by Milly Taiden
The two guys were taking off with Feral. Without thinking twice, she ran at them, hitting one with bat on his shoulder.
The big, bald-headed guy howled and dropped Feral’s feet, turning to face her, his features already shifting into a giant tiger. Fuck fuck fuck. What had she done?
“Get rid of her,” said the second guy with an electric blue mullet. “If we don’t hurry up and bring him back, Uncle is gonna kick our asses.”
“Get away from him!” she screamed, swinging the bat, but the two guys jumped out of the way.
“You stop that,” mullet guy said. “We came for him. If you want to live, go back home and mind your business.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” she screamed, swinging the bat again, this time coming close to hitting the mullet guy.
The sound of an engine roaring down the road made her even more worried. If these guys had backup, they were going to take Feral and she didn’t know what the hell would happen to him then. They’d kill him. That much was clear.
In the blink of an eye, a bear and a wolf were running for them. The two intruders shifted fully and a giant fight between the bear and wolf and two tigers began.
She dropped to her knees and felt Feral’s pulse. It was there. The back of his head was bloody and a there was a knot. Then she saw the weapon. The tire iron they’d hit him with lay not ten feet away.
The bear picked up a tiger and threw him against a tree, bringing the whole trunk down with a loud crack. The tiger howled in pain. The wolf and tiger were in a different fight. Scratching, biting, and each trying to destroy the other’s snout.
She cradled Feral’s head, watching helplessly as the men fought and glancing down every few seconds to see if his eyes moved. Nothing happened. Then she saw Zuri coming from around the back of the cabin. She rushed over to Sage’s side.
“How did you get here?” Sage asked.
Zuri gave her a look. “I went around the back way like we used to when we were kids. I took the little bridge down the hill that leads to the cabin. Is he okay?”
“He’s breathing, but they really hurt him. They hit him with a tire iron.”
Zuri gasped. “Good god! He needs a hospital.”
Sage shook her head. “It’s not that bad. He probably needs to shift to heal, but how the heck can I get him to shift?”
The bear picked up the second tiger and slammed him down on one of the cars. The sound of crunching metal made Sage wince and close her eyes. The tiger lay on the ground, shifting back to his unconscious human form. She noticed the tiger the bear had slammed against the tree had shifted also and soon the wolf and bear were headed back down the road to the pick-up.
“They’ll be right back. They just want to get dressed.”
Just as she said, Savage and Tyson returned in jeans and T-shirts to help pick Feral off the ground and take him inside.
“Don’t worry about them,” Tyson said, popping his head toward the two shifted tigers. “I called the deputies to come get rid of them.”
Thank god. She couldn’t bear to think there were strange people outside her house. Once inside the cabin, they laid Feral on her bed. They were all watching him intently. Something was happening.
Sage held her breath and watched fur sprout, limbs shift, and his human body give way to a massive tiger.
“This is good,” Sav told her. “He’ll heal in a couple hours.”
“Really? That fast?”
Tyson nodded. “The injury doesn’t seem that bad. The bleeding had already stopped and I don’t think he had internal injuries.”
They moved to the living room, where Zuri was already helping to clean up as Isaline came in.
“There’s a police van outside and they’re taking what looks like two giant men,” Isaline frowned. She glanced around the cabin, confusion in her face. “Where are they?”
16
Sage stared at her sister and scowled as she tried to figure out what she was talking about. “Who?”
“The cleaning guys,” she said excitedly, almost bouncing in her heels. “I heard about this fun service where they send naked men to clean your house and thought it would make a great house warming gift.”
Sage groaned and slapped her forehead. “Seriously?”
“Oh, damn,” Tyson chuckled. “That could not have gone over well with her mate.”
“You sent those guys?”
Zuri perked up in her seat. “What guys?”
Savage pulled her up and then sat her on his lap. “Don’t worry about what guys. You’ve got a mate.”
She curled her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the cheek. “I do and I love you, but I’m curious. What guys?”
“I got home and Feral was roaring at the top of his lungs.” She gave Isaline a dirty look. “Tigers can growl really loud.” She glanced at Zuri. “Then all these naked guys ran out of here, penises all over the place like they were at a nudist colony.”
Zuri started giggling uncontrollably and Isaline flushed with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry,” Isaline said. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. How was I supposed to know some big, hunky tiger was going to show up and mess up my gift?”
Sage rolled her eyes. “They were folding my underwear, Isaline. Think about it. I’ve never allowed anyone to touch my undergarments.”
“Ew!” Zuri said. “That’s nasty.”
Savage gave Zuri a tight squeeze. “That’s right, love. Glad you and I are on the same page.”
Zuri shook her head and laughed. “Anyway, what’s the big tiger doing here?”
Sage sighed. “It’s a long story.”
Isaline made hand motions to Zuri.
“I can see you doing that, Isaline,” Sage told her.
“All right,” Tyson got on his feet. “They’ve taken the tigers. I’m going to take a team and scan the area to make sure there are no others waiting to ambush this place.”
“Sav,” Zuri kissed him again, “will you go with Tyson for a bit so I can help Isaline and Sage clean this place up before we go home?”
