Tiger Betrayed

by Tressie Lockwood

  Without warning, he pulled to the side of the highway and switched off the truck engine. When he turned to her, she widened her eyes. “What is it?”

  He reached out and unhooked her seatbelt. Before she could protest, he nabbed her from her seat and planted her on his lap. She pushed at his chest.

  “Stop, Heath. You’re tired. You’ve had a long night. You need your rest.”

  “And you don’t?”

  She played with the button on his shirt rather than look at him. “You’re the one who stopped.”

  Heath raised her chin and dropped a featherlight kiss on her lips. “Because you’re eating yourself up over something.” He frowned. “You’re not struggling with us being together, are you? Deja, I feel our bond growing as if it’s started reknitting itself. Tell me you can pick up on it too.”

  “Oh I do,” she rushed to assure him.

  “Then what is it? Are you not happy with the decisions I’ve made so far? About me becoming alpha?”

  “I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

  “Then?”

  She still hesitated.

  “Deja.” The sternness in his tone made her start. “Tell me now.”

  “The girls…Sylvia said…”

  Alarm entered his tone. “What about the girls?”

  “It’s my fault, Heath.” Tears stung her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She blubbered through the explanation, all the while waiting for him to throw her back in her seat and tell her he’d be better off with Tina. Guilt and pain arrested her movements, and she sat like a lump, not looking at him and falling silent. He did the same, and then his hands came up.

  “It’s nobody’s fault.” He drew her to his chest and rubbed her back, but she heard the fear in the way he had to force the words out. Heath loved the girls, and she knew it killed him to think something could go wrong with their first turn. “I will be there for them, and I’ll give every last ounce of my strength to heal them if they need it, Deja. I promise.”

  “I know,” she mumbled. “I’m so sorry for not telling you sooner.”

  “Is that why you took it into your head to go to Spiderweb?”

  She nodded against his chest.

  “Damn it, Deja. You should have trusted to come to me first, but I don’t blame you for that either. I abandoned you, and if you never forgive me, it would be just what I deserve.”

  She chuckled and raised her head. “We can’t both be a martyr in this conversation.”

  “I take dibs,” he insisted, making her laugh again.

  “Nope.”

  “Fine, then we agree we were both fools.”

  “I can live with that.”

  “Good. Now let’s go get our daughters.”

  She submitted to his kiss, a brief one she’d insist on being longer when they were alone at home, and then returned to her seat. They reentered Siberia and picked up the girls from Sylvia. Deja pinched her lips together to hide a smile when the doctor gave her a thumbs up at arriving with Heath.

  Sylvia bowed her head respectfully to him. “I’m always available to you should you have any questions, sir.”

  “Heath,” he insisted and thanked her for looking after the girls.

  They went to city hall after that, and weariness began to wear on Deja. She’d been up all night, and the girls hadn’t slept in a proper bed yet. “I’m starting to feel grumpy,” she warned her husband in the alpha’s office.

  He stroked her shoulder. “Almost done. I just want to handle everything so we can be alone.”

  Deja grabbed a seat with a daughter on each knee. She took a moment to watch her husband and studied his movements. He stirred her heart—his handsome face, the smile, the kind eyes, even the way he sat in his chair, shoulders back, chin raised, attentive but not tense. After so much that happened, he was in his element, top form in a position he’d grown into. Pride and love for him swelled inside.

  “Karl,” he said, and she focused on the men just entering the office. Over twenty of them filled the small room. Heath stood, and Scott, who’d been standing behind and to the side of Heath’s chair, stepped forward.

  “I’m just here to tell you I’m leaving Siberia, and so are all these men, their mates, and kids. We’re going to found a new town.”

  Deja gaped at them, but she couldn’t say she was disappointed. All the contention would leave with them, and good riddance.

  Heath rolled his shoulders but kept a steady gaze on Karl. “I’m glad you decided on it before I ordered you and yours out.”

