by Renee Jordan
“You have no reason to trust me. But I won't leave you again.”
Those words were a deep, throaty growl. A promise so strong, so fierce. His hand tightened on mine. I couldn't fight it. I had to take the gamble on being happy. Macy was so right. Shane loved me, and I had to believe he wouldn't hurt me again.
I climbed onto his bed, settling beside him. He shifted over, wincing at the pain. “Sorry,” I muttered.
“It's fine.” He touched my face. “So...”
I nodded my head. “I have to gamble on happiness.”
I leaned over and kissed my tiger. It was the sweetest kiss in the world. A fresh kiss, a new beginning.
Chapter Sixteen
“What do you think?” I asked Connie as I stepped out of the changing room. The mousy girl beamed at me. She was the daughter of the owner of Evelyn's Treasure, the only clothing store in Moonrise that sold anything that wasn't western wear or work clothing.
I did a twirl in the new pair of tight jeans and the tight top—a dark-blue and cut high to show off my belly, a fringe of silver along the bottom, and a pair of straps that tied behind my neck. It left my upper back bare, only a tiny band of material that zipped up in the back.
“Oh, you look sexy,” Connie said.
“I do look sexy,” I grinned, staring in the mirror, my blonde hair falling in waves down my shoulders. I cocked my hip, loving the way the material clung to my ass.
“Have a hot date?” Connie asked. “With Ajax?”
I shook my head. “You haven't heard? I thought everyone in Moonrise would know by now.”
“No, I just got back home. I was attending a Summer program at Montana State. I think it'll give me a good shot at being accepted to the college next year.” She smiled. “There was even this cute boy I met. He was starting his freshman year.”
“Wow, you are growing up,” I said. “Did you kiss?”
She blushed scarlet. “Maybe. Once. Or twice.”
“That's my girl,” I laughed. I gave another glance at my ass in the mirror. “Mmm, Shane is going to love me in these jeans.”
“Oh, Shane? Is he new in town? Are you actually dating someone?”
“He's my mate,” I answered.
Connie, who was a normal human, gave a squeal of delight. “You imprinted him? Is he a sexy wolf?”
“Tiger,” I answered. “I imprinted him years ago. Things were...rough between us. But that's all behind us.”
The last month was amazing. He took a leave of absence from the FBI to recuperate, which involved lots of kissing, cuddling, and fucking. I swear there is not a place in my house that he hadn't taken me hard in. Or the yard. And more than a few spots around Moonrise.
“Well, I am so happy for you,” Connie said and gave me a hug.
“Thanks,” I nodded, hugging her back. She was so cute. And growing up so fast. College in a year...
I broke the hug and glanced at the watch on my wrist. “Shit, I have to go. I need to pick him up at the airport.”
He left last week to go and settle his affairs in Washington D.C., pack up his apartment, and all that stuff. He offered to bring me along, but I said no. As much as I wanted to go, it was important that he went by himself.
And returned.
I didn't need the proof, but he did. I was convinced he wouldn't leave me, but he still felt a lot of guilt. I saw it in his eyes all the time. He had abandoned me once, and he feared doing it again. It was why he asked me to come.
And why I had to say no.
I paid for my purchases and walked out wearing them, throwing my old clothes in the trunk of my Volkswagen Beetle. And, yes, it was one of the new ones, but I loved it. Shane was shocked to learn I owned it.
“What a cute car,” he had joked when he saw it. “Almost girly. Did you hit your head the day you bought it?”
I flipped him off in answer.
I climbed into my cute car and enjoyed the drive out to Missoula. Excitement buzzed through me. I was eager to see my mate. We had spent all weak texting and had long phone calls that always devolved into phone sex. So I was eager.
I pulled into the airport and groaned, the flight was delayed fifteen minutes. I sank down onto the chair, pulled out my phone. The last text from Shane said, “Boarding the plane. See you in a few hours.”
