She purred loudly, her whiskers twitching in happiness.
He kissed her nose and eased back, his body on full display for her for the briefest moment before he shifted into a huge lion, with a golden-furred body and chocolate mane.
He stretched like she did, his tufted tail slicing through the air as he purred like a truck.
They padded out of the barn side by side and moved around the paddock in lazy circles, stopping at the manmade pond to splash each other, before lounging under the stars.
The time was over both too fast and too slow, as the hours had ticked by while they were in their shifts.Shifting had always been something she’d done as part of the jaguar prowl, part of the traditions and routines of the group, and not something she did for fun.Even when Fallon had been able to shift and they’d gone out together, she hadn’t really enjoyed herself.
Not like tonight with Caesar.
It had been a joyful time, and something she wanted to do again.
They made their way back to the shed.He pulled the door shut by tugging on a rope attached to the door and closing them in.A small lantern had been left on inside the shed and the soft light illuminated the space.
They moved around each other in a slow circle, prowling with low murmurs from their beasts, and then they shifted back to human.
Caesar rose to his feet, his body cast in shadows from the lantern, every delicious inch of him on display.
“Stay with me tonight, Sera.I want to make you mine in truth.”
He offered her his hand as she straightened, her skin tingling and her cat ready to pounce on him.
“I want that too.”
They dressed in silence, the air tinged with erotic undertones.
He’d thought Sera was gorgeous before she shifted, before he’d seen each delicious inch of her sweet curves bared to his hungry gaze.Then she’d shifted into her beautiful jaguar, all sleek golden fur and dark rosettes.
But now, as they watched each other dress and she slowly covered up the body he’d been so enchanted with, he thought she was truly the total package.The day they’d spent together had been important.They’d shared a lot about their pasts and the strange roads that brought them together, and he’d cherished every second of their time together.
Part of him wanted to be a gentleman, to walk her back to the bears’ underground living area where she’d been staying for the last week.But the snarling, hungry male in him wanted to take her back to his home—their home—and make her his.
There was something about being soulmates that seemed to speed everything up.They’d spent half a day together, but it felt like years, like they’d known each other forever.
If he really thought about it, they were born for each other.
Shifters only got one soulmate.
And sometimes fate was cruel and kept them apart for far too long.
He was just damn thankful she was here with him now.
They walked down the stairs to the lions’ private area.He’d had a large home built for himself when he first came to the park because he’d had three boys with him.But over the last few years, it had felt too big and empty, so after Jupiter and Celeste had announced their pregnancy, he’d offered to switch homes with them.
Jupiter’s home had two bedrooms and was just the right amount of space for him, and someday he’d hoped, his soulmate.
He opened the door to the house and let Sera in, then shut it behind him.He was about to offer her a drink or something to eat, or a tour of the house, when she stepped forward, bumping against him, and gripped his shirt with both hands.
The scent of her arousal was pure heat and female, sweet and sultry, and his lion growled in approval.He put his arms around her and lowered his head to kiss her, pressing his lips against hers.Their lips parted, tongues touching and dancing together, both their beasts purring at the contact.
He gripped her hips and drew her close, his erection pressing against her belly.She moaned softly and he grinned inwardly, sucking on her lower lip and giving it a gentle bite before he nipped his way slowly down her neck.She sighed and tilted her head, her hands twisting in his shirt as she shivered.
He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Carrying her into the bedroom, he lowered her to the bed and straightened, staring down at his beautiful mate.Her long, dark hair was spread around her, her eyes were bright with arousal.The jeans clung to her like a second skin, and her shirt had risen up to give him a tantalizing view of her belly.
He wanted more.
