The Tigers Shared Mate

by Bonnie Burrows

  “It is,” she said.

  She was silent the rest of the trip to Jasper, watching quietly out the window in awe of her surroundings.

  When highway 575 ended abruptly, she looked around at the tree lined, single-lane road.

  “There’s nothing out here.”

  “That’s why we like it,” Jareth smiled.

  “You two live together?”

  “No. We live in the same massive house, but we each have our own wing with bedrooms and living areas,” Carter offered.

  “Think of it as two houses side by side, with a common area and kitchen in the middle. We run a business together, and this was just easier. Plus, who wants to eat dinner alone every night?”

  “I do,” Lydia said.

  “You won’t after you see this house. You might not ever want to leave.”

  “I doubt it.”

  The asphalt stopped and the SUV dropped onto the gravel, sending Lydia’s stomach up into her throat.

  “Are you billionaires or something?”

  “Combined, Jareth and I are worth just over a billion.”

  “I can’t even imagine having that kind of money.”

  “We didn’t grow up like that, we worked our way up from the bottom.”

  “I tried that. It didn’t work out.”

  “Is that how you ended up in Mill Creek?” Jareth asked.

  “Sort of.”

  She clammed up again, and Jareth kicked himself for bringing it up again. He didn’t know what she was so secretive about, but it was obvious she wasn’t going to share that information with them.

  They came to a gate with a lone man standing guard. When he saw that it was Jareth at the wheel, he stepped back and activated the gate to let them in.

  “You have guards?”

  “No, just one.”

  “Jareth, you know what she meant. We do.”

  “What are you two doing, harboring state secrets?”

  “Close. We’re luxury developers and contractors.”

  Lydia waited for Jareth to elaborate, and when he didn’t she asked, “How is that even remotely related?”

  “We build safe rooms and design houses with hidden passageways. We cater to Atlanta’s elite, as well as some state and local politicians. Carter handles the sales and talking to the prospective clients because I can’t be trusted to behave myself, but the rest of the work and such we do together.”

  “You called a Senator a sissy.”

  “If the shoe fits.”

  Lydia giggled softly and Jareth watched her in the rear view mirror, pleased with himself for drawing a smile out of her. She was young, but her long, wavy blonde hair and her bright blue eyes made her appear very vulnerable. It didn’t help that she was tiny; not more than a few inches over five feet. Jareth was still uneasy about bringing her back with them, but he understood why Carter had felt the need to protect her. Under different circumstances, he’d be willing to give his life to make sure she was happy.

  They topped the hill and the men looked at each other and smiled when she gasped.

  “There are a few perks to what we do,” Carter said.

  “Your house is amazing.”

  “We like it,” Jareth said. “We’ll set you up in the guest room and tomorrow, when you’re rested and have had a chance to recover a bit, we can talk about where you want to go.”

  “Oh, I don’t want to share that.”

  “That’s fine,” Carter jumped in. “But we’d like to help you. So you can give us a general area and we’ll buy you a plane ticket or something.”

  “Just like that? You’ll buy me a plane ticket?”

  “Unless you want a car.” She looked at the rear view mirror and at Jareth’s deep brown eyes crinkled with laughter.“It really doesn’t make a difference to us,” Carter said. “The sooner you’re rested and on your way, the quicker life can get back to normal and we don’t have to worry about Gavin finding out about you.”Lydia sat back, struck by their generosity. Were these guys for real? They seemed much too good to be true.

  *

  Jareth pulled the car up to the front of the house, putting it into park and killing the engine. He turned to Lydia, who was sitting stock-still in the back seat, staring at the house before her.

  “How are your legs feeling? Can you walk?”

  “I feel much better now that they’re getting some circulation. I think I’ll be fine.”

  She smiled weakly at him. Her legs still hurt and felt a little like lead, but she was feeling better already. It was amazing what food and being able to move more than a few inches would do.

  He opened the door, offering his arm to her. She looked at him for a moment, trying to decide if physical contact with him was such a good idea. Close up, he was imposing. But more than his commanding stature, he was breathtakingly gorgeous. It was as if he’d stepped out of a magazine and into real life. She finally gave in, putting one delicate arm through his and letting him steady her as she stood.

  Her legs were still sore and stiff, but she hadn’t been lying when she’d said they were much better. She was a little wobbly at first, but each step was easier, and within a few feet, she was able to walk without assistance. She tentatively let go of Jareth’s arm, smiling to herself when he took her cue and stepped aside. He stayed close, but he didn’t impose.

  Carter rushed to open the door for her, and Lydia inhaled sharply at the sight. The brightly lit entryway was the definition of opulent and included a gorgeous staircase that split a few stairs up and wrapped around the center of the room before coming together again. But by far, the most amazing feature of their house was the two-story waterfall in the center of the room. It wasn’t so much a waterfall as a water-ladder of sorts. Randomly placed rocks scaled the wall, providing a vertical maze for the water to trickle down softly on its way to the koi filled pond just behind the entrance to the staircase.

  The effect was exquisite and like nothing Lydia had ever seen. If she could, she would spend the rest of her life in this room.

