Crossing fingers and hoping you all like this one. It took me awhile to get back to it... life got in the way. Ugh. I've written over 1400 words on Chapter Eleven. I want to get it out asap. I'm loving all the New Species fanfic stories that have been published! Wish I could write that fast. Fantastic. They bridge the gap between LD's books and makes the down time less miserable. Cant wait for NUMBERS! Yay!

Hunter - Chapter Ten

Even though the shower stall was over-sized, it seemed to grow smaller once Hunter joined Monica inside. The shower-head was positioned at about eye level for him. It meant he'd have to bend his knees to wash his hair. Otherwise, there was just enough room for them to take turns.

Before he turned on the water, he positioned himself between her and the shower-head to protect her from the first cold burst while he adjusted the single control knob to a comfortable temperature. The frigid spray splashed against his straining erection before he could angle his hips away, provoking an annoyed growl from him that he barely managed to stifle. Thankfully, as far as he could tell, she hadn't noticed. Satisfied that it wouldn't burn her delicate skin, he stepped aside to allow her to move under the shower. The smile she gave him almost made his knees buckle. He wanted her so bad.

"You go first. I'll wash after you're done," he said.

"Thanks," she said with a soft sigh. "The warm water feels good."

He thought it was better than good as he watched it cascade down her feminine curves. Tendrils of wet blonde hair partially obscured her breasts, revealing only pert nipples that he longed to touch and lick. He couldn't help but stare. Thankfully, she'd closed her eyes so she didn't catch him ogling her.

As far as he was concerned, she was absolute perfection from the top of her head to the tips of her polished toenails. There was nothing he wouldn't do to please her, if only she'd agree to stay with him. Mine. My mate. Somehow, he had to prove to her they were meant for each other.

A part of him wanted her to step out of the shower as soon as she finished so he could take care of his obvious need. His cock was so hard he thought it might explode any second. He certainly didn't want to embarrass himself in front of her, but he also couldn't stand the thought of being separated from her. In an effort to distract himself from the sight of her lovely body, he focused his attention on the corner shelf that held a varied selection of soaps and hair products. He chose his favorite one.

"Try this one," he said. "It's a combination shampoo and body wash."

Her eyes opened and she focused on him first before she looked at the bottle he held out to her. She took it and read the label.

"Tropical Coconut?" She squeezed a generous amount onto her palm and then handed the bottle back to him. "I use something like this at home," she said as she worked it into her hair.

"I know." At her curious look, he explained. "I've smelled this fragrance on you before. I like it."

"So you've been sniffing around my cabin in secret?"

To his relief, she grinned, but he wasn't quite sure if she was upset or not. Human females were definitely hard to understand. He hoped she was just teasing him.

"I...uh, was only watching out for you, and couldn't help but notice your scent..."

She quickly reached up and placed a soapy index finger to his mouth to prevent his lips from moving.

"It's okay. I'm glad you were there," she said before removing her finger. "I'll try to hurry."

She seemed to be in a rush to spread the lather down her neck, across her chest and breasts and then downward. He watched, spellbound. He'd never seen a female take a bath, except on TV or in movies. Nothing could compare to the real thing. The way she slid her hands over her body sparked his arousal to an almost unbearable level.

"If you would like..." He paused. His voice sounded rough even to his ears. He cleared his throat in an effort to soften the tone. "I could wash your back." Did I really say that?

Her eyebrows rose as if she was surprised by his offer, but after a brief moment of hesitation she flashed him a smile.

"That would be great. I'll do the same for you," she said before turning her back to him.

His hands shook as he squirted some soap onto one palm before putting the bottle away. Eager to actually touch her naked back, he hurriedly rubbed his palms together to work up a good lather. The instant he stroked her wet, slippery skin his pulse quickened, and his heart beat so hard within his chest he feared he might die. She was so soft. It was all he could do to not grab her and mount her right there in the shower.

