by Celia Kyle
Not expecting problems didn’t mean they weren’t prepared, though. They looked like a few casual guys sporting jeans and t-shirts, just heading to the pride’s airstrip to pick up a visitor. Beneath their clothes, they each had a gun secured in a holster at their lower backs and another at their ankles. That’d help in a long-range battle but if it became a close fight, well, they had claws and fangs. They’d keep Veronica safe as they moved from the hangar to the SUV and then to the Wild.
He shut the door behind him, and they moved toward the massive open hangar doors.
Braden heard her before he saw her, her laugh flying through the wind and hitting him like a two by four. His tiger roared, anxious to be at Veronica’s side. They couldn’t protect her if they weren’t with her, and they knew she was a target.
Yeah, he heard her, but the longer her joyous laugh continued, the quicker his tiger’s jealousy abated. Weird and unexpected. Joyous? Was that what he’d thought? No, it was anything but happy. Now that he listened and cataloged the sound, he quickly realized the chuckle wasn’t carefree. It was strained and brittle. Fake. Forced. There was no missing the jagged edge and the unease that filled the tone.
“She’s pretty damned happy for a woman who’s in danger,” Murphy’s murmur reached him.
His friend and subordinate didn’t hear the difference between the Veronica they were about to see and the one they’d dropped off not two days ago.
Braden did.
“Yeah,” he returned, not ready to share her true feelings. If she wanted others to know she was afraid and uncomfortable, she could tell them.
Their trio rounded the corner and he swallowed the snarl that leaped to his lips. There was Veronica, all sassy fire and sex, standing beside her suitcase and chatting up the pilot. She laughed again, and the human stepped forward, his eyes sliding over her curvy form. The gaze lingered on her breasts and then her hips before returning to her face, and Braden fought to restrain his beast. He didn’t want anyone else looking at her like they couldn’t wait to get her alone and bent over a couch. A growl rose, vibrating in the back of his throat, and he shoved it down. The pride couldn’t afford him threatening a non-shifter for getting too close to his…
To Veronica.
When the human moved closer, she stepped back, the smile still in place. He searched her expression, noting the tightness around her eyes and the white-knuckled grip she had on the handle of her suitcase.
It didn’t take long for Gannon to catch what Braden saw and concern tinged the male’s voice. “Second?”
The murmur caught Veronica’s notice, and she swung her attention to them. Her recognition was instant, the taut skin relaxing, and her smile widened into one that was real and no longer forced.
Then her eyes sparkled, those lips twisting into a teasing grin. “Pussies! You finally made it.”
He ignored her taunting and swung his attention to the human. The tiger snarled inside his mind, furious this male thought he could encroach on their territory.
Their territory?
Their-fucking-territory, the cat assured him.
Masochistic beast. There was no way they’d get anywhere with Veronica without getting their ass handed to them—by her father. The man wasn’t keen on tigers, but he was working toward playing nicely. The Barringtons loved Zoe like a daughter, and Talia Barrington told her mate she wasn’t gonna stop now just because she suddenly grew fur.
Talia’s words didn’t mean the national couple wanted Veronica anywhere near him.
Braden didn’t stop his approach until he reached the duo. Instead of going to her side, he moved between Veronica and the human. He pushed the male aside with his chest, forcing him to stumble backward, and surprised eyes met his.
He didn’t give the man a chance to speak. “Don’t you have another flight on your schedule? I thought you were picking up the alpha’s cousins from south Florida.”
Ares thought flying in some other females—their cousins Claire’s age—would help his sister cope with what happened. The male was at wits’ end trying to support the young tigress. She stayed alone all the time, hardly speaking, and refusing to talk to their parents on the phone, let alone agree to have them visit.
“I-I-I…” the human stammered. “I filed a revised flight plan and spoke with their mother and told her—”
“You called a member of the national alpha’s family and told them they couldn’t visit Ares as promised? As scheduled?” His cat raged at the disrespect. How dare he—how dare he. His tiger saw it as a direct challenge to his alpha, and by extension a challenge to him.
