Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  “What are you thinking about, sweetheart?”

  “The leader.”

  He tensed and she lifted her head. “Why are you thinking about him?”

  “I haven’t ever been anywhere but my chain. I wasn’t allowed to choose my mate. I was just wondering if what’s happening between us is okay.”

  “It can’t be wrong,” he said with conviction. He shifted the truck into park and turned to face her. “There are rules here, but it’s not like with the purebloods. We’re true mates, not chosen. Our beasts chose each other. Not claiming you in the parking lot took almost all my willpower.”

  “We don’t know each other.”

  He put his big hand over her heart. “In here we do. I want to know everything about you. If you want to take things slow, I can do that, but we’re going to have to get out of the truck so I can get some fresh air. Your scent is making me crazy.”

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to take things slow. Her cat was banging in her skull to strip him and map his body with her fingers and tongue. It was getting too difficult to keep her hands to herself.

  “I want to touch you,” she whispered, her sex tightening as his eyes flashed and he grinned.

  “Hell yes.”

  He moved so fast, she had to laugh. He was out of his seat and opening her door in a blur. He lifted her into his arms and kicked the door shut, carrying her into his home. Closing the front door, he put her down gently, turned the deadbolt, and then faced her.

  She glanced around briefly and found herself in the family room. Although it was furnished, there were no wall hangings or pictures. She turned her attention back to him, and for the first time she noticed that his eyes were two different colors; one was sapphire blue and one was pale jade.

  “That’s kickass,” she said.

  “What is?”

  “Your eyes. They’re beautiful.”

  He snorted and lifted her into his arms once more, as effortlessly as if she weighed nothing. “You’re beautiful, Genesis. Gorgeous and all mine.”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her mouth to his throat and licked his skin as he carried her into the bedroom. “You’re mine, too.”

  He laid her down on his bed and leaned over to click on the small lamp on the bedside table. She’d never really felt wanton before, but she couldn’t stop thinking about claiming him and letting him claim her. Everything she’d ever had in her life before had been given to her by her father. For the first time, she could make her own choices, and she chose Jair.

  She’d also never taken the lead before. Sitting up, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him down, rolling until he was underneath her on the bed and she was straddling his waist. He chuckled against her lips as his hands framed her face, and he nipped her lower lip. “Sneaky girl.”

  “You could’ve stopped me. You’re bigger and stronger than me.”

  He wiggled his brows. “Anytime you want to be on top is fine with me. Just do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “Take off your shirt.”

  * * *

  Jair was in heaven. Genesis kissed him and then straightened, pressing her pussy against his dick as she wiggled and removed her top. Her skin was the color of fresh cream. Sliding his hands up her waist, he marveled at how soft she was. Her lush curves were tantalizing. She tossed her shirt to the floor. Her large breasts were hidden behind pale green lace, but she twisted the center of the bra until it unhooked. She slipped it from her shoulders and let it join her shirt on the floor. Cupping her breasts, he ran his thumbs across her nipples, watching the rose-colored tips tighten. He sat up enough to bury his face between them, inhaling her scent and rubbing his cheek against her lush mounds. She wrapped her arms around him and moaned softly, grinding against him.

  Kissing the swell of her breast, he nuzzled her and then gently bit down on her nipple. Her head tipped back and he buried his fingers in the thick golden brown strands as he sucked the tight bud into his mouth. When he’d sucked one nipple into a perfect peak, he turned his attention to the other, biting and sucking until she was gasping and making the sexiest sounds. Her hips flexed rhythmically against him, until he was ready to explode.

  Giving a gentle tug to her hair, he kissed both nipples one last time and stretched her onto her back, maneuvering them both until he was able to undo her jeans and slide them down her body. Her panties, soaked with her heavenly scent, were the same pale green as her bra. He slipped from the bed so he could wrangle her jeans from her body, baring her short but shapely legs to his gaze, and then shed his own jeans.

