"Morning, Boss," Jack came up from behind him.
Alex turned. "I have a problem."
"Yeah, I know. What has she done this time?" Jack appeared to be amused.
Alex explained the previous evening's events as they crossed the garden area to the offices. He held the door for his old friend and sat at his desk while Kena went straight to her blanket.
"Give her some time to lick her wounds," Jack advised. "She is feeling guilty and just needs some space to work it out."
"Something has changed, though," Alex lamented. "I can't put my finger on it."
"Then let it be until it shows itself. She recovers from defeat pretty quickly. I suspect she will be talking your head off by this evening."
"Do you think so?"
"You already owe me a hundred bucks. Wanna make it two hundred?" Jack gave a lopsided smile. "I'm surprised that you didn't jump her bones, though."
"I'm not going to go into details about that part of my love life, but I don't believe in rewarding after a punishment. It's too confusing and sends the wrong message."
"Not to sound crude, but a tiger would just mount his females without concern for their pleasure. It is the ultimate form of dominance."
"It is?"
"Where have you been, boy? It's universal. Everything she does mimics a felid response. Why would this be any different?"
"I didn't consider just doing it," Alex confessed, drumming his fingers on the desk. "It never crossed my mind."
"Not at all?" Jack winked. "Are you actually saying that your body didn't respond to the raw power exchange?"
"You're a pervert," Alex reprimanded. He recalled the uncomfortable twitching of his cock as the punishment grew to its pinnacle. Jack was right. Again. "Go to work, I'll figure this out."
"No prob," Jack chuckled, standing up. "I hear that your pop is coming this weekend. Is he prepared for your tiger and her cub?"
"Dad's a tough old geezer, just like you. And much more of a charmer. He will adore her. I'm going to have a BBQ Saturday, so I expect you to be joining us."
"Are you seriously going to make me sit through picture sharing?" Jack groaned. "You know every time he comes back from a long trip, he's got a carousel full of slides he insists on showing us."
"If I have to, so do you. Be there at three. I'll have the fridge stocked with beer for you."
"Fine," Jack sighed. "I'm in the snake pit today if you need me."
"Be careful," Alex warned.
Jack laughed. "I would much rather deal with the vipers than Miss Misha today, that's for sure."
Alex absently fiddled with his computer, considering Jack's words. It dawned on him that Misha may have interpreted his refusal as a form of rejection, rather than what he had explained. He quickly left the office in search of his tigress.
He found her leaning against the bars of a holding cage, scratching a young lion behind the ears. Silently, he locked the door behind him.
"Misha?"
She jumped up quickly. "He just came out of surgery, the vet had to pull a broken tooth and he's still groggy. I…"
"Calm down." Alex held his hand out for her to take. He pulled her close. "I love you."
"You're not mad?" she glanced at the lion.
"Should I be? I'm surprised you weren't in there, though."
"I don't know how he recovers from a general. Sometimes they get scared and attack out of fear. I didn't want to risk that."
Alex was genuinely surprised. "Does this mean you heard my concerns after all?"
"Yes. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I'm really sorry."
Without warning, Alex suddenly pressed her compulsorily against a wall and crushed his lips to her mouth. He held her wrists above her head, restraining her with his hands as he claimed her. Fervently, he shoved her pants down her legs, tugged them off over her boots, and released his stiffened cock. Without a sound other than a primal growl, and driven by pure instinct, Alex plunged himself in to her soft, moist receptacle. Still standing, he wrapped her legs around his waist and held her tightly against the wall while sinking into her. He made the act about him, a powerful reminder that she was his, and his alone. He stopped mid-plunge and pulled out. Before Misha could say anything, he grabbed a handful of her hair and bent her in half so he could impale her from behind. The site of her bruised bottom from the previous night's paddling stirred him onward. He fucked her; there was no other word he could use to describe the act. It was hard, furious, demanding and animalistic and he loved it.
"Take it all," he ordered hoarsely, "take every inch of me and remember how I feel inside of you!"
Misha braced her arms on a rail, struggling not to crumble under Alex's weight and potent lunges. She panted for air, eagerly accepting his unexpected display of dominance.
"Deeper," she finally gasped out. "Go deeper."
With a loud snarl, Alex exploded within her, bruising her hips as he forced her bottom back into the cradle of his pelvis to milk every drop from his engorged cock. He collapsed across her back, his fingers still digging painfully into her hips. He waited until his cock softened to remove himself from her, and then turned her partially naked body to face him.
"When we get home tonight, you are going to get a proper fucking. Don't even think about arguing with me."
He tucked his cock back into his pants, kissed her swollen lips, and left.
Chapter 16
Misha numbly pulled her panties and trousers back on, stunned by Alex's display of mating. She had never been more aroused in her life. She made herself as presentable as possible and then went about her work, this time with a happy smile.
"I hear you had a tough evening last night." Jack's voice echoed from the door leading into the isolated enclosures. "Where are you?"
"In the meat room. Its lunchtime," Misha called back.
Jack walked in and immediately noticed the disarray of her clothes and hair. "You okay? The cats didn't ruffle you up, did they?"
