The Jaguar Prince

Chapter 2

This wasn’t happening. Callie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re not real,” she repeated over and over until she could feel herself beginning to relax.

The naked hottie was only the last fragment of a delicious dream she’d been having. Right before she went to sleep, hadn’t she wished he would magically materialize in her bed?

She relaxed and smiled. It had been a great dream. The way he’d touched her, nuzzled her neck, pressed his naked body against hers. It had been one long sensuous dream. That was probably why she’d apparently gotten rid of her hot granny gown sometime during the night. Okay, now she was back to normal. No more fantasies that a hot, sexy man was in her bed. The idea was ludicrous.

Deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. She was wide awake now. She opened her eyes.

He was still there, sitting on the end of her bed, staring at her with what appeared to be…amusement? He laughed at her! He was in her house, her bed, and he laughed at her!

Callie sat up, the cover fell to her waist. His gaze dropped. She grabbed the sheet and pulled it against her chest. “Get out! Who are you? How did you get into my house? Where’s my gown?”

One eyebrow arched. “Are you always this emotionally unstable?”

“Emotionally…” she sputtered.

“Unstable,” he slowly and distinctly repeated.

“I am not emotionally unstable!” Oh God, she was arguing with the serial killer. She took another deep breath, then exhaled once more. She needed to stay calm. “If you don’t leave right now, I’m going to call the police.”

Oh, yeah, now he really looked nervous—not! He didn’t even flinch. Just sat there staring at her. And why wouldn’t he? He probably weighed around one-ninety. She would be no match for him.

Maybe if she kept him talking, he wouldn’t kill her right away. She’d once read somewhere that if you could befriend your abductor, then he would be less likely to kill you. Not that he’d abducted her, but he had apparently broken into her home. God, she hoped this worked.

“How…uh…did you find me?” Surely someone would’ve noticed a naked man following her car. For the first time in her life, Callie wished her rattletrap car went faster.

She frowned. How had he followed her? Her car wasn’t that slow. He probably had his own car. He’d waited for her to leave, then followed.

So, he drove around naked. And no one noticed this?

“Does it matter how I came to be here?” he asked.

“I guess not.” If she knew where he came from, then maybe she could talk him into going back, though. “Where are you from?”

“New Symtaria.”

“Never heard of it. Is that a suburb of Dallas?” New ones were cropping up all the time.

“It’s in another galaxy.”

All righty. “Another planet?”

He nodded, still looking amused about something.

“And you are?”

“Prince Rogar.”

Delusional. Probably escaped from the state hospital. This was worse than she ever could have imagined. Not only was he naked, but he was a nut. Automatically, her eyes strayed downward. She swallowed, then quickly jerked her gaze to a safer place. She had to stop looking…looking at him…down there. It wasn’t like she’d never seen a naked man before.

This was ridiculous. She needed help and all she could think about was staring at his…his nakedness. She had to call the police or something—911. Her cell phone was in her purse. From now on, she was keeping it on her bedside table. If there even was a from-now-on in her future. Okay, keep him talking.

“And why are you here?” She smiled. At least she tried to pull it off as a smile even though her stomach rumbled, and her hands were sweating, and she was probably going to throw up any second.

“To take you home.”

She looked around. “I am home, so…bye-bye.”

He grinned and she noticed his teeth were pearly white, and he had a nice smile. Ted Bundy probably had a nice smile, too.

“You’re part Symtarian,” he continued.

“Okayyy…” He thought she was from another planet, too. This was worse than she could’ve imagined.

“When our planet was dying, some of the people were sent to other places. An expedition went in search of a new planet to call home. Some of our people were forgotten, and became integrated with the aliens. Now we’re searching for them so we can bring them home.”

“And you’re doing it without clothes.”

“It happens when I shapeshift.”

“Well, of course, I should have guessed.” The guy was a raving lunatic. “And what form do you take?”

A fog began to roll across her bedroom. She glanced nervously around, then looked at her crazy guy. Her mouth dropped open as he slowly began to change.

The prince dude gritted his teeth and downed his head. His skin changed from flesh to short black hair with barely visible spots. He stretched out across her bed, his hand curling into a fist, becoming a paw.

Oh, God, she was crazy. Now she would never get her chance to work with the big cats—except in her warped mind. It wasn’t fair.

