“I can only imagine.” Mitch stroked her shoulder in a gentle caress. It was a simple motion but it made her feel warm…and appreciated. It also made her hunger for more.
“Mitch…I…” Gina trailed off, turning toward him. Their eyes met and held and there was no need for words. He felt it too—this amazing connection, the undeniable attraction.
She closed the space between them, seeking his mouth with hers. And then her lips were on his and he was kissing her. This was no tentative exploration. No repeat of the sweet salute he’d given her before. No, this kiss started out calm but then swirled into passion like a raging torrent. Deep, drugging, intoxicating passion.
He maneuvered her into a position under him, lying flat on the couch while his starving body pressed her into the cushions. He loved the feel of her against him and wanted more. So much more. Did he dare push the limits of propriety? She was a princess and he was…nothing. Just nothing. He didn’t have any right, even to this kiss, but then she pushed against his shoulders, making him draw back.
Rather than pushing him away, she was only demanding more room to move her hands. Those dangerous little fingers of hers went right under his shirt and started stroking him in ways that made him forget all his objections.
He leaned into her caressing fingers, loving the gentle way she stroked his skin. She was petting him and he felt a purr rumble up from deep within his chest. That almost stopped him cold. Purring in human form was significant, but he couldn’t stop to think about it now.
He kissed her with all the pent-up longing within him, all the dreams of what could be—if he let things go too far. He didn’t want to hurt her, but how could he deny the fire that flared between them? He was too weak to resist as she pushed his shirt up and out of the way. He moved back for a tempestuous moment to let her to shove the bunched fabric up, over his head and arms.
When he returned, he was bare and wanted nothing more than to feel her soft skin against his body. He let his fingers trail to her waist, seeking the hem of her stretchy top. Going slowly, seeking permission with every touch, he lifted the soft fabric upward, exposing her midriff. He paused there, stroking her skin and learning the feel of her. She felt like soft, heated velvet against his rough fingertips. So feminine. So warm and delicate.
And then he dared to push the fabric higher, up over the satin cups of her bra. He let his fingers toy with the hard-pebbled tips he felt poking up from under the fabric. She shivered and he lost a little of his control. He tore the shirt off over her head with her very willing cooperation. He reclaimed her lips almost immediately, their kisses growing deeper and more desperate with every passing moment.
The couch limited his movements. Making no conscious decision, he lifted her in his arms, mouths still clinging to each other, and walked with her to the big bed on the other side of the room. He deposited her there, taking only a moment to unhook her bra and let it fall down her arms.
Then he paused. His hands cupped her soft breasts, his mouth still devoured hers, but something inside him stilled. He knew he couldn’t take this too far. He also couldn’t be a cad and leave her hanging. She was panting against him, her body primed for pleasure. He’d be a total asshat if he left her wanting after taking it so far.
But he couldn’t claim her. He couldn’t make love to her and then pretend nothing had changed in the morning light. And he wasn’t the kind to fuck a woman and then leave her head spinning as he withdrew to a safe, protected corner. No, he had to be stronger than the primitive urges driving him. He would give her pleasure tonight because he wasn’t a cad, then he’d leave her be.
That way was safer for them both. And for the tiger Clan. He had more than just himself to worry about now. Anything he did with Gina could potentially impact many more lives. She was royalty. He was just a lowly soldier, who until a short time ago was as golden as any other tiger. A quick change in color didn’t change who he was deep down inside. He had to remember that.
Decision made, Mitch lifted his mouth from hers. He couldn’t keep kissing her and maintain even a sliver of control. He had to do the right thing here—even if it was one of the hardest things he’d ever tried to do.
Mitch let his mouth roam downward over her soft skin, licking, tasting and nibbling on her as he went. She tasted divine. Like the heavenly dew on a pale morning rose. Like the nectar of the moonflowers she reminded him of so much. She was like no other woman he’d ever tasted before. And Mitch feared very much that this stolen interlude would ruin him for any other.
But it was worth it. Hearing her little whimpers of pleasure as he finally took one nipple into his mouth was worth anything—everything that might come later. This one moment out of time was his for eternity and he would never regret it—or forget it.
Gina’s body strained toward his and he loved the feel of her softness against his bare skin. She was quickly losing all control and he both feared and wanted it. The sooner she found her bliss, the less his control would be tested, but he also wanted to draw out this moment, to savor it and give her as much as he could in this one, stolen moment out of time.
He switched to her other breast, allowing one of his hands to reach downward, between them, seeking the warmth at the apex of her thighs. She eagerly opened for him, the cloth an annoying barrier between them. He needed to get closer, but he also didn’t want to remove that last barrier that was helping him retain his very tenuous control.
Compromising, Mitch felt for her waistband and was relieved to find just enough give in the stretchy fabric to fit his hand down the front of her pants. He wouldn’t have to remove them if he did this right. It just might kill him, but it would also help him stay in control.
He sucked hard on her tight bud as his fingers found the moist cleft that he sought. The little button at the top was his goal and soon after he found it, she cried out, her sleek muscles going taut under him as she reached a climax at his hands.