As I awaited, the smallest twinge of fear nibbled around the edges of my excitement. Was he really coming back? The fear was stupid. I hated that the thought even crossed my mind, but it was there. Maybe that fear would never really go away.
He had hurt me badly, but he also made me happy. He made a terrible mistake, and he promised to spend every day making up for it. I believed him. So I refused to give in to my fear as I waited and waited.
The flight list updated. His plane had arrived.
I waited with the patience of a hunter as I sat on my chair, my legs crossed before me, eyes locked on the escalators which led down from the terminals. The lights on the baggage claim carousel came to life, the belts running. The people from the flight filtered out, heading for the baggage claim belt to spot their luggage. A crowd grew.
No Shane.
I kept my breathing calm. I was certain he would be here. He wouldn't run out on me again. Not after the last three weeks. I knew he had changed, that he regretted the hurt he had caused me, the missed time where we could have been together. He had matured, grown up in the last three years.
So I didn't worry. People came flowing in, weary from the flight. Travel was always exhausting, especially when you didn't do anything but sit on an uncomfortable seat in a cramped cabin for hours on end, the elbow of the guy sitting next to you digging into your side. Shane was a tall guy. I bet he was crammed into his seat like a sardine.
He probably had to stretch his legs after that, walk around the terminal a few times.
My fingers drummed on the seat as I watched, eyes flitting from face to face, scanning while my nose inhaled, sorting through the scents of unwashed bodies, cheap colognes and perfumes, the vinyl of the belt, metal, the wax used on the floor, asphalt, cars, exhaust fumes, spicy musk.
Spicy musk...
I smiled, my eyes scanning around. Where was my tiger? He didn't come down the escalator with the other passengers from his flight. I looked down the baggage claim where crowds of passengers from other flights waited to find their luggage. I stood, craning my neck to see over the passengers, his scent growing stronger...
I turned around.
“Hey,” Shane said, a smile on his gorgeous-brown face, a twinkle in his eyes. “Waiting long?”
My lips curled into my own smile. I shrugged. “I was getting bored. Thinking about leaving.”
“That would be a mistake.”
I sauntered to him, loving how his eyes flicked down my body, his smile growing. I rolled my hips, letting him appreciate just how tight my jeans were. I could smell how much he loved them. It filled his musk. I breathed it in.
God how I missed his scent.
I threw my arms around his neck, pressing against his strong body. I rose on my tiptoes to brush my lips against his. His hands tightened on my back, holding me against him, as he kissed me hard. My eyes closed. I melted into the kiss, my tiger so strong, so aggressive. I growled into the kiss as the heat swelled through my body, rising from my nethers. His scent grew stronger as his hands ventured lower down my back.
And cupped my ass through my jeans. He gave me a hard, bold squeeze.
“Damn, I missed you,” he groaned when I broke the kiss.
“Me or my ass?”
“In these jeans, I missed your ass more.”
I laughed. “Dick, that's not what you're supposed to say.”
He gave me a squeeze. “Well, have you seen your ass in these jeans? Damn. I was staring at them the entire time I walked up to you. Perfection.”
I broke away and turned around, giving him a little wiggle. I loved the hunger in his eyes, the bulge in his slacks. His suit clung to his body, showing off all
his muscular prowess. “I'm so horny. Been such a long week. And soooo boring. Nothing's happening in Moonrise.”
“We'll have to change that,” he grinned.
“The first tiger on the force,” I nodded. “The women of Moonrise are all going to hate me for snagging you.”
“Good,” he grinned.
I rolled my eyes. “Such a cocky, confident tiger.”
“I won you. I think I have a lot to be cocky about.”
“Damn straight.” I licked my lips. “Let's get your bag and get out of here. I need to get laid.”
“I can probably help you out with that.”
I laughed and hugged him again. It was wonderful to feel his arms around me. My mate was home. My sexy tiger. The last three years didn't matter. A fresh start for the both of us. A new beginning. The next three years, the next three decades, hell, the rest of our lives, would be special.
