Brooke, Leah - Panthers' Prey [Black Panthers 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (24 page)

Both relieved and disappointed that he released her, she scrambled from the bed, putting several feet of distance between them. Spotting the white terry robe, half on the floor and half tangled in the sheet, Bailey grabbed the end of it and tugged, cursing until she got it loose. Aware of James watching her as he strolled into the adjoining bathroom, she turned her back to him, feeling the warmth of his gaze on her bottom.

Wrapping the robe around herself, she pushed back her hair and frowned as he disappeared, closing the door behind him, raising her voice to be heard.

“You have no problem with your life being turned upside down by being attracted to a woman you don’t even know?”

James stuck his head out. “There are worse things in life than finding a woman I can’t resist. Think of it as chemistry, honey. Haven’t you ever had chemistry with another man?”

Scowling, he held up a hand a shook his head. “No, don’t tell me. I don’t think I could stand to hear it right now.” His tender smile tightened her stomach.

“There’s no reason to get so bent out of shape. Why not just relax and let nature run its course?”

Bailey sighed as he disappeared again, closing the door behind him. Plopping onto the bed, she glared at the closed door, muttering under her breath. “I don’t do nature.”

Dropping back, she stared at the ceiling.

“Chemistry, he says. I think it’s a little more than chemistry. Shape-shifters. God. They can’t be real. It’s got to be some kind of trick. I’ve gotten involved with nutcases. Sexy as hell nutcases, but nutcases all the same. Shit. Let nature run its course. Right. We can’t talk without arguing and can’t even eat together without jumping each other’s bones. Ah!”

The feel of a rough, warm tongue touching her ankle startled her so badly, she yelped. She scrambled to sit up, her heart pounding furiously at the sight in front of her.

“Oh, God! Oh, shit. Don’t do this to me. Fuck.”

Swallowing heavily, she remained perfectly still, staring into the brilliant blue eyes of the panther that sat at her feet, one that seemed even larger this close.

“Don’t you dare bite me. Don’t bite me. Nice kitty.” She gulped again, her breathing harsh as she looked toward the closed bathroom door. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

Holding her gaze, the panther swiped his warm, wet tongue over her knee before dropping his head on her thigh. He stared up at her, apparently waiting for something—or perhaps just enjoying the fact that he’d scared her.

Instinct told her it had to be Marc, but she still couldn’t quite wrap her head around it.

She remained perfectly still, her breath coming out in sharp pants. Her mind raced as she struggled to come to grips with the fact that this amazing creature and the sexy and compelling man who’d bent her over the sofa and taken her were one and the same.

Drawing in a shaky breath, she lifted a hand, hoping like hell she wasn’t making the biggest mistake in her life, slowly extending it outward.

“I hope like hell you know who I am.”

“He does.”

She jumped, but didn’t turn, not daring to look away from the deadly beast in front of her. She caught sight of James standing in the doorway to the bathroom out of the corner of her eye, his presence making her feel a little bit better.

“Even when he’s like this?”

“Of course. He knows you very well, my mate, and understands every word you’re saying.”

As if to prove the truth of those words, the panther showed his teeth in what she hoped was a smile, and purred.

Bailey spared James a quick glance, her breath catching at the sight of him wearing one towel and rubbing his long hair with another.

“Do you mean he can understand everything I’m saying, even though he’s a panther?”

James chuckled and tossed the towel he used to dry his hair aside and came around the bed to recline behind her.

“Of course. We’re not ordinary panthers, Bailey.”

“Then why doesn’t he change back?”

Toying with the ends of her hair, James sighed.

“I guess that’s up to you to figure out. Maybe he wants to know that you accept that part of him.”

Sensing the undercurrents in his tone, she gasped when the panther nudged her palm with the top of his head.

“He does? Or both of you do?”

Sitting up, James wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“I guess both of us need it, Bailey. We need to know that you accept everything about your mates.”

Fascinated despite her fear, Bailey stroked the panther’s head, smiling as he lifted his face and pushed against her.

With remarkable ease, James pulled her back into the bed and cuddled up behind her, tossing his towel aside.

“You’re beat. You probably didn’t get much sleep last night because you were worried about the necklace, and it’s been a big morning for you. Why don’t you take a nap? Your mates will watch over you. Sleep, honey.”

The thought that she needed to be watched over seemed ridiculous, but he sounded so serious and sincere, she found herself reluctant to offend him.

To her amazement, the black panther—Marc, she reminded herself— leapt onto the bed and cuddled close to her. Much to her surprise, the warm body and soft fur against her had a soothing effect. Unable to help herself, and as naturally as though she’d done it a million times, she laid a hand on the silky fur and began to stroke.

