Owned by the Alpha Read online

  A layer of snow covered its head, collecting around its ears. For several minutes, it stayed in shot, checking out the area and giving her numerous wonderful pieces of material to use.

  “He’s beautiful,” she whispered when the animal finally disappeared from view on the last clip.

  “You think so?” Aaron asked, taking the laptop and setting it on her desk.

  “Yes, totally breathtaking.”

  He looked at her and smiled, and then added another log to the fire. When he turned back to face her, he removed his top.

  “And I think you’re beautiful, too,” she said, enjoying how his body almost glowed as it was caressed by the dancing shadows of the fire.

  “As beautiful as a snow leopard?” he asked, crawling onto the bed.

  “I…” She couldn’t compare the two. They were so different, but both equally majestic.

  “It’s good you can’t answer that. The snow leopards need people in the world who are mesmerized by them. It will help keep them safe.” He leaned over her so she was forced to lie flat.

  “Yes, I want to help them.”

  “You already are.” He kissed her, the same deep, passionate kiss as he’d given her on the mountain.

  She hooked her hands behind his neck and pulled him closer so their bodies were in alignment. Through clothing, his cock pressed against her mound.

  She had a sudden urge to get up close and personal with his dick again. So with a shove, she pushed him to his back.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, looking up at her as his head hit the pillow. Surprise washed over his face.

  “You gonna let me have some fun?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows and reaching for his waistband.

  “Will it be fun for me, too?”

  “Of course.” She popped open the button. “If you like having your dick sucked, that is.”

  His mouth fell open and he half sat, reaching for her wrist as he did so.

  A shard of alarm went though her. He didn’t like blowjobs?

  “What’s up?” she asked, stilling.

  “I…” He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “What don’t you know?”

  “I mean, I’ve never…”

  “You’ve never had a blowjob?”

  Really?

  “You blow?” He appeared slightly alarmed.

  “No.” God, who was this wild sexy man, full of mystery and passion, but also infused with innocence? “Of course I won’t blow.” She tugged and he released her wrist. “Why don’t I show you?” She pressed him flat and was pleased when he stayed on his back. “Relax, enjoy. Most men would sell their soul for it.”

  “I’m not your average male.”

  “Don’t I know it?” She undid his pants and then wriggled them down to his thighs.

  His erection released, hard and long, and she took it in her hand. “Close your eyes.” She slid down the bed so her face was level with his groin.

  He did as instructed.

  “Just feel.”

  He blew out a long low breath, his chest deflating and his abdominal muscles tensing.

  Watching his expression, she flicked out her tongue and licked the head.

  “Oh fuck…” he muttered, his belly tensing further.

  “Not yet.” She circled his glans, stroking the point of her tongue into the groove and then concentrating on his frenulum.

  Again, he groaned. A low deep rumbling sound telling her he liked what he was experiencing.

  Gently, she began to work his shaft within the clasp of her hand.

  It was like satin on steel, and so damn hot. He grew more erect and his cock twitched.

  She decided it was time to take him deep, show him for real there was no blowing involved, only a bit of sucking.

  Stretching her mouth wide, she circled his head, then slowly, so slowly, dropped down so his shaft smoothed over her tongue and filled her mouth.

  “Oh, gods above.” He rammed his fingers into her hair and coiled forward. “Chloe, mate, oh…”

  Her pussy dampened, her nipples were tight. Hearing his pleasure was a massive turn on in itself.

  She withdrew and balanced his glans on her bottom lip so she could caress his slit with her tongue.

  Again he groaned, dropping back and releasing her hair as he did so.

  She glanced up at him. His spine was arched, his chest rising and falling rapidly, and his eyes closed. He was gripping the wooden slats of the bamboo headboard and exposing his underarm hair.

  Again she sank deep, taking him to the back of her throat. A strange growling sound erupted from him and a slick of pre-cum coated her tongue.

  God, he’s close.

  She quickly decided she wanted him to have the full experience. To come in her mouth. She was honored to be giving Aaron this pleasure for the first time.

  She set up a relentless pace, using every trick in the book with her tongue and lips.

  Soon he was bucking his hips to meet her. His fingers were clasped tight in her hair again, and he was gasping and moaning.

  With her free hand, she cupped his balls and gently squeezed.

  Then it was there. His orgasm rushed from him. Salty fluid filled her mouth and she swallowed it down quickly.

  More came and his cock pulsed against her tongue.

  “Chloe, oh, yes…”

  His balls were packed tight, but still she held them and was rewarded with another shot of cum.

  Finally he stilled. He released her hair and flopped back on the bed. The sound of his rapid breaths filled the room.

  She let him fall from her mouth and caught his shaft in her hand. “You see, no blowing involved.”

  He rested his forearm over his eyes and laid his opposite hand on his chest. “That was…”

  “Awesome, incredible?”

  “All of those and … wow, when can you do it again?”

  “As soon as you’ve recovered.”

  Suddenly he reached for her and dragged her up his body so she was on top of him. “It won’t take me long to recover. Not with you around.”

  Chapter Six

  “Are we nearly there?” Chloe asked as they trekked up the west side of the mountain.