  The offense radiated in Karl’s expression. “You will see a powerful race of shifters I raise that would never allow the kind of shit your father let happen here.”

  “No, actually, I won’t,” Heath corrected him. Several gasps went up around the room. Heath surveyed every face and met every eye of those who dared to raise their heads. “You see, when you walk across the borders of Siberia, this will again be the haven I always believed it to be, and those like you will not be welcome. I won’t acknowledge your existence, and I won’t care if you live or die.”

  Karl bristled along with the other men, but none of them could think of a good comeback. Deja scarcely kept herself from yelling out “and what?” She did snort in amusement, and the corner of Scott’s mouth twitched. In the end, Karl turned on his heel and stomped from the office, followed by his cohorts. A few more meetings where Heath gave new orders to counteract the harsh standards Karl had set, and they were off for home.

  They strode through the door of the home they built together, and Deja paused to breathe in deep. Tina had never set foot inside her house, as she’d feared so much. Tears sprung to Deja’s eyes thinking about it, and Heath moved up behind her. He touched fingertips to her lower back and kissed her temple.

  “You’re tired. Everything is okay now, Deja. Time for bed.”

  She sniffled. “I have to bathe the girls, and I need to jump in the shower.”

  “I’ll help.”

  Emotion washed over her again as Heath knelt by her side bathing Maia while she bathed Neve. Heath passed her the bottle of bath gel, and his fingers lingered on hers. She met his gaze, and they smiled. Her tiger purred inside, and she sensed his respond in kind.

  “We’re a family.”

  “Now and always.” He stood up. “Look after her a second. I’ll get the towels.”

  She watched him go, desire stirring to be in his arms. When he returned, she couldn’t hide the lust rising inside, and he raised his eyebrows.

  “You shouldn’t be thinking that way, Deja.”

  “And why not?”

  He dropped down beside her and held his arms out with a towel to Maia. “Because you’re giving me ideas. I’m trying to be a good daddy and husband right now. I was going to let you shower and get some rest.”

  She took the offered second towel for Neve. “And what if I don’t want to get some rest first? Are you going to deny your wife, sir?”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  She grinned and carried her daughter into the bedroom. “Good, because I planned to jump you if you even thought about making me wait.”

  He chuckled, walking behind her. “Yes, ma’am. You will make an excellent second.”

  “Second?”

  “I’m alpha, honey, and you are my second. That means if I’m not available, you lead.”

  “Whoa. No one said anything about that! Coreen was just a housewife, and no one expected her to do any leading.”

  He smacked her on the ass. “She’s human. Anyway, don’t worry. I will spend as much time as necessary to train you. I think it begins in bed though.”

  “It would with you.”

  He shrugged as if it couldn’t be helped. His hands were tied. “A man must do what he must do. Now, to bed, you little munchkins.” He tickled Maia and Neve, now in their pajamas, and their daughters squealed in delight. Deja tucked them beneath the covers on their little toddler beds and bent to kiss them. Heath patted their heads with a g
entle touch and gave them kisses. His whispered, “Sleep” settled the excitable one-year-olds, and long, curly lashes feathered against soft light caramel cheeks.

  Heath walked over to the door and held out his hand to her. “Come, Mrs. Hunter. Now it’s time for me to take care of you and make up for what I put you through.”

  Her lips parted, and she intended to comment, but words escaped her. Heart beating a rapid tattoo, she followed him out the door and across the hall to their room.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Deja stood in front of Heath in the bathroom and trembled while he raised the T-shirt she wore over her head and tossed it to the floor. One would think her a virgin the way she reacted, but being here with him and seeing him look at her the way he did took away her strength and made her all emotional. She swallowed and looked down, but Heath tsked with his tongue.

  “No, don’t look away,” he chastised. “I want you in my soul like you were that night.”

