ACougarsDesire (6 page)

Katarina took a deep breath as Jase undid his jeans and
pushed them down his legs to step out of. “I’ll have to remember that.”

Her heart really got pumping after he took off his
underwear. His cock was fully erect, jutting from his body, tempting her to
wrap her hand around it and stroke. She had to definitely add that as another
item in her pro column.

Jase watched Katarina lick her lips as she stared intently
at his cock. It jerked, and he bit back a purr. Showing someone around his
bedroom had never been such a turn-on as it was with her. And what she’d said
about having to remember it was his mother who had taken his father’s cougar
head pendant just added fuel to his already raging fire. She had no idea what
it meant when a female claimed a male’s necklace, but she apparently liked the
idea of it.

Katarina took the step needed to bring her toe-to-toe with
him. She slowly went down on her knees in front of him, his erection now eye
level to her. She dragged a finger through the drop of pre-cum that had leaked
from the very tip, then brought it to her mouth to lick clean. There was no
holding back his purrs any longer after that.

As if she had all the time in the world, Katarina wrapped her
hand around his cock and slowly pumped it up and down. She did that a few more
times until he was about ready to beg her to take him into her mouth. As if
she’d read his mind, she did just that.

Jase looked down to watch Katarina pleasure him. She dragged
the flat of her tongue up his length, then ran it around the head before she
opened and took him between her lips. She sucked him almost to the back of her
throat before sliding him out until only the tip remained in her mouth.

He purred and growled, no longer able to hide his cat side.
Katarina drove him wild, almost literally. She kept up a steady suction as she
took him in and out, keeping a tight grip on him at the base of his cock. Her
other hand came up and fondled his balls. She gave them a gentle tug and Jase
purred with pleasure.

The sound of the overflow drain on the tub gurgling broke
through enough of the fog of arousal to have Jase carefully pulling away from
Katarina. He quickly turned and shut off the faucet. He let some of the water out
before he faced her once more to find her already on her feet.

Jase cupped her face and kissed her thoroughly until she
moaned into his mouth. He lifted his head, scooping her up into his arms. He
stepped into the tub. The water was the perfect temperature. He sat,
positioning Katarina so she was between his legs, facing him. He pushed the
button on the side of the tub to start the jets.

“Mmm, this is nice,” Katarina said. “But I think this will
make it even nicer.”

She shifted until her legs were on the outside of his, then
leaned over him, straddling his hips. Katarina rubbed her pussy along his cock.
Jase lifted his hips, and her, out of the water. She held on to the sides of
the tub and slowly worked his length deep inside her.

As she rode him, their movements stirred up the water, even
more than the water jets already were. He rested his head against the back of
the bathtub and reached around to her shapely bottom. He held on to it as she
raised and lowered herself on his shaft. Being buried deep inside her pussy was
better than anything. It also felt right, as if she belonged to him and he’d
only been waiting to find her.

He thrust up, sloshing some of the bathwater onto the floor.
Jase grew even harder, loud purrs rumbling out of him each time she took him to
the hilt and gripped his cock with her inner walls.

Katarina took him faster, moans pushing out of her, a look
of pleasure written on her face. She had to be close to her release. And Jase’s
point of no return was steadily edging nearer.

He leaned his head forward and captured one of her nipples
in his mouth. Jase sucked on the tight bud before he gently nipped it.
Katarina’s moans increased in volume. He played with her other breast as he
continued to suck.

Katarina whimpered his name as her pussy milked his cock in
a tight fist, her orgasm taking hold of her. Jase surged up into her and held
still until the last spasm passed. He then thrust into her over and over again.
As he found his release, he let loose with a cat’s growl.

The water continued to bubble around them. Katarina grew
relaxed on top of him and kissed his lips. “I’m ready to give you my answer
now,” she said through panted breaths.

“And that would be?”

“I’ll move in with you.”

Jase skimmed his hand down her back to her bottom and squeezed.
“When?”

She chuckled. “I have to stick it out until the end of the
two weeks. Plus, I’ll need that time to pack everything up.”

“Can I help with that?”

“I wish you could, but it’s better I do it myself. I’ll more
than likely get rid of some of it. I’ve kept things I really shouldn’t have.”

“Well, I’ll rent that storage unit for you, and when you’re
ready, we’ll get you moved.”

