When an Omega Snaps (10 page)

In her younger years, she didn’t mind. She liked to play rough and tumble with the best of them. Then she hit her teenage years. She shot up several inches and began towering over the guys she knew. She developed breasts, a big pair of them. Things changed.

No longer did the boys treat her as one of the guys, although, mind you, they did still try and cajole her into wrestling, which she quickly came to realize was for a cheap thrill and a grope.

Yes, they noticed she’d become a woman. Yes, they tried to cop a feel and run the bases. What they didn’t do was treat her as if she were delicate. Used to Meena’s wild tomboy ways, they didn’t hold open doors, or bring her flowers, or do small, intimate things like hold her hand. In their defense, she was taller than many of her boyfriends so handholding was at times awkward.

But she wished they’d try. A teeny tiny part of Meena wanted to be treated as if she were dainty, even if she was like a bull elephant in a china shop—her mother’s most oft-heard lament about her youngest daughter.

So, that was why when Leo held her hand, his fingers laced through hers, his thumb stroking her skin, she couldn’t help but smile. Leo didn’t just treat her with respect. He made her feel like a woman.

He opened the truck door, and as before, he palmed her waist and lifted her in, effortlessly.

As he slid into the driver side, she couldn’t help a happy sigh as his essence surrounded her.

“Everything okay, Vex?”

Better than okay. However, given she didn’t want to scare him off, or break the spell Leo appeared to be under, she just nodded, biting her tongue for once. Mother would be so proud.

Not much was said as they drove, probably because they spent the first half doing a number on the breakfast he’d brought.

She groaned as she ate the scrumptious cherry-cheese Danish. He growled. She moaned as she sank her teeth into the moist carrot cake muffin with its buttery icing. He grumbled. She couldn’t make a sound at all when she offered him the last bite of the custard-filled donut and he sucked the icing sugar from her fingers.

His raspy tongue against her skin totally sent shivers rocketing through her body. And when he sucked the tip?

She almost dove onto him so she could properly maul his delectable body.

But she held off. She showed restraint because her curious kitty truly wanted to see what he had planned.

While they didn’t talk much, the atmosphere wasn’t strained. Tense a bit, alive with the electrical attraction humming between them, but it was a good tense. Leo put some music on the radio, and when Foreigner came on, she couldn’t resist singing, and to her delight, Leo joined her, his deep baritone wrapping her in a sensual velvet glove.

At the end of the song, she laughed. “I can’t believe it. You sing.”

“No I don’t.”

“You do too! I heard you.”

Again, he shot the most deadly smile her way. “But I will deny it if ever asked. Think of it as my deep dark secret. I like to do karaoke, usually in the shower where no one can hear.”

“Why hide when you have a great voice?”

“I also have a membership in the no-pussy club. If I don’t want my status as a badass revoked, then singing is out. As is ballroom dancing, buying feminine products, and wearing pastels.”

“Sounds chauvinistic.”

“Totally, which is what makes it fun.”

“Fun how?”

“Because it drives the lionesses nuts.”

“I thought you were all about keeping the peace.”

A massive shoulder rolled as he shrugged. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to have a little fun.”

The wink he tossed her had her giggling again. The more she got to know him, the more intrigued she found herself.

They exited the city and drove for a while on the highway, the scenery consisting of pockets of suburbia along with farm fields and wooded areas.

Recognizing a few of the names plastering the exit signs, she suddenly realized where they were going. “You’re taking me to the Lion’s Pride ranch.”

“I am. I thought it might be a good plan to get you out of the city for a bit, let you stretch your legs, and get some fresh air.”

A fine plan. They’d no sooner parked than Meena was exiting the truck, not waiting for Leo to come around and hand her out. She took only seconds to strip as a dazed Leo watched.

After the way he’d teased her all morning, she didn’t feel bad returning the favor. Her turn to wink. “Catch me if you can, Pookie.” With that dare, she changed shapes, calling forth her lioness.

About time
, chuffed her feline self as she bounded forward, the pain of the morph a familiar one and quickly forgotten in the elation of her feline form.

She didn’t fear any eyes that might watch. Only those the pride approved were allowed on the ranch. It was a safe haven for those who needed an escape from the city and a place to run wild.

Freedom to be themselves within acres upon acres of woods and fields.

