Page 22 of Tempting the Tiger

And… she did, screaming his name.

She thought it was over. That the universe had been set on fire and her world was ending. But she was wrong. Oh, so wrong.

As the sound of his name faded, he thrust hard, seating himself deep inside her. Before she could get used to the stretch, he was moving her legs, draping them over his arms as he plowed inside her again and again. It was different from before, even more powerful. He took her, thrusting and thrusting until he threw back his head and roared.

Grace was helpless beneath him. She watched his face as he came, the tendons in his neck standing out in sharp relief, his brown skin darkened with a red flush, covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Even as he poured his seed inside her, he continued to thrust as if he couldn’t get enough of the feel of her pussy clenched around his cock.

And as he continued to thrust, Grace found release once again. His name was but a whisper against her lips this time as she was unable to speak through the tears trailing down from the corners of her eyes.

Keair lost his control at the feel of Grace’s feminine muscles clenching him, trying to hold him in place. But she couldn’t, he and his cat needed the exquisite friction of movement, the knowledge that they were claiming their mate. Fucking, fucking their mate!

He slammed his hips forward, thrusting harder and harder until he felt the pressure build at the base of his spine. He tried to force it back, not wanting this to ever end. But, despite his iron control, it did. He roared as he released his seed inside Grace. He knew he should have used precautions, discussed the extreme possibility that this would result in a cub, but he knew no matter what, they would never be apart again.

As he emptied himself inside his mate, everything inside him went still as a peace more fulfilling than anything he’d ever experienced swept through him, mending fissures, filling in the black hole in his heart his past had created. He felt energized, uncontrollable, but calm. Clear-minded. His mate had done this for him. Healed him.

He fell forward, eager to kiss her, ask her to mate with him.

Only to feel as if his heart were being sliced from his chest.

On his mate’s face were tears.

Keair’s tiger howled inside him as the man tried to figure out what was wrong. He untangled their limbs and placed his weight on one elbow. Smoothing the hair back from her face, he asked, “Grace, honey, what’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer, didn't open her eyes, just shook her head.

“Damn it, Grace, did I hurt you?” He fluently cursed himself in seven different languages as he made to pull out of her. He’d hurt his damn mate! He wanted to smash something, anything. How had he lost that much control?

It took him a moment to realize that Grace’s hands were not pushing him away but holding him in place. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her hands grasped his neck. “No. No, you didn't hurt me, Keair.”

Finally, she opened her eyes, shiny with unshed tears. He cupped her cheek and brushed one away. “Then tell me why you cry?”

She gave a little laugh. “You’ll think I’m silly.”

“That’s better than me thinking I hurt you.” He placed a finger beneath her chin, making her met his eyes. “Please tell me that is not the case.”

A red blush stole over the cheeks. “Definitely, not the case. It was…” She squeezed her eyes shut once again. “It was just so beautiful.”

Keair gazed down at her, her skin seeming to glow. He knew their joining had been beautiful, but it had also been harsh. It was the shifter way. He had not been a gentle lover at the end. “Look at me, Grace,” he commanded. When she did, he continued. “You are never to lie to me. If I do something that you do not like, that, god forbid, hurts you, you are to tell me. I would rather cut off my arm than hurt you.”

She lifted her hand and cupped the side of his face. He turned his head, kissing her palm. “Of course.”

“Good. Our relationship must be built on trust.” He pulled out of her slowly, making them both gasp. He slowly moved away from her, easing down her body, kissing her as he left. With a soft, lingering kiss on the top of her thigh, he moved from the bed, leaving her lying there as he walked into what she could only assume was the bathroom.

Relationship?

Grace lay on the bed, her body still pulsating and quivering. She curled her legs up, wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling the coolness of the air. Were they really starting a relationship? Grace didn't think so. She was more of a passing fancy. Maybe out of boredom, maybe out of curiosity, but nothing more. Despite the fact that he had just rocked the foundation of her world, she was realistic enough to know a man who looked like Keair, that was Keair, did not have relationships with chubby bakers.

Deciding now might be the best time to leave, she pushed herself to the side of the bed, grimacing as she moved. While she had told the truth that Keair had not hurt her, she knew she would be tender for days. Just as she was starting to stand, he reentered the room. Striding forward, he bent down and picked her up.

“What are you doing?”

“A warm bath will help with the tenderness.” He carried her into his bathroom where water was already running into a huge spa tub that Grace was pretty sure could hold seven or eight full-grown men. Or, she thought, shyly, as Keair sat her on her feet, her thigh brushing against the magnificent erection he sported again, maybe it was just right for an oversized shifter and a curvy woman.

As he helped her into the tub, she wondered briefly, sadly, when her Cinderella moment would end.

Grace awoke with a strange sense of disorientation. The first thing she realized was that she was not in her own bed. No, beneath her was a mattress that seemed to be made of clouds. It was soft and so inviting she was reluctant to leave it. The same could be said for the soft satin of the comforter covering her. She felt so safe and warm that she knew she could easily stay here forever.

Just as she was contemplating closing her eyes, the strange noise that had roused her from sleep came again. It was soft and sounded like—grunting? Easing the covers back, she wasn’t startled to find herself naked. After all, she had just spent the night in a tiger’s bed.