by T. Cobbin
“I just passed Felix, and he mentioned you haven’t been on a run in a while. Want to join me?”
Shawn nodded before thinking. It might help him heal a little bit quicker as well as relax some. Letting his tiger meets hers could be the ice-breaker he needed.
“Sounds good,” he said, feeling a little more positive. “Want to change here?”
An almost seductive smile lit up Belle’s face. The image of her underneath him, panting and begging him to fuck her harder, had his dick pressing against his zipper.
“Sure.”
He stepped back from the doorway, moved around the sofa in the living area, and began stripping. Even living with a human for four years hadn’t stripped him of feeling comfortable in his own skin. He knew he had a good body, six-pack, muscles, etcetera. Shifters tended not to worry about being naked around each other. It was one thing Rosie had hated about him though; she always made sure he kept his shirt on, especially when he was outside. Being outside bare-chested was absolutely forbidden.
Carefully, Shawn peeled away the tape that held a pad of gauze over his stomach wound. Looking down at it, he saw it still had a little way to go before completely healing. A long, thin line of skin held together by black stitches was red and raised. Give it a shift or two, and by tomorrow or the next day his skin wouldn’t even show he’d had a wound there. He made a mental note to see the village doctor tomorrow to have the stitches removed. He unwrapped the bandages on his arms. They too were still red, but with fresh skin instead of the blistered mess they’d been a few days ago.
He could hear the rustling of clothes behind him. The temptation to turn around was too much, so he swiveled slowly, catching Belle fully nude before she began her shift. She had a perfect pair of tits with a perky set of nipples on them. Her pussy was well-groomed with a thin strip of hair down the middle. Her figure looked like an old cola bottle. She had wide hips that tapered into a narrow waist. Just over five and a half feet of soft, succulent heaven, he thought.
He watched white and black fur slip from her pores and cover her skin while bones cracked, and in a few seconds a wonderful white Siberian tiger stood before him, purring, calling with a chuff to his tiger.
Shawn quickly began his shift to cover his raging hard-on. His Siberian tiger was orange with black stripes. Shawn watched through his tiger’s eyes as the pair greeted each other, rubbing against each other in a loving manner. Both cats purred deep and low. Each tiger in turn rubbed their scent glands on the top of the other’s head, making sure anyone who came across them knew the pair were mates.
It was Belle’s cat who made the first move. She turned around, showing off her backside, and tucked her tail down the side of her body, then she lowered her forepaws down and threw her arse in the air. Shawn could feel his tiger’s heat, his willingness to mount the female. But before he could take a step forward, Belle’s tiger took off, running through the door and outside.
She’s a tease. His tiger growled and purred, sounding like a motor. I like it.
He ran after his mate. Over rocks and grass, through mud and past the cracks in the earth, the tigers ran chasing each other. They head-butted and scuffled, enjoying each other’s company. Shawn left his tiger to reign and enjoyed the freedom of it.
After taking a while, but with a show of dominance, Shawn’s tiger caught up to his mate, and with his teeth firmly encased around the nape of her neck, his tiger mounted the teasing female. Shawn felt everything—the moment his tiger’s cock filled his mate, each and every stroke, and then the explosion of both animal’s orgasms.
Once the male had pulled out from the female, she rolled over several times, purring in delight. Satisfaction seemed to shine from her. Shawn’s beast relaxed and lay next to the female, licking around his mate’s neck. Images of Belle lying next to him, naked and dripping with his seed, filled Shawn’s mind. His tiger certainly agreed with that too. Curling around each other, the tigers’ colors mixing together, both of the cats napped.
“It would seem both our tigers are happy with each other.” Belle’s voice filled his head. It had been years since he’d heard another shifter’s voice in his mind. It felt both weird and comforting.
“Yes, it does. He is extremely happy right now. It’s a shame to disturb them,” he replied.
“We don’t have to, we can just talk, learn a little about each other.”
Get to know his new mate? With both their tigers sleeping, he knew he had some time on his hands. Accepting he was safe enough behind his beast, he metaphorically shrugged his shoulders and opened his mind.
“A captive audience?” he asked jokingly.
“You could say that.” She chuckled.
After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up. “I can imagine our Alpha has told you about me.” Shawn wondered exactly what Harris had said to Belle.
“He told me that you were in an abusive relationship, and she is still out there, probably being protected by her brothers.” She paused.
He sensed the guilt coming from her and waited.
“I have a confession to make. When Harris told me what had happened. I didn’t understand, and I had thoughts that…well, that I’m ashamed of. I cannot apologize enough for that, and I hope you can forgive me.”
Shawn had an image of Belle on her knees with her head bent. His automatic reaction was to soothe her. “You don’t have to apologize. I have no idea what your reaction actually was, although I can imagine. If you assumed it was me who did the abusing, I’ve learned that’s the normal reaction—”
“Please let me finish. You will understand then.” After a moment’s pause Belle carried on. “When Harris said you had been in an abusive relationship, yes, I automatically thought it was you who was the abusive party. I know I didn’t have to tell you this, you would never have known, but I would have known. Will you tell me what happened one day? I want to be there for you, to let you know that not all women are like that. You are my mate, Shawn, and I want us to be happy, I want you to be happy.”