On four paws, she bounded to the edge of the lush forest and dashed under heavy branches. The sun-dappled trail beckoned, the rich smells of nature and the muskier scent of small prey an olfactory delight.

Behind her, a roar erupted, not a roar of challenge, more one of, I’m coming to get you.

Yay.

Leo had accepted the challenge. The chase began.

She ran. Fleet paws weaved the forest floor, bounding through the decaying matter littering the ground, brushing branches that hung too low. She favored speed over stealth. Her ultimate intent didn’t including evading Leo forever. She wanted him to catch her, pounce her, and take her to the ground because, then, what happened after she really wanted to know.

Something had changed since last night, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. Had he come to grips with the fact they were meant to be together? Or was this just another facet to his personality, one he shared with everyone? The genial host entertaining a guest.

Nah. Leo wasn’t the type and that meant this, the whole sneaking into her condo, taking her out here was all him. All for her.

I’m special.

And no she wasn’t special in a needs-a-helmet kind of way, no matter how many times her brother insisted.

As she ran through the woods, the chirp of birds, the huffing of her breath, and the soft crunch as she hit debris were the only sounds. No more roars, no obvious sign of pursuit, and that was why when a feline body dropped from the tree in front of her, she almost landed flat on her nose as her hind claws dug in, stopping her forward momentum.

Good grief he’s huge.

Magnificent,
her lioness added.

He truly was. As a lion-tiger mix, Leo possessed attributes from both. His body bore the stripes of a tiger, if much fainter and more golden. His striped tail ended in a dark tuft while his mane rivaled that of any king’s, but in a dark shade that highlighted his majestic face and enormous teeth. Teeth he bared.

His freaky version of a feline smile?

Over her initial shock, she feigned nonchalance as she regained her balance and righted herself. With a twitch of her tail, and a toss of her head, she pranced past him.

He swatted her ass.

Oh he did not.

Yes he did.

With this invitation to play, she whipped around and pounced him. But he must have expected it because he threw himself down and let her pin him.

She growled.

He chuffed.

She head-butted him.

He rubbed his nose against hers.

She chomped him then sprang away, leading him on another chase.

Bursting free of the forest, she caught sight of the small lake, or was it a pond? Didn’t matter. She remembered swimming in it as a kid. Without thinking twice, she soared at the water and hit it with a splash.

She changed shapes, experience in her swimming pool back home ensuring she held her breath lest she drown in the midst of the morph.

Surfacing, in her human shape again, she drew in a lungful of air before perusing the shore.

The empty shore.

Frowning, she cast her gaze around as she treaded water, seeking a sign of Leo. But it seemed she’d lost him. Odd. Where did—

A hand grabbed her ankle and yanked her down. Mid squeal she went under, clamping her lips tight lest she swallow water. The hand holding her loosened but only so it could take a new position on her waist.

Despite the murky water, she saw Leo, his hair waving with the current they created, his lips quirked in a grin.

With his arm anchored around her waist, he scissored his legs, propelling them to the surface. Their heads broke the skin of the water, and she took in a breath then used it to laugh.

“Pookie, I can’t believe you swamp-monstered me.”

“I can’t believe you screamed like a girl,” he teased.

“Maybe I’m more delicate than I look,” she sassed.

In the past, those kinds of statements had met with snickering or outright laughter.

With Leo, however, his expression smoldered, and he was utterly serious when he said, “I think you look delectable. And you were positively dainty in that dress last night.”

Damn jaw took that moment to unhinge, at least that was the excuse she was using for her prolonged gape. “Dainty? You do know the definition right?”

“Isn’t it something along the lines of small and pretty?”

“Yes.”

“Then I used the correct term.”

Yeah, that earned him a big ol’ smooch. A smooch that went on and on as he somehow kept them afloat. Good thing one of them was paying attention because with her legs and arms wrapped around him octopus-style, they would have probably drowned if they counted on her to keep their heads above water.

Thankfully they didn’t drown, and Leo proved the smarter one as he’d maneuvered them during their discussion to shallower water, or at least shallow enough that he could plant his two feet and truly enjoy the kiss.

The kiss wasn’t the only enjoyable thing. Despite the cool temperature of the water, their skin made contact and rubbed. And rubbed. Oh how she loved the sensual slide of their flesh together. The temperature of the water might have proven chilly, but they didn’t feel the cold. Their inner fever, born of arousal, kept them warm.

