Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Work was hectic. Getting Manny set up to handle the restaurant with Dom at his side, while Mara worked via Zoom with the head chef at the resort to prepare the rehearsal dinner for that night, and the wedding day meals for the next day, was intense, to say the least. Lucky for her, a certain six and a half foot tall, tatted up, yummylicious pussycat was waiting in her office at lunchtime.
“What are you doing here?” She gasped as he handed her a bouquet of Gerber daisies and swooped her off her feet for a heart stopping kiss.
“Came to see my girl,” he grumbled, teasing her lips into opening, and delving inside her mouth with his oh-so-talented tongue.
Mara’s tummy-flies went berserk. He smelled amazing, filling up her office with his bad boy cologne and fresh out of the shower scent, laced with the fur of his beast. Bruno growled softly, pushing her against the closed door. He kissed her so damn good, making her lightheaded with need.
“Missed you,” he whispered, licking a path from her mouth to her neck as he unbuttoned her chef’s coat.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered, helping him remove her clothes and tugging on his t-shirt at the same time.
So needy. So wet and ready. Mara was like one giant hormone. Her ovaries were going off like Roman candles at every whisper of praise that escaped his lips like air. Damn, he knew how to compliment her. Knew how to make her feel beautiful and important. Mara loved it.
“Look at you, beautiful. Pink and plump, and perfect. You ready for me, already aren’t you, kit? So wet and glistening. Good girl,” he growled, pushing her backwards until her legs hit the sofa and she went down with a small thud.
Bruno’s mouth closed over hers, and she bit back her moan. She really needed to soundproof this office if this was going to be a regular thing—please, oh please. Her legs shook as he worked her sex with his deft tongue, lapping at her clit like a kitty eating his cream.
Dirty, sexy, stunning man.
Two could play at that game though, and as she pulled him onto the couch, Mara ran her tongue over his enormous, and beautifully pierced cock. The barbells felt cool against his hot, velvety skin, and as she sucked on him, she felt his growl grow against her cleft.
This was a first for her, and normally, she’d be embarrassed by her belly and thick thighs, but not with him. Bruno seemed to like every plump curve and jiggle of her body, and she couldn’t help but feel beautiful while they made each other feel good with their mouths and hands.
“Oh, fuck, Mara, that feels so good. Wanna be in you when I come,” he growled, deep and low, and more warmth spilled between her legs.
As much as she wanted to taste his pleasure, she really wanted to feel his girth filling her as she came, too. Sitting up, she slid down his body, facing away from him as he cupped her tits from behind. Bruno groaned and sucked on her neck, kneading her breasts, plucking the nipples as she lifted herself slightly and placed his head at her entrance. Then she sat down, taking him deep, so deep inside of her.
Fast and rough, he bucked into her, filling her so good and hitting every spot just right. Her orgasm came fast, sending her spiraling into ecstasy, and she hardly felt him move as he sat up behind her, bending her over the arm of the sofa. Bruno grabbed her hips and slammed into her, again and again, from behind, His steel hard cock felt so fucking good, drawing out her orgasm until another one built.
“Oh gods, I’m coming again,” she mewled, and he purred behind her, cock throbbing inside her as he joined her this time.
They lay there panting in a sweaty tangle of arms and legs, and Mara couldn’t stop her smile if she’d tried. This kind of thing wasn’t normal for her. Men didn’t lose their minds with passion when they saw her. They didn’t ravage her inside of her office and bend her over sofas.
“Well, I sure as fuck do,” Bruno growled, and fuck, she realized she’d said that aloud. “Fuck everyone else, Mara. No one else can handle a special woman like you.”
“And you can?”
“Fuck, yeah, I can. You were meant for me, kit. Mine,” he growled, and she heard the Tiger in his voice.
He was still buried inside her, and when she felt his dick grow hard again, she gasped. Bruno turned her around this time, cupping her face as he slid in deep, holding himself just right to send her straight into ecstasy one more time. The fact he was watching as he destroyed her body was an aphrodisiac in and of itself. Mara’s mouth opened on a silent scream as he took her to new heights.
