it didn’t stop, she feared she’d go insane. The hard drive of his body sent her back skidding along the hood of the car. She could still feel the way his hands had smacked her bottom, and between her legs she was so slick and hot she thought she would implode. Or just burn up.
“Damn it, Ania. Do what I tell you or I stop.”
He couldn’t stop. There was no stopping. She stared up at the sky. The sun was setting, so that streaks of gray slid through the fire of orange trying to peek through the clouds rolling across the sky. Every stroke sent matching flames streaking through her body. She reached deep.
Jewel. Baby, I’ll help you. I’ll be with you every step of the way.
What if he hurts me?
She felt the leopard tremble. Both knew she was so close there was no turning back. She had no choice. She had risen, and the raging hormones were doing the rest. Taking them both over. Giving neither a choice.
He’ll only do it once and then we’re gone. I swear to you, if Dymka hurts you, Jewel, I’ll take us far away from here where they’ll never find us. It would kill her to leave Mitya, but if he couldn’t control his leopard, then she had no business being with him.
She knew the moment Jewel accepted her fate. Mitya seemed to know it as well. Most likely, Dymka was very close to the surface and was telling his companion exactly how close Jewel was. He would sense her. He would know her scent and just how ready she was.
Mitya increased his speed and changed the angle, jerking her legs up so he could hit that place inside her that sent her careening over the edge. She was engulfed fast, her entire body, taking Mitya with her, so that it seemed the world retreated, throwing the two of them together into a fiery realm of sheer pleasure. She heard herself keening his name. Sobbing it. Chanting it. When she could breathe, open her eyes, the aftershocks still shaking her, he was dropping her legs from around him and lifting her off the hood.
“Call to her, Ania. She’s so ready. Call to her.” His voice was hoarse, almost a sawing.
Looking into his eyes, she could see the leopard. Unlike Jewel, unlike Ania, he was calm. Those usually malevolent eyes were steady, amber rather than yellow, wholly focused on her. Watching. Waiting.
Ania took a breath. Now, Jewel. You can run free. Tease him. Entice him. Play.
Jewel had obviously made up her mind because the next thing Ania knew, she was on the ground, on all fours, her skin feeling as if it was shredding, too small to accommodate the bones, so much denser than her own. Her jaw hurt, stretched, elongated, teeth filling her mouth so fast she was terrified, her heart beating out of control.
Mitya’s hand stroked over her head, calming her. “Breathe, kotyonok, you’re doing great. She’s almost out. Relax and let her take over. You’ll still be right there. You’ll feel the freedom as well. I’ll be with you the entire time.”
His voice was steady. Mitya was the man who could always be counted on. His voice held that rough velvet tone that meant he was in command and needed to be obeyed. She forced her shivering body to relax and allow the shifting to happen. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. Her body felt like it was coming apart. It hurt. Every joint. Every bone. Her teeth. That hurt the worst. Or maybe it was her skull. The itch was horrendous.
The actual change felt slow and unsteady, as if Jewel pushed, retreated and then pushed again. Like Ania, she had no idea what she was doing. The female was definitely in her first life cycle with Mitya. She had no past experience to draw on.
Then suddenly there was fur covering her body, beautiful, astonishing fur. It was thick and long, the undercoat a gorgeous white. Not golden brown, but pure white with thick black rosettes. They were widely spaced, each almost a perfect circle of dense black. The coat was impressive and different, but definitely Amur, a winter snow coat that was so beautiful and different, she would have been hunted relentlessly in the wild for that alone.
Mitya stroked a hand down her fur, murmuring his approval. Jewel was on the smaller side, weighing not more than sixty pounds, but she was compact and sleek, with roped muscles moving beneath