Tiger Born

by Tressie Lockwood

  “Did you talk to Heath about it?”

  What was with him bringing up Heath all the time? If Jake weren’t human, she’d have thought he sensed things weren’t right between her and her man. The problem wasn’t that he was gay either because she’d seen Jake checking out her cleavage more than once. He’d never overstepped his bounds, so she let him look. As far as she was concerned, Jake was her only friend in Siberia, a fact that made her miss her old friend Brenda from back home.

  “I can’t talk to him.”

  At Jake’s arrested expression, she rushed to explain. “He’s bummed about the delay in buying a ranch. It wouldn’t be fair to lay my minor issues on him, especially when he got Ward to pull strings in getting me the job. Ugh!”

  “Here, have another drink—on the house.” This time he set a shot of Jäeger on the counter, and she thanked him before downing it in one swallow. The noise level in the bar rose to near deafening, and she turned to see what all the fuss was about. A woman had come in that Deja had spotted only from a distance before. Big breasts and long legs, she commanded attention. Almost every man in the place stumbled over each other to get nearer to her. This was the kind of woman who should bring a girlfriend to beat off the losers, but she’d come in alone and took to the dance floor right away. Her gyrating hips drew the opposite sex in droves, all drooling with hunger. Deja turned up her lips in disgust.

  “Who is that?”

  “An unattached female, which is dangerous around here,” Jake explained.

  “So she doesn’t have a boyfriend?”

  “Nope.” Jake poured two beers from the tap and slid them down the bar. The receiver slapped bills on the counter, grabbed the glasses, and rushed over to the woman to hold one out to her. She flipped her long blonde hair in his face and continued to dance. Stupid. Deja rolled her eyes.

  “Of course she won’t choose just one guy with that kind of attention.” She glanced at her friend. “How come you know so much about her?”

  He shrugged. “Everyone comes in here, and everyone talks.”

  For a while, Deja watched the woman as she sipped on another beer. The woman was a cut above Candi Stapleton, the skank from her and Heath’s hometown. Candi had been stupid, but when this female shifter scanned the men in front of her offering alcohol and asking her to dance, Deja saw the light of intelligence in her eyes. Instant dislike tightened the muscles in her stomach, and she turned away. In the next second, she stiffened. Beneath the familiar odors of alcohol, sawdust, and sweat, she picked up a subtle hint of Heath. Any minute and he would walk through the door.

  She drained the last of her beer, stood up, and hoisted herself to lean over the bar. After kissing Jake’s cheek, she grinned at him. “I gotta go. Don’t let these fools mess with you. If they do, you tell me, and I will kick their asses.”

  A couple of the idiots raised their glasses to her, and she rolled her eyes and headed for the door. Out on the street, just as she’d known, Heath was there, and she approached him. “What are you doing here?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I was looking for you. Why shouldn’t I?”

  Not bothering to answer his question, she linked her arm with his and turned him around. “Let’s go home.”

  They strolled in silence, communication lately strained. A few days ago, they had moved into their new home, but Deja was feeling like it was anything but a home. Heath worked all the time, and when he returned, they could hardly put together two words over the dinner table. Still, they were drawn to each other, or at least she knew she craved the sight of him. Despite the job, her days were long and arduous when she didn’t see Heath. Looking into his eyes and the way he touched her at night, she believed he felt the same. As far as she was concerned, it wasn’t enough.

  Turning into the drive that led to their rancher home, she sighed, and Heath spoke at last when they stepped out. “I can buy you a car. You know money isn’t an issue. Tate left me with plenty. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll have someone pick it up and deliver it to you.”

  She ground her teeth. “I don’t need you to buy me a car.”

  He stopped walking and faced her. “Deja, don’t you think I can sense when you’re not happy?”

  “Yeah, and you don’t give a damn!”

  “That’s not true.”

  She started to walk off, but he grasped her wrist and jerked her back. She stumbled into his chest, breath caught tight in her own. “It’s late, Heath.”

  “You were avoiding me tonight. Didn’t even leave me a note to where you were going. I found dinner cold in the microwave.”

