Rogue Shifter [High-Country Shifters 3] Read online

  “According to your best friend, Lara, she was headed toward said waterfall when she stumbled through the alignment point.”

  Now she remembered. “Yes, she did tell me that. I hope you wore swim trunks under your pants.”

  “Trunks?”

  “Swimming naked is forbidden. What would happen if a young girl came by and saw you?”

  She laughed when his brows rose. It was as if he was trying to figure out the answer. “I don’t know.”

  He probably didn’t have any idea. The poor young spectator would be ruined for life. “Never mind.” She figured he could swim in his pants.

  The trip up the mountain was wonderful as the clear day allowed for them to see forever. Once they jumped off, Malik held her hand as they headed down the path.

  “Is it frustrating that you have to walk? I bet you’d rather shift and run full out.” She’d love to be able to do something so wonderful just once.

  He smiled down at her. “Not when it means I can walk with you.”

  “You say the sweetest things.”

  “When we get to the waterfall, it will be all sweetness that I’ll be tasting.”

  Just thinking about the wonderful things he could do to her, her pussy got wet. She hadn’t been to the falls in probably a year, but she remembered a small cave nearby. As soon as they got there, she wanted to have the picnic near the water. After they ate, she figured they could move someplace more secluded and do whatever came naturally.

  The forest smelled of pure oxygen, filled with pine and rich loam. Malik made sure to match her steps so that she didn’t have to almost run. When they came to the fork, she took the middle path.

  “The sign says the waterfall is to the left.”

  “It’s in the wrong spot. I’ve gone that way, and it leads nowhere.”

  “It leads to Anterra sometimes.”

  Whoops. She hadn’t known. “Do you miss your home?”

  He looked off at the horizon. “I miss some of the people and the tall trees, but not the fact that we have to be vigilant all the time. It’s not so bad for me, but often the elderly and weak get caught in the battle for wolf domination. It’s sad.”

  She could understand him wanting to leave a place that had so much strife.

  The roar of the falls got louder as they neared. She prayed this staged event would go as she’d planned. “Here’s the path down to the water.”

  They followed it about two hundred feet when the canopy opened up to a marvelous pool of blue-green, swirling water fed by the falls.

  “This is wonderful.” He looked down at her and smiled.

  “I love it here.” She moved closer to the edge of the water. “How about if we have our picnic here.”

  “In the open?”

  She laughed. “I’m starving. I need my energy if I’m going to do you any justice.”

  He chuckled and pulled off the backpack. He’d gotten it half unzipped, when she took it out of his hands.

  She wagged a finger at him. “There are surprises in there I don’t what you to see just yet.”

  His smile turned into a full-blown grin. “I’m curious how prepared you got. Perhaps you brought some rope so I could tie you to a tree and lick you all over?”

  “I’m not telling you anything.” The fact that his imagination included some sexual kink made her pussy wet. She wouldn’t be able to enjoy the picnic if she didn’t stop thinking about sex.

  She pulled out the blanket. “You can spread this out while I get the food.” And make sure the condoms are easily accessible. Once they got situated, she grabbed the plastic cups, the wine, and the corkscrew. “Would you like to do the honors?” She would have brought some beer for him, but she had no way to keep it cool.

  Malik opened then poured the wine. He held up his glass and tapped hers. She guessed that some traditions transcended realities. He had mentioned that Anterra was sometimes able to get a satellite signal through that wormhole thingy, so maybe they picked up the tradition from that.

  “To the most wonderful woman.”

  “To one of the two most amazing men I’ve ever met.”

  They drank their wine. She’d picked up the bottle to pour them some more, when Malik jumped up and seemed to fly toward the water. A huge flash of light startled her, but it was the three blasts that followed that made her pulse soar.

  Before she could realize what had happened, four more flashes occurred, and Malik’s laugh filled the entire area.

  “Hey!” The protest came from one of the three wet boys in the pool of water.

