She was right. She didn’t like the answer. “Damn.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I did what I thought was best.”

She suppressed a growl. If he’d spoken to her before leaving she could have corrected that little assumption, but it was too late now. “Call me.”

“I will. I promise.”

January

“Shhh. Not a sound. Do you understand me?”

She nodded, her eyes lowered submissively as she knelt before him.

“Good girl.” Gabe reached out and ran his hands over Sarah’s soft, short hair lightly enough to cause a shudder to run through her. He smiled and tilted her chin up, loving the wary heat in her deep brown eyes. “You’re going to do everything I tell you to do. Aren’t you?”

One brow rose in mild challenge before a sassy smile crossed her full, pouty lips. He growled and tapped one finger to his thigh, pleased when she once again lowered her eyes. Her smile changed, becoming mysterious and feminine. It intrigued him. Everything about her intrigued him.

“Put your hands behind your back.”

She complied slowly. Her lashes fluttered and her breath quickened. They’d done this before. She knew what it was he wanted. He slipped his cock out of his uniform pants, stroking it slowly. A groan nearly escaped his lips when she licked her own, moistening them and making them gleam in the candlelight. He painted her lips with the tip of his cock, the drop of pre-come glistening there like gloss. “Open up.”

She opened her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick just the tip of his cock. He put his hand on the back of her head, holding her steady as he fed her his dick. He began fucking her mouth, losing some of his tight control and groaning at the wet heat. “That’s it, baby.” She choked a bit and he backed off a little, proud of her for holding steady despite it.

He was close, so close, but he didn’t want to come in her mouth. Not tonight. Tonight he wanted that sweet, hot pussy wrapped around him, pulling his orgasm out of him.

He withdrew from her mouth, stroking her hair as she pouted up at him. “Stand up.” She complied, lowering her eyes once more, her hands still behind her back. “Lie down on the bed.”

She looked up at him, startled. He lifted his chin, pointing to the big, dark bed right behind her.

He didn’t understand how she could have missed it. It dominated the room they were in.

She crawled onto the bed on all fours, giving him an amazing view of that incredible ass of hers.

He halted her, hands on her hips, and nipped one of her white globes, loving the shiver that ran through her. He slapped her lightly on the ass, smiling wickedly as a pink mark rose up. “Middle of the bed, on your back.”

She moved the way he directed, settling down with a final shimmy that caused her breasts to dance.

“Spread your arms and legs.” She bit her lip but complied, slowly showing him the liquid heat between her thighs.

He reached down and tied each one of her limbs, careful to make sure none of the bindings were too tight on her slender frame. When he was done, he looked at her, knowing exactly what the feral look on his face would do to her.

He watched as she swallowed nervously. She tugged at the restraints, testing them.

He began a slow exploration of her body, stroking her soft flesh until goose bumps rose on her skin. He licked at her pert nipples, watching her squirm under him. When he sucked her clit into his mouth she bucked against him. She was lucky he hadn’t told her to hold still, or that would have earned her a spanking.

He could hear her gasping for breath and he knew she was close to coming. He slid up her body, thrusting inside her so hard she whimpered.

He grinned. “That’s two.”

Her golden eyes went wide. It was the hottest fucking thing he’d ever seen, watching her dark eyes turn tawny. She always managed to hold off the change until he was fucking her, letting him watch it happen while he was deep inside her body. He was proud at the measure of control it took to keep the Puma at bay for that long, while at the same time he was desperate to break it.

“Keep your eyes open.” Her lids drooped in a sensuous daze but didn’t close as he pounded into her. She kept her gaze locked on his, her arms and legs struggling futilely against the bonds he had her in. He reached down, stroking her clit with his thumb, snarling in triumph as she screeched. He leaned over her, whispering in her ear. “That’s three.” Her body bowed up, quivering at the force of her orgasm.

She nipped his earlobe as her body settled back onto the mattress and he came, the pleasure so intense it robbed him of breath. He collapsed on top of her, his cheek resting against hers, his whiskers abrading her sleek skin.

One salty tear wound down her cheek to fall against his. “Where are you?”

He lifted his head. Sorrow filled her face, his heart nearly ripping in two at the sight. “Sarah.

Baby.”

Gabe woke up sweating and horny as all hell. He started to whip the sleeping bag open but remembered in time that he was in a tent in the middle of a snowy field. Fuck. If it wasn’t for the fact that so far he loved what he was doing, this job would suck. Part of him wished he’d told James to fuck off and claimed Sarah the way he’d wanted to. The other part knew James was probably right, that it would have been ten times worse to taste Sarah and leave her behind.

He punched his pillow and prayed he’d be able to sleep without any more dreams. James snored beside him, loud enough to rattle the insulated cloth. If I get back to sleep at all.

After about twenty minutes he gave up. Stripping quickly, he unzipped the tent and slipped out into the night. It was fucking cold, but it wouldn’t be for much longer. Shivering, he zipped the tent back up and made sure it was secure before he shifted and allowed his Puma out to run.

His paws dug into the snow, the cold air rushing past his whiskers. It felt glorious to let his Puma out without the presence of the Bear who was training him. He’d have to go back all too soon, but for now he’d allow the night air to wash the dreams of his Sarah away.

Chapter Two

March

Gabe shivered and pulled off his parka. Damn, this last hunting lesson had been harsh. He wasn’t certain he’d ever feel his toes again. “I’m going to call Max, let him know how things are going.”

James waved, hanging up his cowboy hat and heading towards the kitchen of his three-bedroom cabin.

He’d promised Gabe a nice thick stew in return for learning snow tracking.