Lions and Tigers and Bears (13 page)

With a laugh, Zinsa peeled off her tank top. It had become virtually transparent in the rain, but had provided a modicum of modesty. Free of the shirt, standing with her breasts bared, she paused in the process of unfastening her shorts. “Don’t just stand there, Grant. You need to get out of those wet clothes. By the time you wait for me to shower, you could get ill.”

The words were logical, but the heat in her eyes and purr in her tone left little doubt to her true motivation for trying to strip him. She wanted to finish what they had started before the storm came. It would be dangerous for him to give in to the attraction burning between them. He swallowed the lump in his throat, searching for a way to handle the situation diplomatically. Nothing came to mind, especially since his own body wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Zinsa continued stripping, kicking off her sandals before shedding her panties and shorts. When she stood naked before him, her hands found purchase on her hips, and she clicked her tongue. “You really need to get undressed.”

He closed his eyes, struggling to maintain control. The sharp tang of her arousal carried to his nose, the perfume making his rigid cock tighten to the point of pain. “Zinsa, I can’t—”

She didn’t allow him to finish. Zinsa took a step forward, placing her finger against his mouth. “Then let me.”

When her fingers began deftly working at the buttons of his sodden shirt, Grant tried to stop her, but his body wouldn’t cooperate, except to relax under her palms when she smoothed them down his chest after opening the garment. The rain on their skin provided a liquid medium for her caresses, making it feel like silk gliding over his chest.

Her hands froze when she encountered the mass of scars on his side. “What happened?”

He examined her expression, searching for a hint of repulsion, but finding only curiosity and perhaps sympathy. “I was mauled by a tiger as a child.”

Zinsa traced one of the white ridges, a ropy, meandering line bisecting his tanned skin. “It must have been a terrible attack if the scars are still this prominent. How did you ever survive?”

A lump in his throat forced him to cough before he could answer. “A miracle, I guess.”

“Thank goodness for miracles.”

His breath hissed between his clenched teeth when Zinsa scraped one of his nipples lightly with her fingernail. A sound of pleasure escaped him, and he abandoned any thought of resisting when her hands moved lower to unbuckle his belt. She removed it slowly, pulling an inch at a time, while deliberately brushing her hands repeatedly against his body as she did so.

A sigh of relief left him when she dropped the belt on the floor, but he drew in another deep breath when her hands moved to the button and zipper, opening them efficiently to let her hands inside. “Zinsa.” He clenched his fists, struggling to control his breathing. His senses were hypersensitive, and the beast inside was stirring to life. He brought up a hand to push her away but somehow ended up cupping her breast instead. Her nipples were firm under his fingers, and her moans moved his passion up another notch. She withdrew, and he wanted to protest but couldn’t manage to both speak and keep the creature in check.

“Lift your feet.”

His mind was hazy, taking a moment to process her request. When he looked down, he saw her kneeling before him, impatiently awaiting his help with shedding the rest of his clothes. He lifted each foot in turn, and then took a moment to kick off his sandals before reaching out to stroke her hair. The rain had caused the ultra-short cut to kink, and a mass of tight curls met his fingers.

Uncertain of how he could maintain control, Grant nonetheless surrendered to her stroking of his cock. He groaned with anticipation as Zinsa’s head moved forward, her intent clear. The first bold rasp of her tongue against his cock caused his body to jerk in reaction. He tightened his fingers in her hair, barely holding back from hurting her. It wasn’t an urge to harm her he experienced, but rather the need to dominate. Knowing how he could injure her during the process kept the impulse in check.

She wasn’t shy about tasting him. In seconds, his cock was in her mouth, the heat and moisture making him spasm. When she suckled him while cupping his testicles in one hand, his hips bucked, inadvertently forcing more of his cock inside her throat. He froze, looking down to check on her. She didn’t seem bothered, and her suction didn’t change. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, letting his head fall back as pleasure swept through him.

Zinsa’s nails dug lightly into the tender flesh of his sac as her teeth scraped his cock. The hint of pain heightened his pleasure, even as it pushed him closer to the brink of transformation. In his head, he tried to remember the anatomy of an elephant, but the thoughts couldn’t distract him sufficiently from her ministrations.

Her tongue swirled the length of him, working his cock like an ice cream cone. Grant’s cock spasmed when she traced his corona with her tongue, pausing to flick the V of nerves at the tip. When she sucked that section lightly, his cock convulsed, and hot semen poured from him without even a chance to warn her.

