Lion in the Shadows Read online

  The lion! The same one she’d faced on the ledge inside the cave—she was sure of it. It didn’t make sense. Suddenly, she understood.

  This is a dream—this isn’t really happening!

  She relaxed fractionally. The cat leaned down to sniff the bedding wound around her legs. This close, she noted the coarseness of its golden-beige fur, the black smudges that topped each of the hooded claws, the dark markings that transformed its face into a sinister mask.

  Even knowing it was just a dream, terror clamored for her to move, to flee, but her body was paralyzed for the moment. She whimpered deep inside her throat, and the cat’s head jerked up.

  For a moment, its face shimmered and reshaped into that of a man—his expression no less feral. His long black-brown hair framed a well-tanned face. His features declared him an Indian—high, sharp cheekbones, a broad nose with a slight hook, a straight slash of copper lips, eyes so dark the pupils were indistinguishable from the irises.

  Then as quickly as the vision had formed, the face was once again the lion’s, the white tips of its fangs visible below the line of its upper lip.

  The purring grew louder, echoing around the walls and the ceiling of her bedroom, until the vibration made her body tremble.

  Perhaps, if she held very still, it would lose interest and leave—or better, she could wake from this nightmare. But neither happened. The cat sniffed at her, following the line of her legs beneath the sheet until it reached the edge tucked around her hips.

  His hot breath fanned over her skin, and Lani gasped at the sensual quickening that gripped her body. His tongue flickered out, raspy and wide, to lap the top of her hip.

  Her breath caught on a ragged hitch. She closed her eyes and fought her body’s instant reaction. But heat curled in her belly, releasing a wash of desire that flooded her pussy. Her nipples beaded, tight and aching.

  This is a dream. Just a dream! That was all she could think to explain her physical reactions.

  Her legs moved restlessly, opening against her will, and the cat shifted, stepping in between.

  Then fingers dragged down the sheet, grazing her skin, to expose her glazed and pulsing sex.

  Lani’s eyes shot open. The Indian knelt between her legs now, both hands coming up the inside of her thighs. His fingers spread open the folds of her pussy, and he stared at her glistening flesh.

  She moaned a protest, but only the softest whimper escaped her mouth.

  He bent over her and lapped at her exposed cunt, his tongue as raspy and hot as the cat’s. The purring started again from deep inside the man and vibrated on her flesh. His tongue tunneled into her, drinking her desire.

  No! she screamed inside her mind, but her body was already undulating, her knees coming up and splaying wide, encouraging him to delve deeper into her body. Rafe! she cried inside, but she couldn’t resist the heat at her core that made her body tremble and writhe uncontrollably.

  While his cat’s tongue lapped and scraped, the Indian moved his hands beneath her to cup her bottom. They were rough with calluses, and his grip was strong. Another gush of desire seeped from her to meet his tongue and trickle lower.

  Lani lifted her legs high, and her feet came off the bed. Her hips tilted to capture the fullness of his caresses.

  With a final lap deep into her pussy, he withdrew and licked and nibbled at her sex, sucking her lips into his mouth, chewing gently, until she jerked on the bed, so close to exploding she was mindless with desire. Then his tongue swept lower, and Lani mewled, her whole body shaking.

  He circled her asshole, the odd sandpaper texture only heightening the excitement that threatened to devour her. When his fingers pressed on either side of her anus to open her ever so slightly, she sobbed. His raspy tongue dipped into her again and again, and her head thrashed on the pillows.

  Her hands crept between her legs, and her fingers threaded through his long hair, clutching him closer.

  A snarl startled her, and she found herself flipped onto her belly. His calloused hands encircled her to pull up her hips, and suddenly his thick cock drove deep into her pussy.

  Frightened yet exhilarated, Lani felt the stirring of an orgasm burst over her, unwinding at her core as he pounded fast and hard behind her, thrusting deep into her body. She rose on her hands, her back arching, and she pumped backward to meet his strokes.

