The Felidae 1: Laithe’s Pride Read online

  “I don’t know, Morgan. I think I like the look of that even better.”

  Rowan stared up at the shapes crowding into her small living room, appearing to suck up every available space.

  Terrified, she locked eyes on the figure who stood at the front of the group. When he stepped into the light, all she could see at first was how big he was. And then she gasped when his body came fully into view.

  He wasn’t human. He couldn’t be human. He had to be something else. Who the hell was this guy? She tensed, staring up at him, praying that he wasn’t going to hurt her.

  Before she could panic further, he leapt the distance between them, landing crouched between her legs, pressing something against her temple.

  Rowan stared up at him, shocked, frozen when her vision started to fade. She couldn’t focus on anything, and her muscles refused to cooperate when she tried to move. Then everything went black.

  * * *

  Rowan opened her eyes, blinking in the dim light. What the hell?

  Slowly stretching out her limbs, careful not to jar her aching head, she tried to remember what she could have possibly done to feel so awful this morning.

  She turned over, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. She was definitely not in her bedroom. The bed she was lying on was incredibly firm with just a hint of softness, but what took her aback was the size of it. Looking over her shoulder she could see that she was roughly in the middle of it, but Rowan bet that if she stretched out both arms she wouldn’t come close to touching the edges.

  She was covered by a light blanket, black in color but with a slight sheen that reminded her of an oil spill. When she moved, the dim light reflected off it, bringing up more colors to the surface. The rest of the room was devoid of any furniture, but the walls… the walls made her feel like she was in the middle of the Serengeti.

  “Don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic. Okay, you just need to figure out where you are, Rowan,” she mumbled.

  There was a mural on all four walls that crept up to splash across the ceiling, almost like a holograph. She could swear she saw the grass moving as if blowing in an invisible wind. Short trees were set in the grass at intervals and the ceiling was a brilliant blue with thin, wispy clouds blocking out a yellowish light.

  Rowan slid out of the bed and touched one of the walls. The surface was completely smooth. So it is like a holograph. Weird.

  As she wandered around the room with one hand on the ever-changing walls, Rowan realized she could hear something coming from outside the room. A loud chuffing sound, almost like someone was sawing through a very rough piece of wood.

  Backing up, she tried to remember where she’d heard that sound before. It was on some nature channel, talking about the Big Five animals in Africa. The fiercest and most deadly animals that men hunted on safari -- elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards. There was footage of a leopard making that noise, and ever since she’d watched the lions and leopards, she’d been fascinated with learning more about them.

  Which made her think of those… things from last night.

  “What exactly happened last night? I was doing yoga, and then… those men came in. They were men, weren’t they? What the hell else could they be?”

  Everything was out of focus. Her head felt like it was lined in cotton balls.

  “One of them did something to me, didn’t he?” She couldn’t quite remember what happened. The night’s events played out in her mind, fuzzy like a bad copy of an old VHS tape. “They… they weren’t human. I don’t think they were human.” Oh, God, were they real?

  “I’m in a room somewhere. So am I going to act like some stupid chit that I’d make fun of in movies and try to leave, or do I stay put?” she mused.

  A moment later she realized her decision was about to be taken out of her hands when a whoosh sounded at her back.

  Turning, Rowan saw one of the trees in the holograph shimmer before a door suddenly appeared in its place. Sliding into the wall beside it, the door opened for a massive beast who stalked through the space into the room with her. It was the man from last night.

  He was unlike anything she’d ever seen before. Standing head and shoulders above her, he looked close to seven feet tall. His entire body was covered in short, tawny hair. A thick, chocolate brown mane flared out around his head and over his shoulders before trailing a thick line down his chest. The line of dark hair ended at his belly, and Rowan quickly looked away before sliding her eyes back to glance between his legs. Blushing at the fact that she was eyeing up some stranger’s package, she darted her gaze upward.

