Marcus opened his mouth to answer, but a knock came from the door. He froze, flaring his nostrils. As if he were scenting the air. “Go to the bathroom.” It was an order, not a suggestion. His tone had changed completely, taking on an air of authority.
“What’s going on, Marcus?” Ameera looked puzzled, and he wanted so badly to explain. But there wasn’t time.
“Please,” he urged, grabbing her hand and leading her to the bathroom. “You’ll have to trust me. Just go in and lock the door. Don’t come out until I say so.”
He kissed her one more time before shutting her into the bathroom. Not knowing what else to do, she did as she was instructed, and locked both of the doors to the bathroom.
CHAPTER 4
Marcus waited until he heard the bathroom locks click into place before he returned to the door. He didn’t have to look through the peephole to know that Raja stood outside with two of his men. He should have done better with hiding Ameera. Even though he paid for a secure plane, a private car, and trusted a hotel that was managed by one of his pride, there was still no way to block her scent.
Every male shifter within two miles of wherever she was would know that she was one of the few human women who could carry their children. He hadn’t even had time to explain to her what she was, or what he was for that matter, before trouble came knocking.
“Marcus,” Raja called, “come now, brother. Open the door. It’s not fair to keep her to yourself.”
“She’s mine!” Marcus growled, letting the shift take over him. Dark golden fur shimmered over his skin as his bones began to bend and contort. He felt his fangs get nearly too big for his mouth before his snout elongated, making room for them. Giant claws sprang from his fingernails as his hands shifted into mammoth paws.
Just as he finished shifting, the door flew from its hinges, splintering into thousands of tiny wooden shards. In its wake came two large black and orange striped tigers. Between the two of them stood Raja, still in human form.
“We took out William, Marcus. You’re alone, with no back up. Give us the woman, and we won’t kill you.”
Marcus roared loudly, shaking the entire floor. In the hallway, screams and yells were heard from concerned guests. He crouched down, ready for the fight.
“Very well, brother, if that’s how it must be.” Raja shifted fast, transforming from the tall, dark skinned man to a larger than ordinary rare black tiger in seconds. He lunged at Marcus, fangs bared and ready to kill. The two of them crashed heavily to the floor, knocking over any furniture in their path.
The two large cats backed away and charged again, grappling each other in a fit of claws and fangs in what seemed like an eternity. Raja was bigger, but Marcus was faster, able to curve his spine and avoid most attacks before they landed. Raja, however, was not giving up. He came at Marcus over and over again, landing in a rip of claws here, and a tear of flesh and fang there.
Marcus didn’t land a blow very often, but when he did it was fast, and deep. Just when it seemed like Marcus would win, Raja rolled out of his way, allowing the two others to step in. By this time Marcus was wounded and out of breath. He stood on shaky paws, but refused to back down. As he readied himself for another attack, Jacob, the hotel manager ran in.
“What the hell!” Was all he could say before one of the tigers turned on him. He jumped back, shifting in midair and landing on his back. The full force of the tiger hit him hard on the chest. With his large paws, he thrust the big cat off of him, giving himself room to twist back onto his feet. Bringing himself up, he sprang onto the cat that attacked, sinking his large fangs into the tiger’s jugular in a death grip.
The tiger growled, but didn’t move, knowing he was in a delicate position. Marcus took that moment when both Raja and the other cat weren’t looking to attack Raja from behind, pinning him to the ground with his giant weight and sinking his teeth into the scruff of the black tiger’s neck. The only tiger not bested looked from his master to his brother, not sure what to do. Out of options, he shifted back into human form.
He was young, barely eighteen with a strong look of fear in his blue eyes.
“Please,” he begged, “let them go. Don’t kill them. You don’t understand, we’re dying!”
Underneath Marcus, Raja shifted just enough so that he could use his vocal cords.
“Silence, you idiot!” His voice was thick with fangs, but the words could still be understood. The weight of Marcus’ jaw did not let up, and Raja felt the sharpness of his fangs inch into his flesh. Having no choice, he shifted to tiger form completely to protect his neck.
From the doorway, William walked in, holding an AK-47 at the ready. He had a bloody eye and a limp in his left leg. But he held himself up straight, aiming the gun with careful precision at Raja.
“On the count of three,” he instructed, “everyone shift.” As he reached the final number everyone did as they were commanded. When they were all human, they warily stepped away from each other, taking sides.
Naked, Marcus took the gun William handed him, and held it to his side. He didn’t like using guns. He despised them. But he would use it to protect Ameera if he had to.
“Raja,” Marcus stated through heaving breaths, “I’m giving you the chance to leave with your lives. Take it.”
Raja sneered, standing in place. “You cannot keep her from us. Not when there’s so few of them left.”
“You know the law,” William interjected, “Once she’s imprinted another cannot touch her.”
An evil smile spread across Raja’s face. “Ah yes, but he hasn’t done that yet, has he? And when she turns him down, she will be free to go to anyone she chooses. Or anyone that wants to try to imprint on her.”
The implication of rape moved Marcus into a fury. He rushed at Raja, body checking him to ground.
