"Yes, you are," he agreed. "Although I'll have you know I'm something of a catch myself. And here we are. So that guy—whoever he is? A real woofer."
"Compared to you," she said, her gaze trailing over him. "You're absolutely right."
"Thank you," he said. He tossed the remains of his fowl back into the open container, and reached for another container. Ah, yes. Berries and real whipped cream.
Leaning back in the pillows, he showed her the open container. "Care for some dessert, tyger pussy?"
Her eyes lit up. "Ooh, my favorite, mar-berries. I'll get a spoon."
He dipped a claw in the whipped cream, and dabbed it on the head of his cock. Then he took a berry and set it in the mound of whipped cream. It was cool and silky on his sensitive flesh. And her clever tongue was going to feel even better. "Oh, you won't need a spoon," he drawled.
She looked at him, color flushing under her golden skin, her eyes going golden again. Then she turned onto her hands and knees, her pretty breasts dangling, and crawled slowly to him. Looking down at the treat he'd prepared for her, she licked her lips.
"Yum," she approved.
His cock jerked in approval, and the berry and cream dripped down his shaft. With a breathless giggle, she dove to rescue it, and him from his mating lust.
Her dessert was everything he'd hoped it would be, for both of them.
As he came helplessly, his cum spurting into her eager mouth, his claws ripping holes in the soft sheets, Chaz thought hazily he just might have found the perfect shift mate.
And possibly the perfect woman, although it was ridiculous to have that thought so soon.
Ironically, as one of the most sought-after bachelors on planet Bryght, true romance seemed to elude him. Sure, he met plenty of females that sparked his desire, and with whom he could share a fine time in bed. But despite their eagerness to hang onto him, none of them made him want to see them more than a few times. And none of them gave him any inkling it was time to purchase a betrothal collar.
He'd always assumed he'd one day meet his true mate, and settle down to raise a family with her. It could be done, even as a celebrity. Wealth helped erect barriers of privacy. But his level of wealth and uber-fame brought out the worst in many beings. He'd been burned too many times by females who only truly wanted what he could give them. They wanted Chaz Jaguari, not Charles Crawfur, the tyger cub who'd been lucky enough to have a voice and looks.
Lying back with his shift mate snuggled beside him, he smiled. This female, as least, was enjoying him purely as himself. She was unaware of his star status. She thought he was sexy and funny and he made her blush and sigh, though she knew him only as Charlie.
How sweet and how ironic was that? She came from a good family—with a few notable exceptions—and she was fine company in more ways than one. He didn't want to let go of her. After this was over, he'd see about continuing their liaison. See where it went.
Yes, that would work.
Six
Chaz woke slowly from his next cat nap, becoming aware in increments of his surroundings. He was in a soft, supremely comfortable bed, in a cool, dark room with a soft breeze blowing over his face, laden with the scent of flowering plants and... sex.
His eyes opened, and he turned his head just enough to peer down at the woman sleeping on his shoulder. She was draped over him like a living blanket, her silky arm and leg curved over his chest and groin, her soft breasts pillowing him, her mons against his hip. Her dark hair curled in wild abandon, draped over the pillow behind her, stray curls on her cheek.
He smiled to himself, his cock giving a twitch of interest. But certain muscles twinged as well, and he winced. They'd spent the last three days and nights fucking in every position he could coax her into, and face it, he was done... for now.
He lifted his free hand to his face, and met the normal rasp of whiskers that meant he hadn't shaved for a few days. He ran his tongue over his teeth, and found his fangs had receded. And when he lifted his hand to peer at it, even in the dim light he could see his hands were back to normal.
His mating shift was over. He'd made it through in fine shape, thanks to the female at his side.
Time to thank her, give her an expensive parting gift, and send her on her way.
Except that he wasn't entirely sure he wished to do so. In fact, he did not want to do so—he wanted more time with his feisty, sexy, amusing tyger kitten. She had a job to get back to, so he'd have to coax her. Though probably not too hard, he thought wryly. After all, he was who he was. He'd never had trouble getting any female he wanted, why should that change now?