  “Yes. Not far now.” Aaron stomped ahead, seemingly uncaring his black sweater was now coated in a thin film of snow.

  Chloe curled her hands in her gloves and followed him. It seemed to her she’d follow him anywhere now. He’d gotten under her skin and unbolted the door to her heart.

  The night before had been incredible. He hadn’t opted for another blowjob when he’d recovered. Instead, once again, he’d taken her from behind, this time providing her with a wonderful deep G-spot orgasm which had left her boneless with satisfaction.

  But she would have his cock in her mouth again … soon. Perhaps here, up on the mountain. She knew damn well he wouldn’t complain about the cold.

  As they rounded a corner, she pushed away thoughts of going back to England. She didn’t want to leave Aaron or the village. It had quickly become home.

  But her job, her ambitions, her small flat, it was all back there.

  An eagle screeched overhead and she resolved to live for the moment and trust it would all work out. Perhaps Aaron would come back with her?

  Who was she kidding? The man was made for living in the mountains. She was sure he’d die if he had to cope with a commute through London traffic. It wouldn’t suit him.

  He held up his hand. Indicating for her to stop.

  She did. “What is it?”

  “I heard something.” He raised his nose and appeared to sniff the air.

  “You smell something, too?”

  “I’m not sure.” He turned to her. “I want you to stay here. This is a safe place on this path.” He glanced upward. “No avalanche danger, and if you stay away from the edge, you’ll be okay.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Up another hundred yards or so. To deliver my warning.”

 
; “Which is?” She held up her palms.

  “Please. Wait here.” He turned and disappeared around the corner.

  Chloe huffed. How come she’d been left alone? And what the hell was the warning he kept talking about?

  A coil of annoyance wound through her. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now. Too many things didn’t add up about Aaron. She didn’t know what they were supposed to add up to, but she wanted to know.

  She decided to follow him. He couldn’t tell her to wait on the side of the mountain like a good little girl and expect her to obey.

  With dogged determination, she marched ahead, being careful to stay away from the dangerous edge. The snow became deeper as she went into a shadowed area.

  Picking her way carefully, she paused.

  Fresh leopard prints.

  They led forward as if the creature had been in the area very recently.

  “What the…?”

  How come they hadn’t seen it? Or maybe Aaron had.

  She took another three steps and then froze.

  Her heart clattered and she gripped the rock to her right.

  An eerie roar filled the air. It was more like a deep mewling shout. And it was very close.

  Snow leopard.

  Half of her wanted to turn and run, and the other half of her wanted to see it.

  Aaron. Where are you?

  Her need to find him was too great. She edged around the next bend, knowing the creature wouldn’t be far from her.

  She was right. Standing majestically on a rock was a huge male snow leopard. Its paws were massive, its thick neck outstretched as it sent its strange cry into the snow-filled sky.

  On and on it made the noise, transmitting it down valleys, and over the mountain tops.

  Chloe marveled at its beauty. So few people were lucky enough to catch even a fleeting glimpse, yet here she was feasting on the sight of one for the second time.

  Suddenly, it stopped making its strange nose and turned to stare at her.

  Admiration turned to fear.

  She quickly backed up. And once around the corner, turned and hastened her pace.

  She wanted to shout for Aaron, but she was worried doing so wouldn’t help her situation with the leopard.

  But a noise behind her warned it was too late, and as she arrived back at the place Aaron had left her, the snow leopard appeared.

  She pressed herself against the cliff.

  The leopard approached her, its paws sinking deep, its gaze set on hers.

  She was about to die. This time, for sure, she was going to be snow leopard dinner.

  A sudden movement to her right caught her attention. She fixed her fear-fuzzed vision on it.

  A man appeared through the snow.

  Not any man. It was the poacher she’d seen in the bar the night before—the one with the fur hat—and he held a gun aloft, aimed at the leopard.

  “No,” she shouted. She didn’t want to die, but she definitely didn’t want the leopard to die and the poacher to win. Besides, he’d probably shoot her afterward for being a witness.

  Her cry alerted the leopard who turned. Its body dipped backward, as if harnessing power. Then in a flash, it pounced on the man, knocking his gun from his hand. The weapon flipped, cartwheel style, and landed at her feet.

  “Agh!” The man yelled as the leopard hurled itself over him, its head shaking as it took a bite from his jacket.

  “Help,” the man shouted. “Help me.”

  Chloe stood stock-still, watching the terrifying scene.

  The leopard stepped back a fraction. It lifted its front leg, and with one powerful sweep of its paw, it sent the man over the side of the cliff.

  His scream echoed for a full five seconds before it was silenced by his brutal landing.

  “Oh, my God,” Chloe said. She came out of her shocked frozen state and grabbed the gun. She then squeezed up against the cliff and pointed it forward.

  The snow leopard turned to her again, its green eyes flashing as it breathed heavily.

  Okay, so now it was up to her. She could shoot the creature and live, or die at its hands.

  She waggled the gun. “Go away.”

  Strangely the creature hesitated, as if it knew what she held was dangerous.