He grumbled but picked her up, got on his feet and set her back on the seat. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
She nodded and soon it was just Sage and her sisters cleaning up the mess from the party.
Cups went into trash bags along with paper plates and napkins.
“Who’s going to tell me about the tiger?” Zuri asked. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me.”
Sage picked up her colorful curls and put them into a ponytail on top of her head. “What’s there to tell? I met him in Colorado. He lives up in the mountains. Pretty remote. Owns a ski resort and likes to live alone.”
Isaline picked up a Dorito chip and munched on it while pointing at Sage. “Notice how she didn’t say anything about driving that shifter wild to the point he had to come looking for her.”
“Sage!” Zuri giggled. “Did you give the tiger your goodies?”
“No!” Sage replied before thinking.
“Why not?” Zuri demanded.
“Yeah,” Isaline added. “Why not? He looked really good even passed out.”
Sage tied up a trash bag and grabbed a second to clear off the remaining trash. “I barely know the guy.”
“Since when does that matter?” Isaline asked. “Look at Zuri. She gave it up and didn’t even know his last name.”
Zuri gasped. “You don’t have to make me sound like a ho.”
Isaline grinned. “Savage isn’t complaining. Besides, he’s your husband. You two went from one night of hot and sweaty to a lifetime of love and commitment.”
Sage caught Zuri eyeing her. “Shifters aren’t like humans. They know when someone is right for them. And they will do anything to make their mate know they’re devoted.”
The knot in Sage’s stomach tightened and her throat grew dry. “I don’t want to make a mistake again. I’ve made too many in my life, not only related to men. I don’t want to waste my time on a
relationship that isn’t going anywhere. I want to feel loved. I don’t just want the words.”
Isaline nodded. “I know how she feels.”
“If you want that to happen,” Zuri said to them, “you’re going to have to take a chance. Things don’t happen from the safety of your house. You both made me leave the house and go meet men I didn’t think would lead to anything. Now’s your turn. You need to give love a chance to come into your life. Don’t worry about how it shows up. Just go with it.”
17
Feral woke with a start. It was dark. He was on a bed and there were towels under his body. Sitting up with a wince, he realized he had a fucking headache.
Then the memories of getting ready to kiss Sage rushed his mind and the pain came next. His tiger pushed to be released. He’d been attacked. Sage! Where was she?
He jumped to his feet and padded out of the bedroom naked, looking for his mate. She was sitting on a sofa, reading a book. Her gaze shot up when she heard him move.
“Oh! You’re awake,” she said, standing quickly and coming around the sofa. “How do you feel?”
“Good. Other than a headache, I’m fine.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “That’s all? A headache? You shifters are amazing.”
“Why?” He frowned. “What happened?”
“Two tigers attacked you from behind. They hit you really hard with a tire iron. I don’t know who they were but the sheriff and my brother-in-law took care of them.”
He glanced at her, his need to make sure she was okay becoming his sole focus. “Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head and came closer. “No. I-I’m fine.”
He marched up to her, eating the space between them with his steps. “I’m sorry you saw that,” he told her, stopping a few feet away. “I can tell you’re still worried. You don’t need to be.”
She raised a hand to his jaw, her soft fingers caressing his face and her blue eyes searching his, looking for something. “I was worried. I am worried. I can’t help it.”
He held her hand to his face and leaned into her touch. “I’m sorry, beautiful.”
She leaned into him, her body brushing his and her hands pulling his head down. On her tiptoes, she lifted to bring her face to his. He didn’t wait. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her up and brought his lips to hers.
Her legs wrapped around his waist and her chest pressed tightly to his. The kiss was deep and strong. Soul-reaching. A soft little sigh sounded from her and it killed the tight rein he had on his control. He wanted all of her. He wanted to feel every sigh, every breath, every moan as he made her unravel.
How could he have questioned his tiger? This was his mate. Her taste clung to his lips and settled in his blood. Recognition for the one woman who meant the world to him fired his blood.
She slipped her tongue into his mouth. All semblance of having shit under control went out the window. Her body held his as he held her captive against the hard wall. She moaned, their kiss deepening and making him harder with every swipe of her tongue over his.
She broke off from his lips, taking a breath and met his gaze. Pure desire filled the depths of her eyes. “My bedroom is the first door to the right.”
He carried her into the room, stopping only to set her on top of her dresser. He pushed her legs open, pressing his hips into the curve of her crotch. Ah, fuck! The heat of her pussy called to him. She smelled so fucking good. The barrier of her shorts stopped him from driving deep into her, something he couldn’t get out of his mind.
Feeling her heat on his naked cock drove the point home that he wanted her naked, too. Right now.
He sucked in a breath as he watched her rake her hands down his chest, her nails leaving a stinging bite that his tiger loved. His abs contracted. She groaned, her gaze stuck on his erection. The power of her eyes alone made him ready to come. She sucked in a breath, that hitch in her throat made his dick even harder.
Her T-shirt came off quickly. Fire laced his lungs. He couldn’t stop the growl at her beauty. She was curvy and her pale skin appeared to glow in the dimly lit bedroom. His breaths pumped in and out in a rush, burning with each drag of air he took.
