Desires Unleashed (20 page)

“Elise, come run with me, right now. It would make you feel better, get your mind off of things you don't need to be worried about. Come on, I'm not opposed to pulling you out of this bed,” he said as he stood up, holding her hand lightly in his. He looked down at her and smiled. “Come on,” he urged. He tugged a little on her hand, pulling it toward him, lifting her slightly from the bed. She groaned and tried to pull her hand free, but his grip tightened. She didn't fight when he reached down, scooped her into his arms effortlessly, plucking her out of the bed.

He looked into her eyes and smiled. His gaze lingered on the aqua green of her eyes, then to her full shaped lips. He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her slender nose. His gaze traveled over her complete form, he tried hard not to smile at her nakedness, but failed. He couldn't help it. Normally, it didn't bother him to look at the others naked, but it was her he desired.
The things I would do to that flesh if she would only let me, would blow her mind,
he mused. He led her out of the ultra feminine bedroom with the lace curtains, satin and lace bedspread and pink satin sheets, into the hall.

“I was going to go running alone to get some exercise, but it'll be way more fun if we go together,” he said as he led her to the back of the house. He opened the door onto the huge piece of land they owned. Elise had bought the mansion because of two things: the many bedrooms and the large private forest behind it. It made for safe hunting, never having to leave the grounds. They stepped outside, the cold freezing winds of the winter didn't affect them, their bodies could acclimate to
almost
any temperature. Sergio ran off first, hoping Elise would give in to the temptation to chase him. It worked. The more she ran, the more she began to enjoy herself and grow into a more playful mood.

She caught up with him in a patch of bushes. She pounced on his back and they both tumbled to the grass. They rolled several times with Sergio ending up on top, just as he had planned. His legs were tangled with hers, his elbows resting on the ground beside her head. Sergio gazed at her, he wanted to swim in the deep ocean of her aqua-green eyes. The moment froze between them and their heads gravitated towards one another, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. Sergio's tongue entered her mouth and delicately brushed her tongue. This kiss lingered for a few moments and they ended it with two soft pecks.

Sergio rolled away from her and stood up. He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and slowly slid it over his head, making sure she could see the muscles of his torso flex with each movement. He pulled it off, tossing it aside. He looked down at her. She laid on her side, legs folded together, bent slightly, ankles crossed, hands resting on the grass. She gazed at his body. She had always loved his light olive complexion. She wanted to run her hands over the smoothness of his flesh, to feel the heat rise from it. She wondered what his body would feel like if they made love.

His fingers undid the buttons of his jeans. He rolled the zipper down slowly and parted the flaps to show a tuft of his dark, curling pubic hair. He watched her expression as every part of him was slowly revealed. He tugged on the waistband of his jeans and slowly slid them down to his feet. He pulled off his shoes and threw them aside. He stepped out of the jeans, picked them up, tossed them with his shirt and shoes. He stood before her completely naked, erect. His body temperature had risen, his skin had darkened with lust. Her own body was reacting to him. Her nipples had hardened, she felt a wetness between her legs, which she knew he could smell. Her heartbeat had become rapid. She crawled to all fours and began her change. She mentally prepared for the amount of pain the change always brought, the excruciating pain that was almost crippling.

Sergio dropped down beside her, willing his change to take place. He growled low in his throat, feeling his body temperature rise to a fever pitch. Sweat poured from his pores, the skin beginning to vibrate. He grimaced and looked at Elise, who was almost through with her change. Her body was fully covered with black fur. Her nose had turned into a snout, her whiskers continued to grow to their full length of four inches. Her mouth filled with razor sharp teeth, her canines two inches in length, and as sharp as daggers. She could change in an instant. It took him a few moments to complete his transformation. Black fur began to sprout from pores all over his body, he could feel his insides churn and constrict, his intestines reformed themselves to mold with his new form. He could feel nothing but pain as his mouth and nose compressed together as fur covered his face, his teeth grew from his gums, becoming sharper and longer. He felt the bones break, muscles reform in an instant to accommodate his animal form. A long, fur covered tail sprouted from his tailbone. His hands grew wider, fingers receding, turning into paws, his nails turning black then growing into thick, strong, three-inch claws, that retracted into their sheaths. He could feel his whiskers grow five inches from his cheeks and eyebrows.

