“Settle, Lotus. We’ll work all that out. Give this to him. Feel him. Let yourself feel his elation. When you’ve never had such things in your life, you don’t take them for granted.” He brushed more kisses along her nape and then leaned down to start kissing at the base of her spine. “You never take the woman who gave you and your leopard the ability to live life, a real life—you never take her for granted.”
Gedeon kissed his way up her bare spine. Meiling had a beautiful back. She might be slight, a delicate little flower, but she was all woman, her form wholly feminine. He pressed kisses along her shoulder, feeling the power of his leopard running beneath his frame. Meiling’s temperature rose. His did. Their skin grew hot to the touch. Slayer waited, showing more control than Gedeon knew the leopard was capable of. He could feel the large cat vibrating in anticipation.
Then the little female flooded Meiling’s body with hormones. Her body was hot under his. Slayer roared his triumph and pushed hard against Gedeon, determined to claim his mate. Gedeon fought him back.
You will not harm Meiling.
Never.
Gedeon heard the vow in the leopard’s voice. There was near worship there.
She’s frightened. Meiling may fight you, he cautioned the cat.
He was reluctant to let Slayer have his freedom when he hadn’t secured Meiling’s consent. Her female was rising close to the surface. Gedeon felt her presence. She might be newly awakened and in her first life cycle, but she was strong. She might not know what she was doing yet, but she was ready to protect her partner if need be.
I would not hurt her, Slayer insisted. Her female would never accept me if I did such a thing. Meiling is part of her leopard. I would never harm her.
Gedeon continued to rub between Meiling’s shoulder blades and kiss the nape of her neck to soothe her. “Do you feel her rising to meet him, Lotus? She’s right there. I’ll bet she’s a beautiful little thing just like you.”
“Don’t let him claim her.” There was a sob in Meiling’s voice. “Don’t, Gedeon. If you care at all about me, don’t let him claim her.”
“I know he’s very scary, but he would protect her with his life. He’ll protect you. He’s looked for her for years. Waited for the right mate. She’s his mate, Meiling. There’s no mistake.”
Slayer was pushing hard against him and Gedeon couldn’t take a chance that the female would retreat. “It’s going to be all right. Let him make his claim and then we’ll talk this out.”
“It will be too late. He won’t let her go.” Meiling started to struggle again.
Gedeon retreated to allow Slayer to take over his form. They were fast at the shift, a smooth transition so that Meiling went still at the feel of thick fur sliding along her bare skin. Her gasp was audible. Gedeon stayed close, especially since he heard her let out a little choked sob.
The leopard was massive, all muscle and loose skin, his pelt heavy. He weighed in at two hundred pounds of sheer brute strength but was as agile and fast as any smaller leopard. The male could fold himself in half in midair, turn on a dime. His speed was legendary. Gedeon had never seen the cat display his gentle side until that moment. The cat’s big sandpaper tongue came out and lapped at Meiling’s back. The leopard was exquisitely careful to keep from taking skin off her. He nuzzled her nape with his shaggy head before turning his attention to her shoulder.
Slayer sank his teeth into her with a holding bite, injecting his hormones into her bloodstream, waiting for Whisper to rise to accept him. He coaxed her. There was no demand, as Gedeon expected. The male leopard was patient, holding Meiling under him, but doing so as gently as possible under the circumstances.
The female rose slowly, studying Slayer as she did so, and then abruptly made up her mind. She touched the male, accepting his claim, and retreated. Triumph surged through Slayer. Through Gedeon. Whisper belonged to Slayer. He would never again be alone. Gedeon had Meiling. She was his. All of her. There would be no more empty nights at the club with his leopard trying to tear him apart. He wasn’t fool enough to think it would be easy. Meiling had made up her mind she didn’t want him. She wasn’t going to believe him that he was there for himself, not just his leopard. But he could deal with that.
Slayer licked at the wounds in Meiling’s shoulder, making certain the coagulant in his saliva would stop the flow of blood that trickled down her shoulder. Gedeon shifted back to his own form and pressed kisses over the wounds.
“I’ve got a first-aid kit. Stay still until I can get it.”