She raised her hand, halting Evie’s words. “Tomorrow.”
Thankfully, Nicolas seemed to understand that reminding the frightened woman of his presence was a bad idea, so he held his tongue. Evie managed to maintain her own silence until they parked, got out of the car, and they made it all the way inside. Then she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“I’ve been there. I understand that it can be really frightening.” Evie reached for the woman, but Annabel stepped back.
“I’m taking a sleeping pill and going to bed. I really don’t want to talk about this tonight.”
Evie nodded, and Annabel looked relieved. She quickly muttered good night and headed to the other side of the condo where her room was.
Evie’s stomach twisted and her throat tightened. What a night it had been. The master vampire had been almost…human. At first. But that was somehow worse. And then the vampire that had led Annabel in… No wonder the woman was upset. The man had only hissed at her, revealing fangs, but his reaction had obviously been a threat. And what could Annabel have done against such a foe? Nothing. Just like if the master vampire had decided to turn on them tonight. Evie wouldn’t have been able to do jack.
Tired, she managed to brush her teeth and take a quick shower. The water cleared her head a bit but did nothing for her exhaustion. When she got out of the bathroom, Nicolas was waiting for her, leaning against the hallway wall.
“Annabel will be fine,” he reassured her.
She couldn’t breathe right. None of this was turning out how she’d expected. She was sick and tired of being scared. Moreover, she was sick and tired of feeling like she was in an alien world.
“Annabel seems tough,” he added. “Some humans aren’t meant to know about this world—that’s why Corbin offered to take that knowledge from her. I know it sounds crazy, but I think he was trying to do the right thing.”
“Maybe she’ll get over it, maybe she won’t. Maybe all humans aren’t meant to be in your world.” The words sounded bitter, even to her own ears.
Nicolas’s eyes widened. “This isn’t about Annabel at all, is it?”
“Not entirely,” she confessed.
“What are you saying?”
She wrapped her arms around her middle and tried to put a voice to the fears, the doubts, that had been roiling inside her since they’d arrived at his clan’s home. “I don’t know. I just—how can I fit into your world? How will I ever fit?”
“If this is about the vampires—”
“No. Not just that. It’s all of it. Your brother’s people. The tigers here.” She sucked in a haggard breath. “I just—how can I be anything but a liability to you? A constant weakness for your enemies to exploit? A thorn in your side that the other shifters will never accept?”
He closed the gap between them, pushing her back against the wall. He pressed his face into her neck and took in her scent. When he pulled away enough to look at her, his expression was fierce, feral. And his eyes glowed with an amber light. “You are my strength. My focus. My reason for being. Without you, none of it matters.” He pressed a soft kiss against her forehead. “If you ask it of me, I will leave it all behind. My heritage. My clan. My family.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but he stopped her with a small, soft press of his index finger against her lips. “Don’t answer me now. I want you to think about this, carefully. Because your happiness is my purpose.”
His hand moved up to cup her neck. And his lips came down to kiss her, long and slow. In that moment, her worry and fear disappeared. There was only the two of them. And they were all that mattered in the world.
Chapter Six
Need surged through him when her body immediately surrendered to his. She melted, pressing her breasts against his chest as her arms wrapped around him.
Mine.
He hadn’t lied. This was what he fought for. This was what he lived for. This meant everything. And at the end of the day, he’d sacrifice the world to keep her.
A low moan escaped her lips, and he moved down to kiss, lick, and nibble her neck. Her breath was ragged, and he reached between them to cup her sex.
“Nicolas,” she cried, pressing hard against his hand.
“Mine.” The word was pulled from his chest. Claim and truth rolled into one syllable.
“Yes,” she said. “Always.”
He growled and picked her up. It no longer mattered that they were in someone else’s home. In a city full of strange tigers and stranger vampires. He had to be with his mate. Take her. Claim her. Brand her with his touch so she never again doubted she was his.
The tiger inside of him needed to dominate.
He set her onto her feet in front of their bed, and then slipped her shirt off over her head. She looked at him—lips swollen and cheeks flushed, the scent of her arousal filling the air—and his breath left him.
“So damn beautiful.”
She bit her lip at the compliment and reached for him. He stepped back, and her brows scrunched in the most adorable way.
“Not yet, city girl,” he murmured, and she grinned.
“Better hurry up, country boy.”
But he didn’t rush. His hands shook with the effort of it. More than anything, he wanted to grow his claws and tear every shred of clothing from her body. Thrust himself into her waiting heat. Take her hard until neither of them could remember anything but each other.
But that would have to wait.
Slowly, he plucked each piece of clothing from her body, one by one. When he finally got to her underwear, she held on to his shoulders for balance as he helped her step out of the last bit of material. Her nails dug into his skin.
“Please, Nicolas.”
He stayed on his knees in front of her, and without replying, took one of her nipples into his mouth.
She gasped and arched toward him. Careful not to touch her where she needed him most, he suckled softly and held her hips. Sliding one hand around to caress the gentle slope of her ass, he bit down on her nipple. A long shudder escaped her, and she whimpered.
