Taber Read online

  A figure stepped forward on the porch to lean against one of the pillars leading up the stairs. The moon bathed Lainey in an ethereal light. Her hair was loose, flowing around her body. The short nightshirt she wore showed off her muscular thighs. Taber strode closer. He felt as well as saw when she spotted him. Taber paused below the staircase, waiting to see what she would do.

  “You are really becoming a pain in my ass.” Lainey sighed.

  Taber chuckled and Lainey joined him. She raised one delicate looking hand and motioned to him. He did as she bid, moving up the steps to her. He paused one step below where she stood on the porch. Lainey raised her hand, trailing her fingers along his face.

  “What am I going to do with you, Taber?” she asked.

  He kept silent, knowing she wasn’t really looking for an answer. Lainey continued exploring his face with feather-light touches that made his cock harder and harder. She moved her exploration along his neck, down the column of his throat. Taber raised his head to give her better access. He purred, bringing the sound deep from the recesses of his being. Lainey’s caress stilled a moment, then she went on. Down his bare chest tracing all the ridges of his muscles. Lainey rubbed her fingertips over his belly, then she circled her fingers just above the waist of his pants, over his shaft. Taber moaned. With a yank on his hair, Lainey brought his head down. Her brown gaze met his. Taber inhaled. Her desire filled him.

  Lainey tugged his hair, pulling him down to her. Taber met her lips with his own. She stroked her tongue into his mouth—demanding, not seeking. Taber shuddered at the taste of her as it burst across his tongue. Lainey continued to stroke along his stomach, right over his erection, as she kissed him. Taber opened, letting her do with him as she would. Lainey withdrew suddenly and studied him before she spoke.

  “Is that all you’re going to do? Stay there and let me do all the work?” Lainey’s tone was a challenge.

  Taber partially closed his eyes and watched Lainey lick her lips. He followed the movement then met her eyes again. He lowered his head, took her challenge and lay down one of his own.

  Chapter Three

  Lainey’s heart raced as Taber’s golden eyes stared at her, seeming to see deep within her soul. For weeks she had been working with him and her respect for him—which she’d had since knowing of his work with animals—had grown. Everyone who worked at or visited the reserve had the utmost respect for him. He knew all about what happened on the reserve. On a personal level she’d tried to keep him at a distance. Although Taber had not said a word about it, she could tell he knew what she was doing. She got the impression he was more amused than anything else. She’d become adept at avoiding being alone in his presence, but that didn’t matter. Whether he was close to her or not, she still felt him.

  It was a disconcerting feeling, seeming to know wherever he was in the sanctuary. At first she’d dismissed it, but then being curious, she’d gone to where she had felt he had been. Finding him in the various places had baffled her even more. When he had spotted her she’d used some excuse as to why she’d been there. And again she’d felt she had amused him. It was as if everything she did pleased him. She could even admit to herself she looked forward to Taber’s smile. There were a lot of things she had come to appreciate about the man. Things that only increased the attraction she felt for him. Her desire grew with each passing day but she resisted crossing that boundary from professional to personal. She knew that once she did there would be no going back.

  She licked her lips. Taber tracked the movement with his eyes then met her gaze again. Lainey breathed in his scent. She still couldn’t place it, but it called out to her baser urges. His soft lips pressed against hers and he took command over her with a simple kiss. Taber didn’t move closer, just kissed her thoroughly. She felt him inhale along her lips then the motion against her fingers resting on his stomach. Taber’s tongue filled her mouth, duelling with her own. Moaning, Lainey suckled his. Taber growled and withdrew slowly.

  Lainey slid her hand along his arm then laced her fingers with his. She stepped back. Taber came forward. Gaze locked with his heated eyes, she walked backwards, leading him inside the house. Taber placed a hand on her hip, guiding her. With each step, his warm palm rubbed against the cotton of her nightgown. Even through the cloth she could feel his heat—she wanted his hand on her bare flesh. Finally, they arrived in the bedroom. Taber continued moving her towards the bed until they stood beside the mattress. Lainey trailed her fingers over the waistband of his sweat pants, gripping them and pushing them down. His cock sprang free. Long, thick and with a glistening tip. Lainey grasped his shaft and firmly ran her thumb over the head.

