Tamed Galley Master

by Lizzie Lynn Lee

“War maidens?”

  “Those women my aunt brought with her. God, they’re really pushy. All they see is dollar signs on our foreheads. You don’t know how many times I considered pulling the fire alarm just to clear them out.” Collin made a gesture with his thumb and forefinger. “This close.”

  Danielle chuckled. “You’re funny.”

  He checked in with the Edwardian suite and asked the manager to open the hotel’s in-house boutique since Danielle needed new clothes and essentials. While the purchase was delivered to their suite, Collin decided to take her to the Rose Club for drinks and tête-à-tête. He ordered cognac for himself and a Shirley Temple for Danielle. After finding out she had a sweet tooth, he couldn’t resist ordering desserts. Collin was a fan of sugary stuff while Dane hated it.

  “May I suggest Lady M Mille Crepe cake?” he said. “From the many places I frequented, the Plaza has the best mille crepe cake in the city. It is to die for.”

  “That sounds divine. I guess I can cheat once in a while.”

  “Hmm? Don’t tell me you’re on a diet?” Collin took one cursory glance at her. “You don’t need any of that. You’re perfect the way you are.” Too perfect, in fact. Her curves were lush, temptation clad in flesh. From her voluptuous breasts, generous hips, and rounded ass. The thought alone made his cock hard.

  However, she didn’t seem convinced that his compliment was sincere. Her smile almost sad. “Yeah, sure,” she said.

  “So.” Collin leaned on the table. Intrigued. “Want to tell me who he is?”

  “Who’s who?” She clearly feigned her answer.

  Collin lifted his hands. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. His loss is our gain.”

  Danielle stared at him. Hard. “I don’t understand. Why do you keep saying ours? Who am I supposed to date? You or your brother?”

  “Both.”

  “And I’m supposed to choose one of you at the end of this… courtship, like that reality dating TV show?”

  Collin laughed. “Silly girl. You get both. Me and Dane.”

  Her eyes widened as if she just realized their intention all along. “You mean, like three-way?” Her voice lowered into a hush. “Is that even legal?”

  “No.” Collin explained the dynamic within the clan and how they conducted themselves in human society. He also told her about their unusually close bond that compelled them into seeking the same mate and Dane’s need for a bride in order to inherit the clan’s Prima status.

  “Whoa,” she said, faltering. “That’s a lot to absorb. I’m not sure I’m up to it. I’ve never been so adventurous and—”

  “I’m not asking you to agree to anything at this point, Danielle. I just want you to get to know us and we want to get to know you. Closely. Intimately.”

  That made her blush profusely. “I-I don’t know, Collin. I don’t think I’m ready. You see—”

  Collin cut her off again with a wave of his hand. He wasn’t going to be brushed away that easily. “Whoever he is, one thing I promise you: before this weekend’s over, Dane and I are going to fill your head so much that you won’t have time to think about anybody else but us.”

  Two seconds passed before she finally answered. “I, uhm, don’t know what to say. How did you know?”

  “Your eyes tell everything I need to know. I’m good at reading women’s moods.”

  “Means you’re a player?”

  “No, I just dated a lot of women in the past, but I’ve never played with their hearts nor have I been unfaithful.”

  She stared at him, then opened her mouth—

  “And no, Dane isn’t like me. Even though we’re identical, Dane is the exact opposite of me. Dane is intense, forward, and doesn’t like to dally with any woman if he didn’t mean it. Our family once suspected he was gay because he was lacking of girlfriends.”

  That got her to smile.

  “Anyway,” he continued, “I want to let you in on a little secret about my brother.” He wiggled his finger, beckoning her.

  She leaned over the table.

  “Closer.”

  She did it without suspicion.

  Collin waited her to get close enough and kissed her on the lips. His cock jumped under his designer pants. Her lips were soft and inviting and he wished he could do more than just a brief kiss.

  Tonight. He would make her his. Theirs.

