The Shadow's Leap [Mates of the Jaguar 1] (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Read online

  Taylor fought the need to clear her throat. She refused to exhibit nerves, despite knowing they could smell it drifting in the air around her. The sooner she got this over with, the sooner she would be able to return home. Hopefully she would have a satisfying report to give her Felix. She already respected the male and felt him to be fair. All she needed now was to obtain his agreement and a proposed date for him to take over.

  Normally she didn’t make snap decisions of this magnitude, but everything inside of her said this was a good male who would be fair and just but demand obedience. He was exactly what they needed.

  “My Felix is advancing in age, Sire. He doesn’t want just anyone taking over the Leap. He’s anxious about this since there are several feline groups showing interest in his health and asking questions about other mature males in our family.” Taylor paused to arrange her next statement a bit differently than she’d previously planned. “One of those groups is a Pride. It’s well known that the Leo of a Pride will get rid of the older males when he takes over another group. Sometimes he just runs them out, and sometimes he kills them. This particular Leo seems to prefer the latter.”

  Taylor waited to let that sink in before she said any more. She wanted to watch his reactions so she could tell if he was even interested in what she was placing in front of him. It was a more than a generous offer since he’d essentially take over their Leap without bloodshed and step into a well-appointed home and a solid business, at least on their part.

  “If this Leo is set on enlarging his territories, he won’t accept anyone stepping in to take over without a fight,” the Shadow’s leader pointed out.

  Taylor held back a sigh. He was sharp and picked up on that immediately. She’d hoped he wouldn’t until after their initial discussion.

  “True, but you’ll have the complete backing of our felines, and it’s rumored you are fearless and without equal. You’ve never lost a battle or suffered a serious injury as the result of one. We’re confident you wouldn’t have any trouble in this one either.”

  Despite not having to fight her Felix, he may well still have to fight to keep his position as their leader. It wasn’t unheard of for a new Felix to need to fight two, sometimes three times before the other challengers gave up and walked away.

  Taylor realized it had become more and more difficult to ignore the scandalizing pull of the jaguar just behind her chair. At some point he’d crept closer. It was all she could do not to turn around and slide herself up and down his hard, hot body. This was more than the usual sexual awareness and need that all feline breeds experienced now and then. Taylor was super aware of the male behind her. Plus, all of her nerve endings were hypersensitive so that the faint whiff of his breath as it reached the back of her neck ruffled the tiny hairs there. She could almost feel his sharp teeth as he held her still before mounting her.

  “Miss Dristal. Taylor. Are you okay?”

  Taylor jerked at the sound of her name from the Felix’s mouth. His amused tone suggested that he knew very well what was wrong with her. The heat that burned in her cheeks only added to her embarrassment. Felines didn’t get upset over something so natural. It was just a part of who they were, but she sure as hell was for some reason. Maybe it was because she normally didn’t lose track of a conversation over a little sexual attraction.

  “Yes. I’m fine.”

  “Please tell me more about your Leap and why your Felix wishes to court my shadow to take over his Leap.”

  “There are very few adult males in our leap now. This means there are far fewer births, which means we’re going to die out if we don’t find mates soon. Add to that, my Felix is old and dying and you can see that we are in desperate need of leadership that will keep us safe from rival groups who wish to take over.”

  “I can understand this need. So there are none strong enough within your Leap to take over?”

  “No.”

  “Why wouldn’t you want one of the other feline groups taking over your Leap?” the Felix asked.

  “The only one interested is the lion’s Pride. Their Leo is very dangerous. He’ll kill any male in our Leap who shows any alpha tendencies. He’s also known for killing the male children to keep his bloodline dominant. It isn’t a life any of us wish to live.”

  “Perhaps we should extend your stay a few days so I can ask questions if I have any before I make a decision on this generous offer.”

  Taylor couldn’t suppress the soft moan when something warm and wet pressed against the back of her neck. A breath of air followed that, eliciting a shiver all the way down her spine before settling between her legs at her core. The vibrations seemed to stimulate her clit without it even being touched.

