JACQUELINE POV:Jacqueline rolls over in the dirt and groans. She's too old for this crap. If her granddaughter wasn't in terrible danger, she would let herself die out here in the desert.It would be so easy, She suffered so many bullet wounds. Four at least. Not even a shifter should be able to survive a bullet to the head.But she's still breathing, so that must mean she survived. How long had she been out here? An entire night and day, at least. Could be more, she was in and out of consciousness.But the cat in her rallied, pushing the bullets out of her flesh, closing the wounds. There's one still stuck in her head, though. And she's lost a lot of blood.She just wants to sleep. But Minette her petite fille is in danger. The men who kidnapped her have plans for Minette. She has to get help. If only she could shift.Usually, if a shifter is badly wounded while in human form, their body will naturally shift to beast for protection and healing. Why she still
SHE start to cover her mouth but realize it will only make the claustrophobia worse, so I go for her sternum again. "Breathe, baby. In out. You're safe. It was a dream just a dream kitten."She lets out a tremendous whimper, and I roll her to her back to see her face in the dark. Her arms loop around my neck, and she clings to me, trembling. I rub her back."Shhh, baby you're okay. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."As quickly as she turned to me, she pulls away, scrambling off the bed and onto her feet.I follow her up. "Kylie."She ignores me and paces back and forth, her shoulders hunched, her head bent like she's thinking hard.She's rejecting my help. Fighting her problems on her own as she has since she was just a teen. Maybe all her life. I want her to come back to me. Desperately but I dont know how to get through."You saw your dad's murder."She stops pacing, and her breath leaves her with a whoosh."In the Louvre? Where were you? In an air duct?"Her knees buckle, and
KYLIE POV:JACKSON KNEELS BETWEEN MY LEG. His body is even more incredible than I imagined- cut from solid muscle. His chest is covered in dark curls, and his cock..... sizable.He nudges my entrance with the sheathed tip of his cock and I arch, pleasure spiraling out, inner thights trembling with anticipation. He's breathing harder than normal, but he goes slow, easing into me, even though he already plowed the path open.There's no pain this time, only satisfaction. He fills me, holds still for me to adjust. I lift my hips impatiently. Not fragile, buddy. I need this, I deserve it.JACKSON groans and climbs over me, leaning his weight on his fist beside my head.He's huge, looming over me.Before I can control my reaction, I stiffen and lurch away from him, needing to see the exit.Still buried inside me, he rolls our bodies so I end up on top. I suck in a breath, my muscles relaxing.He shows me his open palms as if to prove he doesn't have a weapon, then he shoves them under his b
JACKSON'S breath rate increases, and he holds my hip, thrusting deep into my channel. I know I should stop him, tell him to get the condom, but it feels so good."Pull out before you come," I tell him.He makes a pained sound. "I'll stop now," he says, but continues plowing into me with cruel, delicious force. His grip on my hip is bruise- worthy his loins slap against my ass."Jackson's-" I gasp.He shoves me onto my belly and mounts me from behind, capturing my wrists above my head. Thankfully, the claustrophobia doesn't kick in. Maybe because the view in front of me isn't blocked. I lift my ass to hom, loving the new angle, wanting more, wanting everything.Every position, every variation, every rhythm.An eerie, animalistic growl erupts from Jackson, and I twist to look over my shoulder. And scream.I scream at the top of my lungs, and I don't stop screaming. Because Jackson is a fucking vampire. Fangs have punched out, and his eyes are ice-blue. Ice-blue.Not green at all. And t
"I'll GET SOME ICE." Jackson disappears around the corner. When he returns, he's pulled on a pair of jeans and carries a dishcloth wrapped around a cold pack. He crouches by my feet and applies the pack."I'm sorry I freaked out on you."He gives an impatient shake of his head. "No, I'm glad you did. I would've bitten you."I stare at my throbbing ankle, unable to look at Jackson. "Well, I'm flattered, I guess."He lets out a harsh laugh that doesn't sound amused at all. When he stands, he stabs his fingers through his hair like he did last night."Now, you understand. I'm dangerous to you, Kylie."I study him through narrowed eyes. "I'm not afraid of the big bad wolf."His eyes look haunted. "Learn to be listen, I need to get to the office. I have feds to deal with." He walks to an old fashioned desk and pushes the lid up. Inside, the comforting lights of a wireless router flash. He pulls out a laptop and brings it to me. "You can work from here. Or I'll go back and get the car
JACQUELINE opens her gritty eyes, blinking against the morning sun. Still in the desert. Still in human form. She drags herself to her feet and cheeks out the angle of the sun.It is rising over the far mountain range, which means the Catalinas. So she's in the Tucson Mountains on the west side. Probably out in Marana somewhere, where the crackheads cook their meth.Shes isn't the only one who knows how to research things online. Her minette thinks she's only capable of making soup. Minette.She starts walking east. Her gait is clumsy at first, but after a dozen steps, her coordination rerurns. Her sensitive hearing detects the sounds of cars in the distance. Dieu merci. Too bad she's covered in blood.It will make it hard to explain if she flags down a car. If only she could shift. She drops to all fours and closes her eyes, willing herself to shift. The trouble is, she hasn't shifted often enough in recent years. To stay nimble, shifters must shift back and forth as nature calls. A
LYING isn't my forte, and I don't like the dishonor of it, but I'll do anything to protect my mate.Fuck. Not my mate. Can't be my mate."Bullshit. Where is she, Mr. King?"My fingers tighten into fists. "She's trying to find her grandmother," I snap.He stares at me a long moment. "Okay," he says finally. "We'll follow up on that lead."I force my teeth to unclench."And when you're ready to tell me where to find your mysterious Catgirl," I'll be waiting." He tosses a card on my desk."My cell phone is on there."I nod.He picks up the packet. "All right for me to take this?" I'm surprised he asks for permission, but it's probably just a courtesy."Yes. Let me know what you find on the grandmother."He pauses on his way to the door. "Am I working for you Mr. King?"I clear my throat. It's not in my nature to grovel, so this makes twice today. Once to Kylie, once for her. "Please."The ghost of a smile plays around his lips. "I'll keep you posted."I sink into my chair when leaves.