Sheer determination overruled his instincts once again, but his resistance was wearing thin. One good thing was that his claws hadn't emerged. He took it as a good sign. He spread the suds over her shoulders and down her back, but stopped short of touching her bottom even though he wanted to in the worst way. He was in control. The fact surprised him.

She turned when he was done and quickly rinsed the soap from her hair and body. Mesmerized by the sight, Hunter watched in silence, not sure what to say or do. Once she finished, Monica stepped to the side and motioned for him to move beneath the spray.

"Your turn," she said and picked up the soap bottle that he'd placed back on the shelf. She waggled it in front of him. "I'll wash your back now." She kept looking at him obviously waiting for him to exchange places with her and step under the shower.

Panic and dread hit him all at once. He'd been so focused on her that he'd completely forgotten about his own nightmarish problem. No matter how hard he fought to overcome his private fear, he couldn't move, not even a step. His first thought was to hide his tail by plastering his back against the shower wall.

Since he'd been rescued he'd never allowed anyone to touch or see all of his tail, not even the doctors at the first location where he'd been taken. The appendage had always been a target for Mercile's masochistic guards. He couldn't even remember how many times it had been broken. The only human who'd seen it was Doc Trish, Slade's mate. He'd allowed her to examine his tail and take x-rays only because Justice had insisted after Hunter had requested an operation to have it removed.

After several medical experts and surgeons had studied the images, the New Species leader had refused his request. Their reports hadn't been encouraging at all. They could amputate, but there was a seventy percent chance that he'd never walk again. Hunter had been willing to risk it, but Justice stood firm in his decision. Hunter had appealed to the Council, but they'd refused to consider his case.

Despair and disappointment had sent Hunter to the Wild Zone, away from his friends, where he could live in peaceful seclusion if not happiness, but he'd never given up hope. Armed with medical journals and the internet, he constantly searched for new breakthroughs. He felt certain the healing drugs developed by Mercile might improve his odds if he could find the right surgeon. So far, he'd failed to find a reputable doctor, and there was always the problem of secrecy. New Species didn't like to broadcast their private lives or problems to the Outworld.

"Hunter?" Monica's curious gaze zeroed in on him. "Are you okay?"

Her voice brought him back to the present. Blue eyes, filled with concern, stared at him. Hunter gently cupped her upturned chin.

"I'm not comfortable with anyone seeing me naked...up close." He withdrew his hand and took a wary step backward toward the wall. "My tail is... I, uh," he stuttered and then took a deep breath. "I fear you'll be disgusted at the sight."

...POV CHANGE...

He's gorgeous. Brave. Has a dick bigger than any I've ever seen and he's worried I'll freak out over his tail? Ridiculous.

"There's nothing about you that could ever disgust me," Monica said, trying her best to reassure him. Besides, I've already seen most of it."

She stepped out of the shower spray. As she moved toward him, he backed into the wall, but he didn't utter any protest as she approached. Instead, he seemed intent on watching her every move and his expression, wary at first, slowly changed to a look of utter desire.

Encouraged, Monica didn't stop until her smaller form was pressed tight against his much larger frame, wet skin to hot damp skin. The presence of his enormous erection trapped between them didn't go unnoticed by her, nor did the fact that his muscular body was just as hard all over as she'd imagined. If she could purr, she would. Luckily, she didn't have too. He was doing enough purring for both of them.

"Monica, if you don't back away I might lose control," he said with a soft growl.

"What do you mean, you might lose control?" Monica retreated a few inches, just enough to break contact.

"I'm not like human males." His nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath and then released it with a groan. "You smell of desire and it arouses me almost beyond my control. I want you, and my instincts tell me to take you. If I follow them, I'll turn you around, bend you over and mount you." He snarled. "I don't want to frighten you, so please, move away. Now."

Monica shuffled backward until she was beneath the shower again. "Is this okay?"

"Better." Hunter's tense posture seemed to relax a fraction. "I'm sorry if I scared you." His expression screamed defeat.

"You didn't scare me, and I want you too," Monica blurted, needing to make sure he knew she felt the same way. "I don't believe you'll ever hurt me, and I happen to enjoy 'doggie style' if that's what you mean by mounting."

