Valentine's Day Tigers (The Holiday Shifter Mates Book 3)

by Kestra Pingree

  “What do you want to do?” Ash whispered against Lance’s lips. They were breathless together from the intense kisses alone. Ash’s lips were almost numb, but a warm buzzing undercurrent set their body on fire.

  “What are you in the mood for?” he asked.

  “Everything or anything. Handjob, blowjob, straight sex, whatever you want.”

  Lance hummed. “Nope. It’s whatever you’re feeling, babe. Tell me what you want.”

  “More kisses.”

  Lance smirked. “That’s easy.”

  Ash introduced their teeth, hoping Lance would get the message. He did. He bit back, turning this kiss into something rough, something so hot Ash was already turned on high. They couldn’t stop the moans that escaped their lips and the way their hips rolled up, seeking something to sate this need. Ash hit Lance just right and moaned again.

  Breathless, Ash said, “I’ve never felt like this with anyone.”

  “Is that good or bad?” Lance asked.

  “Good. Very good.” Ash ran a hand down Lance’s side to his hip. They rolled up his shirt and buried their fingers inside the band of his jeans and briefs so they could touch his skin “If you don’t want me to touch you anywhere, just tell me, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you have any condoms?”

  “Yep. In that drawer. Yuri bought a new supply. May as well use them so he can’t take them to fucking Washington or wherever Trinity HQ is.”

  “Vindictive.” Ash cupped Lance’s cheeks. “Tomorrow you and Yuri are going to make up. When we see him off, if you two haven’t made up, there will be hell to pay.”

  “And what kind of hell can you bring on twin tiger shifters, Ash?”

  “Hey, I’ve mastered fire. You don’t want to test me.”

  “With Yuri’s guidance. That’s like the apprentice trying to top the master when you have much less experience. You’re doomed to fail.”

  “You never know. Maybe I’m more naturally talented.”

  Lance laughed. “Sure.”

  “I’m serious, though. Tomorrow, before Yuri leaves—”

  “I heard you.” Lance kissed Ash again, bringing the heat back tenfold.

  Ash snaked their hand forward, grabbing in between Lance’s legs. He jolted at their touch and bit back a groan. He was half-hard. When Lance didn’t pull away or tell Ash to stop, they unbuttoned his jeans by feeling alone. He stayed hovering over them, watching Ash’s face while they worked. When Ash had Lance’s length in hand, they gave him a quick rubdown and watched as his body tensed. He was good and hard now, physically ready for Ash. Ash’s thighs trembled with need.

  “I think I want it straight,” Ash said. “Any second thoughts?”

  “None,” Lance replied. He got off the couch and scooped Ash up into his arms. He moved rooms and carefully set Ash down on the bed he and Yuri would no longer share and kissed Ash’s forehead as if they were as delicate as a flower.

  Ash sat up and got undressed after Lance did the same and went to the nightstand to grab a condom. Ash lay back against the pillows and spread their legs wide. Their body throbbed, and they were tempted to touch, to coax that explosive ecstasy, but they waited, and Lance arrived quickly. He crawled in between Ash’s legs. Ash loved seeing his skin on full display like this. The sight of him alone made Ash’s heart and sex throb in unison.

  “Do you want me on top?” he asked.

  “Yes, please.” Ash was addicted to having Lance on top of them. With Yuri, they hadn’t liked it. He was too wild, too powerful, and Ash needed to take back some control, but Lance… Lance could always be on top. Ash surrendered everything to him. Only him.

  Lance was thinking too much, though. Ash could tell. He was meticulous about getting the positioning just right, not sure when to thrust or if he should at all.

  “Hey.”

  Lance met Ash’s gaze.

  “Breathe. Even if we don’t have ‘perfect’ sex ever, it doesn’t matter. You’re with me, and that’s all I care about.”

  Ash moved, sitting up and forcing Lance to do the same. They weren’t sure if he’d like this or not, but they thought they’d give it a shot anyway. They got on all fours and placed their hands on Lance’s thighs as he sat back on his legs. Ash kissed his neck, starting from the center and moving all the way to his left earlobe, which they took into their mouth.

