Page 9 of Fated to the Panther

The day, no evening, had been one giant roller coaster. And the panther shifter standing less than five feet from me sent my stomach on another deep plunge with only his wicked smile. Revealing the status of my sex life, okay, lack of a sex life, to him had stirred up mixed emotions. I’d shut myself away from any type of social life when I went to university. Driven to finish my doctorate in half the time had been my only goal. But now I wish I’d had a bit more experience with men, so I didn’t feel so inadequate around Roane.

If there ever was a sculpted version of a Greek god come to life, he was it. I’d rarely allowed myself to be swayed by looks. Not even when I tutored a football player who was considered the hottest guy on campus in my senior year of college. He’d tried to get me into bed after each session. Then, after too many refusals to count, he called me a cold fish in front of his buddies when I’d agreed to meet him at a cafe instead of the library, but it had really been a dance club.

That was the last time I was tempted to draw on my magic, to teach him more than the biochemistry class he was on theverge of failing. Funny to think back now that the only physical response I had for him was attempting to recall a shrinking spell aimed at his favorite appendage.

So funny because Roane put that college athlete to shame.

“I may look thirty, but that’s only because myself and my brothers came into our full immortality at that age. In reality, we were born almost a millennia ago.” One of his eyebrows twitched upward as he waited and watched for my reaction.

Was that his attempt at being dramatic?Maybe I should humor him, but honestly, I was getting tired after the events of the day, and I no longer had the energy to play along.

“You seem unfazed by this news,” he said.

“Is that an opinion or a question?” Although I knew he was probably much older than the age he looked, I hadn’t thought he’d be almost a thousand years old.

“Touché. I never would have guessed that my mate would be sassy and sexy. And I can think of better things to do with that sinful mouth of yours than give me a hard time.” Roane crossed his arms.

I could have stared at his bulging and ropy muscles all day. What was it about a man's arms, this man’s arms, that made me want to taste all that lickable flesh?

A loud purr rumbled from his chest and I went from lusting after his bodybuilder arms to needing to run my hands over his carved pecs and the eight-pack abs I knew was under his shirt. Did I have the courage to act on this newly unleashed femme fatale side?

“Not sure if you realize this, but I’m very good at reading body language and yours is telling me some very…” He took a step closer. “Naughty.” Another step. “Things.” Roane had shrunk the distance between us by half and goose bumps erupted all over me.

“Wait, I uh. You can’t really expect me to—to sleep with you right now.” That naughty side he’d called out was even now screaming“yes, now please!”But did I really believe him?

“It’s alright, Kara. I don’t expect you to sleep—make love with me tonight, because when we do have sex, there will be very little sleeping going on. So, I’ll share with you the other thing you got wrong about me.”

I sighed with relief. Or was it over the promise of being kept awake by Roane to discover exactly how good great sex can be. And I’d be able to do all those naughty ideas that have been bombarding me since we met. Like finding out how hard his cock actually felt and what having it in my mouth would feel and taste like.

More loud purring, then a frustrated moan escaped him. He ran a hand up and over his forehead, then down the back of his head to rub his neck. The move was so sexy, it triggered an intense fluttering in my abdomen. Focusing on his long fingers, the vision of them inside me, flashed bright. I wanted him touching me where I’d let no man venture. Deep and probing as he brought me to the very edge of something that had always been intangible to me but now it was mere feet away.Who was I right now?

I saw his lips moving, but I was so wound up that the words didn’t register. “Um, I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?”

“I said, you’re not the only virgin in this room.”

His words were a douse of ice-cold water quickly followed by the steam of a hot sauna. Not typically ever at a loss for words, I found myself gaping at the poster boy for guaranteed orgasms. His declaration made no sense and the fact he felt the need to lie pissed me off. I mean what the actual hell?

“Do I look like a fool? Do you expect me to believe at nearly a thousand years old, you’ve never been with a woman?” Suddenly, the fact I’d been fantasizing about having him touchme so intimately while he attempted to manipulate me left me a bit disappointed in myself. Until that moment, I’d been ready to take that step with him and finally experience the ultimate pleasure. Damn him.

“I do.”

Two words. His response was uttered with such truth, such utter conviction, I wanted to believe him.

“You’re lying. And you’re crazy if you think I would believe someone who looks like you.” I raised my hands toward him, then my gaze locked on his erection, and dammit if I forget what I wanted to say next.

Roane’s laughter, low and rolling, wrapped around me. “Oh, how I love your spirit. However, I assure you I haven’t been a total saint, and there are ways to have pleasure with another that need not include penetration. I saved myself for my mate, and to know that you have as well…is a gift I will always cherish.”

I took in the truth of his words, and absorbed the mood shift between us. My anger began to melt away and morphed into hopefulness. But not before one last grasp at assurance. “You want me to give you blind faith in this? Remember, I didn’t place this condition on you, you offered it. I may be much younger than you, but I’m open enough to accept this connection I feel toward you. I may not fully believe that a prophecy made it possible that we are together now, but I do know I want you.”

Roane’s eyes flashed that unearthly green again. He moved so swiftly, stealthily, at my confession, I had no time to react other than to say, “But not right this minute.” My words were muffled as his lips covered mine and I was lost to the whirlwind of desire flashing between us. My concern over how long I’d known him vanished.

Kissing Roane was nothing like I’d dreamed about when I’d finally be with a man who’d be my first lover. The kiss exceeded everything I thought a kiss was supposed to be. It blewpast every fevered dream I’d entertained secretly, while on the outside assuring my friends I was fine without a man. Had I known about this prophecy, I would have given up years of self-denial and searched him out somehow, some way.

His tongue swirled over mine. It was all-consuming and I couldn’t get closer to him than I already was, so I placed my fingers on top of his head, holding him, silently begging him for more. When he sucked my lower lip into his hot mouth, my knees failed me, and I felt a rush of a liquid heat pool in my panties. The deeper he kissed me, the wilder I became.

I heard panting as I desperately rubbed myself against his hardness, seeking the sweet relief I’d only felt with my own hand. When the edge of his cock pressed against my clitoris through my pants, stars exploded behind my eyelids, and again someone’s panting filled my ears.

It was me.

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