Page 36 of Claiming Her Cougar (Shifting Pines #2)

MALLORY

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m not a sexually shy woman, but this is the first time I’ve rented a room and invited a man over for a booty call.

I didn’t know how else to get alone time with Liam without having a quickie somewhere.

Been there, done that, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I want a bed this time and the opportunity to take our time and enjoy each other without interruption.

I don’t know who’s going to arrive first, room service with the tray of sandwiches and chocolate cake I ordered, or Liam, so I’m staying dressed.

The room is elegant, like the rest of the casino. The bed is a king-size four-poster made from a dark wood. Maybe cherry? The decor is warm and understated, and there’s an air of elegance about it. I feel more like I’m at a grand home in the English countryside than a casino in Atlantic City.

There’s a knock on the door, and the butterflies in my stomach take flight. I check the peephole and am disappointed. Room service.

“Good evening, miss. I’m Frederick, and I’ll be serving you tonight. May I wheel in your meal?” The room service attendant’s deep brown eyes are friendly in his weathered face.

I step back and gesture for him to enter. “Thank you, Frederick. How are you today?”

Wheeling the cart over to the small table, Frederick smiles over his black-suit-jacket-clad shoulder. “No complaints, miss. Would you like me to serve your meal?”

“No thanks, Frederick. I’m waiting for a friend to arrive. We’ll take care of it.” I sign the bill and add a tip above the gratuity already included. ’Tis the season, after all.

Frederick unloads his tray on the table and rolls his cart to the door. “Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you need anything to make your stay with us more enjoyable.”

“Thank you. I hope you have a happy New Year, Frederick.”

“You too, miss.” He opens the door.

Liam is standing there, ready to knock.

“Good evening, sir,” Frederick says.

“Perfect timing,” I say with a smile. “He’s my guest, Frederick. Thank you.”

“Hello,” Liam says to Frederick as they switch places. Liam closes the door, drops his bag, and engages the locks before turning to me.

A slow grin spreads across my face as he stalks toward me, his feline grace never more evident. But I don’t feel like prey, I feel like treasure. His treasure.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, not at all innocently.

“Starving.”

“I ordered sandwiches.”

“Don’t care.” Liam’s growly voice makes my core tighten and my lady bits tingle.

He reaches for me, grasping my hips and pulling me toward him.

His kiss is hungry, and I open my mouth, eager for my tongue to tangle with his.

Kissing Liam is wonderful, but I want so much more.

My greedy hands slip under his blue sweater.

The skin on his back is warm, and his muscles ripple and bunch as he mirrors my movements and pulls my sweater up my body.

The green cashmere is soft, whispering against my skin.

We break our kiss for a moment so that we can remove our sweaters.

Calloused fingers replace the softness of the cashmere, and the difference makes me shiver.

“Are you cold?” Liam asks as he kisses down my neck to where it meets my shoulder. Goosebumps break out, but not from any chill.

“No, not cold. Hot. Very hot.” I’m surprised I could string that many words together. My brain is scrambling with desire. I don’t want to talk. I want to feel.

“So hot,” Liam says. His blue eyes burn as they take in my breasts.

I’m glad I’m wearing my best black lace bra.

I know it shows them off spectacularly. My nipples pebble under his heated gaze.

As much as I am enjoying his eyes on me, I want his hands and his mouth on me even more.

Liam must read my mind because his large hands reach up to cup my breasts, thumbs brushing my nipples.

His hands need to be on my skin. I don’t want any barriers, even black lacy ones, between us. I reach behind to unclasp the bra.

Liam lets out a low chuckle. “Eager, huh?”

“Yes, I am.” I stretch to reach his lips again as my seeking hands drop to his belt buckle. In a flurry of kisses, caresses, and murmurs, we’re both undressed and gazing hungrily at each other.

“You are so beautiful,” Liam says huskily.

“So are you.” I run my hands over his powerful chest with the light covering of hair.

I trail my fingers down his abdominals, past his belly button, following his happy trail to his erect cock, jutting proud and strong from his body.

A drop of precum glistens on the tip, and I drop to my knees so I can lick it off.

Liam’s groan as I take his cock into my mouth is music to my ears. I cup his balls and run my tongue along the underside of his heavy shaft. I love having his pleasure within my control. I continue licking and sucking, reveling in the grunts and groans my attentions draw from him.

“Ahh…Mallory, love, you gotta…stop. I’m going to come, and I want to be inside you.”

I run my hand up and down his shaft as I glance up at him with a smirk. “You are inside me.”

He bends to put his hands under my arms and lifts me effortlessly.

I gasp at the brief feeling of weightlessness as I rise through the air, but then wrap my legs around his hips, nestling his cock between us.

We each recognize that the slightest shift would put him at my entrance, and a thrust would have him inside me.

Bare. I’m not ready for that, and Liam must see that in my eyes and agree because he carries me to the bed.

After slowly lowering me to the comforter, he reaches out for the strip of condoms I have on the nightstand.