A flash of hope crossed his features before his eyes darkened. They seemed to lure her with a promise of sexual ecstasy that only he could provide. Oh yes. She wanted him. Her clit tingled in anticipation, and she clenched her thighs to ease the ache. Hunter looked away, breaking the strange connection.

"We should finish our shower," he said before moving away from the wall so fast that she didn't have a chance to wonder at his intention. He reached for her, gently gripping her upper arms and holding her at arm's length. "Monica, I..." He paused, his look contemplative as if he was making some major decision. "I'm in control," he muttered and then nodded. "I want you to know everything about me. Please wash my back. There should be no secrets between us."

"Agreed," she whispered.

Hunter drew her out from the spray and took her place. He faced the shower and bent low enough to wet his hair. She went straight to the body wash without glancing at him. She took her time working it into a good lather between her palms. Once she was satisfied with the results, she sucked in a long deep breath and slowly let it out as she turned toward him. By that time, he'd finished shampooing and rinsing his hair. It hung in wavy strands down his back, almost to his waist. Her gaze dropped lower.

The sight of his naked backside wasn't shocking or revolting in the least. Sure, he had a tail, and it protruded from about where she would have expected, just above the point where most people's butt crack started - perfectly natural looking on him. There was one exception. A horseshoe shaped patch of spotted fur surrounded the base. It matched the pattern on his tail. He must be some kind of leopard/lion mix.

Monica stepped closer and hurriedly applied most of the soap to the top of his shoulders. He flinched, and she took it as a sure sign that he was as tense as she was. Before spreading the suds, she took her time pushing aside his hair. Even wet, it felt silky. She smiled to herself as his muscles slowly relaxed beneath her palms.

While she washed his back, enjoying every dip and bulge of his hard body, he attended to his front. It was hard not to feel a little envious of his hands. They touched places she longed to explore. Don't go there. The mental warning brought a swift end to her wishful thoughts and she refocused to concentrate on the path her hands traveled over his hot skin. As she slowly stroked down his back, kneading the muscles on each side of his spine, he let out a soft groan.

"Feel good?" She kept scrubbing, going lower and lower.

"Yes," he said and groaned louder. "I like the way you rub me. Your hands are soft, but your touch is firm."

"It's called massage. My mother taught me how. My father always said she had the magic touch."

"You have it too."

"Great," she said in a peevish, but playful tone. "Now you'll be asking me to do this all the time." She smiled at the memory of her mother complaining about the same thing to her father.

"I will, but only if you'll teach me to touch you the same way."

"Deal!"

She could totally go for that. She'd love to teach him. In fact, she couldn't wait to have him rub her. Down girl. Clench those thighs. Deep calming breaths. You're not finished.

Monica gnawed on the inside of her cheek. She was about to try something he might not like, but she was determined to forge ahead. She dipped her hands down to cup his bottom. It was difficult to massage the suddenly tense mounds. He had the hardest ass she'd ever grabbed, but she persisted until he relaxed. A soft purr finally came from him.

Gradually, she moved her thumbs closer and closer to his tail until every other stroke grazed the sides. He didn't protest or tense up. More important, he didn't lift or move his tail away. In fact, it didn't move at all, not even the tip. Filled with confidence, she used one hand to massage the fur patch at the base while she placed her other on top his tail. She slid her palm down about an inch until she could easily wrap her fingers around the girth. As soon as she did, his tail lifted and twitched ever so slightly.

She marveled at the feel of strong muscles working within her grasp. The water soaked tip slapped against one of her knees making her startle, but she didn't let go. Instead, she began to stroke his tail over and over in the same way she'd pet a cat.

His head snapped to one side and he looked at her over his shoulder, but he didn't speak. His gaze narrowed as he watched her. She looked him straight in the eyes, daring him to complain as she stroked his tail. The green specks in his blue irises seemed more pronounced and they appeared to sparkle. He swallowed hard, and to her complete surprise, a purr rumbled from his chest. It was so loud it reverberated within the shower stall.

