Tyler tutted. “And you call yourself an alpha shifter yet you couldn’t handle a few helpless models.”
“Just you wait,” Hal warned darkly. “We might be shifters but it’s those women who are the animals.”
Tyler laughed. “I’m not worried,” he said smugly. “My woman will keep me safe.”
* * * * *
Shaz looked up and caught her breath at the beautiful sight of Tyler stalking toward her. His entrance had caused a flurry of oohs from the other models but he ignored them completely, his gaze focused entirely on her. She felt a ribbon of heat snake through her body. She was the only woman in the room…in the world for him. Nothing else mattered. Suddenly the air seemed lacking in oxygen as she began to pant softly. Her mate. I need him so much.
In a few long strides he was by her side. Strong arms flexing and fingers gripping the arms of her chair as he caged her into the space. He smelled faintly of cologne and Tyler—her favorite scent. Cyn, her makeup artist, slipped discreetly away.
“I brought you some water, sweetheart.” His voice was deep and soft.
Backstage was the usual hysterical flurry of activity with some added mindless screaming panic as someone’s next outfit couldn’t be found. It all disappeared. Shaz looked down at the large, strong hands so near and bit her lip. Just hours before they’d been caressing her body, making her shudder with pleasure. Images filled her mind. The slightly rough pressure of his fingers as he explored her heated core and teased her clit. The way his huge palms had gently cupped and squeezed her sensitive breasts, making her nipples ache and harden. He had pulled her on top him. “Ride me.” His grasp now firm and demanding as he grabbed her ass, urging her to take what she wanted. What she needed. She couldn’t hold back the whimper.
Color slashed Tyler’s sharp cheekbones and his mouth quirked with the wry humor Shaz adored so much. “I’d love to take you up on the invitation in your eyes and that sexy little moan is making my mountain lion wild but we’ve got an audience.” He bent his head, licking and nibbling her earlobe. “But later…”
Shaz shuddered. She longed to forget the show, her professionalism, the audience…everything. She wanted to grab the waist of his pants and pull him into the storeroom and fuck him until they were both out of breath, sweaty and satisfied.
When it came to modeling underwear, this wasn’t Shaz’s first rodeo. She was used to seeing half-naked guys, yet Tyler, in his smart dark pants with a well-fitted button-down shirt, made her wet and wanting. Even a glimpse of the holstered gun hidden beneath his jacket, reminding her of the ever-present threat, didn’t cool off her desire. She knew what lay beneath the clothes.
He was all hard planes, flexing muscles and hot, sexy male. Defined pecs and a perfect eight-pack leading down to a faint trail of hair and the oblique muscles creating a delicious V. She loved to outline each horizontal cut of the defined abs on his tanned skin, enjoying the warmth of the taut flesh. The slight friction of his hair against her fingertips. Shaz traced the indentations through his shirt, lost in delicious memories, and moaned as Tyler gently bit her neck where the mating pledge was. Her soaking pussy pulsed and ached with need. Normally by now she’d have been flat on her back as Tyler fucked her to climax. She took a deep breath, struggling for control as Tyler stepped away.
Her man was every bit the alpha male, sexy—every inch of his ultra-ripped body radiating testosterone—lean, watchful and in control. Just the banked-down, golden fire in his eyes hinting at the animal prowling within. He’d never looked so hot to her and from the flirtatious glances of the other models, they agreed.
“Eyes off the prize, bitches.” Shaz said, lightly enough to sound amused but sharp enough to let them know she wasn’t playing.
With a sigh, she forced her breathing to slow and moved away from the torment of Tyler’s lips. Besides, the second half of the show was about to start and she didn’t want Tyler to see what she was going to be wearing. She gave a secret little smile. If his mountain lion was wild now…
She waved to Cyn that it was okay to return, ignoring the makeup artist’s teasing look.
“Tell Harry I’m ready to get changed,” she called out. It had been decided the other models would showcase the rest of the main lingerie line before Shaz reappeared for the finale…bridal wear. Her hair had already been styled into soft waves threaded with pearls. All that was needed was help lacing up the incredibly erotic Victorian-style corset, emphasizing her hourglass figure. She would have an elegant cream silk robe on top which she would let slip to the ground behind her.
