Wanton

Wanton

Crystal Jordan

Two years after her lover died, Lynx Jenise finally feels ready to indulge the consuming urge to mate at the shifter gathering known as the Wild. Though her very human heart was broken, her animal instincts can no longer be suppressed. But even as she finds the rough pleasure she craves with other Lynxes, another instinct haunts Jenise—the feeling that another mate is near….

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She was being hunted. A small smile curved Jenise’s lips, and her heart began to pound with heady anticipation. The cold mountain air of the Sierra Nevadas kissed her naked flesh, curling between her bare legs to stroke the heated folds of her sex. She shivered, her nipples tightening to an almost painful degree. The slightest rustle of a cat’s paw on dew-covered grass whispered in her ear. He was catching up with her. Her hunter. The Lynx within her nearly purred as the excitement built higher. She couldn’t wait for him to fuck her, but he’d have to catch her first. Her smile widened. The first week of spring every year was the Wild time for her kind. Every female went into heat simultaneously, and every Lynx on the continent gathered here. To connect with their animalistic nature, to rut until the heat burned itself out. It was the last day of Wild. She could feel the heat easing its grip on her body. Tears pressed against her lids at the prospect of this time-away-from-time ending. She clenched her jaw, shoving the thought away. No. She would enjoy the now, squeeze every ounce of sensation out of what time remained to her. Her grin sharpened, showing her truest nature. Feral woman. Shivering again in the cool breeze licking at her flesh, she shifted into her Lynx form. Her body flowed into the new shape, bones and sinew remolding into those of a feline. Spotted fur soon covered her skin, protecting her from the chill wind. She wound through the tall trees, padding lightly on her paws as the underbrush thinned and gave way to the rocky shore beside a flowing river. The last rays of the fading sun sparkled on the water as it gurgled around and tripped over larger rocks. The breeze ruffled her thick fur, bringing with it the scent of her pursuer. Soon. Soon, she would have him as she had had so many others this week. A pang struck her, and her heart clenched in her chest. Guilt twisted inside her, choking off her breath. Two years had passed since Shane died. Her mate. The first year, she hadn’t been able to make herself attend Wild. The loss was too raw, too new. Alone in her house, she’d found the cravings of her body eating her alive, until she’d screamed from the relentless want she couldn’t stop. She was in heat; she needed to fuck. Those animal instincts didn’t care that her very human heart had shattered, that half of her soul had been ripped away, leaving her empty and barren. Broken. Lost. She couldn’t face her Wild time alone the second year. She just…couldn’t. The need had clawed at her too deeply, slicing through her control. She swallowed and twitched her ears now, trying to ignore the guilt. Shane was possessive, as all males of their kind were. He would hate knowing that she craved the touch of another man, any other man who might want to stroke his fingers down her naked skin, who might be willing to thrust his long cock into her overheating body. Anything to assuage the need, to ease the carnal torment for even a single moment.