He stood still, but ever so slowly his eyes closed and he turned his head to face forward. After a few moments, he placed his hands flat against the wall, bent his knees to dip below the shower head and leaned forward to press his chest against the wall. Water poured down his beautifully muscled back, parting into two streams as it flowed around the base of his tail on its way over his hard butt cheeks. He seemed to really enjoy what she was doing.

Monica grew bolder, alternating hands as she stroked from the base to about mid-way down the length. Much like a domestic cat's, it twitched if she went too far. Gradually, his rumbling purr deepened in tone until she realized that he was actually growling. It wasn't an angry growl. Instead, it was the sexiest sound she'd ever heard, but she stopped petting him just in case.

"Is that a happy sound you're making or are you angry?" She had to ask.

"Not angry." He growled the words as he straightened and turned around.

Suddenly, Hunter came at her so fast she didn't have time to react. He grabbed her around the waist, spun her around and picked her up. He had her pressed front first against the side wall of the shower before she knew what had happened. She felt his hot breath on her neck. It came in bursts as he panted, and he leaned against her, holding her entire body in place. A shiver of anticipation ran through her.

She craned her neck around, trying to look at him. His cheek pressed against hers, blocking her view. A strong forearm snaked between her and the wall as he readjusted his hold. It shifted down. In an instant, he pulled her hips back by a few inches as he pushed his knee between her thighs to spread them. His chest kept her upper body pressed snug to the wall. With his other hand he snagged both of her wrists and kept them in place against the wall just above her head.

"Hunter?" She was too stunned to ask anything more specific.

"Don't move or struggle," he warned, his tone harsh and unyielding.

"I won't," she whispered.

"You smell so good." He purred.

He rubbed his cheek against hers and then purred louder. It vibrated all the way from his chest into hers. His head dipped and she felt his lips touch low on her neck. Something sharp and pointy scraped across her skin. An involuntary shiver ran up and down her spine at the brief contact. Did he just fang me?

All she could imagine was that he'd lost all control and intended to mount her, but not exactly in the way he'd described earlier. The hard length of his cock pressed against her bottom and slowly sank deeper into the crack of her butt cheeks. She couldn't tell if it was her imagination or if it actually pulsed in time to the beat of his heart which she could definitely feel. Maybe she'd pushed him too far by touching his tail, but he hadn't seemed to mind.

She obeyed him and remained as still as possible. However, a surge of moisture flooded her traitorous pussy at the thought of having him impale her while he kept her imprisoned on the wall. He slowly thrust his hips upward and then down, sliding his hard cock between her cheeks. He groaned and Monica's fear fled in that instant, replaced by raging desire.

"I need you," he said with a growl.

"I need you too," she whispered.

"No. Tell me to stop. I won't force you. Please, make me stop, Monica."

What the fuck? Was he deranged? She wanted him, ached for him, and he expected her to make him stand down? No way in hell was she even capable of speaking the words he wanted to hear.

"Not like this," he groaned.

To her shock, his grip on her wrists loosened slightly and the pressure from his chest against her back eased a fraction. She'd expected the 'mounting experience' instead. In fact, she was disappointed.

"Not safe!" He growled in her ear.

He sounded pissed and she didn't understand what he meant by 'not safe.'

"It's okay!" She blurted out, grasping at the only explanation that came to her. "I went to my doctor last month for my annual physical. I'm healthy and even got a birth control shot. I haven't been with anyone in over a year."

God, she felt utterly ridiculous trying to have the 'safe sex' talk while he had her pinned to the shower wall. Since he didn't move or respond, she continued.

"I've read that New Species don't have diseases so we're good. If you want to use a condom, I'm good with that too, but I don't have any because I never thought I'd meet anyone while I was here and..."

She only realized she'd been jabbering non-stop when he chuckled. His face was still close to hers. He nipped at the corner of her mouth with his lips. To her dismay, he eased his grip and allowed her to slip down until she stood on the shower floor. He turned her to face him.

