His hands tightened on her hips and he thrust hard and fast as he carefully flowed into her mind. She moaned, tingling heat saturating her senses. She felt surrounded by him and filled with him, joined so completely that it made her tremble.
He lowered her hips to the bed, following her down. His hands swept up her sides, pausing briefly to caress her breasts before he framed her face. “Mine.” He whispered the word against her lips as he shared the full scope of his feelings.
Gasping into his mouth, Devon shook with a spontaneous climax. His desire was consuming and overwhelming, yet unbelievably tender. She felt adored and safe even as the heat blazed through her.
His tongue pushed past her lips as he drew his hips back. Then he shifted his hips to a better angle and thrust together, filling her mouth and her core as they shared a cry of pleasure.
She unhooked her ankles, allowing him to move freely. He drove into her with hard, steady strokes, claiming her body as he filled her mind. Surrendering completely to the seething emotions, Devon offered all to him. She shared his pleasure and he shared hers, sensations and emotions flowing back and forth across their mental link.
He sped the rhythm of his hips and tore his mouth from hers, gasping for breath as he neared completion. She fought back the urge to shut her eyes, determined to watch him lose control. His hips slammed against her, driving his entire length deep into her body. His features tensed and his neck arched, eyes tightly closed. He shuddered violently then lowered his head and moaned against her parted lips.
Sensations pulsed from him in staggering waves, triggering her orgasm. She cried out and her inner muscles gripped him, squeezing tight until the last ripple passed. He balanced his weight on his forearms and knees then kissed her. They savored the simmering heat left behind by their explosive pleasure.
“Good morning.” He grinned and gold shimmered in the depths of his eyes. “I’ve been thinking about this all night.”
“Now I’ll be thinking about it all day.” She groaned as he separated their bodies and crawled off the side of the bed.
“Do you mind if I shower first? Payne and the others are probably wondering where I am.”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure they know where you are, but go ahead. I’m in no hurry to face the day.” She pulled her nightshirt down and watched his butt bunch and flex as he walked into the bathroom. She’d spent way too many nights imagining what sex would be like with Ian, but her fantasies had never come close to the intense pleasure of reality.
Curling up on her side, she stared at the bathroom door. Their relationship was progressing at warp speed. And it was nearly impossible to control anything that was moving that fast. She refused to regret one moment she’d spent in Ian’s arms, but it was time to take a step back and think through the possibilities. She had obligations to her family and to the Therian nation. It had been childish to run from her responsibilities. There had to be a way to fulfill those obligations without sacrificing her personal happiness.
She glanced at the journal her mother had left for her and frustration made her tense. Talking things over with her mother was the first hurdle. Kyle was the second.
Ian emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, a towel wrapped around his lean hips. “It’s all yours.” He motioned to the steamy room behind him.
She let her gaze wander from the top of his damp head to his bare feet. “Yes it is.”
“Keep looking at me like that and we’ll never leave this apartment.”
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she stood and crossed to him. “And why would that be a bad thing?”
He pulled her into his arms and gently kissed her mouth. “I’ll give them half a day. The afternoon and evening belong to us.”
“Sounds amazing, but I’m not sure I’ll be finished that soon.” She wiggled out of his arms with a sigh. “I’ve been gone for a month. I have some serious catching up to do.”
He pulled on his jeans then went to the living room and picked up his t-shirt. His nose wrinkled as he gave it a sniff. “Guess I better borrow something from Payne.”
It seemed wrong to cover up a torso as sculpted as his, but she kept the opinion to herself. There would be plenty of time for nudity when they’d completed their respective agendas. “If we’re both back in time for dinner, I’ll cook for you.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?” He smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten your cooking.”
“You’ve eaten plenty of meals Mom and I prepared together.”
“Then I’ll be back in time for dinner.” He blew her a kiss and left the apartment.
Devon started a mental list of the things she needed to accomplish as she showered and dressed for the day, but curiosity about the journal eroded her ambition. She picked up the book and headed downstairs.
After making a pot of coffee, she filled a travel mug and set the journal on her desk. She needed to walk the cages before she checked her email or opened the book. She suspected both activities would be time-consuming and the animals had to come first.
Hailey Sullivan turned as Devon entered the center room. The vivacious redhead’s happy cry was echoed by feline growls. Hailey flew across the room and hugged Devon tightly.
“I was so worried about you.”
Warmed by the enthusiastic reception, Devon returned Hailey’s hug. “I was pretty worried myself there for a while.”
She pushed Devon to arm’s length without letting go. “You’re surrounded by family and friends, but you’re all I have. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
Devon smiled at her friend, enjoying the lighthearted banter. “I’ll try harder. I promise.”
Hailey’s playfulness fell away as she looked Devon over. “Seriously, are you okay? And are the rumors true?”
“I’m fine and which rumors do you mean?” She batted her eyelashes with feigned innocence.
“Are you with Ian?”
“There’s definitely something there. We’re just not sure what it is yet.”
“What’s that I hear in the distance?” She cupped her ear and narrowed her gaze. “Are those wedding bells?”
Devon laughed and turned Hailey back toward the nearest cage. “Get to work or I’ll fire your butt.”
“I hear and obey.”
Devon fell in step beside her assistant as they moved from cage to cage. They updated the charts and logged supply use. It felt wonderful to submerge herself in everyday tasks in a familiar environment. She was safe. She was home.
They reached the tigress’s cage and Devon paused. “Does she have a name?”
“I’ve been calling her Lady. The Aurora police picked her up, but they don’t know where she came from or how long she’d been wandering around.”
