“About time you went a little crazy,” she said, running a finger down his chest, tracing the seam for his buttons.

“You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I’m unleashing your passion, sweetcheeks.” A passion she wanted.

“My passion might kill you.”

“A whole bunch of things could kill me. If it’s meant to happen during sex, toe-curling sex I might add, then so be it.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I totally suck at it?”

Such a blatant lie. The man was sex on a stick, and she wanted a lick.

She laughed. “The way you make me feel, you could probably just blow on my pussy and I’d come.”

A ripple went through him, and he turned away. “Leave me alone.”

“Are you afraid to have sex?”

“Not usually.” A grudging admission.

“So you think sex with me is going to make you snap? Do you have any idea how hot that is, sweetcheeks?” She grabbed him by the shirt to tug him close. “Don’t worry. I’m going to help you stop being afraid.”

“How?”

“By having wildly satisfying, toe-curling, scream-inducing sex.” Brazen, but then again, subtle wouldn’t work with him. The man appeared utterly determined to close himself off. Too bad, because she wanted in.

“A woman shouldn’t ask for sex.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have to, and yet I am because I am dealing with the most stubborn man alive. We need this, sweetcheeks.” She tilted her head and craned on tiptoe enough to nip at his chin. “We’re both wound so tight that we’ll be no good in the field. Think of it as stress relief. Use me to satisfy your needs.”

“Some of my needs are dark and dangerous.”

“I know, and I think the fact you’re afraid you’ll lose control with me on account I’m so wonderfully awesome is the sexiest thing ever.”

There went that lovely tic of his. “I can control myself.”

“Prove it.”

“You won’t stop, will you?”

“Not until you make me come so hard I see stars.”

With a groan, he finally succumbed.

Reeled her into his arms and dipped his head to claim her lips, branding her with the force behind his embrace. The hunger in him couldn’t be hidden, and her own arousal refused to be ignored. He coaxed her mouth open, teasing her bottom lip between his, melting her from the inside out.

With need pulsing in her, she leaned into him, pressed into his hardness. Her arms wrapped around him, clasping him tight, loving the solid strength of him.

His lips pressed hard against hers, a forceful branding that she reciprocated. A part of her, a large noisy part, wanted to claim this male, to imprint her essence on him for all to see.

The world needs to see that he’s mine. The possessive feeling only grew the more she got to know him.

Given she finally had him where she wanted him, she couldn’t help but stroke his body as they kissed, her hands skimming over the fabric of his shirt, exploring his hard ridges, cupping his firm ass.

She slid her hands past his waistband to cup his cheeks. She dug her nails in, and he growled at her. So sexy. She squeezed him and growled back. The sound did something to him. Unleashed a new level of urgency and wildness.

Hoisting her changed the angle of their embrace. She no longer had to crane to kiss him, a good thing because he’d rendered her legs quite useless. Fire consumed her, igniting all her nerves, burning her up from the inside out. And she hungered for more.

He slipped a wet tongue into her open mouth to rub against hers, and she sucked it, finally truly tasting him. Craving him more than any chocolate she’d ever had.

The layers of clothes keeping their bodies separated irritated. Didn’t the fabric realize this moment deserved nakedness?

Already having hoisted her into the air, it was easy for him to walk until her back hit a wall, partially supporting her and giving him the ability to grind his pelvis against hers. Rock hard meet soft and wet. He rubbed, and she moaned, the friction delicious.

“Strip me,” she whispered. “I want to feel your skin against mine.” She could feel Francois fighting for control. Didn’t he understand she wanted him wild? She could handle it. Handle the passion he tried to keep buried.

Her lithe thighs wrapped around his waist, keeping him locked against her body. Her bikini bottoms chafed against her sensitive flesh.

He must have read her mind because he solved that problem, a tug of his fingers ripping the seam, turning her bottoms into scrap fabric. He tugged it free and tossed it to the side. Revealing her, staring at her with hunger in his eyes.

With her back still pressed against the wall, he ran his fingers down her lower belly, teased the short pelt covering her mound before dipping lower, causing her to moan.

“You’re wet.” Stated in a gruff voice.

Like duh. She’d been wet from the moment she met him.