Whilst her legs clamped him tight, her sex could only pulse against his lower belly. Meena wasn’t a shy girl, or innocent. Need made her quiver, especially since she felt the evidence of his desire popping just under her butt.

She squirmed, trying to adjust her position, but he kept her too tightly clamped. “Not yet, Vex.”

“But I’m
hungry.
” She pursed her lips in a pout.

He kissed it away as he waded through the water, the level dropping as it got shallower.

Air and sunlight caressed her bared skin, but what she really wanted was for him to caress her. And he did, of a sort.

His big hands cupped her buttocks, keeping her aloft, her body wrapped around him like a second skin.

Their lips nipped and tugged as they embraced, the hot pant of their breaths the only discernible sound.

The heat of her passion burned hot, hot enough that she, once again, tried to pry their bodies apart far enough to give him an invitation. He still wouldn’t let her move, but he did release her mouth long enough to whisper, “Are you ready, Vex, for my big surprise?”

“Am I ever.”

“I’ve been waiting all day to give it to you,” he murmured against her ear lobe.

“Then give it to me. Give it to me now.” She’d burst if he didn’t take care of her.

He chuckled, the rumble vibrating against her skin. “I know you’re hungry.”

“So very, very hungry,” she agreed.

“And I’m hungry too.”

“Then what are you waiting for? I’m ready.” More than ready. Dying for him to stop this yearning. Craving his touch. The bliss.

“Awesome. I can’t wait to show you what I brought for our lunch.”

Lunch?

Lunch!

Her bafflement would have made him laugh if he wasn’t as tortured as her.

Close. So close they’d come to succumbing. It wouldn’t have taken much, just a nudge and a push. She’d shown herself more than willing. But…

He’d made a promise to her parents to not physically claim her unless they were mated. And no, it wasn’t her father’s threatened, “I’ll tear your intestines from your body, use them to bind you, then skin the fur off you to make a coat for my wife,” that made him respect his word. Leo had also made a silent promise to himself that he would treat Meena with a respect he sensed she didn’t often enjoy. Under Meena’s wild and wicked manner lurked a woman, one who longed for the same courtesy and flirtation that she saw others receive.

He would give that to her.

Giving is good. Give her anything she wants.
His liger’s vision of giving was of a more carnal nature, and hard to ignore, especially with Meena still plastered to him. So much delicious flesh.

Wanna taste.

Can’t.
Even if it hurt—and it hurt a lot—he was a man of his word.

Setting her on a blanket spread under a tree ahead of time, atop a soft bed of mossy grass and undergrowth, he ignored her mewl of disappointment.

It didn’t help he almost caterwauled too.

Turning his back on her for a moment, he searched for the towels he’d also asked to have stashed when he called in his picnic order to the ranch the night before.

He found towels all right, hand towels. Someone’s idea of a joke.

Not so funny, given that meant he had nothing to cover Meena with. Nothing to hide her curves.

Don’t look. Don’t look.

As if he had that kind of willpower where she was concerned. He turned.

Wanna see.

What he saw was her glaring at him. Such a rare expression on her usually happy mien.

“You did not just stop the most awesome makeout session ever for lunch.”

Awesome? Okay, so his chest might have puffed out a little. “Not just any lunch. A great one. I had the kitchen pack us some fried chicken made last night. And everyone knows fried chicken tastes better the day after.”

“You have a point about the chicken. However, I’ve got throbbing girly parts that are screaming for some action.”

Her outspoken honesty, while initially jarring, now quite pleased him. Meena didn’t hide the truth. She said what she felt, and what she felt was desire for him. Mental fist pump. And, no, he wouldn’t pounce and lick her for the compliment.

He tried to rein things back. “Such impatience, Vex. You do realize the most titillating part of anything is the buildup to the main event?”

“You’ve already built me enough, dammit, Pookie. A girl can only take so much.”

“Would it console you to know my man parts are also throbbing”—most painfully and visibly—“and yet, while I could indulge in a quick taking of your”—gulp—“beautiful body…” There went his train of thought for a moment. Her fault as she leaned back on her elbows and hit him with a come-hither stare. She also pushed her shoulders back and presented her breasts. Sob. He needed to focus. Maybe if he explained she’d understand why the hell he wasn’t jumping on her—now. “Surely you see the merit in taking things slowly. In savoring our budding attraction—”

“Budding?” She snorted. “Try more like exploding. Or at least I would have if someone had given me a few more minutes.”

