body a wall around his own but one that didn’t trap. When he did finally relax, turning his face a fraction into her caresses, she felt like purring. Instead, she petted him some more, saw his hand ease its grip on his other wrist, saw the blood rush back into his abused skin. Unable to totally resist temptation, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his jaw.
The masculine heat of him burned into her, his physical strength gloriously apparent in the flex of his body as he turned enough that it was an invitation. Heart slamming against her ribs, she cupped the side of his face and drew him into a slow, sweet kiss. He tasted so good, felt good, smelled good. She wanted to devour her gorgeous Felix piece by piece.
Coax, be gentle, seduce, she reminded herself. Slow, slow, slow.
His arm came around her at last and she was startled to feel his hand close gently over her nape. It was a possessive hold she’d have expected from a dominant, but then again, she’d never dated a submissive.
Leopard unworried by it because it knew it could escape the tie at any time, it brushed against the inside of Desiree’s skin, intent on sinning blissfully with her wolf. He tasted of a lick of beer, but underneath the bitterness of hops was a taste that was pure, healthy male. Pure Felix. She tried to shift closer, was stopped by the way they were seated, his upper body twisted to meet her kiss.
Placing her hand on his throat, she—
He wasn’t there any longer, having jerked away to the other side of the trunk. Reeling, she tried to think what she’d done, but her mind was too scrambled, her breasts swollen and aching. She shifted off the trunk to go to the stream, kneel down, and throw some cold water on her face. The shock of it made her cat bristle, snapped her mind awake. “I touched your throat.”
Felix, his own breathing not exactly even, said, “It’s a sensitive area.”
Desiree wanted to slap herself. That was a sensitive area in leopard culture, too, but doubly so in wolf. She went to apologize, found her leopard against it. Closing her mouth, she tried to unravel the animal’s thinking. “Want to try again?” she asked, facing Felix.
His eyes widened before a slow smile dawned on his lips. “Not turned off yet?”
Desiree realized she truly wasn’t. It was fun seducing him—her leopard really, really liked playing with Felix. “Not even close.” Prowling closer in slow movements that didn’t threaten, she knelt in front of him, her hands on his knees. “You’ll have to bend closer.” He was several inches taller than her, and seated on the trunk as he was, it put him even higher.
Lips still holding the edge of a smile, he dipped his head toward her. This time, she kept her hands on his knees as she seduced him with her mouth. His own was firm, mobile, delicious. When she bit down a little to test how he’d react, he shuddered.
Okay, then, she thought with an inward grin, her wolf wasn’t against biting.
Pricking him gently with her claws through his jeans, she licked over the sensual hurt . . . and he put a careful hand on the back of her neck again, sliding beneath her braids. It was asking for permission but it was also possessive. She liked it. Purring in her throat, she let him know she didn’t take it as a threat and his hand curved firmly around her nape, skin to skin.
His breath ragged, he said, “I can feel your purr.”
“Imagine what it’ll be like when we’re both naked.”
Red on his cheeks. It made her want to pounce on him. God, he was adorable. In a hotly sexy way, all big shoulders and gentle hands. She couldn’t resist kissing him some more, the feel of his muscles going taut under her lightly stroking fingers seducing her in turn. She’d always thought she liked it hard and fast and a little rough, with a partner who fought her for control, but there was definitely nothing wrong with coaxing a wolf to play with her. Not at all.
Breasts aching, she shifted a little farther between his legs . . . and immediately felt his thrumming awareness. Careful, she warned herself, careful, careful. Staying otherwise motionless, she used her mouth to pet him until some of the renewed tension leached out of his body. Then, and much as she wanted to