Prey & Prejudice: Cougar Falls, Book 7 (17 page)

And as much as he liked sleeping with her, if he hadn’t trusted her to care for the pride in his absence, he never would have suggested it to Danville.

But giving up his rule over the pride would have to hurt. She felt terrible for not being more sensitive and resolved to make it up to him later. Best he work off his mad in private, to salve that male ego.

Pleased with her reasoning, she wondered if she should claim him before he left or after he returned. Or if it would be better to make it seem as if
he
was doing the mate claim and not her. That male ego again.

When Joy tripped Quince and shoved him into the water, Zoe jumped in after him. Then the others joined them, and they played and yowled with enjoyment. But all the while, something remained missing. It just wasn’t the same without her arrogant lover by her side telling her what to do while she ignored him.

Miles called the pride to warn them he’d be back late, maybe even tomorrow. He didn’t return to the main house on the estate until the next day. The others, sensing he needed time alone, as most cats occasionally did, left him alone.

Deciding it was stupid not to talk to Zoe about their pseudo-relationship—because really, who were they trying to fool, the woman was crazy about him and needed to admit it—he looked for her. Only to find her out at the pool Sunday afternoon wearing that ridiculous excuse for a bathing suit with a half dozen males fawning all over her. She had the nerve to laugh and flirt with them. An available woman with nothing tying her to anyone, apparently. And he lost his famous cool.

Without a word to anyone, he walked to the side of the pool, shoved two of the others into the water away from Zoe, knocked another cat on his ass and pulled the Amazon to her feet.

“Hey—Miles?” Her start of a smile faded when she saw his face. “What’s wr—
oomph.
Put me down!”

The others around them broke into laughter as he hauled her over his shoulder, staggered a second under her weight—all solid muscle—then left the pool behind. He walked back to the main house, waved at June, who wisely smiled but said nothing as she worked on dinner, and took the squirming Zoe with him back to his—
their
—room. It hadn’t escaped his notice that she hadn’t struggled overmuch, not giving him the fight he’d anticipated. Well, at least not yet.

He closed and locked the door behind him before tossing her on the bed. To his amazement, her top unraveled and her breasts spilled free from the tiny triangles.

Infuriated, he loomed over her. “I can’t
believe
you’re still wearing that in public.”

Her look of surprise turned to one of mulish resistance. “Yeah? Well I can’t believe
you
are that much of a prude.”

He yanked his polo off and started on his shoes and linen trousers. “What the hell does that mean?”

She didn’t bother covering up, and her anger layered the room in an arousing musk of need. “Just what I said. You’re friggin’ Ac-taw, Miles. Why is my nudity such a big deal to you?”

Part of what she said made sense. But he couldn’t fathom why. He continued to envision the others staring at her,
coveting
her. “It’s not. I just can’t believe you’re out there flaunting those tits and ass around those hapless kids.”

Her eyes widened. He stripped off his underwear and stood naked and aroused, unable to get the thought out of his mind that she remained unmated, available to anyone else who wanted her. Not his, not yet.

“You’re out of your fucking mind.” She finally shook off her stillness and rose to her knees.

He leaped at her, knowing she’d leave in a heartbeat if she reached the door.

He knocked her to the bed and yanked off her suit, ripping ties in the process.

“You asshole! That was a one-of-a-kind!”

“Now it’s trash.” He glared at her. “I’m claiming you as mine.”

“Not if I claim you first,” she roared, then stopped. She blinked and ceased fighting him. “Wait. You’re ready to be mine?” Her wide grin should have assuaged his fury, but he couldn’t be sure why she really wanted him. Yes, he was amazing, but did she understand that? Or had he just convinced himself she was in love with
him
and not his ability to give her what she wanted?

He snorted and nudged her legs wider, his body insistent on finishing what he’d started. “Yours? Bullshit. Honey, you might think you can rule everyone else, but in bed, I’m in charge. I’m ready to make you
mine
.”