Especially since he knew quite well this particular female loved the way he fucked her. And he could well afford to pay her a lunar year's wages—or more—as a gift, so she'd be free to stay with him until they tired of each other. Although she might not accept it. She'd been very adamant about not being treated like a prostitute.
Strange, as being a shift mate was an honored and accepted tradition on Bryght, both for males and females. It was how many successful life-matings and marriages began. His own parents had met that way. Tygeans were open and honest about their sexuality.
Still, even in her reluctance to be compensated for time away from her job, she was a refreshing change from all the beings who wanted him for what they got out of it—credit, a moment of fame, an entree into the entertainment world, or just the chance to brag they'd fucked Chaz Jaguari. Not to mention those who waited avidly for chance to knock him off of his hover-pedestal, to prove to themselves the galactic idol was no better than they, after all.
She sighed in her sleep and moved, nestling closer. Her soft curves slid over his body.
His cock gave another twitch, and he stroked it again, enjoying the slow curl of arousal, the anticipation of what would follow.
Then he sniffed, and his lip curled. Gah, he could use a shower-dry first. He was ripe, coming off the surge of pheromones that accompanied a shift. Carefully, he eased out from under her, depositing her on the pillows. She gave a protesting sigh, then turned onto her belly and subsided back into sleep.
He winced at the bruises on her near hip. Not that she'd minded his claws or his teeth. She was a true Tygress.
A quick shower-dry and shave, a splash of his favorite cologne, and he come back and wake her in style. Then he'd talk her into... more. He just wasn't sure what that more would look like.
But after his much-needed shower-dry, as Chaz stood before the holo-mirrors in the luxe lav, small shaving bots buzzing swiftly over his face, a chime sounded. His agent's tone. When he ignored it, the man's face appeared before him. The other Tyger, an older male with silver hair, in a striped sport-shirt that said he was out of the office, raised his brows and waited. "Chaz, I know you're there. Link me."
With a sigh, Chaz opened the link, allowing his agent to see him as well. "Gray. What is it?"
The other Tyger looked him over, and then relaxed visibly. He shook his head. "What d'you mean, what is it? You've been in shift, stuck out there in deep space without your staff or security around you. I've been worried."
The shaving bots finished and zipped back to their docking stand on the lav counter. Chaz bent to rinse his face and then towel dry. "As you see, I'm fine. But I do have a lady to get back to, so you'll excuse me, I'm sure."
"Not so fast," Gray Tabbar held up a hand. "First I need to know when to send the cruiser for you. Today, tomorrow? You have the concert in Rawr City, then the appearance on the Kit Kruse show, then--"
Chaz was already shaking his head. "Gray. Stop—I'm going to have to miss the concert. As for the talk show—I've been on that twice in the last year. They can do without me for once."
His agent's eyes narrowed, and then the other man let out a sigh. "You want to stay laired up with this female, right?
"Right," Chaz said. "Gray, I think I've finally found a female worth blowing off a few concerts for."
"And who in the hells is this temptress?"
&
nbsp; "Oh, no one you've ever heard of. Her name is... Rouge." Ha. Let Gray search through the databanks on his holo-computer for that name, he wouldn't find her. And therefore, he wouldn't be able to tell Chaz why she wasn't worthy of his extended liaison. This one wasn't married, or a socialite who'd go from his bed to the nearest gossip show, or an aspiring singer, or any of the other objections Gray always managed to dredge up, why Chaz should break off a liaison and get back to work.
He waited, smugly, for Gray to search his handheld device and find nothing.
But when his agent looked up at him, Chaz' smile slipped, and his gut tightened. "What?" he asked.
"Is she a Fellura?"
"Yeah, she's Mowra's granddaughter, why?'
"Does the name Roxie Fellura ring any chimes for you, Chaz?" Gray asked with chilly sarcasm.
Chaz froze, dropping his towel. "Roxie Fellura?"