  A rumbling groan leaked out of Taber’s mouth. Lainey rubbed his tip again then tugged up and down on his erection. Taber tightened his hold on her hips, flexing his fingers against her cloth-covered skin. His hold slid down to the edge of her nightshirt, which rested mid-thigh. In one movement Taber lifted the shirt off. She released his shaft and he pulled her top off, tossing it away. Taber clasped her hand, wrapping it around his heated length. Taking his silent urging, Lainey repeated what she had done before.

  Taber held her hips again and Lainey moaned at his touch on her skin. He circled his thumbs along her skin, then stroked towards her pelvis. His large hands went lower. Taber pressed his palms against the inside of her thighs. Lainey widened her stance. Taber inhaled deeply.

  “You smell so sweet,” he growled.

  Lainey shuddered at the raspy sound of his voice. She continued to rub the spongy, pre-cum-slickened head. Taber stroked two of his fingers along either side of the seam of her slit. He brought his them together, opening her, tracing another along just inside her sensitive flesh. Lainey’s knees went weak and her focus scattered.

  “Oh…my…please…” she whimpered.

  Taber pushed deeper into her canal. He continued the maddening, deliberate touch on her wetness. With each motion Lainey’s moans increased in volume. Taber showed no mercy as he stroked her into a frenzy of lust. Her pussy felt heavy and ready to come, yet each time she was close he backed off. Taber pulled his fingers out, stroking along the inside edges.

  “More…please,” Lainey cried.

  Taber tweaked her clit.

  “Yes.” Lainey shuddered.

  He alternated between stroking along her heated core and plucking on her sensitive bud. Lainey released his cock and gripped his shoulders. She rose on her toes, rocking against his questing touch.

  “Wider,” Taber growled.

  Too far gone to get what he meant, Lainey arched against his fingers. Pressure congealed in the base of her belly. Taber’s touch stilled.

  “No… What—” Lainey’s words cut off as he lifted her and placed her on the bed.

  Taber blanketed her body, stroking into her wetness in one thrust.

  Protection, Lainey thought as he set a pounding rhythm.

  “I took care of it,” Taber said.

  Lainey frowned, not remembering him putting on a condom. Taber swivelled his hips setting of a sensation of pleasure. Lainey breathed out, gripping his sides. Taber rocked back and forth, his hard movements driving her crazy. She’d fantasised about his taking her, yet this surpassed anything she could have imagined. His cock abraded the inner walls of her pussy with each stroke—in then out.

  “Lainey,” Taber grunted.

  His face was fierce and harsh. Lainey raised her legs along his sides, cradling his larger frame as he thrust into her. She grabbed his hair, using it to tug his head down. She met his lips and kissed him thoroughly. Taber groaned against her lips. Lainey licked along the soft bottom lip, then bit down gently. Taber shuddered above her. He moved faster. The tightness in her belly became more pronounced.

  “Taber,” Lainey screamed.

  The pressure disintegrated as pleasure filled her. Her body felt as if it took flight and came apart.

  “Lainey,” Taber roared, joining her in release.

  He shook as he came, then
collapsed against her. Absently, Lainey noted Taber didn’t crush her with his weight. Lainey pressed her lips the side of his face then Taber turned his head meeting her mouth. Their kisses were slow as they calmed, Taber moved his head back and studied her. Lainey met his gaze.

  “May I take you out to dinner, Lainey?” Taber asked, his tone formal.

  Lainey glanced at him, startled, then she replied in an equally formal tone. “Yes, I’ll go to dinner with you, Taber.”

  “Tomorrow night at six o’clock.” Taber nodded.

  “You do know the date usually comes before the sex.” Lainey pointed out.

