First Instinct [Diablo Falls] Read online

  Running his tongue over his lengthening canines, he unslung his rifle and unlocked the safety. The female ahead was in danger. My female, his cat rumbled. Adrian didn’t deny the instinct. He picked up his pace to a run.

  Chapter Four

  Darcy had changed her mind; she hated nature. From now on, she was sticking to cultivated herbs for her potions. No more of this wild herb bullshit.

  How far had she walked? The sun poked feebly through the cloud cover, making it feel as if evening was approaching, although her phone said it was only two o’clock. The cliff was just as high as before, and she still didn’t have a cell signal.

  Her chest tightened. No one even knew she was out here, other than that guy at the gas station who’d given her directions. Directions to a parking lot she hadn’t found.

  “Fuuuck!” She batted at a spider web blocking her way and glanced once more at the steep cliff face. Thinking she might be able to shimmy along a branch to reach the cliff top, she’d tried to climb a tree a ways back, but the lower limbs had been too spindly to support her weight.

  She whimpered as her ankle twisted for the millionth time on a loose rock. Ahead, the trees gave way. Maybe she could get a cell signal there. She limped forward, breaking into a clearing full of chest-high bushes interspersed with blackened prongs of what had once been mighty trees.

  Pulling out her cell again, she checked her signal. Not even half a bar. She groaned and turned once more to the cliff. How could there not be a single place she could climb? Maybe she should turn back and try the other direction.

  Something woofed behind her. She spun, facing the sea of bushes.

  A massive, dark shape with a wide head stood, up to its waist among the foliage, about a hundred feet away. She took in its small ears, beady eyes, and huge paws. Her heart slammed against her ribcage.

  A bear.

  She wanted to scream, but her voice stuck in her throat. What were you supposed to do when facing a bear?

  It opened its mouth and roared.

  “Oh, fuck!” She stumbled backward, feet slipping on the rocky slope. She fell to her ass against the stony ground, phone clattering from her hand.

  The bear dropped to all fours and charged toward her with unbelievable speed, feet thumping against the earth like a drum.

  Darcy screamed again, feet churning uselessly against the rocks. She grabbed a handful of pebbles and threw them as the bear broke from the shrubs a few feet away. Throwing her arms up to cover her face, she almost missed the golden shape streaking in from the side.

  Something slammed into the bear, bowling it sideways. The figures tumbled back into the bushes, flattening a wide swath of brush in their wake. Darcy lowered her arms, gaping at the entangled creatures. The second beast was almost as large as the first, its long, golden tail lashing as it snarled and clawed the other predator. A mountain lion? She’d come into this forest more unprepared than she’d thought.

  The animals circled each other, fangs bared, ears laid back. Lunging forward, the bear struck with one giant paw. The big cat sprang straight up, out of the way. He landed on the bear’s shoulders, sinking his fangs into its neck.

  With a deafening bellow, the bear reared, shaking the lion off. The lion twisted and landed on its feet. Facing off, they circled again, snarling and lunging. The metallic stink of blood filled the air.

  I have to get out of here. Darcy pushed upright, palms stinging and sticky with blood from where she’d fallen against the rocks. Her left ankle buckled with a jolt of blinding pain, refusing to take her weight. Breathing shallowly, she leaned one palm against the cliff and hop-stepped back the direction she’d come.

  The mountain lion appeared to be driving the bear away, pursuing it toward the trees at the other end of the slope. Darcy had no idea how she’d been lucky enough to have two predators decide to duke it out with each other instead of have her for a snack, but she wasn’t about to complain.

  She tripped over a root, collapsing to her hands and knees. The sound of battle had ceased, and for a moment, she held still listening. Was it too much to hope they’d forgotten she was here? Maybe she should just crawl out of here so they wouldn’t see her over the bushes. She lifted her head, aiming for the tree line.

  Her gaze connected with the tawny golden eyes of the mountain lion. He crouched less than an arm’s length in front of her, muzzle stained crimson and one ear torn. She jolted backward, toppling onto her backside like a crab. This is it. The end. No one would even find her body because the lion would drag her off and eat her.

