TherianPrey (24 page)

She wasn’t struggling, wasn’t sure why he felt the need to
hold her down. Then primal aggression threaded through his gentler emotions.
This was his cat, his Therian self, demanding her submission. A heated shiver
sped down her spine, sparking an elemental response in her.

He moved faster and deeper, his tongue echoing each drive.
She yielded, drawing in his scent and savoring the flavor of their combined
release. Her eagerness drew a harsh growl from his throat, but joy flowed into
her mind. He was thrilled by her trust and overwhelmed with her enthusiasm. He
tore his mouth away from hers and pushed up on his elbows, allowing him to
speed the tempo of his hips.

She pulled her legs up along his sides and angled her pelvis
to better accommodate his frantic thrusting. Their gazes locked and burned with
emotions every bit as powerful as the pleasure surging between them. Golden
light burst from his eyes and he drove his full length into her. She wrapped
her legs around his waist as her body echoed each distinct spasm. They clung to
each other for long, silent minutes, lost in the wonder of their joining.

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled to his side,
taking her with him.
Can you hear me?

He pushed the thought across their link and she smiled.
Loud
and clear. Can you hear me?

Perfectly.
He eased his arm beneath her neck and
covered her mouth with his.
Now we don’t have to stop kissing if you want to
ask a question.

Will Erin and the others be able to hear my thoughts too?

He separated their mouths with the shake of his head. “That
will come after you’re defined.”

“Does it hurt?” She was so relaxed, so content, she was
struggling to keep her eyes open.

“I don’t know. Only females are defined.”

She nodded. “Did your first shift hurt?”

He brushed her hair back from her damp face as his gaze
moved over her face. “It was more frightening than painful for me, but I’ve
heard others complain about the pain.”

Swallowing past the lump rapidly forming in her throat, she
refused to dwell on the details. “How old were you when you first transformed?”

“Thirteen.”

“Do children ever shift?”

“It’s extremely rare. Most Therian males begin transforming
in their early teens.”

“Are females ever defined that early or do most wait until
the deadline is drawing near?”

He eased his hand between their bodies and covered her
breast, his fingers gently squeezing. “It depends on the family. The average
age is probably closer to eighteen than twenty-one.”

His touch ignited her slumbering desire, but she tried to
ignore the tingling heat. “Have you ever defined anyone?”

“Twice.” He rolled to his back, bringing her with him. She
bent her knees and straddled his hips, pushing up against his chest. “Ride me,
hellion.” He grasped her hips and ensured that she obeyed.

“Do you always get hard this fast?” She gasped as he arched,
driving his shaft deep inside her.

“Only with you.” He reached up and pulled her mouth down to
his.

* * * * *

Carissa woke up alone the following morning. Quinn’s scent
surrounded her, clinging to her skin as well as the bedding, but he was nowhere
in sight. A neat stack of clothes awaited her in a chair by the bathroom door.
Devon wasn’t going to have any clothes left if Erin kept this up. Thankful for
the thoughtfulness, Carissa took a quick shower and dressed then went in search
of her missing…lover? Mate? What role would Quinn play in her life?

When Erin claimed Carissa was resisting Ian because he
threatened her mate, Carissa hadn’t thought too much about it. Even Quinn’s
possessive response hadn’t fully registered until she felt the connection
growing between them.

Quinn made love with his body and his mind. Feeling his
emotions build and deepen each time they joined had been unlike anything
Carissa had ever experienced before. She’d been thrilled by his tenderness. It
was such a contrast to his gruff exterior. There was still far too much
unresolved for her to think seriously about a permanent bonding, but she was
sure enjoying this preview.

Quinn sat at the kitchen table with Erin sipping coffee and
munching on a piece of toast.

“Good morning,” Erin greeted, motioning her toward an empty
chair. “Would you like something to eat? The coffee’s fresh.”

“Just coffee is fine. I seldom eat breakfast.”

Erin rose and crossed to the coffeemaker. “Shame on you.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

Carissa smiled. “So I’ve heard.” She looked at Quinn’s empty
plate and asked, “Does toast count as breakfast?”

