Bria and the Tiger (The Shifters Series Book 5)

by Elizabeth Kelly

  “I know it’s weird, and I’m sorry, but quitting isn’t the answer. Shifters are everywhere in this damn city. Finding a job where there aren’t any won’t be easy. What if at your new job, you develop a crush on one of your coworkers? Are you going to quit that one too?”

  “I won’t develop a crush on someone else.”

  “Fair enough. Still, I know I just started here, but it’s obvious that you run this place. Jace is freaking out. Hell, I can smell his anxiety from here. If you quit and start over, it’ll take you that much longer to get your license, right? Not to mention, Jace will probably stalk you and beg you to come back for the next six months.”

  A small smile crossed Rosalie’s face. “He would be up shit creek without me.”

  Bria reached across the desk and squeezed her hand. “He would be.”

  “It’s just, I don’t think I can face Lincoln. I can’t help my reaction when I’m around him, Bria. I try, but…”

  “Lincoln doesn’t need to know that you know he can smell your attraction to him,” Bria said.

  “I know he’s taking advantage of me with all the personal shit he gets me to do for him,” Rosalie said abruptly. “I’ve seen the women he, uh dates, and I’m not his type.”

  “Lion shifters don’t have a type. They love women. All women. Trust me on this.”

  “They do have a type. Maybe not physically but they like women who are wild and kinky in bed and,” a bitter laugh escaped from Rosalie’s throat, “that’s not me. I’ve slept with one guy – a human – and we didn’t exactly set the bed on fire together. Half the time he couldn’t even make me – fuck, sorry. I’m sharing way too much.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind,” Bria said.

  “I know I’m wasting my time with him, I do, but you can’t help who you love, right? I know he likes women who know what they’re doing in bed and are up to trying crazy things. I want to be that type of woman.”

  “Or,” Bria said, “maybe it’s none of that, and he doesn’t want to date a coworker.”

  “There’s no policy against dating a coworker,” Rosalie said. “Trust me, if I believed he wasn’t asking me out because I was a coworker, I would have quit a long time ago. I overheard him just the other day telling Jace he wouldn’t date me because I’m not kinky enough for him.”

  Another bitter laugh. “I wanted to argue, wanted to get him alone and tell him that I was plenty kinky only… I’m not. He mentioned handcuffs to Jace and I’m surprised he didn’t see the glow of my face from the hallway. I want to try new things in bed, I do, but not with someone who is already expecting it from me. I’d look like an idiot.”

  Bria shrugged. “Learning something new doesn’t make you an idiot.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I just – it doesn’t matter because Lincoln wants someone who is already kinky in bed, not someone who’s willing to learn to be kinky.”

  “I think,” Bria hesitated and then decided to forge ahead, “the bigger concern is that lion shifters aren’t really into settling down.”

  “Some of them are. You said your ex was ready.”

  “Yes, but Lincoln seems like a typical lion shifter to me. They start off great in a relationship when it’s new and the sex is hot and heavy, but they get bored easily.”

  “Maybe a girl just needs to be really open to lots of sex and different, like, positions and stuff,” Rosalie said.

  Bria hid her frustration. She’d already decided that Rosalie was way too good for Lincoln and she hated the idea of the sweet human’s heart being broken by the arrogant shifter. “It really has nothing to do with their partner, you know? A woman could have sex with them seven times a day and they’d still get bored and want to move on. They can’t help it. It’s their nature.”

  “But not all of them,” Rosalie said stubbornly.

  “No, not all of them.” Bria knew when to admit defeat, and like it or not, Rosalie was in love with Lincoln.

  “Did you – I mean, in the kitchen yesterday, did you smell anything on Lincoln? Was he, uh, turned on by me even a little?”

  “Um…”

  “Shit. Forget I asked that. I know he isn’t attracted to me.”

  “I’m sorry. But just because I didn’t smell anything yesterday doesn’t mean he isn’t,” Bria said.

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Please don’t quit, Rosalie.”

  Rosalie rubbed at her forehead. “I’m not going to quit. I love working for Jace and just thinking about leaving makes me sick to my stomach.”