THE scrapes on my knee look a week old instead of a day. I guess werewolf saliva is better than a dog spit.I spen the day hacking into multiple credit card company sites to get data on the stolen card numbers.By my estimate, around five hundred million dollars was stollen in the twenty-four hours before the owners were notified and cards frozen.It must have been all automated. Using the small vendors' merchant accounts stolen, they charged random amounts under a few thousand dollars on each credit card. Again, it suggests an insider, someone who knew what data they would find and how it would be configured in order to have pre-programmed such a complex formula.With no contact from Jackson- although his reasons for limiting it are sound emptiness sets in. He doesn't think he can be with me. He wants to know that much- but he believes he'll harm me.I'm not afraid, though. He pulled back when I screamed. Went to his belly, even when I gave chase. He has way more control than he bel
ONE MONTH LATER KYLIE POV:"PULL that skirt up, baby. Let me see what's waiting for me when we get home." My mate hasn't grown any less bossy since marking me. Our drive home from work together has become just one of the many pleasures of working for Jackson King. Shared lunch breaks are another one. And getting to help him with his new code. He stares over at me like a starving man. Like he hadn't already fucked me over his desk after using a rule on my ass during lunch. Like he doesn’t have full access to me every night at home."Now, kitten. Every second you make me wait will earn you a stroke with my belt."I already reached for the hem of my tight fitted skirt, but I stop now, flashing a naughty grin. "Is that so?"Now that I've switched on my shifter DNA, my body heals almost instantaneously, which means Jackson can employ any form of punishment he desires and the pain is only fleeting. It's a bit sad, really. Because now I can never get enough. Ja
JACKSON POV:THE first rays of light come up over the mountains as Sam pulls into my garage. On my orders, he stopped to pick up Jacqueline. I knew how worried her grandmother had been, and vice versa. I want Kylie to have all the support she needs, especially considering it's her first shift. While the shift was necessary for her survival, she may not know to shift back when the time comes.I carry her in. Sam tries to carry Jacqueline, but the old cat insists on walking on her own, leaning heavily on Sam. We install them both in the upstairs guest bedroom. Jacqueline shifts and curls her body up beside Kylie's, lending her purring vibrations for her granddaughter's healing.I sit beside the bed, my heart rammed up behind my chin, my fingers moving over Kylie's sleek black fur.She's fucking magnificent. A huge black Panther with golden eyes. Truly awe-inducing. It's the first time in my life anything's made sense. Of course my wolf chose this incredible
BRITISH accent yanks my hair again. "Help him."I allow my anger to show. "Okay asshole. Do you know anything about hacking? No one ever knows the way in. It's about experimentation. You just keep trying things until you make some headway. If I'm going to help Stu, I need my own computer and my fingers. Me looking over his shoulders just slows us both down.British accent–I'll call him BA, looks at Stu, who shrugs. "She's right." It's too much to hope they'll give me my computer, but he does slide the tape off my wrist and shove another laptop in my face. Despite the fact that I'm still wearing the mini skirt from days before, I prop one ankle on my knee to make a desk and flip open the laptop. I've been in Jackson's system all week through his computer, but I left an open door for myself, which is how I transferred the funds back today. I don't go in through the door, now. I go at the firewall, same as Stu."Is she doing it?" BA demands.Stu looks over my shoulder. "Yeah."I ignore
"MAY I SPEAK TO JACQUELINE?""Ah. She's been waiting for your call." He says nothing more, but Mémé voice come on. "Minette! Dieu merci. Is it safe to take?""Yes. Where are you?""I am with Tucson wolf pack. Downtown."For a moment, I simply reply her words as my brain struggles to catch up. "Did you say wolf pack?""Oui. I'm sorry, I never told you, Minette. I am a shifter–cat. Your mother too."I've had too many surprises today to take it all in. My hand drops limp at my side. "Wh-what?""Where are you, Minette?"Minette. The French word for puss. She's always called me little cat because... she's a cat. My mind topples ass over tea kettle down a slope of dawning. "My mom?" I croak."Yes, your maman, too. This is why, this wolf is attracted to you. Where are you, my sweet?""Not far from downtown. Are you hurt? What happened?""I was hurt, but I will be better soon."My engines finally start firing. "We need to leave town right away." I stand and pick my leather backpack purse."
