The Purrfect Plan Read online

  Oh God, how she'd missed him inside her, even if only a few days had passed. Storm was addicted to all that River was. Life just didn't seem possible any more without him.

  "By the goddess, cookie, I've burned for you so bad. Can you even imagine the torture it was for me not to touch you?" He groaned, slowly moving within her.

  "I wanted you too. I always want you," her voice came on breathy little pants. She shifted her hips under him to match his thrusts, but it was not enough.

  "Harder, River."

  Her demand was met by his chuckle. Then he pulled out.

  "On your hands and knees," he commanded before she could protest the loss of him.

  Storm sat up, scrambling over into position. She felt the heat of him along her back. She thrust her ass up in wanton invitation. Only to have him swat it, the slap reverberated around the room. She groaned and shockingly felt a rush of juices into her pussy.

  "I think you like that, cookie." He covered her back with his body, turning her head slightly to suck her earlobe into his mouth before gently biting down.

  Hot spikes of pleasure pain shot through her.

  "Hold on to the headboard," he commanded into her ear.

  Automatically, she gripped onto the wrought iron at the head of the bed. His heat left her. His hand smoothed over the globes of her ass, landing another two smacks on each side. "Don't let go, and don't move until I say. My cat is going to lap up your cream, cookie."

  Her skin prickled, her breathing became even more labored at the mental thought of what River was about to do. It was wrong, wasn't it? Her brain warred with her body.

  "Relax, I would never take you as a panther, there is much more pleasure to be had as a man," he soothed. "But you've yet to experience the delights of what I can do while in my other form. I've never done this with anyone else. Relax and enjoy, my love. If at any time you don't like what I do, tell me. Do you understand?"

  Comforted by one promise and inflamed by the other, her panic eased. "Yes, River, I understand."

  "Good girl." He pushed her legs wider on the bed, and she tightened her grip on the iron headboard. With one last slap on her ass, she felt the air ripple as she shifted again.

  She squealed as a wet nose slid down her ass. His loud purr vibrated through her. When his tongue slid through the folds of her flesh from the top of her clit through to her ass crack, she let out a long moan of pleasure.

  He alternated from licking her clit to delving deeply into her channel. His abrasive tongue on her sensitive flesh pushed her quickly to the edge. Her fingers tightened painfully on the headboard. Her climax hit hard and fast, the rant of her screaming River's name, as her mind and body soared to the stars.

  Before she could recover or float down from her climatic bliss of delight, she hadn't even noticed River's change before his hands gripped her hips and he drove his cock into her.

  "Let go." His command dimly registered, but she uncurled her fingers from the wrought iron. River's arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her up against his chest. He licked the side of her neck and started thrusting in strong measured strokes, pushing her again towards another climax. His other hand snaked back down through her highly sensitive clit, pinching it between his fingers.

  "Come again for me," he panted against her neck.

  Her body shook as a sudden sharp pain in her neck tipped her over the edge. She convulsed and screamed, barely aware of River releasing his teeth from her neck and snarling his release before her head swam and she fainted.

  ~ * ~

  River collapsed on the bed, falling to his side so as not to crush Storm. It took a moment to clear his co-sexual bliss to realize she wasn't moving. He pulled from her body, turning her over to study her face.

  Worried, he checked her pulse and saw she breathed evenly. The mating sex had been even better than he thought possible. He'd felt the internal ties snap into place the moment he sunk his teeth into her neck, binding them together for the rest of their lives.

  "Come on, cookie, wake up for me." He stroked the side of her face.

  Slowly her eyes fluttered open.

  He smiled down at her in relief. "Welcome back, Mrs. Black." His smile matched with love and pride made his chest swell.

  "This doesn't excuse you from a wedding." Her voice was low and throaty, making him purr as he leaned in to kiss her softly.

  "I wouldn't dream of it." He shifted into a more comfortable position before pulling her into his arms.

