Romance Warfare: a Tigress' Guide to NOT Secure a Mate: BBW Tiger Shape Shifter Paranormal Romance

by Lizzie Lynn Lee

  “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” she snarled at him. “You don’t own me, Adam Frost. I told you, you lost the right to tell me what to do years ago.”

  “I mean what I say, Eva.”

  “Fuck you, Adam.” Eva felt her tigress’ anger rush through her body, making her skin hot and her breathing come faster. She couldn’t believe he was accusing of her flirting. Not that it was any of his business if she stripped naked and fucked somebody on the table in the middle of the restaurant. She told him as much.

  And was shocked to her core when Adam slammed her against the wall and trapped her arms above her head in one of his hands before capturing her mouth with his, grinding her teeth against her lips before forcing them apart with his searching tongue.

  His kiss was punishing and claiming, and hot as flames licking through her body as he pressed into her, his knee pushed between her thighs as his tongue plunged deeply into her mouth, sweeping across the delicate skin, tasting her deeply, leaving her panting and her lips bruised and tingling.

  He broke the kiss, biting at her lips before dropping her arms. She was staring up at him, her head spinning with the suddenness of his assault and the reaction of her body. Her traitorous body, pounding now with the need he’d ignited in her.

  Without a word, he pivoted and strode back down the hallway, never once stopping to look back.

  ***

  Eva collapsed against the bathroom sink, her legs shaking from her encounter with Adam. After all his talk of professionalism and ignoring her for the past week, that was what he did? She didn’t know what to think anymore. The only thing she knew was how much she liked Adam’s kiss.

  She missed it with every fiber of her being.

  She felt like her body had betrayed her, running over any rational thought and shutting down her brain.

  Still, Eva couldn’t believe she let him kiss her like that. She couldn’t believe she enjoyed it so much.

  Eva shook her head, trying to clear the image of Adam from her mind. She splashed cold water over her face. Staring in the mirror, she realized she looked like a woman who’d been thoroughly kissed. Her cheeks and neck flushed pink, her lips swollen and red. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, imagining she could still taste the searing effect of his kiss. Nothing to do for that but splashing more cold water on her face.

  Eva sighed, leaning against the sink. The best thing she could do was pretend like it never happened. And that meant catching her breath, straightening her hair, and walking back out there like Adam didn’t matter. Which he didn’t.

  Right? Right?

  After several deep breaths, Eva decided. Now or never. She strode back into civilization and smacked into Dean the second she stepped out the bathroom door. He was leaning against the opposite wall, one leg folded over the other, a smirk playing across his lips.

  “So,” he said, his grin rivaling that of the Cheshire Cat, “does your job description include assisting your boss with his bathroom habits?”

  Eva glared at him.

  “I take that as a no. So, you and Adam having a few ‘personal negotiations’ back here?” he continued teasing.

  “Screw you,” Eva hissed.

  “I’d love to. But Adam would have my head if I do that. He’s very territorial, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  She swore Dean lived for this kind of thing. He’d been like this since they were kids. The world was his personal entertainment. Sometimes he was worse than the office busybody. She flipped him the bird without a word, then spun on her heel and marched down the hallway. Dean’s laughter followed her all the way back to the dining room.

  Chapter Four

  “Pigging out on ice cream doesn’t help you forget how he makes you hot and bothered, especially when you accidentally land on his bed during the business trip.”

  Adam was staring blankly at his computer, the figures running across the screen blurring into a nonsensical mess. He couldn’t concentrate. His every thought for the past two days had been of Eva. Having her body pressed against his, the scent of her arousal, the heat of her skin where it touched his. As much as he tried, he couldn’t get the thought of her out of his head. Cold showers and long sessions in the gym had done nothing to tame the raging fire in his body.

  He never should have kissed her, not like that.

  The way she responded to his manhandling stoked the fires even higher. He’d pushed her and her body answered his. She’d been liquid heat under his hands. Adam’s cock jerked in his designer bespoke business suit when he thought how quickly she lit up for him. He had to leave Eva alone. Her body may want him, but her heart and mind didn’t.