  “I’m not the one who decided to seduce a poor defenceless man.” Taber’s eyes twinkled with a devilish spark.

  “Defenceless my ass.” Lainey snorted.

  “Your ass feels so good.” Taber cupped her butt, squeezing it.

  “So does yours.” Lainey chuckled, cupping his.

  Taber pushed back into her touch and Lainey kneaded the soft mound of his butt. Taber made deep, growly sounds as she did. Taber kissed her again, then shifted to remove the condom. He leaned over the side of the side of the bed and discarded it in the trash, before moving back beside Lainey and placing his arm across her stomach.

  “Are you spending the night?” Lainey asked, wanting to be sure.

  “I was planning on it. I like to cuddle. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Not at all,” Lainey replied.

  Taber was silent. Sleep tugged on Lainey.

  “Since you seduced me, maybe you should have asked me out instead. That way you’d be sure that after dinner tomorrow I would put out,” Taber said.

  “I have no doubt you would give it up, no matter who paid.” Lainey laughed.

  “True. Okay, I’ll pay for dinner but this time I’ll do the seducing.” Taber chuckled.

  “Sounds good to me,” Lainey whispered before sleep claimed her.

  * * * *

  Lainey tried to focus on the paperwork she was doing. She put down her pen, realising it was useless. All day her thoughts had been filled with what she and Taber had done last night and this morning. Waking up next to him had felt very right. She’d expected the awkward morning after, since besides work they didn’t really know each other. That hadn’t happened at all. Taber had taken her again—it had been a sexy morning interlude. Then he’d dragged her to take a shower where they’d had another sensual romp. He’d dressed in his sweats then had waited for her to don her nightshirt before going to the kitchen. Taber had seated her, and had proceeded to take over her kitchen and make her breakfast. They had shared the meal talking comfortably before he’d left to get ready for his day.

  When she’d come to the office she had been unsure what to expect. She didn’t want him to treat her any differently than before—especially not in front of the staff. And Taber hadn’t. Lainey wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or not. As the day wore on and they’d found themselves alone, Taber had kissed her and had acted more flirtatiously, but he’d stopped whenever someone had come near. She hadn’t even heard them coming but somehow he unerringly knew when someone was about to see them. Those brief moments of him being loving had her on edge, looking forward to their dinner date and the night to come. She was so going to seduce him. Lainey smiled.

  The phone rang. Lainey picked it up and focused back on work.

  * * * *

  Taber strode out of his office. He paused in the doorway of Lainey’s. She was on the phone. Lainey raised her head to look at him, a warm smile curled on her full lips. Taber resisted going in and kissing her—it had already been too long since he had last been able to steal a kiss. Before he could give into temptation he continued down the hall, then outside. Taber strolled around the various enclosures. He waved at the employees who were working as he moved along the habitats. His watch beeped. Taber glanced at the time and hurried. As he came into view of the newly built Siberian enclosure, Taber slowed.

  “We were wondering where you were,” Sean called.

  “Working. Unlike some people,” Taber replied.

  Sean and the others laughed. Taber joined them and they all got to work splitting up into twos. As they moved around the enclosure Taber was very pleased with the way it had turned out.

  “Came out good,” Lainey spoke behind him.

  Taber turned to face her, startled he hadn’t heard or felt her. He reached out with his senses and when he felt no one was close to them he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. Lainey went limp against him. Feeling others approaching, he let her go. Lainey stumbled and he held her elbow then released her when she was stable.

  “Yes, it turned out great,” he replied.

  “It sure did. When is the Siberian arriving?” Sean asked.

  He observed Lainey as she answered Sean’s question, then others from the rest of the staff who were helping to get the enclosure ready. Now that everything was done, Taber was eager for the tiger to arrive.

  “I have to get back to the office.” Lainey’s words caught his attention.

  “I’m going that way too,” Taber said.

  They left the enclosure and headed back towards the office. Taber put his hands in his back pockets and Lainey was silent as she walked beside him. At the office, they paused in front of the building.