He could feel the truth in her words. Their tigers were extremely happy and had now mated as far as they were concerned. There was no escape from the upcoming relationship with Belle, he knew that. But it wasn’t the feeling of dread and being trapped into being with Belle. He felt unsure, which was normal he supposed. The thought of separating the two beasts was inconceivable. Even after the way Rosie had treated him, he had loved her, and for some unknown reason he still felt affection for her, or maybe it was lingering affection of how things had been at one time. He was so confused he couldn’t be sure. But deep down in his heart he knew if Belle was meant to be his, she would wait.
“I have felt so alone for so long now… I need time…”
“I can give you that. But know you’re not alone now.”
Chapter 6
With Shawn quiet and lost in his own thoughts, Belle allowed her mind to go over everything that had happened in the short time since she’d met him. As far as her tiger was concerned, it was now mated for life. So far she knew very little about Shawn; only that he had been hurt, he’d spent four years in an abusive relationship, and he was her mate. She wondered how long it would take the man to allow her fully into his life. She couldn’t wait to go home tonight and tell her parents she had found her mate. Surely they would have some advice for her.
An idea flashed—if her tiger now thought of itself as mated, then maybe that would give Belle a way to get closer to Shawn. She guessed it was going to take him a while to be comfortable, let alone to fully accept her. She made a plan...daily runs with their tigers. Hopefully, she could get Shawn to agree to allow his tiger to play with hers each day.
The tigers strolled together after waking from their nap, taking a casual stroll back home. Now and then one of the beasts would purposely rub up against the other or stroke its head along the other’s body. To Belle they seemed so in tune with each other, and she hoped one day that she and Shawn would have that.
“Shawn?�
� she asked tentatively, unsure if he was still locked inside his own mind and would answer.
“I’m here,” he responded.
“I guess Harris is going to give you a few days to settle in before talking about work?”
“Yeah, but I’m not sure where he will be able to put me that I can be productive. I’m not one of those men that can put their hands to anything. I like people, that’s why I chose to be a receptionist. But I’ll try anything.”
“Harris is good at reading people. I bet you a pound to a penny that he will offer you the perfect position for you.”
“You’re an enforcer, right?” Shawn asked.
“Yep,” she said with pride. “The lone female on a team of dominant males. When I first joined I had to put up with months of ribbing and practical jokes. Oh, and then there were the sexual innuendos.” She sighed. “But during a training session I got lucky, I managed to put both Harris and Felix on their tails. The men were awed enough that I get respect now. I also have quite a bit of respect from both the Alpha and beta now. If anyone gives me shit over being a female, they get extra training or shifts. In fact, I could say my best friend is Felix.” Belle mentally smiled. Her tiger passed a stream of energy, both pride and passion to her.
“Have you ever…slept with him?”
Belle couldn’t help but smile. “Is that a hint of jealousy?”
“Um… I… Well… I don’t know you that well yet.”
“No, but you know I’m your mate,” she stated, trying to get her man to admit to his emotion.
“Yes… Okay, yes, I feel a little jealous.”
Belle smiled again. Maybe there was hope for them yet. “The answer is no. I have slept with no one. I wanted to be able to give my true mate something of me that I’ve given to no other.” Belle waited for Shawn to fully take in what she just said. Mentally, she could have heard a pin drop in the stunned silence.
“But what if you had never met him…me?”
“I suppose that eventually, before my beast became too despondent, I would have imprinted on someone. But for now I had hope, and thankfully fate seems to have a plan for you and I.”
Belle felt disappointed to see they were near Shawn’s new home. At his door his tiger nudged her in first. After they shifted and re-dressed they stood staring at each other in an awkward silence until she spoke.
“Want me to re-dress your wounds before I go?” She motioned toward his torso and arms.
“No, I was actually thinking about seeing the doc and getting the stitches taken out tomorrow. As for my arms, another shift and I’ll be fully healed.”
Belle examined his handsome face. “The bruises on your face have all but disappeared now.”
She smiled at him. His eyes had a little more sparkle in them since his shift, but she held her tongue with that information. He dropped his gaze and looked toward the floor, a slight blush on his cheeks.
“I’ll be going,” she said, taking a step backward toward the door. If she hadn’t been staring at his face, she would have missed the brief emotion of sorrow that flickered over it. Would he want her to stay?
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Sorry?”
“Yeah, I know this isn’t the conventional way shifters would go about—”
Stepping forward, Belle interrupted him. “Conventional?” She snorted. “We live in a village filled with a variety of feline shifters, some of which, usually, wouldn’t be caught dead with the other. There is nothing normal about that.” She air quoted the word normal. “The majority of people in this place have had their own shit to deal with at some point, just like you. There are also those who have always lived here in peace and harmony, like me. We cohabitate well. Sure, we have problems at times, but we work them out. I am going to ask you to do one thing for me,” she said before stepping back again. She had to leave, because his scent was driving her wild.
She wanted to rake her hands down his naked skin. To feel his body close to hers. But his eyes stopped her; they were filled with so much sorrow that she wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let him go. She wanted to tell him that with her beside him, no one would ever hurt him again.