  Bria grabbed her hand again. “I’m really glad you aren’t quitting, and not just because Jace will fire me if you quit and I’ll be broke and have to live with my parents like a loser.”

  Rosalie smiled a little. “Now, I need to apologize to my boss and ask for my job back.”

  “You won’t have to ask. He doesn’t want you to leave. I’m going to go back to reception and tell him to come see you, okay?”

  “Okay. Thanks, Bria.”

  “I’m sorry again, Rosalie. I – I hope we can still be friends.”

  “We are. None of this is your fault. I should have done some research on shifters and figured it out for my damn self,” Rosalie said.

  Bria stood and walked to the door before opening it. “I’ll send Jace in right away.”

  “Thanks.”

  * * *

  “Rosalie?” Jace stepped into his office and closed the door. Rosalie was sitting in the chair across from his desk and he sat in the chair beside her. God, he hoped she wasn’t still crying. “Rosie? You okay?”

  She gave him a faint smile. “Yes. Very embarrassed.”

  “Don’t be. Shifters don’t -”

  “Yeah, Bria told me. Shifters don’t care when they can smell a human’s arousal.” Her face was beet red and she looked like she was going to cry again.

  “I’m attracted to Bria,” he blurted.

  She gave him a startled look. “What?”

  “I’m attracted to Bria. Which means that when I’m around her, she and any other shifter within twenty feet, can smell that I’m attracted to her. You’re not the only one in the office this kind of shit happens to.”

  “Why did you hire her if you’re attracted to her?” She asked.

  “Because it’s like Bria said, it isn’t a big deal.”

  Did he sound sincere? God, he hoped so. He was only partially lying to Rosalie. Normally it wasn’t that big of a deal that a shifter knew you found them attractive, even if they were your receptionist.

  Unless you’d seen said receptionist naked, tasted the sweetness of her mouth, had your dick buried deep in her very wet, very tight pussy and wanted desperately to be back in her very wet, very tight pussy.

  “Jace?”

  “Sorry, what?”

  “I asked if I could have my job back. I don’t want to quit. I was just upset and -”

  “Rosie, you don’t have to ask for your job back. You know the office would collapse in on itself like a dying star if you left.”

  Her laugh sent relief coursing through him. “Yeah, it really would.”

  He hesitated and then said, “I can set up Lincoln with a home office. Ask him not to come into the office unless there are meetings or -”

  “No. That’s not fair to him and besides, he doesn’t know that I know… I don’t want things to get any weirder than they already are, okay? I know he’s your best friend, but please don’t tell him that I know he can smell my – my attraction to him.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  “Thanks.” She stood and gave him another faint smile. “I’d better get back to work. Sorry for all the drama this morning.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Bria’s doing really well. I know it’s only her second day but she’s smart and picks things up quick.”

  “Good, I’m glad.”

  He waited until Rosalie left his office before moving to his own chair and sinking into it. He stared out the window. Bria was smart an
d doing a good job…it wasn’t a mistake to hire her.

  No, not at all. Every boss should hire someone they’ve seen naked. It’s a brilliant idea.

  He groaned and quickly opened his email. He really needed to stop thinking about a naked Bria.

  Chapter Six

  “Oh crap, did I forget to tell you Friday’s were casual?” Rosalie grabbed a mug from the cupboard and set it next to Bria’s.

  “No.” Bria poured coffee into both mugs before setting the pot back. She smoothed down her dress a bit self-consciously as she studied Rosalie’s t-shirt and jeans. “You told me.”

  “Oh.” Rosalie added cream to her coffee before pouring some into Bria’s.

  It was early Friday morning and there was no one else in the office yet, but Bria still lowered her voice. “I have a date tonight after work.”

  “Nice,” Rosalie said. “With who?”

  “A wolf shifter from the Shifter’s Love app. We’ve been texting back and forth for a few days now and he hasn’t once misspelled ‘your’ or asked for a nude or sent me a dick pic, so I’m meeting him at Bud’s.”

