Sebastian/Aristide (Bayou Heat) (5 page)

“What?”

He stepped closer, watching the pulse at the base of her throat flutter out of control. A low growl rumbled in his throat. He wanted to bite that soft flesh. Preferably while he was climaxing, deep inside her, filling her with his seed.

“Come with me.”

She licked her dry lips, no doubt seeing the cat glowing in his eyes. “Actually, I don’t feel well.”

He lowered his head, nuzzling a line of kisses down her stubborn jaw. “Trust me, I have the only cure.”

“How would you know?” she breathed, her body trembling beneath his light caress. “Did you infect me with something?”

He nipped the side of her throat, reveling in her soft gasp of pleasure. “Not exactly.”

Her hands landed against his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Instead, she gripped his shirt as if her knees were threatening to collapse.

“What is it?” she husked. “What have you done to me?”

His tongue traced the delicate vein that ran the length of her neck. “Not here.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you—” She hissed in outrage as he brought an end to the argument by the simple process of grasping her by the waist and tossing her over his shoulder. “Dammit.” She pounded her fists against his back, at the same time trying to kick him in his balls. Wildcat. “Put me down.”

A feral smile curved Sebastian’s lips as he headed toward a far more prosperous neighborhood north of town. He was a Diplomat who’d always preferred to use charm when it came to seducing his women, but he had to admit that the caveman approach did have its appeal.

“You’re going to thank me,” he assured her, his voice laced with a possession he didn’t bother to hide.

“Like hell.”

“Trust me,” he murmured, moving with a blinding speed humans could never hope to match.

“Never,” she snapped, aiming a kick that would have brought him to his knees if he hadn’t turned just enough for her blow to catch his upper thigh.

“Careful, sugar,” he purred, his tone oddly pleased. “I intend to use that before the night’s over.”

She tried to twist her upper body, hoping to reach the gun that was pressing painfully into her side. Not to shoot the aggravating beast. Well, at least not a killing shot. But a slug in his ass would teach him a little respect.

But as if reading her thoughts, he managed to kick up the pace another notch, making her bang and jerk against his back until she feared she was going to be knocked out. She hissed in frustration, her arms wrapping around his waist as the passing buildings became a mere blur.

He continued at the mind-numbing pace as he kept his attention locked on their surroundings, making sure there were no hidden enemies as the streets widened and the houses became mansions hidden behind the veil of Spanish moss.

The quicker he had answers, the better.

For both of them.

At last reaching a white, plantation-style home set well away from the street, Sebastian circled to the back entrance, forced to halt at the steps to place his hand on a scanner. The lock would only open to a Pantera.

With a small swoosh, the heavy metal door swung inward, and Sebastian stepped into the cramped entry, waiting to be electronically scanned by the security system.

A full minute passed before a hidden panel silently slid open, allowing Sebastian to enter the house.

A part of him wished he could lower Reny to her feet and escort her through the large rooms with the molded ceilings and sweeping staircases that captured the airy, graceful beauty of the old South. She deserved to be treated as a treasured guest, not a prisoner. But until he could convince her that he was only trying to help her, he didn’t have the luxury.

Regaining her breath, Reny loosened her grip on his waist and gave him another thump on the back.

“What the hell is this place?”

“A safe house for Pantera,” he said, using the servants’ stairs to reach the second floor.

“Why would you bring me here?”

Sebastian entered the first bedroom. With two long strides he had her dumped on the wide, ivory-canopied bed and had turned to head back out the door.

“Wait here.”

“No…don’t—”

He shut the door on her furious protest, touching the small lever that would trigger the lock.

The knowledge that he was damaging her trust in him was like a knife through his heart, but he grimly hurried down the stairs and toward the front of the house where he could sense one of his brothers.

Opening the door to what had once been the library, Sebastian stepped into a room that had been stripped of its original furnishings and fitted with the sort of high-tech equipment that could rival the Pentagon.

Pantera might be creatures who’d been born of mist and magic, but they lived in the modern world.