  She glared at him and tried pulling away, but it didn’t work. “At least I cooked.”

  “Meaning I don’t deserve it?”

  “Let me go.”

  “No.”

  “That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it? No discussion. Just whatever you say.”

  “Damn it, we’ve had this discussion, Deja! There’s no use going over and over it.”

  “I’m sick of this!”

  He fell silent staring at her. Deja turned her head and looked off down the drive. There was nothing to see other than trees and darkness. Heath and Ward had chosen the spot to build their house. Heath took her to the land before construction started on three acres, telling her if she didn’t like it, they could choose another spot. He’d thought she would like being close to his father and stepmother. Ward lived two miles down the road. At the time, she had no problem with it, but this was one more decision he’d made without consulting her first. She felt like after he woke to the tiger inside, every day he became more and more not like the Heath I knew and loved.

  Heath released her and walked ahead into the house. She followed slowly. Not that she didn’t love their home because she did. He’d listened to every suggestion and designed the house the way she wanted. Three bedrooms, an office and a den, the house didn’t waste space, but it didn’t skimp on it either. Her kitchen was a huge eat-in affair with a middle island. Along the back wall facing the trees was an alcove with floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a great view of the backyard. She’d set up a table and chairs there for their early morning breakfasts together—something that hadn’t yet taken place.

  She found him in the kitchen standing before his plate of uneaten food. He picked it up and walked over to scrape it into the trash, and Deja clenched her fists at her sides. “If you didn’t like it—”

  “What are you sick of, Deja? This house or our relationship?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “You threw away the food to get back at me because you think I was saying I’m sick of you?”

  A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Let’s not play games.”

  “Yeah, let’s not.” She folded her arms under her breasts and shifted all her weight into one leg. “You’re hardly home. I get that you are adjusting to working with Ward, and I get that this whole being responsible for so many people is a lot to get used to, especially when you didn’t ask for it. At the same time you’re dealing with all the crazy emotions from waking up to the tiger.”

  “If you understand—”

  “I don’t understand pushing me away in the meantime.”

  “I’m not pushing you away. You’re my mate.”

  She sneered. “Mate! Meaning you’re with me because you feel like you don’t have a choice. We said we were mated like we knew what we were talking about, and others confirmed it. Sometimes I think…”

  His eyes narrowed. “What?”

  I forced you into it. I followed you, and now you don’t want to make a commitment that means forever.

  “I think we need a break. I’m going to spend a few nights at your parents’ house.” She turned to leave the room, but he crossed the kitchen in two strides to grab her arm. “Stop it, Heath. Are you going to force me to stay? You can’t pretend we don’t have problems. I admit I’m not as strong as you are, but if you make me stay tonight, I promise you I’m going to be gone tomorrow morning.”

&
nbsp; His fingers went slack. She waited a beat to see if he would declare his love, beg her to stay, or just hold her as if he didn’t want her to go. “I’m not stopping you. Do whatever you want.”

  The words were spoken with such coldness that pain engulfed her heart and threatened to crush the life from it. She blinked hard and spun away before he could see tears fall. No matter what she said, he’d hardened his heart. Everybody was wrong. They weren’t mates at all. Maybe that mate bullshit didn’t exist. At least it didn’t for her, and now she could just move on. Fine, no problem at all!

  * * * *

  A streak of lightning lit the sky outside Heath’s bedroom window, followed by a crack of thunder. Sheets of rain poured as he watched it all. None of it calmed his raging desire, and all he could think about was Deja—her smooth, cocoa skin, her scent, and the way she mewled in pleasure when he took her. He grunted and sat up on the side of the bed. His cock hung stiff and ready, throbbing and driving him insane. Stroking the length or squeezing it only thrust his need higher.

  Fuck!

  Why did she have to leave him? She couldn’t seriously believe he didn’t want her. She had to know she, and she alone, was his entire world. Sure, they had their problems, and she was right, he had a hard time juggling everything lately, but all he needed was time. A little more time, and it would all work out.

