Wanton by Crystal Jordan Page A

herself and embracing a coexistence that she thought would last her entire life.
    A decade seemed so fleeting a time to be happy, a mere heartbeat in a lifetime that could only promise loneliness.
    Now she needed to find herself once more, learn to trust herself and her instincts again. The last two years had taught her that she was stronger than she’d ever guessed. She had survived. And now she had to learn live again. It was terrifying. Painful.
    Free.
    It confused her, the conflicting emotions that ricocheted through her. The agony. The unfettered ecstasy. And the sheer animalistic need that burned away everything else. During Wild, her past didn’t matter, and her future was held at bay. This moment, this heartbeat, was all-important. It consumed her the way the heat that coiled within her did.
    She reveled in it, discarding the concerns and guilt of the woman to embrace the Lynx. A low purr vibrated her vocal cords. Woman and feline in perfect union for the first time in years. Yes. This was what she had craved for so long. Not just the mate who completed her soul, but the togetherness with others of her kind, the shedding of human trappings as they acknowledged who and what they really were. Lynx.
    She picked up her pace, gliding alongside the river until it gave way to a short waterfall and a large pool. From her vantage point she could see the river ended farther down the mountainside, where it emptied into a wide lake. Lynx in groups of twos and threes were using the lake as a place to rut. A fine idea. Perhaps when she let the male catch her, they’d do the same. A shuddered rippled through her body, heat clenching her sex.
    Splashing in the pool below drew her attention. A man erupted from beneath the waterfall to stand chest-deep in the water. She lifted her muzzle to the air, sniffing delicately. A fine specimen of a male. Her senses told her he was unmated. Excellent. A low chuckle spilled from her as she shifted back to her human form. The fur retracted and her body remolded itself until she crouched naked on the boulder overlooking the pool.
    His amber gaze locked on her, and a smile made his teeth flash white against his bronze skin. He crooked a finger, beckoning her closer. She couldn’t resist the invitation. She didn’t want to.
    Another male in Lynx form appeared beside her, his silken fur brushing against her bare thigh. There was still no sign of the Lynx who’d hunted her. She looked to the man below, and saw his smile had only grown more wicked. She would have both of these males, then. The thought made her blood rush in her veins and her sex dampen in hot anticipation. Glancing at the Lynx beside her, she arched a brow. “Well, this should be interesting.”
    His big body rumbled in a purr, and she sensed his imminent change into human form. She didn’t wait for him; she jumped, landing feetfirst in the pool. The chill water enveloped her, tightening her skin. A shocked gasp ripped from her when she broke the surface. “Jesus, that’s frigid.”
    “Let me warm you, then.” Strong arms caught her from behind, spinning her so they could both watch the man on the boulder above them leap gracefully into the deep pool. He erupted upward, water splattering her. He shoved back shaggy brown hair.
    His gaze roamed her face for a moment before he looked over her shoulder. “I’m Eric.”
    “Ryan.” The man behind her slid his hands under her thighs, pulling her legs up and open. The cold water swirled over her heated labia, and she clenched her teeth at the contrasting sensations.
    Her breath caught as Eric moved into the cradle of her thighs, his long fingers grasping her knees to guide them around his lean hips. She met his gaze, baring her teeth in a feral smile. “I’m Jenise. Fuck me, now.”
    Both men chuckled, their fingers moving along the slick curves of her body. The heat of their own big bodies made the chill of the water raise painful goose bumps on her flesh. Eric dipped his