Cats Meow Page 9

  He faltered, appeared wary. She preferred him strong and confident. “I want everything, Micah. Make love to me.”

  He swallowed, hard, rose to his knees. A protest lingered on her lips, shattering as he pulled the elastic band from his hair and shook out the dark blond strands. With slow, deliberate motions he unbuttoned his shirt and uncovered his strong chest.

  Riveted, she stared as he stood to remove his socks and shoes. She held her breath when his long fingers paused at the waistband of his jeans, coming to rest next to the substantial bulge held captive by the denim.

  What is he waiting for? Her gaze shot upward, meeting his intense stare. Rebecca melted, her entire body going soft and liquid beneath the heat of his dark eyes.

  The rasp of his zipper was loud in the quiet room. She kept her eyes trained on his face, unable to glance away from the sexy determination etched into his solid jaw. He bent to take off his jeans, breaking eye contact, and allowing her gaze to lower.

  The man was a masterpiece, carved by a skilled artisan. Tall, broad-shouldered, classic V-shaped torso narrowing down to lean hips and strong legs. His thick cock hung heavily, a pearl of fluid beading at the head. Longing to taste him, she licked her lips, smiling when he groaned, “Later.”

  “You’re no fun.”

  He shrugged. “I showed you mine. Now it’s your turn. Spread your legs, baby. Show me that pretty pussy I’ve been dreaming about.”

  Feeling bold and powerful, Rebecca drew her knees up then let them fall to the side. He sucked in a harsh breath, driving her further. She trailed her hands over her body, stopping to shape her breasts and rub aching nipples before continuing on. He followed her movements as her fingers reached the juncture of her thighs.

  She circled her slick clit with a fingernail, pressing into her own touch, then dipped lower and spread herself wide while plunging two fingers deep. It was good, but not enough. She wanted more.

  “Micah,” she gasped. “Make love to me. I need your cock in me.” Her fingers moved faster, thrust harder.

  “Mine.”

  The guttural growl struck a chord of fear and excitement within her. Rebecca looked up at Micah, noting his elongated pupils. If she wasn’t mistaken, the downy blond hair covering his body had gotten thicker. Her worry about his screwed-up DNA had lingered at the back of her mind and now zoomed to the front. A frisson of unease trickled down her spine as he knelt between her widespread legs, his expression hard and savage.

  “Micah.”

  His gaze didn’t rise to meet hers, remaining on her pussy instead.

  “I’m up here.”

  That brought him up short, a sheepish smile gracing the curve of his sexy lips. “Yeah?”

  “Umm…that thing I said about letting go,” she bit her lip. “I’ve reconsidered. You change on me, go all hairy and feral while we’re making love, and I’ll—”

  What? What would she do? How the heck could she level a threat that would have any impact on a man more than twice her size?

  “You’ll do what, baby?” he prompted.

  An idea came to her and she went with it even though she didn’t have the surgical skills necessary to follow through on the threat. He wouldn’t know it to be a blatant lie.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, tried for an intimidating look but figured it failed when his smile grew. Irritating jerk!

  “I’ll neuter you.” She nodded, satisfied by his frown and furrowed brow. “You keep a tight leash on the lion, Micah. I’m serious!”

  He threw back his head and roared with laughter, shaking so hard she thought he might fall over. When he finally recovered, his response angered and embarrassed her. “Bestiality doesn’t do it for you?”

  She sat up, spine ramrod straight, put both palms on his chest and shoved. “That’s not funny!” He didn’t budge, but his laughter did end abruptly.

  “Whoa, don’t get upset, Becca.” His ran his hands up and down her arms in a soothing fashion. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed, but you looked so serious and I wasn’t expecting what you said. Created some pretty crazy images in my head.”

  Oh great. Now she had some wild visuals forming in her mind and had to fight back her own smile.

  She didn’t resist as he laid her back on the rug. “If I start to shift you can shoot me with the tranq gun, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Seeing you bare and spread open for me…damn, baby. Drives me wild. Not the lion, Becca. Me.”