  “What’s Bud’s?” Rosalie asked.

  “It’s a shifters-only bar. Well, it’s supposed to be shifters-only, but I know the new owner and he’s fine with humans coming to the bar. He doesn’t advertise it or anything because he knows that a lot of the shifters like that it’s just shifters. But Porter – that’s the owner - is mated to a human.”

  “Oh. So, you’re meeting him for dinner and drinks?”

  “I am.”

  “Well, you look gorgeous and he won’t be able to resist you.”

  * * *

  Jace stood in the hallway outside of the kitchen with his hands clenched into tight fists. His tiger was growling and snarling, and he tried to calm it as he listened to Bria tell Rosalie what Bud’s Bar was.

  She’s ours! His tiger growled. She belongs to us, not some stupid wolf shifter.

  Knock it off, you idiot! He snapped at his tiger. She’s not ours and I’m not interested in anything more than sex. Stop it with the ‘she belongs to us’ shit. I’m not in the fucking mood.

  “Is there a reason you’re standing in the hallway looking like your head is about to explode?” He was knocked into the wall when Lincoln clapped him on the back. “Oh, sorry, buddy. Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.”

  “Shut up, Lincoln,” Jace said.

  He followed the lion shifter into the kitchen, nearly running into his back when he stopped abruptly.

  “Tiny ti – Bria, you’re looking lovely today.”

  “Thanks, Lincoln.”

  Jace stepped around Lincoln and forced a smile at Bria and Rosalie. “Morning, ladies.”

  “Morning,” Bria said.

  Rosalie was staring into her mug of coffee and she visibly twitched when Lincoln dropped his arm around her shoulders. “Hey, Rosie-girl. I like your t-shirt.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I better get to work. Busy day.”

  She ducked out from under Lincoln’s arm and hurried out of the kitchen. Lincoln frowned and sniffed the air as he studied Rosalie’s retreating form. When she was gone, he poured himself a coffee.

  Jace watched as Bria grabbed her lunch bag from the counter and bent to stuff it into the fridge. God, she looked good. Her dark hair was braided, and her dress matched her eyes in colour. It clung to her firm ass and he glared at Lincoln when he caught the lion shifter staring.

  Lincoln shrugged and added sugar to his coffee as he continued to stare at Bria’s ass. She straightened and shut the fridge door. “Well, I should get to reception.”

  “Right. Hey, uh, any plans for the weekend?” Jace asked.

  “I’m going to Kat’s place on Sunday. How about you?”

  “Not too much this weekend. Some work. What about tonight? Plans for tonight?”

  Fuck, could he sound any more pathetic?

  Bria flushed and picked up her coffee mug from the counter. “I do have plans, yeah. Um, dinner with a friend.”

  “Good. Anyone I know?”

  His tiger made a low growl of anger at his stupidity. He wanted to argue, but he was sounding like a fucking idiot.

  “No,” Bria said. “Uh, no I don’t think so.”

  “Right. Okay, well, bye.”

  “Bye.” She gave him an uncertain look and left the kitchen.

  He ignored his urge to bash his forehead against the wall to see if it knocked some fucking sense into him, and grabbed a mug from the cupboard.

  Lincoln was leaning against the counter and staring at him.

  “What?” Jace poured a cup of coffee.

  “That was a train wreck, dude. Like, I watched that train coming down the tracks and then just…boom.” Lincoln shook his head. “You used to have game with the ladies, what the fuck happened?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just making small talk with an employee.”

  “Sure. Hey, did Rosalie seem different to you?”

  “No.”

  Lincoln ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “Really? You don’t think she’s been a bit standoffish or something this week?”

  “No.”

  “All right. See you in the meeting at ten.”

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  “If I’m lucky, some hot little shifter who likes taking it up the ass.”

  Jace scowled at him. “Seriously, Lincoln?”

  “What? You asked, I answered. Why? You wanna do something?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have any plans. I was thinking of maybe going to Bud’s and having dinner and a few drinks.”

  “Oh, fuck yes,” Lincoln said. “I’m in.”