The image would be of a bride whose eager husband had just removed her wedding dress to find a gossamer-fine silk-and-lace confection along with old-fashioned stockings. The lingerie was an alluring mix of sensual and sexy. The stockings had a special top designed to flatter the sweet jiggle of flesh at the highest part of a curvy girl’s thighs, rather than pinch it. Shaz wanted young women everywhere to realize that, whatever size, they could look beautiful on their wedding day.
With one final, lingering kiss she watched Tyler walk back toward the audience. A voice inside her head whispered not to let him go. To take his hand, run away and hide from the rest of the world. Just be together, the two of them. For the first time in her life Shaz wasn’t looking forward to going back on the runway. She shook off the slight agitation with a shiver. It was just nerves. This whole thing with Karl was getting to her…that was all. She allowed Harry to lace her into the corset. It was surprisingly comfortable. Shaz had designed it with special side panels so it didn’t feel like she was struggling to breathe.
She slipped into the robe and picked up the bottle Tyler had left for here, noticing with pleasure that he’d gotten her favorite water. She took several gulps. The other models were either carefully sipping mini bottles of champagne through straws or not drinking at all, to keep their makeup perfect. Shaz, however, knew the value of being hydrated and her makeup artist would quickly touch up her gloss. She grinned. What was left of it after she’d practically mauled Tyler.
Taking a smaller sip, Shaz licked her lips. They felt strangely dry and her tongue felt odd and she was still so thirsty. She frowned. It was obviously hotter than she’d noticed. She raised the bottle, realizing with a start of surprise that it was already empty. She pushed herself out of her chair. She wasn’t about to disturb Tyler or Hal again. She’d just get some water from the cooler in the storeroom.
“I’m really thirsty. I’m going for a drink and I’ll be back in a minute,” she muttered to the girls who nodded coolly before returning to their gossip.
Shaz grimaced. She hadn’t made any friends with her keep off comments but she’d been pissed. Tyler was hers…her mate. She couldn’t wait until they were alone tonight so she could tell him…show him. She blinked. When had it gotten so dark in the room? She felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her as she entered the store and the door closed behind her, enclosing her in the unlit space. Her hand swept over the wall, searching for the light switch, but before she could find it, a hand clamped over her mouth and nose.
Shaz fought, trying to bite, but the leather gloves were too thick. She reached behind, clawing, and the pressure loosened. Her triumph was short-lived as the hand slapped her hard enough to split her lip. She pushed and bucked wildly, frightened and in pain. The dizziness was worse now and her struggles were fading.
“Keep wriggling, bitch. I like it.”
There was a slight sting on her neck and then nothing.
Chapter Five
Tyler moved restlessly in his seat, ignoring the complimentary drink as he watched the succession of models. He glanced at his watch with a frown.
“It’s exactly three minutes since you last looked,” Soozie commented dryly. “Shaz is due to be the finale. In ten minutes you can have her out of here and in the car. Less if you don’t want her to change.”
Tyler grunted but nodded. He knew his office manager had a point. He was aware he was acting like a teenager waiti
ng for his prom date but he couldn’t help it. Between seeing his mark uncovered on her beautiful caramel skin, the way she’d looked at him and kissed him backstage, and how sexily gorgeous she’d been in the outfits, Tyler had never been so desperate to get his mate alone. Those sexy little whimpers she’d made when he’d bitten over his mate-pledge had turned his cock to steel. He passed the keys to Soozie.
“Bring my car around please, Sooze. You and Hal can catch a cab.” He ignored her snigger. Ten minutes, he thought, I can manage to wait ten minutes.
He knew the moment the time was up and Shaz didn’t appear that something was wrong. Ignoring the curious looks, he leaped onto the runway, using his mountain lion agility. He ran, pushing aside the curtain erected for the show.
“Hal,” he shouted into his mike. “Where’s Shaz?”
