The Purrfect Plan Read online

  ~ * ~

  Getting Storm alone was either a really bad idea or the best he'd ever had. The moment they were away from curious eyes, his need to touch her overtook his rational mind. He slipped his arm around her shoulder, pulled her to him, lowered his head and slammed his mouth down on hers. From the instant he tasted her, she dominated his every thought.

  Sweet. Soft. Silken. His.

  She made a little muffled squeak of surprise, but after a moment, she started to respond. He didn't hesitate, dragging his tongue over the seam of her lips then invading her mouth. Everything in him wanted, needed her. He turned her further towards him, running his arms down the wonderful curve of her body. He gripped her hips and hoisting her up against him, pressing her back against the wall of the bar. Her lush body and soft breasts felt so good cushioning the heated, hard length, of his body.

  His entire life he had heard the love stories between mates, his own parents had been a testimony to such a union. Until now the thought of ever holding his mate in his arms had been a dream, but nothing prepared him for the sudden intensity or reality of how right it felt. She was light to his dark, fuel to his fire. She called to his very soul; he wanted her with every fiber of his being.

  Unable to control the urge, he found the edge of her shirt, tugging it upward. He wanted, no needed, skin on skin contact. At his first touch, she whimpered, struggling in his grasp.

  River froze, his mind regaining some ability to remember where they were. Her frailty as a human brought him back to his senses. He didn't want to scare her by coming on too strong. Yet, she had responded and didn't appear afraid. No, quite the opposite.

  He pulled back, keeping a tight grip on her. He didn't want to release her, but would let her, if she asked it.

  "Oh gods, I'm so sorry, cookie."

  He felt his eyebrows raise in surprise at her breathy little giggle.

  "No, it's not that. I want you, I want this…" Her cheeks, already a beautiful shade of crimson, deepened in color. "I, um, wouldn't usually ask this, but could we, um, take this to my room?" She nodded to across the street.

  Joy spread through him at her easy acceptance. She wanted him. "Oh cookie, you don't know how glad I am to hear that."

  In a caveman move, he hoisted her over his shoulder, carrying her across the road, his walk a little stiff due to his painful cock. Soon enough he would sink it deeply into his mate and claim her. He grinned broadly at the promise.

  She squeaked and struggled in his arms. "Put me down, I must weigh a ton!"

  "Not in the least. I've got you now and I'm not letting go. Which room?"

  "Um, twelve. The key's in my purse."

  She un-wedged the small key attached to a credit card sized piece of black plastic. River marched, with hasty determination, wanting to get her laid out naked and under him.

  Black plastic dangled before his eyes as she reached back to give him the key. With a snarl, he ripped it from her fingers, opened the door and walked into the darkened room before slamming the door shut with the heel of his boot.

  Panther vision in the dark, even while in human form, was excellent. Storm bounced once as he tossed her onto the mattress. She drew in a startled gasp, her eyes widening, her body tensed in alarm as he crawled up over her like the predator within.

  "Your eyes, they...they...are glowing." Her soft voice held a tremor of fear.

  "It's a genetic anomaly, passed down through my family. It's nothing to fear, I swear." River knew it was way too early to be springing the whole 'Hey, honey, I'm a panther shifter, that's why my eyes glow and you're my destined mate' speech on her just yet.

  He hovered above her; gazing into her beautiful soft brown eyes and holding himself in check, when all he wanted to do was tear off her clothes and rub his body over hers, mark her with his scent.

  Soon. First, though, he needed to make sure she was okay.

  Lifting her hand, she touched his cheek. "I admit they're unusual, but they're also unique and beautiful."

  He doubted she could see his smile in the dark.

  "Thank you, my sweet. I admit, too, I've never met such a uniquely beautiful woman." The one destined to be mine.

  She nibbled on her lower lip. "I thought…I thought we would be doing more talking, or something, first."

  "Do you want to talk first? Cookie, it would kill me, but I would if you wanted to."

  A flicker of emotion he couldn't read crossed her face. "No, I guess we could talk after."