  Adam couldn’t deny it though; his tiger was restless every time Eva was near. It could sense when she was around, just her scent was enough to make his tiger’s teeth gnash in frustration. He wanted to hold her down and clamp his teeth into the back of her neck, marking her as his, for the world to see.

  Whoa, hold on, mark her? My god, yes. I want to mark her.

  Adam abandoned all pretense of work and spun his chair to face the downtown skyline. He’d never had the desire to mark someone. He’d fucked plenty of women and never once has his tiger roared this loudly, never been so insistent on having a particular woman. Eva. His tiger wanted Eva, Adam wanted Eva, and they both wanted her marked.

  Eva was his mate.

  His true mate.

  He couldn’t believe that he’d just now realized this. She was his mate and she wanted nothing to do with him. She’d ignored everything that wasn’t strictly business over the past two days, and frankly she’d even been ignoring some of the business aspects. She went out of her way to avoid him. Making sure to come in after he was already in his office, conducting all contact through emails and memos, using his schedule to make sure she was out of her office any time he had to come through for any reason. He’d even started trying to catch her in her office but her hearing must have been so attuned to him that he hadn’t been able to sneak up on her. The last thing he’d seen of her was her rounded ass as she exited the limo ahead of him on Monday.

  Maybe she had the right idea, though.

  He wanted her, but she didn’t want him. He’d avoid contact with her and check with HR to see if he could have her transferred to another department. He didn’t want her to lose her job because he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. It was the least he could do for her after forcing a kiss on her that she didn’t want.

  The shrill ring of his cellphone interrupted his thoughts and he sighed with annoyance as Dean’s number flashed across the screen. Right then, Dean was someone he wished he could avoid. But if he didn’t answer he knew Dean would just come down to his office and that aggravated him even more. He punched at his phone screen with his finger and barked out a sharp “What do you want?” when Dean came on the line.

  Thirty minutes later Dean was sitting across the desk from Adam, a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on his face.

  “No. Nope. Bad idea, Dean.” Adam sighed and massaged at his temples.

  “Come on, it’ll be fun. Someone has to go. This seminar is one of the most important networking opportunities of the year for us.”

  “And you think we should take Eva.”

  His cousin snapped his fingers. “I more than think—I know. I’ve already booked our rooms and tickets.” Dean cast Adam a truly wicked smile. Mischievousness danced in his eyes.

  Adam leveled a grim stare at him. “What, exactly, are you trying to do here, Dean?”

  Dean only shrugged. “I’m not trying to do anything. We need to go to this seminar; Eva is a valuable asset to our team and she’ll benefit from the training. It’s strictly business, so what do you have to worry about?”

  Strictly business. Yeah, Adam was familiar with the term. Seems that he used it once or twice himself. Before he shoved Eva up against a wall and crammed his tongue down her throat.

  “I’m not going.”

  Dean chortled. “Have it your wa
y then, don’t go. However, I’m going. And so is Eva.” He licked his lips suggestively. “That what you want? Me and Eva. Just us. Together. In Sin City. You know the saying, what happens in Vegas…”

  Adam growled. “You’ve done a lot of shitty things over the years, Dean. But whatever it is you’re playing at now is not going to work.”

  “Fine. If that’s what you want. Maybe I’ll go take her to see a Tom Jones concert.” Dean started humming “What’s New Pussycat.” “Pussycat, pussycat, I’ve got flowers. And lots of hours to spend time with you. So, go and powder your cute little pussycat nose. Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do…”

  Adam’s shoulders slumped. He knew Dean had won this round. “Fine. I’ll go.” There was no way he was letting Eva go to Las Vegas alone with Dean.

  No fucking way.

  ***

  Adam was watching Eva from the corner of his eye. She was sitting next to Dean, peering down on Las Vegas as it emerged from the clouds. He could hear her chattering excitedly that she’d never been to Vegas before. There was a smile on her face as the plane descended toward McCarran International. A dip of the wing and Vegas was spread out underneath them, sun glinting off the hotels and casinos lining the Strip. When she looked back over her shoulder and saw Adam, the smile dropped off her face. He felt defeated knowing he was the reason her excitement waned.