Ares’s word was law, and Braden enforced each syllable.
His dominance whipped around him like an invisible cloak. It was a living, breathing part of him that stretched toward the male and demanded obedience. He might be second-in-command to the national tiger alpha, but in his heart, he was all alpha, subordinate to Ares and only Ares. He was power personified, strength realized, and feral instinct in the flesh.
“You purposefully delayed a reunion between the national alpha and his family?” Braden took a deep breath, the suffocating wave of dominance spreading farther.
“No one was here, and I-I-I was going to take Ronnie—”
Braden growled, the tiger pushing past his leash and shoving the sound from his lips. Ronnie? To this human? Never. “Miss Barrington.”
“I thought I’d take M-m-miss—”
This time it was a snarl, his lips twisting as he bared his fangs at the male. He thought he’d take Veronica somewhere? That Braden would allow such a thing?
Never.
No human—no male—would ever take his female and…
Dammit. She wasn’t his.
She is, the cat assured him. Again. Fucking cat. Couldn’t it leave well enough alone? He wasn’t mate material, and he sure as hell couldn’t mate a wolf.
The beast assured him they could.
Fucker.
A soft, delicate hand rested between his shoulder blades, the palm gentle as she stroked him. Veronica. Her scent intensified, the sweetness slipping into his nose, and he didn’t sense one ounce of unease or fear from her. Not like what he got from Gannon and Murphy. The males weren’t fans of Braden’s actions.
If anything, Braden caught a hint of happiness from Veronica. At his arrival? His presence? Or merely because he’d interfered on her behalf?
“You are not taking Miss Barrington anywhere,” he assured the pilot. “In fact, you are no longer employed by the national tiger pride. Employee Resources,” —tigers refused to call it human resources— “will provide you with your final payment tomorrow.”
“What?” The pilot stepped closer. “You can’t—”
Gannon was first to move, Murphy taking his place at Braden’s side as the large tiger pushed the human back. “He can and did. Be happy you’re only being fired. If Alpha were here, you’d be bleeding on the street… or worse.”
They all knew that wasn’t true. Braden was more likely to snap than Ares. It was part of the reason he didn’t have his own pride. He tended to have two settings—calm and furious. When it came to disrespect, there was only one option, and it sure as hell wasn’t calm.
The pilot opened his mouth, as if to argue, and Braden growled low, the sound rushing forward once more. No amount of petting kept him quiet. Veronica’s touch was only able to do so much.
If they were mated, though… Well, he was sure a mate could soothe him fully.
Mate?
The tiger huffed at him as though he were an idiot.
Braden wasn’t dumb, just slow sometimes. Fuck. Mate. He understood the level of his anger now.
“Gannon, get him the fuck out of here. Murphy, call Ares and tell him what’s going on, and remind him the bears are in north Florida. We all want to play well with others, so they’ll probably let us borrow a plane and a pilot for a little while. Once that’s done, both of you meet me at the SUV.” He half-turned and grabbed Veronica’s hand befor
e she could retreat. The feeling of skin on skin was so much better than her palm on cloth. It had an immediate effect on the cat, stroking its fur with invisible fingers as a wave of calm slipped over him.
Mate, it reminded him. As if he’d forget. He sensed the connection that could form between them. Could, but he wasn’t sure it would.
Wolves mated during sex, by partners getting each other to let go and howl with pleasure. He’d have to fight to get her to howl, but he knew how to please a woman. He didn’t think that would be a problem. It just might take time.
For tigers, though… Tigers shared a bite like many other shifters, but the true mating act came from tugging each other’s tails. It sounded so dumb when said out loud, but the truth was anything but frivolous.
It wasn’t about fucking. It was about cunning and strength. Tail tugging meant the two tigers fought and were evenly matched. It was a delicate balance between submission and dominance. If one was more powerful than the other… at best, it ended with one tiger giving up after moments and turning its back on a perspective mate. The animal uncaring for the couple’s human feelings. A tiger couldn’t mate a much weaker feline.