  His body was long and stocky. His legs were incredibly broad, the muscles bulging in them even as he stood still. A thick tail swung with a slow swish behind his legs, the tufted end resting on the floor between the heavy pads of his feet. Rowan moved her gaze up his long length, stopping to run her eyes over his thick powerful arms and hands -- paws? -- that looked more like human hands than the animal he resembled. His fingers were long and tipped with short, black nails.

  His head reminded her of a cat’s. His amber eyes were set back amidst the fur on his face. His nose was wide and topped off by a spot of pink. The fur around his muzzle lightened, making it look like he had a white beard. His long, thin whiskers twitched before he advanced into the room.

  He moved at a snail’s pace, stepping carefully when he neared her. Almost as if he was afraid of scaring her. Rowan knew she should be terrified, but she was so fascinated by him she was frozen in place.

  “Forgive me, Nawra. I did not have any choice but to stun you. I was afraid the journey back to our ship would have been a poor one for you and I did not want you to be sick.”

  Rowan stared up at the talking cat man. He can talk? She didn’t realize she’d said the words out loud until he answered her.

  “Of course I can talk, Nawra. Are you feeling any effects from the stun?”

  “You mean besides the fact that I’m standing in a room that can’t possibly exist, talking to a cat? No, I think I’m just hunky dory, thanks. Wait, how is it possible that I can understand you. What, you talking cat people actually speak English?”

  “We all have translators inserted into our heads when we are young, so we can communicate with any other species we encounter in our travels. It allows us to speak your language to you.” He paused. His tail started to jerk, swinging back and forth while he drew closer to her. “We tried to get you out as soon as we could. You must believe me.”

  The look he gave her was so beseeching she felt her heart turn over once before settling back in her chest. She couldn’t figure out how she was able to discern any expression amongst all that hair. The only thing she could see was his eyes, but -- wait a minute -- his eyes… those eyes…

  “You… I… I know you…” Rowan stepped closer to the giant, lifting a trembling hand to place it against the fur on his face. Looking into his deep, amber eyes, she felt an unbelievable pull toward him. She was compelled to move closer to him, which was utterly crazy! She was positive she’d never met him before.

  He remained silent, unmoving, while she ran a slow hand down his face. Reaching up again, she placed her fingers against the fine, silky hairs covering his nose. When she ran a thumb down his nose, he drew in a deep breath, letting it out with a rumbling purr. His ears swiveled toward her as he pushed into her touch.

  Rowan giggled at the chuffing sound coming from his barrel chest. It wasn’t at all like a cat’s purr. It was louder, but he only purred when he exhaled, making her hand tingle from the force of the vibration.

  Moving her other hand up, Rowan fisted it in his mane, feeling how soft the hair was. She wove her fingers through it, reaching in to cup the back of his head when he leaned down to allow her room to touch him. A curious melting in her stomach alerted her to the fact that she found the silky threads to be incredibly erotic to the touch. This can’t be happening. He wasn’t even human. Yet she couldn’t catch her breath when he rubbed hi
s head against her hand.

  Rowan couldn’t figure out if this was actually happening or if it was just a dream, but if it was a dream, then no harm could come to her. If it was reality, then there wasn’t much she could do anyway. She could only hope that he wouldn’t hurt her. But for some reason, she didn’t fear him. Looking into his eyes, a switch flipped somewhere in her mind and she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

  “I would never hurt you, Nawra. You must believe that.”

  “What does that mean? That word you keep calling me. Wait, how did you know that was what I was thinking about?”

  He pushed his face into her palm again, batting his head against the hand that had stopped moving.

  “Your face is incredibly expressive, Nawra. It is very easy to tell what thoughts are running through your head.” He shifted his eyes down while he spoke. Somehow, the words didn’t quite ring true, but she shook off the feeling that he was hiding something more.

  “The nawra flower grows in the fields by my home. They are beautiful and possess the most wonderful scent. When you walk among the grasslands the little nawra flowers are hidden until you press against them. Then they release their fragrance and bewitch you with their smell.”