  She gasped and peered up at him. “What night?” He couldn’t possibly mean during her dream when she was captured. That was impossible, and it wasn’t real. Besides that, why would he want her in his soul? She’d felt like nothing stood between them, and if she had the smallest thought he’d know about it.

  He unbuttoned her pants and slipped them over her hips. When he didn’t answer right away, she prompted him, but he appeared enamored with her uncovered pussy. Scott hadn’t provided her panties or a bra, for which she’d been kind of grateful, not wanting him to sort through her intimate items.

  She glanced at Heath, kneeling in front of her, his head bowed. The deep intake of breath and slight groan had her biting her lip and trying to remain calm. As it was, her pussy gushed. If he didn’t get up soon, she’d be too far gone to want anything other than him inside her. Maybe she was already there.

  “Heath, what are you doing? Are you going to answer my question?”

  “Baby, give me a second.” His fingers curved around her thighs just above the knees, the hold just short of painful. “I’m a starving man, and you’re my meal, but if I don’t get control, I’m going to come long before I take care of you.”

  “Oh.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that but liked knowing she had such control over the man. On impulse, she pushed against his face. He swore and smacked her ass.

  “Naughty woman.”

  “I’m just horny.”

  He stood up, frowning at her and drew her close. Hands at his waist and leaning on his chest, she felt like he’d grown bigger and taller. He had the power to make her small and delicate, and she welcomed the sensation.

  After some moments, he resumed helping her to step out of her pants. When she kicked them away, he stepped back and began undressing as well. She took in the view—wide shoulders, flat abs, tapered hips, and strong thighs. His cock, hard and ready, popped free of his pants because he wore no boxers. She licked her lips at the sight, but Heath tapped her mouth with a finger.

  She met his gaze and lost herself. No, she wasn’t gone, but rather she’d blended with his being and become one. She heard his intake of breath and couldn’t separate hers from his.

  Heath raised his hands, and she touched hers to his. He shut his eyes and leaned his forehead to hers.

  “I thought I was dreaming. We made love, and I claimed you as mine.”

  “But I was awake. I felt you on my skin, in my mind, in my soul. Deja, you are the one, and there won’t be another.”

  “How did we do that?”

  “Does it matter?”

  She nuzzled the spot beside his lips and then explored the full bottom one. A small nip stirred her desire all the more. “No, it doesn’t.” She gasped and dipped her head back. As if he were already inside, she felt him fill her being, and her pussy wept. Nipples taut, she flattened them against his chest, seeking his mouth at the same time. Heath released her hands to grasp her around the waist. He raised her up off her feet and parted his lips. The kiss seared her consciousness to the point that she could think of nothing but him, smell nothing but her husband, desire only this man.

  “Wrap your legs around me.”

  “Heath.”

  She did as he requested, and a shudder rocked her from head to foot when he brought her down onto his cock. A snug fit because he’d swollen so thick, her pussy muscles contracted around his shaft, inviting him in but not making it an easy task. They both struggled for breath at the pleasure, Deja holding on with her hands locked at his nape.

  “We were supposed to shower.”

  “Do you want me to pull out?

  “Are you crazy?”

  Heath shoved deeper, and she whimpered. He grasped her upper thighs, lifted her up a few inches off his cock, and then let her fall back down, grinding into his pelvis, filled until she thought she’d burst, and loving every second.

  “Do it again, please, baby,” she begged.

  He helped her to ride his dick over and over, grinding and pumping so hard. She clenched her jaw, trying not to scream in ecstasy and wake the girls. Her throbbing clit scraped each time he drove in. She clutched his shoulders and leaned back to get the full impact. Heath held on and pounded faster.

  “Damn, you feel good, Deja. I can’t get enough!”

  He sat her on the edge of the sink and lifted her legs over his shoulders. She braced herself on her hands, and he ground into her pussy even more. Heath reached between them to capture her clit. She screamed his name. He gave her bud a tug, and an orgasm shattered her control. She fell back, but Heath caught her before she could hit her head.