He would never have understood. A bittersweet ache filled her chest at the thought of him. Theirs had been a mating of opposites. Shane was conservative, quiet, upright. His feral nature had hidden deep beneath the surface, rarely breaking free of the man’s iron control. And she…she had always been untamed, wanton. Most at home here in the Wild with other Lynx. Shane’s discomfort with the feline side of himself meant he had eventually stopped coming to Wild. It was a time for rutting, and the only man she’d craved was him. So she’d stayed away as well. Stayed with him. Her mate. Perhaps she had compromised too much, but she had loved him deeply and been loved in return. What more could she have asked for than that? To her, it had seemed simple. And she had been so content, so whole. It was only now, years later, that she realized how much of herself she had lost. She had become one with another being when she had mated, turning away from herself and embracing a coexistence that she thought would last her entire life. A decade seemed so fleeting a time to be happy, a mere heartbeat in a lifetime that could only promise loneliness. Now she needed to find herself once more, learn to trust herself and her instincts again. The last two years had taught her that she was stronger than she’d ever guessed. She had survived. And now she had to learn live again. It was terrifying. Painful. Free. It confused her, the conflicting emotions that ricocheted through her. The agony. The unfettered ecstasy. And the sheer animalistic need that burned away everything else. During Wild, her past didn’t matter, and her future was held at bay. This moment, this heartbeat, was all-important. It consumed her the way the heat that coiled within her did. She reveled in it, discarding the concerns and guilt of the woman to embrace the Lynx. A low purr vibrated her vocal cords. Woman and feline in perfect union for the first time in years. Yes. This was what she had craved for so long. Not just the mate who completed her soul, but the togetherness with others of her kind, the shedding of human trappings as they acknowledged who and what they really were. Lynx. She picked up her pace, gliding alongside the river until it gave way to a short waterfall and a large pool. From her vantage point she could see the river ended farther down the mountainside, where it emptied into a wide lake. Lynx in groups of twos and threes were using the lake as a place to rut. A fine idea. Perhaps when she let the male catch her, they’d do the same. A shuddered rippled through her body, heat clenching her sex. Splashing in the pool below drew her attention. A man erupted from beneath the waterfall to stand chest-deep in the water. She lifted her muzzle to the air, sniffing delicately. A fine specimen of a male. Her senses told her he was unmated. Excellent. A low chuckle spilled from her as she shifted back to her human form. The fur retracted and her body remolded itself until she crouched naked on the boulder overlooking the pool. His amber gaze locked on her, and a smile made his teeth flash white against his bronze skin. He crooked a finger, beckoning her closer. She couldn’t resist the invitation. She didn’t want to. Another male in Lynx form appeared beside her, his silken fur brushing against her bare thigh. There was still no sign of the Lynx who’d hunted her. She looked to the man below, and saw his smile had only grown more wicked. She would have both of these males, then. The thought made her blood rush in her veins and her sex dampen in hot anticipation. Glancing at the Lynx beside her, she arched a brow. “Well, this should be

interesting.” His big body rumbled in a purr, and she sensed his imminent change into human form. She didn’t wait for him; she jumped, landing feetfirst in the pool. The chill water enveloped her, tightening her skin. A shocked gasp ripped from her when she broke the surface. “Jesus, that’s frigid.” “Let me warm you, then.” Strong arms caught her from behind, spinning her so they could both watch the man on the boulder above them leap gracefully into the deep pool. He erupted upward, water splattering her. He shoved back shaggy brown hair. His gaze roamed her face for a moment before he looked over her shoulder. “I’m Eric.” “Ryan.” The man behind her slid his hands under her thighs, pulling her legs up and open. The cold water swirled over her heated labia, and she clenched her teeth at the contrasting sensations. Her breath caught as Eric moved into the cradle of her thighs, his long fingers grasping her knees to guide them around his lean hips. She met his gaze, baring her teeth in a feral smile. “I’m Jenise. Fuck me, now.” Both men chuckled, their fingers moving along the slick curves of her body. The heat of their own big bodies made the chill of the water raise painful goose bumps on her flesh. Eric dipped his head, sucking one of her nipples deep into his mouth. She arched her torso high, pressing closer. Pleasure wound tightly within her, twisting with every flick of his tongue, every movement of his lips against her skin. Ryan’s fingers cupped her buttocks, slipping between them to swirl around her anus, to dip into her cunt. He filled her slowly, pumping his fingers into her slick sheath. The scent of their mingled desire heightened her senses until she could hear every ragged breath and pounding heartbeat. Her own. The men’s. The feline heat within her built higher, the desire almost more than she could bear. But she craved more—the fleeting surcease only orgasm could grant her. She rocked her hips back, attempting to take the thrusting digits deeper. Instead, he pulled away. The heat clawed at her control, made her hiss a dangerous warning. “Don’t tease.” “Never.” His finger pressed to her anus, working inside her ass until she moaned. The stretch was exquisite pain as he added a second finger to widen her and ready her for penetration. Fiery lust whipped through her, increasing the dampness in her core, tightening some muscles, loosening others. Eric’s mouth sucked and kissed a path to her other nipple, and he bit down lightly on the taut crest. Her body jolted at the sting, another hiss slipping from her throat. Her hand fisted in his shaggy hair and she whimpered, “Please. I want—” Ryan’s fingers slid from her anus, and she felt the head of his cock press against the puckered recess. Eric’s hands tightened on her knees as he, too, probed for entrance. Her moan turned to a feline scream when both men entered her together, working their dicks into her one slow inch at a time. Her fangs slid forward and her muscles shook as agony and ecstasy merged into one endless wave of feeling. She tightened her legs around Eric’s waist, opening herself wider, breathing through the pain. The three of them groaned when she was fully impaled. Her chest heaved with each short, panting breath. When they began to move, she thought she would die. Her eyes slid closed and she savored every sensation. The beads of sweat sliding down her skin to mingle with the flowing water, the endless penetration as the men worked themselves inside her at an alternating rhythm. Her pussy clenched tight