  “Oh.” Rowan couldn’t breathe when she looked up at his face. Her heart pounded in her chest.

  “May I touch you?” The question was accompanied by another hard press of his head into her hands.

  “O-okay,” she whispered.

  He crowded her backward until her thighs hit the edge of the bed. Lifting both her arms, he methodically raised them, keeping his gaze on her face. When he pulled her into his body, she gasped at his strength. His entire body was corded with muscle. It was like hugging a wall. Her nipples tightened when they came into contact with the soft fur covering his chest. Her pussy spasmed, sending a wet, heated ache between her thighs.

  He growled, swinging her over to lie on her back. Rowan gasped as he released one nail and ran it deliberately down the middle of her shirt. The plum-colored cotton parted like water, revealing her body to his gaze.

  “I have waited a lifetime for you, Nawra.” He stopped, laying his head against the breast that was revealed to him. “I almost can’t believe that you are actually here with me.”

  She couldn’t believe that this was happening to her. He wasn’t human, but she was so turned on her pussy ached. She needed him. She needed him to fill her or she might go crazy from the pressure. Although, she was very likely already on the road to crazy-ville. He was a cat, for Christ sake!

  “Who are you?” she asked, breathless.

  “My name is Laithe and I am one of the pride leaders of the Felidae. I am your mate, little flower, and you are mine.”

  “The dream, it was you in my dream. I remember your eyes.”

  “Yes, it was the only way that I could connect to you.” He pushed up, levering over her, holding himself with both arms. “I tried to get to you in time. I know I failed you, but I swear nothing will ever harm you again.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Rowan asked, irritated. She shoved hard against his chest to give her more room to move. She didn’t want to have this conversation flat on her back.

  He didn’t even budge. “The torture. They were doing something terrible to you in your mouth. I could feel your pain.”

  “The what? Oh, God, you mean my dentist appointment? Well, I agree that it’s a form of torture, but, no, that wasn’t anything bad. It was normal. Heck, I have that done a few times a year.” She paused before continuing, smiling at the incredulous look on his face at her declaration. “I should probably stop eating so much candy, but really, I swear it’s because I grind my teeth when I sleep. Are you telling me that you don’t know what a dentist does? I mean, everyone goes to the dentist to get their teeth cleaned.”

  “You mean you actually volunteered for that?” If his face became any more surprised, she might just burst into laughter. “You will never do that again. Is that clear?”

  “Ummm, that didn’t really sound like a question.”

  “It wasn’t a question. I am telling you that you are never to do that again.”

  Rowan opened her mouth to argue with him that there was no way in hell he was going to tell her what to do, when the breath was stolen right from her.

  He leaned in, capturing her mouth with his own. As he ran his hands up her sides, he tore off the rest of her shirt, leaving her completely bare from the waist up. Sliding his mouth along hers, he bit down on her lip before moving over her jaw and down her neck. Her skin tingled. His lips brushing against her sent shivers of heat down her spine. She gasped, arching into him. She’d never been aroused this quickly before, and frankly, it was a little terrifying.

  The mane around his head brushed against her skin, adding another layer of sensation. She squirmed, desperately trying to ease the growing ache in her pussy. It was like lying on a fur rug, feeling it caress her body as his agile mouth moved down to suck her breast completely into his mouth.

  “Oh, God, oh, God, Laithe. Don’t bite me,” she gasped out when his sharp teeth rubbed against the sensitive skin. This was impossible. Why was she letting him get this close to her? But it felt so good, so incredible, that she didn’t want him to stop what he was doing.

  “Mmm, I think you would like it, Nawra. I could make you like it.” Looking up at her, he waited until she caught his gaze before he pulled back. Opening his mouth enough for her to see his sharp canines, he ran a light tongue against her nipple. His cool, hard teeth contrasted with the heat against her other breast as he moved his palm up to capture it in his hand.