Katarina met his gaze. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For helping me like this. If George had pulled this crap a
month ago, I wouldn’t have had anyone here to turn to. I probably would have
had to move home with my parents in Butte.”

“And then we never would have met. I’m glad I can be here
for you.” Jase pushed the button to turn off the jets. “Now that you’ve made
your decision to live with me, I think it’s time to celebrate. And we’ll need
the bed to do it properly.”

Once he got them both out of the bathtub and dried off, Jase
took Katarina to bed. He’d had no idea how much it would mean to him to have
her agree to live with him. And given the fact she had agreed, it was time he
told her about his being a cougar shifter. She deserved to know the truth,
especially since she’d be living with some. All it would take to blow their
secret was to have one of his family members shift in front of her. Having
Katarina find out that way wouldn’t be ideal.

Jase pulled Katarina to him and kissed her passionately,
ready for another round of intense lovemaking. Telling her what he was would
have to wait, though. He didn’t want to ruin their celebration.

Katarina came awake and turned her head to see Jase was
still sound asleep. She smiled. He had to be all worn out. They’d had another
night of marathon sex. She could have slept longer as well, but the thought of
all the packing she had to do didn’t allow for it. She felt stressed over it,
which had her wanting to return to her apartment to get to work.

She rolled onto her side and looked at Jase. He still hadn’t
moved. Quiet snores rumbled out of him. Katarina poked him, but they didn’t
lessen nor did he awaken. She had a feeling he was one of those people who once
in a deep sleep was hard to wake up. A smile spread across her lips as she
remembered one way that had done the trick the morning before.

Katarina wouldn’t be doing that, though. For one thing, she
wouldn’t be leaving any time soon if she woke Jase up with a blowjob. She ran
her gaze over his handsome face and down to his chest, which wasn’t covered by
the blankets. She was brought up short once she reached his pendant.

She leaned closer to make sure her eyes weren’t playing
tricks on her. The cougar’s ruby eyes looked to be glowing. How, she had no
idea. There was no light on in the room, and the thick curtains on the sliding
glass doors had been pulled closed, which blocked out most of the sunlight. But
the rubies continued to glow. There had to be something inside the pendant to
cause it. That was the only answer.

Katarina picked it off Jase’s chest and flipped it over. The
back was smooth, solid gold. And the sides didn’t reveal any seam to show there
could be something in the middle. It didn’t make any sense.

The longer she held the cougar head pendant the stronger the
urge to take it from Jase became. It snuck up on her at first, but increased
until it was almost a compulsion. She wanted it. And to be fair, Katarina had
agreed to live with him. According to what the pendant seemed to be used for,
she should be wearing it around her neck to show Jase her commitment to him.
The more she thought about it the more justified she felt in taking his
necklace.

She touched the pendant and found it warm to the touch,
warmer than Jase’s skin. Before she could talk herself out of doing it,
Katarina closed it in her hand and carefully lifted it. At Jase’s head, she
slowly tugged the chain over and off. He continued to sleep, none the wiser of
what she’d done. She slipped off the bed, still holding the necklace by the
pendant, then headed for the en suite. She grabbed her overnight bag on the
way.

With the door closed behind her, Katarina put her bag down
before she placed the necklace on the granite countertop. She had it, now did
she really want to put it around her neck without Jase being aware of it? She
decided to make that decision after she brushed her teeth and got dressed.

After accomplishing all that, she looked down at the
pendant. The ruby eyes still glowed, and not from the lights inside the
bathroom. Should she or shouldn’t she? Katarina scooped it up and held it flat
on her palm. She really wanted to put it on. Jase wouldn’t mind, at least she
didn’t think he would. He’d been the one to suggest she move in with him, after
all.

Katarina stepped back into the bedroom, the pendant closed
in her hand. Her stomach growled, reminding her it’d been hours since the last
time she’d eaten. Jase had told her the cook usually set up breakfast in the
dining room with food the family could come and eat whenever they wanted.

After one last look at Jase, Katarina quietly stepped out of
the room and closed the door behind her, thinking she’d find the dining room
and get them both something to have in bed.

“I see Jase finally let you out of his room.”

Katarina just about jumped out of her skin. She turned
around to find Grady standing at the closed door directly across the hall. “You
scared the crap out of me. I didn’t see you there.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to do that.”