AND ho-boy-kylie's grandmother is a cat shifter? Is Kylie? She can't be. Her fear when I partially shifted was genuine. But how would she have a shifter for a grandmother and know nothing about werewolves?Another thought creeps in, full of heat and tingles. Kylie has shifter blood. No wonder my wolf wanted to mate her. And it means she probably would have survived it.But that is water under the bridge. Kylie just met with Stu, proving she was in cahoots with him the whole time. Except, now that this new information has knocked me out of my stupor, doubts creeps in. Could there be another explanation for her meeting with Stu?I pull up in front of Garrett's apartment and get out, walking swiftly in and onto elevator. I stop on Garrett's floor and get off. The scent of shifters-both wolf and yes, this distinctly feline smell as well, hist me. I knock on the door and one of Garrett's housemates answers it steps deferentially aside to let me in. The old woman is on the sofa, pale and we
PAIN pushes through my heart like a nail in a coffin. Punctures straight through to the other side and leaves me wheezing for breath.Betrayed.She's been working with Stu all along? A great roaring starts up in my ears, deafens me. My body goes numb, freezing cold as it all clicks into place. She and Stu are working together on this. I was so stupid to believe all her lies. A known thief, a known hacker, I actually saw her install the malware into my system, and I didn't realize I was being played? She took me by the balls.What in the hell is wrong with me? I was thinking with my dick, not my brain, that's what. I let a pair of sexy legs and Batgirl tits lead me around by the nose. What a fucking idiot.I watch, like a dead man, as she pulls off her helmet and dismounts from the bike. She leans back against it, folding her arms across the same breasts I worshipped only last night.I can't tell what they're saying. Even if my wolf hearing could detect their voice through the window,
MY breath stutters, but I part my legs. He cups my mons. "You remember who belongs to?"I flush."It's mine. And If I was too rough with it, you'd be within your rights to pout a little, kitten. Makes me kiss it better when I get home tonight."The thought has my Nipples tightening, pussy clenching. The image of us some kind of 1950s married couple floats through my mind. I'm the sex-kitten wife, waiting for him to come home from a hard day at work. Offer him a drink and loosen his tie before I pout and make him lick my pussy as compensation for pounding me too hard the night before. Okay, I'm getting way too excited. And there's work to be done. Serious work.He pulls into his garage and insist on carrying me inside. "Your ankle is sore, and you're not wearing panties." I laugh. "So those are the two criteria for getting carried?""That's right. Now, watch the sass or I'll have to see to that pretty little ass of yours before I go. Is it sore, too?"I reach back and run my hand over
I go still, and she stiffens, seeming to realize what slipped out. "I mean...""Shhh... Don't you dare take it back," I warn. I cradle her face in my palm and turn it to look into her warm brown eyes."I love you." I don't say I love you too, because I don't want it sound less serious than her admission. I utter it like a vow. I don't know how the fuck I'm going to make things work with a human, especially if every full moon is like this, but I sure as hell have to try. I'm not giving her up for anything. And that means I need to eliminate all the threats to my female. "Kylie, I need to know what happened at the Louvre."She blinks in surprise and tries to pull away. I literally can see her emotional retreat before my eyes."Don't run," I command. "Look at me. I need to know.""Why?""You've been in hiding since then. And now you've been outed. Are you in danger?"She shakes her head. "Not for the next seven years.""Tell me.""It was my father's partner in the heist. A double- cross
"THERE are consequences for disobeying your alpha." He pushes the head of his cock against my anus and waits. I tighten against his touch, but a moment later, the muscles give. As soon as they loosen, Jackson pushes forward penetrating my tigh hole.I let out a keening cry.He stills, stretching me wide, waiting for me to calm down. The care he takes reassures me that he's in control, and I yield, willing my pelvic floor to relax. He pushes in farther and the stretch becomes more intense, then eases."There. That's the head. I'm in, baby. Now, take the rest of me."I whimper but let all my muscles go slack, arch ny back a little, and wait."Good girl," he rumbles, one hand coasting up my side, stroking my skin.The praise sends curls of warmth through me, and I arch some more."That's it, baby. Take it like a good girl, and I'll kiss that ripe pussy when I'm through." He eases in and out, giving me a tremendous senses of urgency each time he fills me.My ass is stuffed full of his c