A White Cougar Christmas by Eliza Gayle Page B

with the smell of musk and pine after a violent storm in the mountains. His scent. Male. Strong. Dominant. Images of him nudging her thighs apart so she could straddle his leg made her weak in the knees.
    “You have no idea,” she answered without thought. “At least this time of year I can get away with a lot more camouflage than normal.”
    His sudden look of puzzlement finally broke through her lust-addled brain. She’d come dangerously close to revealing her status as a rare white cougar warrior to a perfect stranger. The one secret that could get her killed. What the hell was happening to her? Her body had gone molten hot for the man standing in front of her, but that didn’t usually make her stupid. She knew next to nothing about the man or his establishment. In fact, how had she not heard of a cougar friendly business this close to home?
    Niki accepted the glass of whiskey from the bartender and took a quick sip, hoping to gather her wits before she made any more mistakes. “Thanks for taking care of your overly friendly customer for me. As much as I might have liked to break a few bones it probably wouldn’t be a great idea.”
    “Feeling a little tense?”
    He had no idea. She simply shrugged. It wouldn’t do to put all of her cards on the table this early.
    “Maybe we could find something else for you to do with all that pent up energy.”
    Her ears perked up. Now he was talking. She stepped closer to him, soaking in the heat radiating off his body and another noseful of his delicious scent. Much more of this and she might find herself addicted. “What did you have in mind?” she whispered.
    He smiled. “Eager aren’t you?”
    She pulled back at his mocking tone, withdrawing from his touch. Despite the immediate feeling of loss, she didn’t have to stay where she would be taunted. Besides it wasn’t as if she couldn’t find a willing partner without the sarcasm. She turned away from him hell bent on getting out the door without causing anymore of a scene or looking back at the luscious man who’d turned her on more in a few seconds than any other man had for as long as she could—she paused—well, ever.
    “Don’t.” His voice sounded loud and clear and she could have sworn the entire bar came to a standstill, including her.
    It hadn’t been a plea or a request. No the tone of that command sizzled from her head to her toes and everywhere in between. But she was a woman with an overdose of pride who refused to turn and go back. He would have to meet her halfway or forget it. So she waited.
    When he settled his hands on her waist she shuddered in pleasure. In that moment the deal had been set. For tonight she would be his and he would be hers, no questions asked.
    “This could get dangerous,” he warned, his voice lowered to a level only she heard.
    She leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder. “Danger is my middle name.”
    He wrapped her jacket around her shoulders and steered her toward the back of the bar. When he reached for the door he paused. “Last chance. Any second thoughts?”
    “None,” she assured him.
    With the first step outside, she inhaled deeply, taking in the clean scent of fresh snow and wild earth. This time of year was her favorite. From the cold nights in front of a warm fireplace to the long hours of darkness that gave her the cover she sought, to run free and wild every chance she got. Winter was her time.
    The forest, with only a small dirt road that led visitors back and forth to the parkway, surrounded the small bar. The seclusion didn’t bother her at all. Thanks to her mixed DNA, she valued her privacy more than the average shifter. Although they were all pretty private when it came to public places that included humans. She curled her lip. More often than not it wasn’t the humans who caused her trouble. Most of the cougars on this side of the ridge were pure blood born and wanted to keep it that way. So what was this guy’s story, she