"You didn't tell me to stop, but you talked a lot. It helped." He blinked and a faint smile appeared. "I meant it wasn't safe because I temporarily lost control. I could have injured you if I'd tried to mount you in that state."

She shook her head in disagreement. "You'd never hurt me, Hunter. I know you wouldn't."

He avoided her gaze by looking down. "I don't have much experience. I've never shared sex with a human female, and I can't remember mounting most of the Species females that were brought to me because I was usually drugged."

"I could help you. We could take it slow," she offered as she struggled to process what he'd told her about how he'd had to have sex while drugged. It was barbaric.

He shook his head and backed away to turn off the shower. As the last of the water ran down the drain he moved close to her again and lifted his chin to look at her. He seemed to hesitate before he raised his hands and held them out so she could see. She was glad when he didn't show her his claws.

"I'll never forget the results left behind after all the times I was given the breeding drug. I woke alone in my cage, but their blood covered my claws and hands. The smell of fear and sex surrounded me. The human guards always stayed to witness the 'show.' That's what they called it, and they'd torment me afterward with their accounts of what I'd done. I never trusted them, and I don't even know if what they told me was true or not, but I'm afraid I might do the same to you. It's too dangerous for us to share sex. I can't take that chance."

His explanation sent shock waves through her. The enormity of what he'd suffered came at her full force. She'd watched the news on TV and had read about some of the evils that had been done to his people, but Hunter's tale made all of it more real, more horrifying than simply listening to a reporter on the nightly news. Plus, she'd made a horrible mistake.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize what you meant about being safe." He didn't want to have sex with her. It hurt. How could I have been so stupid?

Embarrassed, she crossed her arms over her chest to cover her breasts and angled her body away from him to hide her sex. Even though she still wanted him in every way, it was strange after what they'd been through to now suddenly feel so naked and vulnerable in front of him. "I should go," she mumbled, intent on vacating the shower as quickly as possible.

"Monica, please... don't turn away. Don't leave me."

His words halted her. He was pleading with her to stay and there was no mistaking the desperation in his tone. Confused and hurt, she whipped around to confront him.

"Don't leave you? One minute you say you want me, then the next you're telling me how you hurt other women when you had sex with them. I get it! You're afraid you'll hurt me too. What do you expect me to do, Hunter? I trust you, but you don't trust yourself enough to have sex with me. I understand. Don't drag this out. I can take rejection. It's not like you're the first man to ever toss me to the curb."

"I'm not..."

She knew she cut him off, but she was on a rant, and she couldn't seem to stop. The pain of rejection sliced too deep. How could she have fooled herself into thinking they might have a relationship?

"You can sleep in the guest room. I'll meet with your 'leader' tomorrow and sell my property. After tonight, you won't ever have to see me again." She rushed out of the shower, grabbing a large towel on the way.

"Stop! Let me explain..."

She didn't stop or slow down until she slammed the bathroom door behind her. She'd expected to feel some enjoyment at the sound, but instead, it felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. She wanted to scream. I fell for him, hard. I'm such an idiot.

Her eyes filled with tears as she stumbled toward the welcoming bed. She wrapped the towel around her to soak up the remaining water. Most of it had ended up in a trail of her foot prints on the floor. It didn't matter. Nothing did. All she wanted to do was cry herself to sleep once again. It seemed she was doomed to repeat the nightly ritual that had started after her father had died.

A thundering roar came from the bathroom. It stopped her in her tracks. She turned in time to see the door fly off its hinges and crash to the floor. Hunter's naked, muscle bound damp body filled the open doorway. His hands were clenched into tight fists, as if ready for a fight. His long hair hung wild about his shoulders. Water dripped from the ends and splattered to the floor.

He looked more than angry. His fierce gaze swept the bedroom until it locked on her. He threw back his head and roared again. At the deafening sound, Monica clutched her chest and struggled to take in a breath. She'd never been face to face with such fury.