Hot Blooded

heavy muscles of his chest, just
above his heart. She could feel it beating, accelerating as her lips moved over
his skin, as she drew his dark gift into her body.
    He brought her out of her enthrallment when she had taken enough for their
second exchange, his mouth ravishing hers. He could kiss her forever, over and
over and never get enough. Their mouths clung, tongues tangling wildly. Abruptly
he pulled away, scowling at her. There was an ominous danger to his smoldering
gaze.
    "What?"
    "Do not
what
me. You were thinking of another man."
    Juliette ran her tongue over her bottom lip. "I was not thinking of another
man. I merely thought I'd never been with a man as sexy as you. There's a
difference."
    His hand circled her bare arm, brought her close to him. "You have been with
another man."
    "Jaguars are sexual creatures, Riordan. We need sex at times." She leaned
forward and lapped at his chest, right above his heart. "Why should that bother
you?"
    "Juliette, we are bound together. I would know if you had sex with another
man. You could not hide it from me."
    "I wouldn't try to hide it from you." She pushed at the wall of his chest but
he was a rock, and even with her unusual strength, she couldn't move him.
    "I would kill him."
    "Why would you kill him? He isn't the one bound to you."
    "Exactly." Riordan turned away from her, a black anger he didn't understand
enveloping him. To cool off, he waded into the pool and looked back at her. She
stood there with the moonlight spilling over her luscious body, her expression a
mixture of amusement and exasperation. She was so beautiful he hurt just looking
at her. "I am not human, Juliette and you can never think for one moment that I
am. I am a predator and I will protect what is mine."
    "Did I say I wanted another man? No! I was thinking no one else could compare
with you. I was
not
thinking I wanted someone else. How could I, after
what we just shared? Are you going to be an idiot and act jealous all the time?
That would make me crazy."
    He ducked under the water to rinse the heat from his skin. He stood up, the
water lapping at his hips. "Come here."
    "You didn't answer me."
    He sighed. "Yes, I am going to be an idiot and act jealous all the time. The
idea of another man touching you, making love to you, makes me want to tear out
his heart."
    "Well." Juliette smiled and waded out to him. "I'd want to tear out the heart
of any woman that tried to seduce you." She reached him, tipping up her face for
his searing kiss. "We'll both have to work not to be jealous idiots. I can't see
myself wanting anyone else when I have you."
    "I will not mind if you wish to seduce me." He kissed her again, long,
addictive kisses that had a bite to them.
    "How lucky for me." She bent down and hit the water with her hand, sending up
a spray that doused him thoroughly. Laughing, she dove away from him, swimming
beneath the water to the center of the pond.

----
Chapter 6
    Â« ^ »
    RIORDAN watched her swim, her pale body slipping sensuously through the
water. The clear liquid shimmered over her feminine form, enhancing every curve
and secret hollow. Catching the glimpse of another man in her mind had been a
shock, and he wasn't certain why it would be. She was a very sexual woman. She
was bold and knew what she wanted. He wanted that kind of woman, as sexual as he
knew himself to be, yet the thought of another man leaning down to suckle her
breast or plunge deep into her body made the beast in him rise. It was dark and
ugly and utterly dangerous.
    Juliette would attract the attention of men with her shapely body. She was
the epitome of a sexual creature. Riordan dove under water and began to swim
laps, back and forth, driving himself to keep his fury at bay. If she ever
wanted another man…
    I thought lifemates wanted only each other
. There was curiosity in
her voice.
    You are the only lifemate I have ever had. I am new at this.
    He sounded so disgruntled she laughed and swam to the other side of the pool.
There was a smooth shelf formed from boulders beneath the surface near the edge
of the water. Juliette sat on it and watched him swim back and forth like a
shark.
Does it really bother you so much
?
    Riordan heard the soft tremor in her voice.
Of course it bothers me. I am
a possessive man. But it matters little, Juliette. We are lifemates. We are
bound from this time forward and there will be no other
.
    Is that a decree
? She didn't