“Taste me.” She totally wanted to feel his mouth on her, lapping at her cream. She let her legs loose from his waist and planted them on tiptoe on the floor. “Get on your knees. Worship me.”

He groaned.

“Don’t make me wait. Lick me. Now.” An imperial command, and yet he muttered, “As the princess wishes,” as he slid down, somehow keeping her upright as he went to this knees.

He nudged himself between her legs, pushing them over his shoulders, supporting her so that she didn’t fall and bringing his mouth in line with her sex. He blew on it, cold breath against her moist core.

Her turn to groan. “Don’t tease me.”

“I’ll do whatever I fucking please with you,” he growled.

The words caused a shiver. No denying the hunger in them. The possessiveness.

A flick of his tongue against her nether lips had her crying out. He licked her again, over and over, hot teases of his tongue on her flesh, parting her that he might lap at her honey.

She clutched at his head, not wanting him to move. It felt so good. So deliciously erotic. He found her clit and worked it, pulling at it with his lips, teasing it with his tongue. Lashing it so that she throbbed with need.

“Fuck me,” she said in a low murmur. “I want to feel you inside me when I come.”

“But I want you to come on my tongue,” he replied against her sex, the vibration of his words a tease of its own.

He then proceeded to truly lick her. Pushing his tongue against her, nipping at her clit. Truly making her crazy, so crazy she came, a sharp scream erupting from her as he drew a climax from her flesh.

“Now I’ll fuck you,” he growled before rising. Holding her aloft with one strong arm, he used the other to undo the fly of his jeans. His cock sprang forward and slapped her wet, throbbing flesh.

The jerk teased her, rubbing the fat head of his dick against her wet slit.

“Now,” she demanded, leaning forward to nip at his lower lip.

“I’ll fuck you when I’m damned well ready, woman.”

He teased her some more, rubbing her sensitized clit, bringing back that panting edge of passion that had her moaning and squirming against him.

Without warning, he suddenly slid into her snug sheath, and she cried out as he filled her. Filled her and stretched her in all the right ways.

Wanting to keep him close, she gripped him tightly with her arms and legs. He pistoned her, hips pulling back and then slamming, back and then slamming. The movement meant she couldn’t maintain a kiss with him so she contented herself with sucking and biting the skin at his neck.

“If you don’t stop…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but she knew he was close, close to losing control.

Good.

She nipped him, and Francois’s head snapped back. The cords in his neck bulged, and she licked them, licked even as she tightened her body around him. With her back pressed against the wall, his hands cupping her ass cheeks, he pumped her. Pumped her hard and fast, slamming his cock in and out of her, drawing mewling cries.

Her flesh, so recently sated, ignited again, her second climax teetering. He changed his angle, and a sharp cry left her as his new stroke found her G-spot over and over. Bumped it. Ground it. Her fingers clawed at his back.

It was too much. She came again, convulsing and screaming, her flesh pulsing around his cock.

And his body tensed, and when his mouth found the curve of her neck and shoulder, he uttered a mighty sound against her skin, the sharp tips of teeth pinched, but she didn’t care as his body thrust one last time. Buried deep. Pulsing. Marking her finally with his seed.

She felt him sucking at her neck, the skin slightly bruised but not broken. He pulled away with a groan.

She slapped a hand on his lips before he could speak. “If you say we shouldn’t have done that, I’ll nut punch you.”

“That’s not very ladylike,” he mumbled behind her fingers.

“Haven’t you figured out yet that I’m only a lady in public?” She smiled.

He took that smile and turned it into astonishment. “You should try being a lady in private sometime. A man likes a challenge.”

“Is this your not-so-subtle way of getting me to change so I don’t throw myself at you?”

“This is my not-so-subtle way of making you seem unattainable so I have the enjoyment of seducing you.”

“You want to seduce me?” The very fact that he said it was a seduction in and of itself.

He dragged her close, his lips almost touching hers. “I want to do so many things to your body. Things that would make you scream. Decadent pleasures that would have you scratching my back.”

“Didn’t that just happen?”

“Imagine it even more intensely.”

“How about you show me?”

“No. We don’t have time.” Whispered onto her lips before he set her apart from him.

Was he seriously about to walk away? “Get back over here,” she demanded.

“Nightfall approaches. Ready to go?” he asked.