She withdrew, discreetly wiping her mouth before smiling up at him. Kneeling before him, she seemed to be submitting. Amazingly, his cock hardened again, and he had to fight the urge to drop down on the floor beside her, turn her on her stomach, and pound into her.

The animal inside was churning to the surface. A fine growth of hair was sprouting all over his body, and his fingernails were visibly lengthening. In a panic, he stepped away from her, turning his face. “Towels,” he said in a thick voice.

“What?” Her confusion was clear from her tone.

“Wet…towels.” With no time for further explanation, Grant ran from the room, not pausing for towels or anything else. Only the curtain Zinsa had rigged from bed sheets to provide the patients with a measure of privacy shielded them from the shocking sight of him rushing out, bare-ass naked.

Once outside, he continued to run until well out of sight of the clinic. The chilly rain did little to cool his heated flesh and didn’t do a thing to bank the fire of transformation raging inside. He dropped to all fours, and when he screamed at the pain of changing, the roar of a tiger left his mouth. Grant tried to fight it, but as always, eventually lost the struggle to preserve his humanity.

Chapter Three

Although he couldn’t be certain, Grant thought about an hour had passed since the time he transformed. When he came to, he had returned to his human form, finding himself just a few yards from where he had changed. He must have run during that time, had probably hunted even, but had no memory of anything he had done. That indicated he had fully lost control, which was rare for him. For years, he had retained at least a shred of himself on the occasions when transformation became irresistible.

By some instinct, he had made his way back to his starting place. It would make his return to the clinic easier, since he knew precisely where he was. Not that he was anxious to get back. The thought of facing Zinsa after what he had done made his stomach churn with nausea. What was she thinking? No doubt she thought he was a selfish pig, taking pleasure without reciprocating.

Knowing it would do no good to prolong avoiding her, Grant broke into a jog, relieved to find the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Several times, sharp grass or twigs poked his feet, but he kept going, having no choice. It would be too humiliating to wait for rescue in the morning. How could he ever explain being fully nude,
sans
shoes, two miles from the complex?

With a grimace, he acknowledged it might be easier to explain that than to face Zinsa and try to elucidate why he had run away. Certainly it would be easier to traverse the whole country in his birthday suit than do what he had to in a few minutes. Maybe she would be asleep. He clung to the hope, although he recognized it as cowardly. Eventually he would have to offer some explanation. Might as well get it over with.

Zinsa sat on the cot, hugging her knees to her chest. Anger and confusion had kept her from trying to find sleep. Her stomach burned and the gritty feeling in her eyes, from suppressing tears, had her constantly blinking.

What had happened? Why had Grant torn out of the room like that? Had he not enjoyed the blowjob? Was he ill? Was he just a self-centered jerk? His actions supported that supposition, but it didn’t feel right. There was something more to it, and she was determined to find out what.

As she saw Grant coming down the hall, moving with silent grace, she took a deep breath to prepare herself. Thoughts of confronting him nearly abandoned her when he stepped into the room, the sixty-watt bare bulb giving his body a golden sheen. Her mouth watered anew at the sight of him, as her pussy clenched with need. It took much self-discipline to hide her reaction behind a cool expression. “Grant.”

He couldn’t seem to meet her gaze. First, his eyes danced around the room, finally settling on her neck. Grant’s fidgeting betrayed his nervousness, the way he shifted his feet and constantly ran his fingers through his damp hair.

When he didn’t seem inclined to speak, she pressed on. “What happened?”

“I…” He trailed off, clearly at a loss. A loud sigh escaped him before he strode to his bed, sitting on the foot. “I don’t know. I panicked, I guess.”

A frown furrowed her brow. “Panicked? Why?” Eyes wide, she asked in a whisper, “You aren’t a virgin, are you?”

A small laugh escaped him. “No, not quite.” Finally, he seemed to find the strength to meet her eyes. “You made me panic, Zinsa.”

“Why?”

“The way I reacted to you. I’m not used to that. You make me feel things…lose control.”

A surge of happiness swept through her at the admission.
She
had been the reason he ran away, but not because of something dire. His own emotions overwhelmed him, provoked by his reactions to her. She struggled to suppress a grin. “That’s a bad thing?”

