Sasha's Lion

by Hazel Gower

  “That is the type of passion I want Sleeping Beauty and her prince to have.”

  Savron looked up to see Mrs. Sander, an eagle shifter who’d been the drama teacher when he’d been at school ten years ago. She was good friends with his mom, and she had been one of his favorite teachers.

  “Sorry to interrupt. I just came to pick up Sasha.” He eased Sasha down and turned her around.

  Mrs. Sander looked him up and down, and a gleam came into her eyes. “Savron Pride, look at you all grown up.” She turned to the students on stage behind her. “Savron used to be a star student of mine.”

  “I didn’t know you taught that long ago,” Zeck grumbled behind him.

  Savron forced his lion down and told him not to react, but his eyes must have changed because Mrs. Sander shook her head.

  “Savron, Sasha, why don’t you two show us how the dance scene in the woods should go with Beauty and her prince?”

  He felt Sasha stiffen against him. He didn’t want to be here, and he certainly didn’t want an audience.

  “How about a rain check? I didn’t come to perform. I just came to get my mate.” He deliberately said mate even though Mrs. Sander should understand as she was a shifter and a friend. Sasha had his mark and also smelled of him.

  Mrs. Sander dramatically sagged her shoulders. “Fine, but I’ll hold you to it. You can take Sasha now. She’s only working on props, and she did work back yesterday.”

  Savron smiled. “Thanks.”

  Sasha eased out of his hold. “Thanks, Mrs. Sander.” She turned to him. “Let me just grab my bag.”

  Zeck and Jess strolled by him and after Sasha. Savron stood alone with Mrs. Sander. “Sasha is very social. I can smell you mated her, but haven’t taken her fully. How’s that working? She is very popular.”

  He closed his eyes and eased his lion, which was on edge. “It’s hard. Sasha’s human, and I don’t want to push her. But with it being really busy with the creatures, it’s not easy to spend time with her.”

  She patted his arm. “I will get the eagles to call your father. We have been quiet, so we can send some help. I understand you and the wolves section have been flat out.”

  “That would be much appreciated. We could do with some help.”

  They stopped talking as Sasha came back.

  “Thanks again, Mrs. Sander.” Sasha smiled as she reached for his hand and held it. “Let’s go.”

  They walked down the halls and he told himself to let it go, but he needed to know who’d been taking her home. “Mac said he hasn’t been taking you home. So who has?”

  Sasha shrugged. “I’ve been helping with drama, so I’ve been getting a lift with Zeck, Jess, and Travis.”

  He growled. He wasn’t happy Zeck was among the group.

  Sasha stopped and stared at him. “You’re mad? Look he’s my friend, and I haven’t been alone with him. I’ve been with Jess and Travis. They know I’m with you.”

  Savron sighed. He couldn’t stop Sasha from hanging out with her friends because he wasn’t fond of them. He pulled her to him and kissed her. “I’m not angry. I just like to know who you’re getting a lift home with, so I know you’re safe.”

  Sasha hugged him. “Okay, I’ll tell you who I’m getting a ride with from now on.” She squeezed him tight for a moment before she moved away and pulled him along like she was in a rush.

  He slowed at the car. “What’s the rush?”

  “Nothing, it’s just tomorrow I have the competition, and I feel like I have barely seen you. I’ve been staying awake at night, but most of the time I’m asleep when you get home. I have tonight off, so I’m good and rested for tomorrow.”

  Savron pulled her to him. “I’m sorry, gorgeous. You moving in was supposed to help us be together and spend time together. But I’ve been so busy at work, and all your spare time is either spent dancing or studying.” He cupped her face. “I want to take you to dinner tonight and then go to the movies. No dancing, no homework, no distractions.” He pulled her up to him and brushed his lips over her mouth.

  They broke away breathless. Savron eased away from her and opened his car door and set her up in the passenger seat he when around to his side and got in. “Come on, let’s go home. You can shower and get dressed.”