With his change now complete, he shook himself all over, from head to tail. They stood side by side, their sleek, black bodies touching. She was three and a half feet from the ground up, while he was four feet in height, a full sixty pounds heavier than she was. Fully changed, a shape-shifter leopard could weigh anywhere from two hundred pounds to three hundred pounds. In rare cases, one could weigh up to four hundred pounds. Elise turned to him and licked the side of his muzzle. He returned her love by brushing his body alongside hers and rubbing his head down her neck. She growled low into his ear and licked the inner shell. His head tilted towards her as he growled softly before pulling away from her, running after a white rabbit. The change had taken a lot of energy and he was hungry again. The rabbit ran as fast as it could but Sergio closed in on the hare, catching it by the back of its neck. He shook it twice in his powerful grip, breaking the tiny bones in the rabbit's neck. Its feet jerked three times, before going limp in his mouth.

Walking back to Elise, he knew she was hungry as well, dropped the dead rabbit at her feet, and licked her muzzle, one side then the other. She leaned toward the dead rabbit, sniffing it. She pawed it then held it to the ground. Elise bit into the rabbit's furry back, ripping at the flesh, tearing it from the bone. Blood spurted from the wound as she ripped the flesh, swallowing it in one gulp. Sergio went off to find a meal for himself as Elise ate. He caught another rabbit, brought it over by Elise and began eating it as she finished her meal. When she finished with the rabbit, she snatched the remains of his from his grip and ran off to eat the rest. He chased her, stopping as he saw her ripping at the meat. He walked behind her and stuck his nose into her crotch. She batted him with her paw, hooking her claws in the fur on his head and dragging him to the ground. They wrestled and rolled around on the ground. He stood up first, grabbed his rabbit and ran off to eat the rest. Elise let him eat in peace.

After he finished the rabbit, he walked back to Elise. He stuck his nose against her crotch. He could tell she was coming into heat. In the past, she wouldn't give herself to him for mating. She would allow him to grind against her as his fingers played with her, but it never went past making out. He wanted so much more. He licked her crotch and sniffed again. She pawed his head away and laid on her side on the grass. He walked around her one time then laid next to her, resting his head on her ribcage. They drifted off to sleep under the late afternoon sun. Three hours passed before they woke up.

Sergio woke first, raised his head and licked Elise's muzzle several times, cleaning the blood away from her face. He stood up and stretched his huge feline body, arching his back completely. He would love to go hunting now that the sun was down, but he wasn't hungry. He really wanted to talk to Elise, He had postponed the talk earlier because she was upset, but he didn't forget that he wanted to have it. He willed himself back into human form. The process reversed was much faster but no less painful. Elise saw that he had changed back so she followed suit. They sat on the grass, panting and sweating. He spoke first when he was more composed.

“Elise, this Pride, it needs a protector. It needs its king, and you, you need a mate.” He leaned closer to her, their cheeks brushing. He rubbed his cheek against hers. His hands encircled her waist, pulling her closer to him. A low growl vibrated from his throat. “Can't you see...look at me.” He pulled away, taking her chin into his hand guiding her face to his. His eyes stared deeply into hers. “Look at me,” he whispered sensually. She looked into his beautiful grey eyes. She raised her hand and ran her fingers lightly through his black silky curls. Her fingertip trailed over his muscular jaw line. She was looking at him in a different way, in a way she had never allowed herself before.

