Breeding Cycle (3 page)

“Who are you?” His voice was a deep rolling tenor. Sarina’s cheeks burning hotter. Something in the way he looked at her was possessive, feral.

“I’m,” she hesitated, wondering how much she should tell him. Lykaens rarely hurt women; to do so was a great shame on the man and his family. Even still, her father had made a point to keep males away from her. All for a good purpose though—to ensure good breeding. A normal life wasn’t in the cards for someone like her. All she had were her darkest dreams where Jacob and Jackson pleasured her endlessly. Shaking her head, she finished, “Sarina. My name is Sarina.”

Bright green eyes widened with knowledge. So he knew of her? Well of course he did. Who didn’t? She was the reclusive Princess of the Lykaens. Only allowed out with her father’s permission. Her frown deepened. It was all necessary she knew that. Not that she hadn’t wondered what it would be like to be with a man, especially a man like this one.

“And you are?” For good measure, she ducked behind the curtain to hide her naked body.

“Vane. Vane Kategan,” he answered and crossed two very muscular arms over a wide chest. He watched her wiggle behind the window and for a moment considered telling her that he’d just seen a helluva lot more than that. But he wanted to keep his teeth, so he kept his mouth shut.

She gulped at his dark look and clasped her legs together. The breeding cycle was almost in full force. She felt the minutes ticking away like a bomb. She had to get rid of him or else she might make a huge mistake.

Hungry eyes roamed over his body to take in the hard angles of his face, arms, and chest. Her gaze fell back to his mouth. He had nice lips. Just full enough she could suck on it, bite them.
Her pussy ached at the sight. Her previous orgasm not even scratching the surface of her need. Already her need was growing with violent force.
It won’t be long.
He has to go now!

“Well, Mr. Kategan. It has been a pleasure meeting you. I must be going now, as I’m sure you must as well. Please be sure to
not
come around here anymore. I do not like visitors.” She made her words curt and rude. Oh what a lie that was. She wanted nothing more than to tear off his clothes and ride his cock until they both were wild in throes of climatic passion. The other half of her hated the thought of being cooped up here alone. She rose to close the window before she made some other stupid decision, but her eyes went to his again and the breath she was taking froze in her lungs.

His eyes closed as if savoring something delicious, and she watched as his nostrils flared. His hands fell into fists at his sides. Oh, shit! He can smell me! Why hadn’t she thought of that before? Christ, because I’ve been checking him out. Don’t let him catch my breeding cycle scent, she prayed.

“How about you let me in Sarina and I take care of that problem for you.” He gave her a look that said he knew exactly what was going on and was more than happy to help. So much for him not finding out.

***

Vane could barely restrain himself from jumping through that window. All that creamy skin couldn’t possibly be as soft as it looked-but he wanted to find out. Her breasts were another matter, she had no idea, but as she tried to hide her large breasts, they only plunged over her slender arm instead. The sight had his cock standing hard and straight in his pants. The hard orgasm he’d just had wasn’t helping him a bit.

With the window open, he could smell her unique scent better. That unique scent that was female and lykaen was all Sarina and the breeding. It was like hot vanilla, sweet and sexy. The breeding cycle was a powerful force for lykaen females. It could lure any unmated male to take her. But he planned to be the only man thrusting between those perfect thighs. Ever.

His body answered her call with a readiness that pulled his balls up tight and made his cock drip with anticipation.

Vane recognized her name too. Sarina Brunes was famous in the lykaen community. No males were allowed near her unless strictly permitted by her father. Many males had tried to meet and wed the princess, but none passed the king’s test. Hell, even Vane had considered trying to meet the princess. But with a father that controlling it seemed like bad news. Well, at least he was right about one thing. She was definitely bad news.

“You must leave
now
.” Frantic, she looked around, but she had no father or guard to force this perfect specimen of a lykaen male away. Oh god, if he stays I will shame my father, the Pride, and myself. He must leave. What if I got pregnant? Uh, hello, breeding cycle equals prime opportunity for pregnancy. My father would kill me. He would kill Vane.

Her expression grew pained, but still she looked more beautiful than a tropical sunset. Oh fuck, did he really just think that? A fucking sunset.
Get a hold of yourself man.
You’re a leader, an Alpha, not a damned poet.

Ignoring her command, he said, “I’m the Alpha of the Kategan Pack, and I’m not going anywhere.” A slow smile formed over his lips.

He knew why his words mattered. Princesses customarily only bred with an Alpha who was deemed worthy by her guardian. As alpha of a large and respected pack, he would stand a chance to win her. Although this wasn’t exactly ‘normal’ courting practice. One normally didn’t start these things by jerking off outside the intended’s window.

“Let me in.” His voice was taunting, his smile that of a predator. When she didn’t move, he leaned closer to the window. She moved just as far back from him. “I could help you.”

Vane had no idea why he was so certain, but certain he was. Sarina was his. Every cell in his body, even the beast in his soul shouted that she was his. Mate his beast howled. He and the beast were in complete agreement. He’d only been this certain a few times in his life. When he sensed his parents sudden death, the moment he became a true Alpha, and now with her. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

Chapter 4

Her father’s warning rang in her head. He’d already made her decision for her. Against her own body’s needs, she grabbed the window and started to shut it. He stopped it with a strong hand.

“Do you really believe this is a coincidence, Princess? I’ve been searching for my Queen. And here we are together during your breeding cycle. I found you.” The one time of year she would be fertile.

“I—” A hopeless look came over her face, and he wanted to wipe it away. “I cannot have sex.” She looked down, her face flushing.