  Malik crossed his arms. “You three need to learn how to sneak up on a person.”

  “You couldn’t have known,” Jeremy protested. “We were so quiet.”

  “You, my young cubs, have so much to learn.” After Malik stopped laughing, he swiped a finger under his eye. “It’s not fair that you were trying to jump me either.”

  “We really thought we could take you. Look at us.” All three stepped out of the water. “Now we’re all wet.”

  Amy loved Malik’s laugh. “You deserved the dunking.”

  Jeremy shrugged. “Tell us something else about fighting the wolves.”

  Malik paced as if he was trying to come up with something good. “I’ve shown you general things, but now I’ll show you something specific for wolves.”

  The three boys stepped over to one of the large boulders that rimmed the pool and sat down. The sight was adorable with the teacher standing at the front and the eager students waiting to learn something important.

  “Okay. Wolves are very strategic because they don’t have a size advantage. I’ve seen this tactic over and over again. They’ll send out a wolf to trigger your chase mechanism, but you won’t see him. All you’ll hear is some low keening sound that you’ll think is an injured animal.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Jeremy was glued to Malik’s words.

  “You have to recognize that when this happens, you have to go on high alert. Climb the nearest tree and get a visual. I’ll bet anything you’ll see a bunch of wolves huddled around, waiting for the ambush.”

  “They can’t climb trees, so they won’t even be thinking about looking up I bet.” This came from one of Jeremy’s friends.

  “That’s right.”

  “Then what?” the friend said.

  “You have a couple of options. Personally, I wouldn’t take them on unless the ratio is good. If I’m confronted by four wolves, I know it will be a battle to the death. So far, when that’s happened, I’ve been the victor.”

  “Holy shit. You won against four wolves?”

  Even Amy still thought that was a ridiculous ratio even after she remembered that Cavon and Malik had taken on fourteen wolves. Yes, they had help from both sides, but they didn’t know that at first. Her men were true warriors.

  “Yes, but remember I’ve been in training since I was a young kitten. I’d say the best case scenario is one to one, worst case is two to one. If you are outnumbered, run. You’re faster and smarter. Climb a tree as a last resort.”

  “Cool.”

  Malik held up a finger. “If you are caught off guard and the wolves confront you, and if there are more than one of you, try to get around to their back side and surprise them. If you can box them in, you’ll win.”

  The boys looked at each other. “Is there some way we can practice this without actually having wolves around?”

  He searched his mind for the teaching techniques. “Yes. We used to have kids play the wolf parts. We’d be in our human form so it was easier for everyone to communicate.”

  Amy got up from where she’d been watching. “You know, I saw some new report that kind of relates to this.”

  Malik cocked a brow. “Inform us.” He sounded interested.

  “After Osama Bin Laden was killed, our government declassified the mockup of Bin Laden’s bunker. Apparently, the Navy Seals practiced for months on a scale model before they went in.”

  “Interesting.” Malik f
aced the boys again. “You have your assignment now. Draw up a plan and practice it.”

  “That’s an awesome idea. Anything else?” This came from the kid who had yet to say anything.

  Malik looked over at her and winked. “Look, I’d love to teach you a few more tricks, but as you can see, I’m a little busy.” They didn’t move a muscle. “I need for you three to skedaddle.”

  Jeremy grinned. “Oh, right. We get it. You’re going to—”

  “Yeah, that.”

  The three boys jumped down from the rocks. “We’re outta here. Good luck with you know what.”

  Malik let out another laugh. “Don’t need any.”

  All three kids smiled. “Thanks!”

  They disappeared in seconds, and Malik returned to the blanket. “That was rather coincidental that those boys happened to come to the waterfall the exact time we did.”

  “I know. What are the odds?” She was proud she’d kept a straight face.

  “Hmm.” He leaned over. “Come here.”

  She moved the wine glasses to the side and slipped next to him. “I thought you were fabulous, by the way.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He kissed her lightly.