around Eric’s cock, and a low sob wrenched from her when Ryan thrust into her ass. Their movements gained speed and force, her hips surging like the tide. The feline within her reveled in the sweet appeasement of the burning heat that held her tight in its relentless grip. She reached over her shoulder, threaded her fingers through Ryan’s hair, and used her grip for leverage as she rocked back and forth between their pounding cocks. The water moving over her skin was a sensual caress, the cold no longer affecting her overheating body. The contrast was almost luxurious; it heightened both sensations. Her head fell back on Ryan’s shoulder, her body arching hard. When Eric bit her nipple again, his fangs scraped the tender flesh and shock made her eyes flare wide. And she was snared by the hot, dark gaze of an enormous naked Lynx. He lounged on the same rock she had perched on before she’d jumped into the pool. She knew his scent. It was him. The male who’d hunted her. He watched her, possessive heat in his eyes. He came no closer, but his fingers played over the long shaft of his cock, stroking it in time with the thrusting dicks that moved within her. Her breath caught, heat exploding through her. How she could be more turned on than she was right now, she wasn’t certain, but his gaze upon her, sliding over her, made her burn hotter than she’d ever been in her life. A whimper spilled from her throat. Spellbound, she couldn’t look away. The two cocks pistoned into her until she had to bite back a scream. The big Lynx watched her, a predatory smile parting his lips to reveal long fangs. Only her heightened vision made it possible for her to see him in the fading twilight, but it captured every erotic detail. The defined abs, sloping pecs, the long, hard cock. But it was his dark, fathomless gaze that held her. She felt it move over her like a caress, commanding her response. Her heart hammered, her muscles screamed as she moved…for him. It was madness. It was intoxicating. Some instinct flickered to life within her, something she should recognize, but she squelched it, shoved it away. Her instincts had betrayed her before. It was enough that she’d come to Wild and learned to embrace her feline side again. Her faith in herself had been broken when she saw how little of Jenise remained after Shane died. She’d rebuild it, but it took time. For now, the only instinct she was listening to was the one that said she needed to satisfy the heat that held her body in thrall. Ryan’s hips rolled against her, changing the angle of his thrusts. His lips closed over the cords of her neck, and he scored her sensitive flesh with sharp fangs. The never-ending penetration made her shudder as Eric’s dick pushed into her cunt in the space of a heartbeat and Ryan’s cock stretched her ass in the next. She couldn’t take it. She loved it. Low cries spilled from her throat as her excitement boiled over. Hot and cold tingles flashed over her skin, and her breath quickened to desperate little gasps. It was all too much, the male watching her, the two working her body…. She felt orgasm shimmering just beyond her reach. And then the white-hot pleasure broke over her, dragging her under like a riptide. Ryan and Eric moved faster, filling her with punishing speed until they slammed into her at once. Her mouth opened and a woman’s scream mingled with a Lynx’s shriek, both sides of her nature pushed beyond endurance. They froze, coming inside her in long jets of fluid. “Yes! Ryan, Eric…yes!” Her tight sheath contracted over and over again as she came, so hard her vision darkened around the edges. Still she couldn’t look away from the

