The men skidded to a halt near them but none came close. Out of the corner of her eye Corrine watched as Jett slowly approached them. Rounding them until he was standing next to her, he placed a hand gently on her back. Moving it up gradually in a soothing circling motion. Once his hand was on the nap of her neck, she felt him drop to his knees next to her draping his body over her back. His head close to her ear. The heat of his body melted into her.
“Let go baby,” he said quietly.
She grunted low in her throat. Not quite ready to let go of her prey.
“Please. I need you to let go so they can take care of her,” he pleaded.
Just the thought of her being taken care of raised the fur on her back. She dropped lower, her jaws closing on Macy’s throat a fraction more.
“Now baby, I know she pissed you off but you aren’t the type to kill without reason.”
Frankly she thought she had plenty of reason and he should know that. Pulling her paw back, she dug her claws into Macy’s soft belly. Puncturing the skin. The tiger moaned and Corrine got the sick, fleeting satisfaction knowing she was in pain. She wanted Macy to feel the type of pain she had been in at seeing her bakery burnt down and her mate in the arms of another woman.
“Please, honey, let go. These men are going to take her away. Get her the help she needs and never let her back into the population. You know we have ways of dealing with shifters like her.” He stroked his large hand down her back sending spirals of pleasure through her.
They were at a stand still. He hadn’t given her a good enough reason to let go. And she couldn’t convince herself that Macy didn’t deserve swift punishment.
A throat cleared to her left. A man approached tentatively. Tall and muscular like Jett. He had the same rugged good looks. Chiseled cheekbones and strong angular nose. It was Jett, just older. Gray peppered his hair giving him an air of dignity and authority.
“Corrine,” his deep baritone pricked at her ears. “I need you to let Macy go. Much more of this and we’re going to have to haul you both off and I’d hate to do that to my son. Seems he’s quite taken with you and I don’t want to ruin that.”
Corrine grunted but still didn’t let go.
“You’re a stubborn one aren’t you? Not too stubborn I hope. Jett needs a woman who will stand up to him but not run right over him, attempting to control every aspect of his life.” Jett’s Dad’s eyes hardened dropping to the tiger beneath her. Bringing his gaze back to her it softened, “I think that woman is you. Now be a good girl and let go.” The man had the nerve to wink at her. A small smile tipping his lips. She snorted. As much as she wanted to be ticked at the man’s attitude, she couldn’t help but be charmed. Just like she was when Jett was acting like a fool.
Ever so slowly she released her grip on Macy’s throat. Removing her claws from her belly. At the same time, Jett moved off her back, giving her the space to move away.
Corrine ambled to the side, plopping down a few feet away, worn out from the all of the activity.
The contingency of men circled Macy. All of their attention, including Jett’s, focused solely on her. One very unhappy man thrust clothes at the pathetic looking woman.
She watched in curiosity as Macy planted her balled up hands on her hips. Not caring a wit that they were all staring at her.
“Daddy, can you believe that bitch,” Macy screamed at the man with the clothes. Snatching the garments from his outstretched hands, struggling to pull on the obnoxious bright pink velour sweat suit. “I’m bleeding and it’s all her fault. I’m going to be bruised and scarred for life. She needs to be dealt with. I could have been killed. Violent trash like that shouldn’t be allowed to mix with the rest of us.” Her tone was haughty and self-righteous.
Corrine had enough. She was tired, sore and her wound was still oozing blood. Catching a whiff of burnt wood, the destroyed bakery flooded back into her mind. Getting up she sedately walked away. Leaving them all behind.
She walked past the bakery, heading for the back of the house. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at the place, feeling completely numb.
In the backyard she shifted. Finding her robe hanging on the outdoor hook on the patio, she slipped into it. Instead of going inside like she planned, she turned and trudged up the hill to her favorite spot. Needing the comfort and peace she knew it would bring. Standing on the hill she mindlessly surveyed her land. So lost in her own world she didn’t sense Jett’s presence.
He found her standing on the hilltop looking lost and alone. He could feel the pain radiating off her and it broke his heart.
