9. Neo

NINE

NEO

My blood boiled through my veins. I couldn't get the sight of Kiera's terrified expression out of my head or the cut on her face.

I would make this asshole pay for both.

My panther roared in agreement, and every muscle in my body coiled in anticipation of what was to come. I glared at Lucius through the windshield of his truck as he approached, revving his engine. Shifter magic crackled through the air around me as I let my panther slide closer to the surface. He was hungry for blood, and ready to end the threat toward Kiera.

I felt the same.

Once Lucius came to a stop and hopped out of his truck, I gave way to my beast. My panther burst out of me, his powerful form emerging with vengeance rolling through every sleek muscle. He released a roar into the air as a warning to Lucius that we would bleed him for what he'd done to Kiera. When it garnered only a sly smirk from Lucius, rage blistered through my panther. It scorched me too, and I lost all sense of reason or restraint as my panther lunged for him.

Kiera made a noise, but my panther didn't look back.

Instead, he continued toward our target.

Lucius gave way to his snake before we reached him. My panther faltered for a moment, neither of us expecting him to be a massive python. He was muscular with a heavy body build for a snake, and his triangular head swayed side to side as though he was teasing us.

My panther swiped at him with his claws, releasing a snarl, sick of his game already. Lucuis's snake slithered away with surprising agility for such a massive snake, dodging my panther's claws with an infuriating ease. We swiped at him again, and again, each missed blow pissing us off even more.

Lucius's venomous hiss pierced through the night, taunting us, and my panther leaped at him, determined to rip him apart. We grazed him this time with our claws, but the injury wasn't deep enough. Circling him, my panther watched as Lucius coiled tightly in on himself. He struck at us but missed.

My panther saw it coming, and pride surged through us both.

Determination to end this guy pumped through us as my panther reared back again. In a lightning-fast strike, he grazed his claws along the python's side, leaving a deep, jagged gash behind.

Blood spilled to the ground, and satisfaction flooded my panther and me.

Lucius's snake hissed in agony, causing my satisfaction to grow. Instead of coming for my panther, the python headed for the woods. We stayed on him, but once he reached the thick foliage, he vanished from sight. Fury blasted through me and my panther, neither one of us believing he'd evaded us so smoothly.

Blood had been spilled, though.

Which meant the debt owed for Kiera's blood spilling had at least been filled. It was a momentary victory, though. Both my panther and I knew as much. Our paths would cross again with Lucius, and when they did, he would get the ending he deserved.

My panther stalked his way back to where Kiera stood, staring at us with wide eyes. There was no fear in her stare. Instead, she watched my panther with a look of pure awe. Once we were a few feet away from her, my panther receded, allowing me to surface once more. Kiera watched the change but didn't speak.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my gaze fixated on her, wondering if I'd missed her somehow being injured during the fight.

"I'm fine." She swallowed hard, clearly trying to keep her gaze away from my lower body.

A smirk cut across my face.

I stepped closer to her, closing the distance between us, and noticed when her breath hitched.

The chemistry between us—even after that screwed up situation—was undeniable. The pull drawing me to her seemed stronger now. I wondered if it was because she gave my panther a sense of purpose. Protecting her, and seeing to her well-being, had somehow become the only thing that mattered to him.

I swallowed hard, knowing what this meant.

Even though it was something those in my tribe rarely experienced, I'd always understood that finding my mate was a possibility. My panther pushed against my skin, drawn to the surface by the truth of my thoughts, by the truth of who Kiera was.

She was our mate.

Her eyes locked with mine, a mix of curiosity and hesitation swirling within them, and I wondered if she could feel it too—the connection that pulsed through the air between us. Kiera's teeth sank into her lower lip as she held my stare, and I'd never seen a woman look more beautiful than she did right then.

"You were going to kill him, weren't you?" she whispered.

My panther rushed to the surface at the reminder of Lucius and what had gone down seconds ago, brightening my eyes. He wanted her to know that we would kill anyone who harmed her.

Anyone.

"Yes," I said without hesitation, my voice low and gravely.

She blinked but showed no other reaction to my admittance beyond that. "He'll be back, and his thirst for revenge will be targeted at you this time." Worry flooded her eyes.

Was she concerned about my well-being?

A grin twisted my lips.

"I'll be waiting," I said, a promise wrapped in vengeance.

The faintest hint of a smile played at the corners of her lips. "You really are a bad boy, aren't you?" she asked. I drew closer to her, and she lifted her hands to cover her eyes. "Good grief, can you please go put some clothes on?"

A chuckle rumbled from deep inside my chest. I reached out and lowered her hands from her face. Electricity pulsed under my skin where we touched.

"Bad boys," I whispered, my gaze fixed on her lips as I dipped my head toward her. "Have more fun."