She put her closed fist over her chest. “That’s okay. I just
have to tell my heart that.”

Grady came to stand in front of her with a curious look as
his gaze landed on the gold chain that hung from her hand. “What have you got
there?”

Katarina felt her face heat at getting caught. “Before I
show you, you should know Jase asked me to move in with him and I said yes.”

“Really? I had no idea you two were getting that close, and
what about your job as superintendent?”

“I have two weeks before I no longer have that position.
That’s part of the reason why Jase asked me to move in. I don’t have any other
place to go.”

“I see. So what are you holding?”

Slowly Katarina held out her hand, then turned it palm up
and opened her fist. Grady’s expression went from curious to one of surprise.
He looked from the pendant and its glowing ruby eyes, to her face, then back
down at the pendant.

“Does Jase know you have that?”

She shook her head. “No. He’s dead asleep in there. I just
took it.” Katarina sighed. “I know all about the circle of people you’re part
of and how you guys give your necklace to the woman you get serious with.”

“Okay, that’s sort of what happens. What are you going to do
with it now that you have it?”

“This.”

Katarina lifted the chain and pulled it on over her head.
The instant the cougar head pendant came to rest in the center of her chest,
she felt as if something snapped into place. As if she were invisibly connected
to something, or someone. It took her breath away and she stumbled back against
the closed bedroom door. Through it, she heard Jase suddenly call out her name.

Grady took hold of her arm to steady her before he opened
the door at her back. He then gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the
family.” He walked her inside the room and toward where Jase sat up on the bed,
his gaze locked on the pendant. “Time for some explanations, bro,” Grady said
to him. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Katarina turned her head and watched Grady walk out of the
room, then close her and his brother inside. She looked back at Jase. “You’re
awake.”

His gaze didn’t seem to leave the pendant as he flipped back
the covers before crossing the distance to where she stood. “You took my
pendant.”

She gave him a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I should have asked.
I really don’t know what came over me. I couldn’t help myself. The ruby eyes
were glowing, and I had the biggest urge to wear it. I didn’t actually put it
around my neck until a few seconds ago when Grady caught me with it in my hand.
Are you mad?”

Jase captured her face in his hands and kissed her hungrily.
It was unlike any kiss they’d shared before. It was almost as if he worshipped
her at the same time, as if she were something he wanted to hold on to and
never let go.

Once he released her lips, Katarina gave Jase a small smile.
“I’ll take that as a no.”

“I’m not mad. Far from it.” He met her gaze. “I love you.”

Katarina sucked in a sharp breath. “What?”

“You heard me. I love you.”

“Are you only saying that because I agreed to move in with
you?”

“No. I mean it with all my heart.” He then said softly, “You
felt it, didn’t you? When you put my pendant around your neck, you felt the
bond form.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“That proves my words are true. Just as I know you love me
too because of it.”

“All because I took your pendant and put it on?”

“Yes. I’d hoped you’d be the one, but I couldn’t be sure
until you set the magic off in it.”

Katarina shook her head. “I think you’re getting a little
ahead of yourself. Magic and invisible bonds caused by necklaces are not part
of my everyday world.”

Jase dropped his hands and nodded. “I’d decided to have this
conversation with you before this happened. I think I’d better put some pants
on first.”

She followed him with her gaze and sighed to herself at the
gorgeous figure he made with no clothes on. A smile played across her lips as
the knowledge that he loved her settled in. She loved him too, and had come to
that conclusion sometime during the night while he’d held her in his arms.
She’d tell him, but she wanted to hear what he said first about what had just
happened between them.

After pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, Jase crossed
over to where Katarina stood. “Let’s sit on the couch.”

She walked with him to the sitting area and took a seat
where he’d suggested. She turned on the cushion so she could face him. “Okay,
what is it you want to tell me?”

Jase stared at her for a few seconds as if he were trying to
figure out what to say. Finally he said, “Okay. Before I start, I want you to
remember I do love you and that you don’t have to be afraid of anything,
especially not when you’re with me.”

“All right,” she said as her brows drew together.

“I’ve been keeping a secret from you, about me. I’m not
exactly like you.”

Katarina smiled and reached between them to run her
fingertips along the front of Jase’s jeans. “I know you’re not, and I do like
your differentness—a lot.”