  He took her hand, wrapping her fingers around his warm cock, which was harder than steel. She tightened her grip and stroked him from base to crest, his rough groan restoring her confidence. “Come up here. I want to taste you.”

  “Uh-uh. My sweet tooth is craving you.”

  She affected an innocent smile and batted her eyelashes at him. “Why can’t we both have what we want?”

  His eyes darkened, shimmered. The pupils elongating again, but this time she wasn’t afraid, realizing it meant she’d turned him on. “I love the way your mind works!” His breathing became more shallow, and she noticed a plump vein in his forehead pulsing.

  The obvious signs of his increased arousal stimulated her own. Muscles softened and her blood turned hotter than molten lava, flooding her erogenous zones.

  Micah captured her mouth in a scorching-hot kiss that had her toes curling into the rug as she pressed tight against him. He stole her breath, replaced it with his own. Their tongues tangled, tasted, demanded more until the necessity for oxygen broke them apart.

  Catching him off guard, putting all her strength into the movement, Rebecca rolled them over. Once on top, she turned, straddled his face and playfully wiggled her ass.

  Hell yeah! The position gave Micah a great view of her wet, pink folds. Her puffy little clit peeked out from beneath its hood, a temptation he didn’t even try to resist.

  He grasped her hips, preparing to settle in for a nice, long feast. Becca, having the same intention, sucked his cock into her mouth, taking him deep. He gasped, swore, struggled not to come as she sucked hard and teased his most sensitive spots with her devilish tongue.

  “Jesus, ease up, Becca. I want this to last more than ten seconds.”

  She mumbled something around his dick and the vibrations nearly did him in. Bolts of fiery lightning seared his spine, and his balls tensed. Micah gritted his teeth, clamped his eyes shut and fought his body’s instinctive urge to thrust. He wasn’t able to participate until she came up for air.

  Pulling her hips, he launched an equally devastating sensual assault on her senses. He followed a simple battle plan—give her as much pleasure as possible. He started off with slow, tender licks, letting her salty-sweet flavor explode over his tongue. Allowing the intensity to build, he followed her direction, paying attention to what elicited the strongest response.

  Rebecca gave no quarter, showering him with lavish attention, driving him to an edge he refused to cross. Not before her.

  The instant she tensed, the walls of her pussy spasming, her cries rising to the rafters, he let go, following her into ecstasy. She drank down every drop of his release before collapsing, draped over his chest, right where she belonged.

  If he could manage not to mess things up and keep her there, he stood a chance at grabbing the brass ring.

  Rebecca continued to surprise and delight him with new discoveries. His release took the edge off, but Micah still craved something deeper. Something…more.

  She took the lead again, guided him into loose and lazy movements. It started with sweet arousal, made a slow and steady climb to a deep intimacy he’d never known had been lacking. There was no rush to reach the finish line. The ultimate goal wasn’t to get off. None of the frantic, wild, pounding sex he’d found so pleasurable in the past.

  Becca touched him in ways no other ever had. In her warm embrace he learned the meaning of making love. The strong connection forged with each measured, deliberate joining. The soul-deep sharing of emotions through shared passion. The satisfaction of bringi
ng each other to a pleasurable release.

  She taught him what it meant to fall in love.

  Hell if that wasn’t some scary shit!

  After they recovered, Micah reheated their dinner. The chili, which had smelled so good and stirred her appetite an hour before, now made Rebecca’s stomach churn. Sitting before a warm fire, naked, wrapped up in a quilt with Micah should have put her in a romantic mood. It would have if her conscience hadn’t picked that moment to kick into high gear and start gnawing on her insides.

  She gave up the pretense of eating, stopped pushing the food around in the bowl with her spoon and set it aside. Snuggled close to his chest, she basked in his warmth, breathed his scent deep into her lungs. Knowing she’d be content to spend forever just as they were, she dreaded their uncertain future.

  “What’s wrong? Don’t you like the chili?”