“I am your mate, Elise. Don't push me away, don't deny us. Together, we could care for this Pride. I have fought to maintain my presence, I am the most dominant male, is it my duty to protect the Pride. It is my honor! Elise, the Pride should not be only yours to deal with. I love you, Elise...look at me.” He forced her eyes to focus on him once more. She had looked away, trying to hide from his words. “I am all the man, the only man, that you will
ever
need.” He let her go, looking at her. He wondered what she was thinking. She sat there quietly for a long time. He watched her, never moving.

“It is true, the Pride needs its protector, more than what I can provide. When Adam died, I became the sole caretaker of the Pride. I didn't want to share that power. In a way, I still don't. I know my limitations, they are few but I know them. I will name you my King, the Pride's protector. You will be honored as such,” she said as she rose to her feet, brushing the grass off of her legs. He looked up at her, she was forgetting something.

“And what about us, Elise?” he asked.

“There is no us. You are our protector, our King and nothing more,” she said harshly. She wanted to embrace the anger, she didn't want to share her power with anyone. She controlled the Pride but thought of the benefits. If she gave some of the power of the Pride to Sergio, it would allow her more time to be with Darian. There was always two sides to every coin. She looked at Sergio, knowing she didn't say what he wanted to hear. She felt he couldn't compete with Darian. She couldn't remember any man in her past who could.

“Have you listened to anything I've just said?” Sergio asked, obviously holding in his anger and frustration. He slowly lifted his head to look at her.

'“I've heard what you said. I've felt your seduction but you cannot compete with him, we are lovers and you have to accept that,” she said matter-of-factly. Sergio looked at her, his face twisted with rage and some other emotion. He laughed in a harsh sound. He shook his head in amazement.

“Unbelievable, un-fucking-believable. How can you be so beautiful, yet so...” his voice trailed off, he didn't want to say anything he would regret. He stood up and looked at her. He could show her better than he could tell her, if need be. He wanted to pump the poison from her veins. The poison being her lust for Darian. He grabbed her by the back of her head with a speed no mortal could have seen and planted a kiss on her lips, forcefully, passionately. He radiated desire and heat. His other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, pressing her body against his, their hearts beating frantically in their chests. His tongue exploring the heat of her mouth, his lips working expertly over hers. He could feel her knees go weak, and he held her still.

He pulled away, her eyes opened slowly, lips still slightly parted. His gaze never left hers. He peered into her eyes, unafraid, unashamed. He would show her what she was missing. He leaned down to her, his tongue darting out to lick along the inner shell of her ear, sending tingles down her spine. Her knees buckled and he held her still. His lips sought her lobe and sucked gently as his tongue licked along the rim. A small whimper escaped her lips.

“I can make you tremble anytime I want. All I have to do is kiss you...” He leaned toward her lips, brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss. “Lick you...” The tip of his tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip lightly. “Touch you,” he whispered seductively, his thick Italian accent sent the words rolling over the surface of her skin, bringing up goosebumps. His hands slid further down, past her buttocks, between her legs. His fingers explored the soft wetness there, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Hearing her gasp, he let go of her. She stumbled, but didn't fall. She watched him lustfully, yet very confused. He brought his fingers to his nose, inhaling her scent, his eyes closed savoring her natural perfume. His tongue snaked from between his lips to lick away the sticky wetness.

He opened his eyes. “Delicious,” he whispered sensuously as he turned and walked back toward the house. He turned before reaching the back door. “I suppose we should tell them about my becoming King so we can plan the celebration.” He was watching her from across the courtyard. She gathered dazed emotions, she had to take in what had just happened. Her mind raced with random thoughts about Darian, her and Sergio. She walked back toward the house.

Both entered and she told Marianne to gather everyone for a big announcement. Marianne did as she was told. In moments, everyone, all twelve leopards, sat in the parlor. She had fetched her bathrobe and put it on. Sergio stood before the others still naked. His nakedness distracted her. She wanted to tell him to put some clothes on but nakedness wasn't a taboo among shifters. They saw each other naked all the time. To ask someone to put on clothes would have been rude and demeaning.