Deep in the leopard’s body, Ashe felt the gathering heat and knew her female was close. She had to get her to see that she needed to accept her mate. In doing so, she would be sealing her own fate. Once the two leopards had mated, there would be no tearing them apart. Her mother had made her very aware of that. Her mother’s leopard was her father’s leopard’s true mate. They had found each other in another life cycle and recognized each other.
Staring at Temnyy’s rugged, handsome fighting form, Ashe recognized that sometime, a long time ago, she had seen him at least once before. He had a beautiful coat, thick and light, with amazing dark rosettes. She loved the way he looked and remembered the feel of his fur beneath her fingers. From where, she couldn’t remember, but she knew she was familiar with his coat.
Why do you lead him on this way when you know you’re ready?
You are not. Her female didn’t sound her usual complacent self. She was suffering, needing her mate, just as Ashe had needed Timur.
Just those three words told Ashe the bond between shifter and cat was stronger than anything else—even the primal drive to mate. Her leopard suffered because she feared Ashe wasn’t in sync with her.
I am. I will handle my relationship with Timur. I want him just the way you want Temnyy. I have reservations, but that doesn’t mean we can’t overcome them. Have fun with your mate, Godiva. I want you to.
Ashe found she did want her female to feel as satisfied and happy as she had with Timur. He’d taken care of her. That first time with him, staring into her eyes, had been intense, but even the second time when her back was to him and his hands were everywhere as he pounded into her, she’d felt his caring. He’d made certain to take care of her.
She let go of her female as the cat crouched once more. This time Temnyy was on Godiva, teeth biting down on her shoulder to hold her in place, his body blanketing hers as he took her. Ashe gave them privacy, keeping her distance through the long night. The cats went at it every fifteen minutes or so, and then they would stretch out beside each other panting before repeating their mating. The sex was rough and yet very affectionate.
Ashe found Temnyy guiding Godiva back toward the guesthouse when the first light began streaking through the darkness. Godiva stumbled a few times and lay down. Temnyy allowed her to rest and then nudged her to get her moving. By the time they made it to the porch, Godiva didn’t want to get up again.
Timur shifted back to his human body and opened the door. “Shift, Ashe.”
She was too tired and probably wouldn’t have obeyed him, but he used that voice on her, the one that everyone obeyed. She used her last ounce of strength and shifted back to her human form, collapsing on the porch.
Timur leaned down and lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “Bath for you, baby, and then you can sleep.”
She circled his neck with one arm, uncaring what he decreed. She was going to sleep, and there wasn’t much he could do about it. She dozed on his lap as he sat on the edge of the very large tub. The sound of running water was soothing and reminded her and Godiva of the babbling of the stream.
“Okay, Ashe, we’re good. I’m putting you in the water.”
She answered by tightening her grip on him. She was aware of everything around her as if from a distance, she was that tired. Her body was sore, every single muscle, but the rawness between her legs felt delicious and sensual, not that she wanted to move.
He laughed softly against her ear, his breath warm. “Fine, I’ll get in with you. I just hope the bath salts Evangeline stocks this house with aren’t perfumed.”
He already knew the salts were scented. The fragrance was lavender. He lowered them both into the very hot water. She hissed a little as the water climbed up her body, touching sore places and encompassing her until it was over her breasts. He kept her on his lap, his arm around her, a bar under her breasts.
She found herself smiling. “I like being alone with you,” she admitted. “You’re very different.”
He nuzzled the top of her head. “I can afford to be different when we’re alone.”
She understood that. She knew she was just as careful with others as he was. She could be open with him about her parents, where she wouldn’t be with someone else. “How often is that going to happen?”
“Our leopards mating?”
She shook her head. “Us. That was wild. Crazy. Crazy wild. I don’t know if I’m ever going to walk straight again.”