The young gossip journalist who had written an 'expose' of his terrible treatment of an ex-girlfriend ... only it was all lies, fed to her by the ex, Mixi Fellura, who was furious at Chaz for breaking up with her.
But Mixi's cousin had been a plump, self-righteous crusader for feminine Tyger rights.
"No, this is ... her name is Rouge." Great God beyond, he didn't even believe his own words. He knew it was a pet name used by her family, she'd told him that.
Clearly, Grey didn't believe his protest either. He waited in silence.
"Fuck me," Chaz muttered. "Roxie Fellura. Well, even if she had told me her last name, Fellura is such a common name here ... I never put two and two together." And why would he? Why in the galaxy would he ever expect a female who'd hated him without even knowing him, to agree to shift mate with him?
Unless... she had an ulterior motive for being here. His blood chilled. Had Burl and Ives thought to scan her for spybot holocams?
"One wonders how she ended up in your mating lair," Grey asked.
"What? Oh, Burl and Ives found her for me," Chaz muttered, staring at nothing. Tygress, what if Roxie was really here to do a sleazy, tell all expose? That was a story the paps would go into a bidding frenzy over. 'I was Chaz Jaguari's shift mate. Exclusive spy-cam holovid included.' Great Tygress. The story would be all over the galaxy in less than a day. And the paparazzi would be after him like starving catamounts.
Gray snorted. "Burl and Ives? I wouldn't trust those two crazy cats to find a pair of socks for me, much less a mating partner."
"They're my cousins," Chaz said, heat rising up his throat. He knew the two were a bit rough around the edges, but he liked to help his family where he could, and God knew, keeping the two busy meant keeping them—more or less—out of mischief, which his family appreciated.
"You'd do better to keep them on planet, preferably somewhere the media can't find them."
"Seriously? Is there any such place?" Chaz thought he'd found it here, in this suite. Turned out he was more wrong than he could believe. And the more he thought about, the angrier he became. At himself for being duped, but mostly at her, for pretending to want him while she schemed to make credit off him.
"Probably not," Gray sighed. "But at least don't let them put you in situations like this. And now we've got to figure out how to get you out of this without damage."
Chaz straightened, his jaw set, and a dangerous light in his eyes to match the fire in his chest.
"Don't worry about it. I'll get rid of her." He'd have to toss some credit her way, the way he had so many other females since he became a star.
But first, he was going to have his revenge.
To think he'd actually wanted to continue with her. Tygress, how many times did he have to be taken in by the females in her family before he learned his lesson?
Seven
Roxie woke up with a start when a length of lii silk whispered down over her eyes. "What?" she mumbled, lifting up onto her elbows in the bed. "Charlie?"
She winced as her head bumped into something—Charlie's knuckles. "Wait, what are you doing? Is that a blindfold?"
She felt his warmth at her back, his hand in her hair. "Mm-hmm," he murmured, stroking his hand down over her bare back, and her ass. His hands were warm and strong, but they felt... different, smoother.
She opened her mouth to ask him why. Instead, she yelped as a smack landed on her bare ass, a sharp little sting. He smacked her again, and she rolled away from him, lifting her hands to take away the blindfold. "Hey! What game are we playing here, Tyger?"
"Don't take the blindfold off," he coaxed, his voice like velvet in her ear. "You look so...vulnerable. So sexy."
Roxie smiled hesitantly, reaching for him. But he'd moved away. The bed moved as he sank onto the foot. The distance between them stretched into an expanse that was somehow chilly with uncertainty, despite the humid warmth of the suite.
"Wh—what do you want me to do?" she asked, pulling surreptitiously at the bed-covers. They didn't move, trapped under Charlie's weight. Instead, she shook her hair forward over her breasts, and drew up her knees.
"Don't hide from me," he said, his voice winding around her like a velvet rope. "After all we've been through together, you trust me, don't you, my Rouge?"
She flushed, and bit her lower lip. "I... yes. Yes, I trust you, Charlie." And it was true. She did. They'd entered this room as strangers only a couple of days ago, but now...everything had changed. He'd shown her how to revel in her body, her sexuality. How to truly take what she wanted.
