Saved by the Billionaire Lion Shifter (Shifter Suspense Book 2), page 21
Chloe’s skin was hot, and she trembled at his touch. Mathis grinned. Inside him, his lion started to purr, a warm, insistent thrum of need. He brushed his lips against Chloe’s belly where her skin disappeared under her pants. She gasped and pushed against him, her hands clenching at his sides.
Heat flooded through Mathis. This was so right. Being with Chloe, skin to skin, teasing her with promises of pleasure he had every intention of fulfilling.
Chloe’s breaths became deeper, slower. Mathis slid one hand up under her shirt to rest against her breastbone, feeling her heartbeat speed up.
He kissed his way up her stomach, licking and nipping, reaching out the thumb of his hand on her chest to brush against her breast where it spilled out of her bra.
“Oh god.” Chloe jerked beneath him, sucking in breath. Her hands fluttered to his head, fingers threading through his short hair. “This is—oh my god. How the hell did I stay away from you so long? I should never have gone back to freaking Nowheresville. God that was—uhh-h—that was so stupid.”
Mathis slipped her shirt over her breasts. Her nipples were hard, pressing through the silky fabric of her bra.
“Shh,” he murmured, and nipped one playfully. Chloe arched her back, crying out.
“That’s not going to get me to be quiet,” she shot back at him.
She sounded peevish, but Mathis could hear her grin. He nuzzled his way up her neck, feeling drunk with love and desire. Chloe was flushed, her lips slightly parted as she stared up at him and her eyes shining.
He nipped at her chin. “I promise you can talk as much as you like after.”
Chloe snorted, but her eyes were dark with lust. “Oh, after. When you’re asleep, I bet.”
“That depends on how much you tire me out.” Mathis covered her with his body, desire building to a storm inside him as Chloe pressed herself up against him. “Let’s get rid of this.”
He pulled her shirt over her head, and before he’d even tossed it aside she was in his arms, pushing him upright and wrapping herself around him.
“I think I should tell you one thing, though,” she said quickly, and gasped as he grabbed her ass and pulled her onto his lap.
“Important, is it?” Mathis kissed the side of her neck.
“Mmmm.” Chloe squirmed, but he wasn’t letting her go. “Um, yes, I think it is… ooh…”
He unhooked her bra and slid the straps down her shoulders, moaning as her breasts were bared. God, she’s so perfect. So beautiful.
Mathis brushed a thumb over one nipple, the same one he had bitten through the bra. It was rock-hard, red and tender looking. He circled his thumb over it, and Chloe gasped again through gritted teeth.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, looking deep into her eyes. She stared back, eyes dark and shining.
He kissed her and her lips fit perfectly against hers, hungry and passionate as he claimed her. Mine, he thought, his lion growling in agreement. “Mine.” The words slipped out, straight from his soul. “My perfect, sexy, wonderful mate—”
Chloe squeaked, and he was about to laugh and tease her for it, when she shimmered under his touch. The air around her seemed to dance, and then he was falling forward, his hands clutching nothing.
“Chloe!”
He sprang back off the bed, landing lightly on the balls of his feet. Chloe—it wasn’t possible. She’d vanished.
Mathis’ nostrils flared. He could still smell her. Except the scent was different, somehow. Wilder.
Something fluttered in the pile of bedclothes. Mathis watched in wide-eyed amazement as a brown-and-white banded wing fluttered free, and a small bird hopped unsteadily on top of the blankets.
*Oh shit!* cried Chloe-the-bird. *Oh shit! What do I do? Help!*
Mathis knelt down, resting his forearms on the bed for balance. All his feline grace seemed to have abandoned him. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Chloe?” He shook himself, and repeated gently: *Chloe? Can you hear me?*
CHAPTER 27
CHLOE
Chloe felt… small. And she was pretty sure she didn’t have arms anymore.
She tried to take a step forward, and tipped over on a duvet that seemed a hell of a lot bigger than it had been thirty seconds ago.
“Mathis, what the hell just happened?” she tried to shout, but all that came out was a… chirp?
