Therian Prisoner(45)

“The trail will be completely cold by morning. I’m sure others are searching, but I have insights others do not.”

“I’m being selfish. I know, but that woman…” Fury rose up so fast she couldn’t speak as her hands began to tremble.

He pulled her into his arms and pressed her into the warmth of his chest. “We’re not doing this for her. We’re protecting ourselves. She understands everything that was done to you and the others. We can’t allow anyone else access to that information.”

She let his nearness soothe her for a moment then stepped back. “I know you’re right, but I don’t have to like it.”

“Fair enough.” He kissed her forehead then returned to the trunk.

They dressed in silence.

Devon had hoped for at least another day before she faced her family. She was still angry with Kyle, but hurting her mother had never been Devon’s intention. Erin had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ian turned off the appliances, lights and finally the generator. They’d both dressed in layers to help insulate their bodies from the cold. Spring days in the mountains might be warm and sunny, but all that changed as soon as the sun went down.

They moved out onto the front porch and Ian locked the door. The precaution made her smile. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. Isn’t that overkill?”

“You can never be too cautious with some things.” He punctuated the statement with an enigmatic smile.

She hadn’t seen anything unique or extremely valuable inside the cabin, but many Therians harbored secrets. Her mother was a prime example, with her private museum of antique treasures. “Will you tell me about it someday?”

“More than likely.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

They moved to the center of the front yard and Ian reached for her. “How are you going to manifest wings with your back covered?”

“I was ready this time.” He twisted so she could see the vertical slits in his shirt, sweater and jacket.

She stepped into his embrace, hungry for the feel of his strong body pressed against hers. Light erupted in the depths of his eyes until gold consumed the blue. His chest vibrated, the rhythm slow and pulsing. She moved her arms to circle his neck, not wanting to hinder his transformation. Her skin tingled and she held her breath as his arms tightened around her. She felt him tense and his wings unfurled, arching high and spreading wide, the dark-brown feathers rippling in the breeze.

He reached down and cupped her behind, effortlessly lifting so she could wrap her legs around his waist. “Ready?” His wings flapped, rocking them forward and back.

All she could do was nod. She’d been too upset to comprehend the miracle she’d witnessed two nights before. This time she was not distracted by overwhelming emotions. His knees bent and his arms tightened around her, then he launched them skyward with a vigorous flap of his mighty wings. Air rushed past, chilling her face and streaming through her hair. She clung to him with her arms and legs, feeling the weight of her body more clearly as the ground grew farther and farther away.

“Relax.” His arms repositioned and tightened, holding her snugly against his chest. “I’ve got you.”

The trees became an indistinguishable blur. Occasional lights dotted the darkness, but mostly there were just shadowy mountains and endless sky.

She exhaled her pent-up breath and tried to adjust to the rhythm of his wings. Despite his firm embrace, it was hard to relax while she was clinging to his body like a spider monkey.

Her body was warm, but her face was cold, so she turned her head and pressed her nose against the side of his neck. Big mistake. His scent spread through her, alerting her senses to his proximity. Memories rolled through her mind in a staggering combination of images and sensations. Her nipples beaded and heat ignited between her thighs. She tried not to move, tried to ignore the tension coiling within her, but her body simply wouldn’t cooperate.

She could feel his mouth on her skin, kissing, licking, sucking until she surrendered completely to the sensual rush. Her thighs tightened and she shifted her pelvis until her mound aligned with the rapidly growing ridge in the front of his jeans.

“If you wanted to play, you should have worn a skirt.” His hands moved from her hips to her ass and squeezed hard enough to make her moan. “Think about something else.”

“I can’t. You smell too good.”

“And your scent is seriously distracting. Partial shifts are extremely hard to hold. You need to calm down.”

“I’m trying.” She turned her head into the wind and let the cool air dilute his scent. But her imagination wasn’t willing to let go. She pictured herself naked and impaled on his hard cock, each flap of his wings driving him deeper inside her.