The Lionman Kidnapping Read online

  She wiggled her ass out farther, truly exposing the slickness of her sex, giving him a perfect view when it came to watching. His cock slid into her heat, her lips spreading to accommodate, the fist of her channel clutching him.

  He wanted to take it slow, to savor every moment, but Jayda was impatient. Holding tight to that dresser, she rammed back against him, riding him in reverse, forcing him to grab hold and match her pace then increase it until he slammed into her. Thrust and pumped and generally went wild.

  Her orgasm hit quickly, a fisting of his cock that drew a gasp and then his own pleasure as he spilled inside her. He felt so connected to her in that moment he could swear he felt her emotions, her regret.

  Regret for what?

  She turned and cupped his cheek with one hand, whispering, “I’m sorry, Marcus.” The first time she’d ever used his name. He didn’t understand until the hand he didn’t see plunged a needle into his back.

  When he woke, somehow lying in the bed, he didn’t have to rise and search to know she was gone.

  Fled without a goodbye. Not a single trace of her left behind.

  Except for the wad of cash on the dresser.

  The final insult.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Leaving Marcus—after ensuring he was chipped and a surveillance team in place—seemed the right thing to do. If he reverted, then someone would see and handle it.

  It just won’t be me… She wasn’t sure if she could deliver the killing blow. Probably the first time since her change she didn’t want to.

  She hoped Marcus held on to his sanity. If he did, then in a few days, maybe even a week, when she’d been gone long enough, he’d realize he was now the master in his body again. He could live his life any way he wished.

  Another success story. Wouldn’t Adrian be pleased. Pity it did nothing to help her own state of mind. She felt at odds now that Marcus was out of her life. Who would have thought she’d miss him? She even dreamed of him.

  And in those dreams, he looked for her. Called her name.

  But she kept quiet. Hugged herself tight. Didn’t reply back. Just in case this wasn’t a simple dream.

  She kept busy searching for her father, and yet, it seemed as if he’d disappeared. She’d found the lab where he was taken. A slaughterhouse inside. The remnants of her father’s suit littered the floor. But of him? Not a trace. He’d vanished. As had Adrian and his menagerie to a secret location.

  Since she felt no pressing need to rejoin him, and with no clue to follow, she went home. Not the lab in the mountains that was now a smoldering ruin. It stunned her to realize Adrian had actually gone through with it and destroyed the lab—and those he couldn’t move.

  A drastic move, and yet she doubted he was done playing God.

  If only people understood the good he was doing. She truly believed in Adrian’s and her father’s work. They could heal those suffering. Put an end to so much pain.

  Physical pain, at least. The emotional wounds continued to plague her. The fact her father saw her as a test subject rather than a beloved daughter. The loneliness that came from being different setting her apart. The knowledge she was a killer, the evidence all around in the form of furry trophies.

  Her house in South America provided some familiar comfort but didn’t entirely cure her restlessness. Even forays into the jungle, where she pitted herself bare-handed against the wildlife, did nothing to help her.

  Four weeks had passed since she’d last seen Marcus. Almost a month where more than a few times she wanted to call Adrian to ask if he was doing okay. Maybe even peek in on him.

  To think she’d accused Marcus of being addicted. It seemed as if she was the one who couldn’t leave him alone. At times she forgot herself and longed for him, her loneliness a gaping hole now bigger than before. And when those moments hit, when her monster cackled and struggled to take control, she imagined him with her. Could almost feel the warmth of him surrounding her, whispering, Hold on, baby. I’ll soon be there.

  Ugh. She was no one’s baby. She didn’t need Marcus. She didn’t need anyone.

  Although she wouldn’t mind killing something to ease the stress. A thought that lulled her to sleep, only something interrupted her slumber.

  She lay still in her bed, listening, straining to figure out what had caught her attention. Her curtains billowed with a night breeze. The window opened onto the jungle, the screen keeping her safe from tiny biting insects.

  But no match for an intruder.

  The scent of him hit her. Unmistakable and rousing a happiness inside that had her gasping, “Kitty?”

  “In the flesh, baby.” He sauntered out of the shadows, just enough she could see the shape of him.

  As big as ever. But his appearance was surprising. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’d say that’s obvious. I came to see you.” He leaned against a dresser, his expression sane, his words perfectly lucid.

  “Why?” Why had he returned? Why was she so happy he’d come?

  “I missed you.”

  She closed her eyes against the softness of his claim. “What happened to you starting over?” A grumbled complaint to fight his allure.

  “You wanted me to live on my own. To prove I could control my monster. It’s been four weeks. And as you’ll notice, I didn’t revert.”

  “Congratulations.” She was pleased he’d managed to stay sane while, at the same time, sad he no longer needed her.

  “Oh, I still need you.”

  It was as if he’d read her mind.

  She frowned. “If you can control it, then you can live your life. Free. Like you wanted.”

  “I plan to. With you.”

