Saving the Beast (8 page)

“Fuck!” Tah shouted the expletive and Diane heard a loud cracking sound and wondered if Tah had just punched something. “I want you back here as soon as possible, and we will have a long talk, Kenzie. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Kenzie muttered.

“Diane.” He said her name softly.

“Yes?”

“Be careful. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you,” he told her.

“I’ll be fine,” Diane said, not sure if she was assuring him or reassuring herself. “I’m his mate. Zane won’t hurt me.”

“I pray you’re right,” Tah grunted. “You two have tied my hands, now. All I can do is wait to hear from you or risk the possibility of getting people killed by sending others after you. This is a hell of a fucked up mess.”

A loud hiss rocked the woods followed by a growl that sent more shivers coursing through Diane. Holy fuck!

“It’s too late, Tah,” Kenzie reiterated, wide eyes meeting Diane’s. “He’s closer than I thought. I need to find a place for Diane to camp so I can keep an eye on them. We’ll talk to you when we get a chance.”

Kenzie hit the end call button on Diane’s phone and shoved it at her. “Hurry up. We’re out of time. Hope you know how to pitch your own tent.”

The predatory call of Zane’s animal filled the air again, making Diane feel stalked. Time was up. Soon, she’d know for sure if Zane was her mate or not. She took a deep breath and followed Kenzie at a jog.

Chapter Five

Fuck!
That was the mantra going through Diane’s head. As soon as they’d hit the small clearing, Kenzie had done a dump and run, leaving Diane on her own. She’d known she’d be alone at some point, had even anticipated it, but the reality was far more frightening than she’d imagined.

It had been almost an hour since had Kenzie left and there was still no Zane. Diane wasn’t sure what that meant. Had she been completely wrong about being Zane’s mate? Maybe he’d just been nice to her? Maybe she was the only one who felt heat between them?

She kicked at the ground and glared at the tent. If she was wrong, then it would offer no protection against an enraged, primal panther. Tying one of the front flaps back, she tossed her backpack and the extra food bag inside, out of the way. She knew she was supposed to tie the food up or something, but she wasn’t a camper, damn it! And Zane should already be here to protect her!

She glanced around and had not a clue what to do. Kenzie had been so certain Zane was coming for her. Another thought skated through her mind. What if it wasn’t Diane he was after? What if he’d gone after Kenzie? What if they’d all been wrong, and he saw her as a threat?

“Kenzie!” she yelled as loudly as she dared. “Kenzie, are you out there?”

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, scaring the shit out of her and making her jump with a squeal of terror. Good grief, she was freaking herself out.

“Hello?” she answered.

“I’m here.” Kenzie’s voice came through the line. “I moved up higher, trying to get upwind of you. Be careful. Your voice carries really well here.”

“Maybe to someone with enhanced senses,” Diane hissed. She could barely hear herself over the staccato beat of her heart. “How far away are you?”

“Far enough that hopefully Zane won’t feel threatened anymore by my presence so near his unclaimed mate,” Kenzie uttered. “But close enough to get to you quickly if needed.”

“He’s not here,” Diane muttered. “Are you sure that was him we heard?”

“It was him all right,” Kenzie confirmed. “And he’s there. Trust me.”

“Then what is he doing because I’m in this clearing alone wondering if I’m going to be panther food.”

Kenzie snickered. “If he eats you, I’m sure you’ll enjoy every flick of his tongue.”

Diane groaned as that thought filled her head. The image of his dark head nestled between her thighs licking and sucking on her pussy almost had her orgasming on the spot. She knew she had it bad when just the thought of him had her so close.

“Kenzie, I’m serious,” Diane hissed again. “He’s not here, and I’m starting to freak out.”

“He followed me for a bit,” Kenzie said.

“Why? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. More than likely, he was making sure I wasn’t a threat to you. I kept moving higher away from you until he seemed satisfied and turned back,” Kenzie said. “Everything will be fine.”

Diane snorted. “Are you sure about that?”

“It’s too late for second thoughts,” Kenzie warned her. “You said you were his mate, so prove it.”

“How the hell do I do that?” Diane demanded.