The hairdresser was packing up as the two men burst into the room and she jumped. Tyler couldn’t blame her, it must be scary—two huge, muscled, grim-faced men suddenly appearing—but he didn’t have time to reassure her.
“Where’s Shaz?”
The woman looked at him with blank-eyed panic. “I don’t know,” she finally stammered. “I wasn’t paying attention. Isn’t she on the catwalk?”
“Boss.” Hal’s grim tone warned Tyler but when he saw his second-in-command appear out of the back room with a silk robe, he thought his heart would stop. He snatched the material and pressed it to his face. It was his mate’s. He could smell her scent…and blood. Tyler snarled.
“There’s more.” Hal held up the broken necklace that held the tracking device. Tyler felt a giant fist reach into his heart and rip it out.
“Tyler, you have to stop. Please. Shaz needs you.”
The female voice was familiar but far away. Tyler blinked. Soozie and Hal were in the room. When had Soozie arrived and why was she hiding behind Hal’s bulk? He stared at the chaos in the room. Smashed chairs…a smashed mirror. He frowned, glancing down at his sore hand. His knuckles were covered in blood. Blood…Shaz!
“You nearly lost it, boss,” Hal said. “Nearly shifted and ran.” He held up an equally sore-looking fist and Tyler saw the beginnings of a bruise on the operative’s jaw. “You didn’t take me stopping you too well,” Hal added dryly.
“Sorry,” Tyler muttered. His voice was little better than a growl. His mountain lion was frantic to get out but he forced it back. Now is the time to think but once we’ve tracked down that bastard Karl and our mate is safe then we hunt, he promised the furious animal.
It didn’t take long to work out what had happened. The back door, which had been checked and locked before the show, lay open. Marks led to where a car had obviously been waiting as Shaz’s scent abruptly disappeared. Tyler took charge of questioning all the staff who’d been behind the scenes. One look at his glaring face and the protruding claws meant people were very eager to talk. The models were guilty of being jealous and bitchy but that was all. The makeup artist was shocked and upset but knew nothing. It wasn’t until Tyler started talking to one of the bar staff that his mountain lion began to prowl. He could smell the man was lying—fear was rolling off him in noxious waves.
It took Tyler less than five minutes.
“I’m sorry. He offered me money. I have debts. I didn’t think he’d hurt her. He said she was his girlfriend and they like to play kidnap games…” The man lifted wet eyes and stared at Tyler. “You know? Sex games.”
Tyler launched himself across the desk, slamming the man into the wall. “That freak has my mate,” he roared. He threw him onto the ground and the sobbing figure curled into a tight ball. “If he hurts her,” he whispered, “I’m going to come back and kill you.”
The man whimpered but Tyler didn’t care. He knew he was close to shifting again and he struggled for control. All those years in Special Forces he’d been known for his icy coolness. Now, when it really mattered…he took a shuddering breath. The bleak truth was if something happened to his mate, then he’d die too. He shoved the man back into the seat. “Start talking,” he ground out through gritted teeth. “If you give me something useful than maybe, just maybe, I won’t hurt you.”
The story was simple. For a pile of cash the man had accepted a sealed bottle of water to give to Shaz and left a door open. “No big deal, right?” he sneered. The guy gained some balls when Soozie entered the room. Probably figuring he could charm her onto his side, the idiot. Before Tyler could say a word, Soozie had the bartender by the throat.
“If he doesn’t hurt you…I will,” she hissed, “and I’ll enjoy it, you lowlife.”
He shrank back into the seat. “Okay,” he whimpered. “Look I don’t know if it helps but I think I’ve seen him around before but not locally. Downtown.” He named a street with a number of rundown buildings and shrugged. “Might not have been him. Seemed a bit weird for a guy with a sweet ride like that fancy blue Mercedes.”
Tyler tensed. “Do you remember the number?”
“I can probably remember the license plate if there’s something in it for me.”
Tyler flashed his fangs. “Yeah, I let you live,” he snarled, and the guy stammered out the number. Tyler turned to Soozie. “Get on it.”
“Already gone.”