  She looked so surprised, she blushed prettily. He laughed, not expecting her to be so naïve. He liked her already. It wasn’t just about physical attraction; Collin always had a soft spot for “wounded” women. He liked the challenge of nurturing his past lovers to gain their strength and confidence back.

  The waiter came with their order.

  “Have a taste,” he said. “I’d like to know your verdict about the mille crepe cake.”

  They went to their suite after finishing their dessert. Danielle thanked him for the clothes and went to freshen up. Collin relaxed on the sofa. Dane called him on his cellphone and asked about Danielle. He finally cleared the apartment of the women but Aunt Titania stubbornly stuck around, asking him many things. Dane told him to bring Danielle the next day for lunch. Collin agreed.

  Danielle returned half an hour later with damp hair and wrapped in a hotel robe. She drank expensive bottled water and joined him in the sofa.

  “Dane asked about you,” said Collin. “He wants to have an early lunch with you at the apartment. Eleven sound okay?”

  Danielle nodded. “Does he cook?”

  “Surprisingly well.”

  “He doesn’t peg me like someone who’d like to slave over hot stoves.” She studied him with curiosity. “You said you and your brother are weretigers. Can I see some proof?”

  Collin smiled. “You want to see my tail and my claws?”

  She bit her lower lip, nodding. “Do you eat people, too?”

  “I heard they taste like chicken,” he joked.

  “Come on, seriously.”

  “I’ve never eaten human and neither has Dane or anyone in my clan. Weretiger doesn’t make a habit of eating human, especially when our kind can make children with them.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are the children able to shape shift too?”

  “Only from male lines. If our tigress has a baby with a human male, her child is completely human. That is why we tigers prefer to keep the gene pool undiluted. Half-bloods from the male side, even though they are able to shift, are weaker with every generation. Means they aren’t as strong and as fast as the pure blood tigers.” Collin shrugged off his sport coat and started to unbutton his shirt.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Getting naked. You want to see me shift, right? If I shift without taking off my suit, it will get ruined.”

  “Like David Banner in the old Hulk TV series?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah. Like David Banner. You wouldn’t like it if I’m angry.”

  Danielle laughed along. She averted her eyes when he shed his shirt and unzipped his fly. She must see the bulge in his pants. Everything about this woman made his cock hard. From that curvaceous body, her silky dark hair, to her sparkling blue eyes. But her scent. Christ. Her scent drove him insane. She might be confused with this whole ordeal, but the rising desire in her was plain for him to see. Her musky feminine scent. Her quickening heartbeat. Her flushed face. And her reddened lips.

  Danielle avoided his stare.

  She seemed to be fighting her own desire.

  Well, Collin would make sure she failed.

  After all, she was his mate. Their mate. The only person who would make their lives complete.

  She just didn’t know it yet.

  He cracked his fingers and slowly shifted. Unlike popular media portrayal about shifters, the transformation was painless. His two hands became forepaws. Ears and mouth elongated. White striped fur surfaced from under his skin. Collin climbed down from the sofa as he completed his transformation. Weretigers were twice as large as their non-shifting counter
parts, and he was no exception. He didn’t want to ruin the hotel furniture by sitting on it.

  Collin stretched out his forelegs and whipped his tail back and forth. God, it had been a while since he shifted. It felt good wearing his beastly skin. For a second, Collin forgot that Danielle was watching him.

  He turned his head at her. She didn’t look scared. She was thunderstruck.

  Danielle reached out and stroked his back. Timidly, at first. When she noted Collin didn’t mind, she petted behind his ear. “I can’t believe this. You’re adorable. Oh God, how is it your fur’s so soft?”

  He was glad she didn’t fear him, but he didn’t want her to think he was cuddly. He was seven hundred pounds of pure masculine predator, damn it. He quickly shifted back and caught her hand. She looked surprised.

  “Why did you revert back?”

  Collin ignored her question and kissed her. He palmed her lovely face in his large hands. Thumb brushed her lip. She licked it unconsciously. Christ. She looked so sexy. Collin lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. They were so soft. Warm. The beastly part of him wanted to sweep her off her feet and throw her into a bed and fuck her until morning. The human part of him reminded him that human females were more delicate than his kin. Another waft of her scent hit him. Stronger.