“Talk to him. Let him know you’re there for him. If Zane is still exerting some control over the animal, and he obviously is, then he’s probably using everything to hold the beast in rein, trying to protect you from a mating. You need to let him know you want to be his mate. Your fear might incite the beast, but it will make the man fight all the harder to protect you.”

“What if—”

“Enough,” Kenzie said, cutting her off. “You’re either his mate or you’re not. You either want to save him or you don’t. Say the word and I’ll force him back to me.”

“You’re not his mate,” Diane gritted out.

“No, but I’d sacrifice myself to save him,” Kenzie replied.

“No. He’s mine,” Diane growled and hung up, tossing the phone into the tent behind her.

She paced around the clearing, muttering under her breath. Fear was gone, overshadowed by anger at the thought of Kenzie trying to get Zane to claim her, instead. Over her dead fucking body!

“Zane,” she called. “I know you’re out there. It’s Diane.” Shit! He probably already knew that. “I came here to find you. I…I’ve been worried about you. I want to help if you’ll let me.”

God! This was getting her nowhere. What did you say to the man who filled your dreams? What would it take to get him to release whatever hold he had over his beast and come to her?

“I’ve been thinking of you,” she said as she continued walking in circles around the outside of her tent. “No, that’s not exactly right. I’ve been consumed with thoughts of you. I can’t work. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I keep seeing your beautiful eyes, the way one corner of your mouth lifts when you smile. I keep picturing the night you returned with Finn. Things changed that night, when I went to you and touched you.” She sighed and stopped, lifting her face to the sky and closing her eyes. “I know you felt it, too. I know it wasn’t just me. More than a spark, so much more. It was like a bolt of lightning lancing from you to me. I saw the look in your eyes. It took all I had to pull away and go check on Finn. I wanted you then, and it’s only grown like a physical ache I can’t appease. I touch myself and dream it’s you. I think I know what’s happening between us. I think I’m your mate, and yes, it scares me. But not nearly as much as the thought of losing you when I don’t even have memories to sustain me. Only dreams. I have plenty of those. Dreams where you touch me, kiss me, make love to me. I want more than the dreams. I want you, anyway I can have you.”

She heard a deep purr and jolted, taking a step back and snapping her head down, eyes flaring wide. A huge black panther sat at the edge of the clearing, watching her.

“Zane?” She croaked the question out. It had to be him. Right? There wouldn’t be another panther out here. If by some strange circumstance there was another panther shifter in the area, Kenzie would have sensed it and warned her.

The panther tilted its head and the golden eyes looked so familiar, so comforting.

“I’m here, Zane,” she whispered. “I want to help you, to save you if I can.”

The panther was up off its haunches and prowling closer. He was circling her, and she turned with him, feeling her breath catch as each loop veered him closer to her.

“Zane, you’re making me nervous,” she ventured to say, and the panther stopped in its tracks, blinking its eyes at her.

“Zane,” she whispered with awe. “It’s really you, isn’t it? You’re so beautiful. I knew you would be. I mean, you take my breath away. Why would your beast be any different?”

The head cocked and a rumble sounded in its chest. She swore she saw the panther’s chest expand as he inhaled deeply. Those big eyes seemed to glow brighter, and it was back on its feet. No more circling. It was heading right toward her.

“Oh, God,” she moaned and braced herself. She wanted to squeeze her eyes shut tight, but fear kept them locked wide open, watching as the panther stalked closer.

His head was even with her belly, and this close, she had no trouble visualizing just how lethal he could be if needed. He inhaled again, hissed and buried his nose in her crotch.

“Shit!” she exclaimed and jerked back.

He followed and buried his nose again.

“Stop that!” she scolded.

She reached down to push away his nose and got her first glimpse of sharp teeth when he peeled his lips back and growled at her. She dropped her hands to her side and clenched them into fists.

The nose pressed against the crotch of her jeans again and rubbed over it. She held still. The man she could deal with. At least she hoped. But the panther. She had no idea what to do. She gasped as a long pink tongue flicked out and licked over the seam of her pants.

