Tiger by the Tail

by Shelley Munro

  “Hey, mind out of the gutter,” Joe snapped.

  “Put on your clothes,” Sly said, after a furtive glance at Hari’s groin.

  Grinning, Hari released Jake’s hand and stood to pull on his boxer-briefs and jeans. He was aware of the close attention Jake paid him, which made dressing a bit difficult.

  “I wish I had a cold,” Sly said wryly.

  “Yeah, you two are letting off enough pheromones to pollute the entire town of Middlemarch.”

  “Not my fault,” Hari said.

  Jake stood and strode to the door of the cell. His hands clenched the bars and worry spurted through Hari. Before he could do anything, Jake whirled around.

  “I don’t understand any of this. Before Hari came, I’d never looked at another guy for sex. I had plenty of women and wasn’t interested in changing my habits. Why have I changed so suddenly? Have you done something to me?”

  “No.” Hari shot a helpless look at Joe and Sly, silently imploring them to help. Luckily they seemed to catch the hint.

  “Feline shifters have relationships just like humans,” Joe said. “But there are some people who are perfect for us—both physically and mentally. They complete us.”

  “Mates,” Hari said, spelling it out.

  Jake’s eyes widened. “What does that mean? What’s different about a mate?”

  “Having a mate means that you’re not interested in anyone else. You physically can’t have sex with another person when you’re officially mated. Not while your mate is alive.”

  “Officially?”

  “Shifters exchange bites. Here.” Hari gestured at his neck—the fleshy part where shoulder and neck met. “The bites heal quickly, but during the bite, enzymes are exchanged that help bind a couple. They become mates.”

  “How do you know if someone has a mate?” Jake asked, fascinated despite himself. An entire world he’d never known about and it had been right under his nose.

  “The bite leaves a slightly raised scar that’s very sensitive to the touch. The mates start to smell different to other shifters as well.” Sly took over the telling.

  “Is that why you guys are always doing that weird sniffing thing all the time?”

  Joe laughed. “We’re so used to having you around that we forget you’re not a feline. We were more circumspect while we were at university.”

  “Anything else I should know?” Jake asked. “What about kids? How old are you before you can shift to big cats?”

  “We’re born human and start to shift around puberty—twelve or thirteen. Much like humans, it depends on the individual,” Sly said. “Joe and I could shift at age thirteen.”

  “Interesting,” Jake said. “What about you, Hari? When did you first shift?”

  “When I turned eleven. I have lots of cousins and the two the same age as me were giving me a hard time. I lost my temper and shifted. It scared the bejeepers out of them.” Hari laughed, although recalling the moment didn’t exactly bring happy memories. His oldest cousin had shifted and sliced his face and shoulder with his claws. For some reason the wounds had never healed properly, leaving both face and shoulder scarred. His uncle called them a badge of honor. Hari had remained wary of that particular cousin ever since the clawing incident. He was fiercely glad he’d managed to sneak Ambar’s picture before his cousin of the same age had seen it. Ambar belonged with him and Jake, not with his arrogant cousin.

  Hari caught Jake’s hand as he paced past and pulled him closer. He desperately needed Jake’s touch, to know Jake felt something for him. The unusual insecurity didn’t sit well with him or his feline. He yanked Jake down beside him.

  “Stay,” he barked when Jake would have scrambled to his feet.

  Sly sniggered and Hari found a focus for his angst. His growl deepened, his top lip curling up to reveal his sharp canines.

  Joe grabbed Sly’s shoulder and shook him. “Quit mucking around. He’s close to the edge because they haven’t mated yet. Stop pushing him.”

  Hari gripped Jake’s shoulder, breathed in his scent and closed his eyes, trying to wrest back control. His chest rose and fell, and he was aware of Jake’s quiet breaths, the taut way he was holding his body. “Please,” he whispered into Jake’s ear. “Please let me hold you.” Hari opened his eyes and sent a silent plea to Jake. Jake’s blue eyes darkened. He remained tense for long moments before relaxing, his head lowering in a clipped nod. “We might as well try to sleep,” he said in a low voice. “Lie down.” A faint tide of color swept into his cheeks and he sent an uncertain glance toward the twins.