At worst, the ceremony ended in death.
Regardless, the couple had one shot. One. It either happened when they faced off or it didn’t, and there were no do-overs. Ever.
How the hell would the huge tiger handle a little wolf mate trying to tug its tail?
Staring into Veronica’s pale eyes, watching them shift between blue and amber, he wasn’t sure.
And he didn’t want to risk finding out and losing her forever.
Chapter Three
Ronnie refused to reveal any outward sign she was relieved by Braden’s arrival. It just wasn’t happening. She couldn’t give her feelings away, not when she wasn’t prepared to act on them. Ever. They needed to stick to the whole antagonistic, half-flirting, half-growling relationship they had.
It was safer. Way safer, no matter what her inner wolf said.
And it had a lot to say now that they were in the tiger second’s presence once more. A. Lot. And it didn’t just say things. It howled, it growled, and the stupid animal even whimpered when his hand enveloped hers.
Whimpered. The national wolf alpha’s daughter whimpered.
Maybe she was drugged. That could be the only reason her wolf reacted to the tiger in such a strong way.
Braden snatched her suitcase. Then they headed toward the massive doors, leaving the other two tigers to do as he ordered. She was happy to escape the oppressive space. She hadn’t realized how heavy the human’s desire weighed on her until she escaped the aroma. She’d scented it easily, the flavors battering her during the hours it took to travel from the Lakes to the Den. She thought she’d be free once they landed, but somehow they’d arrived early.
Which left her with the human.
The slimy-smelling, leering human. The wolf snarled its objection at his nearness, and she’d battled the animal to keep her fur and fangs at bay. Each time he got closer, it became a fiercer fight.
Braden’s grip tightened, and they slowed as they reached the hangar’s opening. He paused, peeking around the corner, and then led her to the waiting black SUV. Instead of heading to the passenger doors, they stopped at the front bumper. His scent transformed from one burning with anger and suppressed violence to the smoky edge of concern.
He released her suitcase and tugged her closer, capturing her other hand. “Are you okay?” he murmured.
Ronnie rolled her eyes and plastered a grin in place. “Of course. Tired of waiting, but I’m good, pussy-boy.”
If she insulted him, maybe he wouldn’t mention her rising terror moments ago.
“Uh-huh.” He released one hand and pulled her nearer as he cupped her cheek. “Try again.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m exhausted, that’s it.” She twitched and tried to jerk away from the tender touch, but he changed his hold until he gently gripped the back of her neck.
“You’re not gonna tell me what had you scared in there?”
No, she sure as hell wasn’t. She wasn’t going to reveal the truth about DoPE’s little visit to her house. She wouldn’t tell anyone about how she panicked and froze when they inched close. “Nope.”
“Veronica…”
She’d always hated her name. Until she met Braden and heard it falling from his lips. Now she knew why. The wolf wanted the tiger. She corrected him out of habit anyway. “Ronnie.”
“I mean it, Veronica. Do I need to go back in there and teach him not to touch what belongs to me?” Her heart picked up at the verbal claiming, but then he snatched the words back. “I mean, the pride.”
The action dashed whatever hint of hope sparked with his statement and she ignored her disappointment. She didn’t want to mate the tiger, remember?
“No,” she couldn’t resist touching him and laid her free hand over his heart. His warmth traveled through the thin fabric, and her animal practically purred—even if it was a wolf—with the connection. It enjoyed the contact way too much, especially since they weren't going to do anything about its mately leanings. The wolf actually snorted, practically calling her an idiot. “He only kept me company.”
“You were scared.”
Sometimes she hated being around shifters who could scent her emotions. Like, a lot. “Fine. I was annoyed, and I was afraid I’d have to kick the pilot’s ass if he got handsy. The public is pissy enough. We don’t need more bad press.” She rolled her eyes and gave him a rueful grin. “Ripping off the guy’s arm because he touched me would definitely qualify as bad press.”