“I wouldn’t think a tigress would have gotten far in the suburbs.” Devon had looked through her chart last night and found nothing out of the ordinary. “Ian sort of freaked out when he saw her last night. He picked up some serious emotions and he was pretty sure they came from Lady.”
“I didn’t know Ian could sense animal emotions.”
“He can’t.”
Hailey looked and Lady then back at Devon. “Ian thinks she’s Therian?”
“Has anyone else reacted to her?”
Hailey shook her head. “Everyone else has been too busy chasing after you and the Seymour sisters.” She gave Devon a playful push. “Do you want me to ask some of the others to—”
“No. I don’t want to frighten her.” Devon looked into Lady’s eyes as she added, “She needs to feel safe and regain her strength.”
They completed the circle and Hailey said, “I’ll go do a head count in the yard. I’m sure your inbox is bursting.”
“I haven’t even been brave enough to open it yet.” Devon took a sip of her travel mug and smiled. She was already in need of a refill. Hazards of a caffeine-driven life.
“Well, get to it, D. I’ll call if I find anything out of the ordinary.”
Devon returned to her office and slipped in behind the modest desk. The office was small, making organization imperative. She opened her calendar and made sure she hadn’t committed to a meeting she didn’t remember. There had been several school tours while she was gone, but apparently Hailey had handled them. Hailey was amazing. Devon would be lost without her.
Bracing for the shock, Devon clicked into her email program. Messages scrolled down the screen as Devon drained the last of her coffee. Three-hundred-sixty-two messages. She shook her head and pushed back from her desk. This was definitely going to require more coffee.
She returned to the desk with a full mug and a croissant on which to nibble. Much to her surprise many of the messages were in response to the funding drive she’d run two weeks before her abduction. She’d appeared on a local morning show and done interviews with several popular blogs, hoping to generate interest in the sanctuary. Feeding and caring for large cats was an expensive proposition. The cost of fresh meat alone was staggering.
“How’s it going?”
Devon looked up from her computer screen and found her mother standing in the doorway. “Good. Hailey kept things rolling while I was gone.”
Erin stilled. “Is that a shot at me?”
“No.” She sat back in her chair and motioned her mother toward the chairs situated in front of her desk. “Why do you immediately presume I’m trying to start a fight?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try not to be so defensive.” Erin moved to one of the chairs and sat. “I’m glad Hailey is working out so well. Her father has been waiting for her to fail and run back home. I’m glad she’s proving him wrong.”
“So am I. I honestly thought she’d bolt once she realized how much work this is, but she’s been wonderful.” Devon folded her hands on the desktop and took a deep breath. “I found the journal, but I haven’t had time to read through it yet.” Her mother nodded so Devon added, “You could have given me the real journal. I retained more of your lessons than you give me credit for.”
“You can still read the ancient language?” Erin didn’t quite hide her surprise.
“Read and write.” Needing to ease the building tension, Devon smiled. “So tell me what’s in the journal. I’m dying to know and I have no idea when I’ll have time to read it for myself.”
Erin glanced toward the open doorway then lowered her voice. “Not everything in the journals is explained. Some of the entries are purposely vague and some have lost their meaning because of a lack of historical context. There are reoccurring references to the Guardian of the Ancients. For a long time I thought it was just another name for the Historians. Now I’m not so sure.”
“Is this something you’ve found interesting or does it pertain to me personally?”
“That depends.” Erin’s eyes shone and an enigmatic smile curved her lips. She always became especially animated when she spoke about journal secrets.
“On what?” Devon really didn’t have time to indulge her mother if this was nothing more than an intriguing legend.
“Whether or not you’re serious about Ian.”
That caught Devon’s attention. She scooted to the edge of the chair as she asked, “You think Ian is this Guardian of the Ancients?”
“I’m not sure. I think he knows more about it than he’s been willing to tell me.” She nodded toward the journal. “Read through the entries I marked before you ask him about it. See if he’ll explain what it all means.”
Devon looked longingly at the journals. It would be heaven to soak in a hot bubble bath while she read through the journal. Her mind needed the reprieve as much as her body. “I have to work my way through my inbox first. I can’t afford to alienate possible donors.”
“I’ll send over some sandwiches. That way you can’t say you didn’t have time to eat.” Erin stood and started for the door. Then she paused and looked at Devon. “What did Dr. Garran say? Have they been able to reverse Dhane’s transformation?”
“They hadn’t when I left the clinic last night, but I haven’t called for an update.”
“They’ve been working ‘round the clock trying to sort through all the things they recovered in the mountain raid. Paul called in a genetics team from University Hospital to help them make sense of what they found.”
“Are the geneticists human?” At times Therians had no choice but to confide in a very select group of humans. Still, Devon knew enough about what the backers were trying to accomplish to be uncomfortable with any human being included in the research.
“Paul would never endanger the Therian nation. He knows more about our physiology than anyone else. If the researchers are human, Paul must trust them.”
Devon just nodded, but the possibility bothered her long after her mother had gone. She began processing the donations and sent each donor a thank-you on behalf of the sanctuary staff. It was time-consuming and tedious, but necessary. The gift shop and tours generated revenue, but continued operation was largely dependent upon the generosity of private donations.
As well as Hailey, the sanctuary employed a part-time teacher who conducted tours and various educational programs, a maintenance man and two high school helpers. Alex Garran was on call for when any of the cats needed medical treatment. All in all everything ran smoothly and Devon was proud of their accomplishments. The sanctuary was nationally recognized as one of the best rescue operations in the country.