His serious expression killed any hint of amusement. “Yes.” Without elaborating, his body language made it clear losing control terrified him.

“I see.” She tilted her head, thinking. Her body still burned for Grant, despite the turmoil of the last couple of hours. She wanted him, needed him in a way she hadn’t with any other man. “What can I do?”

“Stay away from me.” The words were delivered in an uncertain tone, contradicting the request.

Bolstered by the conflict in his eyes, Zinsa rose from the cot to walk over to his bed. Grant didn’t withdraw when she stood before him, reaching out to cup his cheek with her palm. She knelt slightly to look into his eyes. “I can’t do that. I need you, Grant.” He drew in a breath when she trailed her fingers across his chest. “You need me too. Someone has to help you loosen up.” She grinned at him to show she was teasing, as her hand drifted down his stomach to brush lightly against his cock. “Or maybe just to get you hard.”

“Zinsa.” The way he said her name sounded like he was being tortured. If his desire was as urgent as hers, he probably was. At least he’d found release earlier.

She grasped the length of his shaft. “Do you still want me to leave you alone?” While asking, she put a knee on the bed, by his thigh. “Should I stop?” The pressure she applied made his cock spasm in her hand.

“Never.”

At his surrender, Zinsa put her other knee on the bed to straddle his lap. After he left her, she had dried off and put on a T-shirt, but she discarded it quickly, returning her hand to his erection in a matter of seconds. The thick length made her yearn to have it in her pussy, and it took an act of will to keep from guiding him inside, eliminating the few inches separating them.

She groaned with the frustration of holding off, knowing completion would be that much more satisfying if she prolonged the process leading up to it. Grant must have been of a similar mind, because his hand slipped between their bodies to take hers from his cock, instead placing it on his chest.

Leaning closer, Zinsa rested her cheek against his chest, breathing in his scent. He smelled of rain and wild things. It was exotic, and she responded instinctively. A sound like a purr escaped her when he cupped her breast, rolling the turgid nipple between his thumb and forefinger. It was a delicious sensation, but not so much because of the physical pleasure. Rather, it was being so close to him, hearing his ragged breath as he touched her. They were so close to being one, if only for a short time.

She tangled a hand in his wet hair to force his head down the required inches to meet hers. His mouth was open and his tongue met hers, pushing it back to investigate her mouth. A hint of metallic flavor sharpened his taste, making her draw back for just a second. Seeing his uncertainty, she leaned forward again, capturing his mouth, determined not to give him time for second thoughts. If she didn’t come soon, she was going to explode, and only Grant could give her true fulfillment.

Pressed against him, his skin seemed to get hotter by the moment. Or maybe it came from her, as her need rose to a fever pitch. She couldn’t distinguish the source. Perhaps they both generated the fire consuming them. That would be appropriate.

Her thoughts turned hazy when Grant lay back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. With seemingly little effort, he grasped her around the waist and lifted her higher, bringing her breasts to his mouth. For a second, he nuzzled the sensitive skin between her breasts, but soon his tongue was on a quest for a ripe nipple, taking a leisurely route around her breast, pausing to trace the outline of her areola.

Zinsa tossed back her head and arched her back, trying to force her nipple against his lips. A chuckle issued from him before he accepted the invitation, first flicking his tongue across the tip before drawing the bead into his mouth to suck lightly. The contact was like lightning striking, searing her whole body as the sensation radiated from the point of contact. The suction he initiated seemed to draw every nerve in her body to her breast. He flicked his tongue across the tip again, swirling the hardened peak and making her gasp. She arched her hips, seeking relief by rubbing her heated flesh against his stomach. It was a poor substitute for his cock, with the light dusting of hair serving only to inflame her even more.

She grasped his chest with her hands, seeking support, as his mouth sent her reeling. The brief respite as he switched to her other breast didn’t clear her head. She didn’t know why he feared losing control, but she could sense it in the way he held himself slightly separate from her. Zinsa could relate to Grant’s dread as the frenzied passion consumed her.

His mouth was alternately gentle and rough at her breast, first biting, then soothing. The constant contrast made it impossible for her to find her way out of the seething storm of desire encompassing her. She was at his mercy, despite being the one on top.

A groan escaped her when Grant scooted down her body. Sure of his intent, knowing she would need an anchor if she didn’t want to fly apart, she reached for the metal headboard, bracing herself while his tongue forged a path down her taut stomach. The first breath against her pussy was hot, but not as heated as the flesh it caressed. She arched her hips, straining to reach his tongue.

