Page 17 of Tempting the Tiger

“True, but that is easily remedied.”

“Keair.”

“Say my name again, little one,” he growled. “You make me stay hard with need.” He rubbed his lower body against hers and she found herself wanting to moan in response.

“I want you, Grace. Why is that so difficult to believe?” He looked down at her, his beautiful eyes a mixture of dark and light. Black and amber. His breathing was not unsteady like her own, but it was heavy.

She returned his gaze, searching his features for any hint that he was lying. She knew shifters could smell emotions on humans and wished desperately for that skill at the moment.

He stepped back, letting his arms fall from around her and she realized suddenly how safe she had felt in his embrace. And now he was backing away. Just as she’d asked.

“What will one night hurt?” He smiled down at her and she knew that she had lost. A hot storm of need rose inside of her and she felt like anything was possible. And was it such a terrible thing to believe him?

Because, really, what would one night hurt?

Keair finally managed to get Grace out of her apartment. As he helped her into the front seat of his vehicle, he thanked the gods that be. He knew he had ambushed her tonight, really leaving her no choice but to go out with him.

Climbing in beside her, he studied her profile. Her chin still held a stubborn tilt and he knew he hadn’t forced her to do anything. She could have simply greeted him and told him to go take a flying leap off the nearest mountain. All day, he’d expected Daniel or Sally to deliver a message from her saying she was canceling their date. That wouldn’t have stopped him from seeing her tonight. He would have been more than happy to have spent the entire evening in her apartment showing her exactly what she meant to me.

He was, however, happy that his plans had not gone awry. He knew the dinner he had ordered would be much more romantic than takeout pizza and a movie on demand.

“So, tell me about your week.” He took her hand and settled it high on his thigh. He wanted to press the palm against the hard bulge pressing against his trousers but refrained. There would time for that later. He had all sorts of things to teach his innocent Grace.

“There’s not much to tell. I got up, went to work, baked a few pies, went home, fell asleep.” She gave a slight tug on her hand, but he refused to let her go.

“Then you are working too hard.” Keair glanced at her, concern on his face. He’d noticed immediately that she was wearing makeup tonight, something he knew she normally did not do. On the one hand, he was glad that she considered tonight special. On the other, he knew it hid the dark circles under her eyes.

“That’s the life of a small business owner.” She gave him a rueful smile. “But I’d rather get up at the crack of dawn than work for someone else.”

“Is running your business, and baking, something you can’t live without doing?”

She threw him a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

Keair cleared his throat. “If you had the opportunity to marry, have children, would you still want to run your own business?”

Her eyes opened wide and he knew he may have spoken out of turn. But, it was what it was. He needed to know what future plans he needed to make. If his mate wanted to work, he would allow it, but only if she had adequate help to ensure his needs were met.

His tiger growled at him and he realized how high-handed it sounded. But he brushed aside the animal’s concerns. He was rich enough to plan his future. And that of his mate.

“That’s a question I’ll never have to ask myself.”

Before he could ask what she meant, he was pulling into the front of the hotel and a valet was there, opening her door. He reluctantly let go of Grace’s hand and watched as another young shifter helped her from the car.

Striding around the back, he took her arm and escorted her inside.

Grace’s hand trembled on Keair’s arm as they made their way into the hotel. Even though her outfit was perfectly acceptable, she still felt out of place. This was where the rich hung out. Where families spent thousands of dollars to the amenities offered.

“Don’t be nervous, baby.” Keair leaned down to whisper in her ear, his other hand covering her fingers and giving them a reassuring squeeze. “There’s not a lot of people here tonight, we’ll have fun, I promise.”

He didn't even bother to check in with the hostess on duty but headed straight to the dining room on the right side of the building. The area where she and Sally and Emily had eaten was near the front of the building. This area was hidden away in the back. He led her to a table right next to the floor to ceiling windows. Circular booths were placed throughout the room to give each dining couple a cozy corner of their own, while still allowing them to see the amazing view outside. Grace slid into the booth and realized the leather seats were heated. She gasped as she looked out the window just now realizing the hotel was built above a great ravine. It was as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down, with no support beneath her. She drew back a little, bumping into Keair’s hard frame.

“Do heights frighten you?” he leaned over her, looking out the window.

She shook her head slightly. “No, not usually. It was just unexpected.”

Keair smiled at her, pushing a strand of hair back behind her ear. “Does anything else frighten you?” His voice was a low whisper that set chills sliding over her.

“Spiders.” She said without thinking, watching his lips. They were full, yet firm. And had tasted wonderful, she remembered. “And snakes.”