  “Please, go away. I don’t want to hurt you,” she said in a croaky voice.

  “I’ll take the beast away for you.” Behind the leopard, another man appeared. He, too, was holding a gun aimed at the creature approaching her. “And I’ll make a hefty profit in the process.” He cackled.

  The leopard spun around, making its head an easy target.

  “No. You can’t do that.” Fury raged in Chloe and she took aim. “You and your sort are evil.” She shot at the man.

  She’d intended to hit his chest, but got his right leg. Blood spurted onto the snow and the impact caused him to jolt backward, his gun falling from his hand. It clattered over the cliff edge, going the same way as his friend.

  The man screamed and clutched his shin.

  “Get out of here or I’ll finish you off,” Chloe shouted. “Then I’ll kick you over the mountain to land with your buddy.”

  The man flashed her a look of hate and hopped backward, quickly disappearing from view. All that remained were his splashes of blood.

  Chloe looked at the leopard again. It was breathing hard, its breath collecting in the air in front of it.

  Slowly it turned to face her.

  She still held the gun aloft, but it was aimed at the side of the rock where the poacher had fled.

  He might come back.

  A tremble went through her belly as the leopard approached.

  “Go eat him,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “Go eat the bad guys.” She directed the gun at the leopard. But she knew she couldn’t and wouldn’t shoot it. She’d die before she hurt it. “Go eat him, he deserves it.”

  Still the leopard neared.

  A brief image of newspaper headlines at home flashed in her mind. Snow leopard eats female wildlife producer while filming in Himalayas. Her poor parents would be distraught.

  “Please no.” She shook her head and beat down a wave of nausea. Would it be a quick death? How much pain should she expect? Would it wait until she was dead before it started eating her?

  Chapter Seven

  Chloe stared into the leopard’s eyes, pleading with it to have mercy and leave her be.

  Where is Aaron?

  He was her last chance. Her only hope.

  But it was too late. The creature was right in front of her now.

  It sprang back onto its rear legs and rose upward, stretching its body to a standing position. It placed its paws, each as big as her head, on the cliff wall on either side of her face.

  Its wet nose almost touched hers. Its eyes, so beautiful and flecked with gold, stared at her.

  What is it doing?

  She was sure it was playing with her. Toying with the human it had found.

  She dropped the gun. Trembling so much, she was unable to hold it.

  She prayed it would be quick.

  But as she stared at the leopard’s face, it began to change. The nose retracted, the eyes became smaller, and in place of a fur-covered brow, human skin and blond tousled hair.

  The wide animal shoulders turned to broad male shoulders, and a near hairless torso was revealed. The arms, in her peripheral vision, also lost their fur, and flesh thick with muscle and tendon appeared.

  “Don’t be scared,” the creature said.

  But it wasn’t a creature, it was Aaron.

  She shook. A full body shake that started in her core and traveled outward.

  What the hell is happening? I’m seeing things.

  She shut her eyes and opened them again, fully expecting to see the leopard still standing in front of her. Her mind was surely playing tricks on her at the moment of her death.

  But it was Aaron staring back at her with the exact same eyes the leopard had.

 
“It’s me,” he said, studying her intently. “I won’t hurt you. You’re safe. I promised you always would be.”

  “I … I don’t understand.”

  “I’m a shifter. I move between two bodies. Snow leopard and human.”

  She hadn’t heard him right. She was dreaming. It was the only explanation.

  “Chloe.” He frowned.

  “But that’s not real.” Shifter? It was the stuff of teen movies, fiction … wasn’t it?

  “Do I feel real?” He took her hand and pressed it over his chest. “Tell me. Do I feel real?”

  Beneath the warm flesh his heart beat rapidly.

  “Yes, yes, you feel real.” He did. God, he did. As real as when he’d been making love to her.

  “Shh…” he said. “Calm yourself. It’s okay. It will all be okay.”

  “I don’t understand. How can it be?” She pressed her other hand to his chest, absorbing his heat. Glancing down, she saw he was naked.

  “It’s the way I was born.”

  “But…”

  “I am destined to mate for life with a human woman, and that’s you.” He paused. “If I have human children, they will be with you. Only you. There is only you now, for me.”

  “Aaron.” She went to move away, trying to gather her thoughts. But he kept her trapped against the cliff edge with his body.

  “You have to understand, Chloe.”

  “I don’t know if I can.” She shook her head. “It’s all too much. I just watched a man fall to his death, shot another, and then believed I was about to be eaten alive.” She suppressed a sob. “And now you … you’re a … snow leopard.”

  “Come here.” He tugged her close.

  She allowed him to wrap her in his arms. Her thoughts were muddled. Common sense and logic at battle with what she’d seen with her own eyes. But still, his embrace was welcome and comforting, as were his scent and the way he rubbed a soothing circle on her back.

  “My beautiful mate,” he murmured. “Calm yourself. No need for tears. You know the truth now. From here we can move forward.”

  “Forward,” she repeated.

  “Yes. I can show you everything. Tell you everything.”

  “What else is there to show me?” She pulled back. “No, don’t tell me, you can turn into an eagle as well.”