James was right. After the almost sleepless night, and then her search for her necklace, followed by amazing, mind-boggling sex, it had been an eventful day. As James stroked her from behind and she stroked the sleek panther, her eyes began to droop.

“Okay. I believe you. I can’t really argue with what’s right in front of me.”

She noticed that her words began to slur, but couldn’t do much about it.

The purring of the big cat nestled against her lulled her. As did the warmth surrounding her as James snuggled up behind her.

“I don’t believe in mates, though.” Yawning, she got into a more comfortable position, finding it increasingly difficult to get her thoughts together. “No such thing. Can’t meet somebody and know just by smelling them.”

Between one breath and the next, the sleek fur became warm flesh, and she found herself cradled in two sets of arms.

With a hand at the back of her head, Marc urged her to lay her head on his shoulder and kissed her hair.

“No, baby. Sometimes it takes a little more than that, but it appears the results are the same. Go to sleep. We’ll work it out somehow.”

She thought she heard something like, “It doesn’t appear that we have a choice,” but couldn’t work up the energy to reply.

As soon as she’d managed to escape the system, she’d grown to rely on one thing.

She was in charge of her own destiny.

Chapter Nine

As it had for the last several mornings, the sound of grumbling woke her. As it had for the last three days, it was followed almost immediately by Marc’s inventive cursing as he extricated himself from the bed.

“Damn it, Bailey. This bed’s too fucking small for the three of us.”

Without opening her eyes, Bailey groaned, rolling into the warm spot Marc just vacated and burying her face in the pillow. Breathing in his warm, male scent, she smiled as James followed and curled himself around her.

“You can sleep at your house.”

Sliding a hand under the covers, Marc patted her thigh, sending a barrage of delicious tingles to her slit as his fingers edged close.

“You won’t sleep there, and the bed’s too cold when you’re not there.”

Marc’s reluctance in admitting that came through in his tone, but at least he didn’t sound angry about it this morning.

James chuckled and nuzzled her shoulder. A hand slid up over her hip and came around to cover her breast.

“How’s my mate this morning?”

Not a morning person, and still a little put out at the mate thing they seemed so obsessed with, Bailey grumbled and snuggled into the pillow. Without opening her eyes, she got into a more comfortable position and sighed, still worn out from the previous night.

“I’m not your mate. Why don’t you go play with string or something and let me sleep?”

Still half-asleep, she didn’t react as fast to the brief moment of stunned silence as she should have.

She also should have known that there would be consequences for the insult.

The sharp pinch to her nipple startled a yelp from her and had her eyes popping open. She scrambled to get away from James even as the jolt of electricity to her slit had her rubbing her thighs together for relief. The feel of his cock pressing into her back made her giggle, but before she could turn, Marc tossed the covers aside, grabbed her ankles, and flipped her to her back.

Reaching desperately for something solid to hold on to, she grabbed at the covers, gasping as Marc forced her knees wide. She held her breath when his gaze settled on her mound, her flesh warming and tingling, a sensation that grew stronger when he licked his lips.

His eyes narrowed, lust glittering in their depths.

“The scent of your arousal drives me mad. That smart mouth only makes it worse. If we were at my house, you could scream all you want to and no one would hear you.”

The low cadence and hunger in his tone sent a shiver through her, one of lust and just the smallest hint of fear that she could never quite overcome.

Fear that she would never admit excited her.

Before she could do more than blink, he pressed her knees back against her sides, holding her wide open. His steady gaze held hers as he lowered his head, rendering her helpless with longing. Closing his lips over her clit, he sucked hard, flicking it with his tongue, he and James holding her still for his decadent torment.

Her clit burned, swelling even more under his mouth, but no matter how she twisted, she couldn’t get away.

“Marc! Oh, God. I’m gonna come.”

Two large fingers pressed into her pussy, stretching her and rubbing at a place inside her that never failed to stun her. She bowed off the bed and screamed in shock and ecstasy, her pussy clamping down on his fingers.

She opened her mouth to scream again, a scream she bit back when James touched the tip of his cock to her lips. Hungry for him and grateful for something to hold on to, she gripped his thighs above her head and took him into her mouth, thrilling at his low groan.

Marc never even paused, licking her folds and her clit with hot, steady strokes, his fingers pressing relentlessly against that sweet spot inside her.

Spread wide and with her legs held immobile, she found herself helpless against his assault, one that kept the pleasure rolling through her.

James groaned again, a harsh sound that thrilled her.

“Fuck. Her mouth’s incredible.”

Closing his hands around her breasts, he began to tug at her nipples, pinching and pulling them in just the way she liked it.

Reveling in the taste of him, and in the feel of his hard cock against her tongue, she sucked harder, desperate for more of those deep groans, more of his taste.

Just more.

Her own moans sounded almost as animalistic as theirs, the sounds of sex and lust filling the room.