  “Six o’clock seems a long time away,” Lainey stated.

  “I agree. Until then a taste.” Taber crowded her back against the stair railing.

  “Taber, someone might see,” Lainey hissed.

  “No one will,” Taber promised.

  “So far they haven’t. But we’ve been lucky. You must have super hearing or something.”

  If only you knew. Taber stared at Lainey. He wondered what she would say if she knew what he was. Who he was. He remembered Talios telling him Candace’s reaction when he’d revealed himself to her. At the time, Taber had found it hilarious that she’d passed out, then when she had woken had started treating him like a specimen. Talios hadn’t thought it was funny and now Taber understood why. He also felt that in their case, Lainey wouldn’t react the same way Candace had. From what he had got to know about Lainey, he figured she would be more pissed off he had kept it from her. He imagined she would go to her best friend Candace about it, she’d probably be mad at her too. They had so much history, he couldn’t see Lainey cutting her off. He on the other hand—she had only let him into her bed. That much he knew—Lainey was quicker to accept him physically than emotionally. And that was what he wanted—no, he needed—from her.

  He ran through the possible scenarios of what she would do. And he had no clue what would happen. Taber decided to wait a bit, for them to get to know each other, before he told her. He wouldn’t do a big ah hah look at me like Talios had. He would sit her down calmly and explain it all to her in a rational manner.

  “Taber,” Lainey said.

  He focused on her, then kissed her. Lainey held him fiercely. Yes, waiting to tell her would be for the best. Taber pressed against her lush frame, rubbing his cloth-clad erection against her. Lainey pushed at his shoulder and he released her lips.

  “Uh huh. Work. We both need to work.” Lainey’s voice was husky.

  All he wanted was to take her somewhere, lay her down and have his way with her.

  “Later. We’re going to have a good dinner. Tease each other as we eat. Then later I will seduce you again,” Lainey whispered.

  Taber’s cock went even harder. Lainey pushed him again and Taber reluctantly let her go. Lainey went up the steps, glancing back before disappearing inside. Taber gripped the railing then turned and went to find something to do. Hopefully it would get his mind off the long hours until tonight.

  He continuously checked his watch as the day progressed. The time moved at a molasses pace. At five o’clock, the majority of the day staff left. He felt when Lainey left and assumed it was to prepare for their date. He didn’t head home yet—it wouldn’t take him that long to get ready. If he went hom
e he’d go to her house and they would never make it to dinner.

  Taber stood outside Kali’s enclosure as she bounded out of the woods. She flooded him with images of them romping together. Taber searched with his senses and felt that everyone else was otherwise occupied. He went inside the habitat, shifted into his cave lion then raced after her. He chased and ran behind her. She made a purring sound. He roared then charged her. He skidded out of the woods close to the offices. She lay down on the ground, her ears twitching.

  Taber shifted to human form. He crouched next to the lynx, petting her. “Enough playing for now. I have to go.”

  He stood and turned. Shock filled him as he locked eyes with dark brown. Lainey stood before the window of her office staring at them. Taber wondered how long she had been there as he watched her wide eyes glance between him and Kali.

  “I could swear he was a cave lion but then he shifted to a man. What the hell is going on?”

  He could hear what she said with his acute hearing and he knew she had seen everything. He again hadn’t even felt her—something was off, he should have known she was there. Taber sighed—it seemed like waiting to tell her wasn’t an option. He strode towards the window and walked through it. Lainey gasped, stumbling back. She stared at him. Taber heard her racing heart and he waited for her to calm a little. Lainey’s eyes narrowed, then she strode to him. She stopped a few steps away from him. Taber was proud of her fearlessness.

  “What the hell are you?” she demanded.

  Chapter Four

  Lainey prayed furiously she would wake up only to find this had been a dream. Dream? Nightmare is more like it. Unfortunately, deep down within the depths of her soul, she knew it wasn’t. Not a hallucination, not a moment of blind insanity. It didn’t stop her from another round of prayers, however.