She smiled shyly at him.
He was silent for a moment, and she cocked her head. "So...?" she murmured. "Tell me about your new game."
Chaz gazed at her, at his current shift mate, sitting relaxed and trusting in the huge bed. A golden-skinned, brunette-maned Tygress who had blossomed in his arms, helping him through the madness of mating shift with her soft embrace and peppery words. Could she really be faking her emotions, her attraction to him?
Surely everything that had happened between them was much, much more than a chance to get close to him, then use him.
Then he remembered Gray's certainty, and he remembered all the other women before her, who had been intent on using him. And Roxie's cousin, who he'd thought was young and innocent... but who turned out to be a hellcat in disguise
He narrowed his eyes, swallowing the hiss that swelled in his throat. No, he'd chosen a path, now he'd stay the course.
"You're so lovely," he told her, infusing his voice with the beguiling note that drew his fans like Tygers to nip in full bloom. "You know what I want? I want to watch you touch yourself. I want to see your pleasure, my beautiful Rouge. Touch yourself the way you do when no one is watching... when you're alone in the dark, no male in sight."
She blushed even more rosily, a tide that fell over her face, throat and the tops of her breasts. But then she tossed her head, her hair falling over her shoulders, and leaned back in the pillows.
"All right, Charlie." One arm behind her head, she stroked the other hand down over her breasts. She paused to play her nipples, stroking them in turn, then pinching and rolling them between her fingers.
Chaz' mouth went dry, and his cock stiffened in his knit lounge pants. Then he remembered his holo-com, and brushed the control.
"So hot," he told her. "I'm wishing those were my hands, my mouth on those pretty nips right now, tyger pussy."
She writhed a little, her breath coming faster through parted lips. "So do I, Charlie. Sure you won't change your mind?"
He clenched his fist on his thigh. "Later, puss. Now touch yourself where you really want to."
"For you," she breathed, and stroked her hand between her thighs, covering the tiny triangle of dark curls. Her fingers slid through the damp, peach flesh between her thighs, and found her clit. "For you," she mewled, and her body arched, quivering under her own touch.
"So swiftly," he muttered. His cock was hard as cerametal, his balls drawn up tight in lust, and his mouth watered to taste her one more time, there where she was sweet and musky.
He c
losed his eyes, taking a hard breath, and remembered what she'd done, and what she no doubt planned to do presently. Gray had fabulous instincts, and was rarely wrong about people. If he said she was out for blood or money, Chaz believed him.
He opened his eyes, and gazed coldly at her. "You can take the blindfold off now."
She fumbled with the silk, pushed it up and then brushed back her tangle of curls. She smiled again, shyly, and her mouth opened to say something.
Then she saw him, and froze.
As he watched, her eyes grew huge with horror, and her face paled until she was chalk-white under her natural tan. She whispered something he couldn't hear.
He couldn't hear it through the snarling in his head. He didn't wait, couldn't wait for her to speak again.
"Thanks, Roxie," he drawled. "That should play well on YouVid."
She gasped, and then shrank into herself, hiding behind the inadequate barrier of her slender arms and hands. Staring at him as if he had morphed into a monster, ready to leap at her throat. Which part of him seemed to have done, although he didn't want to rip out her throat, he wanted to hold her and plunder her mouth and pussy, punish her with his lust, his fury.
But since his shift had abated, leaving him once again a civilized being, instead a lust-driven beast, he used his voice as a weapon instead.
"We're through here. You wanted nothing from me, isn't that what you said? Except another of those ugly uniforms—consider that paid for in full. Small recompense for all the times you let me fuck you."
She shook her head, and finally spoke. "No. Why—why are you doing this?"
He snorted. "As if you didn't know. Just thought you'd like to know what it feels like to be the object of scorn on your home planet. My holovideo ought to do it, don't you think?"
He wouldn't do it, he'd never do something like that to a female, but she didn't need to know that quite yet.
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