He stared at her, his eyes caressing every inch of her body. Heat burned inside her, arousing hungers she'd only dreamed of. How did he do it? How did he awake parts of her no other shifter had touched?
"Your tigress is beautiful, Cassie. As beautiful as you are right now."
He took her hand and tugged her toward him. She shouldn't be doing this. Cassie stared at his fingers, how they wrapped through hers. They were warm and powerful. Strength emanated from them, and she could feel them not just on her hand, but tightening around her heart. Almost as though he reached right inside her and tugged her heart along with her body.
She struggled with the warring thoughts inside her. This sudden, all encompassing heat fought with the knowledge that when her father got here, he would take over. The chances were, Lance wouldn't live to see the sunrise.
Her heart rebelled, cursing her for believing in the impossible. He would live. He had to live. It was hard to think with this strong, warm male pulling her into his arms. They wrapped around her with practiced ease. Alarms went off in her head.
She pushed back. "You just want me because you think I'm a virgin."
"Do I?" he murmured. His lips were almost on hers now. She could feel his breath, his scent wrapping around her, cocooning her in his masculinity.
"Do you what?"
He smiled. "Do I think you're a virgin?"
"But..."
"Cassie, maybe I just want you because you're you." His words whispered against her lips. So hot and inviting.
"I don't think--"
"Perfect," he said. "Don't."
He closed the last excruciating inch to her lips. He was slow. His mouth was hot, burning her lips with his touch, yet so soft. Instincts reared to the surface, and she moaned, arching into him, molding her body to his. She needed to stop this, but she couldn't.
He tasted like pure male, wild and hungry, and the kiss intensified. His mouth crushed hers, feeding from her, like a beast in the jungle. His arms tightened around her, dragging her flush against his hard body.
Sensations whirled through Cassie's mind and heart. Her head swam and darkness threatened the edges of her consciousness. She'd never been kissed like this. Not with such overwhelming passion. Never had her body exploded with such liquid heat.
The tigress shifted inside her, moaning along with Cassie with hunger. Heat burned lower, deeper inside her body. A dull, empty ache throbbed. Skin tightened and unable to resist, she moved against him.
The hard ridge of his desire rubbed against her soft belly, heightening her need. She wanted. For the first time in her life, she hungered for a man. This man. This human.
The scent of their mingled desire wrapped around them like unseen ties, binding them together. He groaned, hungrily into her mouth. This was no weak human who held her. His arms were strong and powerful, and he devoured her with masterful strokes of his tongue, taking all of her, feeding her in return.
Her hands slid to his shoulders, and into his hair. He had such gorgeous, thick blond hair. Her fingers trailed through it, relishing the soft locks. So like a shifter's hair, silky and smooth. A finger teased her breast, and her body trembled. With each masterful touch of his hand, each sweep of his tongue she tumbled faster and faster into the abyss of desire.
Lance couldn't believe he could hold such a beautiful creature in his arms. She was so delicate in her human form. So feminine and soft. Her body was so hot and sweet, melting against his every curve, her breasts pressed hard against his chest.
Hunger exploded within him. He groaned and thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth. She tasted so perfect, like cinnamon with just a hint of sweet. The sharp flavor of her essence drove him mad, pushing him to the limits of his control. The exotic scent of her teased his senses and his body ached with the need of her.
A door slammed, but Lance barely noticed it. Cassie nipped Lance's lip and he groaned, his body shaking in response. She smiled against his mouth. By God, she felt right. Tasted right.
"What the hell is going on here?"
)
Lance is a Wizard. He's not a great wizard, but he's all right. Descended from a long line of wizards, his brothers taunt him for being slow to learn. And as the youngest, it's his due course to accept such teasing. Life is good, and normal. For a wizard that is. Cassie is a Shifter. A tigress to be exact. Raised by her father after her mother's death she's as well adjusted as any shifter can be, and still live in the human world, hiding who and what she is. Bliss comes to a screeching halt the night Satanists kidnap Cassie and her best friend to use as sacrifices to bring forth their Dark Lord. When Cassie literally collides into Lance, she begs him to help them escape their captors, despite the dangers. The couple work together to save the life of Cassie's friend, only to discover a shocking passion driving them closer together at a time when both should be devastated. But when Lance overhears Cassie's father threaten his life, he heads for the hills. Cassie follows, determined to clear up the confusion. But evil is still afoot and Cassie is taken by a secret government organization dedicated to the eradication of all things magick. Is Lance willing to put his life on the line for a woman he believes is out to kill him? Especially when he realizes the organization that's taken her, is the one he works for?