  Damn it, him being nice only made her guilt grow. “It’s fine.”

  He rested a palm on her forehead. “You’re a bit warm. Do you feel all right?”

  Realizing she’d been rubbing her tummy, she wrapped her arms around him to still the restless movement. “Yes, just tired. It’s been an exhausting week.” And wasn’t that the understatement of the century.

  Micah had a right to know about the baby. She wanted to tell him, but how? Such weighty, life-altering news couldn’t be blurted out. Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant. Lessening the impact would take finesse.

  She yelped, startled when Micah rose suddenly with her in his arms. “Then it’s past time that I tucked you into bed.”

  “Mmm,” she purred as all sorts of lascivious images involving the two of them locked in a variety of positions on the big bed flooded her mind.

  Micah laughed softly. “Not for sex. To sleep. You need to rest.”

  Rest? Hah! She could think of many much more interesting ways to share a bed with Micah than sleeping.

  Dismissing her guilty conscience, she let her fingers do the talking by tangling them in his downy chest hair. “I’d rather play.”

  “Becca,” he grumbled. “Relax. Let me take care of you.”

  “Oh, yes. Please do. I have this itch that needs to be scratched—”

  She laughed as he tossed her onto the bed. Rebecca bounced once and came to a sudden stop as he landed on top of her. Damn, she loved this playful side of him.

  “An itch, huh? Where?”

  He flashed a rare, lopsided grin and all her worries evaporated. When the right time arrived, she’d find the words to share her news—later. But not now, when she had him back in her arms. Rebecca indulged her greedy, selfish urges to keep him to herself for one night and not permit anything to come between them.

  She reveled in who she was with Micah. He banished the nerdy and shy zoologist, releasing the inner vixen she normally kept under tight control.

  Slipping a hand between their bodies, she thrust a finger between her legs. “Down here,” she said, hardly recognizing her own sultry voice. “It’s a deep itch I can’t reach.” She lifted her hand to his lips, tracing the curves with her damp fingertip.

  His lips parted and Micah sucked her finger into his warm mouth. Fierce heat blazed through her body, raced from one nerve ending to the next, making her feel as if she’d burst into flames. His eyes sparkled with mischief when he released her finger.

  “Well, I happen to have this handy scratching post you can use to take care of your itch.”

  Rebecca’s heart stuttered, seized for a moment, then pounded against her breastbone. Micah looked at her with pure adoration and something else softening his hard features.

  Dare she even think it? Could he be feeling what she did? Had he fallen in love with her? Panic tightened her chest with the realization. She’d really gone and done it—fallen in love with Micah. Holy crap!

  His smile, so rare and precious, returned to his lips. “I don’t offer to demonstrate often, but you’re special.” He cupped her chin and stared deep into her eyes. “How about it, baby? Wanna give it a spin? Every test drive comes with a satisfaction guarantee.” The charming rake winked at her. “I’ll keep scratching ‘til that itch is taken care of.”

  She had no idea how long she stared at him, not saying a word.

  “Becca?” His brow wrinkled with concern and he started to pull away. “I’m sorry. You’re tired and here I am fooling around.”

  “No,” she gasped, reaching out for him. “Micah, please.” At the sound of her emotion-choked voice, his gaze snapped back to hers. “Make love to me.”

  The corner of his lips twitched then his mouth spread into a huge grin. He looked happier than a kid set free in the toy store on Christmas morning. She prayed her secret, when revealed, wouldn’t destroy the fragile bond they’d forged.

  Chapter Eleven

  “You have to work with the cat. Don’t fight its natural instincts, Micah.”

  He yowled in frustration. For two days Becca had lectured him on lions and their behaviors. She might be an expert on big cats but she had no clue about the lion within him.

  His lion had a single thought permeating his one-track mind—fucking.

  Micah waged a constant war against the lion’s biological imperative to mount and mate Becca, over and over, again and again. He had to fuck her until his seed penetrated an egg and her belly swelled with his cub or, better yet, cubs. Wanted nothing more than to pounce on her and fuck until he was too exhausted to continue.