  “You’re not done yet,” he warned. “You’re going to come for me a few more times.”

  She panted. “I—I can’t.”

  “Oh yes, you can, and you will.” He pulled out and jerked her to her feet. After spinning her around, he pushed her forward, and she bent over the sink on tiptoe. He plunged his dick inside her pussy once again and this time ground against her ass. She curled her fingers into her palms and shut her eyes. The cold marble stung her nipples, tantalizing them. Heath leaned up and smacked her ass once, twice, three times. She keened. Vibrations of pleasure tightened her core, but she did all she could not to come a second time. He needed to reach his peak first.

  “Do it harder.”

  He kept his pace steady. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Harder, Heath. Fuck me!”

  He moved her hands down to hold onto the front of the sink, a way to keep her from banging her hips. When he placed his at her waist, she knew what he intended to do. She arched her back as deep as she could and rose higher on her toes. Over her shoulder, she watched him. His eyes had gone paler, and the tiger lurked in their depths. She peered down at his hands and noted the sharpened nails. Allowing her own tiger to surface just enough to strengthen her, she waited, and then he claimed her body—rough and almost cruel.

  Her legs spread, she felt his balls bump each time he drove the full length of his cock inside. The slap of their skin echoed around the room, the impact stealing her breath. Their bodies collided, noisy and wet. He drove deep into her, held her hips tight so she couldn’t move, and then ground together with her. Deja collapsed on the sink, barely able to hold on. Her pussy pulsed with need, exhausted but wanting so much more. The stimulation sent her into overdrive. She reached behind her to grab his ass and squeezed. Muscles contracted in her palm, and she moaned at his strength and hardness.

  “You turn me on so much,” she muttered. “I’m going to come again.”

  “That’s the idea.” He leaned over and let some of his weight press her down. The nip at her earlobe stung. “You’re mine, and if you dare go to another man again, I will punish you.”

  A tremor of fear mingled with excitement in her core. Heath hadn’t forgotten she’d disobeyed him. He didn’t make a habit of bossing her around. His decision to cut off certain humans was for all of their safety, and in the end, Spiderweb had used Jake.

  She wanted to push back on hi
s cock but had no strength. Rather, she chose her words. “You realize that if you let another woman challenge me or even let her look in your direction, I’ll cut your dick off?”

  He grinned. “And how will you enjoy this?” He demonstrated by rotating his hips. A lightheadedness came over her. She shut her eyes. The man knew how to play her body, and he made it worse by pulling her up and crossing an arm over her chest. With rough fingers, he plucked at her nipple, kneaded it, and massaged her breast in his palm.

  “I don’t think I can do without it.”

  “Good.”

  He was in her head again, and it didn’t feel foreign. “I don’t know how we do this, but I want you here with me.”

  “I’m here, my love. Always.”

  Back and forth they went. One minute he was gentle and loving. The next, he used her body and ravaged it until she shouted for him to stop, but clung to him for more. He pulled away without warning and dropped to one knee. Deja started to protest, but he cupped her pussy and rubbed it, his fingers strumming her clit until she rode them. He ran his tongue along the back of her thigh and bit her ass cheek. She gripped the side of the sink, fingers going numb.

  “Put your knee up,” he instructed, and she did. The rub at her swollen nether lips and sensitive bud grew intense. She hissed, a small sound, and the orgasm exploded into being.

  All strength left her, but he caught her up into his arms and carried her to the shower. Warm water cascaded over their heads, Heath held her to him before sinking into her heat. She laid her head on his shoulder. He worked her body in the same exacting fashion where he’d begun. He was good. He knew what to do to please her, and he did it repeatedly. At long last, when she didn’t believe she could take anymore, he came. He crushed her to him, a hand at the back of her head. His growl animalistic, he demanded all of her, and she gave it. With his cock buried to the hilt, he pumped his hot seed into her. She clung to him and let him have his way, and when he finished, he held her a bit longer.