“We’re not fated mates, Roman. There’s a lot about me that you don’t understand. I’m flattered by you pursuing me, really I am. But I’m not the one for you. Please leave me alone now.”
“Leave you alone – are you sure? You don’t look like you want me to leave you alone,” he said, in a low, purring voice. He took a step closer, and she took a step back, but not before she’d picked up his smell – a rich, masculine, outdoorsy scent, that seemed to insinuate itself into her nostrils. She gazed up at him wordlessly. “You look so sexy, glowing from your workout,” he continued. She shook her head, breaking the tension.
“Please! I’m all hot and sweaty,” she said.
“And that’s very sexy. You’ve got a tiny rivulet of perspiration, right here.” He reached out and touched her clavicle. Her body jolted, as if his finger had scorched her skin. “I would lick it away if we were more intimate with each other.” At his words, a little flame ignited deep inside her. Her clit tingled and she felt a shiver as her nipples hardened. She was glad they were hidden by the industrial-strength sports bra she was wearing. She’d never heard such a seductive voice before. It was soft, and low, with a smooth hypnotic resonance. If I don’t snap out of it, he could probably strip me naked right here without me protesting, she thought. God! That was perilously close to being her ultimate fantasy.
He took another half-step closer.
“I would love to get to know you better, Kristin. To be intimate with our minds as well as our bodies. I want to know all about you – how you think and feel; what your passions are.” He was now close enough to kiss her, something she very badly wanted him to do. This had to stop. She took two big steps back.
“Roman, we’re less compatible than the app thinks,” she said. “You want to have kids and I don’t. And that’s a big problem.” His eyes widened.
“But why? Your body is so ready. And having cubs with my mate is my lifelong dream.”
“And that’s why we’re not mates!” she shouted, her pain coming out as aggression. “I don’t want to have your cubs!”
“Your body is telling me different, Kristin,” he said calmly.
“Telling you how?”
“It’s calling out to me, telling me you need to be impregnated.” Kristin frowned.
“Uh, that’s unlikely.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m probably infertile, Roman!” she said. It was his turn to look confused.
“No you’re not,” he said.
“I don’t know for sure, but I probably am. I have a condition that makes it pretty likely.”
“Kristin, you’re fertile,” he said simply.
“And you know that, how?”
“Your scent, of course. You’re actually very fertile; ripe to conceive. I picked that up the first time I scented you, and, to be honest, it’s been driving me wild ever since.” Kristin’s mouth fell open a little.
“But how is that possible?” she said, after a long silence. He gave her an indulgent smile.
“It’s like you knowing that the sky is blue, or that my eyes are green. It’s right there in front of me – an incredible scent that’s as real to me as that tree over there is to you!”
“But – ” she stammered. Her head was spinning. There was a tree stump nearby and she walked over and sat on it. Roman followed her and crouched down next to her, his dazzling eyes regarding her closely.
“The truth is, I’ve always wanted kids. But I’ve also been told by doctors that it was 80-90% likely that it wasn’t going to happen. I’ve spent the last few years trying to accept that.”
“So you fall into the lucky 10%,” he said.
“Are you sure?” she murmured.
“Yes I am. Like all animals, knowing which females are fertile is an instinct that is part of our DNA.” He moved closer, his mouth an inch from her ear. “Do you have any idea how fertile we tigers are?” he growled. Kristin shivered. Oh god! His voice, his smell, everything about him was turning her into a quivering mess. There was an ache between her thighs that she was trying hard to ignore.
“What if you’re mistaken?” she said. “What if you’re not as great at sniffing out fertility as you think you are?”
“My tiger isn’t wrong,” he said. “You don’t understand how hard it is to control it right now. It’s inciting me to mate with you, to take you right here, in the forest. It wants me to rip your clothes off and claim you as my own, to make you pregnant, right here, right now.” Kristin gasped. There was something so wrong, yet so right about this stranger saying these things to her, while they were alone together, deep in the woods. A more tender look came into Roman’s eyes. “That’s my tiger; it’s a simple beast. I, of course, want to talk to you for hours, go on dates, spend time learning all about each other. And that’s why the two sides of me complement each other so well,” he finished, with a half smile. As he gazed at her, the fire returned to his eyes. He was so close, crouching at her feet, and she felt desire, like electricity, leaping in the air between them. She ached to feel his lips on hers, his hands on her body.
But she was also aware of how much she needed a shower. And how thirsty she was. She hadn’t carried water as she’d only planned on being out for 45 minutes or so, and she longed for the bottle she’d left in the car. She ran the tip of her tongue across her lips.
“You’re thirsty. Of course,” he said. “I’m sorry to have kept you out here.”
“No, don’t be sorry. But I do need to get back to the car now,” she said, standing up. She looked at the workout app. The parking lot was now 1.2 miles away.
“Did you park by the north-east entrance?” he asked. She nodded.
“Me too!” he said. “How would you feel about me accompanying you?”
“I’d feel pretty good,” she said, with a smile. “But I need to go slow; I’m all run out.”
