Free Animal Urges [Erotic Gems] by Emma Hillman

Chapter One
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    "What are you doing here?” Caleb took a step back as soon as he spotted Jess in the bathroom. Of course, he was in the shower so he didn't go very far.
    "I can feel your pain. It started hours ago but it's still there, isn't it?"
    "I'm fine."
    She snorted. “Sure, you're fine. That's why you're standing completely dressed in the shower. Look at you!"
    He gazed down at himself and winced at the sight of his drenched clothes. “I'm okay, baby. Stop worrying about me. You should leave. We're not supposed to be together until tomorrow, and if someone sees us..."
    She cut him off. “I can't leave you here like this."
    "Sure, you can."
    She crossed her arms over her chest. “I can't. You're hurting."
    He sighed and brushed his hand through his wet hair. “You know how I get when it's so close to the full moon. I just have to hold on until tomorrow and I'll be fine. Let me handle this, okay?"
    Jess sighed. One day before their wedding and he was already reverting to his old ways. “Haven't we talked about this, Caleb? We're a team now. If you have a problem, I can help.” She watched as he frowned, clearly undecided. He really was too used to being on his own. He'd been his Leap's Alpha for a decade before she'd even met him; but now, he had her, and he really needed to remember it. “Please, Cal, let me help you. What can I do?"
    A full-body shudder racked him, and he held on to the tiled wall for purchase. His fingers elongated, sharp claws popping out with a wicked sound. He grunted, held himself still and they disappeared, but it'd clearly cost him. Unable to see him hurting and not do something, she stepped into the shower and wrapped her arms around his waist.
    He hid his face in the crook of her neck, his breath making her shiver. He was wet, but soon, so was she. I should have taken my clothes off beforehand, she thought as she suddenly remembered the linen pants she wore. They were undoubtedly ruined now. Never mind. He was more important.
    "Better?” she murmured, sliding her hands underneath his T-shirt and up the smooth skin of his back.
    "Yes,” he grudgingly replied. “I guess."
    "You guess?” She pulled back and put her hands on her hips. “What does that mean?"
    He looked down at her with a strange expression on his face.
    That's when it hit her. A sharp spike of arousal rushed through her, straight from the link that had grown between them. They might be getting married tomorrow, but they were already mated, had been since he'd rescued her from a mountain lion months ago. They were irrevocably tied together. Her breasts budded; her pussy clenched around an imaginary cock. That could only mean one thing...
    "You want to counteract the urge to go hunting with sex?” Was his control over his animal strong enough to attempt this? He'd been fighting his leopard for hours now, and of course, he looked more or less okay... She still didn't want him to hurt even more because of her.
    "It would please my leopard.” He cupped her face in both hands, his gaze locking on hers.
    "Are you sure? I thought your animal craved blood more than anything this close to the full moon."
    "Sex is just as good, baby."
    "But you love going hunting.” He wasn't their Alpha for nothing.
    His voice was solemn when he said, “You know I'd trade the hunt for you any day. You're more important to me than anything else."
    "Oh.” Her eyes watered, but she pushed the tears back. He really had to stop springing surprise declarations on her like that. She was already weak just remembering his proposal from the week before. “I love you,” she said, her heart feeling too small for what she was experiencing.
    He lowered his head and whispered against her mouth, “I love you, too. So much.” He kissed her then, the caress starting soft but growing unruly fast. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall, away from the spray of water. And then, he started stripping.
    He struggled with his