  She shook her head, reminding herself that she couldn’t stay. She needed to get as far south as possible, and an hour’s drive from the Tennessee border just wasn’t going to cut it. Silly daydreams aside, there was no room in her life for such a place. As nice as Carter and Jareth were, she needed to say her goodbyes to them as quickly as possible.

  “It’s still early,” Carter began, startling her out of her reverie, “so maybe you want to see the guest room and the tub? We have it stocked for guests, though I’m not sure what we’re going to do in the way of clothes and shoes for you.”

  Lydia looked down at her bare feet and tattered jeans. She’d completely forgotten the shape of her clothes, but suddenly she felt filthy. Her hair was a matted mess, so dirty that the natural blonde barely showed through.

  Carter watched Lydia’s demeanor change at the mention of the tub and instantly felt bad. Anyone with eyes could see that she’d been through hell, and he hadn’t meant to make her feel self-conscious.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure out the clothing situation by the time you’re ready to come to dinner. In the meantime, can I show you to your accommodations?”

  “While he’s doing that, I’ll make sure there are some clothes for you to change into after you’ve bathed, as well as a small wardrobe for you to take with you when you go.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be alright with a pair of shoes and shirt if you have it. I can make do with the pants I have for now.”

  “Lydia, I know you’re trying to be humble and not to be a burden, but I’m not taking no for an answer. So, if you want to give me an idea of what you want, great. If not, you’ll be at my mercy. I have excellent taste in clothes, as Carter can attest, but this will go easier if you cooperate.”

  Lydia was grateful for their thoughtfulness, even if Jareth’s methods were a little crass.

  “Alright, since you insist. I wear a size six, and my shoe is a seven. I like blue and p
urple. No pink.”

  “Got it. Until then, Carter should have a t-shirt and some shorts you can use. Dinner isn’t until seven, so you can nap if you need to. It’s really up to you.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  She was overwhelmed by their kindness and tears sprang to her eyes. She fought them back, keeping them under wraps for now. Lydia saw Carter look at her and give her an encouraging smile. She didn’t know these men, and she had no intention of sharing her story with them. But, for the first time in her twenty-five years, she felt like someone gave a damn about who she was and what she wanted. More than the safe place to stay, and the promise of clothing that wasn’t tattered and worn, that gift of seeing her as something more than a possession was more than she’d ever received.

  Jareth looked as if he wanted to say something but turned away instead, heading back out the front entryway.

  “Where is he going?”

  “There’s a town not far away with a small clothing store. It won’t be anything designer or special, but at least you’ll have clean clothes that fit you and some shoes.”

  “That would be heavenly.”

  She started working her way up the stairs, her legs heavy as she went.

  “I could carry you, if you want?”

  “I don’t know, I-”

  Carter swept her off her feet, taking the stairs easily. She was curvy in all the right places, but her short stature meant she was light as a feather. In a few short moments, they were at the top of the stairs and Carter was setting her down once more.

  He motioned to the first door on their left, opening it for her and letting her walk inside ahead of him.

  He flipped on the light switch, illuminating the large room with soft, recessed lighting that seemed to radiate from every inch of the room. A velvet chaise lounge rested at the foot of the king-sized bed.

  “This room is amazing.”

  “Wait until you see the tub.” He winked at her, and she wondered if he meant to join her.

  He pushed open the double doors in the back of the room, flipping the switch and turning on more expertly recessed lighting.

  “This is like something out of a fairytale.”

  “I designed it myself. The tub fills up from the bottom and the thermostat is right here. There are jets in the tub, but once the water reaches the first ring of blue tiles, you can turn on the waterfall feature. You can sit under it and enjoy the jets and the water will keep filtering and heating itself.”

  “Would it be bad form to kick you out right now? I’m sure I can figure out the rest of the room without a tour.”

  Carter chuckled. “Of course not.”

  He ran his fingers along the flat wall, pressing gently and revealing a cabinet door recessed so perfectly that it gave the appearance of a smooth wall. He pulled a large, white fluffy robe out and two plush towels.

  “That wall is amazing. How many cabinets are there in this room?”

  “Ten. And a walk-in closet.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  She turned on the water, sliding her fingers along the wall beside the tub before she found the release. A small door sprung open, revealing a cache of expensive shampoos and bubble baths.

  “You’ll fit in just fine here. You can stay as long as you like.” He smiled at her over his shoulder as he was walking out of the bathroom, “And we’re not joking about the car. Ten grand on a car is chump change, so if you want a car to travel in, let us know.”

  She nodded, too overwhelmed to argue.

  How was she going to leave this place when the time came? For once in her crappy life, she felt safe.

  The door closed quietly behind Carter as he left, and Lydia went to the tub, eager to get in. She caught her reflection in the mirror and grimaced. The last few weeks of her life had been hard, but she’d had no idea the toll it had taken. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been allowed a bath, and her normally long, lustrous hair was ragged and flat. Only her bright blue eyes were recognizable beneath the filth.

  “It’s a wonder they even let me into their home,” she whispered out loud.