  “Fuck,” Lance breathed.

  “Is that a good fuck or a make-it-stop fuck?” Ash asked.

  “Can it be both?”

  Ash leaned back and laughed. “Yes, it can be both. You can say no, by the way. There’s never a point in this when you can’t back out. You know that, right?”

  “You keep reminding me, so I’m not sure how I couldn’t. I’m still with you if that’s what you’re trying to ask.”

  Ash sat on his lap. They spread their legs out to either side, resting their knees on the bed and their ass on top of Lance’s powerful thighs. Lance spread his legs a little wider, and Ash rolled their hips forward. Ash held Lance’s back tightly as they rolled their hips again. Lance was so hard, so ready. Physically. Was he ready emotionally?

  “Ash.”

  Ash’s eyes fluttered open. They hadn’t realized they had been closed. They stopped rolling their hips, but their body quivered a protest. “Lance.”

  “Shifters usually have a way of claiming a mate, and even if we aren’t the type to instinctively stick to one partner, it’s often a mark that can be left for each coupling. Most bears like Cedar and Gale bite their partner. Cedar and Gale are permanent partners, mates for life, though, so they might renew that bite or keep it at one bite, depending on their needs. It’s kind of… weird. Wolves are naturally inclined to one life partner and males have this instinct to bite their females, I guess. It combines scents more permanently than having sex without the bite. Basically, shifters like to stake an extra claim, total domination and possession.”

  “Do you want to bite me, Lance?”

  “Well, not really.” He shrugged. “And big cats tend to go crazy with their claws.” He held out his hand in between them, flexing his fingers. Then he pressed his palm flat against Ash’s chest, right over their heart. “I guess… I just want you to know that it doesn’t mean I don’t want you as permanently as the others want their mates. I do.”

  “I don’t doubt your love for me, silly tiger.”

  “Good because I don’t know how to tell you how much I love you. I don’t know how to show you either. I think this might be a start, though.”

  It was. The fact that Lance was willing to try sex again for Ash, because it made Ash happy, meant a lot to them. It showed just how serious Lance was about wanting to give them everything.

  Ash rolled their hips forward. Their sex throbbed, and they really needed to come. They needed Lance now more than ever, all this talk about love, having him so close, it was agonizing not to be closer. “Take me,” Ash begged. “Please.”

  Ash rose up high on their knees, and Lance took the cue. He grabbed his dick, positioning himself for Ash, and Ash came back down. They didn’t allow their body to acclimate to Lance’s size. They were wet enough for more than adequate lubrication and took him as far as he would go. Ash’s entire body shuddered, and a deep groan consumed their throat.

  “Hard. Fast.” Ash could barely get out the words.

  “Not the easiest position for me to do that.” Lance growled and caught Ash’s hips. Then he moved them both with ease. He grabbed Ash’s ass and kept their bodies pressed together as he somehow laid Ash down on their back. And then he did what they wanted. He thrust hard and fast. Ash gasped and clawed at his back while begging for more, while crying his name. Each time Lance moved, Ash bucked their hips up to meet him. Ash knew they’d feel this tomorrow, but they didn’t care. Ash screamed when they came. Lance wasn’t very vocal, but he let out a deep moan when Ash’s body massaged his, coaxing him to hit his climax as well.

  Lance huffed and dropped, barely holding himse
lf up enough not to crush Ash underneath him. Sweat glistened on his skin, veins bulged blue and prominent, highlighting the stark contrast between natural white skin and the dark black of his tattoos. Ash couldn’t help but stare, because he was beautiful. Just beautiful.

  “How was it this time?” Ash asked.

  “It wasn’t completely terrible last time,” Lance clarified. “I just knew I didn’t feel it as deeply as you did. It was like you had some kind of revelation, like sex was what you had been anticipating getting from me, and it wasn’t the same for me.” He held himself up with one arm and used his free hand to grab Ash’s waist. He rolled them both onto their sides while staying buried inside of Ash. Ash wasn’t in a hurry to let him go and wrapped their top leg around his, pressing their foot into the back of his thigh. Last time, Lance had pulled out immediately, like he couldn’t get away soon enough.

