Trancing the Tiger (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 1)

by Rachael Slate

  He nudged her through and the door groaned at being roughly shoved. Slamming it behind them with his foot, he whirled her around, bracing her back against the door.

  “Now, I’m going to kiss you.” The warning resounded with a deep rumble in his chest. He didn’t give her a chance to respond as his mouth fell upon hers. Lucy’s sweet lips parted on a gasp, and he took advantage of her surprise to slip his tongue inside. She tasted like nectar, honeyed and luscious. Addictive.

  He hardened instantly. She clutched his shoulders, a feminine whimper escaping her. He gripped her slender throat, holding her steady while he claimed her mouth, unleashing the hunger he’d suppressed since the second he’d first laid eyes on her. Sucking, thrusting, nipping, and delving.

  Once he’d kissed her, she’d damn well know she was his.

  His hips rocked against her soft warmth, his balls drawing up tight as she lifted her leg, cushioning him between her thighs. Fuck, he wanted to fuck her. This instant. Her flaring heat enveloped him, making his cock pulse in near-painful throbs.

  He’d never desired any woman so badly. Never been so tempted by what he couldn’t, shouldn’t have.

  Kissing her, alone, proved a huge mistake.

  The best mistake of his life.

  He released her throat and gripped her plush ass instead, lifting her to better grind against her. Her moans deepened, driving him to the edge.

  He could get off with her. Just like this. Hell, he would, if he didn’t stop soon. So bloody satisfying. Every cell in his body burned for this woman. A passionate inferno that kissing her enraged, rather than pacified.

  Damn, he was lost.

  ***

  Lucy clung to Sheng’s broad shoulders, an anchor in this stormy sea of lust. The last thing she’d anticipated was for him to kiss her. Now that he was, she prayed he’d never stop. He kissed like he fought. Hard. Rough. Demanding. Absolutely every inch of him in command.

  Her panties dampened from the friction of his shaft rubbing against her sex. Could he sense how wet she was? How needy?

  Not a doubt in her mind remained that he was a skilled lover. He moved with far too much purpose to be anything less than masterful in bed.

  Everything I’m not.

  She cringed as her brain reminded her body she’d never done this, while he obviously took women to bed left and right. No way would his hands and mouth be this skilled otherwise.

  Another moan echoed from deep in her throat as his lips left hers in order to seek out the hardened peak of her right breast. A talented swirl of his tongue. A teasing lick and pull. The careful grazing of his teeth.

  Every action of his sealed her theory. Sheng was as sensual as he was strong.

  “Ah, fuck, Lucy.” He ground his hips against hers, pushing the thick ridge of his erection into her core, hindered by the barrier of their clothes.

  Abruptly, he pulled back from her breast, raising his head of thick, silky locks to stare into her eyes. “I want to fuck you. Right here, right now.”

  It was one thing to be caught up in the moment, but for him to stop and pierce her with the decision snapped her back to reality.

  She’d never slept with anyone. First, second, and third base, sure. In fact, she’d spent way too much time at third base, never quite seizing the opportunity to leap over to home.

  His brows drew together. “You’re not a virgin, are you?” The muscles in his throat tightened as his dark gaze bored into hers.

  If she told him the truth, would he stop? The fierce apprehension in his slashed brows warned her… Maybe.

  Don’t say yes, don’t say yes, don’t say—

  “Yes.” She clamped down hard on her mouth, but the word had already slipped out. Crap.

  Sheng sprang backward as though she’d just stamped “undesirable” across her forehead. Like diving from a sauna into an icy lake, cool air condensed around her, shocking her system.

  With a trembling hand, she tugged down the hem of her skirt while he paced ten feet away from her. Each time he cast a glance in her direction, he stopped with an abrupt shake of his head.

  By the light streaming in from the French doors, she discerned the outline of the thick bulge in his pants. He was still aroused and interested, just not in her.

  What the hell?

  “You’re twenty-four.” He shot her an accusatory glare.

