Chasing Tail (Paranormal Shapeshifter Werelion Romance) (Quick & Furry Book 1) (2 page)

A low, masculine chuckle shook his frame and had her refocusing on his face again. On the wide spread of his lips and the seductive smile that curved his mouth.

He really shouldn’t smile. Ever. Because the moment that expression settled into place, her panties were wet with arousal. Did he leave hundreds of women with wet panties in his wake? Probably. And he didn’t seem repentant in anyway.

“That’s because I’m not,” his words vibrated the air and crawled through her.

“What?”

“I don’t care that I leave a trail of wet panties behind me. Because they’re
behind
me. The only panties I care about are yours.” He stepped closer, his scorching heat branding her skin. “Tell me, sweetheart, are yours?”

He was asking her a question? He wanted her to think? Penny tried really hard—she totally did—but words failed her. She couldn’t grasp anything when her mind and body were enraptured by his delicious scent and overwhelming presence. And his skin, so much skin. She wanted to lick him from head to toe, taste every inch, and see if the small spot at the base of his throat tasted the same as that deeply carved line on his hip.

The stranger’s wicked grin turned smoldering, and she whimpered at the sensual promises that lingered in his features. Then his nostrils flared, his chest expanding as he drew in a breath, and he released it with a deep purr.

“Yes, yes they are wet.”

Suddenly she was in his arms, his grip holding her flush against him, and his warmth really did brand her. She was surrounded by him, enveloped by him, and she never wanted to be anywhere else.

He buried his fingers in her hair, forcing her to tilt her head back, and she found herself lost in his gaze. Penny trembled beneath his stare and it was as if her lungs forgot how to breathe, her heart forgot how to send blood rushing through her veins, and all she could do was meet his intense stare and wait for his next move. It wasn’t long in coming. His lips met hers in a searing kiss, one that overpowered her and stole any objection that may have lingered on her lips.

Objection? Ha! Not likely.

He controlled their passionate meeting, his tongue venturing into her mouth, licking and tasting her. She fought to do the same, explore his heated flavors, but he was too much. He overpowered her with ease, taking what he desired and she was unable—unwilling—to object. Not when his massive hands cupped her ass and lifted her against him, not when he yanked her skirt to her waist and then encouraged her to wrap her legs around his hips, or when his shaft came in contact with the fabric-covered juncture of her thighs. It was too much and not enough, his touch wandering over her, consuming her more and more with each passing second.

Growls and snarls followed each movement, as if staking his claim with his body wasn’t enough. He seemed to want to fill the air with trembling warnings.

And wasn’t that fucking hot?

When his lips left her mouth long enough to trail kisses along her throat, she took a moment to drag in much needed air. He scraped the column of her neck with his deadly fangs, scratching her skin and sending a bolt of the delicious pain down her spine. Then he… nearly had her coming due to his voice alone.

“Mine.” He growled against her shoulder. “
Mine
.”

It seemed as if he was searching for confirmation, and she was quick to give it. She was his, just as he was hers. “
Mine
. You’re mine.”

He ripped and tore at the fabric that covered her skin, and she cursed the fact she wore clothes to work. Obviously she had to wear
something
because of the kiddies, but if she’d come naked, this whole process would have gone a lot quicker. She wanted skin on skin, his cock inside her and his teeth in her shoulder. ASAP.

Her skirt was gone in a moment, her top suffering the same fate, and her bra and panties were no barrier to his razor-sharp nails. Then it truly was flesh against flesh, his shaft rubbing against her moistness, and the blunted head of his length was poised at her entrance.

Ideally, knowing his name before taking this momentous step would be a big deal, but…
Mates
. There was no denying the truth, and when it came to shifters, it tended to be mate first, talk second. Or rather seventy-fifth since all the moments before were spent mating. So, yeah, she was all with getting down and dirty despite the lack of names and their current location. She would disinfect everything later. Much, much later.

“Please, please, please…” she didn’t care that she was begging and pleading with this guy. There was no pride when it came to being with her other half.

He didn’t say much, but what he did say, had her hovering on the edge of release with that single syllable. “Mine.”