Oh my fucking WHAT.
*Chloe, try not to freak out. Can you hear me?*
Mathis’ voice appeared in her head, a warm, familiar murmur. In her head. Not through her ears.
She tried to shout again, but only managed a few chirps that even to her sounded panicked.
Looking at Mathis only helped a bit. The expression of concern on his face was gratifying, but not how big he was.
Oh god, Chloe thought, horrified. I’ve shrunk? And I’ve got wings? Am I a bird?
Mathis reached out one massive hand. It was the same size as she was. Flustered, Chloe pecked at it, then hopped back, embarrassed.
Shit. I should have known something like this would happen. But now?
If she’d had teeth, she would have grated them.
Mathis pulled his hand back. The look in his eyes was part concern, part—humor?
*Well I’m glad you find this funny,* she thought grumpily.
Mathis’ eyes widened. *Chloe—do that again. Think at me. It’s how we can communicate when you’re—you’re a shifter.* His mental voice was hushed with wonder. *Since when are you a shifter?*
Since… Chloe concentrated. *Since… now? I don’t know! I told you I wanted to talk to you about… stuff, right?*
*And this is “stuff”?* The corner of Mathis’ mouth quirked.
*Stop teasing me and tell me how to change back!*
Mathis reached out again, and this time Chloe managed not to peck him. He held his hand still at her side and she leaned into it, feeling her feathers—feathers!—rustling against the rough skin on his palm.
Her heartbeat slowed. Even in this form, Mathis’ touch calmed her. Made her feel like everything was all right. She took a deep breath and looked across at him.
He was frowning. *It’s been a while since I learned how to do this, but… think human thoughts.*
*Human thoughts?* Chloe chittered her beak in frustration. *I think I was thinking pretty human thoughts when this happened, actually!*
That made him laugh. Mathis covered his face with one hand, chuckling helplessly. Which Chloe could appreciate—God it was nice to see him smile again, and laugh—but, seriously. Bird.
*All right.* Mathis’ mental voice was gentle, a telepathic caress. *It happened when I called you my mate, didn’t it?*
A frisson went through Chloe. *Yes. And you kissed me.*
*Maybe that’s what woke up your shifter nature.* Mathis’ golden eyes glowed as he looked down at her. *Me claiming you as my mate.*
Chloe shivered as that strange feeling struck her again. Mathis’ mate. The idea had been the source of so much pain for both of them, but now… it felt right.
More than that. Something inside Chloe seemed to settle into place, a feeling of wholeness she never knew she was missing.
She looked into Mathis’ eyes, losing herself in their golden depths. Mathis’ mate… Harper had tried to make their bond into something cruel, a chain, but it wasn’t. It was beautiful, and strong, and she knew her mate would keep her safe forever.
She knew what to do. Looking deep inside herself, Chloe found her human form, waiting patiently for her. She slipped into it like a familiar shirt, and her body stretched and grew, wings transforming into arms, hard beak into soft lips. Lips that were so ready to be kissed.
Chloe crawled across the bed to where Mathis was kneeling. She ran her hands through his hair, and pulled him close.
“So, yeah,” she said, feeling strangely awkward. “I guess I’m a shifter. I wasn’t expecting it to happen so… quickly.”
“But you knew you were?” Mathis’ eyebrows furrowed. Chloe waited for the spark of uncertainty inside her, but it never came. She would never fear Mathis rejecting her again. She was his—and he was hers. Forever.
“I didn’t know,” she explained, stroking the back of his head. “I suspected. I mean, not at first, but after something Harper said that last day—in the tower—” Her voice shook slightly, and Mathis arms tightened around her. She let her head fall on her shoulder, feeling utterly safe and protected. Remembering how close she and Mathis had come to death that day made her throat close over with fear—but it hadn’t happened. They had gotten out. Everyone had gotten out.
“Well, it made me start thinking about things,” she said, drawing lazy circles on the back of Mathis’ neck. “I’ve always had this… thing I do. Getting people to stop paying attention to something I don’t want them to notice. And it works really well, like, so well that some of my friends call it my Jedi mind trick.” She kissed Mathis where his neck met his shoulder. “You know. These are not the shifters you’re looking for.”