A dark-haired Hunter with whiskey-gold eyes turned away from the line of computer screens he’d been monitoring and rose to his feet.

Lian looked his typical badass self in a pair of faded black jeans and Metallica T-shirt, his long hair pulled into a braid that hung down to his waist.

“Troubles?”

“Here.” Sebastian moved forward to shove a long strand of hair into the startled Pantera’s hand. “Have this sent to the closest lab and tested.”

Lian frowned. “For what?”

“DNA. I want to know what family this comes from.”

The Hunter lifted his brows in surprise. “Okay. Anything else?”

“A full background check on Agent Reny Smith, FBI,” Sebastian said.

Lian turned to open a desk drawer, pulling out a small baggie to store the hair in. There were several Pantera who worked undercover in the local labs and could expedite the necessary tests.

“It will take at least twenty-four hours for the DNA. I can start the background check now.”

Sebastian nodded. “Contact me as soon as you have something.”

“You got it.”

Confident that he could trust Lian to take care of the search into Reny’s past, Sebastian retraced his steps, his body tensing as he reached to push open the door.

God. Damn.

He could physically feel the pulse of Reny’s arousal. It was like a fire in his gut.

But slipping into the room, concern was his overriding emotion.

Closing the door, he leaned against it as Reny launched herself at him, her face flushed and tendrils of dark curls that escaped her ponytail pasted to her damp skin.

“You rat bastard,” she snarled, slamming her fists against his chest.

Thankful she hadn’t shot him the minute he’d opened the door, Sebastian wrapped his arms around her trembling form, pulling her tight against him.

“Shh.” He lowered his head, brushing his lips over her temple. The mating heat shouldn’t be this intense. It was like a violent force that was pummeling the two of them, instead of the gentle temptation that used to be common among Pantera. “I have you.”

“God.” She collapsed against his chest, her breath a loud gasp. “What’s happening?”

His lips skimmed down her cheek, nuzzling the edge of her mouth. “It’s the mating heat.”

She pulled back her head to study him in confusion. “You’re in heat?”

“Not me.” His hand ran a soothing path up and down her back. “You.”

“Dammit.” Her brows snapped together. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

“You don’t.” His fingers cupped the back of her nape, his thumb stroking the pulse that beat at the base of her throat. “But denying the truth isn’t going to help either of us. You can feel it, sugar.” He peered deep into her gaze, glimpsing the frustrated cat who prowled just below the surface. “Burning deep inside you.”

She gave a choked sound. “This has to be a trick.”

“No trick.” He fiercely held her gaze. The time for games was over. “Your cat has decided to take command.”

“I’m not…” She halted to lick her lips, a fear that she could no longer hide tightening her face. “I can’t be.”

He ignored her ridiculous protests. “You can have your identity crisis later,” he assured her. “For now, we need to deal with your discomfort.”

“And how do you intend to do that?”

“I can ease you.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “Yeah, I bet you can.”

His thumb stroked the line of her jaw. “Or I can take you to the Wildlands.”

“Why?” she snapped. “So some other puma can ease me?”

A blinding fury raced through him at the mere thought of another man touching this female.

Hell, he’d rip apart anyone stupid enough to get near her.

“Never,” he snarled, grimacing as she winced at his feral expression. Sucking in a deep breath, he attempted to calm the beast inside. “Damn. The need shouldn’t be this overwhelming,” he confessed.

She glared at him, as if it was his fault. “Then why is it?”

“It could be a result of your cat being shackled for too long,” he said, his voice a rough growl as he pressed her lower body against his swelling cock. “Or it could be the result of our returning magic. It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a female in heat.”

She shook her head, unconsciously curling her fingers into his chest as if she had claws. “Stop saying that.”

He bent down until he was pressing his forehead against hers, his nose flaring to capture her deepening musk.

“Tell me what you want, sugar.”

“Sanity,” she muttered.

No shit. Sebastian could use a hefty dose of that himself.

But it wasn’t happening.

Not until the heat was eased.