“Yes,” she hissed. All kinds of yes.

Except somebody had to be the one and only asshole in the world and interrupt them. “No!”

Penelope clutched her mate’s shoulders, clinging to him not because she was desperate for his body, but for protection. She whimpered, uneasy at the intrusion, and her emotions wavered between desperate for her mate and fear that someone was denying their mating.

He released her, and in a sudden whirl, had her pinned behind him as he faced off against their intruder. His previous sounds had nothing on the ground-shaking roar that vibrated the entire building. The floor rolled and trembled with the sound, and she steadied herself by placing her hands on his back. He shuddered with her touch and gently leaned toward her. He seemed to take comfort in the connection, but his threatening sounds did not cease.

“Alpha, I mean no disrespect.” The intruder’s tone was familiar and Penelope swallowed the groan that leapt to her lips. Her den’s alpha.
Of course
, Justin would find them together. She’d called his house, hadn’t she? She should have held off on the panic attack a little longer.

She waited for the man to continue. There was a “but” in there somewhere. And… It wasn’t long in coming. “But I don’t wish for you to make a mistake that would ruin the rest of your life.”

Well, she knew Alpha Palmer disliked her, but she didn’t realize he felt she would ruin someone’s life by claiming her mate. So nice to be loved by her own pride.

The male blocking her view renewed his threatening growls, and she stroked his back, urging him to calm. Two alphas going at each other’s throat in the middle of the library was so not a good thing. Blood didn’t exactly wash out of books easily and her budget wasn’t big enough to replace the ones these two would ruin.

“Mine.” Penny wondered if her mate knew any other word.

“I understand how you’re feeling, but it isn’t real.” Alpha Palmer’s voice was low and soothing. At least she assumed that was the tone he was going for. It was kinda hard for a male who lived his life giving orders and growling at the world to actually sound soothing. “This isn’t real. She isn’t your mate. She’d ruin—”

“Another word and I will rip out your throat.” Apparently her mate could string words together. Very threatening words, at that.

“You’re under a spell, Alpha. A witch was detained just outside of town. She admitted to casting a spell on you.” Justin pleaded with her mate. “We don’t know what she’s done, but look at your actions.” Alpha Palmer gestured toward Penelope. “Do you imagine a woman like her as your mate? Truly, Alpha, think before you do something you’ll regret.”

She swallowed hard, battling the sob that formed in her chest and threatened to burst from her mouth. Regret? Rest of his life? He was her
mate
. How could anyone ever regret claiming their mate? But she felt her mate’s resolve wavering. It was in the way his shoulders relaxed slightly, the disappearance of the fur that coated his arms, and the receding of his claws until his hands were human once again. He was listening to Alpha Palmer. He was listening to the man before them rather than following his beast’s instincts.

Could it be true? Was there a spell cast on her mate? Was he even really her mate at all?

Why was she even asking the question? Of course he was her mate. If a spell was cast on
him
, it wouldn’t affect her. And she was very, very affected by him.

“Alpha Palmer…” She peeked around her mate’s body. “I don’t think—”

“You’re right, don’t think,” he snapped.

Penny flinched beneath the man’s anger and hid behind her mate once again. A mate who did not seem intent on destroying Justin for acting aggressively toward her. So, he believed Alpha Palmer. It shouldn’t hurt, not when they didn’t even know each other’s names, and yet… It did. It more than hurt, it crushed her heart. Maybe it was a spell that brought him to her library doors, but it wasn’t a spell that had her lioness craving the man before her. It wasn’t a spell that had her more than willing to mate the male in the middle of the building for one and all to see. Didn’t her mate recognize that? Or her alpha?

No, he didn’t. Because he next stepped forward, putting space between them, and spoke to Alpha Palmer. “A witch?”

She leaned her head against the wall at her back and closed her eyes, refusing to look at her could-have-been mate any longer. Instead, she simply listened to their conversation.

“Yes, our local caster has her magically tied to a plot of land at the edge of town. If you like, we can get you some clothes and address the situation.”