“Uh-huh.” Braden eased backward until he rested against the vehicle’s bumper and drew her along with him until barely an inch separated their bodies. “You can tell me the truth.”
Ronnie swallowed hard and twitched against his hold once more. “I did.”
“You keep lying to yourself then.” He released her hand and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her even closer until her curves aligned with his hard muscles. She should push him away, wrench out of his hold and snarl at him for getting frisky.
But the wolf remembered the last time he’d tugged her this close, the last time he’d whispered in her ear, his lips brushing the shell and then lowering to nuzzle her neck. “I’ll see you next time, baby.”
She’d tried to snarl and growl at him then, too, but her inner animal hadn’t complied. It’d whimpered and whined, wanting to remain in Wilden no matter her father’s orders. It enjoyed the quiet breakfasts too much—the time before the rest of the house woke—and it was just her and Braden in the kitchen.
Or the late nights when her best friend, Zoe and her mate, Ares, found their beds and her family retreated to their rooms at the Wilden Inn. When she’d quietly wiggle closer to him and then lean into his side when he lifted his arm for her. They didn’t talk, merely snuggled close, and she told herself she allowed it because wolves needed the touch of others. They were pack animals.
Puppy piles were actually a thing.
They’d stay that way, scents and bodies twining in the darkness until it grew late, and then he’d quietly walk her to the inn. There’d only been one time they hadn’t followed the same ritual—the night before she’d left. They’d remained on the couch except this time he wasn’t passive—neither were. Hands stroked, legs entwined, and mouths… she still remembered the taste of his skin, and those thoughts had her pussy dampening and clenching with need.
Braden ran his nose along the column of her throat and then nipped her, sending a bolt of arousal down her spine. Her clit twitched, silently begging to be stroked, and Ronnie swallowed the whimper that threatened to surface.
“It’s good to see you again.” His voice rumbled through her.
It was damn good to be seen. And touched. And comforted. The tension she’d carried from the Lakes to the Den slowly ebbed, and she allowed herself to lean into his embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder
and breathed deeply, allowing his scent to fill her lungs.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into him. Relief was a welcome emotion, and for every second she remained in his hold, she tried to convince herself that her comfort with the tiger definitely wasn’t because her animal thought of the male as her mate.
At all.
Ever.
He is, the wolf confirmed.
Didn’t it remember what happened last time they tried to do the mate thing? Ronnie’s human half would never forget.
The beast fell silent, leaving her human mind alone like it had since they’d left Wilden two days ago.
Braden captured her flesh between his teeth and bit down with purpose, the pain forcing a shudder to overtake her form. It piqued the animal’s interest once again, the wolf spinning and racing back to the front of her thoughts. It craved his bite, a physical manifestation she belonged to him.
God, would her entire visit be a battle of wills? Human versus animal?
She had a feeling it would.
Ronnie whined and tilted her head to the side, giving the tiger more room. This was what should have happened on the last night. Amidst the soft touches and passionate kisses, he should have bitten her.
He released her and laved a gentle brush of his tongue over the throbbing spot. That gentle touch aroused her further, and she rocked her hips against him, trying to soothe the ache between her thighs. His cock was hard against her hip, proof she still aroused him and he desired her. She writhed, unable to stop herself. His dick twitched and seemed to grow more. They hadn’t gone far past kissing, and her hands tingled with the desire to stroke him. She wanted to caress him everywhere, explore each carved muscle with her fingers… with her mouth.
Now. Now would be good.
Except a low cough snuck into her ears, reminding her they weren’t alone. Nope, they were outside, in full view of damn near everyone. Sure, the SUV was between them and the road, but that didn’t mean a cameraman couldn’t find an angle that would capture them.
Great. Just what her father would love to see—Ronnie’s name in the papers, along with a picture of her wrapped around a pussy.