Her breath hitched as my lips hovered over hers, teasing us both. The air around us crackled with her desire, with her yearning, and I erased a fraction more of the space between us. Kiera arched her body toward mine, and it was all I needed to know we were on the same page.

Brushing my lips against hers in a featherlight touch, she moaned, igniting the wildfire that raged between us. I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue, asking for entrance, and she eagerly granted it. The taste of her intoxicated me beyond reason, and my hands found their way to her hips, pulling her closer. Her hands snaked along my back, her fingers digging into my skin as she matched my hunger. I deepened the kiss, ready to give in to what I craved and worship every inch of this woman's body. The moan that was released from her spurred me on, and I reached down, hoisting her into the air.

She wrapped her legs around me, our mouths never parting, as I carried her toward my camper. I walked as though I was a man on a mission, managing to make it inside the camper and to my bedroom without breaking our kiss. I carefully placed her on the bed, and slowly, I peeled away her clothes. Kiera's eyes burned with desire as she watched me undress her, her gaze traveling along my body, soaking me in while I did the same with her. Hunger danced through her eyes, mirroring my own, and a surge of need rippled through me.

I skimmed my lips over her heated skin, and every supple moan that slid past her parted lips held the power to shred my will to take this slowly and savor her. As I lowered my mouth to the swell of her breasts, she arched her back, her hands pulling me closer, tugging at my hair. My mouth closed over her budded nipple, and she shuddered beneath me as I worked my tongue there. Her nails dug into the flesh of my back as her thighs squeezed against me. I made my way down her body, trailing kisses along her smooth skin, and when I reached her hip bone, she made a noise that had me losing all sense of thought.

I dipped my head between her thighs, my tongue exploring her in a pleasurable way. More supple noises worked from her parted lips as she moved her hips against my face. I throbbed with need for her, but I wasn't done with this little temptress just yet. Working my tongue faster at her clit, I dove my fingers inside her slickness. Feeling and tasting her warmth and wetness nearly drove me wild.

Kiera's breathing became faster, and her body trembled beneath me. When her whimpers grew louder, I sucked harder and worked my fingers faster. Her hands clutched at my hair, her nails digging into my scalp, as a moan pushed past her lips that had me standing at complete attention.

"Please, more," she begged. "Oh, yes!"

Her pulsating walls clenched around my fingers a second later, and her cry of pleasure ricocheted through the tiny room. She pushed back against my hand, against my face, as she shattered, and I craned my neck to watch this beautiful woman break apart into ecstasy. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back, a soft moan escaping her as her nails dug into my scalp once more.

When she collapsed against the mattress and released a slow exhale, I lapped at her center, causing her to quiver beneath me. Her thighs squeezed my face tight as though she was sensitive to the brush of my tongue now, and the thought excited me. I couldn't resist the temptation to bury myself inside her any longer.

Lifting to my knees, I held her stare as I positioned myself between her thighs. "Now, you're going to feel every inch of me," I growled.

Desire blazed through her bright green eyes as I pushed into her, filling her completely. Her hands pressed against my ass as she matched my movements, thrusting her hips up to meet me.

This woman wanted it hard, and I was down to give it to her.

I thrust deeper inside her, sending the sound of our skin slapping against each other echoing through the tiny room. Kiera arched her back, her head tipping back against the mattress while her breathing grew ragged again.

"Yes!" she shouted. "Neo!"

Hearing my name come from her lips spurred me on. I increased my pace, losing myself to the moment—to her. Her soft moans filled the air, pleading for more. I complied, giving her everything I had. When she crashed into ecstasy again, I had a better view of it this time. Her eyes closed, her cheeks and chest grew flush, and her teeth sank into her plump bottom lip.

Dipping my head, I replaced her teeth with mine, scraping them over her bottom lip while I continued to pump my hips in a slow movement. I wanted every wave her body built to crash through her blissfully. I wanted her thoroughly sated by me, and only me.

Kiera was mine, and I wanted her body to hunger for no other but mine.

Her tongue snaked out to sweep against mine, and my lips curled into a grin. I thrust my hips faster, building to a release of my own. Her legs wrapped around me, allowing me to go deeper than before, and she arched her hips higher for me. Something primal inside me built as I pounded harder into her.

"You're mine, Kiera," I growled, my voice barely recognizable as I locked eyes with her.

Her breath hitched, and then she whispered, "Always."

With a roar, I thrust into her one last time, burying myself so deeply that there was nothing left between us, and then my release hit. Satisfaction sparked within her eyes as she thrust her hips to meet with mine, enjoying the feel of me unraveling. My body thrummed with pleasure as I stared into her eyes. This woman could bring me to my damn knees, and I would enjoy every fucking second of it. She had an unparalleled grip on me, one that left no doubt about her owning me wholly.