  Eva was quiet for the entire ride to the hotel. Not even the sight of the Aria Resort, rising high above the Strip pulled her from her thoughts. Adam decided then and there that he’d leave her alone for the length of the three-day conference. This would be nothing more than an extension of work. He’d already been regretting this trip, no reason to add insult to injury.

  ***

  Las Vegas was a sparkling jewel, but Eva couldn’t concentrate on the luxury surrounding her as the limo pulled up to the front of their hotel and a concierge came to escort them out of the car. She paid no attention as they were led through the towering marble and glass reception area straight to a bank of elevators. She’d been too distracted by thoughts of Adam. She still couldn’t get over how her body betrayed her. She thought she had better control than that. Not this weekend, though. She’d been keeping her distance from Adam. She couldn’t chance a repeat of the restaurant. And I guess I’d better start looking for a new job when we get back to New York. I can’t keep on working with Adam. Not like this. This job has taken an emotional toll, more than I’d anticipated.

  Eva was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn’t notice the tall, good-looking guy giving her the once over as they made their way through the lobby. Adam seemed to notice because he gave a low snarl in the man’s direction. When they were in the elevator on the way up to their rooms, another man sidled up to Eva and appeared to take a deep sniff of her hair. Adam bared his teeth and the man got off on the next floor. Eva, still oblivious to what was going around her, exited the elevator and made her way to her room.

  Eva was fumbling with her room keycard, trying to juggle her carry-on case, and fit the card into the slot. Cursing, she dropped the case and wiggled the card, relieved when the lock finally clicked and the handle released. She gave a sigh and bumped the door open with her hip, reaching for her case. She stopped when she realized Adam was at the door directly across from hers. She glanced up and down the hallway but didn’t see Dean anywhere, then realized he didn’t get off on this floor with her and Adam.

  Great, the two of us are neighbors. Just what I need right now.

  She tried to get into her room without acknowledging him but he was standing there simply staring at her as she tried to wrangle her bags through the doorway.

  “You know, you could help instead of staring,” she finally said.

  Adam shook his head as if clearing his thoughts and stepped across the hall, grabbing her case from the floor and holding the door for her. He followed her into the room and dropped her case on the end of a king-size bed. She hung up her purse and dropped her other bag on the floor, turning to find him standing at the end of the bed, just looking at her.

  She raised her eyebrows. “Thank you. I think we’re done here now.” She waved toward the door, shooing him out.

  He cleared his throat and shuffled back toward the door. “Yeah, sorry.”

  “Thanks again.”

  “Wait, before I go, the itinerary…”

  “I have it here.” Eva opened her brown leather case and pulled out a file folder, flipping through until she found the seminar itinerary. She pulled out a copy and handed it to Adam while glancing over the one left in her file. “There’s a dinner tonight, downstairs. It’s an introductory meet and greet.”

  “Right.”

  “So. I’ll see you downstairs at seven.” Eva gave a nod toward the door again.

  “Right,” Adam said again and finally backed out of the door, shutting it softly behind him.

  ***

  At seven o’clock Eva heard a light tap on her door. She slipped her feet into sky-high silver heels and sashayed across the room. She opened the door to find Adam standing there in a tailored suit intentionally cut to show off his physique. His shoulders were broad and tapered down to a V, his legs were long and muscular even in a suit. His deep brown hair was swept back, curling slightly over his ears. He’d shoved his hands in his pockets and one foot tapped on the carpeted floor. He was the perfect picture of an elegant, if slightly impatient, wealthy business man.

  Eva felt the longing ache in her sex.

  He stopped his tapping and stared at Eva as she stood in the doorway. “You, ah, you look great, Eva,” he said.