  “Um, I’m not sure that would be a good idea. Is there anything more you wish to know?” Taylor clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into the palms of her hands. She was sure she smelled blood where she broke the skin.

  “I think it’s a very good idea if I’m going to take this request seriously. I will contact your Felix and arrange this. It will also give me an opportunity to talk with him and not you alone.” The shadow’s leader stood, indicating the matter was decided and she was being dismissed. He nodded at someone behind her with a knowing smile.

  Oh God, what have I gotten into? This is insane.

  While she didn’t normally care who the male was that interested her cat when she was in need, this was far different. These weren’t felines of her Leap. She didn’t know them in the least. Somehow that made it seem even more exciting, and that worried her more.

  Something about this is all wrong. I’m losing control, and that isn’t normal. What is this? Why am I aching inside like this?

  “Come with me, kitten. I will show you where you are to stay.”

  The deep raspy voice sealed her fate as her cat leaned back into the male, purring with pleasure.

  Chapter Three

  Marco gritted his teeth as searing hot fire shot straight to his balls. If he hadn’t been concentrating as hard as he was, it might have taken him to his knees. Never had another feline affected him this way. Whatever it was about her, Marco planned to find out and fuck it out of his system. Rubio would have a field day with this female who’d captured his cat’s interest so completely.

  His twin loved exploring a female’s body with his mouth, his hands, and his tongue. Sometimes Rubio would make them come without ever touching their pretty pussy. It was a talent of his twin that Marco always benefited from. He couldn’t wait to introduce his little kitty to him.

  “Where are you taking me?” Her breathless voice washed over him like a cool breeze with the promise of a wild spring storm on its heels.

  “You’ll be staying at our home while you are here. It will protect you from unwanted advances. You’re a very beautiful and desirable unclaimed female, so many males will want to approach you. We won’t allow that to happen.”

  “And what about you? Are you going to approach me?” She attempted to turn around, but Marco didn’t allow it, holding her in place with his massive hand at the nape of her neck. If she managed to look up at him with those amazing green eyes, he was sure they would end up on the ground right where they stood. She was that entrancing.

  “You can bet your hot ass I’m going to approach you. Both of us will just as soon as I get you back to my lair.”

  “Both of you? What do you mean?”

  Marco heard the first lift in her voice indicating fear. He didn’t want her afraid, just on edge and aware. Fear didn’t turn him on like it did some of his kind. He’d always detested those who would rile up a female then slowly get rough with them until their adrenaline was a flavor in their mouths they couldn’t get enough of. Sometimes that obsession turned deadly. With the loss of females in their shadow, when a male killed a female, he wasn’t just punished as before. Now he was exiled and never allowed to return to the shadow.

  “Easy, little kitty. I’m talking about my brother and me. You don’t need to fear
us. We would never hurt you.” He prayed his voice had lost some of its earlier growling quality. He wanted to ease her fears so she would be more open to allowing his brother to share with him.

  “I’m not having sex with you or your brother. I’m not a slave to my cat. She will be just fine until we return home.” Her voice quivered, despite her attempt at bravado. He admired her intentions, but if he were right, they wouldn’t last.

  “You’ll be safe with us to protect you. The jungle can be unpredictable. Just relax and allow us to take care of you, little kitten.” Marco tried to temper his smile but knew by the way her eyes widened and her jaw stiffened that he hadn’t lost the predatory set of his mouth. He knew from experience that his lips had pulled back to reveal his teeth.

  Damn! Why can’t I control myself around her? This feels almost like a mating, but those are rare among the Jaguar. I will see how my twin is around her. Two Jaguars would not permanently share a mate. Just the mating would be unusual.

  “Don’t mind my snarly attitude, Taylor. It is just my cat’s reaction to your pheromones. Just like you, I’m not a slave to my Jaguar.” Marco sure hoped not.