“I… see.” After her mate’s two words, quiet returned.

Yes, silence enveloped them, but the tension remained high and cloying. It seemed oppressive and weighed against her body until she could no longer stand beneath its power.

She scented the room, cataloging each flavor from the men. There was pure, true conviction in her alpha’s aromas and her mate’s emotions were slowly easing toward acceptance and belief. A lion couldn’t lie and Justin was so sure he was right…

The two men seem to be in a standoff of sorts, but enough was enough. Penny had endured a near mating, had her childhood dreams almost in her grasp, only to have them ripped from her by one of her own pride. Nothing new to her. Now, she was simply tired. She wanted to gather what was left of her clothes and make an elegant-ish retreat.

“Excuse me,” she used the tone that often worked on the younger patrons of the library. “I believe it is time you both departed. I would like to straighten the library, and then I’ll be going home.”

She left no room for argument, and instead of waiting for their agreement, she merely stepped from behind her mate and went to her desk. She ignored the male’s growl, knowing he had no right to take issue with her exposing herself to Justin, and instead withdrew the extra set of clothing she kept in the bottom drawer. It was there in case there was an emergency shifting situation but also because the children who came in occasionally got a little too rowdy with their markers.

She spared neither male a glance as she tugged on the comfortable pants and equally soft top. She didn’t have a set of bra and panties on hand, but she didn’t plan on rocking the clothing for very long. They could leave, she could clean, and then her day would end with a nice long, hot bath and a good cry.

At this point, she figured she’d earned a good sob session. Because in a span of fifteen minutes, she’d found and lost her mate.

The moment she was covered, she turned to face the men. She first focused on her mate, giving him a grim and yet rueful smile. “It was nice meeting you.” He opened his mouth to reply, but she refused to listen to whatever he had to say. Instead, she stared at her alpha. “Alpha Palmer, thank you for saving him from what you believe would have been a mistake.”

“It would—”

“As I said, thank you.” She didn’t leave any room for him to speak further. And when he glared at her, she refused to be intimidated. He was a strong lion—there was no doubt about that—but everyone knew she was quite a bit stronger. As she was growing up, it had been yet another line in the list of reasons half the town disliked her. She didn’t look like the typical lioness, she didn’t cower like a typical lioness, but she also didn’t fight for dominance and status like a typical lioness. Add in the fact that her family tree was “colorful” and included vamps, witches, and humans…

“Penelope—”

“I’ll see you at the next gathering.” She spun on her heel, and moved toward the stacks, unwilling to hear another word from
him
. She’d lose herself in the books and pray she could lose her emotional pain just as easily. When her mate’s deep voice reached out and stroked her, she knew she’d never forget those few moments when she held happiness in her arms. Nor would she forget who’d destroyed her dreams.

With luck, and more control than she ever thought she possessed, she managed to keep her tears at bay. It wasn’t until she was alone with her own thoughts, and her own heartache, that the first trailed down her cheek to stain the book in her lap.

* * *

It was amazing what a person could have delivered nowadays. Because Penelope was now the proud owner of buttercream iced cupcakes, more ice cream than she could consume in one sitting, and several bottles of wine to top it off. Now, staring at it all on her kitchen counter, she couldn’t decide what to jump into first. She knew she could drown her sorrows in each option, but when it came down to it, what would gorging herself accomplish?

Nothing. But maybe she could convince herself for a moment that she hadn’t had happiness within reach. And then torn away just as quickly.

Well, if she wanted to blunt her feelings, she’d begin with the wine. She grabbed the bottle opener from its home and went to work on the first bottle she snagged. She loved them all, so she didn’t really care where she started or ended.

She was working on the first cork when the rapid pounding of a fist on her front door interrupted. It wasn’t heavy and strong like a male’s, and she banished the small hint of joy that’d blossomed in her chest. It was a witch’s spell, remember? It wasn’t like he was going to come find her. It wasn’t like he felt the same as her. It wasn’t like—

Another round of banging on the metal panel, and it was joined by a familiar voice. “Dammit, Penny, open this door!” Another speedy series of thumps. “I mean it!”