  Unable to control the urge any longer, he lowered his head and took her lips in a soft kiss.

  "I promise we can talk until we both turn blue. I want to learn everything about you, but right now I need you too damn much."

  "Okay then."

  The feel of her fingers sliding through his hair broke the last of his thin control. With a firm grip on her top, he tore open her blouse, making her gasp.

  "I will pay for anything I ruin," he said absently, his gaze fixed on the sexy black lace bra contrasted against the milky pale of her gorgeous breasts, making his mouth water with need.

  "Gods, cookie, you're beautiful."

  She sucked in a sharp breath, letting it out in a soft moan as he traced the lace with his fingers and cupped the flesh in his large hand. They fit perfectly. River couldn't wait to push them together and slide his cock between these beauties. There were so many things he would soon do to her, with her, but right now there was only one place he wanted his cock.

  "How do you know, can you see?"

  Damn his mouth. "Special genetics, remember."

  To cover his tracks, he reached over, switching on the bedside lamp, illuminating her even better for his perusal.

  He took her mouth, kissing her deeply, until they were both panting, and erased the questions and doubt he witnessed in her eyes. Sliding his hands down her oh-so-soft skin, he worked his hand beneath the waistband of her sexy little black and grey patterned skirt and shoved it roughly down her legs, sweeping away her panties in the process.

  River felt like an untried youth instead of the Alpha of his community. He drank in every curve, dip and hollow of his mate. He licked his lips, seeing the neat, light brown triangle of hair glistening with her honey. He wanted to taste her.

  "I know I'm not thin..." she started, averting her gaze in embarrassment, as he began to strip off his own clothes, tossing them haphazardly behind him.

  River frowned, tugging off his boots.

  "...or pretty..."

  "Damn it, woman." River bent over her, capturing her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Do I look turned off to you? I've seen a lot of beautiful, skinny women in my time, but nothing compares to your beauty. I won't stand for you belittling yourself. Do you understand me?"

  Her eyes widened in surprise. He watched her swallow then nod.

  "Good, because even if you don't believe my words right now, I'm going to prove them true and show how much I want you."

  River started mentally counting as he began to rub his body against hers, kissing and licking his way down her skin, starting from her neck, over her torso. Marking her with his scent, he tore the buttery material off her breasts, latching his mouth onto her nipple. He sucked one hard bud into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue and teeth, before lavishing the same attention on the other, loving each and every one of her gasps and moans.

  A feeling of male triumph coursed through him as she panted, mewled and writhed against him like a feline in heat.

  He kissed her lower stomach where his cubs would one day grow.

  When he moved down to the end of the bed and pushed her legs wide to view the glistening pink prize he was about to claim, Storm's breath hitched, her body froze.

  "You...can't I...I've never...no one's...ever..." Her shocked breathless protest made him pause.

  He grinned up at her. "No one? For shame on them, all this sweet cream is mine. I'm going to eat you until you scream my name, cookie."

  Without another word, he lowered h
is head, inhaling her sweet, aroused scent, heaven to a shifter mate. At the first swipe of his tongue, her flavor burst across his mouth and there was no way he could hold back from attacking her cunt hungrily. He let his tongue swirl around her tight little swollen nub. He allowed a partial shift to ripple through him, elongating his tongue to push further into her.

  Her cries echoed around the room, begging him to stop, pleading for him to never stop. He ignored the first and gave her the latter. Her hips rocked as her fingers speared into his hair. He growled low, loving the rough burn as she tugged franticly.

  When he pulled his tongue out, wrapped it around her clit and sucked, she convulsed and screamed his name. Oh, sweet music to his ears, but he was far from done with her. He thrust his tongue into her, purring as he lapped up her flowing cream.

  Her breathing labored as her body shuddered before relaxing into a limp, sated state. Lifting his head, River licked his lips as he crawled up over her, lowering himself between her legs.

  She gazed up at him. He could see the mixture of awe and lust swirling in her lovely depths.