  He ran his hand over his cock, stroking it from base to tip. Maybe if he beat out an orgasm he could relax and get some sleep. He shut his eyes and brought up her image—thick, sexy thighs wrapped around his waist, pussy open to him all wet and inviting. A groan escaped as he pumped, and he shoved forward, somehow expecting to feel his shaft sink into that hot, tight box he loved. Empty space brought him back to reality. She wasn’t there, and he worried his stubborn little minx wouldn’t return until he gave her what she wanted.

  Staggering on his feet, he worked his way out of the bedroom and paused, leaning on the wall. Frustration sent his fist through the plaster, and a growl ripped from his throat. She should be here under me, damn it!

  “Deja.”

  He fell against the wall beside the hole he’d made and took hold of his cock again, the pain and need becoming unbearable. An odd sound reached his ears, and it took a full minute before he identified it as his claws tearing at the paint on the other side of him. He drew in a deep breath and swiped at the moisture collecting over his top lip. Now he even fantasized that he smelled her. Sweet like honeysuckle, intoxicating to the point of losing himself in her.

  When her essence increased rather than receded, he knew he wasn’t imagining things. Deja was close. Heath shoved off the wall and stalked down the hall toward the front of the house. With each step, the tiger inside grew more restless, desperate to break free of its bounds. Heath’s control hung by a thread as he wrenched the front door wide. There she stood, in the rain, soaking wet. Her hair hung plastered to her face and neck, nightgown clinging to soft curves. He racked her figure from head to foot, noting the wide eyes, trembling hands, and bare feet.

  “Come here,” he growled in a tone scarcely human.

  She seemed to float on tiptoe, up the drive, across the threshold, and swayed before him. He slammed the door behind her and didn’t think twice. He put a hand to her neck and pushed her backward. She banged against the doorjamb, and he raised her nightgown, thrust aside her panties, and drove his cock as deep into her pussy as he could. She cried out in surprise, but a beat after, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Heath ground hard into her heat and claimed her hot mouth at the same time. He forced her lips apart and pushed his tongue into her mouth. She moaned piteously, but he didn’t pause in taking what was his to take. Over and over, he ravished her small, sexy body, grinding into her until his head spun and his cock pulsated.

  She came shaking and crying, but it wasn’t enough. He held her against him while he carried her to the couch and lay on top of her. While the wind and rain whipped outside, he pounded into Deja, the slap of their bodies meeting with the violence of the storm driving his passion higher. He leaned back just enough to grab hold of the neckline of her nightgown, and he ripped it downward. When a small, perfect breast came into view, he seized upon the nipple and sucked hard. She screamed and arched her back. Heath released the bud only to nip it between his teeth. Deja squirmed, and he felt the tremor in her thighs, which meant he’d brought her to a second orgasm.

  “More,” he grumbled and rose up to thrust her facedown. He hiked her hips so that her ass curved toward him. For a second, he stared at it, and then he spanked her hard. She whimpered. He smacked the smooth, dark skin again and shoved her thighs apart. With an easy, controlled movement, he slipped his dick into her pussy. The push of her sweet ass into his groin tugged a growl from him. He placed hands on either side of her hips and ground inside her. She cried out his name, scratching at the pillows beneath her.

  “Say it again,” he demanded.

  “Heath.”

  “Again!”

  His steady plunges were rougher than they had been before, but he couldn’t stop. Not when he drew close to an orgasm, which he knew would rival any previous ones. Not when she’d denied him for what felt like years. He punished and rewarded her at the same time. Her thick come soaking his cock and the tops of her thighs told a story of its own, so he wouldn’t back off, not now. Not ever!

  Heath rolled over to a sitting position, taking Deja with him. He bounced her on his lap, at the same time pushing upward. She held onto his knees, gasping for breath. “Fuck,” he shouted and wrapped an arm around her waist. Bringing her down one final time, he slammed deep and held there. His dick pulsed, and then come exploded out into her channel. He howled through his release until the spasms faded away, but the fire didn’t ebb. He’d only just begun.