  The lion prowled forward, a deep purr vibrating the air. His golden eyes mesmerized her, and her heart thundered so hard, she couldn’t breathe. She found herself unable to look away.

  He stepped forward slowly, purposefully, gracefully, until his front paws straddled her. She was forced to lie back to avoid bumping noses. Now she lay beneath him, the heat of his body radiating against her.

  “N-nice kitty,” she whispered.

  He continued purring, lowering his face to rub his cheek against hers.

  She cringed, expecting fangs. Only the rough prickle of his whiskers rubbed her skin. With trembling hands, she pushed his head away, the tawny fur lush and soft against her palms.

  The big cat responded by purring louder and turning to look into her eyes. His golden eyes held an intelligence she hadn’t expected. She dug her fingers into the thick fur. Why wasn’t he tearing into her? Could he be somebody’s pet? The tight fear in her chest eased a bit.

  A long rough tongue snaked out to taste her throat, sending a surprisingly sensual shiver through her. She lay perfectly still as the lion moved down her body, snuffling and licking and rubbing. Was he marking her? She knew little to nothing about mountain lions, but she found herself off-balance under the attention.

  He lifted a wide paw and placed it on her belly. Her skin quivered under the touch, but the lion didn’t bare his claws, only kneaded gently. He ran his head up the inside of her thigh until he reached her pussy, hot breath penetrating her jeans.

  She gasped, belly tightening around unexpected butterflies. She’d never had a fetish for animals, but this lion moved with almost human purpose. Swallowing thickly, she waited to see what he would do next.

  The cat lifted his head, intelligent gaze connecting to hers. He seemed to be considering. After several heartbeats, the air between them shimmered. The cat’s features grew hazy, muzzle flattening and ears receding. The furry hide smoothed, and the limbs lengthened. Within moments, the beast was replaced by a tawny-haired, golden-eyed man kneeling between her legs. His hands were planted on the ground on either side of her thighs, every naked square inch of him rippling with muscle.

  In a voice like a roll of thunder, he asked, “Why do you reek of catnip?”

  Chapter Five

  Adrian’s mountain lion had taken control before he could even aim his rifle, charging forward in catnip-driven recklessness. Now his clothing was shredded and he was drunk on catnip, inches from the most enchanting woman he’d ever encountered. Bits of leaves and sticks snarled her strawberry blonde hair, and her wide blue eyes met his. “What a-are you?”

  Her stuttered words caused a surge of emotion inside him, a possessiveness he was not used to feeling. Mine. He wanted to lick every square inch of her. To rub his own scent across her curvaceous body. To fill her with his seed and make her his in every way possible. Although his mountain lion was growling mate over and over in his head, this woman lacked the pungent tang of shifter magic. But then, the potent catnip blocked even the rank stink of bear, confusing his senses. His head swam as if he’d been roofied. Was she in heat? Why else would she have perfumed herself in catnip and come to his territory?

  He crawled up her body, bringing his mouth within range of hers and securing one of his knees between her legs, thigh pressed hard against the heat of her crotch. His cock pulsed with urgency, wanting her wet warmth wrapped around him. “You were looking for me.”

  She shook her h
ead, both palms braced flat against his chest. Her jaw trembled. “I-I don’t even know what you are.”

  He held very still, breathing hard as he searched her blue eyes. There was no guile there. As he focused, the acrid smell of her fear carved a path through the other smells, sobering him. “Then why the catnip?”

  “I-insect repellant. The b-bottle broke,” she choked out, her attention shifting beyond his shoulder. “Is the bear gone?”

  The bear. He lifted his head toward the crushed trail of bushes. A grizzly would normally have been more than a match for Adrian’s mountain lion, but the scent of the terrified female had given Adrian a ferocity he’d never thought possible. The rogue shifter bear now lay with his throat ripped out.