  He led her through the thinned part of the jungle where he and his sibling had their lair. It wasn’t one of old, a mere cave or hollowed-out tree. Instead, they had a nice hand-built house with a thatched roof covered by large leaves of indigenous foliage. They changed these out periodically to assure they didn’t end up with leaks from the almost constant rain of the jungle.

  “What a lovely home. It blends in with the area around it.” Her melodic voice struck chords deep within him—dark hungry chords he desperately needed to quell.

  “Thank you. It’s comfortable for two bachelor Jaguars. Please come in and meet my brother, Rubio.” Marco placed a hand at the small of her back, resisting the urge to throw her over his shoulder to carry her into his and Rubio’s home like some Neanderthal. His twin was going to tease him unmercifully if he noticed Marco’s behavior.

  “Rubio!” he called out. “We have a guest.”

  Marco knew the moment his brother walked into the room they were in trouble. Rubio’s eyes widened even as he opened his mouth just enough to breathe in Taylor’s scent. It exposed his teeth enough that Taylor couldn’t help but notice the additional saliva even as he swallowed.

  “Introduce me, brother. Who is this delectable morsel you’ve captured?”

  “Rubio, careful. You’ll scare her. She isn’t from our shadow, so she isn’t familiar with your over-the-top flattery.” Marco lifted his brows, hoping Rubio would notice and be cautious.

  “Rubio, this is Miss Taylor Dristal from the United States, Washington State, I believe. Taylor, this is my brother, Rubio. Do not pay attention to his flattery. He enjoys shocking the females here.”

  “You’re twins. I wasn’t expecting that.” Taylor’s voice made it clear she was astonished in learning this.

  “We are a rare bird,” Rubio said. His smile grew wider, but to Marco’s relief, there were less teeth involved.

  “I don’t believe we’ve had twins in our Leap in more than twenty years.” She turned a bit and looked from Marco to his brother then back again. “Remarkable. You really are identical.”

  “In our youth we were terrible with the adults. They never knew who was who, and we often played tricks on them. Not so much now.” Rubio chuckled. “Unless we really try, our personalities are different, so most of the Shadow can now tell us apart.”

  “I don’t know your personalities very well, but I can tell you apart by the way you stand and the lilt in your voice. Marco’s speech is more matter-of-fact while yours is flamboyant and a bit less believable.”

  Rubio slapped his hand over his heart. “I’m hurt that you would think I’m not sincere in my compliments. You truly are a beautiful female. All of that rich, sable brown hair with just a hint of ginger brings out the green in your eyes, making them flash with laughter and, I bet, flame with passion.”

  To Marco’s surprise, Taylor burst out laughing. “See what I mean. Your brother’s right. It is over the top.”

  “Brother, she’s got you pegged already.” Marco grinned then took Taylor’s elbow. “Let’s see about something to eat. You’re bound to be starved after the plane trip. They feed you nothing on those little planes.”

  Marco turned back to grin at the surprised expression coupled with his brother’s mouth wide open. Rubio had just been bested. He could hardly wait to see what other tricks their little kitten had up her sleeve.

  “We’ve got zebra in the freezer if you’re interested, or I can defrost some imported beefalo if you’d rather stick to non-exotic meats.” Marco stood next to their industrial-sized refrigerator/freezer and waited for her to speak.

  “Zebra? Really? I’d love to try some. Not a lot though. My stomach is still a little queasy from that wind-up airplane I flew in on. I swear I could hear the engines whining like they were about to give out.” She turned when Rubio walked up behind her.

  Marco took out a couple of zebra roasts but paused to watch the sizzle between his brother and Taylor. He swore he could almost see the sparks flying. Taylor’s eyes had widened as she took in his brother’s body with a slow slide up and down it. Rubio’s mouth had opened again, and saliva gave his teeth an extra shiny appearance. Taylor didn’t look the least bit worried by the aggressive stance Rubio had taken towering over her.