  This is a dream—only a dream, she said to herself. But God, please don’t let it stop! He rocked against her bottom, hammering furiously, scooting her up the bed with the force of his strokes. His hands settled on her hips and squeezed hard.

  Moans tore from her throat, deep and guttural, punctuated by gusts each time he thrust. Sweat beaded on her skin and eased the gliding motion of their bodies as they moved together.

  As the tension in her belly wound tightly once more, he came over her, his body blanketing her back, his hands sliding around her belly and down to the juncture of her thighs to tug and massage her pussy.

  He nuzzled her neck, and she arched, rubbing her head and the side of her face against him. His body was hard, his skin hot as a furnace. He was burning her alive.

  Then she felt the scrape of teeth at the back of her neck—long, sharp teeth that widened and clamped down. And his body was changing again, his slick flesh sprouting fur that chaffed erotically against her bottom and back.

  He was becoming the cat! But Lani was past the point of caring. Her vagina convulsed around his cock, rippling, milking his sex—her channel so engorged and drenched, it suctioned on him, pulling him deeper.

  The snarling grew louder as their bodies writhed together. With the first hot spurt of his come, Lani shattered, gasping for breath, trembling with each roiling convulsion of her core. When the throbbing dulled, she collapsed onto the bed, shuddering.

  Drugged with passion, her eyes closed.

  “Sweetheart,” Rafe’s voice murmured against her hair. His arms wrapped around her tightly, pulling her close to cradle her hips, his cock still snuggled deep inside her body.

  Lani had a last confused thought before she slept. When had her dream become reality?

  Chapter 4

  Showered and dressed, Rafe sat on the edge of the bed to tell Lani goodbye. He’d called the dispatcher earlier and wasn’t expected at the station. But he felt restless and decided to head to his office to read through the day’s reports, anyway.

  As he ruffled her hair, he smiled. She didn’t stir. Her head was buried between the pillows, and the sheets were tangled around her legs. He’d exhausted her—worn down her resistance, too.

  Feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks, he let himself think about their future. Babies, white picket fences, a lifetime of waking with her head on the pillow next to his.

  They still hadn’t had their conversation—the one where he’d learn the secrets that had kept them apart for so long, but he didn’t doubt it would happen soon. Lani loved him. He’d seen the truth shining in her eyes.

  He bent and pressed a kiss to her shoulder then grabbed his holster and strapped it to his waist. He’d call her later. Maybe he’d surprise her with dinner.

  Setting the latch to lock behind him, Rafe quietly closed the front door and headed to his cruiser. Gravel crunched beneath his boots, and he reached into his pocket to hit the remote to unlock the doors.

  The familiar soft snick of the lock was followed by an eerie growl.

  Rafe stopped dead in his tracks and slowly reached for the gun strapped to his side. The creature that had been on Lani’s porch that morning hadn’t moved very far, and if his guess was right, it was a puma—a second in as many days?

  With his weapon held in front of him, Rafe carefully skirted the front of his sedan. The large cat sat on its haunches next to the driver’s door.

  In addition to the low growl coming from its throat, the mountain lion’s tail twitched, a certain sign of its agitation. Rafe swore under his breath. He ought to shoot it. An animal unafraid of human contact was more than a nuisance, but
he’d never seen a mountain lion outside a zoo’s cage. Perhaps, he could warn it away, and then he’d notify the fish and wildlife boys, so they could set traps to relocate it.

  He raised his weapon and fired off a shot into the air.

  The cat didn’t so much as flinch at the loud explosion. With an arrogant twitch of its long, tufted tail, it turned and ran, seeming to melt into the bushes and tall grass just beyond the border of Lani’s yard.

  Rafe let out a sigh.

  “What the hell was that all about?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. Lani stood on the porch, dressed in a silky robe, the edges held together in one fist with the ties dangling. Her pale hair was tangled, her lips still blurred and red from his kisses. Her long legs tempted his gaze to roam lower. Damn, if his body wasn’t responding already.

  “Sorry about that,” he said, giving her a lopsided smile. “Did you see him?”

  “See what?”