He couldn’t believe he didn’t know she’d walked off. He should have felt it the moment she left the clearing. He’d been too busy dealing with Macy and the Consortium. Explaining what happened.
The minute he realized she wasn’t there dread set in and he put on the clothes his father brought and took off. The others could deal with Macy. He was done feeling guilty for her breakdown.
Climbing the hill he walked up behind Corrine, slipping his arms around the tops of her shoulders. Her startled jump confirmed what he already figured. She had shut down. Was unaware of anything going on around her.
He held her. Soaking in the feel of her body against his. She relaxed back into him. Some of his tension releasing knowing she was comfortable with him again.
“Why didn’t you let me know you wanted to leave? I would have come with you,” he stated quietly.
Her chest rose beneath his arms before releasing on a heavy sigh. “Everyone was preoccupied with Macy and I didn’t want to interrupt. I just wanted to get back to the house and get this stench off me.”
“Why are you up here then?”
“I just came. I planned to hit the bath, which I still need to do by the way, and was drawn up here,” she shrugged.
He rested his chin on the top of her head, closing his eyes. The thought of Corrine naked, slippery and wet in the bath did crazy things to him. His cock stirred. Involuntarily pressing his hips against her ass.
Corrine snorted.
“What?”
“If you think you’re getting lucky after the day I’ve had, you are sadly mistaken.”
Jett didn’t answer. He knew she was trying to make everything that happened seem like it wasn’t a big deal but he refused to play along. “You scared the hell out of me Corrine. Why did you come out of the woods? I told you to stay there and wait.” His grip tightened across her body. He relived the moment Macy shoved him to the ground and he couldn’t do anything to stop her from going after Corrine.
He shuddered at the thought of a different outcome. Nevertheless, he should have known his mate could take care of herself.
Her hands came to rest on his forearms. The gentle touch soothing him until he looked down and saw blood on her right arm.
“Damn it Corrine.” He spun her around, seizing her arm to inspect it. The large ugly red lacerations stood out against her skin. Blood oozed and he strangely felt faint.
“Uh, Jett? You okay?”
He tried to focus on her face but couldn’t seem to get his eyes to work. She was wavering before him as the blood rushed out of his head. “Yeah,” he croaked.
She pushed him to the ground and he went willingly. Seeing his mate hurt was something he wasn’t prepared for. Something he didn’t know would affect him so strongly.
“You’re not looking so hot babe. Maybe we should go inside.” She framed his face with her hands, her gaze searching his own. Shutting his eyes to keep her from seeing his weakness, he let her touch abate the fear that set in.
He took a deep breath before letting it slowly out. “I’m good. Really. Just shocked to see you hurt.”
“I’m a big girl. I’ll survive. No tiger comes out unscathed. Besides, it isn’t a big deal. I’ll get the scratches cleaned up and dressed. Be good as new in a day or two. Might need a tetanus shot though. No telling what that bitch is carrying.” She chuckled softly but it didn’t lighten his mood.
/>
They sat in strained silence. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. He could have lost her before he ever really had time with her. The thought was a blow and huge reality check.
The slight pressure of her lips on his took him by surprise. His mind and body screamed for more. Deepening the kiss, he slid his tongue across the seam of her lips. Delving inside when her mouth opened. They tangled and dueled fighting for dominance. Pushing against each other’s tongue, biting and licking.
His balls tingled as cock rose to attention between them. Snaking his arms around her waist he pulled her on top as he laid back. Her lush body covering his hard planes. There wasn’t a better feeling in the world.
Pulling back he gasped for breath, only to have Macy’s scent envelope him, breaking through his lust. The cloying perfume was all over Corrine; the reason for it twisted his gut. Corrine was injured because of him. And he was ravishing her up on the hilltop in view of anyone who had an inclination to look.
Gently he rolled them to their sides. Taking care to not place her on her injured side while putting a small space between them.
He rested his forehead against hers needing to touch her in some way. “Don’t ever do that again. You have to let me protect you. I couldn’t bear it if you were severely injured or killed,” he sighed heavily.
