Page 1 of Claiming Her Cougar (Shifting Pines #2)

Mallory

“I love this song!” I yell out to my girlfriends as we get ready to take the shots the server just brought us.

We’re having a bachelorette party for my friend Katie, and we snagged a prime table in the VIP section of the hottest nightclub in Vegas’ coolest casino.

Our friend and fellow bridesmaid, Melissa, is a host for the high rollers here and got us a suite for the weekend—and the VIP hookup in the club.

It’s been too long since we’ve all gotten together and let loose.

“I do too, Mallory! Let’s dance!” Katie shouts as we slam our shot glasses on the table with a thunk.

Everyone’s face is puckering from the limes we’ve bitten into.

Yeah, we’re sexy. Katie’s penis tiara is listing to the left, so I reach out to straighten it on her head.

Then I realize it’s Katie listing to the left.

We probably shouldn’t have taken that last shot of Patrón. Oh well.

We aren’t the only bachelorette party here tonight, but I know we’re the coolest and hottest. Wait, that doesn’t make sense —Oh well.

I’m buzzed, but not drunk. Maybe I didn't inherit actual shifting from my wolf shifter parents, but I got their ability to metabolize alcohol quickly. By the end of this song, it will be like I never took that last shot. My friends are all regular humans, no shifter blood in them, so the drinks are hitting them faster than me. This party trick served me well at the college we all attended in Pennsylvania. I killed it at beer pong. While everyone else was getting sloshed and clumsy, I’d stay coherent and coordinated.

We’re a group of fifteen good-looking ladies, and between the penis tiara, the bride and bride-squad sashes, and our general merriment, it’s obvious we’re a bachelorette party.

They always attract attention. I’m one of the few single girls in our group, so I’m checking out the guys looking us over.

YOLO, what happens in Vegas, and all that.

My gaze stops on a hottie at the bar. He’s staring at me too.

He’s tall, probably around six foot three.

Dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a neatly groomed beard framing lips quirked in a half smile.

He’s in a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his powerful forearms. He fills out a pair of black slacks really well.

Broad shoulders, trim hips. In a word, yummy.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such an instant attraction to a man.

Okay, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been this attracted to someone at first glance.

As the next song starts, my group lets out a collective whoop, and we continue dancing.

It’s possible I shake my ass a bit more than usual, knowing it’s looking great in my short, tight, royal-blue dress.

I’m a curvy girl, and my butt is one of my best curves.

I glance over my shoulder to see the dude at the bar watching my ass.

I give an extra wiggle, and he bites his bottom lip.

Wish I was biting it. I wonder if his beard is soft or scratchy?

His blue-eyed gaze meets mine, and I gasp at the heat I see there, the possessiveness.

My core clenches. I’m not one to go all swoony over an alpha male.

I’ve dealt with way too many of them in my life, and, since I’m often related to them, they’re usually annoying.

But for one night, I can do alpha. More like do an alpha.

“Grabbing some water,” I call to Ashley over the thumping bass of the song. She lifts her blonde hair off her neck as she sways her hips to the beat.

“Good idea! Let’s go!” She turns toward the bar but stops short when she sees the actual cause of my thirst. “Oh. ”

“I’ll be going to the ladies’ room after,” I tell her with a wink.

“Uh-huh. If you aren’t back in half an hour and haven’t texted me, I’m looking for you. Text me if you leave the club.”

“Yes, mom.” My tone is teasing, but truth is, I appreciate knowing someone has my back. I’d do the same for her. For any of my friends.

I approach the bar and squeeze in a couple of spots down from my quarry.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks. Her name tag says Teagan. She’s a stunning blonde who could probably make more money as a model than as a bartender.

“Hi, Teagan. I’d love ice water with mint if you have it, please.” I get a couple of bills from my wristlet.

She places my glass in front of me, and I slide her the money.

“No charge,” she informs me.

I smile. “I know. Thanks. This is for you.”

She accepts the tip with a grin and a nod before moving on to the next person.

Picking up my glass, I take a sip as I glance to where Hottie McHotterston was. He’s no longer there. Damn.

* * *

Liam

The redhead is stunning. Her deep auburn locks are in one of those half-up, half-down styles girls do, and it’s curled, the long tendrils trailing halfway down her back, and I want to grab it and pull on it while I bury myself in her.