  She sighed, resting her head on his chest. "What happened that day, River? Please tell me."

  So much for relaxing in the after glow of amazing sex. He'd avoided telling her, not wanting to add to her worry.

  He was hoping she would remember on her own, but maybe now was the time to tell her and jog her memory. His gaze roamed possessively over the mark on her throat she would wear for the rest her life, declaring her his.

  "I am most certain someone tried to kill you the day of the fires."

  She sat up, twisting to face him, her eyes wide in surprise. "Why the heck would someone try to kill me?"

  "I have many rivals Storm. There are numerous dangers, living in this world. I won't lie to you, but I do swear to protect you from them. But this was not an attack at me but you. I think someone wanted you out of the way."

  Her eyes glazed over for a moment. A frown marred her lovely face. River could almost see her brain ticking over.

  "Jealous old girlfriend? That I can understand, but attempted murder is going a bit too far, don't you think?"

  "You're taking this a lot better than I thought you would."

  "I'm still alive, I'm healthy, and our babies are fine. But you're still worried someone might try again."

  "Until we know for certain and bring them to justice, I need to keep you safe."

  "You know if you'd told me that before, well…" she cocked her head to the side thoughtfully, "...then again, we wouldn't have just had some wonderful sex. I can't believe you made me pass out again."

  "I just have that ability to make you swoon," he teased.

  She slapped playfully at his chest, and he chuckled. Storm gave him a sinfully lusty smile, leaning back down, her tongue crossing over his right nipple. He purred under her attention, loving this forward sexy side of his mate.

  "Okay, so I understand and won't go out alone. But as for jealous ex-girlfriends, well they can't have you. I want a big engagement party and a wedding to show the world you're mine, Mr. Black."

  River laughed heartily, enjoying Storm's possessive feistiness. By the goddess, how he loved his woman.

  "Your wish is my command, Mrs. Black. Let's get some pre-honeymoon practice in, shall we." He gripped her head, bringing it up to capture her lips under his before rolling her onto her back. Neither of them would be getting any sleep tonight.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Storm stared at the little six-month-old in her arms as the infant stared back at her with big brown eyes. Her heart squeezed in her chest, knowing she'd have her own little ones to fuss over soon enough.

  The women who'd invaded to help prepare food for the engagement party had kicked Storm out of the kitchen. She'd protested she needed something to do, so Sandy, the human woman she'd met by the lake, gave her little Thomas to babysit.

  The idea of the party had seemed a good idea at the time, but now as the night approached, she grew more apprehensive. She'd never had a party in her life. The whole town was coming!

  Storm breathed in and out slowly, trying not to panic. She'd read in one of her baby books the little ones could feel when people around them were upset, so she picked up little Thomas in her arms and went in search of River. Maybe it wasn't too late to cancel the whole thing and send everyone home.

  Reaching the back of the house where River's office was situated, she saw the door was slightly ajar. She heard the deep timbre of his voice as he talked to several men. She waited, not wanting to interrupt.

  The back of the house, she'd quic
kly learned, was a hive of activity for River and his responsibility as town Alpha. It was his job to keep things running smoothly and deal with any issues that arose. She didn't fully understand his role, thinking it something like a town mayor, until Maria explained it over iced tea one afternoon, while in the shade of the back garden. Shifters had their own set of laws outside the human ones. A team of thirty males, called enforcers, were charged with keeping the town's secret safe from the rest of the world.

  Storm bounced Thomas on her hip as the men finished their meeting, leaving via the office's back door.

  A moment later, the door swung in. River casually leaned against the doorframe, looking sinfully sexy, his smile one of pure pleasure.

  "Come in, cookie, this is a good look for you." He tickled Thomas under his chin and moved back to let her enter. Thomas gurgled out a laugh before sticking his chubby little fist into his mouth to suck on it.

  She came halfway into the room; nerves knotting her stomach, making her feel slightly queasy. "I don't want to disturb you if you're still working."