The fog rolled in thicker until all Callie saw were patches of black fur, a glimpse of golden eyes boring into her. She couldn’t move. She tried, but her legs wouldn’t budge.

The fog slowly dissipated.

The black jaguar from last night lay across the end of her bed, panting slightly. It met her gaze, and seemed as though it was gauging her reaction.

She opened her mouth, then closed it when no words came out. The cat purred from deep in its throat. She swallowed past the lump in hers. What if the jag was real? Maybe she wasn’t crazy. Oh, yeah, now she felt better. She was going to die. Then again, she might already be dead and this was hell.

Whatever it was, the jaguar was still stretched across the foot of her bed.

The room began to tilt, then grow dark, and she knew without a doubt, she was about to faint. She’d never fainted in her life.

Rogar’s spirit melded with that of the jaguar Balam, his animal guide. They were one, yet separate, their thoughts intertwining.

She didn’t take that very well at all. I told you it was too soon to change in front of her. She’s not used to it like we are, Balam’s thoughts mingled with Rogar’s.

Yes, this complicates matters, but surely the woman that bore her explained her existence, Rogar told him, hating that his animal guide had been right…again.

From her reaction, it’s doubtful. She can’t return without some knowledge of her ancestors. The shock would be too much. You’ll need to teach her our ways.

An irritation, but I will learn more about this planet while I’m here so all is not a waste.

Are you so sure she will leave Earth? Balam asked.

Of course she will return with me, she has no choice. This is her heritage. I shall convince her. I am a prince after all.

The fog rolled across the room, and the change began. The familiar ache in Rogar’s gut, the burning sensation that he had grown used to long ago.

Rogar became a man once again. He studied the young woman. She was quite beautiful, with dark hair and deep green eyes. Odd, but beautiful. The oddness must come from her Earth heritage.

She also seemed quite disturbed about his ability to shapeshift. She apparently had no knowledge of Symtarians. Did those she was born unto explain nothing? Others before him had brought back stories. Stories that some of the non–pure bloods were unaware of their origins. He wouldn’t be able to take her home until he taught her the ways of their people. Balam was correct that this complicated things.

He frowned.

She still hadn’t moved.

Could she be dead? He reached forward and took her hand, then let it fall back to the bed. Limp. It was a possibility the shock had killed her. He pulled on the cover, exposing more of her. No her chest moved up and down, so she still breathed.

Her chest moved very nicely. He pulled the cover to her ankles. She had a nice form. Her breasts were full, her waist small, and she had very long legs.

He moved closer, running the palm of his hand over her body, watching the nipples tighten. Her skin was soft and smooth. She moaned when he brushed his fingers through the dark curls at the juncture of her legs.

Her eyelids fluttered, before slowly opening. “What?” She glanced around, then threw her hands across her chest and jerked her legs up.

“You looked at me!” she sputtered.

His brow wrinkled. “And that angers you?”

“Of course it angers me.”

She grappled for the cover but it was just out of her reach so he handed it to her. She seemed quite upset with him.

“You took advantage of me after I fainted.”

“It’s wrong to look at the naked body?”

“Yes!”

“But what about when you look at mine? Is that not equally wrong?”

“I’m not looking at you.” Her gaze moved downward, then shot back up.

“Aren’t you?” He smiled. This part Earthling, part Symtarian, was a mass of contradictions.

She grabbed the cover and wrapped it around her, then stumbled into the other room. She came back a few minutes later with a large white cloth.

“It’s a towel. Do me a favor and wrap it around your waist.”

She really had a problem with his nakedness, yet he could sense a passionate nature within her.

“How did you do it?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Do what?”

“Change into a jaguar.”

“I told you, I’m Symtarian. We are a race of shapeshifters.”

“Or you’re a damned good magician.”

“Would you like me to show you again?”

“No!”

She was very fervent when she was cornered. And he could almost feel the rapid beat of her heart as it pounded inside her chest.

“The towel?” she reminded him.

He slowly came to his feet, noting the way her gaze lowered, then quickly darted elsewhere. He grinned as he knotted the towel at his waist. She looked at him, saw that he was smiling, and frowned. She was even more alluring when she frowned.

