Hunted by the Jaguar Read online

  He whirled, a snarl on his face. “Do you know what it’s like for a wild creature to suddenly be caged? To be cut off from everything dear to him, never to taste the wind on his face, never lie again with his mate?”

  “You came here to help them.”

  “I owed them. I became the leader, fed them renewed purpose and strength. Gave them a blood vow. Until every man here walks out of that gate free, I would always return here.” He blinked rapidly, fighting the emotions churning inside him like ground glass. “This…is my home now.”

  Ariana tapped her fingers on the chair’s arm. She didn’t look judgmental, only thoughtful. The tightness in his chest eased a little.

  “Violence bred violence. You tried to stop it because you realized your mistake. You said you are free to leave, but you’re not. You’re imprisoned like they are, only by your guilt, Daimon. It’s time to let go and forgive yourself.”

  So filled with beauty, and light. Ariana was an angel who had never done anything wrong, while the weight of all his past mistakes weighed on him. Her face shone with trust. He wanted to pull her into his arms and bury himself deep inside her.

  He wanted to push her away because he didn’t know if he ever could forgive himself.

  “I don’t know if I can,” he whispered. “I don’t know…if I deserve it. Or anything good. Maybe it was best you left me that first time.”

  “I do know.” She came to him, her pale skin glowing, her hips swaying seductively. “I will not let go this time, Daimon. I won’t leave you.”

  Deserve her? Hell no. But he hungered for her, his beast growling its demand. He was helpless to fight the clawing need as she pressed her body against him.

  Her mouth tasted like sweet berries as she kissed him, tugging off his shirt. She placed a hand on his chest as she gazed up at him. Feral hunger overrode all else and he took her mouth in a ravaging kiss.

  They stripped and went to the floor.

  This time, it was slow, rich and deep. He took his time exploring her, bringing her the pleasure she deserved. His beast snarled with satisfaction, the jaguar staking its claim once more.

  Mine.

  He’d taken her virginity, claimed her in the flesh. Now the bond he forged was deeper and more meaningful. He would imprint himself on her body and her spirit so she could never forget him.

  Daimon’s velvet tongue stroked over her body in long, lazy laps. She felt bathed in warmth and pleasure. He pulled at her nipples, coaxing them to rigid peaks, then put his mouth on one while continuing to tease the other. The warm suctioning of his mouth, combined with the slow strokes of his tongue was a silky lick between her legs. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair, writhing beneath him.

  A bead of sweat ran down between her breasts. Daimon kept up with the sweet torture, making sounds of pleasure deep within his throat. Was he…purring?

  She lay beneath a heavily muscled man who was also a jaguar that could shred her to ribbons. A feral light entered his gaze as he studied her. Daimon’s purr deepened as he tongued her nipple and played with her.

  Ariana panted, her body no longer hers to control. He controlled it with each exquisite caress of his tongue, each press of his mouth against her damp skin.

  The orgasm broke over her in wave after wave of pure pleasure. Pinned beneath him, she convulsed, screaming his name, not caring who heard. Daimon watched her, a tender smile on his face.

  Boneless with pleasure, she stared up at him. A teasing light entered his eyes. Daimon put his hand between her shaking legs. His fingers emerged, shiny and wet. He licked them slowly, his heated gaze never leaving hers.

  Flushed with arousal, she watched him lick her juices off his fingers.

  “You taste like hot, wet spice, Ariana. But there’s so much more I plan with you,” he murmured. “Much more. Upstairs, in my bed. Good thing it has four posters.”

  She was almost afraid to ask. “Why?”

  The same wildness touched his face. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ariana had a few demands of her own. “First, you have to catch me.”

  Her heart raced as Daimon’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “In a playful mood, sunshine? You know you can’t outrun a big cat.”

  “You don’t know what my powers are,” she murmured, savoring his surprised look. “When my mother gave me the gift of her voice, she also passed on another gift. Speed. How do you think I outran those wolves in the woods?”

  He considered. “Deal. But I have a rule of my own. We do it naked.”