Misha blushed, lifting a cleaver to hack off a chunk of fat from the deer carcass on the butcher block in front of her. "I was rough housing with my tiger."
"The two or four-legged kind?" Jack asked, his eyes twinkling.
"It's none of your business. Grab a couple of chickens," she ordered, pointing to the refrigeration case. "Don't pluck them, the cats enjoy the process. I also want to try those new supplements, and see if they like it."
"You're changing the subject."
"I'm not changing the subject. The subject is simply none of your business."
"Are you looking forward to meeting your future father-in-law?" Jack snickered, tossing several beets, grasses and berries in the basket with the meat.
"Will you please stay out of my love life? What is with you?"
"Girl, I've known you since you were a sprout. I can see the changes happening in you and want to be part of it. You know you're like a daughter to me."
"So you've told me," Misha commented, picking up the heavy basket and starting toward the Bengal enclosure.
"Have I done something to piss you off?" Jack asked, following her in.
"No," Misha answered, pouring the basket contents on the ground and watching as the cats eased their way toward it. She ran her hand down the length of the tigress's back. "It's interesting that such solitary creatures find comfort in having others who have suffered through the same ordeal, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, dumping his basket as well, stepping aside for the two males to investigate their food.
Misha picked up a berry and offered it to one of them. He took it gently from her hand. "Tigers are loners. They don't live in prides like lions do. Yet these three are closely bonded. They all suffered the same abuse and neglect at the zoo they were in."
"They were also born in captivity and their natural instincts were never nurtured. What are you getting at, though?" Jack asked, watching nervously as she carefully sat on the ground and hand fed the same male, while the other two cats
gnawed on the large chunks of meat and a chicken.
"People do the same thing. We band together to support each other when faced with tragedy or threats. The difference is, we do it out of selfishness and what we can get out of it. These three did it purely out of instinct and knowing there was strength in numbers. That's how I feel with Alex. He's stronger than I imagined and it makes me feel safe."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Look around you. They have become content being in this pen as long as they have each other. I don't want to become complacent. That scares me more than anything."
"Complacent is not a word I would ever choose to portray you, Mish. You are too restless by nature. So is Alex. The biggest difference between you two is that he has already marked his territory, you have not. He will provide boundaries for you to be safe in while still allowing you freedom."
"Will he? Are you certain, without a doubt, that he won't try to tame me and force me to become a common lap cat?"
"Have I ever steered you wrong, baby?" Jack ignored the giant animals around him and reached for her hand. "When have I ever done anything but give you the best of what I had?"
"Never. Jack? I'm sorry." Misha's eyes welled. "All these years I have done nothing but push you away. You've been more of a dad to me than anyone. I've never properly thanked you, either."
"Seeing you happy is all the thanks I need," Jack smiled warmly. "Alex is a good man. There is no one else I would want for my little girl."
"Oh, Jack," Misha hugged him, "Ow!"
The tigress hissed and flared her nostrils at Jack while slapping Misha aside with her large paw. She lowered her head and snarled, her eyes focused on Jack's face.
"You need to get out of here," Misha said, slowly backing toward the door and pushing Jack behind her. "She's provoking an attack and the males are joining her."
"Fuck," Jack whispered, keeping eye contact with the pacing cats.
"Fuck is right. Go slow and stay behind me. She is running on pure instinct and thinks she's protecting me. Make no sudden movements."
"What are you doing?" Jack panicked as Misha moved away from the door, and him.
"What I do best. Get out."
"Misha!"
"Trust me," Misha demanded, approaching the tigress slowly. Jack exited the enclosure, grabbed the tranquilizer gun, and aimed it through the bars.
"You're too close. Get away from her," he said.
"If you shoot her, the other two will see it as a sign of aggression. Please, just stay calm," Misha said, offering a piece of meat to the female after lowering herself to the ground. The tigress's tail twitched menacingly as she circled her. She brushed her long whiskers against Misha's head, growling deeply as she pressed her huge body closer against the woman. The two males stood to the side, watching every move made by both the tiger and her prey.
Misha inhaled deeply and forced her body to relax, hoping that the animal would sense her submission and not interpret it as weakness. The tigress paused and launched herself on Misha's back, wrapping her front paws around the woman's shoulders and shoving her backwards to the ground. Misha squirmed as she tried to escape the rough tongue on her face, and put her hands up to protect her delicate skin. The tigress used her paw to flip Misha over to her stomach, sniffed her from head to toe, and then settled her body over Misha's back. She had made her claim.
"Misha?" Alex's voice rang through the enclosure. "Dear Lord! Misha!"
"I'm okay," Misha answered. "She was just protecting me. She won't get off me, though."
"I'm coming in to get you," Alex said.
"No! She smelled you on me and might think you are a danger. Jack! Don't let him!"
Alex ignored her warnings and entered the pen while Jack focused the tranquilizer gun on the tigress. Alex ignored the males and walked directly up to the female.