“I had eggs too.” He pointed out the telltale smear of
yellow.

“Is Ian on his way or are we going to try this without him?”
Carissa took the mug from Erin, the rich aroma making her mouth water.

“He’s been here and gone.” Erin pulled her phone out of her
pocket. “I’ll let him know you’re finally awake.”

“Finally?” She glanced around for a clock. “What time is
it?”

“Nearly noon,” Quinn informed. “You needed the sleep.”

Little wonder. It had been early morning by the time they
finished making love for the third time.

“How long have you been up?” She blew on her coffee, hoping
her blush wasn’t obvious.

“About an hour.”

“Ian’s on his way.” Erin snapped her phone closed and slipped
it back into her pocket.

Ian arrived a few minutes later, emerging from the mudroom
with a cheerful smile. “The tiger cub is adorable. Have you two seen her yet?”

“The mom was so malnourished,” Erin explained. “We really
didn’t expect the cub to survive. But she’s a feisty little thing. Proved us
all wrong.”

“I’ll give Carissa a guided tour as soon as we finish the
meld,” Quinn promised.

They congregated in the living room, returning to the
positions they had taken the night before. Quinn pressed in close behind her,
Ian faced her and Erin stood at her side, one hand on each of the men’s
shoulders.

“I’ll take it slow.” Up close, Ian’s eyes were even more
striking than she remembered. The gold slashes made the blue seem brighter. She
acknowledged the unique beauty, yet her body didn’t respond to his masculine
appeal. Her body, perhaps even her heart, had obviously made its choice. “Close
your eyes and try to relax.”

She closed her eyes and Quinn’s arms tightened around her,
allowing her to release the tension in her muscles. Their connection was
stronger now. She could sense his presence clearly within her mind.

“You two have been busy.”

She heard the amusement in Ian’s voice so she didn’t take
exception to the comment.

Your shields are still instinctive right now,
Quinn
told her.
I’m going to help you make an opening for Ian
.

All right
. She felt a sharp sting as Quinn parted her
shield then blinding light erupted behind her eyelids. Ancient and powerful,
Ian flowed into her mind. She trembled. How had she kept someone this strong
from doing whatever he pleased?

Ian could have forced his way in, but he didn’t want to
risk damaging you
. Quinn answered her unspoken question.
Now don’t
resist his guidance, allow him to take control
.

If the directive had come from Ian, she might have balked.
But Quinn trusted Ian even less than she did. The risk must be minimal or Quinn
wouldn’t have encouraged her. She threaded her fingers through Quinn’s and
gradually opened her mind.

Ian surrounded her, containing her being within his. Then he
propelled them outward, beyond the room, through the house then across the
yard. The sensation was so tangible, she felt as if she were flying.

“Picture Ava for me,” Ian whispered, his breath stirring the
hair above her temple. “Just her face. Don’t place her in a setting.”

Carissa formed the image of her sister, making it as
detailed as possible, the tiny scar near the corner of her mouth, the stray
lock of hair that continually fell across her forehead.

“Good,” Ian muttered. The rushing momentum sped, carrying
them farther from their bodies. In the back of her mind she saw an eagle, wings
spread, eyes methodically scanning. “Don’t distract me. Focus on Ava.”

It was hard to control her reactions when she felt as if she
were soaring across the sky. The last time she’d felt this sensation, she’d
been clasped in Ian’s arms as he flew her away from Quinn’s cabin.

“There!” Ian channeled their combined energy downward,
plummeting much faster than they had risen. “Is that her?”

A rustic living room came into view. Ava sat on a brown
leather sofa, casually reading a book.

“Yes!” Excitement surged through Carissa followed
immediately by knee-melting relief. Ava was unharmed! In fact she looked damn
comfortable. “Pull back. Let me see her surroundings.” Ian slowly drew
backward, but the scene lost focus and faded to black. “Wait!” Carissa kept her
eyes squeezed shut, but she reached out blindly for Ian’s chest. “I didn’t see
where she was. I don’t recognize the room.”