“What do they call you?” he asked.

“Callie.”

“Callie,” he said, testing the sound of her name on his lips. “I like it.” It seemed to unnerve her when he said her name.

“Do you have someplace to go?” she asked. “Someone I can call?”

“I’ve finally found you, why would I leave when I just arrived?”

She closed her eyes and he wondered if she might be going through some kind of ritual. She closed her eyes quite often, losing herself in what appeared to be a trance of some kind. But then, she opened her eyes again.

“I really don’t want to have to call the police to come take you away because this isn’t where you belong.”

“You have a mark on you. It looks like a rose.” When she didn’t say anything, he continued, realizing it might be harder to convince her than he’d first imagined. “On your right cheek.” When her face flamed, he knew she was aware what cheek he spoke about.

She pulled the cover closer around her. “You looked at my butt!”

“No, I just know it’s there.”

“That doesn’t prove anything.” She jutted her chin forward.

Rogar had an incredible urge to cup her chin, pull her closer and taste her, inhale her scent. It hadn’t been enough to hold her in his arms last night, to feel her naked body pressed close to his. But he didn’t touch her. Instead, he untied the towel.

“What are you doing?” she asked, panic lacing her words.

“I have the same mark. All Symtarians have it.” He turned around.

“That doesn’t prove…uh…” Her words stammered to a stop. “So what if you have the same mark.”

He picked up the towel, retied it around his waist, watching her facial expressions. They ranged from denial, to maybe there was truth in his words, then back to denial.

She shook her head. “This is crazy. It’s absurd. You are not an alien, and you need to…to…leave. Right now.”

“Did the people who raised you say nothing about your ancestors?”

She squared her shoulders. “My parents died when I was very young. I grew up in an orphanage.”

Now he understood. Of course, she would deny her heritage. Earthlings weren’t as advanced as other worlds.

There was a knock on her door.

She froze.

“Miss Jordon, are you awake yet?”

“Mrs. Winkle, my landlady.” Her gaze flew to him. “I don’t know what she’ll do if she sees you. Hide!”

She seemed quite flustered by this person she called a landlady. It was interesting to watch Callie.

“I need my robe,” she muttered, dropping the cover.

Very nice.

Before he could study her form, she made a little gurgling noise, then grabbed the cover, and hurried back to the other room, emerging a few moments later wearing a white robe of sorts.

“Stay here,” she said, holding up one hand as if he wouldn’t understand her words. Did she think he was feebleminded?

“Stay!” she said once more, this time gritting her teeth.

She would make a fierce hunter the way she bared her teeth. It didn’t last long, though. Her expression quickly turned to one of pleading.

“Please?”

He nodded once in acquiescence.

“Coming,” she called out as she hurried to the other room, shutting the door to this one.

He casually strolled over and reopened it. He couldn’t see Callie or the landlady, but he would at least hear them talking. He was curious to listen in on their conversation.

Another door opened.

“I was sleeping in this morning,” Callie breathlessly told the landlady.

“I didn’t mean to wake you, but the rent is due, you know.”

“Yes, it’s the first of the month. I’ve been living here for almost a year and it’s always been due the first.”

Rogar heard the sarcasm in her voice. Apparently, Callie didn’t like this other woman.

“And I haven’t raised your rent, either. At least, not yet, even though everyone else has been raising theirs. I pride myself in taking care of my tenants. I’ve always been known as a fair woman.”

“I’ve been very pleased living here, too. I’ll get your money.”

Rogar frowned. He could tell Callie had just lied. Why had she felt the need?

“Huh-choo! Oh, excuse me.”

The woman’s voice sounded closer this time. He eased the door closed a little.

“Here’s the rent,” Callie quickly spoke.

“Huh-choo!”

“Bless you.”

“Odd, I usually don’t sneeze unless I’m around cats.”

There was a distinct pause.

“Do you have a cat, Miss Jordon? You do realize pets are not allowed, don’t you?”

“Of course I remember the no pet rule. I don’t have a cat. It’s just that I was so tired last night I went straight to bed without showering. I was around the cats yesterday. I’m sure that’s all it is.”

“Umm, I suppose that could be it.”

“It is.” Callie’s words were firm. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have a lot to do today.”