  ****

  Sasha tried to relax, and she told herself to think of happy thoughts. She thought of last night, and for just a moment she closed her eyes and remembered. She and Savron had gone to the early movie. Savron watched the romance/action film just for her. Sasha could tell Savron didn’t enjoy it. Sasha thought the movie was okay, but the looks and grumbles from Savron made the movie so much better. When a scene that should have been action came on he’d groan and sigh “that couldn’t be done by a human” or “even I couldn’t do that” and so on.

  Sasha had liked his added commentary. She’d settled herself against Savron as best she could and cuddled him just enjoying his warmth and the undisturbed time together. No homework. No dance practice. No work or fighting bad creatures. Every now and then she’d feel his lips on her head or he’d squeeze her tighter, and she felt relaxed and content.

  The restaurant had been a nice change from her cooking or Savron’s attempt at cooking. They’d sat across from each other and talked small talk. Nothing about his work, both jobs, and he asked nothing about dancing or school. Sasha had told him about Australia and what she missed. Her friends were a big subject, the beaches, the climate, and how even the socializing was different.

  Savron had told her about the pride, that his father was the head honcho and his aunties, uncles, and cousins, were all in the pride. Savron had told her that his family dated back to the first lion shifters pride, and that was why they had Pride as their last name.

  Savron had reached across and touched her all the time or held her hand. All night a body part of Savron’s had touched hers. It wasn’t until they got home and got in bed that he had stiffened and turned from her mumbling, “It’s getting really hard. I don’t know how much longer I can last. I want you so bad.”

  This morning when her alarm had gone off at five A.M. she’d awoken to find herself draped over Savron, one of his hands up her shirt cupping a breast the other down her pants resting on her arse. The heat from his touch was sending delicious tingles through her body. She could see his morning delight and knew she needed to get up and out of bed before she gave in to the heat, and gave her body and Savron what they wanted.

  Her body started to heat at the memory of Savron’s touch. She opened her eyes and hoped Britney kept Savron away. He got jealous way too easily, she thought. Britney had explained it was an alpha mate thing, and Sasha added it to her list of frustrating finding out about the real world things that she had to come to terms with.

  Sasha didn’t mind the jealousy so much. It was the trust thing that got to her, and the fact that sometimes him assuming that every guy was in love with her or wanted her got tiring. She tried to see it from his perspective, especially when he explained what a mate was. But Sasha had never been in this situation before, and everything at the moment felt so overwhelming. She was only eighteen, and being told you’re the love of someone’s life, the only person they could have children with and share their soul with, was a lot to take in.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she got herself worked up. Sasha was starting to fall for Savron, and that scared her the most. Yesterday, she’d admitted to Jess and Zeck what he was to her. She’d told them what a lucky girl she was. Sasha did love how he let her have his car whenever she asked. How Savron helped with homework or listened to her to see if things sounded right. Sasha loved how he rang if it wasn’t too late to see if she wanted anything when he came home from work. Savron seemed happy enough to lie on the sofa and watch a movie or TV. And the nights he was late as he got busy with work and she fell asleep he picked her up and brought her to bed and kissed her. Or if she was already in bed he’d pick her up and lay her so she cuddled him. She didn’t thi
nk she could sleep through the night without him now.

  Crap! She already loved him.

  Sasha looked out at the huge crowd and the cameras and told herself not to run, that Jason needed her, was counting on her. It was just that Sasha felt sick. Jason’s and her solo was coming up, and it was the second time she would be on stage. The first had been for the Latin America section, cha-cha, jive, and samba. They’d placed fourth, which she was really proud of, Jason not so much. Sasha had been so nervous that for the first dance, the cha-cha, she’d stumbled, which had knocked their total down.

  Hands rubbed up and down her arms. “Don’t worry. Stop looking out at everything that’s going on. You’re stressing yourself out more.” Jason turned her to face him. “Pretend it’s just you and me at practice in the studio, and just focus on me. If we do this as perfect as we do this at practice, we have this competition in the bag.”

