Fourteen

Eve tested the sharpness of her blade with her thumb before sliding it back into the sheath at her waist. The first thing she did when she arrived back at her cabin was select a new knife to replace the one she left at Arlin’s. She would not be caught unawares again if Kyle reappeared, and there was no doubt that he would. If he followed her all the way to Bull Creek, then he wouldn’t give up that easy, which meant his threats were more than threats; they were promises.

She walked back over to the kitchen counter, needing more coffee. Alanna had left a few moments ago, along with Josh and Ezra, after making sure the repairs were finished and Eve’s cabin was safe and secure. She could tell by the look on Alanna’s face that she didn’t really want to leave, but Eve needed to be alone to figure out what she needed to do next. She didn’t doubt that Kyle would be watching. Glancing at the front door—the locked front door—she wondered if she’d be able to spot him in the woods around her cabin. It only made sense that he’d be out there after threatening her to pack up and head back to where they had lived together. He’d want to know his threat worked.

He had to know there was no way in hell that she’d listen to him. There was no going back. He’d have to kill her first, and if it came down to one of them having to die, it would be Kyle Wagner. She’d be sure of that.

The sound of tires on gravel broke the silence. Panic gripped her for a moment as she stared at the front door. No! I will not allow myself to fear him. Not anymore. With her hand on the hilt of her knife, Eve walked to the window at the front of the cabin, blowing out a breath as she did. It was one thing to tell yourself to calm down and quite another for your body to listen to the pep talk.

Pulling the curtain back, she saw Arlin stepping out of his car, his gaze scanning the surrounding area. He probably has the same thoughts I do, that Kyle is out there somewhere. Then she couldn’t help but giggle as she pictured Kyle crossing paths with Arlin’s tiger. Kyle had no clue shifters even existed, so she could only imagine the look on his face when he actually saw one, and she highly doubted his first encounter would be a good one.

By the time Eve opened her front door, Arlin was taking the first step up to the porch. “Well?” she asked. “Were you able to accomplish what you wanted?”

He shrugged as he crossed his arms and leaned against the porch pole. “Yes and no. I filed a report, but to be honest, according to Lainie, there just isn’t much they can do until something further happens, and there are witnesses. Filing a restraining order takes over two weeks, and we don’t have that kind of time.”

She nodded her head, her sandy hair falling into her eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be back around once he realizes I’m not packing up and hightailing it out of here.”

Arlin glanced at her, a smile creasing his face as his gold eyes sparkled. “I’m glad to hear you’re not planning on going anywhere.”

“Hell no, this is my home. He can kiss my ass if he thinks he can scare me away from it.”

Arlin took two steps, crossing the porch, and gripping her arms in his rough, massive hands. “No one kisses your ass, but me.” He leaned down and kissed her, his lips warm, hungry.

Eve fell into his embrace, sliding her hands up his back to wrap around his shoulders as he held her. She felt his tongue part her lips, tasting her as she tasted him, his breath warm on her cheeks. She really hoped Kyle was watching right then, just to see how a real man treated a woman. Then she felt herself grinning, her kiss deepening. Might as well give the ass a real show. She slid her hand from Arlin’s shoulder and across the ever-growing bulge in his pants. Gripping his cock through his jeans, she stroked his fire into a full blaze, feeling his body stiffen against her as his breathing grew huskier. She squeezed his shaft harder, urging it to life.

When Arlin broke the kiss, keeping her tight against him, he grinned as he looked down at her. “I think we should take this inside,” he said, taking a step toward the front door, urging her backward.

“Why? You don’t like right here? Right now?” She pushed herself away from him as her hands went to the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head and dropping it to the porch. Reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra and slid it off her shoulders to land on top of her shirt. “I thought shifters were past the whole shyness thing when it came to sex and nudity.” She felt the cool afternoon air brush against her breasts, stirring her nipples to life. She didn’t hesitate, but instead, reached for her pants button and stripped her jeans from her legs, taking her thong with them. She stared at him, grinning a shit-eating grin as she wiggled back and forth in front of him. “Are you saying you don’t want me?” She walked around him until she could lean across the porch railing, her ass wiggling back and forth in front of him. “Is that what you’re saying?”