  “The mountain lion.”

  Her face blanched white. “There was a lion here?”

  “Right next to the cruiser. And I think he was on your porch earlier this morning.” He slid his gun back into his holster and walked over to her. He climbed the first step, and then slid his arms around her waist. “Don’t worry. I chased him off.”

  Lani stood stiffly inside his arms. “It’s too damn weird. First, the one inside the cave, then this…and I had a dream.”

  He pulled away and looked down into her face. Her eyes were wide, her mouth pinched. “Look, I know we’re both rattled by what happened yesterday. Hell, I dreamt about a mountain lion, too. “

  “I bet your dream wasn’t anything like mine,” she murmured, her gaze sliding from his. Color flooded her cheeks.

  The rosy glow intrigued him. “Oh? My cat ripped the throat out of a man hiding in the cave. What did yours do?”

  Her face twisted in disgust. “Nothing so gory.” The color deepened.

  “Hmm.” Amused by her embarrassment, his hands slid down her back to cup her buttocks. “Maybe you should stay indoors today—or I might get jealous of that ole tomcat.”

  She shoved half-heartedly at his chest. “You’re impossible. Is everything about sex?”

  “I’m a guy. But judging from your blushes, I’d guess I scored a hit.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “I’m not telling.”

  “You don’t have to. Your body’s melting all over me.”

  “You’re…” she sputtered, “…impossible. And I’m still not telling.” Her lips curved into a sly grin. “Besides, the Indian in my dream was pretty damn sexy, too.”

  Rafe held himself perfectly still. She’d dreamt of an Indian? “Baby, it’s been a strange couple of days. Do me a favor, will you?”

  Her arms came around him. “What?” She nudged the open collar of his shirt with her nose and pressed a soft kiss against his neck.

  Spontaneous affection from Lani was a rare treat. He tightened his hold. An uneasy premonition crackled in the air around him. “Stay inside today and lock your doors.”

  Lani leaned back to stare into his face. “Lock my doors? That’s not what you wanted yesterday. Besides, I’m in the boonies here. I’m safe.”

  “From the two-legged critters, maybe. Just humor me.”

  “And if I need to go to the fire station?”

  “Then don’t linger getting to your truck. It wouldn’t hurt to put some bullets in that shotgun gathering dust in your broom closet either.”

  Her expression grew wary. “You’re scaring me.”

  He sighed and pressed his forehead against hers. “Just humor me, huh?”

  “All right. I’ll keep an eye out.” Her hands traveled up his back, drawing her chest flush with his. “And I’ll clean the shotgun. I’ll also find the bullets—but I’d really rather not load it unless I have to.”

  “Fair enough.” His own hands stroked and kneaded the muscles of her lower back. “I’ll see you at dinner?”

  Her eyelids swept down before rising to give him a coy look. “You think you can go another round?”

  He squeezed her lush bottom. “Baby, with you I think I’m Superman.”

  “You are.” She groaned, and her expression tightened. “Last night…”

  “Yeah, it was like that for me, too.” He kissed her hard. “Don’t look at me like that, or I’ll remember you aren’t wearing a thing under that scrap of silk.”

  “You mean, you could be tempted?” Her voice dropped to a sexy drawl that curled his toes inside his boots.

  “You know damn well all you have to do is crook your little finger—”

  “Like this?” she said, scraping her finger along the underside of his chin. She gave him another sexy look from under her lashes. “Wanna frisk me, Sheriff?”

  His cock filled instantly, pressing hard against the placket of his uniform pants. No way could he sit in a cruiser now. “Ever done it on your porch?”

  Her mouth opened, but her eyes widened—the little vixen was intrigued.

  He narrowed his eyes in challenge and unbuckled his gun belt. “Take off the robe.”

  Lani stared at Rafe. With his dark, leanly muscled good looks, standing there in his sheriff’s uniform—crisp tan and black, knife-edged creases, shiny badge and buckle—he was any woman’s wet dream. And all hers to play with.