* * * * *
Shaz came round tied to a chair. She swung her head wildly, blinking in the spotlight focused on her, and winced as a fierce pain attacked her. The beautiful corset was smeared with dirt and blood. She licked her swollen lip. Probably her blood but she hoped she’d managed to hurt the bastard too.
“How are you feeling?”
She recognized Karl’s voice but he was hidden in the dark behind the bright light. She forced a smile, hiding her revulsion. “Oh you know,” she said lightly, her voice sounding thin and scratchy. “My head is pounding, my mouth is drier than a desert and I’m tied to a chair. So just peachy!”
She heard a faint laugh. “That wacky English sense of humor. It’s just one of the things I love about you, Shaz.”
Shaz wanted to scream that he didn’t love her…he didn’t even know her but she forced back the words. Somewhere in her memory was an article about getting your kidnapper on your side. “So why did you shoot at me?” she asked, keeping her tone calm as if she was talking about the weather.
“I wasn’t shooting at you. I don’t want to kill you.” Karl’s voice rose and he stepped out where she could see him.
Shaz winced. She might have a split lip and her outfit had seen better days but Karl was a mess. He had huge dark circles under his eyes. His clothes were dirty and hanging on his frame as if he hadn’t eaten properly in days. Any trace of the well-groomed man she’d met had gone. Shaz didn’t say anything but her expression must’ve given her away. Karl grimaced.
“Yeah, not looking so hot, am I? That’s what happens when the woman you love ignores you and fucking shacks up with another man, bitch,” he screamed.
Shaz hunched her shoulders. So much for winning him over. “You frightened me. Why were you shooting if you don’t want to hurt me?”
Karl rubbed a hand across his red eyes and Shaz stared at the gun as he waved it about.
“I was shooting at the bastard who had his hand on you!” He sneered. “And don’t think your shifter boyfriend will be coming to rescue you either.”
Shaz paled and a high-pitched buzzing sound echoed in her head as she fought to stay conscious. Please let Tyler be okay, she thought. I’ll do anything as long as he’s safe.
“WhenI found out your lover,” Karl spat out the word like poison, “runs a security agency, I invested in some high-tech toys of my own.” His expression became unpleasantly smug. “I figured he’d plant a tracker on you. Pity it won’t do him any good but I wasn’t going to risk him interrupting our reunion. I’ve got a lot of things I want to do with that lovely body of yours.”
He came closer and Shaz shrank from the stench but couldn’t escape the slap.
“That’s for letting him touch you.”
Shaz held ba
ck a whimper of pain as her lip swelled further. She turned her head. She was fucked if she was letting the freak see he’d hurt or frightened her. Cruel fingers wrenched her back and Karl inspected the damage.
“Not too bad,” he dismissed, “you’ll still be able to suck my cock. I’m going to enjoy coming in your mouth…and everywhere else.”
Shaz didn’t bother holding back the look of revulsion this time as she looked around the sparsely furnished room for a possible way to hurt Karl and get the gun away from him. She shivered as her gaze took in her surroundings. She had to get out of here. He was absolutely insane. There were pictures of her all over the walls, pictures taken, she realized, long before their accidental meeting. He must have been stalking her for ages before he approached her.
Several of the pictures had scraps of lace glued on her image to form bizarre wedding dresses. Next to them he’d pinned selfies of him in formal clothes. She swallowed back the feeling of nausea—his outfit was exactly like the morning suit, complete with top hat and tails, worn by British grooms. Above each he’d scrawled My Wife and I in red pen.
Karl saw the direction of her gaze. “I hope you approve?” he asked. “It’s what you said you wanted for a wedding. I’ve got every detail planned.”
Shaz remembered the lighthearted interview she’d given a year ago. The media had been fascinated by the recent royal wedding. She’d been seen as an expert because she was English and a reporter quizzed her what she’d do if she got married. “Except for the important detail of me being mated. Tyler will kill you, you know,” she answered flatly.
Karl shook his head. “He’s never going to find me or you…until it’s too late.” He gestured with the gun. “Now take off the corset. I want you naked when I fuck you.”
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