  Christ. Collin wanted her so badly, he’d sell his soul to the devil.

  He kissed her. A soft, keening moan curled from her delicate throat. She seemed to like it. She tasted as sweet fruity nectar like the dessert she ate earlier. Hmm. He loved it. A groan rumbled in his throat. Collin kissed her over and over until her knees weakened. He supported her weight with one arm, while the other pinned her against the wall where she couldn’t escape his exploratory kiss. He swept his tongue over hers, the cavern of her mouth. He sucked her lip while pressing his body against hers, grinding his erection on her soft body, letting her know just how much he wanted her.

  Danielle responded to his kiss. She was good. Collin was delightfully surprised. He loved passionate women. They weren’t shy and made the best bed mates.

  But now, he had Danielle. He wouldn’t need any other woman.

  Collin kissed her until she looked like she was about to faint. Then he released her. Scented her hair. Her exposed skin. Her aroma was overwhelmingly intoxicating. He flexed his arms and his fur briefly surfaced.

  Must. Have. Her. Now.

  Collin hooked one arm around her waist and drew her closer. He kissed. Tasted. Felt and explored her. Every inch of her skin. Every swell of her lush curves.

  He was ravenous.

  He untied her bath rope and pulled it off her body. She wore the lingerie he bought in the hotel boutique. It fit her perfectly. God. She was so voluptuous. His mouth suddenly watered.

  He kissed the hollow of her throat and down her cleavage. With one finger, he pushed down the spaghetti strap on her baby doll chemise, exposing her alabaster breast. He licked her nipple and sucked it.

  She writhed in pleasure. Her hands fisted his hair.

  Collin deepened his sucks, trapping the hard bud between the roof of his mouth and his tongue. She trembled from head to toes. She might’ve called his name deliriously; Collin barely paid any attention. He was delighted by how responsive her body was to his touches. And she tasted and smelled so damn good. He couldn’t get enough of her. The beast inside him threatened to break free. It wanted to claim her. Now.

  No, not yet. Collin resisted.

  A little bit more.

  Just a little more…

  Danielle was shocked to find the pleasure he gave her was so intense. And it felt so right. As it should be. And that’s the darnedest thing ever. She had never been this giddy from making love to someone. Like Sleeping Beauty who awakened for the first time in a century by the Prince’s kiss. Her prince. Her soul mate.

  Collin released her nipple and tilted up his head. He kissed her on the mouth when he saw her smiling.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

  This time she took the compliment with pride. Collin was sincere and it showed. He pushed the other strap down, spilling her breasts for him to see and ravish.

  She jerked when Collin licked and sucked her untouched nipple hard. The sensation was too sinful for words. So good that she was starting to see stars in her peripheral vision. Her spine kinked in pleasure. Her pussy clenched and moistened with each deep, thirsty suck. Her panties soaked with her juice.

  Collin slid his hand over her belly and down to the juncture of her thighs and sounded delighted when he found her wet.

  Very wet.

  He let go of her nipple and focused his attention to her pussy. “What do we have here? Let’s take them off.”

  He pulled off her panties impatiently.

  She instinctively closed her thighs, feeling self-conscious.

  “I don’t think so, kitten.” Collin pushed her legs open. He pulled her body to the middle of the sofa to his liking.

  Her gaze drifted to the hard erection below his hips and promptly felt dizzy.

  Collin was big. Impressive girth and length.

  How would it feel to have his cock inside her?

  Her cheeks burned deeper at the thought.

  Will he even fit? She had never—

  Her train of thought crashed when Collin placed his mouth on her pussy. Ten million voltages of pleasure jolted into her body. He dragged his tongue from her perineum to her aching, throbbing clit. Then he flicked her clit and sucked it deeply, hungrily, like the way he sucked her nipples.

