One Insatiable(36)

Koa


Mercy is tight in my arms, trembling and spent. I’m holding her with all my strength, sated and stunned.

I had been so angry with her last night, and this morning when she tried to sneak into my bed as if nothing had happened, I wanted to shake her. I had visions of crazy things like pulling her across my lap and spanking her until her ass glowed red. Instead I bit her, and the anger inside me disintegrated.

As her blood touched my tongue, reality hit me like a sledgehammer. Yes, I’d had the feelings, stronger as the days had progressed, as we’d continued making love.

I was pretty sure it was happening the night I’d spent on the cold hard ground just to be sure she was safe, and I was even more sure the day I’d nearly ripped Jim’s head off for touching her. Funny how stubborn some shifters can be.

When I tasted her, all the cards flipped over. Mercy is mine. She stayed away from me last night because it was the full moon. I would’ve impregnated her so hard and so fast, we’d be reeling from it today.

Only, we’re both pretty shaken up by the realization. Loosening my grip, I roll onto my back staring at the ceiling. She curls into a ball at my side. I want to hold her, but I’ve got to get my head around this first, figure out what it means.

“How long have you known?” My voice is as rough as I feel.

A few seconds click by before she answers softly. “I wasn’t sure until just now.”

“Last night?”

“I only suspected. I… I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“Smart.” My Mercy… Mine. “I didn’t… I never believed in this happening.”

“I didn’t either.” Her voice is so soft.

It only takes a second longer before my insides cave. Warmth floods in, replacing the shock, and I turn to her, wrapping my body around the curve of her back, my arms tight around her waist. I sink my face into her soft hair and inhale deeply her scent of fresh air and warm woods.

“My Mercy,” I murmur, and at once her muscles relax.

Her arms cover mine and our fingers entwine. We both ease into this new state of affairs like a calming bath. Allowing the soothing truth to wash over us, cover us in fascination with what we’ve found.

After several minutes, she starts to move, turning in my arms. When our eyes meet, I feel like I’m falling even further. “You’re so beautiful,” I whisper.

Her hands are on my jaw, and she slides her thumbs across my cheeks. “Who knew I’d get such a big, sexy panther.”

“The panther sure didn’t. He’d never believe he’d be so lucky.”

She lifts up and captures my mouth. I push her back against the bed deepening our kiss. It’s magnetic. Our bodies seem to be fusing together somehow. I want to f*ck her again, but it’s more than sexual attraction. The feeling inside me is soul-deep.

My mouth moves to her jaw, but she sits up quickly, turning away from me. I reach out to grab her small waist and pull her back, but she holds my wrists.

“I have to go. I’ll be late for work.” She laughs, and warmth unfurls in my stomach.

“I’ll walk you home.”

She stands, shaking her head as she crosses to my door. I love her rear view, her long hair dancing around her waist. “I can get home on my own. We’re more likely to get caught this time of day.”

“Then I’m coming to see you at work. I’ll be there in an hour.”

Pausing at the door she looks back at me, stealing my breath. Damn, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. My Mercy. Her lips pucker into a little air-kiss, and she cracks the door. The last thing I see is a streak of golden brown fur.





Old Debts





Koa


Mercy is behind the juice bar when I walk through the front door. She’s laughing and chatting with Jim. She’s different, and not just because of what’s happened between us. She seems lighter, more confident. The little bell above alerts them to my presence, and when she turns, her smile is so big.

I’m moving pretty fast in her direction, but she dashes out from behind the bar and runs to me, jumping straight into my arms.

“Whoa,” I laugh, catching her under the ass. Her arms are around my neck, her legs around my waist, and she kisses me hard. It’s a greeting that has another part of my anatomy joining the show.

Pulling back, I chuckle. “Take it easy, sexy. We’re in public.”

“I don’t care.” She leans in and touches her nose to mine before dropping her legs. Catching my hand, she leads me back to the juice bar where Jim’s standing, looking smug.

“Dude, I knew you guys would be okay.”

“We’re more than okay,” she says, stopping at the bar and pulling my arm around her waist.

I’m happy to hold her soft body against mine, but I’ve been thinking about what I’m about to tell her all morning. Actually, I’ve been thinking about it since I tasted her blood last night and knew she was mine. My decision weighs heavy in my chest, but I know it’s the right thing.

“Can we talk?” I say softly against her ear.

She turns and kisses my lips quickly. “Of course!”

Holding her hand, I’m about to lead her out into the parking lot when Andy appears in the hallway. He’s not smiling. In fact, his eyes are flashing with anger.