“Touch her and I will kill you.” The promise settled between them like a thick fog, choking the men.
The twins looked at their Master, anxious about what to do. They would have to obey whatever he commanded, but the truth was they just wanted to go home.
“Very well,” Raja said finally. “We will leave. For now. But if she is not taken by the time I return, I will take her.” Outside the room, guests were starting to migrate towards their door, curious about the roars and crashes. William threw the remains of their tattered clothes and they dressed quickly, leaving without another word.
Marcus turned to the hotel manager, “Jeron, thank you for coming. I’m afraid I was in a losing battle there.”
The two men stepped towards another and clasped each other’s forearm; a tradition from the old days they still kept.
“I better get out there and do some damage control.”
Marcus could hear him shouting polite orders to the guests, letting them know that everything was fine but that they must return to their rooms.
He turned to William, taking in his wounds. “You look rough,” he commented as he drew his pants back over his hips.
William snickered. “Perhaps you should look in the mirror, old friend. You are just as in bad of shape as I am.”
From behind him, he heard the click of a lock and swiveled around. Ameera stood at the open door of the bathroom, visibly shaken.
CHAPTER 5
“I think that it’s time that someone actually told me what is going on.” It was not a question. Ameera, though frightened, spoke with clarity and strength.
Marcus took a step towards her, but she held up her hand, stopping him. “No. I want to know the truth first. You can tell me while I clean you up.”
Raising his eyebrows, he looked at her, clearly surprised. William took a step towards the door to leave.
“And just where the hell do you think you’re going?” He was silent, just as surprised at her as Marcus was.
“Marcus, please call the front desk and ask them for a new room and a first aid kit.” Still shocked by her wave of authority, he did as she asked. Twenty minutes later they were in a new room
with a sturdy door and an impressive first aid kit. William and Marcus sat on the edge of the bed like two punished schoolboys while Ameera tended to their wounds.
“Somebody better start talking,” she warned. She was sitting on the floor, sewing up a gash on William’s left calf. Ameera wasn’t fazed at all by the blood. Growing up with such a large family, she had to learn a trick or two about nursing to avoid expensive hospital bills.
Finally, Marcus spoke. He started from the beginning, telling her about his people, who he was, what he really was, and why it was so important to him that he keep her safe. To prove he wasn’t lying, he placed his hand in hers and shifted it into a paw. When he was finished, he waited silently for her reaction.
“Well, that’s that then, isn’t it? Funny, I always felt like I wasn’t quite like anyone else. I guess that explains it. I’m hungry. Shall we order up some room service?”
Her cavalier response dropped both Marcus and William’s jaw. “That is it?” William asked. “You accept what we are then go get food?”
Ameera shrugged. “I always thought it was a little pretentious to think that the only intelligent life out there was humans. Now I know I’m correct. Anyway, food?”
William smiled, nudging Marcus in the ribs. “I like her.”
Not sure what else to do, Marcus called room service and ordered everything on the late night menu.
“Do you have any questions?” Marcus asked while they waited. Ameera took a moment, thinking.
“Can I shift?” Her tone was hopeful, and it left a heaviness in Marcus’ heart. He reached his hand out to her and this time she took it.
“No little one, I’m afraid you cannot. You can bear our children, but very few females can shift. Your bloodline is so muddled that it would seem unlikely that you could perform such a feat.
She didn’t try to hide the disappointment in her eyes. “But my children-our children- can? Shift, I mean.”
“If they are male, yes. It would take several generations of successful mating before we could have a female in our line that could shift.”
She nodded, understanding. Ameera ran her hand across the large scar that covered her left shoulder. When she was four, one of the neighbor’s dogs got loose and attacked her. It had been a bloody mess, but less than three days later she had completely healed.
“I heal fast. Very fast. Is that because I’m like you?”
Marcus nodded, pulling a bandage away from his arm. “See? Almost healed. The more shifter blood you have in you, the faster you heal.”
“Can we change people? Like if you bit me would I transform into a full shifter?”
William chuckled. “We are not werewolves, my dear. Simply shifters. You are born this way or you are not. Those are the only options.”
“So werewolves exist then?”
Both men looked at each other shrugged.
“No one is absolutely sure,” Marcus stated.
“But there have been rumors that a small clan exists in Europe, traveling as gypsies,” William chipped in.
Ameera took a moment to absorb it all in. She was a shifter that couldn’t shift. Marcus was the king of his pride. And just thirty minutes ago three tiger shifters tried to kidnap her because she could bear shifter children. This had turned into one hell of a night.
“So. The only reason that you want me is because I can help continue your bloodline?” The question weighed heavy on her heart, and she still wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it if her suspicions were confirmed.
Marcus jumped off the bed, grabbing her and pulling her to him. “No! You must believe me. When I first found your information, yes, that was a big part of it. But once I read your file and began talking to you, I knew you weren’t just a woman. You were my mate.”
She took in the words, still unsure if she believed them or not.
He pushed forward. “I tried to get you here as safely as possible, and I failed. Now that Raja knows you are here, we have to move you. We can stay here tonight, but tomorrow we must take you into the jungle. My men and I can protect you there.”
