Leap of the Lion Read online

  Gawain frowned. If merely the sound of his voice caused a response, she was well taken with the heat. He glanced at Donal, surprised neither of the males had led her to the tiny mating area they’d created.

  “Tynan and I waited, in case she wanted to start with her mentor,” Donal said softly.

  Gawain blinked. Setting aside the instinct to compete for a female’s favors in favor of keeping her comfortable showed impressive control as well as kindness.

  “That was a generous thought.” Gawain pushed down his own need to fight the others, to prove himself worthy of mating this beautiful cat. As the other males rose, he stepped to Darcy’s right side, leaving room for them.

  Under the silvery moonlight, Tynan knelt in front of Darcy with Donal to his left.

  “Sweetling,” Gawain murmured and went down on one knee on the other side. “I love seeing you in the moonlight.”

  Darcy’s hair streamed down her back like a midnight river, and he ran his hand over it. Thick as a winter pelt. Her big eyes were wells of darkness as she looked at him. When he stroked the wayward locks from her face, he heard her swift inhalation.

  “Gawain,” she whispered. “I feel so strange.”

  His imagination tried to give him an idea of what she must be feeling. He knew it was something akin to what a male felt when he wanted a female and discovered she was interested in him. Perhaps very similar to what he felt now as his cock rose and throbbed with urgency, as the skin on his body felt abraded, as his palms itched to run over her soft curves. Shoving his need down, he glanced at Tynan.

  The cop nodded and took Darcy’s hand.

  When her fingers curled around the wolf’s hand, Gawain had to suppress a growl. Mine.

  “Your body wants to mate, lass.” Tynan kissed her fingers. “I would love to spend this time with you, but the choice is yours. Is there a male here ye fancy?” Tynan motioned to Gawain, Donal, and himself.

  “No. I don’t want…” Darcy shook her head. “That’s a lie. I do want.”

  Gawain smiled. How rare to find someone who faced up to his or her own feelings and even admitted them aloud? He motioned for Donal to speak.

  “Darcy, the choice is yours.” Donal stroked her bare leg, letting her feel his skin, catch his scent. “You’re an amazing female, and it would be a delight to be with you.”

  She leaned toward the healer, then stopped and looked at Gawain.

  Mine. Gawain took her hand, and rubbed his scent over her fingers, inhaling hers. A purr escaped him because she smelled like mossy forests and intoxicatingly female. “Pretty panther, I want you more than I can breathe. But the choice is yours.”

  The startled delight in her eyes was as charming as it was distressing. She’d never known the dance of flirtation, the give and take before mating, the growing anticipation in the day or so before the full moon. By the God and Goddess, damned if he wouldn’t do everything in his power to give her a first Gathering night to remember.

  They all would. Even his female-hating brother wouldn’t be able to hold out against her sweetness.

  She was starting to squirm, her color increasing. The scent of her arousal was heady. An experienced female would have already given in, chosen a male, and dragged him toward the mating rooms. But Darcy didn’t know enough to make a decision about her own needs, did she?

  “I want…” She didn’t release his fingers.

  A glance at the other two showed they agreed, and he realized he was purring louder.

  He kissed her palm, then her wrist, inhaling and savoring the increase in her interest. Rising slowly, he leaned forward and took her lips. Soft and yielding, opening to his. Her skin had a heady flavor, spurring a need to taste her…everywhere. Drawing back slightly, he looked into her eyes and saw only desire. For him.

  Darcy’s pulse thudded hard and fast in her ears. Each breath brought her the scent of the males—as intoxicating as the champagne she’d read about.

  And their voices. Tynan’s Irish lilt held the patter of a soft rain; Donal’s velvety smooth voice was a slow, sliding caress.

  Gawain’s resonant voice was the rumbling of a thunderstorm that shook her to the bone.

  She gripped his hand, feeling the calluses. Those strong hands created useful, beautiful tools. And he could call upon the Mother of All. She’d never met anyone like him.