big male’s dark gaze. His jaw clenched and she watched his fingers move faster, pumping his cock harder until he came with her. Her hand fisted in Eric’s hair, wishing it was her stalker’s dark locks. Her torso arched again when Eric bit the sensitive underside of her breast, and her pussy spasmed in a harsh aftershock of orgasm. She twisted under the lashes of ecstasy. The feline within her writhed, loving the males’ attention, which fed the dwindling heat. She closed her eyes and went limp in their arms, sobbing for air. Her muscles shook as they cooled, shivers breaking over her skin. Long moments passed before the rush of her heartbeat slowed in her ears, and her mind cleared of lust and heat. Ryan and Eric slid their cocks from her body, dragging a groan from all of them. She lay back, floating in the cold water. It tugged at her hair, swirling the pale brown strands around her shoulders. Her gaze went to the boulder above the pond, but the large male had disappeared. If disappointment spun through her, she dismissed it as a lost chance to rut again. But it was no great loss. There was always a willing male—or two—nearby during Wild. She rolled her shoulders as though settling a bit more comfortably in her own skin. Every moment that had passed during this week had helped her embrace a bit more of her inner nature. She needed that. It was one of the final steps into reclaiming herself. And it felt good, right. She wanted to be whole again, without reference to anyone else. Bobbing upright, she saw Eric stretch his arms over his head and yawn. “I think I’m going to take a little catnap before rejoining the festivities. Care to join me?” She shook her head and offered him a smile. “I’m going to swim for a while. Have fun.” He nodded, already wading toward the shore. “Maybe I’ll see you next year.” “Maybe.” But she doubted it. Who knew which Lynx one might play with during Wild? They came from all over the continent to this one location each year. Canadian, American…even a few Eurasian Lynx would gather here. It was unlikely she’d ever see either of these men again. The thought didn’t bother her. Neither of them was her mate, after all. They were here for the same reason she was—to fuck others of their kind with shameless abandon. She glanced at Ryan, only to see his body go rigid and his gaze sharpen as he stared intently at the tree line beyond the pool’s rocky bank. Tilting her head, she followed the direction of his gaze. The scent of another female came to her. Young, ripe with heat. Irresistible to a male in his prime. Jenise didn’t bother to hide her grin when he looked over at her. Nodding toward the other female slinking through the dense underbrush, she winked. “Don’t let me stop you.” “Enjoy Wild.” And then he was gone, dipping down to skim beneath the surface of the water. “Always.” She wondered for a moment if the young woman knew she was being hunted. Perhaps. In the end, it didn’t matter. The result would be the same. That was Wild. Propelling herself through the pool, Jenise clambered onto the huge rocks beneath the waterfall. The icy water splattered against her, and she shivered when the wind hit her flesh. Night had fallen since she’d entered the pool, and with it came frigid temperatures. She would change into her feline form for warmth when she left the water. Leaning her head back, she let the cold liquid rush over her body and rinse away the scents of her two lovers. Crashing in the distant underbrush brought her head up. She expected to see Ryan and the young female, but instead saw a couple several years older emerge from the forest.