  Just when he was sure his brother would lean down and kiss her, Taylor leaned up and sniffed along the other male’s neck. When she rubbed her cheek against Rubio’s skin, Marco swore his twin was going to attack, but somehow he managed to take a step back, chest heaving with the effort he made at restraint. Marco was impressed.

  “I think we should continue this after we’ve fed you, chiquito,” Rubio told her in a husky whisper.

  Marco grinned. This would work out perfectly, and once they had her under their spell, she would eagerly agree to mate them. He had no doubt now that she was perfect for them. Headstrong but easily brought under control. At least she seemed to be. Only time would tell, and Marco couldn’t wait to test her limits.

  * * * *

  A fine shiver tickled down her spine as Taylor allowed Marco to steer her toward a chair at the round mahogany table. Its lustrous dark color suited them, as well as their space. Whatever was happening to her, she wasn’t sure she wanted to put a stop to it. Not only was she super attracted to Marco but now she also found herself swaying under Rubio’s attentions. Both brothers had her pussy dripping and her skin super sensitive. She had no doubt they could smell her desire.

  Even as the two men worked to put a meal before her, she studied them a little closer. True, they were identical twins, yet she could already see little tells that pointed out their individuality. Marco stood just a little straighter and tended to hold himself in a slightly more regal stance while Rubio was more relaxed, not slouchy but seemed to flow into any situation or against any surface.

  Sleek and sensual described both of them. However, Marco ruled his while Rubio used his. She couldn’t help but be attracted to their differences. Would they make love differently, as well? She could see Marco commanding her pleasure while Rubio would coax it out of her.

  Yes. I will definitely enjoy them at least once before I go. I would be a fool not to feast on this bounty. Most of the felines I know would have already had them once or twice by now.

  Taylor had a little more restraint and a lot more self-respect. They would have to earn her capitulation. Yet she had no doubt they would in spades. She couldn’t wait for the dance to begin. She’d never enjoyed two at one time. Perhaps there would be some merit to the idea.

  “Zebra rare, nene. Would you like wine or something else?” Marco delivered a plate with a generous slab of the zebra cooked perfectly for her taste.

  “Bottled water? My cat loves fresh stream water, but my human side prefers the clean taste of bottled.” She smiled in case that insulted them. She had no intention of doing that,
but she’d learned that locals often became offended at the smallest of things.

  “Of course we have it. Believe it or not, we seem to have the same taste,” Rubio purred then set a bottle of spring water next to her plate.

  “Aren’t you going to eat with me?”

  “We would love to share with you, chiquito. However, we had already eaten when you arrived.” Rubio joined her at the table on her right while his brother sat on her left.

  Taylor cut a piece of the zebra and tasted it for the first time. It even tasted exotic with a flavor that had her mouth watering with pleasure. It didn’t taste like wild deer or even rabbit or squirrel but had a stronger wild flavor than they had.

  “Amazing! I love it. I can just imagine the taste in my feline form.” When she looked up at Marco, it was to see a hint of pride with the lifting of the corners of his mouth. Rubio had a more basic expression that spoke of wild, kinky sex.

  “You must allow us to take you hunting while you’re here. You will love the chase as much as anything.” Marco reached over with one finger and wiped a bit of juice from the corner of her mouth then sucked his finger as he closed his eyes.

  Dear God, they were going to eat her alive if she didn’t watch out.

  Rubio handed her a napkin even as his eyes seemed to dance with laughter. Then the jaguar licked along his teeth from top to bottom and winked at her.

  Oh, boy.

  Taylor was only able to finish half of the large piece of meat. Much more and she would have been too full to move. To her delight, the two men cut the remaining portion and ate it in front of her. It was then that she realized the seriousness of their intentions. They were treating her as a potential mate. Providing food for her and waiting until she’d eaten her fill before finishing her leftovers. She needed to straighten them out on that as soon as possible.

  But not just yet. She needed a nap. The long trip and the delicious meal had taken its toll on her. Even as she patted her mouth with the napkin and stood up, her eyes felt heavy.