  Arching her back, Rowan cried out at the ache that filled both breasts, throbbing in time to each pull on her nipple. Laithe lifted himself up and she moaned when he covered her again, his heated length pressing against every inch of her naked skin. He pushed her thighs apart, inserting his hips between hers. Where did my pants go?

  “Wait, just wait a minute. What are you doing?” she gasped, even as her body leaned into him.

  “Nawra, this is what you want, is it not? You have gained pleasure from everything we have done.”

  “That is so not the point. Oh, God, Laithe…” she hissed when he lowered his head to her breast again, nipping against the skin.

  “My word, little flower, that I will only go as far as you are comfortable with. When you want to stop, say the word, and I will honor it.”

  “Oh…” Her breath hitched. “You’ll stop?” she questioned.

  “I give you my word, Nawra,” he said. The only problem was that she was starting to think that she might not ask him to stop, if he kept doing that to her. His mane brushed her chest, rubbing against her nipples with every movement of his head before he drew her nipple back into his heated mouth.

  He stroked himself against her, inflaming her senses, making her mind go blank. All she could feel was the glorious fur pelt that was encasing her, all she could smell was the spicy and amazingly appealing scent of him every time she breathed in. His hands rubbed and kneaded her flesh, while his damnable mouth continued to torture her breasts.

  He rubbed the length of his body along hers, bringing his hands down again to grasp her hips tightly. Looking up, he caught her gaze, smiling wickedly before sliding one canine along her nipple. She moaned, closing her eyes. He chuckled darkly, sliding his teeth along her tender flesh until she opened her eyes again. Catching her gaze with his own, Laithe opened his mouth, flashing his teeth before biting down on her nipple with his smaller incisors.

  Her pussy spasmed in reaction. The building ache was eased somewhat by the large, hairy thigh that he inserted between her legs, brushing up hard against her clit.

  Fisting her hands in his long, thick mane, Rowan arched up into his leg, pleading with him to ease the throbbing between her thighs. She was melting, her liquid flowing hotly from her pussy as she rubbed herself against him. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe as she screamed in frustration.

&n
bsp; “Please, please…” This wasn’t normal. It wasn’t like her to practically beg a guy she’d just met. She had never been a casual hook-up kind of girl.

  And then he was there, his hard cock brushing up against her pussy as he teased her with his thick length.

  “Is this what you want?” he asked, taking himself in hand and rubbing his cock in circles around her clit.

  “Please, Laithe. Oh, God, I can’t…”

  He butted up against her entrance, partially entering her before backing off once again. Moaning, Rowan arched in frustration, pulling his hair, clenching her hands tighter into the mass around his shoulders. She was so damn close… so close…

  Teasing her again, Laithe rubbed his cock against her clit, waiting until she shattered, clawing at his back, before sliding into her. He was so thick she could feel the walls of her pussy stretching to accommodate his cock.

  Laithe was the only thing she could hold onto as she came, crying out from the pleasure of him filling her, the pressure almost too much.

  She contracted around him. He continued to thrust, keeping her orgasm high without letting her come down. When he finally entered her completely, he paused for a moment, waiting until she tugged his hair before he pulled himself out. Rowan tensed, making an unbearable ache gnaw at her pussy. When he withdrew, something caught inside of her, like tiny hooks raking against her walls. It felt like they caught on every nerve ending in her pussy, inflaming her until she couldn’t breathe for the pleasure. She screamed at the sensation, and came again. Within minutes he followed her, stiffening and making the room shake with a roar that rumbled up through his chest.

  She could feel the heat of him, filling her with his seed. Rowan clawed his back, raking her nails along the soft fur when his echoing roar filled the room.

  Panting, Laithe fell hard on top of her, covering her with his body. The last thing she was aware of was the tail that curved around her ankle, keeping them locked together even as his shaft stayed hard within her body.