  “Me?” Thump. Thump. Her heart raced at his words, but what he asked was impossible. “If you’re looking for sex, that’s over. I’ve moved on.” She lied, and his eyes widened the slightest bit.

  He killed her with a smile. “No, you haven’t.” He strode toward her, his leonine grace more evident than ever. He stopped in front of her. “I missed you.”

  How she’d missed him, too. But she kept those words and emotions shoved down deep.

  “I know you missed me.” He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, reminding her she was in bed wearing only a tank top and panties.

  “I don’t do relationships.”

  “Because the guys you usually meet can’t accept you for who you are. I see you, Jayda.” He cupped her cheek. “I love you.”

  “No.” She shook her head even as her heart burst. “You can’t.”

  “I do, and you care for me, too.”

  “Do not!” A hot retort and such a fucking lie. She cared all too much for this man.

  He laughed. “Oh baby, I already know. I feel it. Here.” He thumped his chest. “We’re connected you and I.”

  He said aloud what she’d dreaded and, at the same time, welcomed.

  “It’s what helped me find you. Remember ages ago when you asked why I went back to the clinic? I figured it out finally. You were the reason.”

  “I wasn’t even there yet when you started haunting the place,” she argued.

  “Yeah, but a part of me knew you were coming. It pulled me. That need drove me and controlled me. Led me to find you. Then and now.” He cupped her chin and tilted her face. “We belong together.”

  She wanted to fight it longer. To deny it.

  Couldn’t.

  Because he was right. She felt the same strange pull. Wanted the same thing.

  Wanted him.

  She yanked him down atop her, lacing her arm around his neck and latching onto his mouth with a fierce hunger.

  That he matched. With Marcus, there was no need to hold back to hide what and who she was.

  They kissed, the passion between them exploding. There was no time to truly strip. Her panties were ripped in her impatience and flung to the side.

  He chuckled as he unbuckled his pants. “Pity you did that. They were cute.”

&
nbsp; She crooked a finger. “They were in the way.” She spread her thighs on the bed, her eyelids growing heavy with arousal as he stared at her. Erection in hand. Desire straining his body.

  He covered her, the weight and heat of him welcome. The hardness of his shaft as he sank balls deep even better. The orgasm fast and sharp, with a slow descent after cradled in his arms.

  A moment of peace like she’d not experienced in almost a month.

  She sighed.

  “That sounded pretty heavy.”

  “You’re heavy,” she grumbled, only to wrap her arms around him when he tied to shift away. “And annoying.”

  “Love you, too, baby.”

  “Oh, shut up and kiss me.”

  “With pleasure.”

  Epilogue

  Months passed, winter covering the remains of the old clinic. Not that Jayda and Marcus returned. When they weren’t flying around the world acting on tips about the whereabouts of her father, they were in South America becoming an inseparable team, both in out and of the bedroom. The tie binding them was more than just physical lust. With practice, they could talk to each other through their link. Find each other even if one got intentionally lost.

  It meant they could charge higher prices on jobs where she was the brawn and he was the brain—with brawn when needed.

  It was a perfect new life.

  Which was why, when Valentine’s Day hit, he went all out. Flowers, chocolate, catered dinner—since neither of them could cook.

  He told her to dress up, and she did, emerging from their bedroom wearing…

  “Omg you’re—”

  “Princess Leia.” She cocked a hip and posed, the slim white gown hugging her lush curves with her hair bound in buns on either side of her head.

  “I love you,” he gasped, hitting the floor on his knees.

  She smirked as she hiked the skirt and said, “I know.”

  And it was only later as they lay sprawled in a heat of naked sweaty limbs that she whispered, “Love you, kitty.”

  The report on Marcus and Jayda indicated no pregnancy yet. What a shame. But Adrian had hope. Lots of it, especially after seeing the success. Marcus had come back from the edge.

  Maybe there’s a chance for me, too.

  A slimmer one, given the woman he loved was in a coma, a sleeping beauty who just wouldn’t wake up no matter how many treatments were applied.

  He’d done his best to fix Jane. Failed despite his best efforts. Her lashes had yet to flutter. She still required a tube to breathe, which meant keeping her hidden was almost impossible.

  He’d gone into hiding after his lab was destroyed, and Adrian wondered if it were better to kill her now before he completely lost all sense of control. Before his enemies closed in.

  Adrian rested his hand on Jane’s, her skin warm and soft to the touch. “I’m sorry, Jane. I wish I could have saved you.” It was time to let her go. To let go of a foolish dream before he created any more nightmares.

  He turned off the machine pumping air into her lungs then proceeded to pull the tube loose. To his surprise, her chest continued to rise and fall. Probably a delayed reaction.

  He sat and held her hand as her heartbeat slowed.

  Stuttered.

  Stopped.

  And with her death, his hope died, too.

  Stay tuned for A Chimera’s Revenge.

  For more books by Eve Langlais or to receive her newsletter, please visit EveLanglais.com