Brooke, Leah - Panthers' Prey [Black Panthers 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (41 page)

“I have no idea, but he’s acting worse than he did a few weeks ago. We’re going to go check out the woods and see if we can find anything. Something’s going on in there, and I haven’t been going out there as often as I did before.”

Pausing in his packing, he bent over her and took her mouth in a hard kiss, one full of possession.

“For one reason or another, I’ve been busy.”

“You’re not trying to blame this on me, are you?” Bailey scrambled from the bed, grabbing Marc’s arm as he turned and started packing another box. “I didn’t make you come over every night. Whatever happened to wanting to run free and needing your space?”

Marc dropped the handful of panties he’d just gathered into the box and turned back to her, lifting her with an arm around the waist.

“Freedom doesn’t seem as important to me as it once did.”

His eyes darkened and narrowed in a look she’d already come to recognize and one that always made her heart beat faster.

“And I don’t want any space without you in it.”

James came up behind her, nudging her toward the door with a firm hand on her hip.

“Neither one of us do. Let’s get you moved into Marc’s house and see if we can talk you into staying there.”

* * * *

Strolling around Marc’s masculine, but elegant living room, Bailey turned away from the embarrassing sight of the stack of beat-up cardboard boxes in the corner and eyed Dane and Graham, who stared out into the night. They’d been quiet and withdrawn ever since they’d hustled her into their truck and then into Marc’s house with a speed and efficiency that left her stunned and impressed, but still a little uncomfortable.

Even though neither one of them looked at her, she could feel their attention, sense their disapproval.

It hurt her more than it should have. After all, she’d had a lifetime filled with people who didn’t approve of her for one reason or another, and she’d long ago developed a thick skin.

Developing a thick skin meant that nothing could hurt her anymore.

Suddenly, Graham turned.

“I’ll take your things into the bedroom so you can unpack. You’re worried, and it’ll give you something to do until the others get back.”

“Why would you care?”

Bailey picked up one of the boxes and headed for the bedroom, determined to stay there until Marc and James came back.

“Excuse me?”

Slamming the box down, she spun to face Graham, who’d followed her into the bedroom.

“Look, you don’t like me. I get it. Get out.”

Graham dropped the box he was holding and sighed, rubbing his forehead. His growled curses sounded so much like the ones she’d heard from Marc and James that she smiled reluctantly.

Meeting her eyes, he sat at the edge of the bed.

“I know you won’t believe this, but I don’t dislike you. None of us do, but we do have reservations. That’s not your fault.”

Swallowing the hurt, she shrugged and started unpacking the box at her feet, tossing clothing haphazardly onto the bed.

“Of course you’d have reservations. I’m not exactly the kind of woman you’d want your friends to get mixed up with. No family. I run a bar. I used to work as a cocktail waitress. I’m sure you wanted someone sweet and innocent—”

“Leland and Joe’s mate is innocent and sweet, and it didn’t make a hell of a lot of difference.”

The snap of anger and impatience in his tone appeared to surprise both of them.

Staring at each other across the room, Graham grimaced and glanced toward the window.

“They’re back.”

Turning away, he paused at the bedroom door.

“We don’t hate you, Bailey. Some of us are just worried. This has never happened to any of us before, and now Leland and Joe are miserable and you seem to be trying to keep Marc and James at a distance. I know we’re not easy to love, but I don’t want to see Marc and James end up as unhappy as Joe and Leland are.”

Bailey blinked.

“Neither do I. Why the hell do you think I’m trying to keep some distance? Don’t you realize how much they’re going to regret getting mixed up with me once all that”—she waved her hand, unable to put the intense sexual desire she had for both of them into words—“stuff fades and they realize they got stuck with me because they liked the way I smell?”

“Is that what you think?” Graham reached her in two strides, grabbing her by the shoulders and lifting her to her toes.

“It doesn’t work like that, Bailey. It’s much more complicated than that. Don’t you realize what Marc and James would do to keep you? To protect you?”

“Get your fucking hands off her.”

Bailey froze, Marc’s deep menacing growl coming from the doorway sending chills up her spine. Gulping, she watched in alarm as Graham took his hands from her and held them out in surrender.

Turning her head, she encountered the angriest glare she ever had before, the intensity of it holding her attention for several heart-stopping seconds before she even noticed that Marc stood there, totally naked, erect, and with his fists clenched against his sides.

His cock stood out from his body, hard and threatening, the large purplish head already glistening.

She had no idea what Marc would do under the circumstances. She only knew that the animal side of him rose to the surface, showing more of the wild panther than she’d ever seen before.

She couldn’t deny that it scared her more than just a little, and she found herself thankful for Graham’s presence.

Meeting her gaze, he smiled faintly, his eyes lit with understanding.

