Page 5 of A Cougar's Kiss
“I know that after Graham Parker’s death there was someone else running the Ruling Cabinet since they don’t know we have Mackey. They’re looking for him, but they’re continuing with their first mission—to rid the world of all Shadows. And now the continued killings of humans by the Desert Cat makes it seem as if the illusive shifter is inadvertently helping them,” she said.
“Why would you say “inadvertently”? Maybe the Desert Cat isn’t a shifter after all. What if he’s one of them?”
“If you thought that you would have asked Cole why he was saying it. You didn’t say anything to him? Why? You’ve heard him speak before, haven’t you?”
Keller waited while his mind warred with his body. He wanted to answer her questions in a cryptic way, give her just enough so she would tell him everything she knew, but his body wanted more. His fingers clenched and released at his sides while his mouth watered, nostrils flared as the scent of her arousal spoke directly to his growing erection.
“What matters is what you know because if you have information on the Desert Cat, you’re in danger. Do you understand that?” He took a step closer, until he was just a breath away from her. “Is that what you’re looking for Ms. Shya? Do you need some excitement to fill your perfect little life? You want some adventure since your best friend moved to the Central Zone with her mate? Need something to do with your downtime?”
Those amber eyes turned a fierce golden-yellow that he was certain would have shot heated daggers straight through him if it were possible. When her palms touched his chest, even through the material of the navy-blue shirt he wore, heat seared his skin, seconds before she pushed him with all her might, and he stumbled back.
“Don’t be an ass,” she snapped. “I’ve known about the Desert Cat since Nisa and Decan were above ground getting their asses kicked while you were off twiddling your thumbs.”
Standing solidly again the growl he’d been holding back ripped free, his razor-sharp teeth elongated and pressed painfully against his lips. “My best friend was wounded during that above ground adventure so don’t speak of things you know nothing about little cat!”
She narrowed her eyes and replied, “There’s nothing little about me.”
Keller could find no lies in that statement.
Inside his cat stretched and rubbed against his human skin in an act of predatory indulgence. It wanted and needed. And she was standing too damn close.
Keller took a step back. He kept his teeth clenched tight, releasing his fingers as he continued to stare at her. Every muscle in his body was tense, every scent in this room—hell in the immediate vicinity—was null and void, there was only her and the luscious aroma of her arousal.
“You have no idea what you’re poking your nose into. And before you say a word to refute that statement, let me just warn you—I’m not like your father or any of the other Assembly leadership. And I’m nothing like Decan. So, if you’re looking for a crazy adrenaline filled whirlwind romance that ends with a joining, you’re definitely barking up the wrong tree. I’m not that type of cat.”
To her credit she didn’t flinch at a word he’d said, nor did she look away with embarrassment at how candid he was purposely being with her. That wasn’t a good sign.
“I’m the type to take what it wants and right now with you standing there dripping with desire so intense the scent is making me high and looking at me with eyes that are as eager for my touch as your body seems to be, I could easily shift into the mood and take what’s being offered. Rules aren’t my thing so the fact that you’re Nick Delgado’s daughter means nothing to me. What does matter is permission. So, the next time you come offering your hot little body on a platter, make absolutely sure you’re ready for the ride.”
She folded her arms over her chest and adjusted her stance so that one hip was jutted forward, her head tilted while she now looked at him with avid curiosity.
“As for what happened in the room, I’m advising you to keep it to yourself. Don’t repeat it to Nisa or anyone else and don’t—I cannot express this strongly enough—don’t go into that room again. Forget the code. Forget the Desert Cat. Go back to your books. Understand?”
He waited a few seconds for her response.
She blinked and looked around as if she thought someone else might be in the room. Then she pointed a finger to herself. “Oh, is it my turn to speak? I thought you might want to continue with your eloquent diatribe. I was really interested in what else you might say.”
He didn’t do rules and he had absolutely no patience with sarcasm.
“Good night, Ms. Shya.” Those words were crisp as he stalked toward the door.
His cat roared loud and long the second her thin fingers wrapped around his arm and pulled him back to her.
“I’m not done,” she said. “You asked if I understood. I don’t. So, do you intend to make me understand or not?”
This jaguar was intent on tempting fate.
Oh well…Keller moved fast, closing her in once more. This time her back was to the conference table, chairs on both sides of her as he moved in until this time the thick length of his fully aroused dick pressed against her lower abdomen. She sucked in a breath, her eyes going to an almost luminescent yellow and her tongue stroked slowly along her bottom lip. That wasn’t the reaction he was hoping for, not by any stretch of the imagination. What he wanted was for her to gasp in shock or blink and look away as nervousness filled her, but none of that happened. Instead, she stepped into him, rubbing her tight little body right up against his length, daring him and the cat to take what she was offering.
“I came into that room to tell you that I wanted you. Not to overhear Cole Linden giving you a message. But now that both those things have occurred, my follow-up question is what happens next?”
This was not happening. This cat was not daring him to take her. She was not telling him that she wouldn’t back down from asking questions about the comatose shifter. And he was not getting ready to do what the cougar inside was insisting he do.
“Permission.”
The word tumbled free from his clenched teeth as his cat’s urges strained against his human’s rules. Every inch of his body was hard with lust and power brimming at the surface. His teeth sharpened, mouth watered as the heady scent of her arousal permeated his senses.
“Yes,” she whispered and as if he needed further inspiration, raised her hands to press against his chest before slowly sliding up and around his neck.