  “This time was better, though” Lance informed. “But I’m ready to tear off this condom and take a shower.”

  Ash spit out a laugh. “Will you wash my hair?”

  “Uh, hell yeah.”

  “And then hold me all night?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Then let’s go, handsome.” Ash touched Lance’s face and kissed his lips. “Thank you.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  HE STILL WASN’T HERE.

  Ash had been on the lookout for Yuri since they had arrived at the Lodge with Lance. The tables had been stowed away to make room for a dance floor. Lights, of the pink and red variety, had also been set up for Valentine’s Day. Pink, red, and white hearts decorated the walls, and streamers curled down from the steeply angled ceiling. The place was packed. It seemed like everyone in Eurio was here—except for Yuri. Ash didn’t know all of the shifters in Eurio yet, but at this rate, they’d know them all by heart soon enough.

  Yuri would be leaving for Trinity HQ in the evening. The Valentine’s Day dance was moved up to the daylight hours so that everyone could attend his farewell.

  “Did Lance give you those chocolates?” Cedar asked as she danced her way to Lance and Ash with Gale in tow.

  “He did. They were delicious. I had no idea he made them! They looked and tasted better than store-bought chocolates.” Ash said.

  “Thanks to my guidance.”

  Cedar puffed out her chest, and Gale spun her around to whisper in her ear. “Enough boasting, my love. Everyone knows you’re the best chocolatier here.”

  “You mean I’m the only one.”

  “That too.”

  Lance stole Ash away, expertly stepping away in time to the music to once again give them their own little space on the dance floor. He looked damn good in a suit. Ash had never seen him wear one before, but now they only wanted him to wear suits. It hugged his body in all the right places. Plus, they were wearing matching suits, both a velvety red. It let the world know they were a pair.

  “I heard Cedar was in charge of brunch too,” Ash said.

  “Yeah, Cedar just one-upped everyone today,” Lance replied. “You can go date her now.”

  “Sorry, I’m already mated to the best shifter in the world.”

  “I dropped the ball this time, though. Sorry, Ash. I meant to make plans tonight too, but it just didn’t happen.”

  “This evening is for Yuri. I understand.” Lance averted his gaze, but Ash placed a hand on his cheek to capture his eyes again. “I haven’t seen him. He is coming, isn’t he?”

  “He’s known for arriving fashionably late or not at all. I think he’ll come, though.” Lance shook his head. “But enough talk about Yuri. I asked you to dance with me, and we haven’t done much dancing.” Ash tried to take another sweep of the Lodge with their eyes, but Lance took their chin. “Eyes on me.”

  There was no need for him to say it twice. Ash was enraptured by him. The closer they got, the stronger Ash’s feelings became. Lance showed up in their life one day and changed it. Ash had met a lot of people in their life, but none of them had changed Ash’s life the way Lance had. Ash knew they wanted to spend forever with him. Ash was pretty sure they’d go off to travel and sing again from time to time, but for now they were drinking in the novelty of staying in one place. They wanted to stay in Eurio until being there felt normal, like the home Ash had never had.

  “Think you’ll hit the road with me when I start traveling again?” Ash asked.

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “I’ll have you everywhere, Lance. Forever and always.” Ash tapped his nose. “You know that means you’ll have to sing with me too, right?”

  “I’ll try not to think about that part.”

  When the current romantic ballad ended, Cedar took the makeshift stage and announced, “And now we’ll have a special number performed by Ash with their ukulele.”

  Ash grabbed the back of Lance’s neck to pull him down for a kiss. “It’s my time to shine.”

  “Knock ‘em dead, beautiful.”

  “I feel a little nervous for once. I’ve never had an audience that has been waiting for me to sing for the last week. I always go to one obscure bar after the other, you know? Fans never knew where I’d be next, so they couldn’t catch me. I’ve never cared about making a good impression at any of these places either because I usually left the next day.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lance grinned. “It’ll be easy, Ash. Let the music take you like it always does. Watch me and nobody else.”