CHAPTER 6
Ameera yawned, still trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes. They had been travelling for several hours now, but she was still trying to fight off slumber. Last night she barely got more than a couple hours. With the excitement and new information, she had found it difficult to slip away. Marcus had tried to sleep next to her, but she pushed him away, still not sure of how she felt. Respecting her wishes, he went to the floor.
Marcus didn’t sleep either. He had stayed awake all night, listening to every breath Ameera took, every rustle of the covers she made. He had no idea how he was going to prove that he was falling for her, but he would have to worry about that later. For now his main goal was to keep her safe. They had left the hotel an hour before the sun rose. He could not take her to the pride yet, he decided. Raja could find her easily there by following her scent. No, he would have to take her underground.
The caves rested deep in the jungle, surrounded by a small waterfall and several large eucalyptus trees. The scent of the trees would block and disguise Ameera’s, keeping her safe.
The three of them had started the journey by foot, but once they met the tree line of the jungle, Marcus and William shifted to their lion form. Ameera walked for a few minutes, but after she tripped over large roots twice, Marcus had persuaded her to take a seat on his back. He nudged his large head into her waist, pushing her backwards until her rump rested on his side. When she tried to push away he simply nudged her again, the weight of his large head sending her backwards. Finally she gave in.
Now, sitting atop the large lion, Ameera was slowly being lulled to sleep by the gentle gait in his walk. Not able to keep her eyes open any longer, she stretched her body out, laying her head on the pillow that was Marcus’ mane. Wrapping her arms around his big neck, she fell into a deep sleep.
~
Ameera awoke to the sound of trickling water. Opening her eyes, she saw soft light dancing over dark stone walls. Lifting her head, she took in her surroundings. They were definitely underground somewhere. Bowls of oil were lit and scattered around the cavern, making it easy to see. Underneath her were several thick blankets, warding off the cold stone. She felt something move at her backside and she turned quickly. Marcus lay beside her, naked and still asleep. Seizing the opportunity, she took her time measuring his body. He was not as skinny as she originally thought. Instead, he had a much huskier build, heavy with muscle. His five o’ clock shadow had grown into a full scruff, making him look more rugged. She followed his muscles down his arms, over his abdomen, down to his hips. Against his leg lay his member, and she blushed when she took in his size. Even soft, he was quite large.
Thinking back to last night, before all of the clamor, she remembered how his lips felt against hers; how his hands burned through her dress into her flesh. Not able to stop herself, she extended her hand and ran it gently down the length of his body. He twitched, opening his eyes. He stared at her calmly, letting her make her next move. She took her time, running her hands over his chest, arms, and back, scratching lightly with her fingernails. As she did this, Marcus’ member stirred, coming to life and engorging. But he waited, letting her touch and explore him the way she wanted until she was satisfied.
Every touch for him was a tease, a whisper of pleasure meant for another time. Every fiber of his being wanted to reach out and take her, but he didn’t. He wanted more than just her body, he wanted her trust. So he stayed still until the moment she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. Only then did he reach for her, wrapping one arm around her waist, and another around her neck, rolling them until she rested underneath him.
Ameera still wore her traveling clothes, a pair of old blue jeans, hiking boots and a plain white tank top. But Marcus had to admit that he found her more attractive in these than in the dress she was wearing last night. She was beautiful, of course, but not like this. This was Ameera, plain and simple,
and he liked it. A lot. His lips came to hers again and this time she did not push him away. Instead, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pressed him into her, curling her fingers into his hair.
His mouth found the pulse in her neck and he couldn’t help himself. He pressed his tongue to the pounding vein, tasting her skin, and sunk his teeth into the tender flesh. Ameera let out a low moan of pleasure, heat sweeping through her entire body and pooling at the apex of her thighs.
“You wear too many clothes,” he complained, continuing his trail of kisses down her collarbone.
“Empowered, Ameera replied, “Remove them, then.” He needed no further instruction than that. Rising to his knees, he unlaced her boots and carefully removed her socks, not wanting to tickle her. He kissed the inside arch of her foot as his hands gently slid her jeans and panties away from her hips. When they were completely off, he tossed them to the side, not caring where they landed. Lastly, he peeled away her shirt, revealing her ample breasts in a white satin pushup bra.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, pulling her up so that he could reach the clasp behind her back. When she was completely naked, he drank her in, taking all of her soft curves and gentle dips. There was no doubt in his mind that she was made for him.
Her nails bit tiny crescent moons into his forearms, urging him to kiss her again. He obeyed, but only for a short time. Soon his curiosity got the best of him and he dipped his head to taste her breasts. Her small, dark nipples twisted into tiny peaks as he drew them one by into his mouth, taking long, slow pulls.
Not able to take much more, she reached her hand down between his legs to start massaging his hard, throbbing shaft. He groaned in approval, using his teeth to gently nibble the tender flesh that was her areola. Ameera’s hand was becoming more incessant, stroking him harder and faster until he had to reach down and stop her.
Roar Lover Roar: BBW Shape Shifter Mail Order Bride Romance & Paranormal Erotica Part 1 (Shifter Mail-Order Romance) Page 2