“If I can, I will.” He lifted his gaze up to look at her.
“From now on, say sorry only when you’ve done something wrong. Not because you feel like you have to.”
He stared at her with an expression of total confusion.
“Living in this community that offers sanctuary to those in need, I’ve come across a few shifters that have been abused. Some of them, when they first moved here, felt they even had to apologize for living. It had been drummed into them. I want you to know I’m glad you’re here, alive and safe amongst us. This may not be the normal way to meet a mate, but then what is?”
Glancing down at his mouth, she saw his lips move as if to form an automatic sorry. She looked back up into his eyes, raising her eyebrow, and he paused with the tiniest of smiles appearing instead of the continued word. She wanted to take the few steps toward him and place a kiss on his cheek, but she was unsure if she should. So instead she turned toward the door and stepped outside.
“Want to do this tomorrow?” she asked before closing his door. “Me, you, our tigers?”
His face flickered with an array of emotions then finally settled with what she thought might be acceptance. “Sure, why not? My beast enjoyed today immensely, and if I were to be honest, I enjoyed the freedom of being with my beast again.” A bigger smile appeared on his face. “He also just threatened that if I said no, he wouldn’t talk to me again,” he admitted with a visible shiver and a wrinkled nose. “Been there, done that. Wouldn’t want to go there again.” Shawn swallowed, and she watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “He’s still angry at me, but is learning to accept what I put myself through.” The last few words were added in a sarcastic manner as if he didn’t agree with his tiger. “Plus, I enjoyed being in your company today. Thank you.”
“You don’t see the abuse you went through as he…and others do.” Again, she wanted to go to him and wrap her arms around him, just to let him know all relationships weren’t like the one he’d experienced.
“It wasn’t always that bad…” He let the sentence trail off.
“Well, it’s time to heal and start anew. I’m glad you here, no matter the circumstances. Goodnight, Shawn. See you tomorrow.” Belle blew him a kiss, and then pulled the door closed.
She didn’t know how long she stood outside his closed door before finally forcing herself to walk away. She needed a hug from her mother.
* * * *
Mate! Shawn repeated the word over and over in his mind. Mate!
Our mate! One who won’t hurt you. Shawn’s tiger purred, sending him images of his earlier mating.
How do we know that? Rosie didn’t hurt in the beginning.
I know! his tiger argued, getting a little pissed. My mate, she tell me her human is good woman. She was asked to be beta today while Felix is away.
Shawn suddenly felt sick to the very depths of his stomach. Belle had been offered a management position? It was like history repeating itself. Rosie’s mood had taken a turn for the worse when she became manager at the hotel.
She may be sweet and innocent now, but power changes people, he told his tiger and sent images to him of Rosie before and after her promotion.
No, his tiger snapped at him, growling. Rosie was a bitch before and after. Do not cancel tomorrow… Please.
Shawn slumped onto the couch, lost in an array of memories and emotions. The glee he felt meeting his mate, the guilt he felt for leaving Rosie. It was all tying him up in knots. Eventually, it was the shadows filling his home that brought him out of his stupor.
Standing, he placed one of the ready-made meals from the fridge into the microwave and warmed it up. After eating, he climbed into the shower. The warm water raining down helped him relax, and his tiger decided to play a few mind tricks of his own. He sent Shawn images of the afte
rnoon mating with his mate.
Okay, okay. He sighed. You win. I won’t cancel tomorrow. You’re a horny beast.
His tiger purred deep inside him. If you let your mate into heart, then you will be horny too.
Shawn shook his head. How long had it been since he’d had sex? Rosie had turned cold and frigid when it came to sex. She hadn’t let him touch her in over six months. What would it feel like to be inside Belle? The warmth of her skin, the tightness of her pussy. His hands skimming over her lush curves, caressing her tits that would overflow in his palms.
Blood rushed south and filled his cock. He couldn’t help but groan. He placed his fingers around his hard shaft and closed his eyes. He tightened his hold to the way he liked it and began stroking gently up and down.
Placing his free hand on the wall of the shower, he leaned against it and widened his stance. His thumb rubbed along the top of the mushroomed head and spread the pre-cum that had leaked from the slit. He wished he had the guts to go find his mate and take her like a normal shifter would do, to fuck her until they both forgot their names.
As he thought about her incredible boobs and the fine line of fur he’d seen between her legs, his strokes became faster. He imagined her lower lips glistening with her arousal. The look on her face as he brought her to completion. He cried out, her name on his lips. He opened his eyes to see his cum spurt from his cock in stringy threads to fall to the floor and wash down the drain with the water. When his breathing slowed, he turned off the water and dried himself.
He walked around the house checking the windows and doors, and making sure everything was neat and tidy as he always did. Rosie would scream bloody murder if a single item was out of place. Reaching his room, he climbed into the king-sized bed. He couldn’t help himself, he spread out wide on the bed, pulling the covers up to his waist. No Rosie to moan he was taking all the covers or taking up too much space. She’d never been one to spoon or touch in bed apart from the random requests for sex.