In response, he brought a hand up to cup her buttocks, holding her still so he could control the pace. Zinsa wanted to scream as his hesitation seemed to stretch to years. Knowing he was going slowly only to heighten her pleasure didn’t ease her frustration.

When his tongue finally swept inside her slit, seeking out her clit with confident strokes, she shuddered. “Grant.” Her throat seized when she spoke his name, making it come out as a guttural growl. She squeezed the bars of the headboard when Grant swirled his tongue around her clit, his hand still holding her bottom to prevent her from either withdrawing or pressing closer. Each teasing flick of his tongue, followed by a strong surge against her clit, drove rational thought from her mind.

Zinsa became a creature of sensation, held captive by expectation of his next move. She lived for the touch of his tongue, the wisp of his heavy breathing as he consumed the juices of her passion. A scream threatened to tear from her throat when his tongue plunged deep into her opening, exploring the moist cavern where his cock would soon venture. Only knowing the patients in the other room would hear kept her from giving voice to her pleasure.

Deep inside, convulsions began in her womb, emanating outward, as if trying to trap his tongue. Her clit ached for release, and as his tongue thrust in and out of her, her pussy tightened. What little control she had left fled as an orgasm swept over her, inducing her to cry out. Although vaguely aware of Grant’s hand clamping over her mouth, she couldn’t stifle the cries of pleasure as release freed her for the moment from her body, casting her spirit adrift into a universe of velvet sensation.

Gradually she regained control and was able to stop making the animalistic sounds of joy. When his hand moved from her mouth, she managed a smile, but words were beyond her while she struggled to breathe normally.

His hands moved to her hips, holding her up a few inches as he moved higher, until his head was against the wall, his back cradled by the pillow against the headboard. The new position brought his cock against her slick pussy, and she shifted slightly to cuddle the head inside her folds.

A scarlet flush scorched his face, indicating he wasn’t unaffected by the moment. It took him a couple of deep breaths to be able to speak. “I don’t have any protection. It’s been ages since I needed it…” He trailed off, looking hopeful. “Do you have condoms in your stash of medical supplies?”

“Um hmm.” She stretched forward sinuously, brushing her nipples against his chest. “Too far away, though. I need you now.”

A wrinkle of worry marred his brow. “We shouldn’t—”

She touched her fingers to his lips. “It’s fine. Really. I’m protected, and I’m clean.” Her lips twitched. “Since it’s been ages, I assume you are, too?”

Grant’s affirmative turned to a gasp when Zinsa sat down fully, taking his cock deep inside her. She uttered a gasp of her own at the stretched sensation filling her, the slight burning that was almost painful. For just a second, she thought she couldn’t take his girth, but a slight shift forward eased the way, allowing her sheath to clamp around him.

“God. You’re so tight.” He forced the words through clenched teeth. A rapidly pounding vein in his forehead betrayed his struggle for control, making her all the more determined to send him over the edge as he had done to her.

Slowly, she circled her pelvis while rocking up and down. A smothered curse proved she was having an effect, and she increased her pace. Doing so caused a new wave of pleasure to sweep through her, scattering her thoughts. She grasped his shoulders and rode him at a furious pace, striving to take in every inch of him. His heavy breathing mirrored hers, and the way he uttered her name several times told her he was close to coming.

Zinsa lost herself in the rhythm of their thrusts, the flex of her pussy around his convulsing cock, and the pleasure sparking through her body. Time lost all meaning as she straddled him, straining for completion. It might have been seconds or hours later when she cried out as her climax overwhelmed her. Reflexively, her hips kept rocking against him as her pussy convulsed with release, prolonging the moment. A gray fog blurred her vision, and she slumped forward, aware of Grant’s arms enfolding her tenderly as she lay against his chest.

Awareness returned slowly as Grant disengaged their bodies and turned them onto their sides, keeping her held close to him. The aftermath washed her in a golden glow of peace, and she recognized the holistic completion of all of her. What had been missing wasn’t any longer. Grant had filled the vaguely aching void inside her. Not just with sex either. It went deeper than that. Her brain fluttered cautiously around labeling the emotions she experienced, not quite sure if she could really believe in love at first sight, but also convinced this was more than just an intense sexual attraction.