around him. He kept stroking her, kept thrusting into her ass. Her body heaved each time he flicked a finger over her clit. âDonât stop moving until I tell you to. Come for me again.â
Her hair fell forward as she bowed her back to work herself harder on his cock. The movement revealed the mate mark on her napeâthe only scar that a Panther could keep. Sleep healed them of all other wounds. The magic of their race didnât grant them longer life than a regular human, but it did guarantee them extraordinarily good health for the years they had. Ciriâs back arched, and possession swamped him. His. She wore his mark. She was his in the most fundamental claiming of their kind.
The thought made him explode. His body locked in a tight line and he jetted come into her ass. He pinched her clit hard, and she sobbed, shaking as another orgasm thrummed through her. The clench of her muscles around his cock just dragging the sensations out for him. It was perfect. Being with her like this was the only time in his life when everything felt right, when he didnât have to fight to prove himself.
Unfortunately, it didnât last beyond the time it took reality to return and all the problems to resurface and begin nagging at the back of his mind. He sighed as his high crashed. Wrapping his arms around her, he rested his forehead between her shoulder blades. âAre you okay?â
âYes, that was good.â
He chuckled, kissed her soft skin. âIâm glad you liked it.â
âDidnât you?â
Purring softly, he repeated her own words to her. âYou canât tell?â
Whatever she might have said was drowned out when the cell phone in his pocket blasted out a loud samba. He released her and dropped his head back against the couch. It was a repeat of earlier. âShit.â
âDonât pick up the phone.â The soft plea in her voice broke his heart.
âI wonât.â He sighed, stroking a hand down her naked back. âBut you know Father will just call back.â
âI know. Just forget I said anything. Iâm sure whatever he wants is more important than this.â She lifted herself off of his lap as the phone stopped ringing. The silence would only be temporary. He pushed to his feet, tossing aside what remained of his clothes.
Twirling her into a dance as the phone began the samba again, he spun her into the bedroom. âIâm not going to forget about it. Weâre going to talk. After we have a shower.â
âArgue, you mean.â She clutched at his shoulders when he dipped her backward over his arm.
âIf thatâs what it takes.â Better than her being upset and hiding it behind a wall of insufferable calm. He rolled his hips in a dance move, then swung them both around until they reached the bathroom. The tiles were a cold shock against his feet. âLetâs get cleaned up first, then weâll worry about other things.â
She didnât want to fight.
They stood under the hot spray of water, washing away reminders of the sex theyâd had on the couch. What she wouldnât give to go back to that uncomplicated moment. That seemed to be all she wantedâless complication. She didnât see why that was so wrong.
The water ran down her body, and she couldnât help but recall this was her third shower of the day. After sheâd left Tomas in his office, she had run into Isabel, who noticed something was wrong and dragged her into the kitchens to have tea. Isabelâs domain was always a comforting place to be, and the other woman had a quietness that Ciri liked. While they were sipping tea together, Ben had joined them. Neither of them mentioned that she smelled of sex and fear. Instead, Isabel filled them with tea and sweets while Ben pulled out his laptop to show them the pictures heâd taken. It wasnât as odd as she would have expected to have a non-shifter spend time