The woman tucked a lock of sandy-blonde hair behind her ear as she backed away from the enormous man. “Marra.” His bass voice growled so low only Jenise’s sensitive feline hearing could discern the word over the rush of wind and water. Marra danced on her toes just outside his reach. In a move almost too quick to follow, his hand snapped out, caught her wrist and flipped her over his broad shoulder. She laughed and squealed in the same breath. “Saxon!” The two were obviously mated, the bond between them a powerful thing to witness. A harsh pang hit Jenise’s chest, and she turned her face away from their private tryst. The relentless loneliness she’d known for the past two years pierced her soul. The other woman’s throaty chuckle spilled forth, and Jenise heard Saxon carry his mate into the trees. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes to keep the water out and let the roar of it sooth her. It drowned out the noises of the surrounding forest, the screeching night owls, the chirp of frogs…the screams of rutting Lynx. “Are you going to stay in there all night, or do I have to come up there and get you?” a sexy masculine voice called from the pool below her. She jerked upright, startling so badly that she lost her footing on the slick boulders and crashed into the deep water. Sucking in a breath, she choked on the freezing liquid. Panic closed in around her and she clawed for the surface. Dark spots swam before her vision as her legs scissored in the water. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t breathe. A muscular arm wrapped around her, propelling her upward until her head broke through. Sputtering water, she clung to broad shoulders and wound her legs tight around a lean waist. She buried her face against his neck and just focused on pulling in oxygen. Her hair streamed into her eyes and frigid beads of moisture trailed down her skin as he waded out of the pool. He held her gently, his hand stroking up and down her back while she coughed and wheezed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His voice was a deep, soothing rumble. “I’m Daniel. What’s your name?” “Jenise.” She leaned back a little to look at him. His brows drew together in a frown, concern darkening his gaze as he searched her face. It hit her then. The instinct she’d denied earlier would no longer be ignored. It struck her squarely in the solar plexus, squeezing out what little air was left in her lungs. Mate. Oh, God, help her. Mate. Her claws dug into his flesh, raking down his chest as she scrambled to get away. He set her on her feet and dropped his hands. He lifted a placating palm when she hissed at him and skittered back. His frown deepened from concern to confusion. “What’s wrong, my mate?” She shook her head wildly, the damp strands of her hair whipping across her cheeks. “Don’t call me that!” He shoved a hand through his ebony curls and released a breath. “But it’s the truth. You’ve obviously sensed it, Jenise.” The way he said her name made it sound as though he savored the taste of it on his tongue. She shivered, crossing her arms over her bare breasts to cover the way his nearness made her nipples harden. Her reaction was more intense than when he’d watched her fuck Eric and Ryan.

His gaze locked on the bite mark that scored her collarbone. Shane’s mark. Lifting his fingers, Daniel brushed their very tips over it. She flinched away and shuddered as pain and pleasure hit her simultaneously. “I—I was mated before. He died.” “When?” She swallowed hard, forcing the words out. “Two years ago.” “I’m sorry for your loss.” Daniel stepped closer, and her breathing hitched. His lips brushed over the mark in a soft kiss before moving to her earlobe. His breath whispered over her damp skin, and she couldn’t hold back a shiver. His deep voice rumbled in her ear. “But I’m happy for my gain. My mate. Jenise.” Fire exploded in her veins, her cunt contracting at just the words on his lips. His mouth closed over the sensitive skin at the base of her neck. His touch, his kiss, made wetness gather in her sex. Dragging in a steadying breath was no help; it only made his scent curl into her nostrils like sultry, seductive perfume. She swayed toward him, her breasts brushing against the rough silk of his chest. Her breath caught and heady pleasure coiled through her. Every instinct inside made her want to lose herself in the sensation, the bonding, the endless amazing sex that only a mate could give a woman. A small choking sound wrenched from her throat as she twisted away from him. She couldn’t sacrifice herself again; she wasn’t the girl she once was. She was stronger than that. Her instincts had to be wrong, but even that knowledge couldn’t keep the passion at bay. She so badly wanted him to fuck her. She needed it. Heat still held her body tight, grinding through her in a way it only could at Wild. She scrabbled backward up the shore, her heart pounding with a mix of terror and excitement. A wicked smile curved his lips. He balanced on the balls of his feet, tensing to see what she would do, which direction she would go. The hot anticipation in his eyes fed the sexual heat mounting in her body, twisting tight within her. Spinning on her toes, she darted away. Her instincts reveled in the chase. The hunt. The age-old mating ritual. The sound of her harsh breath echoed in her ears; the pounding of her heart was a distant roar. She crashed through the brush, going for speed over stealth. Leaping over a log, she doubled back on her own path and ran straight for the waterfall. The scent of water drew her forward. He was so close behind her at times she could feel the heat of his body. She sensed he held back, allowing her escape to let the chase go on, ratcheting the anticipation up to a screaming pitch. She could see the light coming through the thinning trees as she neared the waterfall. Just before she reached it, Daniel’s arm snapped around her waist and lifted her off her feet. Her back hit the rough bark of a tree, and she automatically wrapped her legs around his waist for balance. Her breasts crushed against his chest and the crisp hair at his groin brushed between her thighs. His cock was hard, the tip pressed to her sex, but not entering. Need streaked through her. She’d never wanted anything the way she wanted him now. “Daniel.” “That was fun.” His chest expanded with each bellowing breath, and his fangs were fully extended. His fingers flexed on her hips, the tips of his claws sharp and deadly against her skin. The feral side of his nature shone from his eyes, while a smile curved his lips. He was enjoying this, the hunt for his mate. This was a man who embraced the Lynx within him. So different from her first mate.

