Tiger Betrayed

by Tressie Lockwood

  Chapter One

  Deja paused outside the door to Heath’s office and set her basket down on the ground. She straightened her skirt, tugging it a little lower, although there wasn’t far for it to go. The cut of the thing extended just an inch or so past her goods, but she knew her husband would love it. Besides, she’d lost the baby weight to fit into the outfit, and if he didn’t like it, he’d hear from her. She laughed thinking of the attitude and smoothed her hair. That horny man would eat her up. If there existed anything she doubted in her life, it was not Heath Hunter. The man’s love bordered on obsession, and she enjoyed every minute of it.

  Satisfied with her level of hotness, she bent to lift her basket and opened the door leading into Heath’s new digs—the sheriff’s office. Heath’s heated gaze focused on her as soon as she stepped into the room, and she knew he’d smelled her coming. When he got a load of her outfit, his eyebrows rose, and she paused, tilted her head to the side, and put a hand on her hip. “Hey, Daddy.”

  His nostrils flared. The big chest expanded as he took in a deep, steadying breath. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Knowing she turned him on had always gotten to her as well. “Deja, what are you wearing?”

  She spun and poked her ass out as she did, so he could get a good look. “You like? It’s a cat suit. Black leather mini, top cut practically to my navel, and check it out” —she wiggled her hips— “there’s a tail.”

  “You know you can turn into a tiger, right?”

  She pouted. “So you don’t like it?”

  “Come here, and let me show you how much I like it.”

  She drifted toward him, taking her time. When she stood steps away, she stopped and put down the basket. Just out of reach, she tempted him with a purse of her lips and clasped her hands behind her to emphasize her breasts. Not that she needed to since the girls had left them a couple sizes bigger. Heath always tried to get her to go braless, but she’d informed the man she would not have boobs down to her knees just to satisfy his endless lust.

  As she waited, his expression turned dark. “Why the hell are you out after sundown, Deja? You know the killer is still on the loose. I can’t keep you safe if you continue to defy my commands.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Since you don’t tell me what to do…”

  “I’m serious!”

  “Relax, I didn’t come here alone. One of your guys dropped me off. He decided not to come in, given how I was dressed. I guess he figured he knew what we were about to get into.”

  Heath grunted. He stood and walked around his desk to sit on the edge and leaned out to grab her wrist. When she tumbled into his arms, a protest rose to her lips. The feel of his taut muscles beneath her palms robbed her of the words, and she moaned instead. No one turned her on like Heath. Sometimes with just a word, or even a look, he could get her wet.

  Her husband squeezed her around the waist, and then he explored farther until he palmed her ass and stroked. A tingle of need brought her nether regions to life, and she shut her eyes and let her forehead touch his chest.

  “I don’t like that he saw you this way.”

  “He didn’t see the best part.” She raised her head, took his hand lower, and then brought it higher beneath her skirt. The tiger’s growl rose from his throat.

  “You’re not wearing panties, Deja. You do know how dangerous that is?”

  She shrugged, casting him an innocent look. He gave her a gentle smack on the ass. She squealed and pretended to try to get away, but his hold tightened. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  “Is there anyone in your jail?”

  “There is, but I don’t give a damn.” His gaze swept her from the cat’s ears on her head to the five-inch heels on her feet. He sighed. “I should be out there right now looking for him.”

  “You’ve been out there constantly. That’s why I’m here. I never get to see you, and the girls miss you too.”

  He released her and moved around the desk to drop into his seat. Tension radiated off of him as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I don’t get it. I should be able to track him. My men and I have combed Siberia from top to bottom, and we’ve uncovered nothing. Because we haven’t found him, we can’t risk moving. Everything is on hold, the move postponed for the time being.”

  Deja debated between encouraging him to talk out his frustrations and doing what she knew would take his mind off the situation, even for an hour or two. She had spoken the truth when she said they hadn’t had much time together. He felt so far away, and here she had foolishly thought they were living their happily-ever-after now that they were mated as tiger shifters and married in the eyes of human law.