  With each breath, she caught his scent—the wild musk of a male cat shifter with a tantalizing hint of smoke and metal. His shoulders were thick with muscle. Curly brown hair covered his broad chest, not quite hiding the flat male nipples, then narrowed to a line down his ridged stomach until reaching…

  Startled, she jerked her gaze back up.

  “Yes, I’m interested in mating,” he said gently and drew her to her feet. The strength of his arm that curled around her waist made her knees go weak.

  He led her away from the fire to a tiny clearing, one barely large enough for the moon to illuminate the grassy space.

  “What…what do I need to do?” she asked as he sat and drew her down to straddle his lap. His erection pressed against her stomach and sent hot shivers through her.

  “You need to kiss me, sweetling,” he whispered. His big hand tangled in her hair and pulled her closer, until her mouth touched his. His lips were gentle, teasing, skilled.

  Her breasts pushed against him, and his chest hair teased her nipples to an aching hardness. The entire world seemed as if it were tilting, so she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on.

  He covered one breast with his hand and deepened the kiss. When he cupped the back of her head, holding her firmly as his tongue plunged in, the feeling of being taken swamped her senses.

  Desire was a rising tide within her, sweeping everything before it, scouring away every thought and concern.

  He moved, laying her on her back in the grass, and knelt beside her. His straight hair hung loose, shadowing his chiseled features. “You are so beautiful.”

  Was she? She hadn’t wanted to be beautiful, hadn’t wanted to attract human attention, but now…she wanted to be beautiful for him. To please him. “So are you,” she whispered and made him laugh.

  His low baritone melted her bones into hot puddles.

  His lips grazed down her cheek, her neck, her upper breasts, and when his hot mouth closed on one nipple, the exquisite sensation was too much.

  A tremor ran up her spine, and the urgency in her core grew and grew. “I need…” She couldn’t find the words. “I need.”

  “I know, catling,” he murmured. “But have you had a male inside you before? Ever?”

  “N-no.” What did that matter? Inside? All of her seemed to chime at that word. “Inside. Yes. That’s what I want.

  His chuckle made her center clench. Should any male have such an amazing voice?

  “Let me get you a bit more ready.”

  He didn’t understand. She was perfectly ready and needed…something. Him. Now.

  Running his hand down her stomach, he touched her private area and slid a finger between her folds. The intense pleasure stole the very air from her lungs.

  His finger swirled around and around in her slickness, each movement a shooting star of ecstasy. He pressed a finger inside her—oh, such a feeling.

  One finger was in, but when he tried to add another, she felt an uncomfortable pressure, as if her body was denying him entry.

  No, let him in.

  Her body was vibrating like an overheated motor, whining with effort. Need more. She closed a hand over his cock. Oh, amazing. How could anything have an inner iron core and such velvety skin outside? She tried to pull him to her.

  “Goddess help me, you test my control,” he murmured. “No, sweetling, I’m going to make everything soft and ready, first.”

  To her frustration, he removed his cock from her hand, spread her legs widely apart, and moved to kneel between her knees.

  “Gawain…”

  He brushed his soft beard over her inner thighs, making her trembl
e. Then…his tongue licked over her clit.

  Oh Gods. She gasped, and her core clenched in a way that spread smoldering heat along every nerve.

  He didn’t stop. His hot, wet tongue teased the tiny nub until her thighs were trembling, until the coil of pressure at her core tensed more and more.

  Need him inside. Gripping his long hair, she tried to pull him up her body, to make him use his cock, but his huge hands stayed closed around her hips, holding her immobile as he swirled his tongue in big circles around her clit and entrance.

  A pulse pounded in her head, and her urgency grew until all else disappeared under the sensation of his tongue.

  Slowly every muscle in her body grew taut. Her hands fisted in his hair. Even her breathing stopped.

  He chuckled again and set his tongue right on top of the swollen nub of nerves—and wiggled.

  The amazing sensation sank deep, deep to her center, expanded—and slammed through her like a massive wave, and sheer, unadulterated pleasure flooded every muscle and cell in her body.