After several futile moments of trying to recapture the
image, Ian shook his head and sighed. “That’s the best I can do. It’s too hard
to control a latent mind.”

Carissa opened her eyes, heart racing. “Can we do this again
after I’ve been defined?”

He smiled and glanced at Erin. “After you’ve been defined,
you probably won’t need me. Once your Therian nature has been unleashed, you
should be able to sense everyone in your bloodline.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” She looked at Erin then
turned to Quinn. “You need to define me now!”

Chapter Ten

Warm water cascaded over Carly, easing her muscles if not
her mind. Her team had lost another shifter this morning. All their
considerable knowledge and skill hadn’t been enough to save the female once the
deterioration began. So far Devon was the only one who had tolerated the
complex at the levels necessary for mental conditioning. It was so frustrating.

Guilt made her heart twinge and she turned to face the
water. When had the loss of life become nothing more than a frustration? As a
child she’d take spiders outside rather than stepping on them. Even if the
shifters weren’t human, they were sentient beings worthy of her respect.

The shower curtain was flung open and cool air wafted over
her damp skin. She screamed then anger shoved back her fear. “What the hell?”
Frantically blinking the water out of her eyes, she reached down and turned off
the faucets.

Osric! How had he gotten in here? “This is my
private
apartment,” she sneered.

“I have a master access code. I can go anywhere I want.”

She tried to reach around him and snatch a towel off the
rack. He intentionally blocked her path.

With an exasperated huff, she balled her hands into fists
and glared at him, refusing to let her nudity intimidate her. “Get. Out.” She
pointed to the door behind him.

“We need to have a little talk and the bathrooms are the
only place that isn’t monitored by the backers.” His gaze openly assessed her
naked body, making it obvious that avoiding detection was not his only
motivation.

“Give me the towel. I’m not going to stand here and drip
while you lecture me.”

“Fine.” He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the
shower stall. “You can get on your knees and—”

“You’re disgusting!” She slapped at him, twisting her arm
out of his grasp.

“Exactly. You have always found me disgusting, so why the
sudden change in your attitude? I’d love to think you’d just reconsidered or
that rebellion had fueled your desire, but I’m not that vain. And you’re too
smart for such a simple game.”

“You’re the one who loves games, not me.” She crossed her
arms over her breasts, resenting even that retreat.

“Talk to me or I’m going to start touching you and there is
no one here to stop me.”

Her core fluttered as she pictured herself pressed face
first into the wall with Osric close behind her. His hand was between her
thighs thrusting with a strong, steady rhythm.

“Is that an invitation?” Before she understood what had
happened, he spun her around and shoved her against the wall. He kicked her
legs apart and shoved his hand between her thighs. “Nothing but hostility comes
out of your mouth, but your mind tells a different story.”

His fingers drove into her passage and Carly cried out.

“Did that hurt?” he mocked. It didn’t, but his attitude made
it obvious that he wouldn’t have cared if it had. He didn’t use his other hand
this time, just slid in and out of her core with his fingers.

“Why did you turn from ice princess to sex kitten in one
day? What did the backers promise you?”

“I told you. They were angry because I—” His palm connected
with her ass cheek and she yelped. The sting spread and sank deep into her
flesh. She gritted her teeth against the pleasure but her inner muscles
compressed.

“Like that, do you?” He spanked the other side, all the
while pumping between her legs. “Tell me the truth and I’ll let you come.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say. I told you what
happened.”

He removed his hand and moved away, leaving her huddled
against the wall. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why do you think I let you…take me? What did I gain by
giving in?”

He just stared at her, gaze drilling into her eyes. Then his
expression hardened even more and he moved in close again. “If I find out
you’ve betrayed me, there will be nowhere for you to hide. I will find you and
you will wish for death a hundred times over before I let you die.”

Fighting back her panic, she managed to produce a shaky
smile. “That sounds rather dire.” She placed her hand on his arm and swayed
toward him. “I’m basically a prisoner here and, as you’ve proven just now, you
have access to the entire complex. How could I betray you even if I wanted to,
which I don’t?”