  Standing with her wedged against him, he started toward the bedroom. Her tiny exclamation told him she’d spotted the damage he’d done to the wall, but he kept going and kicked the bedroom door shut. Once he dropped her onto the bed, he destroyed what was left of her nightgown and left it in pieces on the floor. Her panties now soaked with their combined fluids hid her pretty pussy from him and brought about his anger. He reached for them, but she held up her hand.

  “I like these. Don’t tear them.”

  He watched her slip the panties over her hips and push them down her thighs. Raw desire licked at his belly, and his softening cock grew rigid once again. Damn it all, she was beautiful, and she had to know it, had to see how being separated from her drove him to the brink of madness. Yet, maybe that’s all this was about. He wasn’t the same man he was months ago, before Tate died, the man he’d known as his father. Deja had been his best friend, and of course he loved her. Now, though, with his inner tiger awakened, he saw everything in black and white to a certain extent. He craved Deja, so he had to have her. He had to take her.

  With the panties on the floor, he put a hand out, tangled fingers in her hair, and tugged her forward and then pushed her to her knees. “Suck my cock.”

  Annoyance flashed in the big brown eyes, and he waited for her to disobey him. He wondered what he would do if she did. Force her? He released her hair and caressed the soft skin at her cheek. Her lips parted, and his shaft twitched in anticipation. Beautiful, thick lips surrounded his member, and his breath left his mouth in a hiss. Fuck, yes!

  She took him throat-deep and sucked hard on the tip each time she pulled back. He pumped into her mouth, lost in the pleasure but unable to take his eyes off her movements. “Oh, yeah, baby, take it all. Suck me, Deja.”

  A small moan surfaced in her throat, and he felt the vibrations against his cock. If he wasn’t careful, he’d let go, but that wasn’t acceptable. He needed to get inside her again. Pushing her back until she released him, he pointed to the bed. “Get up there.”

  She scooted back onto the bed, not saying a word. Heath climbed up after her and turned her so she lay on her side, knees pulled up to her belly. He ran a hand over her back, bent down and k
issed the sweet-smelling skin. While she watched, he traced a hand along her curves until he reached her ass. He kissed the rounded curve and pushed the cheeks apart. Her anus opened to him, and he groaned at the ache in his cock. A thumb massaging that tight little hole brought a satisfactory moan from her, and he grinned behind her. Mine!

  The beast strove inside him to claim her as he’d done many times before. His human side held back. Why should he feel conflicted? Deja was his girlfriend. If he asked her, she might even come back home without him changing his mind about kids. In many ways, she was naive. She couldn’t understand the dangers, and he would do all he could to keep her from the harsh realities of what they faced. Kids would bring that to the foreground. No matter how much he wanted to please her, he could not give in. The only option left was to seduce her, to force her to see things his way and accept their life as it stood.

  He stuck a finger in his mouth to wet it and rubbed it across her rear entrance. Deja whimpered and wiggled her hips. Her ass rose higher, and he leaned down to kiss her cheeks while pushing a finger past her barrier. She scratched at the sheets moaning and pleading. Heath worked his digit deeper and added another. Gently, he worked her hole while kissing her back and wrapping an arm around her waist. A hand in the front and one in the back, he brought her to a screaming orgasm. By the time she calmed down, he was ready to burst and slid to the middle of the bed. Lying on his back, he indicated to her what he wanted. She climbed atop him to straddle his hips facing away from him. He didn’t help her, but rather enjoyed the sight of her ass rising as she guided his cock into her pussy.

  “Ride it, Deja,” he muttered in low tones. She started out taking her time, coming down all the way until he filled her to the hilt, and then arching up so he slid out. “Faster!”

  She bounced, and he grabbed her hips to steady her. He couldn’t help himself. He had to push. Digging into her sides with a firm grip, he pounded against her ass. He never took his eyes off the sight of their bodies coming together hard and fast. The slapping of their skin, the scent of their mingled juices drove him to the brink. He gritted his teeth and growled his pleasure. Deja arched her back and cried out his name. Her head lolled, and her hold grew slack. He drove as deep as he could and pumped nonstop into her heat. His balls tightened and rose, but he did all he could to hold on a little longer.