Page 29 of Tempting the Tiger

“You’re welcome,” she grinned back, looping one of her arms around his neck. “Is this the surprise you had to show me? Because I’m a little disappointed. I have seen all this before, you know.”

She eased her other hand between their bodies, sliding it down until she caught the hard flesh of his erection in her hand. She stroked him slowly, still fascinated at how his body responded to her touch.

“Behave,” he growled, lowering his face to her neck and nibbling at her ear. “I wish to show you my cat.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Really?” She had read that while most shifters were more than comfortable to shift—and apparently walk around naked before and after—they didn’t do it gratuitously. They did it because they needed to let their animal take control or because of danger. Not to impress the opposite sex.

“Really. Now go sit on the rock and remember I’m still me.” He gave her a hard kiss, turned her around and gave her a hard swat on her ass as she walked away.

Grace did as she was told and sat down on the hard surface, pulling the jacket he had given her closer. It wasn’t cold, but she felt shivery inside. Their gazes met and held as he shifted from man to tiger. She blinked, thinking she had missed something, but she hadn’t. It had happened that fast. Just a few feet away stood a tiger, his golden, amber eyes staring directly at her. “Well, damn,” she said.

She had never seen a real-life, honest to goodness tiger and it must have been awhile since she’d viewed one on television or seen a picture of one in a book because, a tiger, she realized was a very exotic creature. The animal’s face swirled with black stripes across its orange fur. The orange was lighter than she expected and layered with white around his face. Now she realized Keair’s dark black hair must come from the stripes.

She wanted to get up and go to him but was afraid. Not scared, just afraid she would do something wrong. Break some kind of protocol. As if the animal had read her thoughts, he strode forward, his large paws sounding wordlessly against the forest floor.

“You are beautiful,” Grace whispered. “So beautiful.”

The animal came closer. He gently butted his head against her knee, much as a house cat would to get its owner’s attention. But this was no house cat, Grace thought. And she certainly had no ownership over it—or the man inside. Which, she thought sadly, was really too damn bad.

Unable to resist, she placed her hand on the cat’s head, rubbing it softly. When it bumped against her palm, indicating he wanted more, she laughed and started to touch him with both hands. A low purr radiated from its chest. It moved, guiding her hands across its back, around its side. She realized it wanted to be touched all over.

Just like Keair.

“You’re just a big old softy, aren’t you?” she laughed when it again made her rub behind its ears.

That earned her a low growl and a harder head butt.

“Okay, okay. I won’t tell anyone. But you are.”

They stayed that way for a few more minutes before the cat took the sleeve of her jacket in its mouth and pulled her, indicating he wanted her to get up off the rock. She did and it moved away, strolling along the path that led away from the clearing. She followed, still just a little bit in shock that the animal in front of her was really Keair.

A few minutes later, a large gazebo came into sight. Strands of lights were hung from the roofline, lighting the area in a soft, romantic glow

“Oh, Keair,” she sighed.

“Do you like it?” His dark velvet voice sounded in her ear and she jumped. She’d been so taken in by the setting that she hadn’t realized he had shifted back and was standing next to her. He’d also managed to pull on a pair of jeans.

“I love it.”

“Bachar made it for Sally. This is where he claimed her as his mate.”

“Oh. Well, we shouldn’t be here. It’s their private place.” She couldn’t say how disappointed she was.

“Did you hear what I said, Grace?”

“Yes. It’s Bachar and Sally’s special place. I’m glad you showed me. It’s beautiful.”

Keair shook his head. “You misunderstand. Bachar claimed his mate here and I wish to claim mine here as well.”

Grace took a step backward. “Keair, I’m not your mate.”

“I beg to disagree.” He took a step forward.

She took another step back. “But, but—”

He followed her. They continued the dance until Grace almost tripped on the stairs going up to the gazebo. Keair picked her up and carried her up them, depositing her in the middle of the gazebo, his arms still wound tightly around her.

“There are no buts, Grace. You are mine. Mine and my tiger’s. And we both want to claim you. Mark you. Make you ours.”