  At least any humans stumbling upon the dead bear would assume it had died in a fight with another predator. But there’d been something strange about the shifter, something Adrian couldn’t quite place. He pressed the tip of his tongue against the fangs that kept trying to emerge and shook his head. He’d come back and figure it out later. Right now he had this female to deal with. “The bear’s no longer a threat. What’s your name?”

  “D-Darcy.”

  “Darcy.” He let her name roll off his tongue, drinking her in, fascinated by the way her lips moved. His mountain lion refused to disentangle himself from her. “I’m Adrian.”

  Her pretty throat moved with a swallow, and she slid one hand from his chest to touch the stubble on his chin, as if doubting he was real. “What kind of witch are you?”

  Shivers raced through him and he turned his head to nuzzle against the inside of her wrist, unable to resist the lure of catnip. “I’m a shifter, not a witch.”

  “Ohhh,” she said on an exhale, her sweet breath fanning his cheek. The acrid scent of fear shifted and a high, fleeting whiff of arousal reached him.

  It was taking everything he had not to succumb to his desire to claim her here and now. Damn catnip. Lips still brushing her skin, he asked, “Why are you out here in the forest alone, kitten?”

  “Harvesting w-wild ginseng.” Her voice had a rough breathiness he found irresistible.

  He rubbed against her wrist and felt dampness against his thigh where it remained between her legs. God, he wanted to taste her. He slid his cheek to the crook of her arm, tongue flicking against her tender, sensitive skin.

  She gasped, and the scent of her arousal grew, but so did the acrid scent of fear. “Are you going to eat me?”

  He wanted to tell her yes, in the best way possible, but he was frightening her. She was human, ignorant of the ways of shifters. Although still woozy from catnip, he pulled himself under control and lifted his mouth from her skin. Pushing up on his hands, he hovered above her for a heartbeat. “I would never harm you.” He forced himself to stand.

  Her eyes grew rounder as her gaze dropped to his erection. “W-why are you n-naked?”

  Her adorable stutter was more pronounced as she obviously tried not to look at his crotch—and failed miserably. Part of him liked the attention, but it was making it difficult to stay off of her. He kept picturing her plump, red mouth around his shaft. He glanced around for something to cover himself while he growled out, “Kind of difficult to wear clothes as a mountain lion.”

  She returned her attention to his face, a pink flush rising to her cheeks. “W-would you like to borrow my rain poncho?” She pulled a bag from her shoulder and rummaged inside, coming up with a cheap green emergency poncho.

  “Thank you.” He accepted the packet and shook out the thin plastic before wrapping it around his hips like a kilt. His dick formed a huge tent over his crotch. He gestured downward. “I can’t do anything about that. It has a mind of its own.”

  A giggle escaped her, breaking the tension between them. Her smile was like a sunrise, and a giddy sensation welled up inside him. It reminded him of the stories his father used to tell about meeting his mother. How the pack had never felt like home until he’d bonded with her.

  He clamped down on the memory. Packs were for werewolves. Mountain lions lived alone.

  “Come.” He offered her a hand. “I’ll show you back to your car.”

  “You know a way back up the cliff?” She put her delicate palm into his and he pulled her onto her feet.

  “Of course. This is my territory.”

  She took one limping step and stumbled against him, her full breasts soft against his arm. A purr rose in his chest. She was round and soft in all the right places, yet solid enough to be a worthy mate. Mine. The word flitted through him again.

  “I t-twisted my ankle,” she said.

  Without waiting for permission, he swept her into his arms. “I’ll carry you.”

  She gasped, clutching his neck. “Are y-you sure?”

  “You aren’t heavy.” He strode along the cliff to where a stream cut a trail, heart beating faster than carrying her warranted.

  Chapter Six

  Darcy clung to Adrian as he stalked toward the trees. He smelled of pine and wood smoke and hot-blooded male, and the heat of his naked chest against her made her insides clench with need. Now was not the time or place to feel horny, but damn if this guy wasn’t some sort of sex-god. No, he’s a shifter. The other witches talked about shifters as barely controlled animals who argued until they drew blood and bit each other during mating. How could she have mistaken him for a witch? Not only does my stutter ruin every spell, I can’t even tell shifters from witches. She felt like the stupidest witch on the planet.