  Wondering at her temerity, she took a step backward and shrugged out of her robe, letting it pool on the porch, and then waited for him to make the next move.

  His hands were already opening his pants and sliding down his zipper. “Turn around and hold onto the rail,” he said, his voice a scratchy purr.

  Moisture pooled between her legs. She turned and grabbed the wooden rail.

  When his hands closed on the top of her hips, she jumped and let out a nervous laugh. He was going to do her right here in broad daylight. Never mind the graveled driveway was off the road with trees and bushes to hide the view of the porch.

  Anyone could come across them. The mailman could deliver a package to her door. One of the guys from the station house could drop by to say hello.

  But here she was, naked as a newborn, the hot sun kissing her breasts—hell, all her parts.

  His hands smoothed over her buttocks and squeezed. Then a finger slid down the crease separating them.

  She grew rigid with alarm and tried to pull away.

  “Has anyone ever kissed you here?”

  She almost said, “You did—last night.” Had last night only been a dream? But if that dream was anything approaching reality she wanted more. “Nuh-uh,” she denied, suddenly breathless.

  He pressed his mouth to one cheek of her ass and gave her a wet, open-mouthed kiss. Then his tongue slid below and traced the line where her thigh and buttock met.

  Lani couldn’t help herself. She leaned forward, groaning.

  Rafe gave a dry chuckle. “Like that, do you?” He caressed her bottom, providing her all the approval and encouragement she needed to raise her bottom higher to accept the next caress.

  She wished she could tell him she wanted more than a kiss. But how could she tell him the man in her dream had done a lot more without sounding like a liar or an idiot?

  Thankfully, Rafe was far from finished. He pushed at her shoulders until she leaned far over the railing then he gently nudged apart her legs. “I’m gonna know every secret you’ve got, baby. There won’t be a part of your body that doesn’t know what it feels like to be claimed by me.” Then his tongue swept between her legs, glancing over her juicy pussy to sweep higher over her asshole.

  Lani rose on her tiptoes, bent as far as she could to give him free access to every aching part of her.

  His wicked tongue lingered over her anus, fluttering at the opening, poking at it, teasing her until she squirmed. Smooth, not raspy like the Indian’s, nonetheless his wet caress drove her crazy.

  His hands closed around each cheek and held them apart. “I’m gonna fuck this, Lani.”

  “Please,” she gasped,
so hot for it, her pleasure ran down her thighs.

  “No one’s been inside your pretty little hole?”

  “No one’s fucked it,” she said truthfully, liking the nasty words.

  He rose behind her, and his cock slid between her legs. “You’re so wet,” he whispered in her ear. “Let’s not waste this honey.” Then he pushed inside her cunt, stroking side-to-side, gliding deep twice before pulling out.

  Lani pushed back to take him inside again, but he bit her shoulder. So like the cat—but not. She moaned.

  Then his hands spread her buttocks again, and the thick round head of his cock nudged her asshole.

  Lani whimpered. The crown was too thick—he’d never fit. He continued to push, and the pressure grew unbearable. “No! Stop!”

  Her breath coming in shallow sobs, she felt moisture fall into the crease, and his fingers smoothed it around her entrance. Then something considerably smaller in circumference, pressed into her ass.

  His finger glided inside without resistance, twisting in and out. There was discomfort, but no real pain. Still, her asshole burned.

  “How’s that? Not too much?”

  “Better,” she whispered, feeling like a coward she was so relieved he’d stopped trying to push his cock in that particular hole.

  “Don’t get too comfortable there. We’re not done.” His cock came up between her legs again and slid between the folds of her pussy. At the same time, another finger pressed into her ass.

  Lani lurched, her mouth opening around a loud moan.

  “Is it too much?” he whispered.

  She was so overcome, all she could do was shake her head.

  “Good, girl. Ride me, baby.”

  Lani began shallow backward thrusts. Her cunt squeezed around his cock, needing him deeper, but her ass burned so she limited the depth of her movements. Soon, she grew frustrated. “Rafe, take out your fingers. Fuck my pussy with your cock.”