Page 13 of Loving the Lion

“They said it was a heart attack, but she was so young. I think she died of a broken heart, she missed my stepdad so much.”

“That is possible. If she were his true mate, the shock of losing him would have caused grave physical illness. She probably held out as long as she could. Until you were old enough to take care of the cub.”

“We’ve been on our own since I was sixteen.” She mumbled the words into his chest, and his heart tightened within. So very young for such responsibility.

“Mating is a very special bond.” He held her for several more moments before tilting her chin up.

Sally’s heart stilled, knowing that he was going to kiss her. Her first thought was to move away. Her second thought was to stay a moment and finally know what it felt like to be kissed by this man. There wasn’t time for a third thought because by then she was lost in the wonder of his mouth on hers. She looked into his dark eyes, then slowly closed her own.

“No,” he commanded gruffly. “Keep them open.”

She did as he asked, keeping her eyes open as his mouth descended on hers. She’d expected a kiss filled with fire and passion and that was what she received. He made no concession to the fact that they barely knew one another. His kiss was dark and intimate, his tongue sweeping through the slight part of her lips to conquer her. He tasted of the wine they had drunk with dinner and the chocolate of the dessert he had consumed. Dark and delicious. She hummed as he tasted her, her arms going around his neck once again to pull him closer.

While her experience in the sexual realm was limited, that did not mean she was a sexless individual. She longed to be kissed and caressed, held and enjoyed, the same as any other woman regardless of her size.

But never had a kiss been so sensuously demanding. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip and took it between his teeth, giving it a sharp bite as if the animal inside him needed to show its dominance. She was only half aware that his hands moved to cup her breasts. The soft fabric of her borrowed t-shirt proved no barrier. He lifted the hem exposing her naked flesh. All evening her nipples had been engorged and ridged, but with the heat of his gaze and the caress of the cold air over them, they hardened into painful points of lust. He bent his head and she shivered as the tip of his tongue flicked across one. He did it to the other one, and her hands moved to sink her fingers into the overgrown locks of his hair. For an instant, she almost followed the new instincts she felt growing inside her. The ones that told her to pull him closer, beg him for his touch.

But the older, deeply ingrained ones that said he was simply using her for a night of pleasure, that she was simply a woman in a long line of women, won out. So instead of pulling him closer, begging him to close his mouth over her aching flesh, she pushed him away. “No. We can’t.”

It really didn’t surprise her, when he leaned back without protest and this time even helped her as she struggled from her perch on top of his lap. She walked to the wide bank of windows, the magical enchantment of before missing. She felt his presence behind her before she saw his reflection join hers in the window.

“Is that the payment you’re expecting in return for finding my brother?”

They stared at each other for several moments. “I should be offended by your question, Sally Wilder, but I understand.”

Her brow furrowed. “You understand what? That I’m not for sale?”

He moved closer. “Comments such as that will earn you a punishment.” His heavily muscled arms closed around her, pulling her against his rock hard body. And she did mean rock hard. The erection she had felt pressed against her buttocks the entire time he had hand fed her the scrumptious desserts was still there. Continuing to hold her, he pushed the dark mass of her hair to the side, giving him complete access to her neck. His lips pressed against the side of her throat. He took the lobe of her ear between his teeth, making a full body shiver run through her. And, of course, more moisture to flood her pussy. She closed her eyes, embarrassed. No doubt he could smell her desire now, she thought a little darkly.

“It was not my intent to make you beholden to me,” he whispered, his tongue coming out to slowly pump inside her ear. “You are a beautiful woman, and I desire you. It is quite simple really.”

“But I’m not,” Sally protested, turning in his arms.

His mouth curled into a devilish smile. “Allow me to be the judge of that.”

She knew it was wrong. Knew she shouldn’t. She was here to find her brother and return to her normal, routine life that didn’t include a sexy lion shifter.

But, maybe it was time to grab on and go with the moment.

“There is only one thing you must decide. Only one question you must answer.”

“What’s the question?”

“Do you want me?” he asked in a throaty voice.

Sally’s breath left her in a gasp. That was the last question she had expected. She’d thought he’d ask something else about her brother, or her father. Anything but…that. She bit her lip, preventing herself from blurting out how much she did want him. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t? But was that part of the problem. She was human—opinionated and obstinate—just to name a few of the characteristics she knew she had in abundance right along with her curves. She in no way resembled the meek women she had a feeling he usually gravitated towards.

But she didn’t want to hold back any longer. Not tonight. She wanted to feel the warmth of his body as he covered hers. The hardness of his cock as he stretched her, took her. Possessed her. “I want you, Bachar. More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”

She waited for him to repeat the words to her. Instead, he nodded. “Good. That is a very good thing. Now show me.”

A dangerous heat flaring in the hypnotic depths of his eyes. Her stomach jittered. Hardly daring to breathe, nerves racing with excitement, she shifted closer. Close enough so the tips of her breasts pushed against his chest. Desire, hot and molten, ran down to her pussy. The intensity of it made her dizzy. Just a simple touch and she were teetering on the edge of an orgasm. Or what she assumed was one. She wet her lips. With her eyes locked on his, she leaned in and brushed her mouth over his jaw. Soft and unthreatening. The male scent of his skin and hair drifted over her. She didn’t know what was happening to her. Didn’t know where this courage came from. His expression didn’t change. But his eyes? They were a flaming gold now, filled with a passion that excited, thrilled and terrified her all at the same time.

Sally’s hands rested on Bachar’s shoulders for balance, her fingers lax. Her lips, sweet and yielding, moved hesitantly. Innocent, his lion whispered in his head. Was it true, did she not know how to return a kiss of passion? His knees trembled thinking of teaching her exactly how to please a man—to please him.

She tasted delicious. Like sweet cream with just a hint of something dangerously addictive. He couldn’t wait to taste the cream he smelt between her legs. He’d need more than a sip. He ran the tip of his tongue slowly over her lower lip. Then he gave a gentle suck. “Open for me,” he growled. Her fingers spasmed, then dug tight into his shoulders before her mouth opened, welcoming and eager. Bachar dived into the deliciously warm depths, wanting to eat her up in fast, greedy gulps.

He tangled his tongue with her, urging her to return the erotic caresses. His breath sped up, his pulse raced and his lion loomed closer, brushing against this skin. He knew it would take very little to make the cat burst forth.