  Her jaw dropped. “Naked!”

  “Running barefoot and bare assed, sunshine. It evens the score.”

  Fine. Ariana placed a hand on her crotch and cupped herself, knowing he could scent the musk of her arousal, the salty dampness of her skin. “Do you want this, cat?”

  A strangled groan fled him. He nodded.

  “Go!”

  With a playful growl, he started for her but she left him in the vast living room with a surprised look on his face.

  She raced down the hallway, and was back in the living room, without even breaking a sweat. Ariana laughed as he appeared in the doorway near the kitchen.

  “Catch me if you can!”

  He kept up the chase, sprinting up the stairs, but she was swifter. Down the second-story hallway, her feet barely touching the carpeting. And then she opened a door and ground to a halt.

  An enormous bed with a carved oak headboard dominated the room. Light spilled through the tall windows, glinting a richly colored carpet with jewel colors. The walls were painted a lush green, and silk trees clustered together in the room as if to recreate a jungle.

  But it was the drawings on the walls that took her breath away.

  Every single one was of her.

  Herself as a child, laughing as she tumbled through a pile of autumn leaves. As an adult, the wind billowing through her hair as she laughed. Charcoal and colored pencil, they lined the walls in diamond patterns.

  And then she heard a low purring behind her and turned. Daimon leaped into the room, sweeping her into his arms. He tossed her onto the mattress and tackled her, caging her in his protective arms as they rolled.

  Straddling her, he looked down. Feral. Wild.

  A slow smile touched his mouth. “Gotcha.”

  Ariana gazed upward at his glittering gaze. “And what will you do with me, cat?”

  Daimon’s smile widened. He lifted off her, watching, his eyes narrowed. Ariana felt her body moving to the middle of the bed.

  Her arms and legs suddenly stretched wide as if invisible hands tugged them apart. She heard a rustle in the closet and the door opened. Lengths of red velvet ropes floated out, snaked around the four posters.

  Then the ropes wound around her ankles and wrists.

  She was tied spread-eagled to the bed.

  Placing one knee on the bed, he leaned close. His cock strained toward her, veins roping the thick shaft. Moisture glistened at the slit.

  His mouth upon her chilled skin was warm as he kissed his way up her body. Dark bristles shadowing his cheeks abraded her tender flesh. He dipped his tongue into the slit of her navel, making her writhe. His tongue laved up to breasts, where he gave one hardened nipple a long stroke of his tongue. Then he clamped his teeth down gently. Ariana flinched at the sting, which he soothed with a swirl of his tongue.

  “Daimon…”

  “Soon,” he crooned, sitting back.

  A slight fear kicked down her spine as she watched a black silk scarf float into his hands. Remembering how Jarrett had gagged her, Ariana shook her head.

  “Please, don’t.”

  He tilted his head at her. “Do you trust me, sunshine? Trust that I would never hurt you, that I’d die before letting you get hurt?”

  Heaven help her, but she did. A lump lodged in her throat, making speech impossible. She nodded.

  He placed a single kiss on her quivering belly. “Then relax and enjoy. I won’t
hurt you.”

  Gently, he tied the scarf around her head, blindfolding her.

  Sheets rustled beneath her. She heard the quiet snick of a door opening and closing, something clattering on the nightstand beside her.

  “Open your mouth,” Daimon said softly.

  For a moment, she hesitated. He won’t hurt you, Ariana told herself. She trusted him with her whole heart, and opened her mouth.

  “Do you remember what you enjoyed more than anything else when you were little?”

  He popped something small and round past her parted lips. “Chew.”

  As she did, sweetness burst into her mouth. Ariana swallowed with delight. “Strawberries, freshly picked.”

  “Yes,” he purred.

  A warm liquid drizzled into her mouth, dripped on her parted lips. She darted her tongue out to catch each droplet of delicious sugar.

  “Chocolate.”

  He fed her a slice of apple, a juicy pear piece, the wetness dripping down her chin, his tongue slowly licking off the droplets.

