JaguarintheSun

Anya Richards

Book four in the Unveiled Seductions series.

Cassandra Solinar has a bucket list and jaguar god Xbal
Montegro is on it. About to undergo an essential rite she won’t survive, she
wants to wring every ounce of pleasure out of the time left. Including
discovering if Xbal’s sex magic technique is as good as rumored.

It’s no hardship for Xbal to accept Cassandra’s invitation
for one erotic encounter, but far more difficult to let her go once he gets a
taste of the explosive passion between them. Now he’s determined to hold on to
her, no matter what.

Cassie can’t tell Xbal the truth about what she’s about to
do. It’s illegal, but without her death the entire world will perish. It’s a
job she’s been preparing for from birth, but the loss will be greater now. For
in Xbal she finds a soul-deep connection she doesn’t want to lose, and the one
thing she made a point of
not
putting on her bucket list—love.

A
Romantica®
paranormal erotic romance
from Ellora’s Cave

Cassie paused on the sidewalk outside the Music Roars
offices and looked up at the sky. It was a weird day weather-wise. The sun shone
but a light sprinkle of rain fell from just one small, innocuous-looking cloud,
which seemed to be hovering right above her head.

How appropriate.

She didn’t want to think about the meeting she’d just come
from but, as much as she tried to push it to the back of her mind, the effect
of it lingered. Just like the cloud. Yet instead of deterring her from her
plan, the knowledge time was running out just made her more determined. There
wouldn’t be another chance.

Since she’d been distracted when she left the temple, she’d
forgotten to throw up a shield and the drizzle had turned her previously sleek
hair into a mass of waves but she didn’t care. It wasn’t a big deal, just a
small detail and one she didn’t think would really matter. In her experience a
man didn’t care that much about how a woman’s hair looked when she was
propositioning him.

Her belly tensed and Cassie pressed her palm over it, trying
to calm the sudden flutter of nerves. She was about to take a fierce,
beautiful, unpredictable man by surprise, and she’d be an idiot not to be a
little concerned. If he said no she’d definitely be embarrassed but if he said
yes…

This time her entire body reacted to her thoughts. Xbal
Montegro was delicious to look at, had a voice like the richest, darkest velvet
and a fluid, sensual way of moving that betrayed his feline nature. Then there
were the rumors about his facility with sex magic, which in the hands of a master
practitioner was guaranteed to produce a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Just
thinking about the combination of all those attributes was enough to send a
wash of heat through her entire body, leaving tight nipples and a low,
thrumming vibration around her clit in its wake.

Cassie had spent a great deal of time imagining what it
would be like to sleep with Xbal. They’d known each other for a long time, and
there’d always been sparks of interest between them—sparks she’d been unwilling
to act on, or even acknowledge. She’d also spent a lot of time recently
wondering why she’d shied away from exploring the attraction, but hadn’t found
a definitive answer. In the end—and this was, in so many senses of the word,
the end—she’d put the speculation aside. Like the condition of her hair, it was
of little importance. If she ever wanted the experience of a hot fuck with the
jaguar shifter, now was the time to make it happen.

With a final glance at the sky, she smoothed the lapels of
her leather coatdress and took the last step necessary to push open the
unmarked door. Immediately she was bombarded by a blast of sound coming from a
group of people lounging in the reception area, each one with an instrument in
hand. This was music unlike any she’d heard before, with a driving, almost
discordant backbeat provided by a couple of guys, one with a pair of Congo
drums, the other with what looked like a plastic tub. Above it was overlaid the
wail of a bagpipe and the counter-beat of a bass guitar. And flitting through
it all were the high, sweet notes of a wind instrument—a piccolo by the sound
of it—diving and climbing between the other sounds, weaving them all together
into something magical and strangely compelling. Enchanted, she paused in the
vestibule and let the door swing shut as the music washed over her, somehow
soothing her nervousness and, at the same time, heightening her anticipation.

Consumed in their jam session, most of the musicians ignored
her, all except the young blond drumming on the plastic bin, who gave her a
blatant once-over accompanied by a cheeky, inviting grin. Cassie raised an
eyebrow at him and slid her gaze away, signaling her complete disinterest.

I’m here for much stronger fare than you can provide,
little man.