  He leaned down giving her a woefully brief kiss. "You look worried. What's wrong?"

  "Can we cancel the party?" she blurted out, not being able to keep it in a moment longer.

  He raised his right eyebrow. "I thought this was what you wanted."

  "I have a big mouth. I don't know half the things I say when you...we've…" Storm shifted Thomas on her hip. "I'm just not good around people. You know that. And the whole town is coming. I just don't think it's a good idea." Her pulse thrummed in her ear just thinking about all the people she'd have to face tonight.

  Thomas started to squirm before he began to wail.

  Gently, River gripped her arms and steered her around to sit on his office chair.

  "Now stay here and don't move," he ordered firmly, lifting Thomas out of her arms.

  River disappeared with the howling infant only to re-emerge a few moments later. He closed and locked the door behind him.

  "Now come here." At his open arms, Storm jumped up from the chair and threw herself into his arms. His warmth, strength and scent calmed her marginally.

  River tilted her head back, lowering his head to plunder her mouth, pushing his tongue past her lips, conquering every part of her mouth until the room spun and she could think of nothing but him.

  He pulled back, and she sucked air into her lungs, to whimper against his lips.

  "So, can we stop the party?"

  "No, I agree it was a good idea, and you have so many new friends. You're going to shine like the beautiful jewel you are."

  Her heart burst with love for his tender wonderful words, but still worry nagged at the back of her mind.

  "I've never had a party before. What if I do or say something wrong?"

  "Never had a party? Surely you had a birthday or Christmas party?"

  Storm shook her head, her fingers curled into his bicep as she clung to him. "My parents were too busy for birthday parties and Christmas was just another day." She tried to hide the pain of her parents' neglect, swallowing down the lump in her throat.

  "Oh, cookie, I'm going to have to spoil you rotten to make up for all you've missed out on." He hugged her close against his chest.

  "I don't want to be spoiled rotten, I just want you." She went up on tiptoes to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  "You have me, always cookie. I want to show the world my beautiful mate, plus we wouldn't want to disappoint Mum. She loves putting on parties. I promise you can say or do nothing wrong. The town already loves you almost as much as I do, and I'll be by your side at every moment."

  She sighed into his warm chest, loving how he made everything sound so easy. "Sorry, I tend to get overly anxious at times."

  "Don't you ever apologize. I'm just pleased you came to me with your worries. I want this between us, always to be open and honest with our feelings. I'm always here for you."

  He kissed the top of her nose. She felt the corners of her mouth twitch up, a heartfelt smile at his tender affection. He was a tower of strength when she needed him.

  "Feel better, my love?"

  "Yes, thank you." Placing her chin on his chest, she gazed up into his green depths, her pulse quickened to see them alight with carnal hunger.

  "Good," his hands slid down to cup her ass. "I believe we have a few hours 'til the party, and I know the perfect way to make you feel relaxed."

  The pressure of his large hand tightened into her softer flesh. She gasped as he lifted her clean off her feet in a swift move and turned setting her down on his desk.

  "Oh, River, not here."

  His intent was obvious. Her hand fell back to stop her falling flat on her back as his large hands slid up her skirt before moving further to pop the buttons of her blouse open. Still, her skin and body flamed at his intimate touch, moisture rushed between her thighs.

  "Remember, cookie, my office, my rules, my desk, and most importantly..." His hands covered her breast, as he pinched her nipples. She arched her back, groaning at the mix of pleasure and pain shooting through her, making her throb with need. He bent his head and licked her hardened nipple, while his hand slid down under her panties, finding her clit. He slowly circled the engorged bud. "…my woman." He leaned forward, his hot breath invading her ear before she melted as his hot wet tongue followed, licking the shell of her ear.

  "There are people all over the house, if you don't want them to know what we're doing… you'd best keep quiet, but I'm going to try my best to make you scream." When he bit down on her lobe while sliding two fingers into her, she knew there was no hope in hell of her keeping quiet.