A few minutes later the front door closed and Callie returned. She planted her hands on her hips, and again, he wanted to scoop her into his arms and carry her to bed. He was pretty sure she wasn’t ready for that.

“You have to leave. Right now.”

He sighed. He had hoped she wouldn’t be difficult. “I will leave then.” He unknotted his towel, then handed it to her, before starting toward the front door.

“No, you can’t leave!” she frantically whispered.

“But I was only doing what you asked.”

“Not without clothes.”

“Then what would you have me wear?”

She nibbled her bottom lip. He had an incredible urge to nibble it, too.

“I’m not this Symtarian you’re looking for, I promise. I’ll go to town and buy you some clothes, but then you really do need to leave.”

“If you insist.”

“I do.”

“Then I will leave.”

“Good.” She nodded her head. “I need to get dressed.” She grabbed some things out of the drawers of a chipped and scarred chest, then went into the room where she’d gotten the towel. She started to close the door, but stopped to look back at him. “Don’t touch anything.”

“Of course not.”

She nodded again, then closed the door.

Very strange female. It must be the fact she was part Earthling. He tied the towel around his hips, glancing at a board with pictures all over it. It appeared to be modes of transportation, another dwelling, jewels, and an assortment of small animals. An odd picture to hang on one’s wall.

He wandered to the other room, looking around as he went. He hadn’t taken the time to inspect the dwelling last night. He’d only sensed it was a safe place. He could see that it was sparsely furnished with few personal items.

He wandered down a short hall to another room where there were lots of cabinets. He opened the first one. It seemed to hold containers in various sizes with names like garlic, salt, and pepper. Behind the next door there was a box, and a jar labeled peanut butter behind it. He pulled the box out.

“Cereal,” he read. “Tastes great and good for you.”

He knew the language. In fact his people spoke many dialects. He’d also studied Earth and their customs before he’d left New Symtaria. He knew they believed in free love. He frowned. Except he hadn’t sensed that Callie wanted to mate with him. Then again, that had been during a different time period. Maybe they had changed their minds. A shame if that were the case.

He tore the top off the box and grabbed a handful of the cereal. After putting some in his mouth, he began to chew. Not bad. Not as good as a juicy steak, but it would appease his hunger.

As he continued to eat, he wandered through the rest of Callie’s dwelling. There was a tall shelf that stood in one corner. He walked over to it. Cats of all shapes and sizes were arranged in a circle. Sitting in the middle of the little statues was a black jaguar. He smiled.

A bag sitting on a short table began to ring. He stepped closer, discovered how to open it, then brought out the object that was ringing.

It resembled one of the communication devices on New Symtaria. He flipped it open and it stopped ringing. Almost exactly like theirs.

“Yes,” he said after he brought it to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Hello.”

“Where’s Callie?”

“Getting dressed.”

“Getting dressed?”

“Yes, she was naked, but did not wish to continue not wearing clothes.” His brow creased. “I don’t know why. She has a magnificent body.”

“Callie Jordon? We’re talking about my best friend Callie, right? She was naked in front of you? I mean, I don’t have the wrong number, do I? As long as I’ve known her she’s never had a man in her house, let alone one that spent the night with her. You did spend the night with her, right. In her bed?”

“Yes, we slept in the same bed, with our naked bodies pressed against each other.”

“Maybe you’d better put Callie on the phone.”

“Of course.”

So the object was called a phone. He had thought they were larger, not as compact as this one. He carried it to the other room just as Callie came out.

“Phone,” he said, handing it to her.

She looked startled. “Yes, that is a phone.”

“She wants to talk to you.”

Her face paled. “You weren’t supposed to touch anything.”

“It was ringing.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I see.”

“Tell whoever is on the phone I’m not here,” she whispered.

“You want me to lie?”

“Yes!” she whispered, gritting her teeth again.

“But I’ve already told the woman we slept together last night with our naked bodies pressed against each other.”

“You what!” she screamed, not even trying to keep her voice down.

Rogar had a feeling she was upset with him. He wasn’t sure why. He’d kept the towel knotted at his waist. That was another thing. There was nothing wrong with his body. Everything worked. Why would she not want to look upon his naked form?

“DeeDee, hi. No, no, he’s an old friend from…out of town.”