  “Ignore them.” Hari tugged Jake down beside him on the narrow cot, sighing softly as their bodies touched.

  “As long as you don’t forget we’re here,” Sly said.

  “Not much chance of that with the way you keep yammering,” Hari retorted.

  The cot was small for one large man and it was pretty crowded with both of them. Jake fidgeted, the close proximity of the other man having a predictable reaction on his body. Hari’s cock lengthened until it pushed painfully against his fly. Jake moved again, turning to face him.

  Hari was vaguely aware of Sly and Joe talking quietly while sitting on the other cot bed. Thankfully, they’d given up needling or watching them.

  Jake’s warm breath whispered over his chin, and Hari couldn’t help himself. He leaned in, angling his head to capture Jake’s lips with his. Jake made a surprised sound and froze when their lips touched. Hari knew he was worried about the twins’ presence, but if they knew what was good for them they’d remain silent. All he wanted was a kiss or two then he hoped to go to sleep with Jake in his arms. He’d leave everything else to a time when they had the luxury of privacy.

  Hari kept the kiss soft and gentle, coaxing Jake into returning it. He wanted acquiescence and participation, just a hint that Jake really did want him in return. There he was, second-guessing again. Hari couldn’t remember a moment when he’d felt more off-balance. Silently seeking reassurance, he deepened the kiss, wanting to taste Jake, make them both shake with need.

  Jake moaned and pressed closer, the needy sound sinking straight to Hari’s balls. God, he might not have experience making love to another man, but he sure as hell hungered for him. As much as he’d enjoyed making love with Ambar, he knew the act would be no less explosive between him and Jake.

  Their bodies aligned. He could feel the eager press of Jake’s cock and couldn’t prevent the jerk of his hips.

  “Hari,” Jake said with a groan, burrowing even closer. Heat suffused Hari, a shiver of need. He pushed their groins together, despite knowing they needed to call a halt. This time, he stifled Jake’s groan with his mouth, drinking in the other man’s reaction. A deep shudder went through Jake, and damn if Hari didn’t feel the same wonder.

  “Hey, I thought you two were going to sleep,” Joe said.

  “We are sleeping,” Jake said, abbreviating it with a growl, the warmth of his breath tickling Hari’s cheek.

  It made Hari smile. “Going to sleep now.”

  “Pleased to hear it,” Sly said, and it was easy to hear the laughter in his voice.

  Hari eased Jake’s head onto his shoulder, happier than he’d been in a long time. He didn’t even care that the cot was lumpy.

  * * * * *

  After a sleepless night spent in Jake’s very empty bed, Ambar was up early to drive to the police station. Agitation and confusion warred inside her during the journey into town. The insidious need, the yearning curling through her veins really pissed her off. She’d been happy before with Jake. The casual friendship with no expectations had worked for her. Now that Hari had come along, everything had changed. A bolt of sheer lust emphasized her uneasy thoughts. He was the catalyst that had sent her tidy life and her future plans careening off course. Moodily, she tapped her forefingers on the steering wheel while she waited for a cattle truck to rattle past. She turned onto the main road, stopping briefly at Storm in a Teacup for a coffee and a blueberry muffin to go.
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  When she pulled up outside the police station, it was still early. She parked and slurped her coffee, desperate for the jolt of caffeine to kick-start her system.

  Her cell phone rang and she fumbled through her handbag to find it.

  “Yeah?”

  “Is that how you answer your phone?” Rohan demanded.

  “Yes, Mother,” Ambar said. “I did it on purpose because I knew it was you. Do you need something?”

  “We had several orders come in late yesterday afternoon, and I need them packed for delivery this morning. I didn’t have time to do them. I had a bit of a rush during the afternoon.”

  “And I bet you and Kiran wanted to make use of the Ambar-free house.” Ambar smirked as she checked her watch. “I can be there around nine. Is that okay?”

  “Can’t you get to the store earlier?”

  “No, I’m at the police station, waiting for Jake and Hari.” Ambar paused, bracing herself for the inevitable questions.