  Walking away from the girl of the last few weeks, she stepped away from the mirror and filled the tub. There were enough soaps, shampoos and conditioners in this bathroom to last a year. She may have walked into this bathroom a slightly broken and lost woman, but she was going to walk out on her own terms.

  And that transformation was going to have to start in the shower while the tub filled.

  ***

  A little over an hour later, a renewed and refreshed Lydia emerged from the bathroom. The robe was cozy and warm, and she was secretly glad it was currently her only article of clothing. She’d tried to salvage her shirt and pants, but really, they were long-past usable so she’d tossed them.

  The large bed beckoned to her. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in months, and she was ready to climb under the heavy blankets and hunker down for a short nap before dinner time.

  She slipped between the sheets, marveling at how soft everything was. Her eyes grew heavy the instant her head touched the soft, down pillow. Within a few moments, she was asleep, completely oblivious to the world around her.

  It was then that Jareth returned, arms laden down with his purchases in town. He’d gone a little overboard, buying enough pairs of jeans and soft shirts to last her a few weeks. The bra and panties had been another story altogether and he blushed at the memory of getting help from the woman in the fitting room.

  “What kind of panties does your wife prefer?”

  “She’s not my wife, she’s just a friend.”

  “Huh. And you’re buying her underwear?”

  He’d gotten exasperated with the woman pretty quickly.

  “Look, I need underwear for a friend who lost everything.”

  “Oh my gosh, was it a fire?”

  Jareth couldn’t take much more of the woman’s nosiness.

  “Yes, yes. It was a fire, now can you please just help me?”

  “Of course, how awful for her.”

  Jareth couldn’t get out of that store fast enough. If it wasn’t the only clothing store in town, he probably would have gone elsewhere.

  Completely unsure of her preferences and her cup size, he’d settled on cute bikini panties and matching sports bras. He wasn’t sure if that was what she liked, but looking at her lying there, scrubbed clean and no longer covered in the remnants of her ordeal, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he’d love to see her model the underthings he’d bought for her.

  Admonishing himself for being a pig, he ignored the fact that she was likely naked under the covers and unloaded the shopping bags onto the chaise lounge, folding everything neatly and taking his leave as quickly as possible. He didn’t want her to wake up and find him there. She’d had a rough enough time, he wasn’t about to make it worse for her by being a creep.

  He walked down the stairs, meeting Carter in the kitchen where he sat at the table, laptop open and scanning local cars for sale.

  “Looking for cars for Lydia?”

  “Is it crazy that I want to give her something, anything to put the light in those blue eyes?”

  “Not one bit.” Jareth chuckled to himself. “You should see how much clothing I bought her. She looks like an angel lying there, blonde hair fanned around her sweet face on the pillow. I thought she was pretty, but it turns out that she’s stunning.”

  “I wish I’d seen that.”

  Jareth passed his phone over, and Carter took it with a sly smile.

  “You’re a creep.”

  “It’s just her face. This time next week, it’ll be like this all didn’t happen, and I wanted to make sure I remembered her.”

  Carter passed the phone back to him.

  “You’re right, she looks like an angel, but you’re still an asshole for doing that.”

  “Fine,” Jareth said, deleting the picture with a swipe of his thumb. “Happy now?”

  “No, but mayb
e we’ll get lucky and she’ll pose for a picture before she leaves.”

  “Something tells me she doesn’t want there to be any record of her existence, so I doubt it.”

  “I think so too, Jareth. I get the feeling that she was running from something much worse than being shackled and forced into servitude by the men at that compound. She didn’t even seem traumatized.”

  “I got that impression from her too.”

  “I just wish that there was some way we could find out without trying to draw it out of her. I’m a little afraid she’ll run if pushed.”

  “I get you, man. She wants to be gone tomorrow, and I don’t want to see her go. But the woman is running scared and she’s stubborn on top of that. She’s going to walk out of our lives as quickly as she showed up. The least we can do is send her away better than we found her.”

  “I was hoping you’d agree.”

  Their conversation was cut short when the chef came in for the dinner shift.

  “Gentleman.” He nodded to Jareth and Carter in greeting.

  “Hey, Spencer. We’re going to have an extra place setting tonight. I was thinking about chicken and roasted vegetables if that’s alright with you.”

  Carter tempered the request with a smile and the mention of a bonus for the night. Spencer was a consummate professional, but he was fussy like many of the professional chefs featured on the widely popular food shows. When his plans were altered, even slightly, he tended to get a little snarky.

  “You can go home as soon as you’re done cooking as well,” Jareth offered.

  “An early night would be a welcome change.”

  “Exactly,” Jareth agreed, a little too enthusiastic. “You deserve it.”

  “Chicken and roasted vegetables won’t take any time at all.”

  Spencer was smiling now, genuinely happy to leave work early. It was a rare treat and both men breathed a sigh of relief when he all but skipped into the kitchen without so much as questioning the sudden change in plans.

  There was a soft ding from the computer, notifying Carter that someone was at the gate. He pulled up the security camera and groaned aloud.

  “What is he doing here?”

  “Who is it?”