“Zane!” she cried out and moved back with the panther stalking her. The tongue flicked out again, licking over her the ridge of denim hiding her zipper. “Stop that!” she scolded.

The panther rumbled again and flashed its teeth.

“That’s not going to work this time. I don’t care if you’re a panther or not. You can’t just go around licking people’s crotches. It’s not right.”

The panther pushed her with his nose, and she flailed before falling back to land in the opening of the tent on her ass.

“Damn it, Zane!” she yelled. “That wasn’t nice!”

The panther loomed over her, and she squealed as his big head dipped toward her. She fell back flat on her back and did squeeze shut her eyes this time. The nose brushed between her thighs again then moved up along her belly to her chest. His tongue ran over both breasts and she gasped, holding still. Then she felt the rough texture against the bare skin of her neck, just below her ear.

“Zane, please,” she begged. “I need you.”

The panther rumbled and shook its head as if trying to tell her something. She’d never felt so unsure around cats. Hell, this was her life. Working with large cats was what she’d trained so hard for. This was where she was confident, where she allowed no room for doubt. So why was this any different? Because this was Zane, and wisdom flew out the window when he was near, leaving her lost in a sea of sensations she’d never experienced before. What was he waiting for?

The tongue flicked out again, and she flinched and shook with a stab of fear as she felt the scrape of his teeth. One wrong move and he could kill her. The nose nudged her again, and she blinked open her eyes to glance up at him.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “I need you, Zane. The real you. I can’t understand you like this.”

The panther hissed again and let out a growl that echoed around them. Fuck! Had she pissed off the beast? What was it waiting for? Was Zane already lost to her? Had she waited too long?

The panther dipped its big head and nudged her once more, burying his nose in her neck this time and nuzzling her there. A thought suddenly occurred to her. What if the panther was demanding she accept him before he’d release control to his human counterpart?

Tentatively, she reached up and rubbed her hand over the fur of his cheek. She slid her fingers along his fur, following his neck to his shoulder and down his front leg. He sat on his haunches and purred his approval. Slowly, she eased up to sit before him. When he didn’t nudge her down with his nose, she cautiously reached out with both hands and stroked over his fur again and again.

“I know you and Zane are a package. I can’t have him without accepting you.”

The panther mewled and tilted his head at her.

“I’ve dreamed of meeting a big guy like you. So inquisitive. So intelligent. So lethal,” she added when he rumbled and stretched up his head, revealing his sharp teeth. “But I don’t need to be afraid of you, do I? Is that what you’re trying to get me to see? That you’re just as much mine as he is? That I’m as safe with you as I am with him?”

A hum throbbed through his chest, vibrating against her fingers where they stroked over him. He nuzzled her face again, and this time she giggled as his big pink tongue came out and swiped over her cheek. Soon, she was fully reclined with the panther licking her face while she laughed and turned it from side-to-side. All fear was forgotten as she reveled in the playful side of her mate’s beast.

Zane felt the moment his panther acknowledged Diane as their mate. The more afraid she’d become, the harder the beast had fought against the bond, and Zane had understood. To be his mate meant accepting all of him, and the beast was very much a part of him. Diane seemed to have figured that out. Now, he was awash with the sound of her giggles. He’d let the beast play just a bit longer, just enough to content him, before he pressed to take over and have what they both desired—their mate naked beneath them.

The smell of her ripe pussy filled his nostrils. She was in heat, so wet and ready for him, it would take every ounce of control he had not to rip off her clothes and fuck her until he was all that filled her—mind, body and soul. Zane wasn’t deluding himself that it would be easy. He could feel the fever virus raging inside him. It would be difficult enough to shift back from beast to man. Even then, the beast would be strong inside him, demanding a primal claiming he prayed Diane was ready for.

He’d wanted to woo her, to slowly gain her trust with soft kisses and gentle touches. He’d failed. There would be nothing soft or gentle, only a demand for complete submission. He knew without a doubt he was going to fuck her hard and deep, imprinting her with his scent and filling her with his cum over and over again. It would take hours, maybe even days before his animal was sated and he hopefully began building up the antibodies needed to fight the fever.