  They reached a tiny stream trickling down the cliff, and her stomach lurched as he leapt up it from ledge to ledge without breaking his stride. Damn, he’s nimble. His gait barely even jostled her aching ankle. She forced herself to loosen her chokehold on him. Mountain lion, mountain man, this guy was hot.

  His nostrils flared, and she wondered if he could smell her pheromones. Which only turned her on more. What the hell is wrong with me? You’d think she was a cat in heat.

  His chest vibrated with a growl. “Don’t do that.”

  She looked into his face. “What?”

  “I can smell your arousal. It’s as distracting as catnip.”

  Oh, shit, he could smell her. And that only made her pussy clench tighter. She looked away, focusing on the trail ahead to avoid his gaze. She didn’t want to stutter out some lame excuse and embarrass herself any more than she already had. Stupid sexy shifter.

  They reached the top of the ridge and he threaded his way through the trees with unerring confidence. “Why were you looking for ginseng?”

  She swallowed, gathering her words on her tongue before speaking. “I’m making a potion.”

  “Potion? You’re a witch?” He bent his face toward her to inhale deeply.

  It felt weird but also kind of sexy to have him sniff her like that. “Yes,” she said with more confidence than she felt.

  A frown creased his brow. “I haven’t met a lot of witches, but you don’t smell like one.”

  His words created a hollow in her chest, an echo of all the times her mother told her she had no natural talent for witchcraft. If it wasn’t for Aunt Willow, Darcy wouldn’t even know a coven existed. Not that she had a hope in hell of getting them to teach her anything, not at the rate she was going. She had no idea how she was going to get her hands on some ginseng between now and her test day after tomorrow. Her throat hurt with the effort of controlling words tangled by emotions. “What d-do I smell like, then?”

  His lip twitched, revealing a sharp canine that made her heart race. “I’m uncertain.”

  “Well, I’m n-not a shapeshifter, that’s for sure.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “Would that be so bad?”

  She bit her lip, realizing she’d just insulted him. “N-no. But I can’t change shape.”

  “Some shifters require a catalyst for the magic to awaken.”

  “Catalyst?”

  “A stressful event. Puberty is most common.” His thickly muscled forearm tightened beneath her knees. “Or receivin
g a claiming mark.”

  The way he said “claiming” caused butterflies in her stomach, and a fresh flood of heat settled into her core. His nostrils flared, but he didn’t remark, swiveling to avoid catching her feet against a long evergreen bough.

  The trees soon opened into the clearing where her car was parked. Next to it sat an ATV with a Forestry Service logo on the side. For the briefest moment, she thought perhaps her aunt had sent someone to look for her, but then Adrian set her on the ATV’s padded black seat.

  “This is y-yours?” She’d imagined him as a wild mountain man, not a Forestry official.

  “I’m a ranger.” He dropped to his knees in front of her and slid his calloused hands behind her calf, drawing her leg toward him. “How’s your ankle?”

  Rockets of anticipation shot up her leg to her pussy. How could he continually have such a carnal effect on her? She cleared her throat, preparing to tell him it was fine, but then he rotated her ankle, and she yelped instead.

  “Sorry. It doesn’t look broken, but it’s definitely sprained.” He’d been gentle, but damn, that hurt. He stood and rummaged through a box on the back of his ATV. “I have a bandage in here somewhere.”

  Even though her ankle throbbed, she was mesmerized by his lithe grace. He returned with a first aid kit, and with surprising dexterity and gentleness for someone so big, he removed her shoe and sock, then wrapped her ankle. Every time his fingertips brushed her skin, it was as if her whole being cried out for more. She was almost beginning to think he’d cast a spell on her. Except shifters didn’t cast spells.

  He finished and rose. The poncho tented over the front of his hips remained as pronounced as ever, and part of her wished she hadn’t asked him to cover himself.