“Answer me, Reny, before I take the decision out of your hands,” he commanded, the edge in his voice warning he was at the point of snapping. “Do we stay, or go to the Wildlands where the Healers might be able discover some pharmaceutical way to lessen your need?”

She trembled, her human mind no doubt urging her to demand to be medically cured of her ache. But it was the cat who was currently in charge, and the too-long suppressed feline wasn’t at all confused about what it wanted.

“Stay,” she whispered, her eyes glowing. “We stay.”

Arousal slammed into him with the force of a cement truck, making it difficult to think as her hand boldly stroked over his chest.

He grasped her wrist, hissing as pleasure poured through him.

“You’re sure?”

She answered the strained question by lifting her free hand to continue his torture with bold, searching fingers.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me, but right now all I want is to wrap myself around you.”

Sebastian cursed, his body swiftly threatening to explode. “Be careful what you say to me, sugar. I prefer to be a tender lover, but my cat is ready to devour you.”

She didn’t look nearly as frightened as she should. “You speak of your cat as a separate being.”

“We are one in spirit, but he’s far more…primitive. Life is simpler when I’m in my cat form. Life. Death. Hunger.” He tangled his fingers into the thick satin of her hair, loosening it from the ponytail so it could spill over her shoulders. His heart skipped a beat as the overhead light shimmered in the fire hidden in the dark satin of her hair. “The thrill of the hunt.”

His acute hearing picked up the sudden leap of her heart.

Ah. She liked the idea of being on the prowl.

“Don’t think you can hunt me.” Leaning forward, she trailed her lips along the curve of his throat. An instinctive provocation that was more Pantera than human. “I’ll never be your prey.”

Sebastian’s fingers loosened on her wrist, his thumb brushing the rapid beat of her pulse. Foolish female. Challenging a Pantera male was a certain way to provoke his most primal instincts.

Strong females were as potent as the finest aphrodisiac to the animal inside him.

Sliding his hand to the front of her neck, his fingers circled her throat, holding her in a gesture of pure possession.

“If I decide you’re mine,” he murmured softly. “I will hunt you to the end of the earth.”

“Is that a threat?” she demanded, her tone distracted as her fingers began to unbutton his shirt.

He gave a low growl, tugging her tight against his hard body.

“It’s a promise, sugar,” he rasped, his senses inflamed to the point of pain.

“This is madness.” She pulled open his shirt, trailing her tongue down the bronzed skin she’d just revealed. “Complete lunacy.”

His soft groan rumbled in his chest as he moved to cup her ass, compulsively pressing her to his rock hard cock.

“You won’t get an argument from me,” he muttered, for the first time fully appreciating the power of the mating heat.

Her hunger was a savage ache that clenched his body, the temptation of her spicy scent drowning him in need.

His cock throbbed in concert with every beat of her heart.

“Have you ever done this?”

He gave a startled laugh. “Had sex?”

She arched back to meet his searching gaze, an unexpected hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

“Have you been with many females in my…condition?”

Unable to resist the sight of that slender neck arched in open invitation, Sebastian lowered his head.

“No,” he murmured, his voice a husky growl. “Never.”

She gave a low groan as his tongue ran a searing path along the line of her throat.

“Then how do you know this will put an end to it?” Her fingers dug into his upper arms, as if her knees had suddenly become too weak to support her.

He nipped her earlobe, wryly acknowledging that the mating heat was only an excuse to give in to his desire.

He would have done everything in his power to get her in the nearest bed without the heat driving him.

“There’s only one way to find out.”

Before she could even guess his intention, Sebastian was easing her out of her jacket and unbuckling her holster to set aside her gun before swiftly dealing with the white cotton shirt. Then, reaching the end of his patience, he rid her of the lacy white bra with one sharp tug.

Sebastian made a sound of appreciation, his hands moving to cup her breasts with a reverent care.

Damn. He’d suspected she’d be beautiful beneath all that starch, but she was…perfect.

His thumbs teased the pink tips of her nipples, rumbling in pleasure as they hardened with excitement.

“Do you like that?” he demanded.

“Yes,” she whispered.