Mathis rested his chin on her head. “You think that’s how you got past Harper’s hiring process in the first place?”
He understands. Chloe closed her eyes, a warm rush of love for Mathis—for her mate—filling her. Of course he understood. Mathis was smart; he only played dumb when he was being Matt Dell.
“Yeah. I used it a lot during the interviews. And after I figured out what Harper was doing with the lights—distraction techniques—and what he said… well, I asked Lance about it during the debrief, and he assigned one of his meerkat agents to check up on it. But I wasn’t sure until, well…”
“Until right now?”
“You got it.”
Mathis nuzzled her ear. “I’m glad I was here for your first time.”
Chloe’s heart melted. “I am, too,” she said. “Even if it was really bad timing. Speaking of which…” All this stroking and nuzzling was reminding her of those very human thoughts she’d been having earlier. “Didn’t you say something about the mate bond needing to be strengthened by… closeness?” she said, a wicked smile teasing at her lips.
Mathis purred. “That must have been from my very stupid period. Keeping you out of my bed hasn’t so far been an effective way of keeping you out of my bed.” He hesitated. “Or do I mean out of my head—or—”
Chloe groaned theatrically and flung herself backwards, pulling Mathis with her. He followed with catlike grace, covering her body with his own and claiming her lips with a passionate kiss.
Chloe froze, just for a second, but it was long enough for Mathis to figure out what was wrong. He chuckled. “Worried you’ll turn into a bird again?”
She growled at him. “You’re very funny for someone who’s risking being cock-blocked by my magical voyage of self-discovery.”
“Growling?” Mathis lowered his head to nip at her chin. “That’s not very bird-like.”
“Oh, should I peck out your eyes instead?” Chloe poked out her tongue. “Oh come on. You don’t even have to take my clothes off this time, I’m already—mmmf…”
Chloe’s words dissolved into a moan of pleasure as Mathis lowered himself onto her. The hard ridge of his erection pressed against her stomach, sending thrills of excitement down her spine to spark between her legs.
“Let’s experiment,” Mathis murmured into her ear. Her fingers found the hem of his shirt as though drawn there, and she slid her hands underneath, glorying in the hard planes of his abs and chest.
“Experiment?”
Mathis pulled away just long enough to whip his shirt off, and then he was on her again. The sensation of his chest pressing against her breasts was electric, sparks singing across her skin.
“We need to—” Mathis broke off, running his lips along her collar bone. “Mmm. I was saying, if you’re going to go feathery without warning, we need to experiment to see what your triggers are…”
“Oh stop it.” Chloe giggled, then hissed in pleasure as Mathis’ hand ghosted up her side. “I’m not going to shift again. I’m—mmm—definitely too distracted for that.”
“Huh. I bet you would have said the same thing ten minutes ago.”
“Hey!” Chloe tried to jab him in the chest but he grabbed her finger and bit on it playfully. “You—”
She broke off, sensation flooding her mind as Mathis sucked on her nipple, swirling his tongue around the hardened nub.
“Hmm.” Mathis glanced up at her, his golden eyes dancing. “Still human…”
Chloe let out a tsk and rolled her eyes—and then her whole body flexed as Mathis brushed his lips lower, kissing his way down the sensitive skin over her ribs to the hot cleft between her legs.
Toes curling, Chloe almost missed his next words, though she felt his hot breath on her most sensitive skin.
“Maybe this…”
Mathis closed his lips over Chloe’s clit. Her whole body was already quivering with anticipation and this final touch was too much. The tip of his tongue lapped out and Chloe came with a scream, pleasure exploding through her.
She clutched at Mathis’ hair and he raised his head, lips wet, eyes burning. When he dipped down again and ran his tongue across her sensitized skin, Chloe saw stars. Her body was still shaking with the force of her orgasm but every lap of Mathis’ skillful tongue drew more pleasure from her until she thought her body would shake apart.