“Not really.” Her pussy grumbled that he was a tease. A part of her hummed with excitement because he’d all but admitted he was besotted with her. And yet he still wanted to go play Tarzan in the jungle.

“If you want to stay here, go ahead. But I’m going back to the volcano.”

“I’m coming.” Not in an erotic way, but she wouldn’t let him go alone. “But don’t expect me to enjoy it. You’re not the one who’s got to run through the jungle watching for traps.”

“Who said anything about running, princess? What if I said we could fly?”

“How? Did you rent a helicopter?”

“Why the fuck would I do that? I don’t have wings for show.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I don’t have any.”

“I’ll carry you.”

Her expression brightened. “Carry me?”

Containing her glee proved hard, which was why their departure was delayed. She threw herself at him and rode him like a cowgirl going after a first place ribbon. Then there was more time wasted as they sluiced off. During that soapy exploration, he explained a few rules.

“Rule number one. No getting in the way of my wings unless you want to go splat.”

“Does this mean I don’t get to ride your back dragon style? But what if I want to channel my inner Daenerys?”

“I have no idea what that means, but I’m pretty sure whatever it is will be a no. I will carry you, or you can walk. Which leads to rule number two. No distracting me.”

“Who me?” She pointed at herself and tried to look innocent. Tried so hard and yet she failed.

Crossing his arms first, he presented her with a stern look. “Yes, you. No kissing, licking, stroking, or piercing shrieks while flying.”

“So just to be clear, does this mean no aerial 69s?”

“Um.” For a moment he went cross-eyed. She allowed it. After all, she knew what he was thinking about, his semi-erection poking at her in the shower. The length covered in soap suds proclaimed where his mind went. “No. This is what I mean about distracting,” he said, shaking himself free from whatever fantasy shook him.

“Well, that’s no fun. Does this mean we’ll never do some hanky-panky among the clouds?”

“Princess, this is not the time for that discussion.”

“Fine. But I will note that if I somehow accidentally end up with my crotch in your face and your cock in my mouth, it will be your fault for not talking it out further with me when you had a chance. Have I mentioned just how orally talented I am?”

The proclamation delayed them another five minutes in the shower because the man had some damned stamina.

In order to ensure no further distractions after that, he banned Stacey to her room. “Don’t come back until you’re wearing some damned clothes, woman.”

Since her body finally seemed sated for the moment, she allowed him his command. Besides, she finally had the perfect opportunity to wear her specially crafted outfit made for a jungle trek.

His eyes just about popped out of his head when he saw it and asked, “What the fuck are you wearing?”

She spun to show off her ensemble. “Do you like it? I had it modified from the original design so that it would accommodate me better if I had to shift.”

“It’s a fucking superhero costume.”

It sure was. Tights, body suit, skintight of course to show off her curves. The giant G on the front, for Gorgeous, glittered. She’d opted for the short cape despite The Incredibles showing the dangers of having one. She’d make sure to steer clear of any plane engines.

“Don’t be jealous, sweetcheeks. When we get back home, I’ll have a suit custom made for you as my sidekick.”

His brows rose. “Oh hell no, princess. I am not your sidekick. And I don’t want a costume.” He crossed his arms.

“Good point. A costume would just hide that delicious bod.” It occurred to her that if he went around half naked then other biatches would get an eyeful. She knew how to fix that. Turn a profit by buying some stock in an eye patch company.

“Take off that ridiculous outfit.”

“You want me naked again? If you insist, sweetcheeks.” As she went peel off her clothes, he groaned.

“Stop. Keep it on.”

“Keep it on, take it off. Make up your mind,” she grumbled, but she was secretly pleased it got to stay. She’d had her superhero suit enhanced since the graveyard zombie fight. The costume now had stretchier fabric with a special flap at the back for a tail. It meant she could shift without losing her clothes, and even better, if she shifted back, the material would shrink too, leaving her clothed instead of naked. Thank you, fellows at the secret lab that could not be named.

“Come here.” He pointed to a spot in front of him.

She allowed the command and stood close.

Swept into his arms, she only had time to bite her tongue so she wouldn’t exclaim “Whee” before he ran for the open sliding glass doors. With a single bound, he hit the lip of the balcony and a moment later soared into the air.