His control escaped him. He rose up and took her mouth. Ravenously, he kissed her. Plunging his tongue into her mouth over and over. Taking her. She returned his kiss just as fervently.
She’d always been so damn responsive. Ever since the first night they’d been together—three years ago after he’d saved her life—she’d never failed to amaze him with her passion. With her hunger for him. That night, he’d made her come by playing with her breasts alone. Something that she had never done before—a fact that gave him deep satisfaction. But he didn’t have the patience for that tonight. He had to claim her.
Overwhelmed, he kissed her harder while she moaned against his lips and clawed his shoulders. Her body arched against him as she tried to get closer.
The need to take her rushed through him, and he pulled back. His cock was as hard as a fucking rock. And her pussy was hot and wet and ready for him—he could taste her arousal in the air. The bed was so close, but he was still too far away. The need to touch her, taste her, drove him wild. Mindless.
He swept her into his arms. His lips closed over hers even as he closed the distance between them and the bed. Gently, he lowered her onto the mattress. He knelt over her and took in her lovely form.
Beautiful.
“How the hell did I get so lucky?” he murmured
She gave him a mischievous grin. “I have no idea.” Her smile widened, but her cheeks were flushed with passion, her nipples as hard as pebbles.
Forcing himself to move at the leisurely speed she deserved was almost impossible, but he managed to slow his frenetic pace slightly. He kissed and licked his way down her neck, over the soft, silky skin that covered her collarbone.
Fuck. Her skin tasted good.
Finally, he made his way back down to her breasts. He suckled one of her nipples before moving to the other. Her mischievous grin disappeared as he watched. Until she was shuddering, straining against him. He tugge
d at her tender flesh with his teeth, sucked her into his mouth, kissed her softly to ease any pain.
“Nicolas, please!”
He ignored the demand, the order in her tone. She was his mate, and he was determined to claim her the way he wanted to.
She urged him on, neatly trimmed nails digging into his shoulders. And for a moment, he paused. They were from such different worlds. She wasn’t wrong about that. And he was only now coming to understand how dangerous his world was to someone human.
So easy to kill.
His world was full of creatures who could kill her with a single gesture. Weretigers, vampires, other shifters, and worse. It was selfish—deeply selfish—for him to insist she live in this world with him. But he couldn’t let her go. He was too fucking greedy to release her. A better man would send her away, to somewhere safe. Back to her very human life.
He just wasn’t that good of a man.
Slowly, he worked his way down to her stomach, nibbling her skin. She moaned when he reached her thigh, teasing around the edge of her sex.
“Did you want something?” He arched a brow at her from between her legs.
She growled at him, doing an excellent impression of a weretiger. “Nicolas, now.” The words were said through gritted teeth, and he lowered his face to hide the smile.
“I love to hear you beg, city girl.” Before she could open her mouth to snarl at him again, he pressed a soft kiss against her clit. Whatever response she’d had planned for him was lost as her body went completely still.
Using his fingers, he rubbed her clit as he plunged his tongue into her pussy. A quick breath escaped her, but her fingers digging into his shoulder egged him on.
God, just like this. She tasted of sweetness and home.
He moved his mouth up to tease her clit, and slid two fingers inside her silken, wet passage. Just as he’d known she would be, she was ready for him. So ready. He stroked her inside, sucking and teasing her clit as he fucked her with his fingers.
The climax rolled through her, and she arched against him as the cry escaped her. He felt her shiver and shudder around his fingers, and her body, covered with the sheen of perspiration, shook.
Yes, that’s it. Come for me. Only me.
Possessiveness overwhelmed him, and he moved up over her body, intent on taking his mate.
He reached for the fly on his pants, but she grabbed it before him, helping him out of his jeans as quickly she could. Even as he moved over her, she stroked him. Touched him. Slid her soft fingers down his skin. Down his chest to rest on his cock.
His penis jutted toward her, moist at the tip. And she took it with all the confidence of a woman who knew exactly how to please her man.
She closed her fingers around him, and he almost came at the caress. No matter how many times she touched him, how many times he took her, he would never get used to the amazing feeling of her. Her touch would always take his breath away.
He gasped as she worked him with her hand, and some of the mischievousness returned to her eyes.
“I need to come inside you,” he said.
“There will be plenty of time for that,” she promised. Then, pushing him back to his knees so she could reach all of him, she took his penis into her mouth.
He hissed and, unable to help himself, his hips thrust toward her. She took him like only she could, closing her lips around him and moving with him, accepting every inch of his cock down her throat. He tried to calm himself, but she moved over him, taking every inch. She brought him to the edge, making him forget his promise to come inside her pussy. Only she could do this—make him more the animal inside than the man. Make him need with such frenzy.
He had to take her. Soon.
Before he could say anything, she pulled away, just far enough to speak to him. “I need you to fuck me.”
He’d never wanted anything so badly. Roughly, he pushed her back before settling his much larger body over her small one. For the briefest of moments, he paused. She was so fucking beautiful. The passion in her gaze, the way her body desired his. The way her perfect breasts, generous hips, and lush lips spelled out femininity. And beneath all the beauty, she was the best fucking person he’d ever known.