  Then she heard him squirt something, his fingers rasping over some object. She moistened in anticipation. The bed dipped beneath his weight. She felt his hand between her legs and jerked.

  “Shh,” he crooned. “Just relax.”

  Something hard and cool pressed against her damp folds. Slickness coated the object. The hard length was cool and knobby. Not his penis, she thought, dazed at the sensation of it sliding past her tightened muscles. Her core tightened around the intruder. And then she felt his fingers brush her thigh in a lingering caress.

  The bed squeaked, and suddenly Daimon was straddling her chest. A firm, round knob pressed against her lips. It smelled faintly musky and salty. Instantly she knew.

  Ariana opened her mouth and flicked her tongue. She heard him grunt in satisfaction, felt him lean forward. The springy curls at his groin brushed against her skin as his tight balls rubbed against her chin.

  She opened her mouth wider and he pushed himself into the wet cavern.

  Inexperienced as she was, instinct guided her. Ariana licked and sucked, swirling her tongue around his pulsing length. With each sweep of her tongue, her core clamped down on the hardness inside her. It was such an erotic sensation, she felt herself grow wetter and wetter.

  Pleasuring him, having him in her control. As if anyone could control this powerful Ancient.

  Ariana bit down lightly, her teeth scraping over the ridge of his cock.

  Groans wrenched from him, then the deep coughing grunt of his jaguar. She felt him tense, smelled the musk of his arousal as salty semen dripped into her mouth.

  Daimon pulled away. “No more, Ariana. Sweet as it is, I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

  She felt him settle between her legs again. A warm tongue scraped against her center. She clenched down around the object still lodged deep into her core.

  Her core squeezed with want. Dampness gushed from her in a river. She strained against her bonds as Daimon put a thumb to her clit and pressed. She moaned, writhing, wanting more.

  And then he began licking her like a big cat, rasping against her tender flesh. Ariana’s body bowed as the pleasure built higher and higher.

  He suckled her as he worked the dildo in and out of her soaked core. Tension swirled in her groin as he stroked slowly, culling more moisture. Ariana struggled against the restraints, her hips rising eagerly to each caress.

  Still he kept playing with her, making her squirm and nearly scream.

  A shriek tore from her throat.

  “You’re so wet, but I’m going to push you, sunshine, push you until you beg and scream for more.”

  He tongued her faster, hitting a sensitive spot, and she shrieked. Heat built inside her body, the angel and demon dancing with delight. Ariana strained against her bonds, her core squeezing and releasing the dildo.

  Daimon stopped and she sensed he toyed with her like a cat with a mouse. Ariana gulped down a trembling breath. “Please,” she said hoarsely. “Please, do it.”

  As he hit that spot again, she arched upward with a loud cry, his name on her lips. The tension shattered, exploding inside her in glorious spasms of heat.

  Sobbing, Ariana fell back to the mattress, her lungs heaving for air. Her blindfold loosened and fell to bed. She lifted her head to see Daimon watching her with the predatory look of a jungle cat. He reached between her legs and withdrew the object.

  Ariana sputtered. “A cucumber?”

  A small smile played on his firm mouth. “You need fruit and vegetables, sunshine.” His tongue snaked out, licked the moisture from it. “It tastes delicious. Like your juices.”

  Daimon tossed it aside, his smile fading. Waving a hand, he undid her bonds. The ropes coiled and floated back into the closet.

  “Turn over,” he growled.

  Ariana did, tilting her hips up in feminine invitation.

  His hands seized her hips, pulling her back. She felt the round head of his shaft rub her swollen, wet folds. Daimon stroked it over her cleft teasingly. Then he guided his penis into her tight core until his balls were nestled against her. She gasped at how deep he was, joining to her so intimately. Rocking against him, she moved up and down, loving the way his cock slid in and out of her body.

  Bending over her, he toyed with her clit, and then his mouth nuzzled her neck. With a savage growl, he clamped his teeth on the sensitive juncture of her shoulder and neck.

  He bit down, the hot sting colliding with the fire between her legs, hurling her into another orgasm.