She shoved that thought away. No. She would not accept this. But her body was held open by his muscular thighs, pinned against the tree. Still he didn’t slide his cock into her sheath. She couldn’t escape him, but he didn’t push her. He stroked the backs of his knuckles over her cheekbone, retracting his claws as he tangled his fingers in her hair. Pulling her head up, he claimed her lips with his and plunged his tongue into her mouth. The possessive act was harsh and animalistic, calling to the Lynx inside her as they warred for control of the kiss. The head of his cock rubbed against her slick labia, making her burn for him and only him. She bit him, and he jerked his head back with a hiss. A low chuckle moved her belly against his and she licked the taste of him from her lips. His sharp gaze followed the movement, his pupils dilating. The intensity of her need for him shook her to the core. She was so hot, so wet and ready. She whimpered, relaxing the grip of her thighs until she sank down on his dick. The stretch was exquisite; he was so big. A purr soughed from her throat as her muscles clasped him tight. He slid from her until just the bulbous crest of his cock nestled inside her pussy, then he thrust into her. Hard. Her body jolted with each slow, hard push and she couldn’t hold back a moan. The tree was rough against her skin, but she was beyond caring. She needed this too much. “Faster, Daniel.” She clenched her cunt around his cock every time he pulled out of her, stroking him as he stroked her. A laugh tripped over a groan, but he did exactly as she demanded. His thrusts picked up speed and force, and his chest heaved with each harsh breath. “Anything for you. Everything for you. My mate.” She raked her claws down his back, digging them deep enough to leave marks. His breath hissed out, but the scent of his arousal increased. He slammed inside her, his pace brutal and unforgiving. Almost rough. Just the way she liked it, the way Shane had never given it to her. The Lynx inside her threatened to take control, a feline scream ripping from her throat. Daniel’s roar echoed her own as their gazes clashed. A flush of lust ran under his tanned skin, the flesh pulling tight across his sharp cheekbones. He looked savage, wild, and it called to the cat within her. Yes. Woman and Lynx both craved Daniel’s possession. Gooseflesh rippled down her limbs, and her nipples tightened as they moved against his chest with each thrust of his long, hard cock. Heat raged within her, whipping into an inferno she couldn’t control. The world melted away until there was nothing but ecstasy and the pressure that coiled tight in her belly. “Daniel, I…Daniel!” “Jenise,” he growled, his fangs gleaming white in the dappled moonlight. She grabbed handfuls of his hair, pulling his mouth up to kiss her. It was brutal, their mouths attacking each other. They sucked and licked and bit, the Lynx breaking free of fetters. The coppery taste of blood spilled over her tongue, but she didn’t know if it was his or hers, and she didn’t care. His cock pumped into her, and orgasm built so fast she couldn’t have stopped it if she’d wanted to. Her body shook with the force of it, her muscles fisting around that plunging dick. It crashed into her, shattering her into a million pieces. Light burst behind her eyelids and she ripped her mouth from his to scream as the fiery power of it made her explode. Still he moved, dragging out every sensation until she sobbed in ecstasy. Her vaginal walls closed on his cock, milking his length as he came inside her. A groan rumbled up from deep within him, the noise drowned out by the soft sounds of the mountain night. Her heart raced in her chest, and long, long minutes passed before its beating