  She stiffened. Yeah, a sore point for her as well, but she’d never met anyone worth having sex with…until Sheng. Judging by the glower on his face, that opportunity had flung itself out the window. She crossed her arms defensively. “My reasons are none of your business.” Anger replaced her humiliation. How dare he make her feel lesser because she wasn’t a whore?

  “They damn well are, if I’d been about to—”

  Tension gathered around the words he’d left hanging in the air. She narrowed her gaze on him, but decided it would be better not to hear the end of his sentence. He wasn’t the only one who had a say in this. Pulling herself together, she headed toward her bedroom.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going? We’re not finished.”

  “Oh really?” She spun and smacked straight into his chest. Damn him for being so stealthy. Her fingers curled against his hard pecs, sending more condemned desires spiking through her system. “I’m pretty sure we are.”

  His expression was calm, but even he wasn’t capable of concealing the heavy thudding of his heart beneath her fingertips. He snatched her wrists, extricating her fingers from his chest like he extracted an arrow.

  Like it was excruciating.

  What was he thinking? She licked her lips, her gaze flicking from his mouth—the mouth which had ravished her moments ago—to the indecipherable expression twisting his features.

  The muscle in his jaw ticked from its tight clenching. “Don’t assume that because I stopped, I don’t want you.” His thumbs rubbed tiny circles over her wrists before releasing them.

  Her breath lodged in her throat. What a way to diffuse her anger and leave her dumbfounded.

  Without further explanation, he bent forward, inhaling as he brushed aside her hair, and planted a soft kiss on her neck.

  Two seconds later, he stormed out the door.

  Its slamming echo snapped her back to her senses. She gasped in her fullest breath since he’d started kissing her. Her fingertips grazed along her skin where the heat of his lips lingered. She shook her head. When would she learn? Sheng never conformed to any of her expectations.

  He didn’t just make up the rules. He orchestrated the entire game.

  Leaving Lucy last night had been one of the most difficult decisions Sheng had ever forced himself to make. In no way did it please him…or Tiger.

  A damn virgin.

  Fuck.

  He might not have always lived the most honorable life, but he did have limits. She clung to her virginity for some reason. He didn’t have the right to seize that from her. She didn’t know a damn thing about him. About herself. She might’ve asked for sex last night, but she’d have hated him today.

  Better to anger her, at least until she chose him with her eyes open.

  He drew few lines, but the ones he did, he never crossed. This line? Courtesy of the Matchmaker. He did not need to piss off that bitch any further than he already had. They had a long history together, which mostly consisted of him committing one fuck-up after another.

  He vowed to end the cycle with Lucy.

  Considering she’d be visiting the Matchmaker today, if he had slept with Lucy, there would’ve been hell for him to pay.

  And the Chinese hell—Dìyù—had eighteen bloody levels.

  Frowning at his reflection, he scrubbed a hand along his jaw then lathered shaving cream over his lower face. The razor rasped across his skin; the water swirled away the grime. A clean slate. That’s what he needed with Lucy.

  Virgin.

  Even as he attempted to find himself repelled, to diffuse the temptation, he couldn’t deny the fact th
at her purity fucking delighted him. When he finally did take her to bed, he’d be the first. The only.

  Mine.

  Ah, the beast liked it too. Aroused and pacing the walls of its cage, Tiger hadn’t slept either. The entire night, Sheng had lain awake, fantasizing about taking her, recalling every soft curve of her body. Her intoxicating scent. Her eager, enthusiastic moans.

  She’d be so bloody gratifying in his bed. In his arms.

  Well worth the wait. Or so, at least, he’d tried to assure Tiger.

  He rinsed his blade. First, she had to believe. In him. In her.

  Time to coax Rabbit out.

  ***

  Lucy stepped into the mid-morning air, grimacing as a thick, humid cloud enveloped her. The text from Mei this morning stated to meet them outside, but nothing else. Perspiration condensed on her skin. Her ponytail clung to the back of her neck while her blue camisole and pleated gray skirt melded to her body. Ugh.

  The black car pulling up in front of her was heaven-sent. Air conditioning. The door swung open, and Kassian cast her a grin. “Hop in, Rabbit.”

  His wink told her he found this whole situation humorous. Wish I was in on the joke.