It was freaking amazing, which was why she had her camera out to take pictures.

“What are you doing?” No surprise he didn’t sound very happy. Probably because they hadn’t had sex in like the last ten minutes.

“Taking pics for my biatches back home. Smile.” He grimaced, which worked too. She tagged the image before posting it. #suckitbiatches #timeofmylife.

“What happened to no distractions?”

“I turned off the flash.”

A big sigh escaped him.

She grinned as she tucked the phone into the pouch on her sleeve. She then wound her arms around his neck to enjoy the ride.

This time of night, and with the sky overcast, there wasn’t much to see. The jungle they flew over didn’t have any lights shining, nothing but shadows nestled upon shadows. It made her wonder how he could find their path.

“Can you see in the dark?”

“Not exactly.”

“How can you be sure we’re not lost?” she asked.

“I know where we’re going.”

“How?”

“I just do.”

Having watched her fair share of documentaries, she exclaimed, “You’ve got bat radar, don’t you?”

That earned her another sigh.

If she managed one more, she’d have a hat trick.

Or he’d drop her.

That wouldn’t stop her from trying.

All too soon, because she rather enjoyed flying through the sky, he landed and announced, “We’re here.”

“I left an air-conditioned room, comfortable bed, and stocked mini bar for this?” This being the bottom of a mountain and shrubs. Lots of thorny shrubs.

“Find a clue and you won’t need a bed to get a prize.”

“Just to clarify, are we talking about sex?”

“Yes.”

“Together?” Again, she’d learned to always make sure of the details.

“Yes, together. Unless you’d prefer someone else?” His fangs flashed as he snarled.

The jealousy was cute. “No worries, sweetcheeks. You’re the only man I want to get wild with.” She trailed a finger down his bare chest, loving the strange texture of his other skin.

“No distractions. Find something good and I’ll give you whatever you need.”

“Anything?” The very thought excited.

“Yes.” The word rumbled, low and sexy.

With that kind of incentive, she leaped from his arms and whipped out a glow stick. A crack and shake later, they had green light.

“Where did you get that?” he asked.

“I told you this suit was awesome. All kinds of hidden surprises. Wanna see?”

“Stay focused.”

She was focused. On getting him to remove his pants. Now that he’d shifted back, his frame slightly less bulky, the loose shorts hung low on his lean hips.

Snap. Snap. The fingers clicking had her gaze rising. “While your obsession with my dick is flattering, we are here on business.”

Right. What the heck was wrong with her? He was right. She needed to act more ladylike instead of drooling constantly around him. “What am I looking for?”

“I’m not sure, but this is the spot I lost consciousness.” He knelt down on the ground, fingers brushing the soil.

“Because you were drugged.” It still made her snicker.

“You can stop saying it in that tone. I know what happened. Or didn’t happen. One moment I was facing off with a boar, and then…” He trailed off. Shrugged and looked off into the shadows as he said, “I woke up in the back of the truck with Jan claiming I fell and knocked myself out.”

“I still can’t believe you fell for that obvious lie? I mean, seriously, I’ve seen you move; you’re not clumsy.”

“I know I’m not, which is why I think it was a drug.”

“Probably the bug that wasn’t a bug that bit you.”

“Two bites that I remember. Then I supposedly fell, which probably explains my temple.” He raised his fingers to the healing scrape. “When I woke up, I recall feeling disoriented and lightheaded.”

“Why am I just hearing about the lightheadedness now?”

“Because you never shut up long enough for me to get a word in edgewise.”

“Then you should talk faster.” Or use his mouth for other things. “Now I know you keep insisting you got Mickey’d, but is it possible you just fainted from the heat?”

“I did not faint.” Said with utter disdain.

“Technically, you did. What else do you call face planting?”

“You are really making me regret the choice of bringing you.” He kept running his fingers over the ground as if he could find something by feel.

“Oh please, you and I both know that having me along is like having your own personal pocket of sunshine.”

“I hate the sun.”

“What a coincidence, so do I.”

“Bullshit. I know you like to sunbathe,” he retorted.

“Behind a strong UV filter. I burn unless slathered in vampire-proof lotion.”

“So why volunteer to come to the tropics?”

“Because, hello, have you seen this body in a bikini?”