“Now do you see what I mean? I’ve been friends with Marc my entire life, and yet he’s ready to kill me just for touching your shoulders.”

Bailey turned her head, another shiver going through her when she saw the look of deadly intent on Marc’s face. Knowing she had to get him calmed down, she started to step between the two men, coming to a halt when Graham nudged her aside.

“Marc, I—”

Graham shook his head, never taking his eyes from Marc’s. “Don’t get between us.” With his hands on his hips, he faced an enraged Marc. “Marc knows I would never make a move on any woman he was with, but especially not his mate. He knows that, and yet look at him.”

In a show of bravery—or stupidity—he turned his back to his friend, and took her by the arms again.

“Do you see how much he loves you? Do you have any idea how close we all are, and yet he’s willing to kill one of his family for you? If you turn away from him, he’ll be as unhappy as Leland and Joe are. So would James. Now can you see why we’re all worried?”

Bailey jumped as Marc flew across the room and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from Graham. Stunned by what the other man had told her, she searched Marc’s features.

Her heart pounded nearly out of her chest, at Marc’s nearness, at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers, and more than anything—at the rage and possessiveness on his face.

Hiding her apprehension, she went on the attack.

“I think you’re mistaken. Marc feels the same way I do. Neither one of us likes our decisions made for us. He’d better stop this bullshit before he gets himself a nice kick in the balls.”

Marc’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his hands tightening on her waist and pulling her closer while lifting her to her toes, until the heat of his body covered the front of hers.

“I realized that falling in love is not something a man can decide anyway. It just is. You’re mine, Bailey. Make no mistake about that.”

Bailey heard a soft chuckle from behind her and the unmistakable sound of the door closing.

“Marc, I—”

“Don’t.” His clipped tone and clenched jaw told her his control had reached a breaking point. “After seeing another man touch you, I have the uncontrollable urge to claim you as my mate and let you know in no uncertain terms that you belong to me. If you try to deny what I can see in your eyes out of some irrational need to put some distance between us or pretend you don’t love me, I swear to God, I’ll turn you over my knee and paddle your ass before I take it.”

God, she wanted him, man, panther, and all. She wanted the emotion she saw burning in his eyes just as much as she wanted the wild, primitive hunger sharpening them and making them go dark with arousal.

She’d never needed those three magic little words before—never wanted them—but now she found she desperately needed to hear “I love you” from Marc, just as much as she needed him to take her with all the passion his eyes promised.

“I hate being needy.”

Frowning at the pout in her tone, she looked up at Marc through her lashes, narrowing her eyes at his satisfied smile.

“What are you smiling at?”

Cupping her cheek, he tangled a hand in her hair and lowered his head, his eyes possessive and promising pleasure to come.

“You’re cute when you pout.”

Pressing against him, she moaned, wrapping her legs around him when his hands went to her bottom and he lifted her.

“I’m not cute as I don’t pout. Fuck it. I don’t need a damned thing from you.”

Marc’s face hardened again, his eyes slits of glittering need that she wanted with alarming desire.

“I’m about to change your mind about that.”

He had her stripped and facedown on the bed in seconds. Lacing his fingers with hers, he scraped his teeth over her shoulder, the low growl in his tone when he spoke to her sending shivers of awareness racing through her.

“You know what I want, don’t you?”

Using his powerful thighs, he pushed her knees outward and nudged her bottom hole with his thick cock, leaving her in no doubt as to his intentions.

Her puckered opening already tingled, both openings clenching with the need to be filled. Her clit throbbed as it swelled, but with the position Marc placed her in, she had nothing to rub it against.

“Marc! Oh, God.”

He nipped the sensitive place between her neck and shoulder, his growl carrying more of a threat than ever.

“I’m going to take this tight ass. Tonight, my love, you’re going to give me your ultimate submission.”

Stunned at the endearment, Bailey started to turn her head, crying out in surprise at his fast move.

Flipping her to her back, he covered her body with his again. “And I’m going to be looking into your eyes when I take you. Tonight, I want it all, my mate.”

As soon as he released her hands, she reached for him, more shivers going through her as he reached over her, took the lube from the drawer, and coated his fingers with it.

Sliding a hand beneath her hair, he held the back of her head cradled in his large palm, keeping her facing him. Supporting his weight, he leaned to the side, using his powerful legs to keep hers spread wide.

Shaking uncontrollably, she dug her fingers into his shoulders, closing her eyes against the intensity of his searching ones.

“Open your eyes, Bailey.”

Bailey gasped at the feel of the cold lube on her most private opening. The need to be filled made her anus clench against the tingling awareness that kept getting stronger by the moment.

Her breasts felt swollen and heavy, her nipples so hard and sensitive that they almost hurt