He captured her hand and linked his fingers with hers. “No
touching or I’ll never get through this. You can do as much as you want after,
if you’ll still want to.”

“I doubt there’s anything you can say that’ll change that.”

“We’ll see. Anyway, I’m different. I think it’ll be best if
I just get this all out at once.” Jase took a deep breath. “I’m a cougar
shifter. When a male finds his mate, and he’s subconsciously accepted that she
could be the one, she’ll set off the magic inside his pendant and the cougar’s
ruby eyes will glow. Each male is given one once he reaches adolescence. It’s
the female’s choice to claim it, and him, as hers by taking it from him and
placing it around her own neck, thus causing the mating bond to form between
them.

“You set mine off. Once that happens, I was supposed to get
a surge of testosterone. It would have me able to only think about sex, with
you. I wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep until you claimed me. And I would try
to make love to you until you did, but I skipped all that since you took my
pendant and put it on while I wasn’t aware of it. There I said it.”

“The eyes did glow. And that now explains why I had such a
desperate urge to take your necklace. A cougar shifter. I never knew you even
existed.”

Jase gave her a perplexed look. “Aren’t you feeling a little
freaked out? My two cousins have humans as mates. When Aspen and Harley found
out what Taylor and Blaise were, they lost it and had a hard time accepting
them as cougar shifters.”

Katarina grinned. “Shift for me, baby. Your mate wants to
see her cat.”

“You’re sure? The way you’re acting about all this, it’s confusing
the hell out of me.”

She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. “Shift and I’ll
explain.”

Jase’s body blurred and shimmered, then a large cougar took
his place. Katarina inched closer and stroked the top of his head before she
ran her hands down his back and sides.

“You’re gorgeous, cat of mine. I’m going to tell you my
family’s secret. My uncle, who married my mother’s older sister, is different
just like you, except he’s a werewolf. He’s a lone wolf since his pack’s
numbers had dwindled to a handful and they all decided to go their separate
ways. Uncle Mack ended up in Butte, where he met Aunt Julie. Their first
meeting, and his first whiff or her scent, he’d known she was his mate. Within
a week, he’d gotten her to accept his being a werewolf, and they were married
at the justice of the peace. That was something my aunt had demanded. They have
two kids, my cousins Dawn and Mitchell, who inherited their dad’s wolfy genes.

“They’re close in age to me so I grew up with them. I’ve
seen them and my uncle shift to their wolf forms countless times. And I’ve lost
count how many times I wrestled with Mitchell after he’d shifted when we were
kids. The whole family knows what they are, and have kept it a secret. So, my
mate, you being a cougar shifter would never cause me to freak out. If
anything, it makes me love you even more. If our mating bond is as strong as a
werewolf’s then you are exactly what I’ve been waiting for.”

Jase shifted once more, then took Katarina into his arms.
“It is, though we don’t have to worry about suffering separation anxiety. And
here I was worried you’d run from me.”

Katarina nipped his chin. “Never. Even though I didn’t
understand the significance of your pendant, I’m glad I took it from you. And I
now know what Draven meant by ‘your circle’. He’s a cougar shifter too.”

“Yes, but from another family group. We don’t have packs
like werewolves. And we’ve even kept our presence a secret from them as well.”

She brushed her lips across his. “Enough talking. Take me to
bed. I want to make my cougar purr.”

Jase gathered her close and carried her across the room to
the large bed. He then proceeded to make love to her, purring out his pleasure.

* * * * *

Katarina straightened, then stretched out the kink in her
back. She was at her apartment, packing, and had been doing so for the last
three hours. She’d made a lot of headway into it, but there was still a lot to
go.

At least she didn’t have to worry about moving her stuff
into a storage unit. Now that she was mated to Jase, she’d never be moving out
of his family home. It’d been four days since she’d claimed his pendant as
hers. His parents and brother had immediately accepted her, and when she’d been
introduced to the family group leader, Jase’s uncle had officially welcomed her
into it.

She looked at the clock on her living room wall and wondered
if she should try giving Jase a call. He’d been helping her pack, and had been
the one to drive them to the apartment. He’d brought his tablet along with the
program Draven had given him to track Caleb through his cell phone. His prey,
as Jase liked to call Caleb, had used it, and Jase had gone off to see if he
could catch him.