  She scanned the occupants of the car. Kassian held the door, while Mei and Fang occupied the backward-facing seat.

  No Sheng.

  Thank goodness.

  As fast as the tightness eased, it snapped back again, smooshing her insides together. Why wasn’t he here? Did he regret everything they’d said and done last night?

  She crawled in beside Kassian, sighing in relief. The cool air fought back the humidity of the outside. Kassian closed the door and the car jolted as the driver sped off.

  “Where are we going?” By which, she really meant, Is Sheng waiting for me there?

  “To the Matchmaker.” Mei’s brilliant smile shot to Lucy. She lifted and dropped her shoulders. “Exciting.”

  Uh, sure. “Why are we paying this Matchmaker a visit?”

  “She’s the official head of our Kongsi and a member of the Council of Elders. They never make a decision without her.” Kassian shifted his large body to face her.

  “What decision?” She searched each of their faces for answers.

  “About you, of course. Silly.” Mei laughed as she focused on the phone in her hands, her fingers flying across the screen.

  Kassian leaned back, rolling his shoulders. “It’s okay, Lucy. She can help you.”

  “Help me? Help me what?”

  “See.” A shrug from Kassian.

  Fang didn’t contribute to their discussion, but his scrutiny never left her. She recalled Mei’s introduction. How far would he push the boundaries of what he perceived their relationship to be? Could she ever trust someone who was born to be her enemy, like he believed? As they all seemed to believe?

  Even if most of this spirit animal stuff was nonsense.

  The car fell silent, but her agitation heightened. She tapped her foot. After staring out of the window for several minutes, she succumbed to her anxiety. “Where is Sheng?” Surely, they weren’t aware of how she’d almost slept with him so it’d be safe enough to ask.

  The bodies in the car tensed. She examined each of their faces as they traded glances.

  “Li doesn’t really get along with the Matchmaker,” Mei offered.

  “Fuck that. He pissed her off.” Fang finally contributed something. Something very useful.

  She whipped her head toward him. Hopefully, he’d elaborate.

  “He doesn’t want to influence the Matchmaker’s decision so he won’t be there.”

  “Well, not where she can spot him.” Mei snorted, her focus on her wildly typing fingers.

  “What do you mean?” Lucy leaned forward.

  “Roof,” Mei answered distractedly.

  Roof? Sheng planned to eavesdrop from the roof? Lucy shuddered, glad they’d shared that much with her. Being spied on upped her anxiety, but the others didn’t seem fazed. They knew Sheng, his habits. Perhaps they’d share more.

  “How did Sheng piss her off?”

  Silence.

  Kassian shifted beside her. “It’s better for Li to tell his own story.”

  Okay. End of sharing time. As though enforcing the finality of their conversation, the car drew to a halt.

  Kassian climbed out of the car. “We’re here. C’mon, Lucy. You’ll be fine.” He extended his hand and she accepted it as she shuffled out.

  On instinct, her gaze shot to the roof of the massive, red-tiled archival edifice. The building stood four stories tall and the roof sloped steeply. What if Sheng lost his footing and fell? Concern for him froze her muscles.

  Mei snatched her hand, forcing Lucy to march straight ahead and forget her trepidations. Maybe she’d been joking when she’d remarked he’d be on the roof, and Lucy hadn’t picked up on Mei’s dry sarcasm.

  Yes, that must be it.

  They climbed a dozen stone stairs before approaching a vividly painted door. A gilded frame enhanced the bright red paint, and two long, golden handles ran from the top to the bottom.

  No one made a move to knock. The doors opened, groaning beneath their heavy weight.

  Guess they were expected.

  A monk with a shaven head, wearing a bright orange habit, held back the door. Uttering not a word, he waited for them to enter before sealing the door behind them.

  Vow of silence? Perhaps.

  Mei nudged Lucy forward to follow the monk.

  Inside the ornately decorated corridor, her gaze swung back and forth between the lifelike clay statues and paintings hanging in gilded frames. Wisps of incense smoke floated through the air. A warm, woodsy fragrance mingled with the overtones of a sweet floral perfume. Sandalwood, accented by jasmine.