She gave him a look, and it took everything he had in him to rein in his cat and pull back that aching, final mating scent.

“What? Why did you stop?” she asked, sounding annoyed.

“Always get what you want, don’t you?” he rasped and pushed himself inside her.

She was wet and accepted him with ease, scowling until he shoved all of himself deep. “
Oh, yeah.
” She sighed and dragged his head down for a kiss. “Do that again.”

“No.” He withdrew and manhandled her onto her belly. Then he pulled her back, so that she rested on her hands and knees. He knelt between her legs and slammed back inside her, taking charge.
Jesus, she feels right.

No, this isn’t about coming. It’s about dominating, as is my right,
his cat reminded him.

He groaned and asked, “Who’s in control now?”

“Oh, you,” she breathed. “Please. Again.” She rocked back against him, and he slapped her ass, stunning her to stillness. “
Miles.
”

“I’m running the show, Candy.” He fucked her harder, unceasing while he sought his own fulfillment “Who’s in charge?” he asked again, needing her to want all of him.

“You are. You, Miles.”

“Then stay the fuck still while I come.” He grabbed her hips and rode her harder, incredibly excited by her submissive stance. Her breathing was fast, her body ripe, her scent spurring him to give her more while she knelt with her head bent low, her feline all but begging him to mate her.

“Come inside me. Give it to me,” she whispered.

Miles clenched her hips hard enough to leave marks and exploded inside her, his orgasm overpowering. A moment later, he remained half-hard despite his climax, determined not to quit until he’d made his point. She didn’t understand their parts in this play. But she would. It was time Zoe learned what it meant to be taken by a mate like Miles, and what she’d have to give if she expected any kind of future together. One that wouldn’t crush them both in the long run.

Chapter Eleven

She wished she knew why he’d turned into such an aggressive jerk, but Zoe couldn’t catch her breath to ask, because Miles’s Neanderthal, “I’m the man” tactics had her so horny she was about to lose her mind. When he’d come inside her, without letting her experience the same, she’d felt turned inside out. As if he’d tired of waiting and decided to take charge.

Men never did that with Zoe. Sure, they’d come before she did, but they’d always follow up with a lot of begging or groveling to make it up to her. The power remained in her hot hands.

No matter how much she craved a take-charge guy, they always succumbed to persuasion. Zoe knew sex. She had incredible moves and had never met her match. Before Miles. Their passion since that first time had been explosive, but this performance—she didn’t know what to think.

“Don’t fucking move,” he growled.

She quivered under him, the refined male with his designer suits and elegant arrogance suddenly a tiger in bed. She’d loved him taking her before, but this side of Miles just amazed her.

“But I need—”

He smacked her ass again.

She moaned, “I need to come.”

“Everything your way? I don’t think so.” He gave a mean chuckle. Then he removed himself and put his fingers back inside her. He slid his thumb once over her clit but took it away when she tried to rub against him. “Now push out, because I’m coming in.”

“What—
Miles.
” They’d had a few conversations about what they both liked, and though she admitted she’d tried anal, she’d never been a big fan. Miles had smiled at her, a knowing grin that told her eventually they’d revisit the topic. But she wasn’t prepared for that time to be now. She knew she only had to say “no” to stop him, yet she remained quiet, his to control.

He pushed a slick finger against her anus, and before she knew it, she was pushing out while he was sliding in. He didn’t stop, and despite the initial discomfort, she didn’t want him to. He was her fantasy made real, a man who could give her what she needed, even if she didn’t know it at the time.

He continued to slide his finger in, past the short graze of pain into a weird fullness
up her ass
. “Yeah. This is what I’m taking next.”

“But I…”

“You don’t want it?” He leaned closer to whisper, “But it’s what
I
want. And I’m running the show here, aren’t I?” He nipped her earlobe.

“Y-yes,” she breathed, enthralled with him. “God, yes. Whatever you want, Miles.”