Mathis brushed his thumb along the inside of her thigh and she shouldn’t have been able to feel it, not when his tongue was doing such amazing things only inches away, but she could. She could feel everything, every part of him that was touching her.
His tongue. His lips. His hands, the possessive grip of his fingertips in her soft flesh, the hard planes of his sides against her legs as she wrapped them around him.
A constellation of pleasure was building inside her, sharper and more powerful than anything she had ever felt before. Her core ached with need.
“Enough,” she gasped. “Please—I need—”
Mathis rose above her with feline speed, cupping her face in one hand. “Say it.”
“I want to feel you inside me.” Chloe’s voice was throaty with desire. “Please, Mathis, I’ve been waiting for so long—”
Her legs fell open beneath him and she could feel the hard ridge of his erection against her folds. So close. He slid one hand around her waist, still cupping her face with the other.
Chloe stared into his eyes. His pale gold irises were the thinnest ring around deep black pupils, heavy with lust. And more than that. Love. She felt an answering burst of emotion in her own heart.
“My mate,” she whispered, and Mathis thrust into her.
Chloe gasped out a breath, eyes closing automatically as she gloried in the feeling of Mathis’ cock inside her. He filled her perfectly, stretching her just enough that every nerve ending inside her flared white-hot.
Mathis’ fingers curled against her cheek. “My mate. My perfect, beautiful, wonderful Chloe. I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”
She wound her fingers through his. “Me too.”
To be honest, she hadn’t even thought about it. Hadn’t thought farther than seeing him again. But she knew it was the truth. It felt right. It felt perfect.
Just like him.
“I love you,” she whispered, and Mathis crushed his lips against hers, claiming her with a passionate kiss.
“I love you too.” The words went straight from his mouth to Chloe’s heart.
He pulled out of her, slowly, and then filled her again. Deep need made Chloe breathless and she knew that no matter how slow he went, she wouldn’t be able to keep control for long.
And this time, she promised herself, she would keep her eyes open.
Chloe pushed her fingers through Mathis’ hair. He hadn’t cut it; it was long enough for her to grab, long enough to hold onto. Just like he’d promised the first time.
Her breath grew ragged as Mathis plunged into her again and again. She met his rhythm, grinding her hips against him with every thrust.
Their bodies were completely in sync. Mathis thrust into her harder, faster, and she moved with him, drowning in his golden shifter eyes and lost in the pleasure of their bodies moving together. Mathis was so strong and powerful, and he looked down at Chloe with a fierce tenderness that sent her straight over the edge.
Chloe cried out as pleasure pulsed through her, legs clamped around Mathis’ waist and fingers digging into his scalp. She felt Mathis tense above her and fixed her eyes on him. She wanted to see his pleasure.
He drove into her, his whole body clenched and trembling as he came. She found his lips, kissing and biting at them until he wrapped both arms around her and kissed her back, still buried deep inside her.
Chloe nipped him gently on the lower lip, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “What was that you said about spending the rest of our lives together?” she murmured.
Mathis stroked her hair back off her forehead, eyes glowing pale gold. “You must know I’m serious. I was stupid enough to let you go once, but not again. We’re meant to be together. You’re mine… and I’m yours. Forever.”
Chloe trailed her fingertips over his cheekbones, across the light dusting of stubble on his jaw. “That sounds perfect.” She kissed him again.
“You can feel it, can’t you?” Mathis murmured against her lips. “The connection between us. The mate bond. Since you’re a shifter—”
“I think I’ve felt it since the moment I first saw you,” Chloe admitted. Her hands ghosted down his shoulders, along the muscles of his back. Even panting and sated, she couldn’t stop touching him. “Even before I knew what I was. Which is… uhh… you know, I didn’t exactly get a good look at myself…”
She didn’t feel self-conscious; she didn’t think she’d ever feel self-conscious again, not with the knowledge of Mathis’ love lodged like a burning ember inside her heart. But that didn’t make it any less strange that she was a shifter, and didn’t even know what she shifted into.
Is that weird? she thought, and something inside her ruffled its feathers in a way that clearly meant: Oh, hell yes it is.