  Helpless in the mage’s implacable grip, her hips tried and tried to buck, but his tongue never ceased until he’d pulled the last spasm from her.

  Her muscles went limp.

  She was still gasping for air when he eased himself down beside her. Propping his head up on his hand, he studied her.

  Her arm shook as she lifted her hand to caress his lean cheek, stroke the soft, short beard, and touch the hidden cleft in his chin.

  Her scent mingled with his—and an additional fragrance. From sex? She frowned—tried to frown, although her lips kept curving into a pleased smile. “That wasn’t what I thought happened during a mating.”

  The moonlight showed his slow grin. “Everything can happen during a mating, pretty panther. Although eventually we do have to join, there can be many other…additions.”

  “But I feel fine now. I don’t…um…” Her mind felt clear again—and with a jolt, she realized he’d given her wonderful pleasure, and she hadn’t done a thing for him. That wasn’t right. “Can I do…? Will you tell me how to make you feel good, too?”

  The corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile. “We’re not finished yet. Just resting for a moment.”

  A rest sounded fine. Although the seething heat of her body had disappeared, Gawain was pressed against her closely enough to keep her warm. His free hand stroked her hips, stomach, and breasts as though he enjoyed simply petting her.

  “You can do that as long as you want,” she said. The prìosan had kept the captives from speaking or touching, leaving her feeling like a spindly plant deprived of the sun. How she’d longed for someone to pat her arm, kiss her cheek, hug her—anything. Now, as he caressed her, she basked in the joy of being touched.

  She could touch in return.

  Holding her breath, she ran a hand up his thickly muscled forearm to trace the bulge of his biceps, the bisected muscles over his shoulder, the… A tingling grew, deep within her. The air warmed, and she looked to see if the bonfire had moved. Her breasts began to ache.

  As her nipples bunched under his palm, he paused.

  “Gawain?” She didn’t have the vocabulary to ask him what was happening.

  “Easy, sweetling. Under a full moon, you’ll come into your need several times.”

  “More?”

  “Lots more.” As he kissed her, he moved on top of her until his rock-hard body covered hers, and his legs were between hers. The head of his shaft pressed against her entrance before he slid it in her wetness and over her clit.

  Tremors of excitement shook her.

  “This time, I’m going to take you—and since it’s your first time, it will probably hurt some. I’m sorry for that, sweetling.”

  Although she nodded, fear curled inside her. Fenella had screamed when the human forced himself into her. The pain must be horrendous. But this…this wouldn’t be the same, would it? As urgency burned within her, she couldn’t think. But she trusted Gawain. She did.

  “I’m ready.”

  “Not yet, but you will be.” He shifted to one side, and his fingers circled her clit again. Hunger raged through her, even as he took her lips in a kiss. As his weight pressed her down into the soft grass, his shoulder muscles were bunched hard under her hands. His tongue teased her lips; his fingers teased her clit.

  Sensations engulfed her and filled her. As her excitement grew, her hips lifted, trying to meet the cock she had to have.

  “Gawain.” Her voice came out a whine. A demand.

  “Yes, catling, it’s time.” He gripped his cock, set it against her entrance, and pressed—met the barrier—and mercilessly drove through.

  Torn. The shocking pain seized her. Digging her fingers into his shoulders, she bit back a scream.

  He was inside her, huge and throbbing, filling her until she wasn’t sure she could draw a breath.

  But…he didn’t move. Braced on knees and forearms, he kept his weight from smothering her. His gaze was on her face, a weight of a different kind. “Breathe, pretty panther.”

  The order slid into her, and she pulled in a breath, then another.

  He nuzzled her cheek, kissed her temple. His hips remained immobile.

  Although her core still throbbed around the intrusion, the pain eased from burning to a mild stinging. And then the feeling changed… Her center contracted around him as her clit wakened again. She tried to rub the nub of nerves against him, to ease the craving.

  His smile appeared. “Now you’re ready.”