  “Good. I’ll meet you there after work.”

  “Fuckin’ A, my friend. Fuckin’ A.”

  Jace grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and walked to his office. He shut the door and collapsed into the chair behind his desk. He tossed the apple on his desk and stared at his monitor. His tiger was making low growls of happiness, but his stomach was rolling with nausea.

  What the fuck was he doing?

  Going to Bud’s tonight was absolutely the wrong thing to do. So, why was he doing it? Bria wasn’t his, no matter what his tiger tried to say. Besides, he didn’t want Bria to be his. He didn’t – no, he couldn’t – be in a relationship again. Not after what happened to his brother.

  Your brother? What about you? It runs in the family, you know. It’s hereditary and if you think it was just your brother who was the unlucky one, you’re fooling yourself. You remember what it was like when you and Tabitha broke up, don’t you? You remember how it felt. How you felt. How scared your parents got. They were sure you were going to end up like Jonah. They were right to be afraid. Weren’t they?

  He stood up, almost knocking his chair over, and strode jerkily to the window. His back was sweating, and he could feel heat rising up his neck. The nausea in his stomach surged upward and he swallowed down bile. It was almost five years since his brother had…he swallowed more bile. Almost five years and he still wanted to throw up whenever he thought about it.

  He took a deep breath and leaned his forehead against the window. He wasn’t going to Bud’s tonight because of Bria. He was going to spend time with his friend. Bud’s would be crowded on a Friday night and he probably wouldn’t even see Bria.

  * * *

  “God, you are the tiniest tiger I’ve ever met.”

  Bria forced a smile. Okay, so it was the first time Patrick the wolf shifter had lost points with her. Of course, it was only ten minutes into their date.

  “How tall are you?”

  “I’m 5’3”.”

  “Shit.” Patrick whistled under his breath. “When you shift, are you normal size?”

  She frowned at him. “Why does it matter?”

  “It doesn’t. I was just curious.” Patrick took a swallow of beer. “It’s busy in here.”

  Bria sipped at her wine. “Bud’s has gott
en busier the last few months.”

  “Yeah, because that new owner is a human loving idiot. He’s a disgrace to wolf shifters. It doesn’t even bother him that humans are stinkin’ the joint up. I guarantee you, poor old Bud is rolling in his grave right now.”

  “Bud let humans in here.” Bria could feel her temper rising and she tamped it down with effort.

  “He didn’t,” Patrick said. “Trust me. I knew Bud and -”

  “Bria?”

  Feeling a perverse sense of glee, she stood and hugged Porter. He grunted in surprise but returned her hug. “Hey, I just wanted to stop and say hi.”

  “Hi.” She smiled at Patrick. “Patrick, this is Porter, the new owner of the bar and a good friend of mine. Porter, this is Patrick.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Porter held out his hand and Patrick stood and shook his hand.

  “Uh, good to meet you too. I like what you’ve done with the place.”

  “Thanks, it’s getting there. Bria, good to see you again. I’ll send Tori over in five minutes to get your food order, okay?”

  “Sounds good. Thanks, Porter.”

  Porter kissed her cheek before returning to the bar. Bria sat down and smiled stiffly at Patrick. He gave her a sheepish look.

  “So, uh, you know the new owner.”

  “I do.”

  “Sorry, Bria. I have a tendency to run off at the mouth sometimes. Can we start over?”

  Bria studied him silently and he gave her small smile. “Just one more chance?”

  “Sure,” she said.

  “Great. So, what do you like to do in your spare time?”

  * * *

  “Jace! Hey, Jace!”

  Jace locked his car and turned around. Rhonda, Sam, Derek and Rosalie were walking across the parking lot of Bud’s.

  “Hey, what are you guys doing here?”

  Sam gave him a surprised look. “Lincoln invited us. He said you wanted to go for some food and drinks. Was he wrong?”

  “No,” Jace said. “I’m glad you came.”

  He trailed after them as they walked toward the entrance. Rosalie fell into step beside him. “Lincoln didn’t tell you he was inviting us, did he.”