“Timur …” Her voice held despair.
“I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere. She needs out. You have to let her out.”
“I hurt already. I don’t see how.”
“Slide to the floor and call to her. She’s close because Temnyy is right on the surface. Look at my arms, Ashe.” He held them out on either side of her.
She’d been concentrating on the heavy erection inside of her. She made herself concentrate on lifting her head enough to look at his arms. They were contorting. Something clearly moved beneath the surface, demanding to get out.
“I’m pulling out of you now, and it’s going to sting a little.” He was careful, sliding his cock out of her.
She felt the sharp pain, almost as if the tip of a tack had dragged across the walls of her sheath and then over her clit. She heard herself cry out and then she was empty, and he was rolling away from her, going to the floor beside the bed.
She spun off the bed, onto the floor, her muscles contorting. Where before, it hurt and she’d been terrified, now every sensation was sexual. She was practically writhing on the floor, rubbing her body along the bed and crawling toward Timur on her hands and knees. She felt that need inside her building and building until it was so raw and urgent she was on him, her mouth trailing up his thigh, tongue licking at him, stroking demands of him all the way to his cock.
She saw her arms and legs change, felt thick fur slide over her skin and when she turned her attention back to Timur, he was all leopard. For a moment, her heart nearly stopped. Those eyes were on her, a killer blue, lost in a sea of black rosettes, but staring at her with the focused, unblinking gaze of a pure predator.
He was beautiful and all hers. Godiva brushed along his side, rubbing her fur along his. He answered by rubbing his muzzle all over hers and then his chin down her body. Timur had left the window open and Temnyy turned and padded toward it, looking back at Godiva.
The thought of freedom was too hard to resist. Godiva was interested in enticing her mate, while Ashe was mostly interested in running. Fast. Hard. Long. Wearing herself out. She was exhausted and yet she wasn’t. She needed more, and she wanted Godiva to have her turn with Temnyy. Maybe, just maybe, that would help.
Godiva landed on the ground outside and lifted her head to scent the world around her. Ahead and just a little to the right were the vineyards. Acres of grapes. To the left was the grove of trees Antonio Arnotto’s family had planted. Antonio had added to that thick paradise for leopards. Branches formed unique highways for the leopards to travel from tree to tree without ever touching the ground.
Temnyy didn’t take to those tempting branches. He chose to run along the ground. Godiva followed him into the coolness under the canopies of the trees. Once in the darker and more protected area, Temnyy paused to allow her to take the lead, which she did without hesitation. She had never been there before and took her time exploring. She also claimed every inch of the territory she could find.
Another female had been there before her. She didn’t like that and scent-marked over her offending smell. Godiva made certain that Temnyy knew another male had also claimed this territory. He reacted as expected, roaring his rage and promising death to any challenger. Godiva had to be satisfied knowing he would fight for the privilege of having her as his mate.
She ran a few steps toward the small stream that rushed on a winding course through the grove and then she crouched, inviting Temnyy close. The moment he came near, she was up, slapping at leaves and sending them at him in a whirling eddy of debris. She ran toward the stream, ignoring the large fenced-in tea garden where her rival female’s scent was strongest.
The night was dazzling seen through a leopard’s eyes and smelled through the cat’s olfactory senses. The moon appeared to be much brighter, the stars like diamonds shining overhead. Moonbeams danced across fallen leaves and spotlighted the cicadas holding their nightly concert.
In spite of the beauty surrounding her, Godiva’s attention was mainly on Temnyy as he paced alongside or just behind her. He lifted his head continually and sent out sawing challenges to any other male in the vicinity. He rubbed his scent over Godiva’s making certain that any cat coming across their trail would know she belonged to him.
Godiva pranced and preened and occasionally crouched seductively in front of Temnyy. He was alert but very cautious when he came close. Each time he approached, she let him get closer before she snarled and swiped her paw.