Serengeti Lightning by Vivi Andrews Page B

took up a measured, punishing rhythm. Each stroke dragged along every nerve inside her. She gripped his buttocks, trying to urge him higher and harder, but Michael kept his brutal, deliberate pace. Her breathing matched his, their groans catching together at the end of each thrust. Mara felt like she was being held at the edge of madness.
    Then, finally, he began to increase his tempo bit by bit. His eyes still bore into hers like blue lightning, branding her to her soul. His speed picked up, his thrusts growing rougher, and Mara reveled in the animal behind each fierce lunge. She needed all of him, every bit, even the wildest parts. Only then would she be free of him. She couldn’t find closure without a complete surrender.
    She threw herself into this moment with all the passion he poured into his life. He pistoned into her, growling words that might have been her name or something more tender. They raced for completion together, a wild, bruising sprint. Mara flew over the edge first, with Michael a heartbeat behind. She burst into a thousand points of light as his hips jerked between her thighs.
    He collapsed against her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress. Mara closed her eyes, drinking in that delicious heaviness for the last time, trying to imprint this moment into her memory so she would have it forever.
    No wonder people always talked about break-up sex. It was incredible. Transcendent. Mara couldn’t think of better words to describe it, at least not until her brain came back online. She wanted to hold onto this moment, make it last, but exhaustion stole over her. Wrapped securely in her lover’s arms, Mara slept, resting easy.

Chapter Eight

    Mara leaned against the schoolhouse window, watching the kids tumbling over one another in the schoolyard. It was a gorgeous day. Probably one of the last perfect days of spring. The sun shone warm and pleasant, gearing up for the ungodly hot summer days to come.
    Mara glanced around the schoolroom, looking for distraction. She’d already cleaned up the spilled glue, straightened the desks and put the stray articles of clothing back into the cubbies. Shifter kids went through clothing faster than their human counterparts, their outfits destroyed by the shift. She kept an extra set or two for each of her kids here at the school. Those extra outfits always managed to end up scattered around the room by the end of the day—even when none of the kids had shifted during class.
    Normally, the kids would clean up after themselves, but Mara had released them early, wanting to do the task herself. Needing the busywork to occupy her hands. But now the schoolroom was spotless.
    She had no more excuses.
    Any other day, Mara would be outside with the cubs, watching over them or perhaps even joining in a game. Today, she pressed her forehead against the window, hiding behind that barrier of glass. She was being cowardly and she knew it, but she didn’t want to go outside.
    Michael was out there.
    He’d still been in her bed when she woke up that morning. Until she’d seen him there, she hadn’t realized how much she’d hoped he would make things easy on her and slink away into the night. When she’d thrown him out, he’d gone without a fight, thank God, but not before he dropped a few choice phrases into her ear.
    I want a family too, Mara. One woman for the rest of my life, the kids, the house, all of it. Don’t write me off just yet.
    Mara had felt unsettled all day. She couldn’t seem to get those words out of her thoughts. Had she been wrong about him? Her conviction to leave the pride was starting to feel forced and uncomfortably restrictive.
    And then he’d shown up as school was letting out.
    The kids had run to him, climbing all over him in an eager tumble. The pride was a tight-knit community, but this was more than just a standard reaction to any member of their pride. It was obvious the kids adored him.
    He’d make a good dad . The thought crept up on