Her pale neck is slender and graceful—I want to rain kisses down it and suck on it hard enough to leave my mark.

I’m a sexual man, but I don’t think I’ve ever had this kind of instantaneous reaction to a woman.

“Want another, Liam?” Teagan, my best friend, asks from behind the bar.

“Nah, I’m good. Thanks.” I turn back to watch the dance floor.

She must be with a bachelorette party if the penis tiara and sashes are anything to go by. Thank goodness she’s not the one wearing the bride sash.

My breath catches when she turns to look over at the bar and her gaze lands on me.

Her green eyes widen when they meet mine.

I don’t know how I can tell they’re green from across a neon-lit dance floor, but I can, and I don’t think it’s my extra-sharp shifter eyesight.

She turns back to her group and continues to dance to the thumping, sensual beat, her curvy ass swinging more than it was before.

If she’s trying to entice me, it’s working.

She talks to one of her friends and saunters toward the bar but doesn’t come to me.

Instead, she squeezes in a few spots down.

The club is loud with music and chatter, but my superior cougar shifter hearing picks up her order of ice water with mint.

Good. She’ll taste like mint when we kiss, and we will be kissing tonight, if I have any control over the situation.

I move from my spot at the bar and stand behind her. She accepts her water and tips the bartender. She glances at where I’d been standing, and her shoulders droop slightly. In disappointment?

She sips her water as she turns to face the dance floor again. When she sees me standing behind her, she chokes until she manages to swallow it.

“Hello,” I say, taking her in. She’s taller than average but still around half a foot shorter than I am, even in her heels.

A stretchy, sleeveless royal-blue dress covers her luscious curves.

Her breasts are full but not ridiculous-looking.

I’d bet my last dollar they’re natural. I long to rest my hands on the indented waist of her classic hourglass figure.

Her gently curving hips lead to long legs ending in black heels.

I’d love to have those legs wrapped around my waist and those heels digging into my ass.

“Hi.” Her voice is pleasant. Calm. Yeah, it was just a single word, but I can tell.

“Having a good time?” There are so many things I want to ask—her name, where she’s from, does she want to go back to my room, has she ever been with a cougar shifter like me? But I’ll start with a good time.

“I am,” she answers with a shy smile. “Are you?”

“I am now.” Wow, that’s cheesy. Sounds like a pickup line. But it’s the truth.

She takes another sip of her water, looking up at me through her lashes with her red-painted lips wrapped around the straw. My cock stirs at the thought of her giving me that same look with those lips wrapped around it.

“You’re here with friends?”

She nods. “Bachelorette party. Friend from college.” She looks around. “Are you here with friends too?”

“No, I’m in town for work and decided to check it out.” I look over my shoulder at the dance floor. The song’s just switched to something slower and sexier. “Wanna dance?”

“Sure.” She places her water on the bar.

I follow her to the dance floor, my hand resting on the small of her back, just above the curve of her delectable ass. She turns and puts her arms around my neck, and I rest my hands on her waist. We move in a natural rhythm with each other.

“I’m Liam,” I say.

“Mallory.”

“Do you live in Vegas?”

“No, just here for the weekend. You?”

“Leave town tomorrow,” I admit. I swear I can smell her arousal, and it’s driving me crazy. I think she’s feeling the same as she presses closer to me.

“So, just tonight?” Her bright green eyes are heavy-lidded as she looks up at me.

“How much have you had to drink?” I don’t care how hot they are, I don’t mess with drunk girls.

“I’m sober. Had a couple shots earlier, but I metabolize it quickly and have been drinking water.” She smirks. “How about you?”

“Sober. Couple whiskeys, but shifter metabolism. Cougar,” I clarify before she asks.

“Rwarrrrrr,” she mock-growls as she nips at my jaw, and it’s so ridiculous, I laugh.

Her fingers tunnel into my hair, and she tugs to lower my head.

All she had to do was ask. My lips meet hers, and forget growling, my cougar wants to purr.

Mallory’s lips are soft and pliant. They part to allow my tongue to slip between them.

The noise of the club fades. I focus all my senses on the woman in my arms. My hands flex on her hips, pulling her even closer to me.

My cock is at full mast, my desire obvious.

“Let’s go somewhere more private,” she says, pulling back from our kiss. Her lips are swollen, and I want to taste them again. I nod because I’ll follow wherever she leads me.