Force of Temptation

Since the cat’s claws were still pricking his flesh, he replied, “Not tonight.”

“I thought as much.” The Alpha female smiled weakly. “I hope you’ll join us for lunch tomorrow. I won’t say breakfast, because I know you two prefer having the mornings to yourselves.”

The cat slowly unfurled and did a long, lazy stretch, showing off those sharp claws, never losing sight of the visitors.

“We should go.” Eli backed out of the lodge, pulling Roni with him.

Rolling her eyes, Shaya said, “She’s not getting ready to pounce; she’s just stretching. Her markings are beautiful, especially those little spots.” The redhead stepped forward, reaching out. “I don’t suppose she’d let me give her a little st—” The cat hissed, and Shaya snatched back her hand. “Understood. I’ll see you both tomorrow. Have a good night.” With a little wave, Shaya left the lodge.

The cat retracted her claws and padded up Jesse’s chest to rub the sides of her neck against his face, scent-marking him. He scratched her head. “Such a cute little thing, but you have those wolves nervous.” Because cat shifters were temperamental in their animal form, and this little margay had already perfectly demonstrated just what she could do with those claws.

Just then, his stomach rumbled. The cat blinked and looked around, seeming confused. He chuckled. “I’m hungry. Come back, Harley; tell me what you want for dinner.” But she didn’t. He sighed. “All right.”

Holding on to the cat, he got to his feet and walked into the kitchen. She didn’t struggle to be put down. “I think you like getting carried around. Maybe it’s because you like being up high.” He looked in the cupboards and the fridge, searching for inspiration. “How about I grill some steaks?” he proposed. “Come on, Harley, I need an answer here.” The cat made what sounded like a noise of complaint, and then bones began to crack and pop as she shifted back into her human form.

Curling her limbs around him, Harley said, “When you stroke her and coo to her like that, she doesn’t want to shift.”

Jesse nipped her lip. “Well, I like stroking her—she’s soft, like you. And I don’t coo.”

“You totally coo.”

“Guys don’t coo.”

“You do.”

He growled. “Steaks . . . yes or no?”

“Sounds good to me,” she said. “Put me down so I can get dressed.”

He smoothed his hand down the length of her spine to cup her ass. “But I like you better naked.”

“I’m cold.”

He reluctantly released her. “Then dress. I don’t want you cold.”

Harley took her clothes from the dining chair and began to drag them on. She didn’t have to look at Jesse to know . . . “You’re staring.”

“You’re mine to stare at.”

Snorting, she rolled her eyes.

“You hear everything they said?”

“Yep.”

“Their apologies seemed heartfelt.”

“They did.” She sighed. “I’ll accept them gracefully.”

“But you won’t forgive them in a hurry, will you?” It was a feline thing. And even when she did forgive, she’d never forget. He liked that merciless streak, though.

“Nah,” she replied. “Although, since I’m feeling magnanimous, I’m willing to concede—even if only to you—that their reactions probably wouldn’t have been quite so extreme if everyone wasn’t already wound up tight about the Hector situation.”

“Did you hear Nick tell me earlier that he wants me to go with him to meet Hector’s old Alpha?”

“I did. I also heard him tell you what his contacts discovered about Hector. Personally, I don’t get it. The story just doesn’t make sense; too much info is missing.”

“I agree,” said Jesse. Hopefully the meeting would clear some things up. If not . . . well, he wasn’t sure what their next move could be.

It had to be said that Jesse Dalton had a mouth that was truly golden. Harley often woke up to his tongue fluttering between her folds or swirling around her clit. Right now, her legs were hooked over his shoulders as he angled her hips and, basically, served himself—there was really no other way to put it when he was growling hungrily as he sipped, licked, and ate at her.

Every now and then he’d pause, keeping his tongue still, so she could writhe and squirm against it. Then he’d take over, his fingers biting into her hips to keep her still while he licked around the entrance of her pussy or clamped his mouth around her clit to suckle gently. Sometimes he’d drive a finger inside her, but he’d only give her a few thrusts before withdrawing it.

It was pure bliss, but it was also utter torture because she was shaking with the need to come.

“Jesse . . .” It was a demand and a warning.

“Not done,” he growled. His tongue plunged inside her, swirling and stabbing over and over and over.

God, she was close to begging, and she never did that. But then, it probably wouldn’t make a difference if she did. There was only one thing that ever made him show some fricking mercy. “I’m yours, you son of a bitch!”

Jesse rose up and slammed into her pussy, burying himself balls deep in one possessive thrust. She came instantly, contracting and rippling around him. “Yes, you are.” He rode her hard, watching her gorgeous gold eyes widen and go blind with pleasure. “That’s it, sweetheart, milk me dry.”