I pressed my lips to my tiger and savored his kiss warming my body. Damn, he was so sexy. My tiger. I loved saying that. I was his wolf, and he was my tiger.
Love was an amazing thing to have.
The END
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Hot Preview of “Howling Passion (Passion Moon 1)”
My feet slapped as I came down the stairs, my hips swaying. My nipples were hard, dimpling the front of my nightshirt. I couldn't remember the last time a man had excited me this much. Maybe the first night I had seen Burt play, and he had made love to me with his eyes, I had been this excited.
But that was so long ago, the memory soured by the monster Burt had become.
Tonight would be far more glorious.
“Kotie,” Forrest smiled as he rose from the couch before the fire, setting a paperback book to the side. “What do you need?”
“You,” I purred, striding forward.
That cocky, self-possessed, feral grin spread on his face. His excitement swelled, bulging the front of his jeans. I licked my lips. He was big. A shudder washed through me as I padded closer, my bare feet swishing across the bear-skin rug.
His arms enfolded me. His lips mashed against mine. He kissed me, devouring my lips, his strong arms wrapping about me. I let him hold me, my body pressed against his hard muscles. I moaned into his kiss, my arms hugging his neck, clinging to him.
I felt so amazingly safe, so wonderfully desired in his arms.
Forrest's hands slid down my back, each seizing a cheek of my bubbly butt. He squeezed me, pulling me against his bulge. My hips writhed, rubbing against his passion. He throbbed hard and my pussy clenched. I couldn't wait to feel him in me.
“Kotie,” he groaned, his lips sucking at my neck, kissing up to my ear. His teeth nipped me. He growled, hungry as he feasted.
“Oh, Sheriff,” I groaned, my hands roaming Forrest's hard body. I dipped beneath his shirt, sliding up his back. My clitoris brushed against his bulge, pleasure rippling through me. “Ravish me,” I groaned, my fingernails biting into his back. “I've never...oh, yes...you're driving me...oh, Sheriff!”
His teeth nipped my ears. “You smell delicious,” he groaned.
“I haven't showered in two days,” I groaned.
“Your musk...” He growled, low and throaty. “I'm going to eat you up.”
“Devour me,” I panted as he pulled me down to the bear-skin rug.
His hands grabbed the hem of my nightshirt. I held my arms up, letting Forrest pull it over my body, mussing my red hair even worse. I didn't care. We would writhe in passion.
Forrest's hands seized my breasts. I gasped as he kneaded my round flesh, his rough thumbs brushing my hard nipples. I sank onto my back, the bear-skin rug tickling my sensitive skin. His mouth descended, nipping my hard nipple before engulfing between his lips.
“Oh, yes!” I groaned as his tongue swirled about my nub before sucking hard. He was hungry, engulfing as much of my breast as he could, stirring pleasure down to my fiery pussy.
Forrest released my nipple, kissing and licking his way to my other breast. His tongue trailed up my breast, reaching my nub. He circled, then nipped it. The shock of pain mixed with the pleasure. I loved it.
My fingers scratched at his T-shirt. I needed to see his muscular form. I pulled at his shoulders, his shirt bunching around his neck. With a growl, he rose, ripping his shirt off and throwing it near the crackling fire.
Forrest was muscled like a Renaissance statue. My eyes widened in awe. Sweat gleamed on his perfectly sculpted pecs, and his abs rippled with a six pack. Tattooed across his body was barbwire, the barbs digging into his flesh. He looked chained in the black wire, his muscular physique restrained somehow by ink. His arms were as thick as my legs, the left wrapped in a thick, white bandage.
“Oh, Lord, you are gorgeous,” I moaned.
Click her to read more of the first chapter of Kotie and Forrest's hot, sultry love story!
Hot Preview of “Night's Beauty (The Valkyrie's Passion 0)”
I was almost sad when the bike's engine cut off. My legs shook as I dismounted. Magnus seized me, pulling me to him. He stared into my eyes, studying me. I shivered, holding him tight. I knew this was wrong. I knew I would regret this. But I had to have him tonight. One night of passion.