The receptionist, Jana-Rose, caught her eye and shrugged.
Cassie grinned in response, knowing it was more the norm than an anomaly to
find random groups playing in the promotional company’s reception area. Some
were already involved in shows Xbal had put together and were there for a
meeting. Others wanted to be considered for future projects and, with true
artistic oblivion, seemed to think it was fine to drop by and just start making
music. Xbal had once told her he didn’t discourage it because he’d discovered
more than one new group that way. Besides, it was a simple thing to get rid of
the ones lacking the level of talent he wanted by simply translocating them out
the door.

He’d said that with one of his devastating, arrogant grins,
and even now Cassie could remember the shock of mingled desire and apprehension
she’d felt seeing it. Something about that smile told her he was a man used to
being totally in charge, completely in control of every facet of his life and
surroundings. King of the jungle. Master of all he surveyed. However you wanted
to look at it, despite his charm and seemingly unfailing courtesy, Xbal wasn’t
to be trifled with. She, on the other hand, would love to have him trifle with
her, as much as he liked, today.

Another thought that made her legs a little wobbly as she
started toward the reception desk.

Jana-Rose stopped her with a shake of her head and a wave indicating
she should go right up to Xbal’s office. Cassie swerved away toward the
elevator with an answering wave of thanks. She’d actually made an appointment
to see him, which was unusual considering the length of their relationship. But
she’d realized when you had a strict schedule and short timeline nothing should
be taken for granted or left to chance, which rather pissed her off.

Stabbing the button, she swallowed a sudden surge of anger,
pushing it down and locking it away. Yeah, it was annoying to have to abandon
her previous spontaneity and actually plan every little experience, but it had
been necessary to get everything done. Especially now.

The elevator doors opened and she stepped into the sleek,
leather-lined interior to admire, as she always did, the murals stamped into
the skins. Done in a primitive, Mesolithic style and colored with a variety of
bright dyes, they were a feast for the eyes. Unable to resist, she traced the
figure directly before her, a half-man, half-jaguar she always assumed to be
Xbal. Her finger trembled as it struck her she may very soon be touching the
real thing, discovering and exploring what she’d only dreamed of up to this point.
The lurch of her stomach had nothing to do with riding the elevator to the
tenth floor but made the breath catch in her throat and a shiver course over
her back and shoulders.

As the lift came to a smooth halt, she let her hand drop
back to her side and took a deep breath, trying to put it all back into
perspective. In a little while she may or may not be sleeping with a man she
found entirely enthralling. In a short time she’d know whether or not this
particular long-held dream would come true or not. Yet, as much as anticipation
and trepidation crackled under her skin, and as exciting as the prospect of
fucking Xbal was, it wouldn’t be a life-changing moment.

Strange how knowing the end of your existence was imminent
gave one the kind of cutting clarity that would be beneficial if you had more
time to make use of it.

That thought amused her, and she was smiling slightly as she
stepped out onto the floor where Xbal’s office was located. In contrast to the
din downstairs it was quiet, really serene up here. And instead of the colorful
concert posters and modern furniture that decorated the reception area, the
executive floor had a timeless, classical feeling. The dark wooden floors set
off creamy walls and emphasized the crown molding and trim detailing. Armchairs
upholstered in sedate, neutral fabrics were paired with occasional tables into
pleasing arrangements on the huge Persian carpet. Instead of artwork, ancient
instruments graced the walls. It was all a little too formal for her tastes,
but she had to admit the man coming toward her with his customary grace looked
right at home.

Xbal Montegro wasn’t exceptionally tall in the world of the
fey, being just an inch or so taller than Cassie’s five-foot-eight-plus-heels,
but the way he carried himself made that unimportant. And although he wasn’t
handsome in the way so many of the male inhabitants of the faie side of the
Veil were, she found him more beautiful than any other man she knew. The broad
forehead, high cheekbones and slightly hooked nose were balanced by a firm,
determined jaw and sensual mouth, which had a deeply bowed upper lip and almost
too-full lower. It was the kind of mouth that on a lesser man would look
effeminate. On Xbal it simply looked delicious and gave his harsh, copper-hued
visage warmth. Warmth that was now echoed in his eyes as he came to greet her.

“Cassie.” His voice, just short of a growl, sent another
little shiver down her back, and she tensed so as not to tremble when he put
his hands on her shoulders and bent to lightly kiss first one cheek and then
the other. “I was surprised to see you on the schedule for today.”