"She is mine," he growled, meeting the yellow eyes of the animal. The cat stared at him, twitching her tail slowly. She rose to her feet and walked away, leaving Misha free to stand. "Get out of here before she changes her mind," Alex ordered, pointing to the door.
Misha rapidly obeyed and clung to Jack while Alex slowly backed his way out, his eyes never leaving the female. Once the door was closed, he gathered Misha in his arms and held her tightly. She could feel him trembling.
"You saved me," she whispered after his lips left hers. "She took me as a prize."
"I don't know what that means," Alex said. "I'm just grateful that you're not hurt."
"Tigers will sometimes hoard their prey for another meal time," Jack explained, stroking Misha's hair. "She was either claiming Mish as a cub or as food. It's hard to tell. Either way, it can be deadly."
"Why were you in there? After everything we've gone through—"
"I was with her, Alex," Jack said. "It's my fault. I hugged her and the tigress took that as an intrusion upon her claim. I'm sorry."
"I can't believe how you stared her down," Misha said, resting her cheek on Alex's chest. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"Me neither, but she was threatening what was mine," Alex said, kissing the top of her head. He was still trembling. "Thank God you're okay."
"There is something I need to do," Misha said, her voice sad. "I'll be right back."
She returned with Rodin in her arms. Jack shook his head frantically. "No! She will kill him!"
"If she is needing a cub, then I have to see if this works. I don't want to lose him, but he needs to be with his own kind too."
"Mish, you don't have to do this," Alex said, holding her arm.
"I do. It's only right." Misha inhaled deeply and reentered the enclosure with the cub tucked against her chest. The tigress lifted her head and sniffed the air, then slowly rose to approach the girl. Misha placed the cub on the ground and stepped back, holding her breath.
She watched with trepidation as the giant female circled the cub. Rodin's ears were perked up and he chased her long striped tail, catching it in his paws and biting down on it playfully. The tigress plopped to her side and drew the cub against her, grooming him with her large tongue. She snarled at the curious males until they backed away, and then returned to licking her new baby.
"He has a new momma now," Misha said, her eyes brimming with tears. "We need to relocate the males right away."
"Are you going to be all right?" Alex asked, holding her tightly.
"I'm going to miss him. He was my baby."
"He will always be your baby, honey. He is just with his own kind now, and that is what's best for him."
"I know." She broke into tears, wrapping her fingers in his shirt. "I'm being selfish."
"You aren't selfish, my darling, you're human. Jack? Why are you crying?"
Jack rubbed his hand across his eyes. "Allergies."
"You haven't lost your baby either, old man," Alex reached to hug his old friend. "We have all just finally found a place where we fit, and that is together."
***
"How's Rodin?" Alex asked quietly on the way home that evening.
"He acts like he's never known I exist. The tigress won't leave him alone for a minute. I've never seen such devotion before."
"I guess they both needed each other. Poor Kena," he reached to stroke the head of the dog, "no puppies and no kitty. I guess that means she gets us to herself now."
"I don't know why this hurt so much. I'm an expert on felids. I know better. Maybe I was hoping for the handling position. I just don't get it."
"That can still happen. Just because he is being raised by one of his own doesn't mean we can't explore that opportunity."
"You're sweet, but we both know that the minute he bonded with her, the domestic imprint was eliminated. I couldn't take him out in public any more than I could risk taking her. It's just sad for me, on so many levels."
"What do you mean?"
"Besides losing Rodin and the chance to handle him, I also realized that now I have no need to purchase my own ranch. I wanted a place to call mine, b
ut today, when you risked your life to save me, I saw that the only thing I really need is you."
"But your dream…"
"My dream was to have a place I could call home." She looked over at Alex. "I have you and Jack. And Kena," she smiled as the mastiff drooled on her arm. "I have a home with my own kind. People who love me for being me."
"Sweetheart, I understand needing a place for yourself. How about I build you a tree house? Two story, way off the ground, with all the amenities of home."
"You would do that?" Misha looked shocked.
"Of course. Dad loves doing stuff like that, and Jack can help. It can be your special getaway when you need Misha time."
"Alex Hodges, I love you so much!"
"I do have one condition," Alex said mischievously. "That is that you allow me to make love to you the minute it's completed."
"Hmmm, that is a unique way of dedicating a place. Sure," Misha giggled in agreement.
"I still intend to mount you tonight like I said I would," Alex announced.
"You'll have to catch me first."
"I will have no problem in doing that. In fact, we can make a game out of it."
"I thought I was still grounded," she said.
"You are, but given the situation today, I think you need a good distraction."
"Well," Misha hid a tiny smile, "you always seem to know what I need better than I do, right?"
"I like to believe that. Okay, here is the plan. I am going to go upstairs and take a really long shower. In one hour, I am going to go on the hunt. The only rules are that you have to remain on the property and in the wilderness. No hiding in the house or the pruning sheds, okay?"
"How are you going to find me?"
"I'm a hunter, my love." Alex stared her down. "No one can escape me. Not even you."
"Maybe I don't want to escape you anymore," Misha said seductively. "For all you know, I could be the one on the prowl…"
Liars and Tigers Page 14
