d shed her clothing like a vamp.

Trent eased up behind her, naked himself, and said, “It’s a part of who you are, a part of what makes me want you so bad right now.” His hands wrapped around her and his fingers pinched and played with her nipples, sending sparks of fire through her veins. The delight landed right between her legs.

“You’re a randy cat.”

“You love me.”

Peri did. She missed the mountaintop, but less every day, and she could visit whenever she wanted to as long as she took an escort. Trent didn’t want her alone out there.

“You could go alone if you used your… other abilities.”

She reached behind her and grabbed a handful of balls. “Stay out of my head uninvited.”

“Such sweet things in your pretty head, woman.” He shoved his cock against her butt, ground into her ass.

Peri spun to face him, and grabbing his erection, she forced it into her pussy. Trent didn’t take long to catch up. He grasped her ass and pulled her up to bring her legs around his waist. His lips smashed down on hers in a searing kiss, and buoyed by the water, he started to thrust in and out of her channel. “Damn, honey, you’re still so tight.”

“You just fit me well, that’s all.” With her arms around his neck, she bounced her ass up and down, taking his length, over and over. Her pussy accommodated each wonderful stroke and the water splashed her ass, feeling cool and good.

“Shit, I can’t get enough.” He walked with her legs still draped around him to the edge and fell to his knees. “I want to fuck you when your ass can’t move.” He laid her back on the soft dirt, his penis never slipping out. He grabbed her butt and thrust his cock into her pussy.

Peri’s hips rose to meet each shove and she squeezed her channel around his thickness. Trent unwound her legs and placed them over his shoulders. “Yeah, now I can get all of what’s mine.”

Her heels dug into his back, used him for leverage, to bring herself harder into him each time he pushed into her. “Trent, Trent, Trent,” she cried.

“I’m here, draga, I’m here for you.” He was merciless in fucking her. His cock drove in again and again, taking everything he wanted.

“Lord, yes. Fuck me.” His hardness seemed to swell and fill every bit of her vagina and Peri used her legs to lift higher to get even more.

Trent snatched her legs from his shoulders, placing her feet wide beside him, and she continued to plunge her hips upward to meet his cock as he pushed it in. “Damn, honey, I can’t get enough of you.” His mouth came down on hers. His tongue swept her lips and opened them so he could enter.

She gripped his ass so hard her nails scraped his soft flesh as she dragged him closer, wanting more. He broke their kiss and Trent reared up, smashing his hips between her legs. “Yes, oh that’s sweet pain, baby.”

She scratched her nails over his ass cheeks, up his back, and brought him back down to her mouth. Her lips brushed over his face, his eyes, his neck, and the desire, the need to taste his blood, raced through her. Moving her mouth down his throat to the pulse of life beating there, she licked and nibbled on him, teasing Trent with her teeth.

“Bite it. Take what’s yours.” Peri’s fangs lengthened and sank into his jugular and the warmth of his life fluid rushed to the back of her throat. She sucked her fill and licked the punctures to close and heal them.

Trent captured her lips again, delved in with his tongue and lashed through her mouth with a long, hot kiss. When he pulled away, she felt bereft.

“I want to fuck you from behind.” He pulled his cock out so fast, she hissed in air. Helping her to turn over onto her belly, he used one arm around her waist to draw her to her knees.

“Ooh, Trent, hurry,” she begged, her pussy feeling empty. He pushed his penis through the wet folds, teasing her clit with its tip. “Trent!” She had to have him back inside her. He nibbled her back and shoulders. He took little nips of her skin and the pain was exquisite pleasure. “Please,” Peri moaned.

His broad head rubbed at her entrance and her back bowed up when he slammed his cock in her. Holding her hips, he began a relentless rhythm of thrusting in and out.

She shoved back on each of his strokes in, taking every inch. Her body felt like a clock spring and it began to unwind. Trent’s mouth moved to her ear and he whispered, “Come for me, draga. Let me feel your warm cream wash over my dick.”

“Yes, ooh, now, I’m coming.” The spring had snapped and her orgasm was wrung from her along with a keening cry. “Yours, I’m yours.”

“Ahh, shit.” He slammed into her and then tensed. Pulling back, he shoved in again with short, hard jabs. Trent was on the verge of coming and Peri wanted him to do it while he tasted her life.

She arched back, giving him open access to her neck, and when his fangs penetrated her vein, she growled. The feel of his tongue swiping over the wound traveled down her spine to throw her pussy into convulsions, and that made it clench and pull at his cock, milking the orgasm from him.

“Yes,” he shouted. The word echoed around them and he stroked into her once more, sending a warm spurt of semen deep into her pussy. He rolled from her and landed on his back. “Goddamn.”

She lay down and pushed her butt against his flaccid penis. “We’ve got company coming.”

“I know.” He cleansed them both and fabricated clothing.

“I could have done that.”

“I know how you feel about your vamp powers.”

Leron and Jag appeared with their mates, who each had a basket in their hands.

Barb spoke first. “Don’t mind us. Leron and Jag are humoring our need to have a picnic like humans.” She laughed boisterously. “Join us. You must be hungry.”

Peri sat up and her stomach rumbled. She hadn’t felt much like eating this morning and was hungry now. It hit her that she liked these people and enjoyed their company.

Barb opened the first basket and pulled out a bottle of wine and some cheese. Leron’s hand dove in, reached to the bottom, and dragged out a bottle of bourbon. “Wine’s for pus… for the ladies. I brought something for the men to drink.”

Everyone ate, then scattered to relax in private. Peri sat quietly between Trent’s legs, her back resting against him, staring over the lake.

“You okay, babe?” Trent still worried about her liking it here.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.”

“We can visit your brother anytime you want.”

“Yeah, and I might even use my powers.” She turned her head to wink at him, pulled his arms tighter around her, and Peri took him home in a whirlwind of dust.

J. Hali Steele

J. Hali Steele lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania but her dream is to return to the high desert of California where many of her fictional characters roam. She shares space with four furfriends (cats) and enjoys spending time with her sisters and friends. Her passion has always been reading romance novels, especially those with vampyres and happy endings.

A multi-published author, J. Hali is a RWA PAN member. She belongs to its Passionate Ink and ESPAN chapters and she’s a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she can be found snuggled in front of the TV with a good book, a cat in her lap and a cup of coffee.

For more information, you can visit her at www.jhalisteele.com. She blogs every Friday at www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com and she answers all emails at joannhali@yahoo.com.

Growl and roar -- it’s okay to let the beast out. -- © J. Hali Steele