He drew back, his hands remaining warm and firm on her
shoulders, and Cassie smiled in return even as she noticed the slight frown
between his brows, the sharpness of his gaze.
By Sol
, his eyes were
amazing—light-brown around the edges of the irises then shading to
milk-chocolate closer to the pupils. She only just stopped herself from licking
her lips in delight, letting her mouth quirk into a half-smile instead.

“I needed to see you but didn’t want to take the chance you’d
be off on one of your jaunts.”

“Hmmm…” Xbal’s gaze bored into hers for what seemed like
eternity before he turned, dropping one hand to her waist to guide her toward
his office. “I’m not sure what to make of that.” He slid her another searching
glance, and Cassie tried her best to look innocent. “You know you’re welcome to
drop in on me anytime. I can only assume it’s something important for you to
make an appointment.”

“Not terribly important.” She preceded him into his office
and would have continued over to one of the chairs in front of his desk, but
Xbal guided her toward the sofa instead. “More a matter requiring expediency
rather than anything else.”

He saw her settled on one of the soft, suede cushions before
he sat too, turning slightly sideways so he was facing her. His arm was
stretched along the back of the couch and she glanced at his hand, had to look
away from the sight of the long, masculine fingers that she could oh so easily
imagine on her skin. Every sense was heightened by his proximity. Xbal’s
distinctively earthy, slightly musky scent lingered in the air, giving her
goose bumps. Her palms tingled with the urge to touch the smooth skin of his
cheek and the muscles not fully concealed by the long-sleeved dress shirt and
perfectly tailored pants.

Cassie folded her hands on her lap and crossed her legs, not
bothering to adjust the edges of her skirt when they fell open to mid-thigh.
Xbal’s gaze remained on her face. A little disappointing but not surprising.
This was a man who didn’t ogle or stare, was as cool as the proverbial
cucumber.

“Another of your brainwaves for a concert at the Midnight
Café, needing to be put together at a moment’s notice?”

Amusement added another layer of richness to his voice and
Cassie shifted, glancing down at her hands in case the heat of rising desire
showed in her eyes.

“You could say that, I guess, although I will tell you I’ve
put a great deal of thought into this idea.” She couldn’t help the answering
laughter in her tone, knowing what she was about to say. Looking at him through
half-lowered lids, wanting to see his reaction, she said, “I actually came by
to see if you’d be interested in having sex with me today.”

Xbal had been absolutely sure he was shockproof. After an
obscene number of years of existence he’d seen every facet of people’s natures,
the good, bad and extremely ugly. What was left to surprise him?

Cassandra Solinar, obviously.

He thought his jaw may have sagged just for a moment before
he got himself under control, but he couldn’t stop his body going completely
still, his predatory instincts sharpening.

Had Cassie just said what he thought she had?

He’d scented her arousal when he’d bent to kiss her cheeks
but wouldn’t have, in a thousand years, thought it was specifically for him.
Cassie was a naturally sexual creature, with an aura of wildness just short of
abandon, but she’d never treated him with anything other than teasing
friendliness. He’d long accepted her lack of interest in him, although that
hadn’t stopped him dreaming. Now he couldn’t help wondering what she was
playing at.

Her chin was dipped, but not in a position of embarrassment
or uncertainty. Rather there was a sly twist to her lush lips and he saw a
gleam of what he interpreted to be amusement from behind her lowered lashes.

It was just a joke then.

The acuteness of his disappointment wasn’t a surprise, but
at least he was able to relax fractionally. All of him but his cock, which had
decided it liked the suggestion very, very much. Not that the rest of him didn’t
find the idea completely enticing, but his cock in particular thought having
wild sex with Cassie would be the ideal way to spend the rest of the day. After
all, he’d only been thinking about it from the first moment they met.

“You shouldn’t tease me, Cassie.” His voice was more
gravelly than usual, arousal and a flash of annoyance deepened it to a low
grumble. “It’s not wise.”

Her eyes opened wide then, the amethyst depths sparkling
with mischief and something else he tried to interpret but couldn’t get a
handle on.

“Tease you?” She got to her feet with a motion as graceful
as water flowing over a smooth stone. “Does this look like I’m in the mood to
tease?”

Before he realized what she was about, she loosened the sash
holding her dress closed.