Taming the Lion
A Totally Bound Publication
Taming the Lion
ISBN #
978-1-78430-504-8
©Copyright Elizabeth Coldwell 2015
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2015
Edited by Sarah Smeaton
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Burning
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
Lionhearts
TAMING THE LION
Elizabeth Coldwell
Book two in the Lionhearts series
Will he sacrifice everything for the sake of his human mate?
Thwarted in his efforts to become head of the Amsterdam pride of lion shifters, Kaspar de Wit flees to England. He finds himself in Bath, home of the biggest English pride, and begins to make a new life among friends. What he doesn’t know is that he’s moved to a city steeped in bloody ritual. Destiny seems to have drawn Kaspar to the place where he’ll meet his mate–but does something more horrifying lie in wait for him, too?
Jon Fellowes, professor of archaeology at Bath University, is obsessed with the standing stones that dominate the Somerset landscape and the people who raised them. He’s heard tales of strange creatures, half-man, half-lion, that once roamed the land, but dismisses them till he meets the beautiful Kaspar and learns the bizarre truth of his nature. As an ancient rite is revived and terror stalks the countryside, can Jon and Kaspar overcome the natural distrust between humans and shifters to find true love? Or will one of them be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice?
Dedication
For Gwenn—because girl drinks in Bath count as research…
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army
Mini: BMW (UK) Limited
SouthGate Bath: SouthGate
Long Day’s Journey into Night: Eugene O’Neill
Bath Gem: Bath Ales
Harley-Davidson: Harley-Davidson Inc.
Dettol: Reckitt Benckiser
Eurostar: Eurostar International Limited
The Nutty Professor
: Paramount Pictures
Pride and Prejudice
: Jane Austen
Indiana Jones:
Paramount Pictures/Lucasfilm Inc.
Botox: Allergan Inc.
Viagra: Pfizer Inc.
Aperol:
Davide Campari—Milano S.P.A.
Chapter One
The guy in the apartment opposite was naked again.
Kaspar knew he shouldn’t be looking but he couldn’t help himself. He’d never quite been sure whether his neighbor knew he could be seen, and whether these regular displays were accidental or put on expressly for his benefit. He didn’t dwell on that thought. Seeing the well-built blond standing with no self-consciousness in the bedroom window, his big, limp cock swinging as he toweled his damp hair, Kaspar was taunted by everything he wanted so badly—everything he knew he couldn’t have.
He wandered into the kitchenette to grab a beer from the fridge. He hoped by the time he returned that the man would have pulled on some underwear at least, but no. Still he remained there, revealed in all his glory.
Kaspar took a long swallow of his drink before setting the bottle down on the table. He ought to go take a shower then dress in something less formal than the torn T-shirt and sweatpants he currently wore. After all, he had to be at Cornelis de Wit’s grand house on the Apollolaan in less than an hour. But it couldn’t hurt to admire the view for a few moments longer. If the guy wanted an audience, it would be rude to deprive him of one.
When Cornelis had invited him and his parents over saying he had an important announcement to make, Kaspar had guessed what was coming. The old man had been head of Amsterdam’s pride of lion shifters for over fifty years now. It was common knowledge that he had been talking for a while about relinquishing the position, and Kaspar had made no secret of his desire to take on his mantle. Traditionally, the role was passed from the current pride leader to his eldest son, but that wouldn’t be happening in this case. Cornelis had only one child, Kaspar’s second cousin, Arjan. Father and son had what could most politely be described as a strained relationship. Kaspar didn’t know the exact reason for their estrangement, and why Cornelis was so reluctant to hand over leadership duties to his own flesh and blood, but he believed it had much to do with the rumors he’d heard about Arjan being gay. Cornelis might be a wise, kindly man but in some respects, he was almost too traditional for his own good.
Kaspar glanced out of the window once more. His neighbor had been joined by a second man. Kaspar’s jaw dropped at this new turn to proceedings.
The newcomer was a good-looking mixed-race guy with light brown skin and hair plaited in neat cornrows. He stood behind the blond, one hand gripping the cock Kaspar had been admiring. Under his ministrations, that beautiful length had risen, swollen and inviting.
In response to the sight, Kaspar felt his own dick stir. Desperately, he tried to will his erection away, to pretend that he wasn’t getting turned on by watching the lovers at play.
It had taken him until the age of twenty-four to come to terms with the truth of his sexuality. At first, when he’d found himself checking out the hottest guys in a club or at the gym, he’d told himself it was just a phase he was going through. Like all lion shifters, his destined mate was waiting for him somewhere, and he just had to find her. But as time had gone on, his craving to take a cock between his lips or deep in his arse had not diminished. If anything, it had grown stronger.
With Arjan out of the picture—a virtual exile from the pride—there were no other suitable candidates to become the new leader as far as Kaspar was concerned, apart from himself. Yes, he was young—most of those who attained the role didn’t take it on until their thirties or forties, when they were in their physical prime—but he didn’t see why that should hold him back. Cornelis, however, had as good as declared he wouldn’t give up his power to a gay man. If Kaspar wanted to fulfill his destiny, he needed to keep his desire for other men a secret.
Kaspar glanced at the two men across the way, now face to face with their mouths locked in a passionate kiss. God, how he envied them. If only it were he who stood with his arms wrapped around some hot guy, enjoying the taste of his lover’s soft lips and feeling the slight prickle of stubble against his chin.
Unable to resist the urgent demands of his body any longer, he pushed a hand into his sweatpants and took hold of his shaft. When he ran his hand gently along it, he discovered that pre-cum had already gathered at its tip. He spread the slippery droplets over his cockhead and down, to make the shuttling passage of his fingers easier.
The blond sank down to his knees so that only the top of his head remained visible above the window sill. Kaspar needed more in the way of lubrication but he didn’t want to miss a minute of the show his neighbors were putting on for him. He dashed into the bedroom where he stripped out of his sweatpants before grabbing the bottle of baby oil from the nightstand.
When he returned to the living room, it was to be greeted by the glorious sight of the blond bobbing his head up and down on his lover’s length. Kaspar couldn’t see very much of what was happening so he let his imagination fill in the blanks. But in his mind, he was the one who had a man kneeling naked at his feet, tonguing his dick.
He squeezed a copious amount of oil onto his palm. Now his fingers glided effortlessly from base to crown as he wanked himself. With his other hand, he cupped and rolled his balls, enjoying the shivers of pleasure the action sent through him.
As Kaspar’s excitement mounted, he turned his gaze on the man receiving the blow job. Bliss was clearly etched on the stranger’s face. His eyes were half-closed and he seemed to be muttering something. Was he asking to be sucked harder? Maybe he was praising the blond for his efforts or ridiculing him with a sneer in his voice as the two played out some game of Domination and submission.
So many delicious possibilities. So many things Kaspar yearned to enjoy. He tugged his cock faster, feeling his balls tighten in preparation for releasing their load.
In the window opposite, the mixed-race guy had caught hold of his companion’s head and was keeping it in place while he jerked his hips back and forth. Then he stilled his thrusting motions. Kaspar guessed he must be shooting his seed into his lover’s throat.
The thought was enough to trigger his own orgasm. He bit the back of his hand, stifling his cries as cum pulsed out over his fist. His knees sagged, and he had to clutch at the back of a nearby chair for support.