“That was my fault,” he said, as they began walking together. “I’m sure you weren’t expecting to be startled by a tiger when you set out for your afternoon hike today.” She laughed.
“Nope.” She tapped her app again. “But that was my best time ever for a five mile hike. In fact, the last two miles were faster than my 3000 meter track race record!”
“You do track?”
“I used to. Back in college. I used to love mid-distance races.”
“You’re really fast for a human,” he said, then paused. “Sorry, did that sound bad?”
“No. Guys are faster than women, and tiger shifters are faster than all of us, I guess,” Kristin replied cheerfully. “I won’t pretend it’s not frustrating though.”
“We should run together sometime,” he said. She threw him a glance, eyebrow raised.
“Uh, the only time I run these days is when I’ve got a tiger on my tail. And I’m not keen on repeating that experience!”
“Why don’t you run anymore?”
“It’s hard on my body,” she said, evasively. It was true – it was super uncomfortable for her boobs and hard on her joints, and she felt heavy and ungainly.
“How about a hike then?” he said.
“Maybe, but only if you stay in your human form.”
“Ok, deal,” he said with a smirk.
“It’s quite ironic actually,” she said.
“What is?”
“Well, I usually head out right from my apartment. But today, because I wanted to make sure that you didn’t pick up my scent and come after me, I drove all the way out here. And here you are!” Roman threw his head back and laughed.
“Isn’t that the very nature of destiny?” he said. “When your future is fated, whatever action you take to avoid it will bring you right back to where you’re supposed to be?” Kristin sucked in her lips and looked at him sideways. He did have a point.
She was struck by how much she was enjoying chatting with him. It felt very natural, as if they’d known each other for years. But, on the other hand, she was lightheaded with the strength of the desire she felt
for him.
“Am I the first shifter you’ve met, Kristin?” he asked.
“If you mean dating-wise: yes. I’m new to the site. But I was introduced to it by my two best friends, and they’re both with bears.”
“And you didn’t fancy a bear for yourself?”
“No, I – I see myself with a different kind of guy – ” She stopped, and their eyes met. Her throat tightened and she felt weak.
“What kind of guy?” Roman asked quietly.
“Someone intelligent, arty, kind-hearted, athletic, fierce, and opinionated,” she said. He didn’t need to say anything in return. They were things the app already knew, which was how it had picked them out as a perfect match.
By now, they were back at the parking lot. Kristin ran to her car, took out her water bottle and drank almost an entire quart straight down. Roman hung back, giving her space.
“Better?” he said, as she turned back to him.
“Yes, much.” She hesitated, knowing it was up to her to decide the next move.
“I need a little time, Roman,” she said, at last. She was about to say something vague, but then she stopped herself. Roman’s words were so raw, so honest and unadorned, stripped of the empty phrases that humans used to conceal their true feelings from one another. She owed him the same. “I am attracted to you, and I feel sure we’d be great together. It’s just that what you’ve told me today has been a big shock; a nice one, of course. But I just need time to adjust, to think things over. Is that ok?”
Roman smiled and lifted his hands.
“It’s very ok, Kristin. This is a great development from how you felt earlier. Please take all the time you need. And when you’re ready, you know where to find me.” He leaned towards her and kissed her lightly, just below her left cheekbone, his lips soft and moist on her skin. He walked towards his car. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to follow you home either – I’ve got an errand to run downtown,” he said. Kristin managed to wave acknowledgement, and she watched him climb into his car – a sleek European model – and drive away.
After he’d gone, she stood there a while longer, touching her cheek where he’d kissed it. The skin seemed to be tingling, as did the hand he’d shaken, and the delicate skin just beneath her collarbone, that he’d touched with just a fingertip.
It was almost dark now. She wasn’t surprised; they’d been out in the woods together for hours. She got into her car and drove home.
After she’d had a long, hot shower, Kristin stretched her muscles so they didn’t seize up from the hardest run she’d done, ever. Then she had a quick meal, and lay down on her bed. She was beat. Hangover, plus Bloody Mary for lunch, plus unexpected run, plus… Roman. Every part of her burned for him. Her heart told her, loud and clear, that this was the guy for her. But there was still that part of her that couldn’t believe it was true. She hadn’t had an easy time in her twenties and early thirties, and she’d stopped expecting things to go her way a long time ago. She thought back over the day. Her conversation with Tamika was still suspended in her mind, unresolved. She looked at her phone. It wasn’t too late to call. She dialed her number.
“No, of course you’re not disturbing me, darling!” Tamika said in her throaty voice, with its clipped English vowels. “I’ve just got the pups to bed, and I’ve got Kyle doing some techno-geekery on my app for me, so I’m all yours.” Kristin felt a pang at the depiction of their cozy family life, but she brushed it aside.
“I met Roman today,” she said. “Well, bumped into him actually. I was out walking in the forest, and he was up a tree.” Tamika gasped.
“You saw him as a tiger?” she exclaimed. “How wonderful! People say that if you see your mate in their animal form before you get together, it makes things extra hot when you mate for the first time!”