  She arched a brow as he straightened. “You always go commando?”

  “Will you think I’m less sexy if I say that it’s because I need to do laundry?”

  She smiled widely and laughed. “You’re the sexiest guy I’ve ever met, and you’re letting me see you naked. There isn’t anything you could do right now that could take away from how I feel toward you.”

  For a moment, he forgot about his tight hold on his beasts because she looked so lovely and perfect. Her nipples were tight, her chest was heaving, and her legs were splayed open so that her scent was hitting him full force.

  His beasts rushed forward, and he couldn’t control their joined reaction. With a sharp growl, he turned her onto her stomach and pulled her halfway off the bed, sliding his hands down her thighs and roughly tugging her legs apart. She moaned loudly as he ripped her panties off and positioned his dick at her entrance. Pushing her upper body off the bed, she pressed back against him. The wolf in him grasped her neck with his teeth to hold her in place.

  She went still, and for a brief moment he was able to see through the haze of lust and wrangle back some control. Then she reached back with one hand and clutched her fingers into his hair. “Just like that, Jair. Take me. Hold me. Don’t ever fucking let go.”

  His control snapped. Growling as his fangs elongated, he pierced her flesh, his hips flexing, driving into her. She felt so good that his eyes crossed. He pushed hard and fast into her, her sweet heat beckoning him to fill her fully, until their bodies touched and all he could do was growl. Lifting his fangs from her neck and seeing the mark that bound them as mates, he howled and roared, gripping her hips as he pulled from her pussy and sank back in.

  He willed himself to stop for a second, to remind his beasts that this was their mate and the last thing they wanted was to start off their future acting like a caveman and taking pleasure without giving it to her first.

  Easing from her, an act of willpower he wasn’t sure he’d be able to accomplish, he scooped her into his arms and climbed onto the bed, laying her on his pillow. She blinked pleasure-hazed eyes at him.

  “Why did you stop?” she asked as she gripped his shoulders.

  “Just detouring,” he replied, pressing his lips to hers. He teased her lips open with his tongue, drawing her closer as he willed his beasts to give her this time. They were moving fast; it was the nature of true mates to claim each other immediately, but that didn’t mean he should be an asshole. In the space of bare minutes, she had come to mean everything to him.

  She chased his tongue with her own, her fingertips exploring his shoulders and back as she moved against him. He wanted to do everything to her at once, and also do nothing but just enjoy the hell out of their kiss. Pulling away from her addictive mouth, he nibbled on her lower lip with a soft growl.

  Her eyes opened slowly. They were a beautiful brown, mixed with the sandy-gold of her beast. Between her parted lips he could see the tips of her delicate fangs. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen anything more beautiful.

  He wanted to say something romantic, but he could hardly think past the incredible scent of her arousal. Moving his hand slowly down her stomach, he slipped his fingers between her thighs and touched the wet heat of her pussy. Her flesh was bare and slick with her arousal, and it took all of his effort not to just roll on top of her and take her. She pres
sed her hand to his and lifted her hips, allowing two of his fingers to slide into her. She groaned and pressed harder, and he rubbed her clit with his thumb as he gazed down at her.

  He curved his fingers and searched for the place that would send her over the edge into a deep climax. She let out a soft gasp when his fingers curled, and he knew he’d found the right spot. Rubbing his fingers over that place, he worked her clit in a fast rhythm.

  “Fuck, Jair,” she moaned, her pussy fluttering around his fingers as he pushed her toward climax.

  He buried his face in her neck and sucked her flesh into his mouth, biting and lapping as the scent of her arousal deepened. Her pussy gripped his fingers tightly and her back bowed as she screamed, the sound a mixture of her cat and her human sides fusing together in pleasure. With his fingers buried in her pussy, he lifted his head and stared at her, finding her eyes had bled to the prettiest pale gold color he’d ever seen.