But right now, lust was fierce in her expression. Just as he knew it was in his own.
He reached between them to play with her clit again and slipped a finger inside of her.
He took her mouth again, plunging his tongue inside of her as his cock moved toward her heat. Her hand came between them, and she tugged him hard, drawing a moan from him that she captured with her own mouth. She guided him to her entrance, rubbing the head of his cock against her opening.
God, she was so fucking wet.
Unable to slow himself, he plunged inside of her. Her tight, soaked channel clenched around him, and she cried out. But her hips rose to meet his, and her hands came around to grip his ass. To help drive him inside of her even farther.
He paused a moment to try to let her body adjust to his size, but she would have none of it. Her hips moved up and down, fucking him with abandon. Grinding his teeth against the amazing sensation, he found he couldn’t resist. He had to rut. Had to fuck her. Had to claim his mate.
Harder and harder, he took her, pinning her with his own body. Beneath him, she slowed, arching her hips toward him. Content to take what he would give her. The energy between them rose and he could feel the orgasm at the edge of his vision. He had to calm down.
No way in hell was he coming first.
“You owe me another orgasm,” he said gruffly into her hair. “Give it to me.” He reached between them and took her clit between his index finger and thumb, pinching it. At the same time, he curled his other hand into her hair, pulling her neck back so he could kiss her deeper.
Her body went stiff, and her fingers dug into him hard enough to draw blood. The orgasm rocked through her body, and her pussy clamped around his cock. He fucked her deeper, taking his hand away from her clit to brace himself against the bed. Thrusting in and out of her as fast as he could, as hard as he could, he let go.
The amazing pressure that had been building inside of him unfurled, and his movements became wild, uncontrolled. Finally, his cock jerked inside of her, and his penis shot over and over as the orgasm overtook him. Still he moved, unable to stop taking her. Taking his mate.
Finally, the world settled, and he slowed. Breathless against each other, neither of them moved for a very long time.
Chapter Seven
Evie woke to the slightest sliver of light peaking in through the window. She stretched, movements hampered by a weighty arm tossed around her middle. She snuggled closer to Nicolas for a moment, taking in his masculine, clean scent, and wondered how she could’ve ever considered letting him go.
Could I live without you?
That wasn’t a question she ever wanted answered, not really. He made life worth living. And she would deal with whatever weretiger politics she had to, whatever vampire power plays necessary, whatever bullshit his brother wanted to throw at them. If only it meant she could be with her mate.
She hadn’t really understood what that meant until now. Her concept of loving someone, committing to them, had still been so human. But Nicolas wasn’t a human. And even though she was, her idea of what it meant to be mated to someone had shifted irrevocably. Without him, life was no longer worth living.
With Nicolas, she was whole.
Taking care not to wake him, she slid from beneath his arm and out of the bed. She grabbed her robe off the dresser then turned to look at him. The worry scrunching his brow faded in sleep. He looked so relaxed, so satisfied. She smiled. He wasn’t the only one.
She slipped out of the bedroom and headed toward the living room. Through the sliding glass doors, she could see Annabel sitting on her balcony. She had pulled one of the chairs away from the outdoor table and was sitting on it, facing away from the building.
Evie frowned. Annabel’s life had changed drasticall
y in a short amount of time. Was this something she could deal with? Evie had been forced to, because without accepting this world, she couldn’t have accepted Nicolas.
But it sure would’ve been nice to have another human to talk to when she had found out about this world.
Decided, she slipped into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. Annabel didn’t look like she was going anywhere soon, and Evie needed the pick-me-up after the passionate night. When enough had brewed for two cups, she filled them and headed for the back door. Careful not to spill, she tapped on the glass.
Annabel started, glancing over her shoulder at Evie. When she saw the other woman, tension seemed to melt out of her shoulders. It was no wonder, really. Her first encounter with things that went bump in the night, and she’d gotten hissed at by a vampire and a weretiger. She’d probably be looking over her shoulder for weeks.
Annabel opened the door, and Evie slipped outside. This conversation needed to be private. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Nicolas to be gentle with Annabel, but she was certain the human wasn’t nearly as comfortable around Nicolas as she had been the day before.
Annabel shut the door behind her and followed her back to the table.
“Can’t sleep?” she asked, setting the coffee down on the table next Annabel’s chair. Then she walked around to the other side of the small table and sat down. The other woman followed her example, but she didn’t exactly look relaxed.
“I don’t know if it was the stress or the Ambien, but I was out like a light. For about five hours.” Annabel smiled ruefully and sipped the coffee. But she didn’t look at Evie. Instead, her gaze stayed focused on the horizon. The sunrise barely began to peek over the edge.
“It’s a lot to take in. Especially the way that you found out.”
“It’s… It doesn’t feel real,” Annabel confessed. “I mean, I know I saw them with my own eyes. I couldn’t forget it if I tried. And yet—”
“Feels like you were watching a movie or something, doesn’t it?”
“More like a dream,” Annabel said. “Or nightmare.”
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