slowed and her breathing steadied. He nuzzled the crook of her neck and kissed her there softly. The scent of him filled her lungs, embedding in her psyche, and she knew she’d never forget it. That was how it was with mates. How it had been with Shane. She’d loved him so much…and if she let her instincts guide her, she would love Daniel just as much. All the pieces of her soul were falling into place so cleanly, so smoothly, that she couldn’t stop herself from giving voice to a fear that came from that deep, vulnerable place she always tried to hide. “What if I lose you, too?” What if you stifle me, too? God help her. This wasn’t how a Lynx should greet a mate. But the woman had come too far, grown within herself too much, to give that independence up again so easily. Guilt ripped through her once more, but for a different reason. Not all Lynx found a mate, and she’d been blessed with a second one. And she fought accepting him, accepting the inevitable…. A mate. Joy rocked through her as her instincts sang once more. But uncertainty followed on its heels. So many conflicting emotions, she didn’t know how to take it all in. “Loss is part of life. You’ve lost a mate, so you know that, but I doubt that makes it easier.” His lips brushed her throat as he spoke, sending a frisson of heat over her skin. His tone was deep and soft with understanding. “We hold on as tight as we can for as long as we can. We laugh. We love. We accept that this might be the last time. We live. What else can we do?” He cradled her in his arms, turned until his back was to the tree, and sank down. He settled her so she straddled his heavy thighs, and then leaned his shoulders against the tree trunk, shifting to get comfortable. He propped a hand behind his head, his dark gaze hooded as he looked at her. His cock rose to press insistently against her stomach. His free palm lifted to cup her breast, his thumb chafing the crest until it beaded tight. A little grin quirked the corner of his mouth. “You’re so beautiful. You took my breath away the moment I saw you and put a face to the mate I’d been tracking.” “You knew?” She blinked at him, confusion rolling through her. An ebony eyebrow rose and he tilted his head. “Yes.” “Then why did you just watch me fuck those men?” His hands bracketed her hips, lifting her until the head of his dick slid into her cunt. “You looked like you were having fun. Besides, I thought you should enjoy your last time with another Lynx.” Bracing her hands on his shoulders, she took him deeper, and loved the sound of his groan when he was embedded to the hilt. She swallowed, trying to hold on to the thread of the conversation as passion threatened to rob her of coherency. “You weren’t jealous?” “Then? No. I was enjoying the show. There’s nothing more beautiful than a woman at her most wanton.” A smile curled his lips, wildness that edged toward feral flashing in the midnight depths of his eyes. His tongue licked down an extended fang as that dark gaze slid over her nudity. “Now that I’ve had a taste? I’d kill any man who tried to touch you.” She should have been terrified. It was something her last mate would have said. Instead, she could only imagine how she’d feel watching Daniel with another woman. An angry hiss vibrated in her chest, clawing for escape. She had to admire his restraint for not ripping her away from her lovers. It took a male who truly understood the feline needs of their kind. Shane hadn’t. Daniel did. Such different men. But the cravings within her were much the same, luring her like a Lorelei. Mate, some voice whispered deep within her. Mate.