  “What’s wrong? Do you need me?”

  Rohan in big-brother mode. He was a sight to behold and a force to reckon with. The way he instantly offered his support made her warm inside.

  “There’s no problem, or at least I don’t think there’s one. Hari and Jake were in a fight at the pub last night. Laura was so pissed at them she locked them in a cell overnight. I’m waiting to take them home.”

  A chuckle floated down the line. “I look forward to hearing details.”

  Ambar snorted. “Why do you think I wanted to pick them up? Evidently Laura locked up the two Mitchell twins as well.”

  “I wish I’d been a fly on the wall last night.” Rohan sobered. “Are things okay between you all now?”

  Ambar didn’t try to pretend or avoid the topic. Hari had sounded fine when he rang her. “I think so.” Ambar scowled at her coffee. “Hell, what do I know? I’ve no idea. I’ll let you know when I get to work.”

  “See you there,” Rohan said, hanging up before she could say anything else.

  Ambar pulled out her muffin and took a bite. She couldn’t help but worry, despite telling Rohan things were okay. No matter how much she liked Hari and Jake, she still didn’t want a mate. She’d always planned on taking time to see a little of the world. The last thing she wanted was a marriage trap, not at her age. Her mother had never done anything without her father’s approval. They’d spent their entire lives in the Auckland region, running their business, looking after their children and socializing with other tiger shifters when time allowed. The thought of repeating such an insulated life made her teeth hurt.

  Maybe she should talk to some of the other shifter women. Leticia might be a good start, although her case was a bit different because she suffered from feline AIDS. Isabella might work because she always seemed so confident and together.

  The sound of determined footsteps penetrated her thoughts, and her head jerked up. Laura. A masculine voice hailed Laura, and Ambar spied Charlie, the other Middlemarch cop. She climbed out of her car.

  “Hi, Laura. Charlie.”

  “Problem?” Laura asked.

  Ambar grimaced. “I’ve come to pick up Jake and Hari.”

  An evil grin surfaced on Charlie’s face. “I don’t know about the two of you, but I need a coffee before I deal with those four.”

  “Good idea,” Laura said. “You coming with us, Ambar?”

  “I can’t stay for too long. I need to go into work.”

  “Half an hour won’t make much of a difference,” Charlie said, taking her firmly by the arm and directing her away from the police station.

  Ambar could have pulled away, but instead she laughed. “I’ll get them to drop me at the store and they can take my car home. Can you tell me what happened?”

  Laura’s brows rose. “Apart from the fact Saber is furious and the owner of the pub is baying for their blood?”

  “Um, yes.”

  “Witnesses said that Jake started it and threw a punch at Joe. No one knows for sure what the argument was about, but I’d say it might have something to do with Hari?” Charlie looked at Laura for verification and she nodded.

  Ambar had to beat her guilt down. “Probably, Jake was furious when he left the house.”

  “Oh good. Gossip with our coffee,” Laura said cheerfully. “Do I get to tell Jonno?”

  Exactly half an hour later they entered the police station.

  “About bloody time,” a masculine voice shouted.

  Ambar knew it wasn’t Jake or Hari.

  “It’s punishment, not a holiday camp,” Laura shouted back.

  “Jonno should take charge of you more often,” the voice returned.

  Laura cackled. “He tries.” She turned to Charlie. “As much as I like them in the cell, I guess we’d better let them out.”

  “I’ll do it.” Charlie grabbed a set of keys from his pocket and disappeared out the back.

  “Do you like being mated to a shifter?” Ambar asked. “Do you ever feel trapped?”

  Laura glanced at her in surprise. “Jonno is fairly easygoing. We have a good partnership. It’s true I’d intended to return to Wellington and wanted promotion, but I’m happy here. I’ve never felt trapped, not once I got over the shock of being a shifter’s mate.”

  Ambar spoke quickly, aware the men would arrive soon. “I like it here in Middlemarch, but I’ve always wanted to travel, to see some of the world. My mother lived in Auckland her entire life. She never left, never traveled or even went on a plane ride. I don’t want my mother’s life.”