His lips tilted just a little. “It would be a shame to hide it from the world.”

“Well ,that’s a rude thing to say.” She planted her hands on her hips.

“I just said you looked good.”

“And then had no problem with me showing it off. Whereas I would keep you swaddled so nobody could see your sexy bod.”

“Would you feel better if I said I’d drain the life out of any man who eyes you with lust?”

“Yes.” Talk about super romantic.

“Won’t happen. I am not a jealous killer.”

Super letdown. “That’s no fun. You know, Teena’s husband, Dmitri, does insanely wicked things to those who stare overly long at his wife.”

“You’re not my wife.”

“Yet.”

He glared.

She clapped her hands. “There you go. That’s the look I want to see you use when you’re jealous. Followed by a vicious mauling.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I do something better than killing?”

“Like what?”

“The best revenge against other guys is to take you into my arms.” He drew her near. “And kiss you deeply, showing ownership.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Then slapping you on the ass and telling you to fetch me a beer.” He smacked her butt.

“How is that supposed to make them jealous?”

“If you were a man, you’d understand.” Turning from her, Francois moved off, his gaze intent on the ground.

She smiled. He was totally coming around. Not long now before he finally admitted he couldn’t imagine living without her—and he fetched her chocolate. Beer indeed. He’d soon learn.

“What are we looking for?” she asked, crouching down.

“I’m not sure. But I’ll know it if I find it.”

“Are we still looking for that damned gum wrapper?”

“No. That was just a clue that the place I stumbled on had seen traffic. When I fell, I thought I saw something.”

“A ghost?”

“No.”

“Jan’s boobs?”

“No,” said on a note that said his cheek had that tic again.

“Good thing. I’d have to kill her if she’d flashed them.”

“Let’s try and stay on track here, princess.”

“Perhaps instead of playing a guessing game, you should tell me what you saw.”

“Maybe if you shut your mouth, woman, for more than five seconds, I could tell you.”

“If you’re going to beat around the bush, then I’m going to jump in. If you don’t like it, gag me. I know you’ve got something just the right size to do that.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And sexy.”

“Very,” he growled. “Which is I should have left you at the resort.”

“But then we wouldn’t be having a blast out in the middle of nowhere.”

Sigh.

Fist pump. She had her hat trick.

“Hey, sweetcheeks, is it me, or do I smell chicken.”

“Isn’t the expression fish? And I thought you bathed.”

Why did he always have to make the most awesome jokes at the wrong times? She punched him in the arm. “You’d better mean fish in a delicious sushi kind of way. But, seriously, I smell something cooking.”

He frowned, his features taking on a devilish cast in the glowing light of her stick. He inhaled deep. “Hot damn, I smell it too.”

“Could it be someone camping out here?” she asked.

“Doubtful. While they allow some small daytime treks, according to them, no overnights are allowed. Definitely no fires. The boar my group hunted down was skinned out here but brought back to the resort for cooking.”

“So someone is breaking the rules.” Rule-breaking plus a lioness in a special-order suit equaled a good time about to happen.

He sounded thoughtful as he stood and stared up the mountain. “If there is someone living out here, then they could perhaps be the person who stole Shania and wiped her memories.”

And even if they weren’t, this cat had to know. “Let’s invite ourselves to dinner.”

Treading quietly, she made a mental note to modify her costume, given her Lycra slippers with their slim rubber did not provide much protection against the sharp rocks on the ground.

“I should have worn my heels,” she grumbled.

“Can’t run in heels,” he remarked.

“Says a man. I can run just fine in them. I’m the pride champion.”

“I would have thought it was talking the most without taking a breath.”

“No, that belongs to Melly. Biatch has incredible lungs.”

“I think you need a rematch.”

She jumped up and pecked him on the cheek. “Aren’t you just sweet. And I know exactly how to practice. You’ll have to time me when I’m giving you head.”

He stumbled.

She flicked her hair and followed her nose. In the process, they stumbled along a scantily used path comprised of bent blades of scraggly grass and wilting leaves that had been brushed aside one too many times. But other than a few expected smells, rodents, wild boar, even a goat, there was nothing sentient. No shifter, no human. Yet, it wasn’t an animal who’d made the path and dropped the sandwich wrapper.