  “Collin,” she murmured. “I…”

  He slid his arms under her hips and locked her in place. No amount of thrashing and writhing could get him from enjoying his prize.

  Danielle surrendered and went with the ride.

  Pleasure gathered steadily as Collin teased her clit with his teeth and tongue. Grazing it. Nibbling it. Circling it with his tongue tip.

  Danielle writhed again. This delicious torture was more than she could handle. He licked her again and this time he speared his tongue into her entrance, licking her deeper and deeper…

  The pleasure was mind-blowing. Her body went rigid as he fucked her with his tongue. A violent climax raked through her with the sharp intensity she had never experienced. Tides of pleasure rippled throughout her body. When she finally floated back to the surface, Collin was smiling.

  “Sorry, but I must have you now. I can’t wait any longer.” He stroked his cock and positioned himself on her opening. With one smooth thrust, he penetrated her.

  Her scream ripped out of her throat as he pushed and pushed until he was able to sheathe himself balls deep. She was stuffed to the brim like she never had been.

  “Sorry…” he started.

  “No,” she whispered. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded furiously.

  Collin kissed her in return.

  He moved in and out slowly, fucking her with a dozen strokes until she was accustomed with his size. She creamed luxuriously, making it easier for him to move. He picked up his pace and slammed her without reserve. Her pussy made a wet sucking sound each time he withdrew. Collin’s eyes brightened. He loved the noise they made; it turned him on even more. He whispered that he loved the way she made him feel.

  And she loved the way he made her feel, too. Her heart pounded so fast, she was lightheaded. Collin slammed his cock in and out, over and over as another immense pleasure quickly built. Then, she came.

  A violent orgasm crashed over her. Collin didn’t stop pounding. Another hard climax followed the first. Collin growled as he thrust once, twice, and last, riding the orgasm with her. His cock beyond hot and rigid inside her spasmed with his seed. Her pussy quavered and hiccupped around his still hard shaft until it slowly spent.

  Danielle grabbed and kissed him hungrily. He kissed her back with the same heat. They tangled on the sofa, riding the afterglow.

  “Are you always this amazing?” Danielle whispered as she s
troked his toned pectoral.

  Collin made a delighted kind of sound. “A compliment, I see? I’m not doing this to impress you. Can you see I’m so into you? You’re our mate.”

  “There it is again. Mate. What does that really mean? Is it like soul mate or something?”

  “It’s exactly like a soul mate. When we saw you earlier, we knew you were the one.”

  “But how did you know? I only met you a few hours ago.”

  Collin pushed himself up into a sitting position. He pulled her to straddle his lap and circled his arms around her waist. “We just know. It’s hard to explain, but we shifters tend to be more sensitive in the instinct department. It’s in our blood. We just know. It’s like somebody knows not to touch fire because it will burn you. Or not to touch a live naked wire because it will electrocute you. Does that make sense so far?”

  “You put a lot of faith on your instinct.”

  Collin laughed. “I know. But trust me, once we had our eyes on you, we have no interest in other women. You are the one.”

  What he said made her pause. For a long time she thought Brian was the one and she couldn’t have been more wrong. She didn’t want to make the same mistake again. The price she paid and heartache she’d suffered were too great.

  He seemed able to read the doubt in her face. “I know I’m asking a lot for you to put blind faith in us, but bear with us, we’ll prove to you what it means to be a tiger’s mate.”

  “Okay.”

  “Now, how about a bath, then let’s change our venue to the bed? I have a surprise for you.”

  “Ooh? What kind of surprise?”

  “It won’t be a surprise if I tell you, would it?” Collin pecked her lips. “Come.”

  Chapter Three

  Collin and Danielle checked out from the hotel shortly after nine in the morning and returned to the Dakota. Dane greeted her in the now quiet apartment. Their housekeeper had just left, leaving no trace of the party.

  They chatted about their childhood as shifter kittens growing among humans. Their parents wanted them to learn how to blend into society at an early age, something most shifter parents were averse to. Danielle was awed by all the mischief the twins got themselves into.