He pulled his finger back before pushing it in again. While he played with her, slowly easing her around him, he whispered, taunting her, goading her orgasm with every tease. “And what if I want you? What if I want to take you, tie you up? Have my way and leave you begging for me to finish you? You ever begged a lover before me, Zoe? Ever been so desperate for a cock you’d do anything to have it?”

“No,” she moaned, and she’d wanted the chance to beg a worthy lover so badly. A man to make her lose control, just once.

“Do you want it?” He added another finger, slowly stretching her using her own arousal. “Do you want me here?”

“Yes, Miles.” Dear God, he felt amazing inside her. Painful, pleasurable, warping her body into his personal playtoy. He made her
want.
“I need you.”

You—Miles
. She didn’t desire just anyone. She wanted the one cat that she could no longer deny belonged to her.
The cat
we
belong
to, her feline corrected with approval. And like that, Zoe understood what had been holding her back with Miles. She had to be in charge, but she needed to know she could rely on someone stronger. That her mate wouldn’t bow to her whims all the time. Miles could more than match her mentally and physically, but his
will
proved just as strong as hers. He was a sexual dynamo, a masterful lover, and she couldn’t get enough of him. She loved that about him.

Hell, she loved
him
.

Before she could tell him, he backed away from her. “Don’t move. Don’t blink. Don’t even breathe.”

She nodded, wondering if he could see her expression. She heard a drawer opening, then something that sounded as if he was…
Oh God.
An open tube of lube dropped by her hand.

“I’m nice and slick and hard for you, baby.” He moved back between her legs and spread her knees wider. Then he pulled her ass cheeks apart and pressed himself there, at her narrow entrance. “I’m coming in. Inside you. And I’m going to fuck you here. Your ass, your pussy. Your mouth. Wherever I want, isn’t that right?”

That mean tone melted her. “Yes,
yes.
”

He slowly prodded her rim and pushed inside. He was so much bigger than his finger.

And then she was past the anxiety and gasping as he moved within her. The pain became pleasure, especially when he fingered her clit.

“That’s it, bad girl. Come around my cock,” he growled, and that frank talk and sexy tone set her right off.

Her cat howled as she rocked back into him. But Miles refused to be rushed. She begged, she taunted with risqué promises and she reached under, between her legs to cup his balls. Until finally he was pounding into her, and she was crying out as she came hard with him up her ass.

“Oh
fuck
,” he swore and let go of her clit to clench her hips. “That’s it. All of me,” he gasped and groaned, spending inside her.

She felt breathless, her brain scrambled, her entire being wide open for the taking.

But Miles didn’t speak, didn’t ask for promises or a mating or thanks. He finished inside her, then left her to return moments later with a warm cloth. He cleaned her up and stroked her with a gentle hand, praising her in deed if not in words.

He joined her soon after, smelling of soap and her. Not mated, not yet. But she knew what she wanted now. Her focus had nothing to do with the pride for once, and everything to do with Miles and the love she felt for him.

When he lay next to her, she went into his arms and kissed his chest, hugging him tightly and not letting go. It didn’t take long before their stroking turned hot and heavy once more. They loved one another with touch and scent. This new dynamic suited her, and it sure the hell suited him. She didn’t think he’d ever been sexier to her.

“You like me being rough,” he said after they’d finished again.

“Yeah.” She sighed as he stroked her hair, his body still embedded in hers. They remained together, and she had to know. “Why won’t you claim me?”

She heard his smile when he answered, “You’re going to let me take charge and make the decision? I think hell just froze over.”

“Oh, come on. You’re just as domineering as I am.”

“Dream on, Candy.”

This time, the sexy way he said her name didn’t bother her. It made her feel special, because only he ever called her that. Only he could get away with calling her that. She chuckled. “Am I
too
bossy?” The one part of her she couldn’t quite change. It was in her DNA, that need to take charge. She’d relied on her strength for years, but now it might not be such a blessing.