  ~ * ~

  Despite her worries, Storm was a hit. He couldn't wipe his proud smile from his face. She interacted well with the families at the party. The women she'd made friends with at the lake and had gone shopping with the day before, stole her away to 'ooh and aahh' over the shiny ring on her finger. The men slapped him on the back, congratulating him on at last marking her.

  He'd heard from Sky that Gia had left town and gone down to Sydney. The news only marginally set him at ease. While there was still a threat hanging over Storm, and without her memory to help confirm his and Hawk's theory, they could not relax their vigil to keep her safe. It didn't take long before Storm had gravitated toward the playing children. It seemed staying by her side the whole time was unnecessary; she did indeed shine. She was beautiful, inside and out.

  "See, my boy, you've been worrying about nothing. Storm is doing fine. Such a sweet girl, my grandbabies have a wonderful mother." Maria smiled as proudly as he felt.

  River couldn't help but agree. Watching Storm play and interact with the young cubs, she had a beautiful natural way with them. His heart ached for the kind of childhood Storm had survived through. Despite her words of not wanting anything, he had every intention of showing her all the pleasure a close family brought. He was glad he'd agreed for their engagement party to be a family affair rather than just grown ups. Everyone was enjoying themselves. And River got to catch up with many of the families of the town.

  "River, got a minute?" Regan sidled up. "I got a call from a photo journalist this evening, wanting access to Black Town Reserve to take photos."

  River took his gaze from Storm to face his enforcer, who doubled as the area's park ranger. "Give her the usual tour then send her on her way."

  "It won't be that easy this time. The woman is Tinder Munro. She's not just a wild life photographer but an investigative journalist. I suspect she's going to try to get a snapshot of something more than just wallabies and koalas."

  River snorted. Every so often people came to investigate the long running whispers of overgrown house cats. "Another one chasing the big cat rumors."

  "If we turn her away, no doubt she'll get suspicious."

  Regan sipped his beer as River thought it over.

  He had a lot on his plate at the moment, and being newly mated, wanted more time with Storm.

&n
bsp; "Want me to deal with her? I can sweet talk the old lady into believing ice cream comes from the cloud," Hawk chimed in with a grin before taking a swig of his beer.

  Regan laughed. "Wait 'til you get a gander at this old lady. She'll cut your tail down to size."

  "Ohh, I love a challenge. You gotta let me handle her."

  River shook his head; damn his jaw ached. "Your nine lives will be up one day, bro. I'd tread with care, but go ahead and handle her all you like."

  "Sweet." Hawk shook his beer bottle. "'Til then I need a new beer. Anyone want one?"

  "I'll take another." Regan handed over his empty bottle before Hawk strode casually towards the makeshift bar.

  "Congratulations, Alpha. It seems your mate and mine have become good friends."

  "Sandy helped Storm feel more at ease. I appreciate her help. As you know it's not easy for humans to get used to our ways." River turned back to where his little cookie played with the children only to find her missing. His gaze slowly swept over the area but came up empty. Some of the kids had gravitated back towards their parents.

  "She can't stop talking about her." Regan chuckled. "But then my girl can talk the ear off a donkey."

  Hawk returned with the drinks.

  The fine hairs pricked up on the back of River's neck, the feeling something was wrong. "Have you seen Storm?"

  All three men now turned to search her out.

  "Mum." Hawk beckoned Maria over. "Seen Storm?"

  Maria paused with a platter of chicken in her hand. "I saw her running after little Flint just a moment ago. They were playing hide and seek."

  Cold dread hit River's stomach. Every instinct told him something was wrong.

  "Spread out. Find her, now!" he snapped. Without question, as a domino effect, Regan and Hawk spread out, relaying the search to every enforcer in at the party to obey his order.

  He had to find her fast.

  ~ * ~

  Breathless from running and playing the game of hide and seek with the little ones, Storm paused by the fence line of the backyard to calm her racing heart.