Page 12 of His Tainted Mate

As dawn began to break, casting a golden glow over the forest, Elle felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was a shapeshifter, a creature of endless possibilities, and with Rab by her side, there was no limit to what they could achieve together. She wasn’t going to die—at least not right now—and she had Rab to thank for that. She kept trying to resent what he had done—he’d turned her without her consent. It was true that he’d saved her life, but still not being given the choice rankled.

She bade her snow leopard to retreat and allow her human form to come forward once more.

Elle turned to look at him. “I suppose you think I ought to thank you.”

Rab chuckled. “I don’t know that I would if the situation were reversed. On the one hand, I saved your life. On the other, we don’t know that the serum wouldn’t have worked, and you are no longer a Tasmanian devil.”

“True, but I have to say, I can see many advantages to being a snow leopard.”

“I was hoping you might see it that way.”

“Don’t think I’m just going to fall in line and think you’re always right.”

“It would never even cross my mind,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “I think we’ll do fine together, you and I. Come back inside and eat. You’ve been out of it for days. I was able to get water and bone broth into you, but not much else.”

He led her back inside. The crackling fire cast a warm, flickering light against the surrounding stone walls, creating a cozy ambiance in the wilderness. The air was filled with the earthy scent of burning wood and roasting meat. Elle wasn’t sure when he’d managed to hunt something down, but it smelled delicious, and she realized she was ravenous.

Rab seemed adept at outdoor cooking, so she didn’t bother offering to help. Her transition and her run up the mountain had left her tired, and she wanted to rest. From his large pack, Rab pulled a cast iron skillet, some fresh vegetables, and a pouch of what appeared to be pre-cooked rice. As the flames danced beneath the skillet, he opened a plastic bottle and splashed olive oil into the pan, heating it so the aroma filled the air with a savory fragrance.

Elle watched with a smile as Rab chopped onions and garlic, his movements deft and practiced. The sounds of sizzling filled the cave as he added the vegetables to the skillet, the vibrant colors of bell peppers and zucchini mingling together. The firelight danced on his face, casting shadows that emphasized the lines of his strong jaw and the gleam in his eyes.

Once the vegetables had softened and caramelized to perfection, Rab added the pre-cooked rice to the skillet, stirring everything together with a wooden spoon. The rice sizzled as it absorbed the flavors of the vegetables and olive oil, creating a mouthwatering aroma that made Elle's stomach rumble even louder.

Finally, Rab deboned and cut two small game birds into bite-size pieces and added them to the rice and vegetables, giving the mixture a stir and allowing the meat to cook through. He spooned generous portions onto their plates, the steam rising in wisps as he handed one to her.

They ate in silence, the crackling of the fire and the sounds of the night providing a quiet symphonic backdrop to their meal. The food was simple but delicious, the flavors of fresh vegetables, meat, and olive oil mingling with the warmth of the fire.

Elle savored each bite, the tender vegetables and fluffy rice filling her with warmth and satisfaction. Rab watched her with a fond smile, his own plate nearly empty by the time she finished.

After they had eaten their fill, Rab helped her back to the makeshift bed he had constructed during the time she had been in transition. It was surprisingly soft and comfortable. She watched as he made short work of cleaning up, disposing of their uneaten food and what remained of the carcasses of the fowl before banking their fire and crawling into bed with her.

She had thought sleep would be elusive, but as soon as he spooned his body against hers, she closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep. Elle knew it wouldn’t be that easy. There were a lot of things they needed to work out, but for right now, she was safe and content, and that would have to be enough.

Tomorrow would be another day, and they would deal with it then.

CHAPTER 9

ELLE

The following morning, she and Rab went for a short run around the side of the mountain to a designated spot and back again. As they neared the cave, they both slowed and then became human once more in a dual, frigid swirl with icy shards, electrical pulses, and howling winds. Once they were human, it was easy to see her mate had found the run as arousing as she had.

Growling, Rab fisted her hair and led her to a large, flat outcropping of rock. He positioned her so that she was looking out over the valley below as he stepped between her legs. Elle felt a visceral thrill run through her as she realized he meant to fuck her out here in the open. The head of his cock parted her labia as she tried to offer some perfunctory protest. Rab was a skillful enough lover to recognize how her body had softened and prepared itself for him, though. She squirmed, trying to get up or away, but he pinned her down, meaning to take what was his.

Guiding his cock to its intended target, he pressed forward, her inner walls surrounding and accepting him as he began to plunder her wet pussy. It was just as she remembered from when he had claimed her. She felt herself falling prey to his mesmerizing ability to bring her pleasure. She didn’t remember the feel of the small nubs that seemed to cover his cock from his claiming. It was a new, and not unpleasant, sensation that enhanced her already considerable arousal and need. As he pulled back, the nubs became little spikes or barbs. Elle cried out as they scored her sensitive flesh.

“That is what it is to be a snow leopardess of our clan. You will come to know and revel in the feeling of my barbs.”

Over and over, he thrust into her, the nubs grazing the delicate tissue of her channel before raking that same space as he drew back. Elle howled at the weird combination of pain and pleasure. Thrust after thrust he plundered her pussy, his hard hips and thighs slamming into her backside as she yowled and hissed as he exerted his dominance.

Nothing in her life had ever felt like this. Pleasure and pain morphed into one as Rab pounded into her, growling with need and desire. He thrust into her with greater intensity as she pushed back against him. Their coupling was powerful, frenzied and primal. He stretched her pussy as he hammered her with his enormous cock. Elle had never felt anything like this in her life, would never have believed someone would have the kind of power over her that he did.

She felt his plunging rod swelling, twitching, the barbs digging in until finally they seemed to sink into her as if to anchor her pussy to his cock. Elle felt her body tremble as he reached under her, tugging her clit to send her into a spiraling freefall of orgasmic sensation and submission. Rab had claimed his prize in more ways than one. Deep inside her, he began to flood her pussy with his seed, his hips bumping against her as her inner walls contracted all around him, rhythmically milking him for every last bit of what he had to give her.

Elle had heard that feline shifters retained the barbed cocks of their purebred brethren. She had never thought to experience anything like it. While a bit painful, the pleasure they inflicted outweighed any discomfort.

When he was finished, he shuddered and lay on top of her before the barbs released, and Rab drew back, uncoupling from her before lifting her up and tossing her over his shoulder. He stalked back inside the cave. She felt like the captured prize of one of his ancient ancestors—hanging upside down, bouncing along with his cum dripping down the inside of her thighs.

He laid her down on their bed, his mouth coming down to crush hers beneath his as he kissed her deeply.

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