  His gums tingled as he fought the urge to let his fangs drop and bite her, marking her as his, he couldn't do that until she knew what he was and accepted him as his mate, then he would properly claim her. Now he would take her body but soon he would take everything she was, heart and soul.

  "Will you be mine?" he whispered.

  Her hooded eyes opened wider. "Yes, fuck me, please."

  His heart thundered in his chest as he shifted his hips and thrust straight into her, his desperate cock tunneling into her honeyed depths as far as it could go. She was tight and hot and wet and River's hips began to thrust even before he gave the command.

  The pleasure of the sensation pulled a cry of delight from them both. Storm's head thrashed as he surged in and out, perspiration glistening on her skin, fingers digging into his biceps.

  ~ * ~

  Storm had never felt anything like this. River slammed his whole length inside her, his hips clashing with hers. Storm gripped him tighter. The force of his intrusion had hurt for a moment, but the pain lay enmeshed with acute pleasure and now all she felt was excitement.

  His eyes glittered under half-closed lids. His expression was caught somewhere between male triumph and feral possessiveness. As though she belonged to him and this claiming would bind them for life.

  All such fanciful thoughts scattered as he rolled his hips in an unexpected move to touch a spot inside her slick, aroused, drenched channel that made the entire universe roll.

  As he ground himself into her, the hair surrounding his cock rubbed at her clit, setting her off again. Storm's orgasm slammed into her just before his did, like a roman candle thrown into a furnace, an explosive burst of brightness. She felt River's warm spurts spray into her and sighed with pleasure as their bodies fused together.

  His heavy weight dropped onto her for a moment before his strong arms gripped her tightly and he pulled out, rolling them onto their sides. Her body had never felt so sated and relaxed, her mind in utter astonishment at the bliss of pleasure. Although an infrequent occurrence, she could count the number of lovers she had experienced in her life on one hand with fingers to spare. But it had never been like this. Damn, she now understood what she'd been missing.

  She wanted more. No she didn't. Warning sighs flashed in her mind at her dangerous thoughts. This was not going to be an ongoing thing.

  He's just my donor, remember.

  Storm waited for the post sex awkward moment, but strangely it never came. She rested her head against his warm chest, listening to the wonderful strong rhythm of his heart. She enjoyed his heated, sweaty scent, mixed with leather and spice, so easily addictive.

  He surprised her by not pulling away, but continued to hold her, stroking a hand up and down her back in a lazy relaxed manner.

  The guilt, which so far had been minimal, began to mount at his tender, sweet action. As if he actually cared for her comfort and peace of mind.

  Impossible! He's a stranger, so why do I feel so relaxed and comfortable?

  The question and strange emotions he evoked worried her. Not only was he the most strikingly sexy man on the planet, he proven himself a worthy lover, and he liked to cuddle after.

  Why the thought of never seeing, touching, tasting or even smelling his leathery, outdoor, raw masculine scent again made her heart ache, she did not know. Yet, here she was having fanciful thoughts of forever with a man she didn't know.

  And you never will. Her mind desperately struggled to push aside the perturbing thoughts and tried to harden her heart against him.

  A lifetime of tough lessons had taught her men were not to be trusted. Caring only lead to heartbreak and pain.

  She sighed.

  "Stop that." The deep rumble of his voice startled her. She lifted her head to peer up at him.

  "Stop what?"

  His smile was roguish, breath-catching.

  "You're over thinking; you had better not be regretting what we just did."

  "No, I'm not." And she wasn't.

  "Good, because we're going to be doing it quite a few times before the night is through, cookie."

  Despite coming twice and now feeling limp as a wet noodle, she couldn't help the hot wave which swept into her belly.

  She licked her lips. "Are you always this, um, forward?"

  She felt the vibration of his chest as he chuckled.

  "I like to be in charge and I like getting what I want, so yes, you can say I am always this forward. Or are you referring to how I want to make love to you over and over until neither of us can walk?"

  "In my experience, which I admit, is limited, most guys just roll over and start snoring. There is no such thing as sex over and over."