  Laura’s face softened. “That’s understandable. You need to talk to…which one? Jake or Hari?”

  “Both.”

  A chuckle escaped Laura. “You should see your face. Being a mate is no different from marriage to a human. It takes compromise and communication. All you need to do is talk to them, tell them how you feel and what you want.”

  “That’s easier said than done.” Ambar stopped talking and turned to face the doorway she presumed led to the cells. How did she reiterate she wanted to stand on her own two feet and exert her independence? Quite frankly, she didn’t see how she could learn what she wanted from life if she stayed with the two men.

  “Ambar!” Joe Mitchell grabbed her and snuck a kiss. Ambar heard a low growl but didn’t know who it came from because Joe immediately handed her over to his brother. Sly stole a kiss and used a little tongue.

  Ambar wrenched away and hit him on the shoulder. “Yuck! No wonder you’re both still single.”

  Jake came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, and she was aware of Hari standing silently on her other side.

  “Just as well you hit him,” Jake said. “I didn’t want to spend more time in the cell.”

  Laura glared at the twins. “Jeez, you two know better. What the hell were you thinking?”

  “Aw, Laura,” Sly said, or at least Ambar thought it was Sly. The pair was difficult to tell apart. Jake didn’t seem to have any trouble but they’d grown up together. “You know there’s a shortage of single women around here. We had to see if there was a connection.”

  “You knew Ambar was taken,” Hari snapped, his English accent crisp and businesslike.

  Ambar sighed. Taken. They considered her taken already. What chance did she have for independence when everyone thought she belonged to a man—men—already?

  “I have to go to the store,” she said. “You can take my car back to the farm.” She handed Jake the keys and jerked from their touch with two brisk steps.

  “Wait, Ambar,” Hari said.

  She stopped automatically, realized she’d obeyed without thinking and muttered a curse under her breath. It was starting already, the conditioning to respond and obey. “I promised Rohan I’d be there. I have to go.”

  “We’ll pay for the damages,” Hari said. “Is there anything else?”

  “Saber has already taken care of the damages. The four of you are doing community service.” Although Laura’s face remained sober, there wa
s a touch of glee in her voice. “Twenty hours each. I’ll let you know what you need to do next week. Some of the school buildings require painting, and I believe the town gardens all require weeding.”

  Joe groaned out loud, but that was the only protest any of the men offered. In an odd way, Ambar was proud of them.

  “You’re free to go,” Charlie said.

  Jake and Hari ushered Ambar from the police station, and the twins followed them. Outside, they paused and all of them, even Jake, heard the unrestrained hilarity coming from inside the police station.

  “I guess we deserve that,” Joe said.

  “I thought Saber might come and pick us up,” Sly said. “He said he’d be here.”

  “Hari and Jake can give you a ride home. I’ll walk to the store.” She turned away, glad of the mindless work awaiting her at the store because it would stop her thinking too hard about her problems.

  “Ambar, wait.” Jake grasped her hand and pulled her around to face him. He stared into her eyes, the frisson of heat beneath her clothes weakening her knees. “Hari and the twins explained a few things to me during the night. I think I understand a little better now.”

  “You understand what?”

  Jake scanned their vicinity before turning his attention back to her. “About felines and mates.”

  “Oh.” Well, she hadn’t expected Hari to do the big confession when he went after Jake. She paused a beat, but Jake treated her much as usual instead of acting freaked, she nodded slowly, cataloguing his scent. It was a familiar aroma, now overlaid with Hari’s musky spice. Doubly enticing. She bit her inner lip to prevent herself from walking into his embrace. “We’ll talk either tonight or tomorrow, okay? I really have to go.” Hari and the twins must have done a good job because Jake didn’t seem too perturbed about her tiger status or Hari’s.

  “Okay.” Jake hauled her into his arms and kissed her. Somehow the kiss was different this time. It was more possessive and impossibly sweet. Accepting. She opened for him, inviting deeper contact. His touch roared through her, her feline basking under the attention. Jake felt so good, hard and solid. He was dependable and still had that hint of easygoing bad boy who had attracted her in the first place.