She was so beautiful. So responsive. He knew he could drive her even higher—if he allowed himself to touch her even more. But that would be wrong. His entire existence was in a massive state of flux at the moment. He didn’t know what the future would bring. Hell, he didn’t even know what the next hour would bring.
He couldn’t subject her to the uncertainty that was his life right now, any more than she was already involved in it. He couldn’t be the tiger she needed at her side and in her bed. She needed a prince. A future king. A consort she could be proud of for the rest of their very long lives.
The only thing he was sure of at the moment was that he could be the protector that made sure she got the chance to live out the rest of her very long life. He would defend her with his last breath. He would die for her and he would live for her. But he didn’t think he could be the man at her side and in her bed for the rest of their lives. Gina was too special for the likes of him, and Mitch was too damn confused by it all to even begin to think about where he fit into the larger picture of the Clan and Gina’s life.
For all he knew, he would die in the challenge against Gisli. If so, he didn’t want to leave Gina brokenhearted. Better they not get any closer than they had already been. Tonight was a fluke. A lovely, amazing set of circumstances never to be repeated.
Even if it killed him.
When she tried to touch him as her small climax passed, he gently put her away from him, tucking her under the covers and wrapping her in his arms. The blankets were between them while he took the time to try to cool off. It was hard to do. Hell, he was hard as a rock and his body wanted nothing more than to claim Gina in the most basic way. But no. He wouldn’t let it happen.
He held her, not giving her the chance to ask the many questions he could see in her beautiful blue eyes. He kissed her gently each time she tried to speak, shushing her in a loving way. Eventually, she gave up and gave in to his softly spoken instruction to sleep.
Her breathing evened out long before his did and she fell into a restful slumber in his arms. Mitch held he
r for a long, long time, enjoying the feel of her next to him. Eventually though, sleep claimed him as well.
When Gina woke the next day, Mitch was still in bed with her, but he was sitting with the ancient book in his hands. He was very close to the end, judging by the number of pages left, and his face was a study in concentration.
She didn’t want to wake up and let the peaceful moment pass. Who knew how many mornings she’d have like this, waking to find him near? She would cherish every moment, fearing the worst and hoping for the best. But this moment—this moment—was to be savored.
Mitch’s golden gaze caught her watching him. And then he smiled. A warm, encouraging, almost sinful smile. She wanted to remember that smile all her life.
“Sorry. Did I wake you?”
“No,” she answered, her voice rusty with sleep as she stretched a little. “It’s okay. I usually wake up long before this. I think I overslept. What time is it?”
“Just after eight-thirty,” he replied, closing the book and putting it on the small bedside table. When he turned back, he bent down and nibbled her neck. The nibbles turned hot and then molten as he pecked at her lips, eventually taking her mouth in a kiss that was temptation itself. When he finally pulled back, he gave her one of those sinful smiles again. “I’ve been wanting to do that for the past hour.”
“Mmm. You should’ve woken me up.” She smiled back at him, loving the moment of communion between them. Nothing else mattered. Just this. Just them. Together.
But reality intruded as her cell phone rang. Gina reached over to the nightstand to answer it. It was an unexpected, though not unwelcome, call from Paul Miller, the eldest of the Miller’s many children. He wanted to know when he should come up to the cabin with more supplies. She told him any time that morning would be fine and he agreed to stop by after breakfast.
Gina ended the call with a fond smile. Paul had already been a grad student when Gina started college and he’d helped look after her when she first ventured out into the big, bad world. He was an orthopedic surgeon and unofficial Royal Guard, having learned everything about being one from his parents. It wasn’t until she graduated that she fully realized why Paul and his siblings had been her constant companions in those years she’d been at university. They’d been protecting her.
More than that though, they’d been her friends. She’d grown up with the rambunctious family practically next door and had loved having them with her in school. They were classmates and buddies. It hadn’t really dawned on her that they’d also been watching over her all those years at their parents’ behest.
In fact, she doubted her father would have let her go to school at all if the Miller’s brood hadn’t all been around the same age and attending the same schools. Okay, maybe that was stating it a little too broadly, but sometimes she wondered.
She hung up and rolled back toward Mitch, but he’d already risen from the bed. He headed toward the kitchen area, the book tucked under his arm.
“You get the bathroom first and I’ll get some breakfast going. Sound good?” he asked casually.
So much for a little more early morning snuggling. Unless… If she was just a tiny bit more secure about where she stood with him, she’d walk right up to him and jump his bones.
But she just wasn’t that confident. Not after he’d called such a definite halt last night just when things were getting interesting. No, she wouldn’t risk his rejection and invite her own humiliation.
She had a few days to work on him yet. She’d find a way to break through his reserve. She had time to negate the mindset that had him turning away from her when all she really wanted was to have him make love to her. And mean it. That was the big thing that held her back.
She was pretty sure she could get him to have sex with her, but she wanted something more. Even the tigress in her soul wanted more. Raw sex would be nice, but making love would be even better. Even if it was only for a short time, she wanted whatever time they had together to mean something.
Gina shook off her troubling thoughts, scrounged up some clean clothes and headed for the bathroom. She’d take a shower, get her head on straight and then come out to tame the tiger presently making coffee in her kitchen.