  He eased out. The tiny burst of pain disappeared under the slickly wonderful friction. Slowly, he slid in and out, each time moving deeper. Filling her fuller. Desire bubbled upward in an amazing broth.

  “More,” she whispered. Demanded. Dug her fingernails into his shoulders.

  He chuckled. “All right.” Gradually he increased the speed, and oh, sweet Mother, it was heavenly.

  Everything in her body was celebrating the feeling of being filled and fulfilled.

  Lifting his head, he looked in her eyes, reached down, and touched her clit.

  As his finger slid over and around it, as his cock plunged in, pulled out, and plunged in, her center clenched, tightened, and exploded into overwhelming sensation. “Oh, oh, oooh.” Each wave hit the heavy shaft within her, setting off more and more detonations until she was drowning in an ocean of pleasure.

  His erection grew thicker as he hammered into her, fast and forceful. Then his shaft pressed deep, ever so deep within her, and filled her with heat.

  This time the rippling pleasure was so intense that it seared every cell in her body. His huge body pressed her into the ground, his cock filled her completely, and all she could do was grip his shoulders and shudder with the waves of sensation.

  Sometime later, when the roaring in her ears lessened, she heard his rumbling laugh.

  “What?” she mumbled.

  “Thank you, sweetling, for sharing with me.” He moved to her side and grinned when she whimpered at losing both his weight and his cock. Taking her hand, he kissed her fingers. “I’ve never enjoyed being with anyone more.”

  “Oh.” The warmth of his compliment was in an entirely different class from desire—and yet much the same. “Thank you for being so patient.” Would any other male have been as careful? As caring?

  “My pleasure.” He kissed her slowly, taking his time, as if to show her he liked her as much after mating as he had before.

  When he lifted his head, she ran her hand over his arm and, as always, was surprised at the hardness of the muscles there. “Now what?”

  “Now we clean up in the stream, settle by the fire, and chat with the others.”

  Why did she get the impression he wasn’t saying everything. Hadn’t he said a female took more than one male? She gave him a suspicious look.

  “Easy, sweetling. You simply do what comes naturally. This isn’t a night where thinking will do you any good.”

  Not think? That would be the day. She gave a re
signed sigh. “All right.”

  As he pulled her to her feet, she looked up and saw the moon glowing above, full and round and beautiful.

  Chapter Sixteen

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  Later that night, Tynan carried the small female away from the campfire. The moon had traveled far enough to shine fully into the small mating area.

  Tynan laid Darcy gently on the soft grass and covered her with his body, sharing his warmth. This far up in the mountains, the nights were far too cold to be in a naked human form. Bracing himself on a forearm, he smiled down at her. Olive skin, black hair and eyes. He wondered if she had some of the old Romani blood that had come to the islands with the Travelers. Gypsies they’d been called in the old days. He’d met many when he was fostered in Ireland.

  She set her hands on his shoulders, and her eyes were as dark as the night sky. “Tynan.”

  “Yes, lass?”

  “When does this stop?” She pressed her face against his chest with a soft moan.

  Pity slid through him. Although her body wanted to mate, her mind was obviously in a tangle.

  He understood, having spent the last decade fighting his own body, living in Seattle, rather than a forest where he belonged. “The heat will disappear at moonset.” A glance at the sky told him that she had a while to go. Gawain had said Owen would return, so the little female would have another male to see to her needs if she wished.

  And for the next few minutes, he would enjoy satisfying her. She was small and delightfully built, fragrant with her arousal, and sweet, as well. He stroked her cheek, down her neck, and captured a firm, round breast. The way she arched into his hand made him smile. As he kissed her swollen, ripe lips, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

  Even if his schedule had permitted travel to Gatherings, he rarely visited shifter towns. Any law enforcement officer knew how easily a tech-savvy hunter could track someone through satellites, GPS devices, and street cameras. No one suspected he was Daonain, but that could change the moment he put a paw wrong. He’d leave no back trail to be sniffed out.

  Yet he’d missed attending Gatherings and spending time with Daonain females.