“What?” I asked.
“Making sure this is what you want.”
“Is it?” I asked, rubbing harder against him.
“You've wanted it since you laid eyes on me...” He arched his eyebrows, inviting me to supply a name.
“I'm Raven.”
“A magnificent bird,” he answered and kissed me.
Everything vanished except Magnus. There was no parking lot. There was no cold wind. There was no seedy motel. There was only the wolfish biker's arms wrapped about my body, holding me tight. His body was so hard against my soft curves. His hand slid down and squeezed my ass. I moaned as he kneaded me, pulling me harder against his bulge.
I never wanted the kiss to end. My heart thudded in my chest. No kiss had ever made the world spin about me. I clung to him. I was afraid if I let go I would drown in our passion. My arms tightened about his neck.
When he broke the kiss, I realized he was taller than me. Over six feet. I liked it. It was nice to look up into a man's strong, passionate face. “You are all mine for the night.”
“Yes,” I moaned.
He leaned down and scooped me up, throwing me over his shoulder. I giggled as my hair fell down around my face. I squirmed, playfully trying to escape. But my biker warrior had captured me and was carrying me off.
“What are you going to do to me?” I moaned.
“Enjoy you.” His hand slid up beneath my skirt to pat my ass through my satin panties.
“Yes,” I moaned. “Ravish me.” I closed my eyes, picturing him in Viking furs and carrying me back to his longboat. I was his plunder tonight. He vanquished Talon and had claimed me.
I squeezed my thighs together as the liquid heat burned hotter inside me.
Click her to read the exciting night of passion Raven and Magnus shared!
Other Romances by Renee Jordan
Check out Renee Jordan's catalog of steamy romances on Amazon!
Passion Moon: Kotie finds passion and magic in a small town in Montana.
Howling Passion: Kotie is running from her ex. Moonrise, Montana, a mountain town, is as far as her money could take her. But fate has brought her here. Danger lurks as two men vie for affections, the dark and dangerous Christian, and the powerful werewolf Forrest.
Passion's Fire: Kotie is settling in to her new life in Moonrise with her werewolf mate. But when her abusive ex-boyfriend arrives in town, Kotie is confident she can handle him with her newfound magic. But Burt has a secret he's kept and he'll stop at nothing to get Kotie back.
Love's Protection: Kotie and Forrest, her werewolf mate, are preparing for their wedding. But a dark force threatens their happiness. Kotie's
mysterious father has arrived in town. Dark secrets will be revealed as Kotie and Forest battle the Traveler and try to find their happily ever after!
Illusory Moon (A Passion Moon Romance): Penny is so envious of Kotie, wanting what she has with Forrest. When she meets a hunky werebear cop, Penny thinks her fortunes have changed. But the past she fled has caught up to her and Penny just might lose everything!
The Valkyrie's Passion: Raven awakens to her heritage as a Valkyrie and finds romance with a hunky biker werewolf!
Night's Beauty: The sultry prologue to the Valkyrie's Passion. When Raven's car breaks down on a foggy road, she is rescued by a hunky biker. Raven is taken for a ride by Magnus that she will never forget!
Love's Choice: Raven has a choice to make. Should she trust her heart to the bad-boy biker Magnus, or should she keep her distance. But when her destiny as a Valkyrie catches up to Raven, she has no choice but to trust Magnus. Is he the man for her? Or will he leave her broken and scarred?
Sun's Tear: Raven and Magnus settle into their lives, but new problems arise. Magnus's rival motorcycle club attacks while an eclipse signals the return of the Thief. Raven will have to find the sun's tear to keep Magnus alive and her only ally is the sexy and seductive Loki. Did Raven make the right choice with Magnus, or should she have found another man to love?
Truth's Heart: Raven and Magnus are now hunted. There only way to survive is to figure out how to stop Loki's plan. But Raven is reeling, crushed by despair and Magnus can't find the words to save her. Will she drown in guilt or will her wolf rescue her?