As the scent of food grew stronger, they found themselves at the base of the volcano, the lumpy surface of it rising. The smell wafted down on them from above, the volcano not quite as steep here, but still challenging enough.

“Guess we’re climbing,” he noted. He’d reverted back to his hybrid shape for the hunt, and whilst he seemed more animalistic than man, he spoke perfectly fine. Looked mighty fine, too, even if he wasn’t a lion.

The only thing he wore was a pair of dark shorts. As they climbed, his taut butt moving ahead of her, she imagined them bedazzled with a giant F on the ass. Francois the Ferocious. It had a nice ring. She wondered if he’d be open to a cape. Then again, he did have those awesome wings.

Something buzzed close by her cheek. The damned insects had found them, and they showed no respect for this lioness on a mission. Biting her indeed.

As if that wasn’t irritating enough, the damp air made her perspire. Lovely. Nothing said hot seductress more than stanky pits.

Then her nails, the beautifully French manicured nails, broke on the rough rocks. She could have sobbed. Now how would she rake them down Francois’s back later in bed?

Complaining wasn’t an option. Not when the mystery thickened and the smell of food cooking got stronger. The aroma appeared to waft from a cave, the opening of it boasting a wide ledge swept free of debris. Having reached it first, Francois turned around and offered her a hand, the first one since they started the climb. A man who respected her as an equal, but could still show some courtesy.

Did they have time for a quickie?

“Do you smell anything?” he asked. Was this a hint that he noticed her wet panties? “Human, or shifter?”

Trust him to stay focused. She held in a sigh and inhaled. Then sniffed again. She shook her head. “Other than some yummy stew, I don’t smell anything at all.”

Which didn’t seem right. A clear path rose up the mountain. She could see the disturbance as they climbed, even found a tuft of fabric caught on a jagged edge. But not a single scent.

“Could it be a whampyr?” she asked. “Most of you don’t smell.”

“What do you mean most? We don’t at all. You can’t smell us unless we choose to wear a scent.”

False. Perhaps at first she couldn’t read his flavor, but now that they’d been intimate, the musk of him, a very subtle essence unlike any she’d ever scented, marked him.

“You didn’t answer the question. Could it be a whampyr?”

“I don’t think so. We can usually recognize our own kind.” He frowned. “And we are not solitary creatures. We tend to congregate in colonies.”

“How do we know there’s not a colony in that mountain?”

“Because.”

“What do you mean because?”

“There is no proper food source here.”

“The jungle is full of life.”

“We can’t survive on animals alone, and the population here is too sparse to feed on without notice.”

“How do you eat at home? Do you like go hunting for crooks and stuff and suck them dry? Raid blood banks?”

“We don’t do things that will have us noticed. Gaston provides.”

“What if he didn’t?”

“Then we would adapt.”

“Rumor has it that the whampyrs that revolted against Gaston had a thing for shifter blood.”

“It is true that your life’s essence is rather sweet to us. But it is also forbidden. The treaties between shifters and whampyr are old. It is why Gaston could show no mercy to those who betrayed him.”

“Does this mean you could be in big doo-doo if someone found out you nipped me?” If that was the case, she’d have to be careful not to tattle too much about their sexual exploits.

“The rule has some flexibility. If a whampyr and a shifter become unlikely allies or lovers, then some exchange of fluids is expected and allowed. So long as it is mutual.”

“In other words, we can totally become a couple.”

“That’s not what I said.”

She blew a raspberry. “Give it up, sweetcheeks. You have no excuse to avoid me.”

“On the contrary, I have a long list of reasons to avoid you.”

“But you won’t. Because you like me.”

“Who said I liked you?”

“Do you really want me to force you to prove it out here on a ledge to the tantalizing smell of soup?”

“I want to pretend you don’t exist so I can return to the way things were.” He sounded so grumpy.

Because I rocked his world.

“The way things were was boring.”

“Says who?” he replied.

“Me, because I wasn’t a part of it.”

He almost cracked a smile. “You are definitely not boring.”

“And I taste good.”

“Divine. But it means nothing.”

“Afraid your buddies will tease you if they find you’re dating a cat?”

“More concerned your king will decide to tear my head off and use it as a soccer ball for daring to seduce instead of protect you.”

