The Jaguar Tycoon: Tales of the Were (Howls Romance)
Page 16
Mark’s demeanor was off-hand, but Shelly knew this was a big offer. Very big. To bring an outsider—a mage who didn’t have a jaguar in his soul—into the heart of the Clan was a step even Shelly understood to be huge.
Her dad smiled a soft, genuine smile, and there was a sparkle in his eyes that spoke of high emotion. “I think I’d like that. You honor me, Alpha.”
They continued their lunch together and discussed wedding plans a bit, then Bill got the low-down about the island, and Shelly told them both about her ideas for the structures they would build there. She had big dreams about things they would construct years into the future.
There was a lot of work to be done on Jaguar Island, and she was just the architect to do it. The Clan home would be her life’s work. Her greatest achievement. And her labor of love.
After all, the fate of the Clan and of the Howell bloodline was in her hands now. She hoped at least one of her children would have mage powers, and that her father would have a chance to pass on his knowledge. Shelly herself feared she had come into her power too late in life to ever really master it, but she’d do what she could. For her father’s sake, she would pray for at least one true mage of her blood for him to teach in the years ahead.
As for the rest… If they were going to rebuild the Clan, Shelly was looking forward to having lots of Mark’s babies…and all the fun they would have making them.
Good thing she’d always wanted a large family.
A few days later, after things had settled down and Shelly had packed her things and sealed up her house for an extended vacation, she and Mark set sail on his private yacht. Their eventual destination was Jaguar Island, but they were taking the scenic route in order to enjoy a little bit of a honeymoon before the big mating party his people were already planning.
Shelly was involved in some of the preparations via a state-of-the-art satellite communications center on the huge boat. She spent a few minutes each day looking at dress designs and color schemes and working with Marie and Janice on the menu remotely. She was enjoying planning a bit of the big party but was more than willing to let others do the work.
They all seemed so happy to put on this special occasion for her—and their Alpha. She was happy to let them do their worst, knowing that she and Mark would have to have a more traditional ceremony and reception in a few months on the mainland, in order to make their marriage legal in the eyes of the human world they lived in.
He’d also discussed his penchant for leaking photographs to the tabloids to earn extra money for the Clan. Shelly had laughed at the sneakiness of it all. Just like a cat, she thought.
She would have a big society wedding. Not because she really wanted that sort of pomp and circumstance—though what girl didn’t secretly dream of a fairytale wedding when she was little? No, the wedding would be more about putting on a show for the humans. Solidifying their relationship for the press. And networking with the hundreds who would be invited from the business community.
It would be a dream and a sham all at the same time, but it would be worth it. If it would help the Clan, she was all for it. She also knew it would help her father and what remained of the Howell reputation, which was a nice added benefit.
In fact, her father was already reaping the rewards of their new connection. He’d been able to reclaim some of the money he’d put aside for Shelly’s security into the future. He’d also rebuilt ties with the Midtown werewolf Pack. In a town as densely populated as Manhattan, it was good to have strong allies, and Shelly rested easier knowing her father wasn’t all alone out there with nobody to help him if he should come under magical attack.
For now, though, she was all about sailing off into the sunset with her mate. They had a few days until they got to the island and the big party. She was determined to make the most of them…with the loving, magical Alpha of her very own.
*
Thank you for reading The Jaguar Tycoon. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. If you want to read more about the tiger king, Mitch, and his mate, Gina, check out their book, King’s Throne, now available. Scroll down for a brief excerpt.
A complete list of all of my books, separated by series, follows the excerpt. You can also check out my website at WWW.BIANCADARC.COM. Or you can sign up for my new release list to be alerted when new books are released.
EXCERPT FROM KING’S THRONE
©2017 Bianca D’Arc. All Rights Reserved.
Mitch woke to warmth and a luscious female form pressed against him. He didn’t immediately recall much about where he was or who he was with, but he knew he wanted the woman pressed against his side. She smelled of tall grass and moonflowers. She smelled…right. Perfect, in fact.
He was only half awake, but his body knew what it wanted. Her. Always. Forever. In every way.
Mitch reached out, absently noting the soreness of his muscles. Straining his muscles was nothing new to a man who spent a lot of time pushing himself to his physical limits in an effort to be the best he could be. He dismissed the tight sensations across his shoulders in favor of the soft fabric and even softer skin of the woman under his fingertips.
He rolled slightly, aligning his body with hers. She was a perfect fit. But she wore too many clothes.
He buried his nose in the curve of her neck as he dragged at the soft jersey knit of her top, pulling it upward to bare her midriff. He touched her bare skin and paused, learning the feel of her as his nose drew in the scent of her flesh. He licked her, tasting the salt of her skin as his body absorbed the shiver that went through her.
He liked the way she responded to him. Already, he could tell this was going to be a fuck to remember.
“Mitch?” Her groggy voice reached his ear and he liked the way it slid over his senses. She had a voice edged with sin that made him draw her closer.
But she slipped one small hand between them and it felt like she was pushing against his chest. Pushing him away.
The beast inside him growled. It didn’t like that. Neither did the man.
But her strength was nearly a match for his. That was new. Few women—even shifter women—could make an impression on him with their physical strength. She wasn’t large. She fit into the planes of his body with feminine petiteness, but there was a core of steel in her that made him pause.
Oh, he could have overpowered her easily enough. He was an Alpha in his prime, after all, but that wouldn’t be right. He was a Royal Guard and he lived by a code of chivalry handed down over the centuries through the ranks of Royal Guards. He would not stain his honor by forcing a woman. Not ever.
Slowly, the fog began to lift as his brain started to function.
“Where am I?” His voice was rougher than he expected. And his throat was raw with strain. What had he been doing to make his whole body hurt this much both inside and out?