  She picked up the basket and set it on the desk. A sweep of her hand made room for wine, fruit, cheese, and two glasses. She popped the cork and poured some for both of them.

  “Deja, I’m working.”

  “I know, baby.” She took a sip from her glass and came around desk. He didn’t protest when she held the other glass out to him. After a single sip, he set it down. He needed greater intervention. She pushed him back from the desk and sat on the edge in front of him. A foot placed on the chair between his legs brought his attention to what lay between hers, and she had the gratification of seeing a flash of the feline in his eyes. “That’s better.”

  She climbed on his lap and felt the hard-on tenting his pants. Running her hands over his chest, she caught and held his gaze. “I love you, Heath.”

  He brought her closer and kissed her lips. Emotion bubbled inside her until it robbed her of the ability to expound on her feelings, but Heath’s gaze seemed to echo the same. “You’re my entire life, Deja. There can’t be another woman for me. You’re everything.”

  Pleased, she wriggled on his lap and brought a groan to his lips. He dragged her top over her shoulders, and a rent split the air. When her bare breasts came into view, he stared at them as if for the first time.

  “You’re not wearing a bra either?”

  “Kind of hard with this design.”

  “If I mess up my pants—”

  “It’s not my fault.” She wriggled around once more and found herself on her feet, bent over the desk. Heath jerked her skirt up and smacked her ass. “Yes, I’ve been bad. I need my punishment.”

  “Oh, I’m going to give it to you all right,” he promised. A clink of his buckle being undone reached her. She pushed her ass higher, knowing by now, she was wet enough to take him. Anticipation made her whine for it, and a second smack brought a sting to her skin. He stroked it away then threaded fingers between her cheeks until he reached her moist heat. Her swollen folds parted around his digits, and he eased inside, then withdrew. She gasped his name. His breath warmed her ear just before the warmth from his proximity took her desires higher. “You like that, honey?”

  “Yes, Heath, you know I do. I want more,” she begged.

  He pulled back, and she could have wept, but he rested a hand on either side of her on the desk. His length curved over hers as he spooned her. She grabbed his thigh, too desperate to be filled to wait. He nibbled the skin on her shoulder, and she nudged him until he raised his head so she could taste his lips. The head of his cock just pierced the entrance between her legs, and she dropped her head on his shoulder. When she did, she narrowed her eyes to slits and caught sight of the window. Shifting shadows and piercing golden eyes met her gaze. She screamed.

  Heath jerked away and spun her to face him. “I’m sorry, Deja. I was too excited. I hurt you?”

  “No, not that.” She pointed to the window, staring, but the face had disappeared. “Someone was out there watching us.”

  Her husband sprang into action within seconds of hearing her claim. “Stay here,” he barked as he disappeared through the
exit. A roar followed the slamming of the door behind him, and she knew he had shifted and was in pursuit of whoever had been watching. Deja yanked her skirt down and straightened her torn blouse the best she could, then ran to the door to look out. Nothing and no one stirred. Heath was nowhere in sight, but a deep inhale brought his scent, and she knew the route he’d taken. No other fresh scents mingled with his, which one should have if someone had just been at the window. All she could discern were the fading scents of Heath’s men and various townspeople who must have passed by during the day. Ever since Ward had ordered Heath to issue a curfew, no one other than the guards dared step foot outdoors at night unless they had a damn good reason. So who could have been watching them? A chill raced over her arms bringing goose bumps when she thought of who it might have been. The person who had slaughtered a man who worked at the grocery store—a shifter?

  She stared into the darkness a little longer. Pacing, she chewed a thumbnail and considered calling Ward or Joe. After five minutes, when Heath didn’t return, she started out of the office and slammed the door behind her. Fuck it, if Heath fussed at her for coming out alone, she’d deal with it. No way could she sit in there safe when he could be facing the killer right then. Her place was at his side, fighting with him.