  “Yes. Did you see how those kids hung on every word?”

  “Didn’t notice.” He nibbled on her neck.

  “You are such a liar.” But he was so perfect when he was being himself.

  After he unbuttoned the top button on her shirt, she pulled away. “You know anyone could see us out here in the open? How about relocating?” She stood and picked up the nearly empty backpack and both wine glasses.

  “I hope we aren’t going far because my cock is aching something fierce.”

  She burst out laughing. “Subtlety isn’t one of your strengths now, is it?”

  “I thought you’d like a man who speaks his mind. From the moment we walked out of the hotel to this very second, I haven’t stopped thinking about claiming you.”

  “Is claiming a lion thing?”

  He grinned. “It’s a man thing. Now show me this secret spot before I drag you to the ground, strip you naked, and fuck you so hard you scream my name and beg me to let you come.”

  Could he get any more wonderful? Malik fulfilled every wet dream she’d ever had. “It’s just down the path.”

  He picked up the blanket and removed the glasses from her hand. “Hurry.”

  Two minutes later she found the cave. It was only about eight feet deep, but with all the bushes surrounding the entrance, it seemed quite secluded. “Can you sense any little animals in here?”

  “I’m afraid my radar is limited to shifters only, not real vermin.”

  “You’re no help.”

  He put down the glasses, spread out the blanket, and then relieved her of the pack. “We can have dessert later. Right now I got some pussy I want.” She laughed at his He-Man attitude. “I want you to stand there and do nothing. You can’t touch me. Those are the rules. Do you accept them?”

  He was such a funny man and so intriguing. “Yes.”

  “Good, because I’m going to make you beg me to fuck you.” He glanced upward to see if he’d bump his head against the ceiling of the cave. He just fit.

  Her pussy got damper thinking about the things he could do to her. She’d even gone to the sex store this morning and checked out the weighted nipple clamps as well as the shock therapy nipple clamps, but she decided to wait a few days before she made that purchase. Now she wished she’d had the nerve to get a set.

  Very slowly, he undid the buttons on her blouse. As if he didn’t want her to notice that he was undressing her, he slowly eased the material over her arms while he kissed her neck, and let the top drop to the blanket.

  “I wish I understood why women wear bras. They are such a hindrance.”

  “It’s a bathing suit top, for one. If you hate bras, maybe you should move to a nudist colony where everyone is naked.”

  He straightened. His eyes gleamed. “They have such places?”

  Okay, his voice came out too excited. She punched his arm. “Yes, but don’t even think about going to one.”

  He lowered his head, trying to look stern. “What did I say about touching me before I gave you permission?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I may have to punish you to keep you in line, honey.”

  “Oh, no, not that, Master. Anything but a spanking.”

  He laughed. “I guess I need to come up with a more effective method of making you do as I say.”

  She had no comeback for that. She stepped forward and slid her hands under his T-shirt and palmed his magnificent pectorals. He flexed his muscles and she laughed. “You have the best body.”

  “Oh, yeah? You’re pretty special yourself.”

  “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours?” She had no idea if kids in Anterra ever said that to each other.

  He lifted his arms, giving her permission to take off his T-shirt. She obliged and dropped the clothing onto the blanket.

  He looked around their hideaway. “Too bad there isn’t a hook mounted in the wall.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I’d like to tie to you to the wall and make you mine.”

  Her whole body exploded with need as her imagination ran wild. “I could pretend.”

  He moved closer and his eyelids half closed. “You think you could stand perfectly still while I lick and suck every inch of your delectable body?”

  Small breaths built in her lungs. “Maybe.”

  He came within an inch of her body. “You won’t be able to touch me no matter how much you yearn to. Do you possess the control? Can you give up every ounce of dominance in your body? For me?”

  Her mouth was dry right now because her pussy was draining her body of every drop of liquid. “Yes.”