  Sasha rolled her eyes because she knew she and Jason were good considering they’d only been dance partners for about six months, but they were not like the people competing today, who were awesome. They looked like they belonged in movies and probably were used to all the cameras and attention. In Australia the dance scene hadn’t reached what it had here in America.

  Their names were called, and she took a deep breath and walked out to the dance floor hoping that Britney kept Savron away.

  ****

  Britney had been distracting him all day. Savron had been busy with his club all morning and finished early so he could go watch Sasha. He entered the venue with Britney. Even with the packed venue he could smell that his parents and Brandon were here.

  Savron went straight to his family, who had front row seats. He sat in one of the spare seats next to his mother.

  “Our girl is doing good. They’re coming up next doing a salsa samba solo.” His mom sounded so proud.

  Britney whispered something into their dad’s ear.

  “Holy shit, Britney! You should have told us.”

  He glanced at his father for a moment only to turn to the stage as the announcer said. “Number fifty-three, Jason Stag and Sasha Brentno.”

  Jason came out with no shirt and black pants and shoes. Sasha followed behind him in a two piece glittering white and black tiny outfit. Her breasts were pushed up in the tight barely-there top. Sasha’s hair was curled and fell down her back. The skirt she wore was strips of shiny fabric, and she had black undies on underneath. Her high heeled shoes shone with diamantes.

  He stood, and two sets of arms came around him.

  “Don’t, son.” His dad murmured into his ear.

  Savron watched as the music started. Sasha stood behind Jason’s back then dancing around to his front. Jason crouched down and held one of Sasha’s hands. She raised one of her legs up, and Jason held it, spinning her. He spun her closer to him until she stopped against his chest. Jason let go of her leg, and she straddled his leg.

  Savron snarled and tugged at the hands holding him back.

  Sasha’s hand came up, and she elaborately stroked his face and down Jason’s chest. As the music picked up he flung her out. Holding her hand he rose up, and she danced back and Jason followed. They danced some fancy footwork, and he pulled her to him and gripped her with both hands. She slid back and forth under his legs then came out, and he brought her close so her back was against his chest like they were hugging, and they danced. Jason flung her out as the music came to a dramatic close and she spun back to him, and he leaned down and flipped her into his arm and then up to end the routine so she sat on the side of his shoulder, straddling his face almost, with her hands up in the air.

  The crowd went wild, and Sasha, with the help of Jason, flipped down landing on her feet, her faces inches from Jason. They spun and bowed and walked off stage.

  “Sasha did warn me, but wow, that was hot.” Britney turned and winked at him. “You did well, bro.”

  Savron glared at Britney, and his father and Brandon let go. He sat in the chair behind him. So Britney had been with him to distract him from seeing that.

  “Sasha told me the competition wasn’t supposed to be this big. She’s been really nervous about it and worried the last couple of weeks about how you would react to the routine. You two haven’t been together for that long in the human world, and it takes a long time to change routines and get them perfect. That’s why she kept the routine she just did like that. Sasha knew you wouldn’t like it, so she asked me to help keep you distracted, but it didn’t work. You were determined to come here.”

  His mother patted him. “Savron, you’re lucky Sasha’s mother wasn’t here watching it and seeing your struggles.”

  Savron listened to what Britney and his mother were saying, and he understood what they were getting at; but at the same time his lion clawed at him to get out and get their mate. Show the world whose she was. “Where is Sasha’s mother?”

  “Her sister and mother are down helping Sasha change as the next event is ballroom, so Sasha needs help changing.”

  Savron went to stand up and go to Sasha, when his mom held him down. “Stay here. This is her last event for the day. Watch her this time she performs, and not her body but her face.”

  Puzzled at what his mom meant he listened to her and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. Five minutes and they announced the ballroom. Sasha and Jason were the second last to come out. This time Sasha was covered in an elaborate yellow ballroom gown. Her hair was tied back in a secure bun.