  Following her husband’s scent, she jogged along the quiet street. One or two neighborhoods in Siberia were abandoned because most of the humans who lived in that area were tossed out of the town when Ward, the alpha, had ordered any human not mated to a shifter at least five years to leave. Some of the shifters had decided to go with them, including one of Ward’s closest guards, Carter.

  The street seemed creepy quiet, and at first she thought she’d taken a wrong turn, despite Heath’s scent, when a tiger’s cry rent the air. She yanked off her heels and began to run. Rounding the corner of one road into another, she caught sight of Heath fighting with another person, both in shifted form. The two cats tore at each other in violent attacks that turned her stomach. She recognized Heath, the bigger of the two. He had the other cat by at least fifty pounds of muscle, but the attacker seemed almost driven by rage. Heath swiped a large paw across the animal’s face, ripping into the flesh, but his opponent didn’t flinch. He came at Heath, growling and baring long, sharp teeth. Heath jumped to the right in a graceful movement, but not fast enough. He howled in pain when the bite hit its mark in his side. Using the strength in his weight, Heath kicked out at the other cat and sent him rolling in the dust. The cat didn’t stay down long. He sprang to his feet and came at Heath again. This time he seemed to aim at Heath’s throat. Deja could no longer stand there and let this bastard get the better of her man. She crouched, ready to shift, when a shout behind made her pause. Joe and a few of the guards arrived, shifting as they ran, clothing ripping from their bodies.

  Seeing himself outnumbered, the cat fighting with Heath released his hold on Heath’s throat and turned tail to run. Heath started after him.

  “Heath,” Deja screamed, and he stopped. He shifted to his human form seeing her. The scowl said he was pissed.

  “After him,” he snapped. “Scott and Ted. Joe, you’re with me! Deja, I told you to stay put.”

  “I was worried.”

  He grasped her arm and almost dragged her down the street. She forgave him for the moment since adrenaline probably surged out of control in his system, and because he still bled from the attack. Her babies would not grow up without their daddy. First things first.

  By the time they entered Heath’s office, her husband swayed and shook his head every so often as if to clear it. He held one arm limp at his side, leading Deja to guess it had been broken. Her chest constricted, but she let Joe take his weight as she rushed ahead. After snatching the phone off the cradle on his desk, she pounded in the number to Dr. Sylvia Adams, the human doctor who took care of them all and had shown her loyalty to the shifters for thirty years. Deja had no doubt the woman would make a house call without question.

  “We’re at the sheriff’s office,” Deja explained after she’d given a brief summary of Heath’s condition.

  Heath protested. “I’m fine, and I don’t want her to come out here alone.”

  “Got it,” Joe interjected, holding up the radio he used to stay in communication with Heath’s other men. “I’ll get someone to pick her up.”

  “I’ll heal,” Heath snapped.

  Deja was satisfied Joe had enough tenure to ignore the objection. She dug in the closet for a fresh pair of pants for Heath, and as she helped him into them, the door opened and Ward swept in like an angry storm.

  “Heath, I heard the killer struck again. What’s the situation?”

  As usual, Ward’s power rolled over her, leaving her knees weak. She stumbled, and as fast as she did, Heath’s good arm shot out to steady her, along with a new surge of energy, one she knew her husband released on instinct as a protective measure. The power pushed at Ward’s until he realized what he did and checked himself.

  Heath winced, and blood soaked his skin and stained the pants he’d just put on. Deja cried out. “Stay still.”

  “Damn it,” Ward roared. He dropped to one knee and touched Heath’s shoulder. “That bastard better be dead.”

  “Afraid not,” was Joe’s response.

  All of them fell silent as Ward’s power flowed once again, this time to give Heath comfort and help him on the road to healing. Deja marveled as she always did at the power of an alpha. When her husband leaned back in his seat, breathing a bit easier, she let go of the breath she’d been holding. Moments later, Sylvia arrived, and they waited further until she’d done all she could.

  “Tell me he will be okay, Sylvia,” Deja said, wringing her hands.