She sipped kisses along his collarbone, and the muscles in her thighs tensed as she lifted and lowered herself on his cock. His tongue trailed along the top of her shoulder, then he blew a stream of breath to cool the damp skin. Goose bumps rose again on her flesh and she shuddered, working her hips at a feverish speed. “I need you forever. My mate.” And then his fangs sank into her shoulder, sucking at the bite mark until her mouth opened in a silent scream. She catapulted into orgasm, her body moving of its own accord to push her faster and further than she’d ever been before. Her throat burned with every sobbing breath and her pussy contracted around his cock over and over and over again until she thought it would never end. She never wanted it to end. Forever. Need you. Forever. My mate. Her instincts clamored an insistent agreement, her fangs extending as the urge to bite him, claim him, slammed into her. Her reflex was to suppress those needs, but she hesitated as realization slid through her. This. This was the last step in reclaiming her sense of self. Trusting her instincts. Trusting herself not to lose Jenise in a mingling of lives, of souls. It wasn’t about Daniel. It was about her. Could she drop the defenses she’d shored up for so long to please Shane…and then to protect herself from herself? Could she step outside those walls and embrace all that she was, all that she could be if she stopped fearing her own nature? She wanted to so much, wanted to be whole, wanted to be free. Her past had shaped her, molded her into who she was now, but it was her own choices that dictated who she would become. And now she faced the most terrifying choice of all. Trust her instincts and embrace herself and her flaws, or run away again. Her instincts said Daniel was her mate. And she believed. A sob caught in her throat as an emotion so sweet it was painful sliced through her resistance. Acceptance. Peace. Joy. Everything a woman should feel when she found a mate. It was so good, so hot, so sweet, it brought tears to her eyes. She’d never thought she would have this again. She was whole without Daniel, but her life with him would be richer and deeper. He would never suppress her instincts. She sensed that the wildness within him matched her own. His cock still nestled hot and hard in her pussy, and he made soothing noises as he rubbed her back. She loved the feel of his fingers on her flesh; the cat liked to be stroked. Shudders racked her body in the aftermath of orgasm, of his claiming. “Are you all right, Jenise?” She nodded, resting her sweat-dampened forehead on his broad shoulder. Flicking her tongue out, she tasted him, the flavor filling her mouth. A low purr rumbled in his chest. His hands slipped down to cup her backside, his fingers curving until one of them circled her anus. Her breath seized in her lungs as the digit burrowed into her ass, stroking the head of his cock through the thin wall that separated the two. Desire rose faster than she would have dreamed, need making her squirm, making her move on his dick. Yes. This was exactly where she wanted to be. Every piece had fallen into place. “Scream for me, Jenise.” He added another finger to pump into her ass in time with his thrusts into her pussy. “Go wild for me.” The last barrier around her soul gave way, that last scrap of control she’d spent so many years building for Shane crumbling to nothingness. A fierce, feline scream ripped from her throat. She turned her head, sinking her fangs deep into Daniel’s flesh. He jerked

against her, hammering into her cunt until she felt him freeze, until he jetted come deep inside her. Her claws dug into the flexing muscles of his shoulders. Orgasm flashed through her, making her implode as her tight sheath spasmed on his cock and fingers. “Yes, Jenise!” He groaned, his free hand biting into her hip along with the pleasure-pain of his claws raking her flesh. “Mate. Mine. Jenise.” “Mate,” she breathed. “My mate.” She arched into him, her head falling back. Closing her eyes to savor the moment, she felt a tear spill down her cheek. This was it. This was the connection she’d always craved. A mate who matched her on every level—human heart and feral soul. That acceptance was more than she had ever expected from her mate. It was everything she’d ever wanted, more than she could have imagined. With him, she could embrace each side of her nature, be who and what she truly was. With him. This was Wild. And now, so was she. She was whole. Herself. Wanton. Wild.

Want to experience more of the Wild?

Don’t miss Wild by Crystal Jordan, available now from Spice Briefs wherever ebooks are sold.

Marra’s body burned with desire. It was Wild time, the first week of spring, when Lynx from all over North America gathered in the Sierra Nevada foothills to mate. The time when every Lynx female went into heat. But Wild is bittersweet for Marra. She’s past the age when most Lynx find their mate. She only comes to Wild for sex and always leaves as she came: alone. Yet this year is different. A new male Lynx has come to Wild, a foreigner who will claim her in ways she only imagined…

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ISBN: 978-1-4268-7889-3 Wanton Copyright © 2011 by Crystal Jordan All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher. All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author

and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries. [http://www.Harlequin.com] www.Harlequin.com