“Think of it as extended foreplay.”

“Screw foreplay. I want sex.”

That made two of them. Exactly why the hell had he made that promise? “Speaking of orgasm, look what else I brought to go with the chicken.” As he kneeled down on the spread blanket, he flipped back the lid to the basket—courtesy of the folk who maintained the ranch. After laughing, then asking if it was a joke, then laughing again, they quickly cooperated with his picnic plan when he threatened to show them how human pretzels were made.

Despite herself, Meena craned forward, her boobs swaying enticingly. Curse him for having morals and making promises.

“Are those chocolate orgasms?” she asked.

It shouldn’t make a grown man shudder to hear a woman say the word orgasm. Yeah, it didn’t stop a tremor from rocking him, especially since no longer submerged by water the musk of her arousal scented the air. “Good girls can have all the orgasms they want.” He growled it.

“Good girl?” She uttered an extremely wicked chuckle. “Oh, Pookie, but I’m best when I’m bad.”

With those words, she leaned back and changed position. Not to hide her assets or make things easier on him. Of course not. She knew exactly what she did judging by her naughty smile as she sat cross-legged on the blanket, still utterly naked.

Why was he resisting? He should go over there and ravish her like she demanded. Weren’t her wishes more important than any silly promises?

Stop concentrating on her naked parts. Focus on something else. Like lunch. Yeah.
If they were eating, then he couldn’t lust, right?

He handed her a linen napkin, and she laid it across her lap, hiding one part of her but leaving her glorious breasts exposed. Knowing what hid under the tiny scrap of fabric made him want to go diving for cream.

Bad kitty.

He ripped the lid off the container with the chicken and offered it to her. She grabbed a hunk and tore into it.

Leo prided himself on his iron control. He wished someone would have warned him that one woman could turn it into a puddle with just one groaned, “Damn that’s good chicken.”

Determination to respect her turned out to be torture for him. Every bite. Every moan. Every peek of her pink tongue as she licked her lips.

He flung himself on his back with a groan.

Immediately, she straddled him, which really didn’t help matters. In all his planning, he should have brought clothes. Or maybe some armor. What possessed him to think he could handle a morning and afternoon alone with her? Why had he promised not to rush things?

“Pookie.” She sang his name as she nipped his jaw. “Oh, Pookie. You can’t hide from me. Why are you fighting this so hard?” To prove the hard point, she rubbed her slick cleft against his erect shaft.

“Vex, no, we can’t. I promised.”

“Who did you promise? My dad? Oh please. He doesn’t get to decide who I have sex with.”

“I promised myself, too, to treat you like a lady.”

“You have been, but even ladies like a bit of passion. A bit of…” She nibbled her way down the column of his neck and nipped at one of his flat nipples. He sucked in a breath. “Fun.”

“I gave my word.” And much as pleasure beckoned, he wouldn’t betray it.

“And what did you say exactly?”

“That I wouldn’t have sex with you unless we were properly mated.”

“So mate me, then do me.”

“Vex!” His eyes shot up to shoot her a shocked look.

“What?” She failed the innocent look, but then again, who wouldn’t, given she’d slid even farther down his body and now knelt between his knees, one hand gripping his cock.

“You shouldn’t—you can’t—Oh fuck.” What else was there to say when the woman you wanted most wrapped her lips around the head of your shaft and sucked?

Oh how she sucked and tugged at his erect cock. Her lips slid the length of his steel pole, caressing him, encasing him in liquid heat. He couldn’t help but dig his fingers into the blanket, fighting to hold his hips still lest he begin to thrust in the sweet cavern of her mouth.

But Meena wasn’t interested in his impressive control. As with every other moment since they’d met, she seemed determined to smash his resistance. To bring him places no one else brought him, both emotionally and physically.

She deep throated him.

Deep. Throated. Him.

No one had ever done that before, not with his somewhat impressive size. Meena did, though, and she did so with gusto and the most gorgeous mien. Her lashes fluttered darkly against the tops of her cheeks, and her eyes closed as she enjoyed herself. Her lips were opened wide around his dick, their perfect pinkness a distinct contrast. Her cheeks hollowed as she suctioned. And oh, the sounds she made. Sweet sounds of pleasure. Soft growls of enjoyment.

Could he stop a bellow as she took him to the brink of ecstasy and then shoved him over it?