“Go ahead, beautiful,” he rumbled, his voice so deep, he worried she might not understand. Her gaze shot down from his face to his cock again. “Touch me. Do it.”
His long, hard cock stood proud. “It’s all for you,” he said, watching her lick her lips. “I’m dying to be inside you, Sage.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?”
He nodded, watching her hand tentatively glide down his abs to his cock. “All you, baby. My body craves your touch.”
“You’re so smooth,” she mumbled under her breath. “Hot and hard.”
“Ah, babe,” he groaned. “Your hands are so soft. So small.”
His gaze fell on her breasts. Her breathing sounded louder to him, as if his looking at her made it harder to breathe. Her nipples were hard pink points he couldn’t wait to suck. “You’re so beautiful.”
Gazes met again. Her hand stroked him faster, her grip on him tighter. “We can debate who’s beautiful,” she grinned. “Your body is a work of art.”
“Fuck whatever you’re thinking, Sage,” he growled, his fingers slicing through her shorts and leaving her pussy bare for his view. “You’re a fucking goddess and I want to taste every inch of you.”
A loud purr sounded from him. His tiger wanted their mate and nothing was going to get in their way.
She blinked. “That was…really sexy.”
18
Feral loved how she said that. As if she was melting from need.
A slow grin split his lips. “There’s more where that came from.”
His lips descended over hers in a rough, rugged mating. Her taste was intoxicating. He couldn’t stop from nibbling and licking and the urge to consume her drove him to keep going. He moved from her lips to nibble down her neck, her chest, and attached to a nipple.
“Fuck! You’re perfect. So. Fucking. Perfect.” He nibbled and licked. And then he sucked.
“Christ, Feral. That feels amazing,” she moaned. He slid a hand down to her pussy, gliding his fingers between her slick folds and dipping into her sleek heat.
“Ah, sweet,” he mouthed from her breast. “Your body is begging for my cock.”
She moaned, her breast pushing farther into his mouth. Her pussy clasped around the digits he slid inside her, sucking on his fingers with every thrust into her sex.
She moaned, the sound breathy and needy. “Feral...”
He pushed her back on the dresser, tugging the torn material of her shorts from under her and leaving her shaven pussy wide open for his viewing pleasure.
“Ah, baby girl.” He inhaled hard and lowered to sit on her vanity chair, leaving him eye level with her sex. Fucking hell, she smelled like cinnamon and sugar and everything delicious and perfect. He licked his lips. “You smell so fucking good, Sage.”
Her tiny hands gripped his hair as he pushed her thighs wider to finally get a taste of his mate. He licked up her pussy lips, spreading them to flatten his tongue on her clit. He lifted her legs onto his shoulders and allowed the heat of her body to curl around him and fill his senses with nothing but his mate. Sage.
A lifetime of emptiness in his heart had been filled with a single smile from her lips. Now, the taste of her body stamped itself on his tongue to be forever filed under the only flavor he’d love from now until he died. Then, to prove how much his tiger enjoyed her taste, he purred.
“Oh my god. Do. It. Again!”
He chuckled softly, his breath hovering above her clit. “If you liked that, then you’ll love this...”
He sucked her clit hard enough to make her ass come off the dresser and drag a scream from her dry throat. “Fuuuuck!”
“Mmm,” he groaned. “The wetter your pussy gets, the better you taste.” He glanced up from her pussy. Her eyes were half-closed, her lips open and huffing out a breath. “
I want you coming on my tongue next. Then, and only then, will I fuck you.”
She gripped his hair, her nails dragging through his scalp and letting him know how lost she was in his touch. God, he fucking loved knowing she was his.
All his. He pressed the tip of his nose on her clit as he drove his tongue in and out of her. Every lick brought on new moans from her, and his own grunts wouldn’t stay quiet.
“Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck!” Her muscles locked, legs tightening around his head. Her climax approached and he couldn’t wait to taste her release.
He slid two fingers over her entrance, wetting them with her honey, and then drove them into her channel. He didn’t stop. He fucked her quickly, his moves driven as if he were grinding his hips into her sex. She gasped, cursed, and started softly begging him to continue.
To not stop. He fingered her and flicked his tongue on her clit in quick circles. Fast. Faster. Until he knew she was about to fall from the edge and he would be the only one there to catch her.
“Oh god!” Her climax came with a loud scream from her, her body shaking and her pussy grabbing at his fingers, sucking them tightly. She held his hair in a grip and her hips convulsed as she tried to ride his fingers through her orgasm.
Her hips rocked back and forth on his face, her hot honey dripping down his hands.
He gave her little time to catch her breath. He jumped to his feet and held her legs up around his waist.
“I need inside you,” he growled.
She scooted forward until her ass was hanging off the edge of the dresser and leaned back into the mirror. Her legs went back up on his shoulders.
He clearly saw her pink folds, slick and calling for his dick. It was time to take what was his. His mate.
“That’s it,” he said, his gaze on her tight, pink pussy. “Now, let me in.”
He pressed the head of his cock into her, his gaze moving up to her face and watching her suck in a breath. Her gaze slowly crawled down his body to watch him slide into her.