Sebastian/Aristide (Bayou Heat) (11 page)

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Authors: Alexandra Ivy,Laura Wright

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BOOK: Sebastian/Aristide (Bayou Heat)

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“Now that I’m here, I think I can shift,” she abruptly said.

He skimmed his lips up the side of her neck. “When you’re ready.”

“I want to try.”

Sebastian went rigid. “Now?”

She turned in his arms, meeting his worried gaze. “I know you’re in a hurry—”

He cut off her words with a kiss. “We’ve already warned Raphael about the assassins,” he murmured against her lips. “He’ll already have the search going for the hidden enemy, as well as organizing a constant guard to keep Ashe and her baby safe. We have time.”

“Okay.” She stepped back, taking a deep breath as she concentrated on the sense of…well, the only way she could explain it was
awareness
that prowled just below the surface.

“Just relax and let it happen,” he urged softly.

She did as he commanded, loosening her tense muscles and allowing her thoughts to float.

At first she felt nothing more than a gentle warmth that flowed through her, making her wonder if she was supposed to mutter magic words or do some sort of weird-ass dance. Then, without warning, an explosion of sensations blasted through her body, making her feel as if she was being ripped from the inside out.

Oh, god. It was…glorious.

Astonishing.

Shifting into cat form, Reny surged into motion, bounding over the boggy ground with a sense of freedom that made her soul soar.

There was a roar from behind her and suddenly there was a tawny puma with yellow eyes running at her side.

She didn’t know how far they ran, she only knew that when she entered a meadow that was dappled with morning sunlight, it seemed perfectly natural to turn and leap onto Sebastian, tumbling him to the side.

His eyes shimmered with pleasure as they rolled across the soft ground, nipping and growling and even swiping his claws over her shoulder as they played with a glorious joy.

Reny might have stayed in her cat form for the rest of the day if she hadn’t known that despite his seemingly carefree enjoyment, Sebastian was desperately worried about the lurking assassins.

They would have plenty of time in the future to indulge her long overdue exploration of what it was to be Pantera.

Closing her eyes, she once again relaxed her muscles, allowing the magic to race through her blood as she shifted back into human form.

A painful rapture that could easily become addictive.

Stretched out on the mossy ground, she was only partially aware that her clothing and even cellphone survived the transformation. Her focus was centered on the blazing awareness of Sebastian that was buried deep inside her.

It wasn’t just sexual, although there was plenty of lust burning with an incandescent heat in the pit of her stomach.

It was more the sensation of being connected to him on a primitive level.

Lying directly in front of her, Sebastian gently framed her face in his hands, his eyes dark with concern.

“What is it?” he demanded. “What’s wrong?”

She gazed at his exquisitely beautiful face in wonder. “I feel as if we’re connected.”

A slow, unexpected color crept beneath Sebastian’s bronzed skin. “Because we are,” he said, reaching down to pull her jacket and blouse to the side, revealing four silvery slashes that marred the skin just above her collarbone.

She blinked in surprise. “What’s that?”

“I marked you.”

“Marked me?”

He grimaced. “My cat was a little…overenthusiastic.”

Reny felt a small flare of amusement. Was he embarrassed? It seemed impossible that the suave, perfectly composed diplomat could actually be flustered.

“What does that mean?”

His fingers gently traced the silver slashes. “I’ve chosen you as my mate.” His voice was low, reverent. “And I’m very much hoping you’ll choose me as yours.”

“Mates?”

“For eternity.”

She should feel overwhelmed by the soft words. Just a day ago she was a career woman who cherished her independence.

Now…

Now she felt nothing but a wild exhilaration that fizzed through her body like champagne bubbles.

Her fingers stroked through the tawny satin of his hair, recalling the beauty of his pelt when he’d been a puma.

“There’s no doubt?” she demanded, her vulnerable heart not ready for any unpleasant surprises.

She needed to be absolutely certain that this gorgeous, insanely sexy cat wasn’t going to disappear from her life.

A wry smile twisted his lips. “My cat knew from the moment I entered the office to see you standing there…” His fingers moved toward the buttons of her shirt, slowly tugging them open. “Your passionate nature buried beneath the starch.”

Heat curled through the pit of her stomach, a hungry ache pulsing through her body.

“Is that why I wanted to rip off your clothes and lick my way from your very sexy lips to the tips of your toes when I first saw you?” she asked, her voice husky with need.

There suddenly seemed to be something incredibly erotic in the thought of making slow, delicious love surrounded by the bayou.

“The mating heat is only a signal that our cats are sexually compatible and that you’re fertile,” he explained, his finger tracking the lacy line of her bra. “The actual mating is a melding of our souls.”

“Melding.” She sighed in pleasure as his lips nuzzled a path of kisses just beneath her jaw. “Yes. That’s exactly what it feels like.”

“Reny.” With a groan he found her lips, claiming them in a kiss that spoke of blatant ownership.

Which was just fine with Reny.

She belonged to Sebastian. Just as he belonged to her.

The thought had barely formed when instinct took over, and scarcely aware of what she was doing, Reny’s claws emerged and she was swiping them across his chest.

“Jesus,” he rasped in shock, yanking back to glance down at the four perfect rips in his shirt.

“Did I do it right?” she demanded in concern, catching sight of blood on his beautiful bronzed skin before the shallow wounds were healing before her very eyes.

Raw, primal satisfaction smoldered in his eyes as a slow smile curved his lips. “Oh, sugar, it couldn’t be more right.”

Reny watched in sizzling anticipation as he started to lower his head. The mating heat was flaring back to life with a vengeance. Then with a low curse he was pulling back, and with swift efficiency had her shirt buttoned and her jacket smoothed back into place.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded as he rose to his feet and pulled her upright.

“Someone’s coming.” He kept hold of her hand as a male appeared between two cypress trees. “Hiss,” he murmured.

The Pantera male, with dark hair pulled into a tail at his nape and gray eyes, moved forward, his expression impatient.

“Finally,” Hiss muttered.

Reny felt Sebastian tense. “What is it? Have the assassins been found?”

Hiss gave a shake of his head, something about the action oddly familiar to Reny.

“No,” he said, “But Ashe has gone into labor.”

Sebastian gave a short, strained laugh. “I suppose Raphael is a fucking basket case.”

The other Pantera snorted. “Worse. He needs you…” With a shocking speed, Hiss was abruptly focusing his attention on Reny, his hand lifting toward her face. “What the hell?”

“Hey.” Sebastian slapped the man’s hand away, his voice filled with aggression. “That’s my mate.”

“Mate? I’m…”

“What?” Sebastian snapped.

Hiss gave a shake of his head. “Never mind. Are you coming or not?”

Sebastian wrapped his arm around Reny’s waist, gazing at her with blatant devotion. “Ready for this, sugar?” he asked softly.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, giving a firm nod. “With you at my side, I’m ready for anything.”

About The Author

Alexandra Ivy
is a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of the Guardians of Eternity series, as well as the Sentinels. After majoring in theatre she decided she prefers to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She lives in Missouri with her family. Visit her website at alexandraivy.com.

Book list:

Guardians of Eternity

Hunt the Darkness

June 3, 2014

978-1420125153

Wicked Firsts

August 19, 2013

Darkness Avenged

June 4, 2013, Zebra

ISBN 978-1420111385

Levet

March 26, 2013