  His smile turned predatory. She gasped when he pushed her back and rolled on top of her.

  "Well then, I guess I'm just going to have to prove you wrong."

  Chapter Three

  Languid, sensations filtered into her sleep-muddled brain. Slowly she eased into semi-awareness. The cool air hardly registered as she snuggled deeper into the warm, secure cocoon surrounding her.

  The sound of a slight snore awakened her further. Erotic images from fresh memories played through her mind; the man, River, exploring her body, leaving not one inch of her untouched, demanding responses she willingly gave. Over and over leaving them both exhausted, sated until they fell into the bliss of sleep.

  Sleep, oh God, she had not meant to fall asleep, but be long gone!

  Her eyes flew open. Early morning light filtered through the half closed curtains of the motel room. Her perfect plan now ripped to shreds, she scrambled to mentally recover and recoup.

  Storm glanced down at River's arm, wrapped possessively around her middle. The heat of his breath on the back of her neck sent renewed shivers of arousal humming through her body. She tensed. Listening to his deep even breathing, she knew he slept soundly.

  Gently as possible, she gripped his wrist, peeling his arm from around her middle. She shifted from the warmth of his embrace.

  As nice as it was to wake in someone's arms, Storm steeled herself against the sudden onslaught of emotions that made her want to snuggle back into his arms and stay wrapped in them forever.

  Relationships don't work. He used you for sex, and you used him for his sperm.

  The sticky feeling between her thighs confirmed he indeed pumped much of his seed into her last night.

  He shifted restlessly for a moment, as if aware of her absence. In a panicked move, she grabbed the pillow her head had rested on and pushed it against the deliciously bare chest.

  The man had the most incredible body; light caramel skin, smooth and easily addictive. She licked her lips remembering how good it tasted. His chest beautifully sculptured, just rising and falling with each breath. A flat stomach and abs you wanted to immortalize in marble. With a shake of her head, she backed away. River's arm pulled the pillow tight against his c
hest. She watched his nostrils flare slightly, before he re-settled, the rhythm of his breathing finally evened out.

  Phew.

  Ignoring the shredded remains of her clothes from last night, she grabbed her bag by the door. Yanking out a fresh blouse quickly and as silently as possible, she dressed. Her shoes she found by the end of the bed. She scooped them up and crept to the door.

  It creaked open. Worried he would wake; she turned, her gaze falling on the beautiful sleeping man. Indecision and guilt made her pause, along with a powerful urge to stay. If they had been successful at creating a baby, he would never know. What would he do if she woke him and told him the truth?

  It would not turn out well. He'd be angry, there was no way she was facing a two hundred pound angry man as powerful as River Black.

  Storm slipped out of the door, closing it behind her.

  This is for the best, remember your plan. She sure hoped this would work. Unable to identify exactly what it was, she knew deep down she would never get another chance. The thought of going out and finding another man to impregnate her left her feeling cold.

  Damn it, one night with the most incredible man had ruined her for any other.

  A lump formed in her throat, she blinked back the threat of tears as she walked hastily to her little white Toyota Camry. She slipped behind the wheel and buckled her seat belt. Her hand shook as she turned on the ignition, bringing her car to life.

  There was no going back now. Storm sighed heavily as she drove away from Black Town. So much for her perfect plan.

  ~ * ~

  River stretched his limbs and muscles. Some habits of his cat he could not prevent, no matter how hard he tried. Nor did he want to, when it felt so good. Scents of sex and his mate lingered. He frowned as his arm tightened around something soft, which smelt like his mate but was far from warm. Opening his eyes, he saw the well-hugged pillow. River quickly bolted up, scanning the room wildly, but Storm was gone.

  He flung back the sheets and sprang to his feet, searching and finding his screwed up pants. He hastily tugged them on. He noticed the remains of her tattered clothing still on the floor. Was she still here? A quick check of the bathroom confirmed it was empty. He pulled on his shirt, not bothering with shoes and strode out into the morning light.