Nico was vibrating in his seat the entire drive to his house. His jaguar was fully alert, pacing in the back of his mind, its tail lashing in urgency. It knew their mate was nearby, in their territory, there for the claiming.
Wait, Nico told it, as he pulled into his driveway. Even the one word was hard to think. It will be better when she knows, when we've had a chance to talk. You'll see. Give the human side a chance...
The air here was fragrant with herbs, growing in plant boxes lining the driveway and walkway. Nico drank in the sight of Mandy drinking in the air; this, he thought, was one more little wonder he could give her. Maybe it was nothing extraordinary, nothing all that magical, but it was one more thing that made him feel at home. This, with everything else, he was eager to give her.
"Your home is beautiful," Mandy said, a little wistfully.
But incomplete, Nico thought. It still needs something. I still need you.
He led her to the door and unlocked it, and pushed it open to reveal the living room inside: the wood floor, the thick rugs, leather couch, bright skylight. He kept the place neat, but never sterile: a few magazines lay open on the coffee table, and he'd left a cookbook propped against the arm of the couch. Mandy stepped into the room like she was stepping into Wonderland, and Nico's jaguar rumbled in satisfaction.
Almost-satisfaction. Nico let the door swing shut behind him and reached out to touch Mandy's arm, to draw her attention. "I wanted to tell you–"
Any chance of broaching the subject was cut off when Mandy turned and pushed herself against him, going up on her toes to kiss him.
He caught her up, hands caressing her generous curves, sliding over her hips, then her buttocks, reveling in the weight and softness of her body. Her scent filled his nose, warm and feminine.
Blood rushed to his head, heady as wine. It rushed down between his legs, and his cock stiffened in his briefs. He wanted this woman with a fierceness that surprised even him.
And she wanted him. She moaned against his mouth, her breath warm and wet against his.
I want to tell you what I am! Nico thought. I want to tell you what you mean to me. But his human side and his jaguar side were both clamoring to give Mandy what she desired.
Later. After. Mandy's hands were pulling up his shirt, and his body was rising after her. He surged forward, catching her hips and bearing her backwards to the deep leather couch, which was bathed in the sun from the skylight.
Her hands were rushing to disrobe him, every touch of her fingers stoking the fire inside him hotter. He pulled her shirt up and off, and unclasped her bra with deft fingers, his mouth going to taste the soft skin of her nipples. She gasped and arched up into him, the soft, warm smell of her body filling his nostrils.
Her hand found his hair, and a shiver of wild delight rushed from the crown of his head all the way down his spine. He let her ease his head downward, kissing and nuzzling at her scar, nipping at the skin by her navel, and finally, as his fingers freed her from her jeans, arriving at the gates to her body.
She spread herself to accept him, and he moved his hands to hold her open, to admire her. Her lower lips were plump and pink, glistening with desire. The rich, living scent of her was intoxicating. He leaned down to taste her, tongue tracing the edges of her opening. She moaned, hips shimmying towards him.
He pressed forward, tasting her deeper, smiling as he was rewarded by a rush of wetness against his tongue. Above him, her fingers tightened in his hair, then spasmed open.
"Now," she moaned. "Now, Nico, please!"
He didn't need encouraging. With sinuous grace he sprang up her body, covering her with his lithe form. Her legs wrapped around his hips to pull him.
A growl rose up from deep within him, and he took her in one long stroke. He kissed her neck, her throat, the line of her jaw, lips and teeth tracking each exquisite curve as their hips rolled together, as though they were one body and shared one need. She was hot as a furnace around him, slick and tight and clenching, her body surging against him like the waves of the Pacific crashing on the shore. He could feel her need rising with his own, spiraling higher until she threw her head back and howled, something long shackled within her let free at last.
Her orgasm tipped him over, and he thrust as his body spent itself. It felt like coming home, into her wet, eager warmth: like all the treasure in the world could melt itself and pour over their skin.
He nestled down into the cushions, stretching himself protectively against Mandy's body. The sun coming through the skylight fell on his bare skin, lulling him into a deep ease. Mandy was here: his mate, his proud fighter, mother of a child who was surely as wonderful as she was, who had sent her here to find her own joy...
Let me be that for you, he thought. Mandy, my Mandy. I will do anything for you.