Rogar noted her shoulders relaxed and she didn’t seem quite as tense.

“Yes, pulling your leg. That’s Rogar. Quite the jokester. Nope, sorry, he’s leaving town this morning. Only wanted a place to crash for the night. Yes, on the sofa. Okay, talk to you later. Bye-bye.” She snapped the phone closed.

Callie glared at him. “You told her we slept naked together?”

“Did you want me to lie?”

“Yes, since I didn’t invite you into my bed.”

“Then I will lie next time.”

“There won’t be a next time because you’re leaving today.”

Rogar had a feeling getting Callie back to New Symtaria was going to be more difficult than even he had imagined.

She escaped to another room, returning a few minutes later with a long strip of white cloth that bore markings of some kind.

“You plan to bind me?” he asked. Not that it would do her any good. The cloth looked flimsy at best.

“That’s not a bad idea, but no, I need to get your measurements so I’ll know what size clothes to buy.”

He nodded.

“Put you arms out.”

He did as she asked, enjoying that she had moved closer. He liked the way she smelled. Not at all like a cat. No, this scent was clean and sweet. All too soon, she backed away to write his measurements on paper.

“Arm length, okay, got it,” she mumbled as she jotted down numbers. Then she returned and wrapped her arms around his chest. Her gaze darted to his face.

Callie had beautiful eyes. They were green, but not just any green. They were a clear, deep green.

She stepped back, bringing the cloth together again. “I’m not Symtarian.”

“You’re from a proud and noble lineage.”

“Then why was I left on the doorstep of the orphanage like someone’s trash they were trying to get rid of?”

“I thought you said your parents were dead.”

She glanced at him as she carefully wrapped the cloth around his waist, trying not to come into contact with his skin. “I tell people my parents died because it sounds better than saying they dumped me on a doorstep.” She looked at the cloth, then went back to her paper. “To me, they are dead.”

“I’m sorry. This hurt you very deeply.”

She shrugged. “It was so long ago that it doesn’t matter now.”

When she returned with the measuring cloth, he rested his hands on her shoulders. For a moment, she didn’t move, then she looked at him, jutting that fierce little chin forward.

“I don’t care about them anymore,” she repeated and he wondered who she was trying to convince, herself or him? Callie’s eyes practically dared him to challenge her words.

“Of course,” he told her, letting the matter drop.

She knelt down, stretching the measuring cloth from his waist to his ankle. She dropped one end, though, and when she reached for it, lost her balance. She grabbed him for support, but only caught his towel, gripping it tightly as she landed on her bottom with a thud.

Rogar was once again very naked.

“Oh, God,” she muttered as she stared at him.

She made a choking sound. He reached under her arms and helped her to her feet.

“I’m…uh…sorry,” she stuttered.

He casually pried the towel from her fist, knotting it again at his waist.

“Your inseam…uh…oh, hell, I’ll just guess.” She raced for the door, stopped, then hurried back and grabbed the bag off the low table before rushing out. She returned a few seconds later, ran through the house, came back with the phone, then stopped at the door again.

“Don’t touch anything.”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t answer the door if anyone rings the bell…or knocks.”

“I won’t.”

She nodded, then closed the door behind her.

She was very emotional, this part Earthling, part Symtarian woman. And very beautiful. He moved to the window, brushing the curtain to the side, and watched as she climbed into her vehicle. Rogar wondered how long it would take him to convince her that they should mate.

Soon, he hoped, because she already heated his blood.

You’d better think more about getting her home where she truly belongs rather than lusting after her, Balam’s thoughts mingled with his.

Rogar frowned. When I need your advice, I’ll ask for it.

You’d be better off if you asked for it more often. When have I ever steered you wrong?

Rogar snorted. I can name a number of times. Remember when you suggested I mate with that pretty blond hand-maiden my mother employed.

I didn’t know she was already joined with someone, he sniffed.

No, not someone. The man nearly beat me to a pulp.

I might have been wrong that once, Balam conceded.

And what about the time…

Enough! Trust me on this, if your mind is on mating, then how can you protect her? He’s coming, you know. I can sense he’s not far away.

Rogar sighed. I know, I have sensed him, too. I won’t let down my guard. Never fear, I will protect her with my life.

And that is what I’m afraid of.