I expect him to sheath himself hurriedly and push into me, but instead, he places them on the bed next to my hip and leans down to kiss me.

His weight on top of me is warm and heavy, but not confining.

His lips move to my jaw and travel to a sensitive spot under my ear that makes me sigh.

I tilt my head to offer access to my neck, and Liam takes the hint, kissing his way down my throat, giving a light nip where my neck and shoulder meet.

I know what that means.

I may not shift myself, but I understand. Biting is how shifters claim their mates. That nip wasn’t a claiming, but only because Liam is holding back. Because I’ve been adamant that this is nothing.

Claiming is so much more than nothing. It’s everything.

I want everything. With Liam.

I gasp, my entire world tilting with the revelation.

He chuckles, misinterpreting the sound of shock as a response to pleasure.

He continues kissing downward to my breasts.

While his lips have been on the move, so have his hands.

Calloused fingertips have been running up and down my sides and along my thighs.

Now one hand caresses my breast as the other slips between my legs.

“Oh, Liam,” I sigh as he parts my folds to rub my clit.

His lips are busy too, drawing a taut nipple into his mouth. His tongue flicks over the tight bud, mimicking what his finger is doing to my clit. Both feel so good, I don’t know where to focus. I move restlessly underneath him, enjoying his attentions, but needing more.

“Liam, please. I want you,” I beg.

“You have me, Mallory,” he murmurs as he turns to my other breast.

“Inside me.” I can hear the whining tone of my voice, but I don’t care. Foreplay is nice, and Liam is very good at it, but I want him in me. Now.

“As you wish,” he says.

Jinkies, a The Princess Bride reference. I can’t help but giggle. He knows that’s one of my favorite movies, and I’m touched he remembered, especially at this particular moment.

He reaches for the strip of condoms, rips one off, and sheaths himself quickly.

I open my legs wider so he can nestle against me.

I can’t wait to have him inside me. He rubs his cock against me, coating himself in my wetness.

I wrap a leg around his hip as he presses himself in me with a slow, firm thrust. He feels so good, long and hard inside me.

I squeeze my walls around him, and he starts to thrust, slowly at first, but I need more.

I pull his head down into a kiss and use my tongue to show the rhythm I want our lower halves to match.

He takes the hint, and his thrusts become harder and faster.

I love it. I roam my hands over his back, my nails lightly running along his spine.

I grasp his firm ass, and the muscles flex as he pumps into me.

“Oh, Mallory, you’re so tight. So good,” Liam pants as he thrusts into me.

“So good,” I echo. “I’m close. Please, Liam.”

I don’t know what I’m asking for, but Liam does.

He gets a hand between our bodies and presses his thumb to my clit.

Apparently, that was all I needed because I’m suddenly tightening everywhere and crying out as my orgasm overtakes me.

A few more deep thrusts, and Liam is voicing his own pleasure as he comes.

In the afterglow, I enjoy Liam’s weight on top of me.

I could lie like this forever with him. I wish it was possible.

Maybe it could be. If our lives were completely different and we weren’t who we we re.

I sigh as I run my hands up and down his back, my fingers tracing each bump of his spine.

Liam’s breathing is slow and even. I wonder if he’s fallen asleep when I feel the rumble coming from him. Wait…

“Liam, are you…are you purring ?”

“Mmm.”

He presses a kiss where my shoulder meets my neck, and I shiver.

“Maybe. I’m happy. All of me is happy. My cougar is happy, and when he is, he purrs.”

I smile. If I had the ability to purr, I’d be doing the same.

“Wow,” I say after a few minutes of holding each other.

Liam’s moved slightly, so his weight isn’t fully on top of me.Chuckling, he tightens his arms around me. “Wow because of what we did, or wow that we weren’t interrupted?”

I laugh. “Both?”

Liam gets up to take care of the condom, and I admire the view of his firm ass. Stretching, I enjoy the slight ache in places that haven’t been touched in so long. I shiver as Liam reenters the bedroom.

“Let’s get you under the covers,” he says. “We don’t want you catching a chill.” He pulls back the covers and settles me under them.

“Ready for dinner?” he asks.

“Yeah. We worked up an appetite.”

Liam hums tunelessly as he examines the sandwich selection I ordered and makes a plate for us to share.

“Wine?” he asks, handing me the plate and some napkins.

“Nah, I’m good with water.”

He nods and grabs two bottles from the mini fridge. I watch his beautiful body with its graceful movements and think briefly of the accident he was in years ago and the miracle it was he recovered from his injuries. I say a quick prayer of gratitude as he slides under the covers to join me.

We eat our sandwiches, and it’s both normal and weird to be naked in bed, enjoying a turkey club with Liam.

“How offended would you be if we turn on the Flyers’ game?” I ask.

“Oh, Mallory, I think you’re my ideal woman.” Liam laughs and hands me the remote.

We settle in with our sandwiches and entertainment, and I think about how I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him. This is so good, but so bad. This is a booty call, friends with benefits. I can’t be catching deeper feelings.

I’m afraid it’s too late.