“I don’t doubt that,” Kristin said, with a nervous giggle. “I felt a crazily intense connection with him when we spoke, human to human. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
“That’s because you’re a perfect match, dear!” Tamika replied.
“You knew, didn’t you? When I told you that he’d scented me, you knew that he would know in an instant whether I was fertile or not. That’s why you asked me if he’d contacted me after that?” Tamika laughed, a light tinkling sound.
“Yes, dear, I did. But I didn’t want to spoil the surprise for you.”
“So – it’s true? There’s no chance that Roman could be wrong?” Kristin asked anxiously.
“Not in my experience, and I do know plenty of shifter-human couples. Kyle knows everything about my cycle – he can pinpoint when I’m ovulating. He even says he knows when I have one of those freaky months when I miss an ovulation. It was a little disturbing at first, but I trust him to know when he’s in danger of getting me pregnant, and we only have two pups. And our love life’s not lacking at all, believe me!” she finished, with a dirty laugh.
Kristin let out a long breath. This was the first good news she’d heard about her body in a very long time. It was almost too much to take in. She realized distractedly that her cheeks were damp with tears.
“Shall I go shopping for a wedding outfit?” Tamika said, breaking into her thoughts. Kristin laughed.
“We haven’t even kissed yet!” she said.
“Well, get on with it, dear! Your future awaits!”
“Thank you, Tamika, for everything,” Kristin said.
“Of course, darling. I’m always here for you!” Tamika replied, and they said goodnight to each other.
Kristin lay there for a while, stroking her soft belly. She’d hated this part of her body so much, for so long. But was it capable of nurturing babies – cubs – Roman’s cubs? The thought was incredible to her.
She was so relaxed and sleepy that she didn’t even manage to get herself ready for bed. It was all she could do to pull both sides of the comforter over herself, before she fell into a long, deep sleep.
5
The following evening, Kristin finished her three-way internet call with Dina and Lauren and stepped out of her apartment. They’d just given her the pep talk of her life, reminding her how smart and beautiful and sexy she was. And, right now, she almost believed them. She was wearing a black, cotton jersey wrap dress with a low neckline, and olive-green high-heeled pumps. Her long red hair was up in a chignon, and she wore light eye make-up and a slick of rose-hued lip-gloss. She carried a small purse, containing only her keys, phone and pocketbook.
She turned left onto the sidewalk, and strode along the street until she reached Roman’s apartment block. There was a pretty garden in front of the building, with two benches on either side of a little rockery. She sat down on one of the benches and waited. The light evening breeze lifted the skirt of her dress, reminding her that she was little more than half-naked, and it drove her pent-up arousal, chasing ghosts of fantasies through her mind.
Five minutes passed. She planned to wait fifteen. If he wasn’t home, well, she’d come back another time. Six minutes passed, then seven. Suddenly, a tall, well-built guy burst out of the front door and sprinted in her direction.
“Kristin!” Roman shouted, coming up close to her. She stood up and he lightly touched her shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. He looked adorably damp and tousled. “I was just in the shower. Have you been here long?”
“No,” she said, with a grin.
“You look so beautiful,” he said, gazing at her with wonder in his eyes. “Please tell me you came to invite me for a drink?”
“I did,” she said.
“Great! There’s this little bar, right around the corner, a couple of blocks away. It does a great martini. We could go get a table in the little outdoor area, hang out for a while – ” He broke off, looking at her with such intensity. “I want to kiss you so badly right now,” he whispered. As if hypnotized by his glowing green stare, Kristin took a small step forward. Roman dipped his head towards hers, and their lips met. Wow. His lips were incredibly soft and full. Kr
istin restrained a sigh of pleasure, but a small sound, like a purr escaped his lips, and he began to kiss her deeply, taking her breath away. She kissed him back, savoring the overwhelming sensations. She was lightheaded and tingling all over. His hand went to the back of her neck, lightly stroking the skin just below her hairline, while his other arm curved around her waist. He was a great kisser, his mouth soft and searching, and the tip of his tongue skillfully seeking out hers. The arousal that had been bubbling inside her all day long rose to the surface, making her nipples harden and push against the lace of her bra, and her clit burn for his touch.
After what felt like a long time, he drew back and looked into her eyes.
“Oh, Kristin, I feel like I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment,” he said. “You’re my mate. I knew it before, but now we’ve kissed, I’m more certain than ever. I felt like our bodies were melding into one, the bond between us beginning to be formed.”
“I think I know what you mean,” she breathed. “I know I’ve never had a kiss like that before.” She stopped, overcome with emotion. He reached out and touched her face, running a finger along her cheekbone, her jawline. She shivered. It was unspeakably erotic.
Just then, a couple walked past them, heading in the direction of the road. Roman shook his head, as if he was forcing himself back into reality.
“I’m sorry. I’m probably coming on way too strong, out here in front of my apartment,” he said, with an embarrassed laugh. “Shall we go to the bar?” Kristin bit her lip. She imagined sitting at a table with him, politely talking about their lives, when all the time desire would be running through her body like fire.
“I – I think I’d rather go into your apartment,” she said, looking at him levelly. Delight flashed though Roman’s eyes.
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