  He lifted his hand and sucked her honey from his fingers, groaning at how sweet she tasted.

  “I could feast on you for weeks and never get enough,” he said roughly.

  She slid her hands into his hair and angled his mouth down to hers. She kissed him hungrily, desperately, and then tugged on his bottom lip. “I need you. Right. Now.”

  Without wasting another second, he rolled on top of her and gripped her thigh as he slid into the cradle of her hips and pushed into her. He didn’t think it was possible for her to be any hotter or tighter, but she felt so good he could barely stop himself from coming.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and hooked her ankles together, tilting her pelvis up and allowing him to go even deeper into her sweet depths. They groaned together. His beasts rolled inside him, fur pushing from his skin as they rocked into their mate, sliding out and pressing in. He slid his hands under her shoulders and pulled her down to meet his thrusts, increasing the pace until they were moving hard and fast. She dug her nails into his back and held on, lifting her head and grasping his neck between her teeth. He felt the press of her fangs as she bit down swiftly, and he pulled his hand from her shoulder to grip the headboard, giving himself more leverage. The bed knocked into the wall with the force of their movements. He ground his teeth together when she purred with her fangs in his throat and pleasurable vibrations coursed down his spine.

  His body flexed against hers as she bucked her hips, releasing her hold on his neck and groaning. She let go of his waist and pressed her feet against the bed, opening her hips as her pussy clutched him rhythmically. She gripped his shoulders and gazed up at him, her fangs glistening, her panting breaths fanning his skin.

  Her nails pierced his skin a heartbeat before she threw back her head and shouted, her pussy locking down on his dick like a fist. He let go of his tight hold on his climax and roared as he came. He wrapped his arms around her as his dick spasmed and emptied into her. They were both slick with sweat and shivering. The scent of their combined pleasure was a drug he knew he’d never get enough of.

  He rolled them to their sides, keeping as close to her as he could. She rested her cheek on his bicep and exhaled deeply.

  “You rocked my world, kitten,” he said, his voice hoarse from the roar that had come from somewhere deep inside him.

  “Me too,” she said. Her eyes were back to their normal chocolate brown, lovely and bright with happiness.

  She yawned and rubbed her cheek on his bicep.

  He reached for the covers and drew them up, then kissed her forehead. “Sleepy, sweetheart?”

  She murmured in agreement.

  He wanted to ask her a million questions, until he knew her better than anyone in the world, but the desire to see to her needs was more powerful. “Sweet dreams, mate,” he whispered, closing his eyes and relaxing in the knowledge that his mate would be there when he woke.

  Chapter 7

  Genesis slipped out of her mate’s arms and hurried from the room. She found the bathroom across from the bedroom and used the toilet. After washing her hands, she peeked into the bedroom and saw that Jair was still sleeping. Tiptoeing to the pile of clothes on the floor, she lifted her panties and stifled a groan to see that they were torn. She picked up his t-shirt and tugged it on instead of her own clothes, since the shirt was long enough to cover her butt. She didn’t plan to be gone from bed too long, anyway.

  Hurrying to the kitchen, she found it entirely lacking of anything except a microwave and fridge. No coffee pot or toaster sat on the yellow counter. Guessing that he didn’t do much cooking, she opened the fridge and found it to be very typically male: stocked with mostly beer and meat.

  Digging through a drawer, she found a package of steaks and pulled it out, along with some bottled water. A well-used cast iron pan sat on the stove, and she turned the burner on underneath it and waited for it to heat up. When the steaks were sizzling and the scent of roasting meat filled the air, she twisted the top off a bottle of water and drank half without stopping.

  Poking at the steaks, she turned them and then walked through the kitchen into the family room. She lifted the blinds from the large front window and saw that the sun was rising. She couldn’t believe how her life had changed in just a single moment.

  Going to the bar with Mona and Dillon had started off straightforwardly enough. She met Bhric, keenly aware that he studied her closely, his gaze flitting down to her wrist and then up to her eyes.