  His fingers dug into her hips as he thrust harder and faster. It was wild and rough, and she loved every minute of it. His taut balls slapped against hers as the friction built, his thick cock sliding in and out of her swollen core.

  “You’re mine, Ariana. Mine.” He thrust one last time.

  A scream wrenched from her throat as the pleasure exploded. Daimon shouted, wrapping his arms tightly around her, as warm seed jettisoned into her channel.

  Minutes later, they lay together, his arms wrapped possessively about her body, one thigh wedged firmly between hers. She closed her eyes and slept.

  When Daimon awoke two hours later, Ariana was tucked firmly against his body. He stroked her hair, his chest tight.

  He needed to look inward. Examine his heart. Was he truly making his men’s lives better? Or was he using Ariana for his own lust and the raging possessiveness he felt each time she drew near?

  His feelings for her were desperate, as overwhelming as a tidal wave. She was spirited and strong, qualities he hungered to take inside himself.

  Daimon did not feel strong. Each day he spent in this desolate prison, he felt part of his spirit slip away.

  He did not deserve love, need it. No, he was fine on his own. Maybe if he kept telling himself that it would be true, he thought with a bitter laugh.

  He could not look back and become lost in a sea of regrets. The past tugged and teased at him, whispered guilt into his spirit. But he must move on.

  Ariana was the lifeline tugging him forward. Man, he needed her.

  “You quiet my beast,’ he murmured into her soft hair, pressing a kiss on her temple.

  Ariana looked up, her eyes sleepy and passion-glazed. Never wanting to let go, he held her tight against him. Life without her held no meaning. He thought of Jarrett losing Chloe and his heart twisted.

  A warm palm settled on his chest. “Don’t blame yourself. It’s time to let go, remember?”

  “I want to. Jarrett doesn’t.”

  Daimon sat up, alerted by subdued darkness inside him tingling a warning. Electricity hummed through his whole body. He spread out his palms, stunned to see his claws emerge.

  Forcing back the shift, he sprang to his feet. Only one thing could bring out his change involuntarily.

  With the back of one hand, he lifted the lace curtain. Dust clogged the air by the distant fence. The gate shuddered, held, and shuddered again. Dread curled down his spine.

  Ariana
joined him. “What is it?” And then she gasped and saw what he did.

  Dozens of wolves throwing their weight at the gate.

  “Jarrett’s pack! But they can’t get inside.”

  His jaw tightened. “They’re not his pack. They’re real wolves he commandeered to his bidding. Jarrett’s using wolves to break through the barrier. Once it’s broken, Lawson and his pack can get through.”

  “But the force field…”

  “Will only stun them, then they’ll recover enough to launch an attack. Where are my men?”

  Horror filled her face. “They’re still asleep in the woods.”

  “Defenseless.” Grimly, he watched the wolves slam the gate again. “When they break through, they’ll catch their scent. Jarrett’s pack will head straight there and kill them.”

  Chapter Ten

  Daimon slid into his jeans, zipping them up. Ariana dressed as quickly, her pulse thudding with fear.

  “Will the pack come here for you first.”

  “No. Jarrett will, but his pack will aim for my men. Killing them is the best way to hurt me. How long will they sleep?”

  “It depends…. They’re weakened and haven’t slept well in weeks, so at least ten hours. Or more.”

  “Shit. Even if they wake up during the attack, the wolves will rip out their throats before they can defend themselves.”

  Powerful muscles on his back flexed as he bunched his arms. Ready to fight. Take on the whole pack to defend his men.

  More blood would stain his hands. Ariana thought fast.

  The gate bent inward, and then broke. Wolves poured into the opening, howling as the electricity zipped through their bodies. They fell still. Stunned.

  “Only temporary. In twenty minutes or less, they’ll regain consciousness.” Daimon herded her toward the back door. “Show me where they are.”

  When they reached the forest, the thirty jaguars slept heavily beneath the shady firs. Several attempts at jostling them awake met with failure.

  Claws emerged from his fingers as Daimon stretched out his palms. He used one to lance his wrist. Blood flowed.