  He grinned. “One more thing.”

  “What?” She loved that he wanted to make their time together so special.

  “No talking.”

  That wasn’t going to happen. “I can’t be responsible for moans and groans. Passion has no bounds.”

  “That I like to hear.” He slipped off her blouse. “I see you came prepared to swim. Perhaps we can accommodate your wishes afterwards.”

  “As long—” He held up a finger. Damn. She’d forgotten about the no-speaking rule. She was about to remind him he needed to wear something when he went swimming, but she’d deal with that after they made love.

  Her swim top came off with a tug of two bows. He figured it out in no time. His fingers fumbled with the large button on her hiking shorts. The bikini bottoms were held together with two ties. He leaned over and undid the bow with his teeth. When his lips touched her skin, the hairs stood on end.

  In a heartbeat, she was naked. Cool air whipped around the cave, chilling her a bit, but she wasn’t worried. With a hunk like Malik around, she’d be hot and sweaty in no time.

  Malik stood, licked his finger, and dragged it across one nipple then repeated on the other side. There was no pinch and no suck, but her tiny crests hardened and puckered under his perusal.

  “You are so sensitive. I love that about you. I wonder what else I can stimulate.”

  She inwardly groaned. Standing there was harder than she thought. Her fingers itched to touch him. Malik walked behind her and lightly pressed his palms to her shoulders then dragged his hands down her body, touching only the fine hairs. Goose bumps followed his path, and her pussy contracted with intense need. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She wanted to beg him to touch her but knew that would spoil the erotic, romantic mood.

  “You have the best ass in the world.”

  She’d brought lube since she wasn’t certain if Malik’s fantasy included fucking her ass. Ever since she’d had that fake cock down her back channel, she’d dreamed of the real thing, driving and pumping into her, stretching her out and testing the new waters.

  Malik got on his knees, wrapped his arms around her, and pressed his f
ace against her rear. Tiny kisses placed in a circular pattern caused prickles of need to stab everywhere his lips contacted her body.

  “Spread your legs. I want you vulnerable.”

  She was a little surprised he’d understand that being naked and unable to move or speak, with her legs wide open for probing, would show her willingness to give up control. She obeyed.

  “You are such a good girl.”

  When he slipped a finger into her pussy, the thrill made her rise up on her toes. Immediately, she bent her knees to feel more of the glorious pressure. “Mmm.”

  She wanted to beg for his cock, but she realized lovemaking was more about the foreplay and the tension it created than the actual penetration itself, though, as God was her witness, she so loved the penetration part.

  He withdrew his finger and tugged on her hips. “Come down here.”

  Excitement sizzled up her spine. Maybe now he’d let her love and touch him. She knelt down, and he turned her around, face to face.

  His thumbs brushed against her nipples, and they immediately and shamelessly responded. He dipped his head and took one nipple into his mouth. She expected a quick shot of pain from an intense suck, but probably to torture her, he slowly ran his tongue around the tip using the lightest of pressure. That drove her crazy more than if he’d made hard contact.

  Please touch my pussy.

  When he didn’t, she partially sagged. She so wanted to be able to communicate with him telepathically. The technique needed more than a receiver. It needed an experienced sender. She’d give anything to learn.

  Malik dropped a hand and rubbed her inner thigh. With each sweep, his thumb came closer to her creamy opening. As subtly as she could, she eased open her legs wider to give him better access.

  He lifted his head. “I know what you’re doing.”

  She bet he did, but he didn’t seem willing to help her out with the need that was nearly strangling her with desire. He returned to her nipple and sucked hard, probably as a small token.

  “Aah.”

  He tightened his grip on her inner thigh. Her cream oozed down her thighs, and even in the damp cave, she could smell her own arousal. Slow and seductive had never been her inclination, but from the way her pussy was reacting, maybe she needed to rethink her priorities. When he moved to her other tit, her hands fisted at her sides to keep from screaming his name.