She heard him growl as he reached for the bottom of his shirt to yank it off. “Little Warrior, I’ve warned you before about tempting me. Soon, I will not be able to hold my tiger back from marking you.” His shirt slid over his head and joined hers on the ground. He took a step toward her as he undid his pants button. Before he slid them down his powerful legs, he reached out and ran a hand over her bare ass, bringing goose bumps to her flesh. She pushed back against him, pressing her ass into the palm of his hand. “And, I think, it’ll be sooner than later.”

She glanced at him from over her shoulder. “I don’t want you to hold back. I want you to take me. Claim me. Make me yours. Right here on this porch. Right now. Do it, Arlin. Do it now.” She knew she taunted him, and even though she lived with shifters, she wasn’t truly sure what the mark of a mate really meant outside of bonding two people together, but she was through worrying about it. She wanted Arlin and wanted Kyle to know she now belonged to another. Let the bastard try to get me now.

Arlin slid his pants down his legs, his boxers sliding down with them, and kicked them both to the side. She felt his hands return to her waist, and as she glanced back over her shoulder, could see the lust growling in his eyes. Her pussy dripped at what she witnessed. It was almost as if his animal was in full control, and when she felt the tiger’s claws slip out of his fingertips and into her waist, she feared she may have made a mistake.

He positioned himself behind her, the tip of his cock teasing her passion’s entrance. Yet, he didn’t shove himself inside of her. Instead, he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Don’t think I’m not aware of the show we’re making, Little Warrior.” His breath felt heavy in her ears, warm against the side of her face. “For all of your bravado, this will make you mine forever, and I enjoy ravishing what’s mine and don’t care who sees it.” His claws dug into her flesh just a little sharper as he thrust deep inside of her, the ache from where he took her this morning fresh as his cock speared into her, spreading her pussy open. Claiming her.

She cried out, her back arching, his chest pushing into her as he pounded her. Gripping the porch railing, it was all she could do to hang on during the ride. She felt her own nails dig into the wood, felt her body shuddering under the sexual assault he gave her, her pussy hungering for everything he gave. Faster, he drove into her, his grunts and growls stirring her own orgasm to the front. Her whole body felt like tendrils of electricity as she shoved herself back on his manhood, felt her pussy lips sucking his cock, her walls tightening around him, holding him inside of her. Gone were the thoughts of threats and Kyle, gone even was the idea that she and Arlin were fucking on the front porch of her cabin where anyone driving or walking by could see them. She didn’t care. All she wanted right then was Arlin. His cock. His orgasm. His mark.

Her body shuddered, tightening as she felt her orgasm sweep through her. Arlin leaned over her, his deep voice a growl in her ear. “Mine.” And then she felt his grip tighten as he sank his teeth—fangs?—into her, his cock twitching as he filled her with his cum. She cried out again, her whole body a tightrope of sensations as she stiffened in place, his presence over her, dominating her as the pain from his bite shot through her, mingling with her orgasm.

When his body softened, his grip loosening, she could feel him stand again, his cock slipping from her. She almost cried out again as the void filled her where his shaft was just a second ago. He placed a hand under her waist and helped her to stand, turning her as he did. She maintained her grip on the railing, her knees weak and shaky as she felt their lovemaking drip from her. Gingerly, she placed a hand over the bite mark, the pain sharp, intense. Now, that bruise, I’m going to enjoy having. She could feel the impressions of his teeth as she gently ran her fingers across the mark, wondering if it did all the things she had heard.

He gripped her waist, pulling her against him, the curls of his chest hair ticklish against her flesh. His smile captivated her as he gazed into her eyes, his expression still hungry, ready for more. “Now that you’ve made your point out here, why don’t we go inside and continue where it’s a little more comfortable?”

“What’s the matter, Stripes? I thought animals liked the outdoors.”

“Not when there’s a perfectly good bed inside.” He bent down and scooped her into his arms, carrying her inside the cabin and to the back bedroom. As he dropped her on the bed, causing her body to bounce slightly, he said, “There’s much more room to maneuver right here, and I want to explore every inch of this body.” He crawled on top of her, nibbling her as he did. “Biting. Licking. Tasting. It’s going to be a busy morning. You’ll want to be comfortable.”

She laid back on the bed, her grin reaching her eyes. “I’ve got nothing but time.” And before she knew it, they had explored their way out of the afternoon and into the evening, no longer caring that outside the cabin her attacker more than likely watched from the edge of the woods.