  The older woman with silver hair flying about her head like she’d rushed over from bed, turned to Deja. “Don’t worry, sweetie. Heath’s got alpha blood. He will heal, although it will hurt like a beast for a bit.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  Scott and Ted walked into the office, both naked and looking exhausted. They spotted Ward, and both touched knuckles to the floor with bowed heads and kneeled on one knee before they stood straight again. Joe tossed pants to them while Sylvia didn’t even color at the tight abs and sculpted muscle of the two shifters. She did toss them both an appreciative glance, and Deja didn’t blame her since all of their kind were perfect specimens. Deja didn’t allow her gaze to wander far from Heath.

  “I’m sorry, boss. He got away,” Scott reported.

  Ward cursed. “Did you at least identify him?”

  Ted scratched the back of his head. “That’s the thing, sir. We still can’t get a bead on him. It’s like he doesn’t have a scent at all.”

  “He doesn’t,” Heath muttered. “The entire time I fought him, I smelled nothing, and it was like his strength was insane. I’m embarrassed to say I had a hard time keeping him from ripping out my throat.”

  Dread brought pain to the pit of Deja’s stomach. What shifter could outdo him? Especially since, as Sylvia had mentioned, Heath had alpha blood—strong blood. Many believed he could easily rival Ward’s abilities, and being his son, he had great potential. Yet, here he sat admitting the killer might be stronger. Where did that leave them all if they couldn’t even identify the man?

  “Markings on his coat?” Ward offered with hope in his gaze.

  Heath shook his head.

  “We didn’t even catch up to him,” Scott said. “Always in his dust. Either he’s a new hybrid, or he’s pumped up on something.”

  “Don’t speculate!” Ward pushed fingers through his hair. “We don’t need a greater panic than we’ve already had.”

  “You’re right.” Heath struggled from where he sat, and Deja opened her mouth to demand he sit, but the color had started coming back to his Texas sun-kissed skin. She imagined beneath the bandages Sylvia had covered him with, the flesh had begun to mend. “We need information fast and a new strategy. We’re all in danger, and this time it looks like it’s one of u
s. Double shifts! Joe, pass the word.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Sir!” Scott and Ted echoed before they disappeared into the night.

  Heath looked at Deja. “I know my duty, but right now I need to get you home and see my girls’ faces for myself and know they’re safe.”

  She didn’t mention that she was more concerned for him at the moment since she understood his worry. At least they would go home together. Tonight, after they picked up their twin daughters from Coreen and Ward’s house, they would allow the girls to sleep in their bed with them. Tomorrow would take care of itself. At least for the time being, they would all be together.

  Chapter Two

  He sprawled across the bed watching her undress. Her movements slow and designed to seduce, she unbuttoned her blouse to reveal luscious breasts. The moment the bra fell away, he locked his gaze on those dark nipples, surrounded by just as dark areolas. Looking at them made his mouth water. He couldn’t wait to have a taste, but he knew her. If he pushed, she would deny him, make him suffer. Maybe she’d even leave. He couldn’t have that. He’d waited a long time to get her here, and he would do nothing to ruin it.

  “Damn it, you’re beautiful. It’s been a long time.”

  The admission seemed to startle her at first, but then she flashed him a mischievous smile, this time not as honest, if he had to guess. “I shouldn’t be here.”

  He stiffened and mentally reviewed his words. None had been wrong. She shouldn’t be ready to run back home and keep herself for him. Thinking of his rival brought bitterness to his mouth. He hated that guy and wished he weren’t a factor. Still, they had discussed him before, and he didn’t need an admission from those soft lips again to know just how much she loved the man. Why, dammit?

  Forcing a smile of his own and extending a hand to her, he said, “Of course you should. Don’t think about anything except how much pleasure I’m going to give you as soon as you’re lying here beside me.”

  She frowned in doubt, and he gritted his teeth.

  “Oh don’t look at me like that.” She laughed. “I’m not denying your skills. I’ve just been denied a long time myself. My kitty is not happy.”