  “It’s pretty simple here. Stay in our territory. If you go into the wolf or cougar territories, you could be hurt or killed, so don’t do it. Mona said you’ll be staying with them for a while. I’m arranging for you to have a place of your own, but at the moment we’re short on available homes. Don’t cause trouble, and if you need anything or if anyone gives you a hard time, come to me or Greer, my right hand.”

  She nodded at the big male. He looked scary – he was huge and muscular, with a scowl that looked like it could melt paint off the walls – but her cat was glad that someone so fierce had her back.

  Mona and Dillon led her to a table and they all sat down. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. Her cat was curious and wary of being near all these different types of shifters. Her normal had been all lynxes, all the time. The bar had so many varieties, though she hadn’t scented any other lynxes.

  “Do you want to dance?” Mona asked, patting her hand.

  “Not really. But you should.”

  Dillon stood and held his hand out to Mona. He glanced at Genesis and said, “Don’t let anyone hassle you. Just because you’re new and a purebred doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you.”

  “Why would people care that I’m a purebred?”

  His brow arched. “This is the land of misfit creatures. Being one single type of animal is unusual. But don’t worry. They can see you’re with us. I just want you to be aware that you’re new, and new people are a curiosity.”

  Trying to smile but grimacing instead, she waved Mona and Dillon away. A waitress, scenting of both wolf and cougar, came up and dropped off three beers.

  “I didn’t order anything,” Genesis said.

  The waitress winked. “On the house, from the boss.”

  She wasn’t much of a drinker, but she took a sip anyway, the cold brew making her shiver. It was warm outside, but it was cool in the bar. She shimmied from the table and walked toward the door. The moment she stepped outside, she’d met Jair and the world changed for her yet again. She’d had less than nothing before she walked out the door – no family, few friends, no money, no job – but in Jair’s arms she felt like she had everything she could ever want.

  Turning her attention back to the kitchen, she checked on the steaks and removed them from the heat. She placed them on a plate, grabbed utensils from a drawer, and tucked the water bottles under her arm, carrying everything into the bedroom. Jair was still sleeping, and she thought he looked even sexier that way, with his tousled hair and stubble on his cheeks.

  She set the
items down on the nightstand and cut a piece of steak. Then she climbed into bed next to Jair and waved the meat under his nose. He came awake with a purring growl, his eyes flashing with heat as he snagged the meat between his teeth.

  He chewed and swallowed, then kissed her. “You made breakfast? How did I sleep through that?”

  “I guess I wore you out,” she teased.

  She sat up and cut more of the meat, and he joined her, curling around her and stealing bites, feeding her more than he took for himself. He rubbed a bit of meat down her neck, licking the juice from her skin.

  He popped the bite into his mouth and kissed her throat. “Thank you for breakfast, sweetheart. You didn’t have to cook for me.”

  “I wanted to.” She set the utensils on the empty plate and turned to face him. “I want to be a good mate.”

  He smiled and kissed her gently. “You already are. And now it’s my turn to be a good mate to you.”

  Before she could ask what he meant, he climbed from the bed with her in his arms and carried her into the bathroom. He set her on the counter and turned the shower on. She parted her legs when he came to stand in front of her, and she grasped his lean hips and drew him close. Tilting her head up, she asked, “How’d I get so lucky to have such a sexy mate?”

  “I’m the lucky one.”

  “That sounds like an argument that ends up with both of us being winners.”

  He helped her from the counter and purred when she took off the shirt she wore. Shoving the shower curtain to the side, he held her hand as she stepped over the edge of the tub and under the hot spray. He joined her, taking up most of the room with his big body. He stared down at her in silence for a long moment.

  “Jair?”

  “I want to do like ten different things to you, but the hot water won’t last long, so I’m arguing with my beasts about getting clean.”

  She laughed. “Clean first, then dirty.”

  “I love how you think.”