The pain of his condition began to penetrate the sensual fog that had held him in thrall. As he drew back, he began to feel the aches in every muscle and the pain of healing wounds. He’d been in a fight. No doubt about it. He remembered very well what the day after a bust-up felt like.
Memories began to return. He’d been ambushed by a werewolf in half-shifted form outside Harris’s dojo. They’d fought, but the werewolf had had friends. Someone had come from behind and jabbed Mitch with a needle. He’d fought for a few minutes more, but then the lights had gone out. He’d only surfaced for short periods since then. It was all really foggy after the needle jabbed him.
“You’re in my family’s cabin. You’re safe.” Her voice comforted him and he began to recognize it.
“Gina?”
“Yes, Mitch. I’m here.” She pressed her palm more gently against his chest, but she was still trying to put more space between them. He took the hint and released her a little more but didn’t let her go completely. He wanted her inside the circle of his arms.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got run over by a herd of elephants.”
“What do you remember?”
“Guarding with Cade. Then the ambush. Getting slashed and stuck with a needle. Then…not much. Until you. And Cade and another woman in an unfamiliar apartment. Then a car ride. Then…you again, princess. How am I doing?”
“You’ve got most of what you were awake for at least. That’s a good thing.”
“So what did I miss?” He liked the feel of her hands on his body. She had a gentle, healing touch.
“Let’s see. Two rounds of convulsions and three jabs with a needle packed with universal shifter blood.”
“Your blood,” he confirmed. “I remember that part.” He raised one hand to take hers and squeezed gently. “Thank you for that, milady. If I didn’t say it before, let me say it now.”
“You’re welcome.” Her gaze held his for a long moment and he was about to say to hell with protocol and tradition. He was angling in for a kiss when there was a pounding on the door of the cabin.
Mitch instantly released her, climbing to his feet, hoping to defend her from any possible threat no matter how bad a shape he was in. His legs trembled under his own weight but he refused to acknowledge the weakness.
Gina came out from behind him and he growled low in his throat in warning. She only sent him a somewhat worried smile.
“It’s my dad. I’d know his idea of a gentle knock anywhere.”
Mitch tried to move but couldn’t seem to walk. He growled again in frustration and watched helplessly as she went toward the door.
“Be certain it’s him before you open up.” It was the only thing he could do to keep her safe, and it wasn’t much. He was in bad physical shape and he plopped down on the side of the bed as his wobbly legs gave way. One hand propped him up as he leaned heavily on his uninjured side, glaring at the door and the woman heading toward it.
“Dad, is that you?”
“Who else?” came the roar of a full-grown tiger from the other side of the heavy wooden door.
A tiger in human form, of course. The Tig’Ra. That much Mitch remembered. Gina’s dad was the rarest of the rare, the magic-touched, born-to-rule, tigre of all tigres. The white tiger. The Sun King. The one blessed by the Goddess and meant to govern all of his kind.
Mitch tried hard to stand up straight but he couldn’t even manage that as Gina opened the door and launched herself into the arms of the older man at the threshold. He hugged his daughter, but his sharp blue eyes sought and measured Mitch even as he greeted his daughter.
“How’s my girl?” The king lifted Gina off her feet for a quick moment as he stepped into the cabin. He let her go and shut the door behind him, securing it before he turned his full attention to Mitch.
Mitch felt every inch of the once-over he received. It was hard not to feel intimidated, even though Mitch was secure in his own skin. Or at least he had been—before meeting the Goddess-touched tiger king.
“And you must be Mitch.”
To read more, get your copy of King’s Throne by Bianca D’Arc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Twitter (@BiancaDArc), Facebook (BiancaDArcAuthor) or through the various links on her website.
OTHER BOOKS BY BIANCA D’ARC
Paranormal Romance
Brotherhood of Blood
One & Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
Sweeter Than Wine
Forever Valentine
Wolf Hills*
Wolf Quest
Tales of the Were
Lords of the Were
Inferno
Tales of the Were ~ The Others
Rocky
Slade
Tales of the Were ~ String of Fate
Cat’s Cradle
King’s Throne
Jacob’s Ladder
Her Warriors
Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan
The Purrfect Stranger
Grif
Red
Magnus
Bobcat
Matt
Tales of the Were ~ Grizzly Cove
All About the Bear
Mating Dance
Night Shift
Alpha Bear
Saving Grace
Bearliest Catch
The Bear’s Healing Touch
The Luck of the Shifters
Badass Bear
Tales of the Were ~ Were-Fey
Lone Wolf
Snow Magic
Tales of the Were ~ Howls Romance
The Jaguar Tycoon
Guardians of the Dark
Half Past Dead
Once Bitten, Twice Dead
A Darker Shade of Dead
The Beast Within
Dead Alert
Gifts of the Ancients: Warrior’s Heart
Epic Fantasy Erotic Romance
Dragon Knights
Maiden Flight*
The Dragon Healer
Border Lair
Master at Arms
The Ice Dragon**
Prince of Spies***
Wings of Change
FireDrake
Dragon Storm
Keeper of the Flame
Hidden Dragons
The Sea Captain’s Daughter Trilogy
Book 1: Sea Dragon
Book 2: Dragon Fire
Book 3: Dragon Mates
Science Fiction Romance
StarLords
Hidden Talent
Talent For Trouble
Shy Talent
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Arcana
King of Swords
King of Cups
King of Clubs
King of Stars
End of the Line
Diva
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Sons of Amber
Angel in the Badlands
Master of Her Heart
Futuristic Erotic Romance
Resonance Mates
Hara’s Legacy**
Davin’s Quest
Jaci’s Experiment
Grady’s Awakening
Harry’s Sacrifice
* RT Book Reviews Awards Nominee
** EPPIE Award Winner
*** CAPA Award Winner