A surge of fierce protectiveness ran through Vane. “You can’t possibly be alone during your breeding cycle. It will be excruciating. You need a male to ease you. At the very least you need someone to protect you.” He put both hands on the windowsill and leaned closer as if his mere presence could persuade her. She could smell him so much better now, and it was intoxicating.

“I’ve always dealt with my cycle alone.” A spark of anger ignited in his eyes, Sarina licked her lips thinking she should have kept her mouth shut.

“How old are you, Sarina?” he asked between tight lips.

“Twenty-two.”

His face twisted into a feral mask of anger. He wanted to plow his fist into the bastard’s face that would do this to a female. “You’ve dealt with your cycle for years without a male to ease you? That’s torture. Who did this to you?”

“He sends me here for my own protection. It’s for my own good, really. He’s not a bad man.”

“Is this what he does to his precious daughter? Sends her away, keeps her away from men so she’ll never know what a real man feels like? So that she’ll have to deal with the pain on her own for an entire week.”

Her breathing grew erratic. No one had anyone stood up for her before. She knew what her father did was unusual. Most women were not sent away, but were chosen a prided male of choice to ease the cycle—usually with lots of condoms. Safe sex meant the female could be eased without much risk for an early pregnancy.

“I am a member of the Pride. That means I must take extra care of my body,” she added weakly at his continuing glower.

The fact that he was standing up for her, made a lump grow in her chest. The sincerity in his eyes was enough to almost bring tears to hers. She pushed the tears away though, refusing to let them dampen the thrilling beat of her heart.

“No one follows the way of the Pride anymore. Those days are long dead, Princess. And he left you completely unguarded? What would happen if some stupid human found you? One whiff of those hormones and they’d be on your without asking why first.” He was angrier than he should be, but that didn’t stop him any.

“It’s better not to have guards here, and there are no humans within miles. This is a remote location.”

“Not remote enough apparently.”

Sarina swallowed and conceded his point.

“I could smell you miles away. I will stay and protect you.” He gazed at the forest behind him as if seeking out all possible threats. “And I will ease you.” His gaze pulled back to hers, and the hot promise in his eyes made her nipples pull tight and her thighs clench.

She looked so hopeful for a second that his chest expanded with anticipation. But then it was gone, and the shadowed look came back across her face. “You cannot ease me. No one can. I’m sorry.” Her voice was a whisper and so sad it nearly broke something inside him.

“Let me stay with you during your cycle, Sarina. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want.”
But I’ll sure as hell try
. “I can help you. I would be honored to protect you during this week, to help ease your need in any way I can.”

Sarina’s last wall of resistance crumbled under his words. Maybe it was just sentimental hope, or maybe it was all a lie, but her beast told her that his words were true. Her heart told her to let him in. And her body purred in happiness.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine and let her arm fall to her side to reveal a pair of plump, hand-filling breasts.

He had her answer.

Chapter 5

Breathing in her alluring scent, Vane beckoned her over to him with a get-over-here nod. Sarina nibbled on her lip for a moment before moving to sit in the windowsill where he lifted her out as if she weighed nothing.

Hot, strong hands settled gently at her waist to rub tantalizing circles on the bare flesh.

“You’re beautiful. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I watched you,” Vane said darkly and stepped closer to her. Their bodies stood mere inches apart. This close she could smell his scent as if she was bathing in it. He smelled like a man who just spent hours fucking in the hot sun. It was decadent. Sarina’s blood pumped with excitement and lust as she looked at his strong chest. The muscles in his arms and chest exuded strength and status. Alphas were not wimpy men, that’s for sure. She’d never felt like this before, as if she was being pulled towards him by some invisible force.

Her body sang for him like a siren beckoning a pirate’s ship. The call was getting louder with each passing second. Soon, very soon, her cycle would start spinning in full force.

“Thank you, Vane. What did you watch exactly?” she asked breathlessly. She knew she wasn’t that beautiful, that it was probably just the hormones affecting him, but it still made her heart race. Butterflies danced in stomach at the thought that he might have seen her…before. Being with Jacob and Jackson was different. They were dream men. This though was very real.

His fingertips found her spine and trailed feather light down it. “I watched you…touch yourself with these.” He picked up her hand and sucked her fingers into his mouth. She shuddered at the sensation. A hot hand found her naked bottom and squeezed. Full, sexy lips opened and tasted her fingers.

Sarina gasped and, like courtesan, molded herself against his strong body. His tongue licked her lingering cream away. Sarina’s jaw dropped at the wet sensation. He closed his eyes, a look of pained pleasure crossing his face before popping her fingers free.

Her father’s words chose that moment to come roaring back her. She must not have a male. No male but of his choosing. She froze, doubt and fear clouding her. His eyes opened in question, but then seemed to read her thoughts.

“Forget about him. I will protect you. I swear it,” he breathed huskily into the shell of her ear. Thoughts that had only ever just been that now solidified into dark needs. A queen for his pack, children to call his own, and a wife to warm his bed. Then his life would be complete. Sarina was the one. His heart knew it; his beast knew it.

“I want to pleasure you. Over and over again.” Trailing his tongue down her neck, Vane closed his eyes and simply
tasted.
It was exquisite…like vanilla and honey. “Your skin tastes like warm vanilla on my tongue.” He pressed hot, open kisses over her smooth shoulders, slowly making his way down her chest.

Vane’s tongue laved the hard tip of her breast. Sarina’s hands flew to hold him there, an uncontrollable moan escaping her. He took his time enjoying the firm tip as he suckled it. It wasn’t long before his other hand set to the task of molding her other breast.

“Vane!” An urgent need pushed at her. His assuring words eased the last of her worries. She pushed the nagging roar of her father out of her mind and simply felt.