The teasing left his tone as he asked softly, “But do you know how to have any?”
He didn’t sound like he was mocking her, and she didn’t know how to respond.
“Me?” Dean continued. “I love having fun. Pulling pranks, watching stupid movies with the pride, having a pizza downtown. Poker night and hunting down deer. Fun.”
“Don’t forget fucking,” she said bluntly, wishing she could shut up. She sounded jealous even to herself, but she couldn’t stop. “After all, you’ve fucked half the female population of Cougar Falls.” Including myself. How embarrassing to be so common.
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “What about you? How many men have you fucked down in Miami?” He tried to keep it light, but she detected something deeper behind his words. That he didn’t call her on being one of his harem eased some of her indignity.
“I’ve had a few dates. Nothing serious in the last year, though. I’ve been too focused on business.”
She couldn’t swear it, but he seemed to relax. “Doesn’t that get lonely?”
She wanted to say something snarky, not liking the gravity of the conversation after having such lively banter earlier. Taking Dean seriously meant seeing another side to him, accepting that he was more than a playboy or a good time in bed.
“I guess. I’m too busy to think about it, actually.”
“I get lonely.”
“Really?” She sat straighter. “How’s that?”
“Contrary to what everyone thinks, I’m not a man-whore.” He huffed. “I’ve dated my share of women, sure. I like to have a good time, but my dates always knew I wasn’t after anything serious. You know how hard it is to want forever and know you can’t have it?”
She frowned. “Why can’t you have forever?”
He fidgeted and glanced at the river. “My parents had it. Burke and Rachel have it. Hell, even Grady has it with Gabby. But it’s just not for me.”
She didn’t get it. “Why? Is there something hidden under that fur I haven’t seen yet?”
“Must be. Within seconds of being with a woman, I just know it’s not meant to be. My cat hasn’t jived with anyone in twenty-six years. I used to think it was a feline thing, like maybe I just needed the right cat. But Joy and your sisters are perfect.”
She wanted to ask why he didn’t include her in that list but kept silent for once.
“And I can’t think of forever with any of them without getting the sweats.”
“Nice image.”
He shrugged and walked next to her. “I still can’t believe you and I connected.” He sniffed her, moving around her in a very provocative way. “But there’s something about you.”
“I’m beautiful.” A fact.
“Nope. You are, but that’s not it.” He nuzzled her neck, and she felt nervous when he breathed her in. His teeth grazed her throat but didn’t close before he let her go. He circled behind her, feeling so much bigger and more threatening since she couldn’t see him.
“Then what? I have a brain? Something you’re not used to dealing with when it comes to women?”
He didn’t answer for a moment. “You do realize you just insulted not only the whole town, but your sisters as well?”
“You know what I mean. You just want me because you can’t have me.” A simple explanation for his desire. But what about hers? Why the hell did he seem so attractive and irresistible lately? Why did she have the urge to have sex with him in whatever form she occupied? Cat, human, it didn’t matter so long as she had Dean.
“I hate to break it to you, but I’ve already had you. Twice. And you’re ready for me even now.”
She didn’t like hearing the truth. But when she tried to get up and move, he settled over her. Instead of mounting her as a cat, he shifted into a man.
“Change back,” he ordered in a gritty voice.
“You can’t have me, and I’m leaving this town just as soon as I can.” Or so she kept telling herself. She had to force herself not to make plans for the empty shop in the quaint but backwards town.
“Change back.” He gripped her throat, caressing but not hurting her. The pressure he applied turned her from intrigued to downright lusty. Her body liquefied as he toyed with her vulnerability.
Without thinking about it, she shifted back to human, belly down on the matted grass beneath her. Dean nudged her legs apart and in the next breath slid his cock deep inside her, his body blanketing hers and forcing her to remain down.
“Fuck, that’s it. That’s the spot.” He kissed her shoulders and nipped playfully at the back of her neck. “All that pretty blond hair is so fucking gorgeous over your back.” He shifted his hips and surged deeper toward her womb.
“Dean.” She meant to sound stern but came across as breathy, needy. Wet.
“Yeah. So ready for me.” He rose up on his hands for better leverage and began to move inside her.
In this position, she couldn’t get enough of him. And he couldn’t reach her clit or breasts. She could only accept what he gave her, when he gave it.
“That’s good. Let me fuck you.”
She liked his crudity but hadn’t expected she’d be turned on by the fact that anyone could see them if they stopped by the river. “Dean, we’re exposed…”
“Yeah, you are. Helpless under me.” He ground harder and groaned. “And you love it. Princess Stacey likes to be roughed up, don’t you?” He dragged her up on her hands and knees and began fucking her in earnest. Punishing strokes that grew more powerful. And then his hands closed around her neck once more, squeezing tighter, but not hard enough to hurt.
Her airflow constricted and her excitement spiraled. She felt like one giant nerve, sensation exploding through and in her. Knowing he took her, that he wouldn’t bow to her demands or give in to her, that she’d found a male strong enough to handle her, set her off.
She met him thrust for thrust, loving the weakness invading her limbs.
“Fuck. Here I come. All in you, baby. Oh, Christ.” He let go of her neck to grip her hips, and he tightened his hands hard enough to bruise as he came.
The jolt of his hips pushed him deeper and hit a magic spot inside her. She gasped as exquisite joy flooded her body, the scent and feel of Dean all around and inside her. Without knowing how, she took all of him as she came. His essence, the animal spirit of his feline and the man, the soul of Dean Chastell, became hers to hold, hers to keep.
Dean called her name again and again as he poured inside her. A waterfall of lust and affection and life.
Stacey quaked as she realized just what she’d done, and with whom. But she couldn’t stop herself as her cat took from Dean what she needed. His scent infused hers, this man who didn’t have it in him to find forever with a woman. And then his semen slid down her leg.
“Oh God.” Talk about a bad decision.
“Fuck, Stace.” He moaned and withdrew, and she felt him wipe himself on her back. His seed seeped into her skin, more scent marking. She wondered if he knew what he did, or if he’d been dragged into this by her.
Dean had flat-out said he had no intention of ever taking a mate. And she’d just claimed him.
“You messed me again,” she said, distracted, elated and terrified at what she’d done.