  “Any day now, lovebirds,” Cedar said. Gale stole the mic from her and kissed her soundly in front of everybody. Cheers rang out across the Lodge as everyone seemed to egg them on.

  “Guess I’ll go now,” Ash said. When they turned, Lance pushed the small of their back to get them moving faster. A grin found its way onto Ash’s lips, and they had the sneaking suspicion that it would remain there for the duration of their performance.

  Ash stood at the front of the Lodge, where the makeshift stage had been erected. All eyes were on them. There were no cloudy eyes affected by too much booze. They were all bright and fully attentive.

  Ash hadn’t lied about the sudden jitters. This was new for them, but it wasn’t bad jitters. It meant, for the first time, that Ash cared. It was like a part of them they never knew existed had awakened.

  Ash took their ukulele out of its travel case and left the case propped up against the wall. Then they made sure the instrument was tuned.

  After clearing their throat, Ash said, “I wrote this song for Lance. It’s called ‘Something Only Butterflies Know.’”

  Ash was ready to strum that first chord, to set the key for themself, but then something caught their eye. Someone just walked in through the front door, blasting the room with natural light, and that someone was Yuri Lenkov. He wasn’t dressed up like everyone else. He was wearing jeans, and when he stripped his winter coat, he wore only a simple dark blue sweatshirt underneath. When he caught Ash’s eye and gave his signature smirk through a full beard, Ash smiled so wide their cheeks hurt.

  Finally, they thought.

  The first chord rang out as Ash’s fingers started moving on their own, playing from pure muscle memory. Everything faded away but the one person Ash focused on: Lance. The rest of the room dimmed to black as an imaginary spotlight singled him out. That was when Ash’s nerves stilled. They sang the first note and the next, and it was all for Lance.

  Walking along a road that never ends

  A rhythm made by feet on earth

  Lyrics and stories stream in my head

  A record of all the places I’ve been

  No destination made for me

  I am on the road to nothing

  And I meant to keep it at nothing

  But a kaleidoscope of butterflies find me

  I have heard it said a time or two

  There’s something only butterflies know

  It’s a feeling, a wondrous feeling

  It starts in your stomach and grows

  No destination made for me

  I am on
the road to nothing

  And I meant to keep it at nothing

  But a kaleidoscope of butterflies find me

  They fly from above

  In a vortex called love

  I swallow them whole

  Then lose all control

  It all starts with a look

  A simple look from a stranger

  A short exchange of words

  There isn’t any danger

  Your eyes tell a story I’ve never heard

  I hardly know you, but something inside of me stirs

  That should be the end

  I’ve recorded your story

  But I come again

  Guided by fluttering wings

  Because your eyes tell a story I’ve never heard

  What was cold is now warm, and there is more

  That’s when I know

  I’ve discovered what only butterflies know

  The pink and red lights flooded the entire room again once Ash strummed the final chord and applause filled the air. Everyone in the room moved in two bodies: those who came to Ash and those who went to Lance.

  “Your voice is flawless,” Cary said.

  “Lance is lucky to have you as a mate,” Weston agreed. “Cary can’t hold a tune for—” She jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.

  “Thank you.” Ash grinned and excused themself. They accepted all the nice words that floated their way as they made it to Lance’s side. Lance grabbed them around the waist and lifted them into the air like they didn’t weigh a thing. Ash laughed and hugged him when Lance set them back down onto the ground.

  “You were fantastic,” he said and kissed them.

  “Thank you,” Ash whispered against his lips. “Yuri’s here. You know what that means. It’s time to set things right.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  ASH TOOK LANCE’S HAND without another word and did their best to move him to the other side of the Lodge. Lance dragged his feet. He dragged them even more when he saw Yuri leaning against the wall with his arms folded. He could have stopped and torn away from Ash’s grasp, but he needed to face his brother. He looked good. All those cuts had faded considerably. He didn’t have a lump on his head anymore either.