When Gina stepped out of the bathroom a short while later, the first thing she realized was that Mitch was no longer alone. Paul had shown up early—with his sister, Maribeth—and Mitch had apparently invited them to stay for breakfast.
A little gremlin of jealousy reared up in Gina’s mind. Maribeth was a knockout, as well as a little indiscriminate when it came to her bed partners. Maribeth was, in short, a bit of a slut—even among shifters, who were not known for their abstinence. And the moment Gina walked out of the bathroom, she was well aware Maribeth was up to her old tricks, flirting up a storm with Mitch.
Gina had to suppress a growl. The tigress had her claws out and ready to swipe at her old friend who dared flirt with the male the tigress considered her own. Wow. Gina had never reacted that strongly to Maribeth before. Usually, Gina found her friend’s outrageous flirting and loose behavior kind of amusing. But not when it came to Mitch.
Maribeth was laughing, batting her ridiculously long eyelashes at Mitch when she suddenly became aware of Gina. She turned her head and caught Gina’s gaze, immediately stiffening and coming to her feet.
Hmm. Maybe Gina hadn’t done such a good job hiding her annoyance. She tried to dial it back, but it was much harder than she expected. The tigress was flaring her claws inside Gina’s skin, making her presence known in a way she seldom did. Gina guessed her eyes were glowing blue with the tigress’s annoyance too. Damn.
“Hi, Gina,” Maribeth turned her head slightly in a show of obedience though she was an Alpha in her own right. Still, she had always deferred to Gina, even when they were kids.
Such deference was one of the perks of being blanche that had always annoyed Gina, setting her apart from the other kids. But today, she was glad of it. How dare Maribeth make a play for Mitch? the tigress demanded silently, outraged. Gina’s human side felt both the tiger’s anger and a very human hurt.
Somehow, Maribeth seemed to see it all. She moved closer slowly, reaching out for Gina’s hand.
“It’s good to see you,” the other woman offered in a soft tone. “It’s been too long.”
“I didn’t know you were here,” Gina offered, still trying to rein in her spike of temper.
“I just got in this morning. Dad called us all home when you showed up with your…friend.” Maribeth’s gaze darted toward Mitch.
Now that was news. Gina hadn’t considered that Mr. Miller would call in reinforcements and start circling the wagons when Gina brought Mitch here.
“Sorry to put you to such trouble. It’s probably unnecessary.”
“Maybe not,” Mitch spoke finally, coming over to place a mug of coffee in Gina’s hands. It was a thoughtful gesture that made her tigress back down a little bit. He’d fixed her coffee just the way she liked it and she sent him a smile of thanks as he continued to fill her in on what she’d missed while in the shower. “Paul was telling me that there were some perimeter incursions last night. He and his dad were out checking the boundaries starting at about four a.m. They found a few tripped sensors and human-shaped boot prints.” Mitch frowned and Gina felt a pang of concern.
She knew her dad and the Millers had strung all sorts of motion, heat and even sound sensors all over the property. They had redundant systems and cameras everywhere. If anything bigger than a chipmunk entered their territory, they knew about it.
“It was near the entrance to our road,” Paul added. “Could’ve been just some kids out drinking on a country lane. There were a few cans and bottles in the ditch. We collected them and sent them for testing.”
Mitch nodded, apparently pleased at their uber-vigilance, though Gina thought it was overkill. Gina knew they did get kids around from time to time who were looking for an out-of-the-way place to have a kegger. There was no real reason to th
ink last night’s perimeter breaches were anything out of the ordinary.
“What did my dad say?” Gina asked, suppressing her annoyance with Maribeth’s blatant come-on to Mitch in light of the new information. Even the tigress within her knew how to prioritize threats.
“Just to keep our eyes open for now. Our dad thought yours sounded as if he almost expected something like this.” Paul’s gaze pinned her. “What gives, Gina? What was the magic surge our mom felt yesterday?”
All eyes focused on Gina, including Mitch’s. Not sure how much to reveal, she looked at him, answering the easiest question first. “There’s a mage somewhere back in Mrs. Miller’s family tree. She’s more sensitive to magic than most shifters.”
Mitch nodded, apparently satisfied with the explanation, but the Miller siblings were still giving her questioning looks.
“The magic was…” How did she say this? How much should she tell them? She decided to hedge. “The magic was Mitch.”
Now the siblings turned their questioning glances on him. It wasn’t fair of her to have deflected onto him, but really, it was his life. His decision on what these people knew about him.
“I’m a Royal Guard,” he explained. “I was in service to the pantera Nyx, but my cover’s been irrevocably blown, so I’m no good to her anymore. Gina saved my life and brought me here. Since then, I’ve been recovering. And yesterday, I went up to the stone circle. The magic surge your mother felt came from up there.”
“It’s a powerful place,” Paul agreed, “but it usually doesn’t have that kind of effect on people on an ordinary Tuesday.” The statement was clearly an invitation to say more.
Mitch ran a hand through his hair. “You two were trained as Royal Guard by your parents, right?” At their nods, Mitch went on. “Did that include taking the oath?”
Paul stood and his expression became rock hard. “I took the oath when I was ten.”
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