Yeah. Forget a man with iron control. He shot his creamy load into her welcoming mouth, and she took it. She took every ounce of him and didn’t stop sucking until, in a hoarse voice, he pleaded, “No more. Damn it, Vex, you’re going to kill me.”

Thing was he couldn’t die yet. No way. He had a favor to return.

What about the promise to not claim her?

He would keep that promise. His dick wouldn’t sink into the velvety heat of her sex, but by hell, his tongue would!

“Get on your back.” Did his tone contain an element of command? Damned straight it did. This was one time he needed her to listen.

“Oh goody, I get a turn too.”

How delighted she sounded. Her refreshing attitude and lack of coyness was utterly enchanting. She didn’t hide her sensuality or desire. She embraced it and spread her thighs that he might take a turn kneeling between them.

Utter perfection. From her tousled hair framing her face in damp wisps, to her heaving breasts topped with fat berries, to the indent of her waist and wide flare of her hips. She was his ideal woman.

She is my woman.

Mine.

And even if he wouldn’t brand her with his cock or mark her with his teeth, by hell, she would feel the lash of his tongue.

But only after he had a taste of the breasts he’d dreamed of.

Leaning forward, he dipped his head to tug at an erect peak. Her back arched, and she let out a moan.

“Yes. Oh yes. Suck me.”

He’d known she’d be vocal, and he loved it. Loved that she didn’t fear telling him what she liked.

Around her nipple, his tongue circled, wetting the skin, feeling the ridges of the puckered peak. He sucked the tip into his mouth. Nibbled her. Even nipped her.

She liked that, or so he assumed given she yanked on his hair and practically smothered him when she held his face so tightly to her breast.

Good thing he was stronger. In this, he would have some control. He switched nipples, lavishing the same attention on the other as she panted and mewled encouragement and demands of “More. Don’t stop. Oh gawd. Yes.”

As delightful as her breasts proved, though, the true treat was farther below. Letting his lips leave the splendor of her bosom, he trailed hot kisses over the swell of her belly and still farther down to the very short thatch of blonde covering her mound.

He couldn’t help but nuzzle her. A hot sigh left her.

“Oh, yes. Please. I mean no. You shouldn’t.” Her hands pushed at him. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Hurt him? It hurt him not to taste. Kneeling between her legs, he paused a moment and looked at her. She did appear quite worried if the wrinkle between her brows was any indication. And yet, he could see the honeyed desire on the lips to her sex. “You want this.”

“Yes, but I can’t let you. I might forget myself in the moment and cause some damage. It’s happened before.”

“You can’t stop me.” With those words, he fitted his hands under her ass cheeks, loving the plump handful. He raised her from the blanket, angling her for his pleasure—and hers. Then he gave her a long, wet lick the length of her sex, from the peeking hood of her clitoris to the entire seam of her cleft.

Her musky cream hit his taste buds and exploded, as did she. Her hips bucked, and it was only by sheer strength that he kept her anchored.

“Sorry,” she squeaked.

“Don’t you ever.” Lick. “Apologize.” Suck. “For your passion, Vex.” Nibble.

With each caress, she gasped, moaned, or cried out. Her body shook. Her legs draped over his shoulders, and her heels dug into his back.

He feasted on her, letting her wild passion take him on a journey he’d never imagined. Never a selfish lover, Leo always took care of his partners, but with Meena, he didn’t just want to pleasure her. It pleased him so much too.

Despite the recent ejaculation, his shaft swelled, throbbed, and begged him to sink into the pink heat and thrust hard. Deep. Fast.

Claim her. Mark her. Take her.

Oh fuck. Oh yes. He couldn’t have said if he thought it, or she chanted it. Either way, he swayed in time to the thrusts of her hips as he lapped at her. He hummed against her sex, “Come for, Vex. Come against my tongue.”

And she did. She screamed loudly, long, and lustily as she let her climax take over. Her thighs squeezed his head in a tight vise. He could see why she feared hurting him, but he could handle it. She was his.

To prove he didn’t mind her strong passion, he kept on sucking and nibbling, wanting more. Because he needed more, more of her. He wanted to imprint her with his touch. To quench this insane thirst he had for her.

A second orgasm rolled through her before the first was even done. Her second scream was more of a hoarse croak, a testament to the mindless pleasure holding her in its throes.