“Arik won’t care if we slept together. Although, if I get hurt, he might get a teensy bit upset. And speaking of getting hurt, we’ve been standing out here way too long. Let’s go see what’s in the cave.”

He shook his head. “I think we should go back. Leave right now.”

“Are you serious?” At his stoic countenance, she grumbled, “You couldn’t decide this before I wrecked my manicure?”

“I was being sarcastic.” He almost cracked a smile. “Why would we leave now? I came here looking for something, and we might have found it. Are you coming?”

“I already did three times,” she said with a snicker.

“It will be four once we solve this mystery.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” She pushed past him, and almost bit her tongue as he slapped her ass. The man had a hidden naughty side, and it pleased her inordinately to see it emerging.

They slipped inside the cave, the smell of chicken, sautéed onions, and spices making her mouth water. The sounds of the jungle—cawing of birds and buzzing of insects—diminished the farther they went into the cave. Which, she realized after a bit, was more of a tunnel, the rock smoothed and yet distinctly lava born.

As proper predators, there was no need to demand silence. They automatically kept quiet, watching their steps as they made their way through the bored hole. From a distance, the pulsing beat of music haunted its way to them. There came a break in the tempo, and a voice gabbling indicated a radio playing. There was also a noticeable hum in the air and the smell of fuel, indicating the presence of a generator. They’d found more than just a simple person camping for the night.

Had they found the lair of the liotaur? Were they about to burst into his camp and catch him?

If they played their cards right and got there quick enough, then maybe they could eat his soup before dragging him back to the resort for questioning.

Reaching the end of the tunnel, they could see more clearly. Light, the kind that came from dancing flames, lit the interior of their passage. Francois flattened himself on one side of the tunnel. She took the other as they reached the opening and peeked out to see a huge cavern.

The music on the radio burst with strong drums and piano as a new set began. It muffled any possible voices. Who knew how many people were here in the heart of the volcano?

Excitement practically had her dancing. Her lioness meowed to get out.

Not yet. We need to look around more first.

A glance around the cavern showed a small slope from the cave that rolled into the bottom of the hardened lava floor, where tents were pitched. Large military grade ones.

“What is this place?” she whispered. Because this was more than just a camp for a man dressing or shifting as a lion to steal women for debauchery.

“I don’t know, and I don’t like it. Stick close.”

As if she needed Francois protecting her.

When he went one way, she went the other and ignored his hissed, “Get back over here.”

She flashed him a finger and kept going. He either trusted her or he didn’t.

He passed the test, letting her do her own thing, which was kind of cool. She took that faith in her abilities to heart and made sure to peek all around, noting that they weren’t truly in a cavern but an open bowl, the heart of the volcano itself.

Overhead, netting hung over part of the camp, covering a stack of crates piled to the side. The camouflage looped across, hiding what hid within from anyone flying above. The open sections didn’t have much that could be easily seen from above, the dark tents probably blending in, and no one would hear anything from high above.

But why all the secrecy?

The organization of the installation had her pulling out her phone and clicking quickly, taking a multitude of images and some videos. Only as she panned around to grab a panorama did she notice more caves riddling the side of the volcano. One even had a carved arch framing it. The signs of ancient habitation occurred only on one side, with the other half of the volcano appearing unfinished and lumpy.

Perhaps there was some truth to the ancient legends about people living within the volcano. However, ancient stories didn’t explain what happened here now.

She sensed a presence and whirled. Despite realizing there was no threat, Francois still got gut punched. Even a whampyr should know better than to sneak up on a lioness.

“Was that necessary?” he gasped, his body no longer big and gray but sexy and—mine.

“No. Gonna spank me?” she asked with a wink. When he glared, she grinned. “Don’t be grumpy. I promise to kiss it better later.”

“We should go.”

“Did you discover something? What is this place?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. Whatever it is, though, there’s money behind it. There’s a helicopter landing pad on the other side of that large tent. And the generators? There’s two industrial-sized ones, one to run the main camp and another to run some kind of medical lab.”

“A lab out here? For what?”

“I don’t know. The cages were empty.”

Cages? Why would someone need cages?

“They won’t be empty for long.” The words were spoken by someone with no scent. None at all and a stranger.

Before Stacey could whirl and act, a dart hit her in the ass.