  Kassian placed his hand on the middle of her back, ushering her gently to keep up the pace.

  Time to meet this Matchmaker.

  The monk led them into a grand hall. Seated on an antique sofa, a young woman around Lucy’s age awaited them.

  Her imaginings of an elderly, wrinkled face—with missing teeth and gnarled hands—smashed like glass shattering on a tiled floor.

  The woman was beautiful, like she’d stepped out of a classical Chinese portrait. Her midnight-black hair flowed over her shoulders and down to the middle of her back in long, silken waves. The emerald green traditional Chinese dress she wore accented a sensually-curved figure. Her almond-shaped eyes lifted toward them, revealing smoky lashes and dark, glittering orbs. Ruby-red lips pursed together in appraisal.

  She was stunning.

  Suddenly, Lucy guessed exactly what Sheng had done to make enemies with the Matchmaker.

  Ex-lovers. Her stomach tightened.

  “Psst. C’mon.” Mei prodded Lucy’s side, tugging her forward. “Don’t look at her until she speaks to you.”

  Averting her gaze, Lucy clenched her jaw and forced herself to go through with the formalities. This meeting had piqued her curiosity. If this woman controlled the membership of the Kongsi, then Lucy wanted to be on the inside. For the first time in months, she felt like she belonged somewhere. Like she might have a family again, a purpose.

  Heels clacked on the marble, echoing upward, reminding her of Sheng’s supposed presence on the roof. Did the Matchmaker suspect?

  “Welcome.” Pointy, three-inch black heels paused in front of her. “Would you care for a cup of tea?”

  “No, I’m fine, thank y—oomph!” She sent a glare to Mei, who’d elbowed her in the gut. Mei rolled her eyes in response. Oh, right. It was considered extremely rude to refuse. “Why, yes please.” Lucy lifted her head, dismay overwhelming her as her gaze wandered upward. Yep, the woman was gorgeous.

  “Well, look at you.” One thin, dark brow arched while the Matchmaker’s hand settled on her hip. With her other hand, she crooked her fingers, urging Lucy closer.

  She complied, both curious and anxious for this to be over.

  The Matchmaker leaned forward and cupped Lucy’s
chin, tilting her face this way and that.

  The gesture shocked the indignation from her. No one had mentioned being examined like cattle. She hoped this woman didn’t actually intend to auction her off. The pressure to marry had been bad enough from her parents. Did her uncle have his hand in this? Her skin prickled while the Matchmaker circled, lifting Lucy’s arms and prodding her side. Finally coming to rest in front again, she tucked a lock of Lucy’s hair behind her ear.

  “Aha. That is where you are hiding, tùzi.”

  Rabbit?

  The woman might not have meant to sound condescending, but every bone in Lucy’s body stiffened at this inspection.

  Watch it, lady. She’d backed down from every temptation of violence her entire life. Yet being examined like this… Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. Her body hummed with hostile energy.

  She was two seconds away from slapping the shrew across her perfectly proportioned face.

  ***

  Sheng peered through a slat in the roof into the grand hall below. He shifted his weight, splaying across more tiles lest the roof give way and crash down with him on top. That would bloody well please the Matchmaker, wouldn’t it? His lips curled. He suppressed the possessive urge to remove the woman’s hands from Lucy’s body.

  The Matchmaker returned to her seat on the sofa and patted the red and gold embroidered cushion for Lucy to join her. After handing Lucy a cup of tea, she tapped one finger against her curved lips.

  “That mole is curious.” She reached forward and circled the tiny mole below the corner of Lucy’s right eye with one sharp fingernail. “Is our Little Rabbit rather licentious?”

  Lucy sputtered on the tea she’d sipped. The teacup rattled on the saucer as she set it on the side table.

  Indeed, she is. His balls tightened at the memory of her whimpers in his ear, her sweet sex rubbing against him. He cleared his throat and peered down at a blushing Lucy. Based on the clenching of her jaw, she was biting her tongue, struggling against giving the Matchmaker a piece of her mind.

  More control than me. He rather admired her for it.