  “Thank you.” Eva couldn’t help but preen a little. Her generous curves were outlined in a form-fitting dress of deep wine. The fabric shimmered as she put a hand on her waist and cocked her hip to the side. Her breasts were plumped up with a ridiculously expensive and gorgeous bra she couldn’t really afford but bought anyway, giving her a deep cleavage that was perfectly showcased in the scoop of the neckline. A tiny jewel on a thin gold chain nestled in the cleft, the glittering drawing attention to her milky skin. Her hair was piled high on her head, with several loose curls framing her face. She gave a little turn and wiggled, then giggled. “Sorry, I never get the chance to dress up. I thought I’d go for some real Vegas glam while I could.”

  “No, you look beautiful.” Adam smiled down at her and offered her his elbow.

  Eva only hesitated for a second before slipping her hand into the crook of his arm, letting him lead her down the hall towards the elevators. She wasn’t sure why he was being nice all of a sudden, but she didn’t want to say anything to ruin this good mood.

  Temporary cease fire, she thought to herself. I could use the break to enjoy what Vegas has to offer.

  When the doors slid open, Dean was lounging against the mirrored wall of the elevator. His nonchalant act slipped away when he spied Eva standing there with her arm linked through Adam’s. His lips tightened for a moment before he gave her a lopsided grin, his eyes sweeping up and down her curves.

  “Eva, babe, I think my heart just stopped. You look gorgeous.” He gave a low whistle and tugged her away from Adam, pulling her into a hug, lifting her up until just the tips of her shoes brushed the floor. He pressed his face into her neck and inhaled deeply. “Damn girl, I could eat you like red velvet cake.”

  Eva swatted at Dean and giggled. He’d always been able to lighten up situations with his sense of humor. Except, as they stepped into the elevator, she realized that the atmosphere wasn’t exactly light. Adam was glowering at Dean, a deadly gleam in his eye. Dean was ignoring Adam, his gazed fastened on Eva, eyes wandering her body like she actually was dessert and he hadn’t eaten in weeks. The anger and lust made the air in the elevator throb with tension.

  Twenty minutes later Eva was in a reception room sipping on a glass of white wine. Dean had a whiskey neat in one hand while the other was fiddling with a curvy blonde’s necklace. Eva rolled her eyes at his antics and turned to find Adam.


  Adam was standing at a cocktail table draped in a white tablecloth, his vodka on ice melting untouched in front of him. His eyes were darting around the room, zeroing in something behind Eva. When she looked over her shoulder she saw a tall, dark-haired man approaching her, his stride predatory and his eyes on fire. She was confused when he suddenly veered to the left, his gaze sliding away from her.

  She looked back to Adam to find his lip curled in a silent snarl, his eyes snapping. Something wasn’t right. Adam was standing over her like a bodyguard, his face warning off every man in a fifty-meter radius. Eva looked around to see several men eyeing her, their desire for her palpable in a way that made her suddenly realize how overheated she felt in the air-conditioned room. Her skin seemed to have become inexplicably sensitive and she could feel when the fabric of her dress slid against her curves. The lace of her bra suddenly felt too constricting, pressing into the soft flesh of her breasts.

  Eva didn’t have time to respond when someone tapped her shoulder. Adam had stepped between her and whoever had his hand on her arm. She turned to find a handsome, red-haired man nearly nose to nose with Adam. Tension was roiling off both of them in waves.

  “Back to where you came from, cub,” Adam snarled at the guy.

  The man’s eyes flicked from Eva to Adam and back, sizing up his chances. His teeth elongated for a split second before he pivoted and strode off, leaving Eva staring up at Adam in confusion.

  “He was a shifter?” she asked.

  “A Bengal. Just like the twenty or so others that have been staring you down since we walked in the door.”

  “Twenty,” she scoffed. “There’s no way. I think I’d notice twenty other shifters wandering around.”

  “You haven’t noticed much of anything today, Eva. You’ve been in your own world. And yes, there are twenty or so other shifters here and they’re here because of you.”

  “Well, why are you chasing them off then? It’s been ages since I’ve had a date. Introduce me,” she joked.