When he opened his mouth full of razor sharp fangs, a snarl on his lips, she did something unexpected. Mara tugged him down to her neck, a silent plea, a desperate invitation. Bruno growled, sucking on her neck. He pumped harder, faster, gripping her flesh with his teeth almost hard enough to break skin. But he caught himself just before it happened. He caught himself as his cock pulsed and filled her with his cum.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
What had she done? Mara was caught somewhere between ecstasy and utter humiliation. Bruno was panting, his chest heaving as he slumped backwards against the opposite end of the couch.
“Mara,” he whispered, voice hoarse, but she didn’t want to talk about it.
Bruno—tomcat, player, surprisingly considerate lover—had rejected her.
Mara—curvy, stuffy, naïve, silly little Bunny—fell for the one man in the universe she should have stayed away from.
“Leave,” she whispered, standing up and walking to her private bathroom.
She clicked the lock in place, and slid down the door to the floor, frozen in her grief.
“Mara!” He said her name and knocked on the wood. “We need to talk⁠—”
“We really don’t. Just leave. Now. Please,” she whispered, voice breaking at the last.
Bruno sighed heavily. She heard him gathering his jeans, tugging them on, along with his boots and shirt. He exhaled heavily, like he wanted to say something, but she couldn’t keep that door shut if he tried talking to her again, so she told him to go again. Begged him, really.
“You think something finished here, but it didn’t. It ain’t over. You just don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly fine. Leave. Now. Before I scream,” she growled, and stood up, turning on the shower.
Leave it to the man to give her the best sex of her entire life. Make her feel like she was the only woman in the world. Then, refuse to claim her. Mara truly sucked at relationships.
Grrrr.
She worked without speaking for the next couple of hours, dreading the moment she walked into the Lodge to set up the kitchen for the next day. Mara could do this. She had a good game face. Chef Tom from the Lodge was taking care of tonight’s rehearsal meal while Mara started taking stock for the wedding breakfast, cocktail hour, and dinner, that would all be happening the next day. The kitchen was quiet, with just Mara and one of the Lodge’s staff there to help her cart the prepped vegetables to the walk-in fridge.
“Will that be all, chef?”
“Yeah, Petey. I’m gonna check the pastry cream one more time before I leave.”
“Very good, chef,” Petey said, and gave her a slight bow before leaving.
“Is this the kitchen? Hello! Hello? Ah, there you are!” A voluptuous blonde came bustling inside the kitchen followed by two men who looked a little, well, unsure, at least it appeared that way to Mara.
“Oh, I know you,” the woman said, eyes narrowing at Mara. Shit. She did know her. This was the woman who had her claws on Bruno’s arm earlier that day.
“Did you need something?”
“You’re a Rabbit Shifter, aren’t you? A prey animal,” she snarled as if Mara was beneath her.
“Did you need something, Miss? I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name,” Mara replied.
“I’m Lorraine Luani, daughter to the Alpha of the Luani Pride. You know, Bruno is wasted here. In my Pride, he would be a king,” she snarled, stepping closer to where Mara stood.
Bunny Shifter or not, she knew all about predators. She held her ground. Careful to keep the woman in her sights.
“Um, Ms. Luani?”
“Quiet. I’m talking to my friend, and that’s what you are, right Cara?”
“It’s Mara.”
“Whatever. I’m sure you can appreciate the information I am giving you. Big Cat Shifters have smaller numbers than the Wolves. We need to be careful about breeding, and Bruno’s genetics are highly sought after.”
“But he’s a Tiger and you’re a Lion?”
Mara’s confusion must have been obvious because the angry she-Cat growled again. She didn’t know what the woman was talking about, but she sure as shit did not like her talking about Bruno at all. Her inner Bunny growled and hissed, but she was smart enough to know she could not take this Lioness in a fight.
