She didn’t trust him.His tiger released a snarl, and Mikhail wanted to growl at her doubts.Then he told himself she was right.He couldn’t expect her to surrender with no fight or doubts or fears.
“I promise I’ll hold you until you sleep and nothing more.You have nothing to fear from me.I want our marriage to succeed.”
“I believe you,” she said after a moment.“But I won’t be happy if you disparage my body.It’s strong and fit and does everything I need it to.If I have faults in your eyes, keep them to yourself.”
Mikhail gave a clipped nod.“You have my word.”
She studied him a fraction longer and straightened to strip with quick, economical movements.There were no coy simpers or teasing twitches of her hips or thrusts of breasts that Clarice would’ve added.
He perused her when she stood naked before him.Her breasts were large, and her nipples pulled to tight nubs because of the air conditioning.She was right about her body, and if he compared her to Clarice, she held more flesh on her bones, yet she also had defined, sleek muscles and curves in the right places.
His tiger stirred, pushing against his control and urging him to scent her, to lick.
Edwina met his gaze.“Do I not get to see you?”
“Yes,” he said absently, surprised by his shifter half.This is a fake marriage.Temporary.He reinforced his thoughts while he battled to hold his human form.His tiger wanted out.Perhaps he should show Edwina since his family often took their tiger forms at the private estate and out of sight of his grandfather.“Lie on the bed.If it is all right with you, I will shift to my tiger.”
Relief poured across her face.She didn’t want him to touch her, and that unexpectedly grated.
“Let me hold you first to exchange our scents.”His instincts urged him to make physical contact in both forms.The urge to feel her breasts pressing against his chest was too much.She wasn’t even his type, so this strange desire to experience the softness of her curves was way out of character.This could’ve waited.
He shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside.Next came his footwear and his shirt.A tiny croak escaped her when his hands went to his belt buckle.A feeling of pride swept over him, but he kept a straight face and ignored his excitement, his attraction to her.
This feline woman had hidden depths, and despite her age and the way they’d met, she intrigued him.
An auspicious start to their marriage.
5
Gods,hewasincredibleto behold.Eye candy on steroids.She took mental photographs, her inner voice doing ahubba-hubbaat each discovery.Tanned skin.Powerful muscles.The impression of size because the lack of clothes didn’t diminish him.Hah.No flab around the middle.Large all over…
She and Suzie had peeked during the shifter runs they and their families attended.It wasn’t polite, and they said nothing their parents might overhear.Privately, they’d discussed the varying body shapes and sizes of male equipment.Her feline purred and urged Edwina to rub against him, to seduce him.
Mine.Mine.Mine.
She battled her feline’s raunchy desires and barely won.
Despite his age, Mikhail was a shifter in his prime and radiated strength and power, and curiosity had her fantasizing about testing those muscles with her tingling fingers.
He made a tiny chuffing sound, snapping her to attention.Luckily, she’d blanked her expression, or at least given it her best try.When their gazes met, his eyes flickered and glowed a deeper blue with a trace of gold.His tiger wasn’t as unaffected as his posture and expression suggested.
He prowled the steps separating them and scooped her off her feet.With two giant strides, he reached the bed and placed her on the mattress.He followed her down before her tinyeepof surprise melted into nothingness.
His glowing gaze went to her mouth and dallied.“Can I kiss you?”
While he’d uttered a formal request, his gorgeous eyes shouted seduction.Her tongue slicked her lips while her mind shuddered, traveling a rutted road of disjointed thoughts.He was asking her permission?With his strength and size, he could take whatever he wanted, even if he’d agreed otherwise.
Ultra-aware of his hungry gaze, she gulped, gave a quick nod, and attempted iron control of her body.Her heart didn’t listen.It lurched and gamboled like a playful puppy, running alongside her militant feline.Her breathing hitched.A fine tremor twitched her muscles, and every sense scaled virtual mountains, scrambling to get quality info on this shifter who wanted to kiss her.
His eyes never left hers as he leaned closer.A warm, earthy scent with hints of whisky and smoke filled her rapid inhalations.Chocolate and vanilla, maybe.Oh, such a decadent aroma.Time seemed to still, yet every rustle of the bedcovers and the hum of the plane’s engines battered her ears.
When his mouth finally closed over hers, the intimate press of lips had her freezing.His tongue stroked against her skin, the roughness taking her by surprise.She gasped, and he took immediate advantage, kissing her with expertise.He embraced her with his solidness, his weight pressing her into the plush mattress.His kiss was unique, transmitting carnal messages, and her feline’s purr was a constant mental accompaniment.
Edwina hesitated under this sensual bombardment, her confidence faltering.Should she trust her feline?Her human concerns?An instant later, she touched her tongue to his.An electric jolt arced through her, the shock of it disturbing.She gasped again, his kiss quickly overwhelming her senses until he became her focus.He tasted amazing.She caught the hint of smoky whisky and an underlying sweetness she found highly addictive.
When he lifted his head, her cheeks heated at his penetrating blue-gold stare.She’d kissed other men.Quite a few, if she were honest, so she had the experience to declare this was unequivocally the best kiss she’d ever shared.When Mikhail kissed her, she’d ceased to think, and for long, delightful seconds, she and her feline had been on the same page.
They’d wanted him.