  Jason wore an old fashioned suit with tails. Savron watched Sasha’s face this time as the music started, and they danced. She smiled the whole time and not a forced smile, a full-blown “I’m having the time of my life” smile. Her eyes beamed with her happiness, and he found himself captivated as he watched her. Sasha was so beautiful. At that moment as he watched her eyes twinkle and the joy she showed, he realized he would give anything for her to keep that look on her face. Savron felt his lion watching Sasha in total agreement of what he thought. They didn’t care if Sasha danced with another man. They just wanted her to be happy, and if dancing, no matter how raunchy, was what put the light in her eyes and the smile on her face, then he and his lion would just have to suck it up and get used to idea. He shouldn’t care much anyway as long as at the end of the day, at night Sasha came home and ended up in bed with him.

  The dancing finished, and Savron turned to his family. They all sat watching him now. “She was amazing.”

  They all grinned at him. “Yes, she was, son. I know you were angered at the intimacy, but she doesn’t lust for her partner. Sasha is all about the dance. I know shifter men don’t like anyone touching their mate and so on, but you don’t dance, and you can’t deny her the happiness you just saw. I’m really proud of you, Savron. You’re a bigger man than your father. He wouldn’t have lasted.” His mother hugged him and pushed him away. “You can go to her now. Just make sure you’re positive. She’s already nervous.”

  His lion knew where to go even if he didn’t. Savron wove his way through the throng of people until even with all the sweaty bodies he smelt the desert rose.

  Sasha looked stunning. She stood with her mother and sister talking. Her eyes still held the bright happiness in them. He went straight to her and wrapped his arms around her, leaned down, and brushed his lips against hers.

  “You were amazing, Sasha. You looked awesome. I’m so proud of you.”

  Sasha eyes widened, and she looked startled for a moment. Then slowly a smile came to her face.

  “Gorgeous, you were so sexy. I’m one lucky man.” Savron kissed her. Careful of her make-up and clothes, he moved away as a flash went off. He pulled away and turned to see Melody taking pictures of them.

  Sasha’s mother smiled and said she would go back to her seat and talk to Sasha before she left. Melody stayed taking pictures of him and Sasha and the surrounding couples.

  “They will be great photos of you two. They show so much love. Sasha, stand next to him, and I’ll take some of you and
Savron before you have to find Jason to go on stage before they announce winners.”

  He stood beside Sasha and posed, but his mind wondered as it though about what Melody had said. Love, did he love Sasha? She was his mate, so he was supposed to love her, but did he? Savron loved being with her. He could talk to her about things that weren’t work-related. Savron relaxed with Sasha. He got jealous of other men. He lusted after her. Savron craved her and thought about her almost twenty-four-seven, but did he love her?

  Sasha held his hand and introduced him to a couple of other dancers as her boyfriend. She didn’t let his hand go, and every now and then she would kiss it and move closer to him and hug him.

  The announcer asked all adult dancers to come and be placed. Savron let go of Sasha and went back to his seat still asking himself if he loved Sasha or was it the mate bond.

  Chapter Ten

  Sasha was exhausted. Jason and she had placed third, which meant they’d advanced and in a couple of months would go to regionals. It would be a lot of work, upping her dance hours for practice, but she knew it would be worth it. What an experience. Her mother and sister were so proud of her, and even Savron’s family beamed with pride.

  What worried Sasha was Savron. He’d seemed out of it all late afternoon and night. He’d left to go hunting even though his father had told him he could stay and celebrate with her. It was now nine-thirty, and she sat on the sofa in the lounge room wishing she’d said yes to Jason when he’d asked her to come out with people and celebrate.

  Britney had even invited Sasha to go to a party at some guy’s house she was going to, but Sasha had declined thinking she would spend the night with Savron. She grabbed her phone to call Britney to tell her she had changed her mind when she looked at her phone to see she had over fifteen missed calls and thirty something messages. She checked them to see that her friends from school messaged to congratulate her on her win. They said they watched her and she was unbelievable, awesome.