“In my Pride, when a female is about to go into heat, the males fight for her. But I understand Tigers do things differently. So, I tell you what, little Bunny. I will fight you for the right to claim Bruno as my mate.”
“Excuse me? I don’t think that’s actually necessary. This is the 21st Century. Bruno can pick his own mate.”
“Wrong! Ha! You don’t even know why he’s valuable, do you?”
Head tilted, her Bunny ears picked up the sound of familiar footfalls in the hallway. The two larger Lion males hadn’t heard it, but they weren’t doing anything to stop Lorraine the lamebrain’s tirade. She growled and knocked over a couple of spoons and knives that were sitting on one of the stainless steel chopping tables.
“You mean to you, right? Because I know why he is valuable to me,” Mara replied, angry at the way she was describing the man who meant more to her than she’d been able to admit until then.
“What would you know about real value?” snarled Lorraine.
“I know Bruno is a good person. He’s sweet, considerate, kind, and gentle. He’s powerful and strong. Protective of those he cares about. He is honest and intelligent, and surprisingly funny,” she admitted, a small smile on her lips as she thought of all the times, he’d made her grin and laugh.
“Intelligent? That dumb brute? His value has nothing to do with any of that, you stupid bitch. Bruno is rare. His genes are highly prized by my kind, and I will have him as a sire for my cubs,” she spat.
Anger made Mara see red. This woman was talking about Bruno like he was nothing more than a sperm donor. Some science experiment she could use to raise her standing and satisfy her need to be important. What a sad, sorry woman she was. But that was not Mara’s mess to fix. She was still a Bunny, and this bitch was a fierce predator with the promise of death blazing in her eyes.
Shiiitt.
Keep her talking. It’s our only chance.
“You said he was rare? How? What do you mean?”
Lorraine cocked her head to the side at an awkward angle. Mara winced. Fuck, this woman was creepy. Her eyes glowed gold, and a long, deep growl escaped her lips. Mara’s Bunny sniffed the air.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
She was running out of time. This woman was about to shift into her Lioness in the motherfuckin’ kitchen where there was no room to run or hide, which was what her Bunny did best against predators.
“Stupid weak prey. You don’t even know what he is, do you? You’re not even fit to eat, little Bunny. But I will tell you what Bruno is. He is a rare White Bengal Shifter. A unicorn for our kind and he will breed gigantic, glorious, magnificent cubs. Lion and Tiger Shifters almost always create hybrid cubs. When he breeds me, our Ligers will be the envy of every Pride out there. My standing in the Luani Pride will be raised and we will be unbeatable. I will be the envy of everyone!”
Lorraine smiled widely. Her crazed eyes glowing with the presence of her psychotic animal. The two behemoths behind her looked puzzled, but they didn’t move a muscle to stop her transformation.
“There’s one problem with your little story.”
“What’s that, prey?”
“Bruno isn’t breeding you, bitch,” Mara snapped, suddenly reckless.
The crazed female snarled loudly, tossing her hair back off her shoulders. She really was stunning. Far prettier than Mara, truth be told, but whatever. The bitch wanted Bruno, and there was no way in hell Mara was going to stand by and just let her talk all that smack.
“Let him go, fluffy Bunny, or I’ll make you.”
“Not gonna happen., psycho,” Mara replied angrily.
“You have some spunk, I’ll give you that. But a beast like Bruno shouldn’t be wasted. What a travesty it would be for him to taint his blood with some inferior breed, not even big enough to make a fur coat,” the she-Cat snarled.
“You’re right, I know nothing about how Big Cat Prides operate, but in my Flock, we are free to choose our mates. If Bruno wants me, I am his, and nothing you say will change that. Sorry if that fucks with your plans to force him to breed you. No, you know what? I’m not sorry. Fuck you, you psycho bitch,” Mara growled.
“It’s been a long time since my Lioness has had a new toy. Come on, Bunny. Let’s play,” Lorraine screamed and lunged for Mara.