Trusting in the mate-pull he knew they both felt, Terence entered the clearing. He hadn’t even made it three steps when, from the mouth of the cave, prowled his mate. The morning sun gleamed off of sleek, black fur, making the male lion look almost blue in the afternoon light.

“Hello, handsome,” Terence whispered.

The huge cat stopped and stared for several seconds, then rumbled softly.

Terence took that as a good sign and moved forward again. “Me and my friends have been looking for you. Why did you run after the fight? I know you feel the same attraction I do. You must realize I’m your mate. We’re made for each other.” Through all his words, the cat shifter just watched him move steadily closer, until finally Terence stood directly in front of him.

“Come on, handsome,” Terence pleaded. “Won’t you shift for me? We have so much to discuss. I want to learn everything about you. Where did you come from? Why don’t you have a pride?” He licked his lips and reached out, tentatively sifting his fingers through the lion’s mane, finding the thick strands silky and pleasant to the touch. “Most of all, I want to know what you look like as a man, so I can kiss your lips and lick every inch of your body,” he finally finished in a throaty whisper.

He felt the telltale shiver of a shift tingle up his fingertips, then seconds later, a massive African American peered down at him. Considering Terence stood six foot three that was saying something and put the guy at about six foot five. The hair threaded through Terence’s fingers appeared scraggly, falling around his shoulders wildly, but the strands felt just as soft as the shifter’s mane had. The man’s dark brown eyes held such intensity, that Terence had to fight back a shiver at his mate’s scrutiny.

Suddenly, his mate’s large black hands latched onto his upper arms. The shifter ducked his head, buried his face in the crook of Terence’s neck and inhaled. A low growl rumbled through the guy’s chest. Terence slid his palms down to his mate’s pecks, which were firm and warm, feeling the sound vibrate the skin beneath his fingers. Terence couldn’t resist moving his thumbs the little bit needed to flick them over the black pebbled nipples.

The growl turned into a snarl, and suddenly, Terence found himself swung off his feet and his back pressed into the soft grass. His mate’s considerable weight pressed him into the earth. A huge, steel-hard erection pressed against his own through the thick fabric of his jeans.

“Mine,” the man snarled before sinking his teeth into Terence’s shoulder.

Terence heard the rip of fabric right before sharp canines sank into the flesh of his shoulder. “Holy shit!” he screamed as pain and pleasure swamped him. His dick, which had been hard ever since he’d started tracking his mate, throbbed in his jeans. Terence roared in bliss as cum exploded from him and filled the crotch of his jeans.

Dazed, endorphins pinging through his system, it took Terence several seconds to realize his mate was trying to pull off his jeans. Understanding the man’s need to claim him, because he felt the same pull, Terence quickly shucked his shirt, then batted his soon-to-be lover’s uncoordinated hands away and opened his jeans himself.

It didn’t take long for his mate to peel the jeans from his body and toss them aside. Terence found himself flipped to his stomach, which rubbed pleasantly against his surprisingly still-hard shaft. When his mate covered him and he felt the massive rod glide along his butt crack, Terence froze.

“Hell, no,” he shouted. “Stop!”