She blinked rapidly. The fog of arousal lifting from her mind. She poked him hard in the chest with her finger. “You were letting her rub her tiny titties all over you and didn’t do a damned thing. What else was I supposed to do?”
The vehemence in her voice brought his head up. How could she be angry with him trying to protect her and stall for time? Didn’t she realize Macy did nothing for him? There was not one thing on that woman’s body sexually appealing.
Corrine was pouting with little irritated wrinkles in her forehead. It finally dawned on him.
“You were jealous!” he crowed. Reaching out he rubbed a lock of hair between his fingers. Loving the silky texture. “I was just keeping her occupied until the Consortium could get there. She has nothing on you, honey.” He looked pointedly at her breasts peaking out of the robe.
“Jerk,” she said lightly. Knocking his hand away.
He sighed. Elated she was joking and not pissed off and yelling at him. He was damn lucky to have Corrine. Now he just needed to ensure she stayed his. Forever.
With Macy out of the picture for real, for the first time in years he felt free. He could finally let the horrible experience fall into the background where it should have been all along. Instead of letting it rule his life, his relationships. He would take the blame for allowing it to happen too. He could accept his fault in the whole ordeal. What he wouldn’t accept was letting it to continue.
“I love you Corrine. I have from the first time I saw your picture back in college. I’ve been enchanted. I just didn’t know it at the time. I know we haven’t officially entered Dewasa but that doesn’t matter to me. You’re my mate. My soul. I don’t want anyone else.”
“What about your friendship with my brother? You’d give that up to be with me. He wasn’t too thrilled to find us in bed together, not that I care what he thinks, but you guys have been friends for a long time.”
“Why do I have to give both of you up? I don’t think he’ll be as upset as you think. We can talk to him. The sooner the better. I’m not sure how much of his attention we’ll have much longer. From what I can see, he’s wrestling with some of his own demons.”
“What? What do you know that I don’t?” She peered past him, toward the house. Concern for her twin evident on her face.
He pressed his thumb between her worried brows. Smoothing them out. “Nothing bad. At least I don’t think. I have a feeling he’s in a similar boat as me. Falling for someone he doesn’t think he should. That’s his problem though. Not ours.”
Grabbing her hips he pulled her pelvis flush with his arousal. He may have cooled it earlier but he was still hard as hell. His cock pressing against the zipper of his jeans. Anytime he was near her he couldn’t tamp down his hard-on. Her eyes snapped back to him. “Now back to us.”
He paused to study her expression, trying to gauge her reaction to being labeled ‘us’. It was completely blank as she stared back at him. Her breathing normal. The pulse beating in her neck normal. “There is an ‘us’, right?” He said it a little unsure.
Lips pursed, eyes narrowed he wanted to squirm under her inspection. Wanted to kiss her and break the spell. Remind her how well they went together. How she came undone with a simple touch from him.
Instead he waited. Praying for her to answer with what he hoped.
Minutes passed and his nerves frayed even more.
“I forgive you,” she said softly after placing a quick kiss on his lips.
He reared his head back, bewildered by her words. He wasn’t expecting that at all.
Giggling she threw her arms around him, knocking him flat on his back.
“I love you too Jett Montgomery-Murphy and if you so much as think of walking away again there will be hell to pay. I don’t need Dewasa to tell me I’ve found the man and tiger for me. You’re my mate and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
His heart sang at her words and he set out to show her how much she meant to him.
THE END
About the Author
As a teenager Brandy would spend time at her Nana and Papa’s writing angst filled stories of unrequited love. All revolving around whatever cute boy she had a crush on at the time. The stories, which no longer exist, were a way to get out the emotions bottled up inside. After a time her interests changed and writing got left behind.
After rediscovering her love of reading, romance to be specific, story ideas starting popping up in her head. With some prodding from her friends she decided to try her hand at writing romance and has written around ten stories in various states of completion. With a plan in place she’s hoping to bring more of her stories to life.
Brandy is a Navy brat, prior enlisted Army, current Army wife, and mom. She lives in Washington State with her husband of 18 years, three kids and one dog.
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Coming Soon:
Freefall
Falling Fast (Tiger Nip, Book 2)
Craving More Page 14