  “Micah.” She touched his flank and before he could stop it, the lion snapped at her hand. He jerked the lion back, wickedly sharp teeth missing her vulnerable flesh by a narrow margin. Too narrow for his sanity.

  The change overcame him fast. In the blink of an eye his senses dulled, fur receded and his body altered. Each time it happened he anticipated pain but it never came. The experience sapped his energy and left him starving to replenish the massive calories he’d used.

  “Jesus, you know better! Never try to touch the lion when he can’t see it coming,” he barked.

  When she didn’t respond, Micah lifted his heavy head and met her frightened gaze, instantly regretting his harsh tone.

  Aw, fuck! Good job, asshole.

  He’d scared the hell out of Becca. She held a hand over her throat, her entire body trembling as she fought back tears. Ignoring his state of undress, he pulled her into his arms, stifling an inward groan as she brushed against his painfully hard cock.

  “Shh,” he soothed. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ll work harder and get the lion to behave.”

  “I don’t know how to help you,” she sobbed. “I feel like a total failure.”

  “We’ll figure it out, together. Right now all I’m worried about is keeping you safe. If I hurt you…” he shivered, horrified by the very idea. “I’d never forgive myself.”

  Becca rubbed at her eyes with balled-up fists. “I have to go to the lab—”

  “Absolutely not,” he roared.

  She jerked back, afraid of him again, making him want to punch something. He hated causing her to fear him. “I would never intentionally hurt you.” The words were low, spoken almost in a whisper.

  “I know you wouldn’t.”

  Did she? He doubted it was possible considering his actions.

  “Micah,” she implored. “Neither one of us knows exactly what’s been done to you. I only skimmed some of the scientific notes on the procedure, but didn’t have a chance to read the specifics on your case.”

  He didn’t have to read the specifics, he lived with them. And he had done his own homework online while Becca slept. The more he learned, the more he realized how drastically what he felt as a man conflicted with the lion.

  Micah’s feelings toward Becca were possessive and protective. He longed to bind her to him permanently. The lion’s primary goals were to dominate and procreate.

  According to the information he’d found, the female went into heat for several days and would fuck any available lion, even forgoing food to have sex up to forty times a day. N
o way could he get it up forty times a day, not that he wasn’t willing to try.

  Something Becca said broke off his internal musings and drew him back into the conversation. “What?”

  “Haven’t you been listening?” she huffed. “Kyle has been acting odd when I call to check in. I feel like he’s trying to tell me something, but I’ve been following your advice and keeping the calls short. By going into the lab, I can reassure Weltman we’re making progress and also try to get Kyle alone, see if I can find out what’s going on.”

  Micah scratched at his jaw, wondering what Slater was up to. The other man wouldn’t do anything without a deliberate plan. And what Becca said had merit. They needed move info from his medical records—something was missing. The opportunity to determine Slater’s intentions would be a bonus. It would be good to know who he had in his corner when, not if, the shit hit the fan. He had no doubt it would, because he had no intention of ever being under Weltman’s thumb again.

  “All right, but we do this my way, Becca. I won’t risk anything happening to you.”

  She didn’t quite manage to hold back a triumphant grin. “What could possibly happen to me at the lab?”

  Anger surged through him as he remembered Tom’s hands on his woman. The lion’s rage added to his own had Micah primed for a good knock-down-drag-out fight. “Have you forgotten a rather physical run-in with one of the guards when you were busting me out of there?”

  “That was nothing,” she shrugged off his concern. “A minor misunderstanding, which proved I can take care of myself.”

  “The guards won’t underestimate you again, and you won’t walk away from another confrontation unscathed.”

  “Fine, I’ll be careful and do what you say, but we’ve got to have those files, Micah.”

  They settled on a plan, even though he didn’t like it. Since he couldn’t risk setting foot in the lab, Becca had to go in alone. She’d come up with an idea for transporting his clothes while in lion form. They loaded everything into a duffle bag and put the strap around his neck before he shifted.