Loving the Tigers

by Tianna Xander

  Leaning down, she swiped her tongue over his nipple and every muscle in his body clenched. He fisted his hands in the sheets to keep from grabbing her, flipping her onto her back and sinking his hard cock deep inside her.

  Kissing her way down his body, she cupped his sac, kneading his balls until he groaned. He’d had sex before, hell he was a man. He’d had sex more times than he could remember with more partners than he could recall, but nothing had ever been the same.

  Nothing could compare to the sensation of his mate’s hands skimming over his flesh, or her hot mouth closing over his erection as he fought the animal urge to grab her hair and thrust himself down her throat until he came with the sudden rapture only his mate could provide.

  Derek clenched his teeth when she stroked her tongue over the sensitive tip. He squeezed his eyes shut when the warmth of her mouth closed over him, gently taking more and more of his thick length between her lips. She drew him deeper before sliding her head up, sucking and pulling as she drew her satiny mouth over his cock. Her tongue swirled over the tip as she drew her fingernails over his thighs, the combination of sensations driving him so close to the edge, he could feel his tiger roaring for release, demanding he possess his female.

  Lightning shot through his blood, thunder rolling in his ears as his balls drew tight and every muscle clenched. Kelly glanced up at him and winked just before she drew him deep and started humming some obscure song, driving him closer to the edge. Finally giving in to the urge, he thrust his fingers through her hair and exploded, his cock throbbing as he came, still buried deep in his mate’s throat.

  He lay on the bed, panting while Kelly crawled over him, her long hair brushing his sensitized flesh as she moved. Reaching up, he grasped a lock and drew it to his face. “I love the smell of your hair.” He threaded his fingers through its dark length. “I love the fact that you leave it down. Is this natural, or do you straighten it?” He found that he was genuinely interested, though this might not be an appropriate time to ask.

  Smiling, she dipped her head to draw her tongue over one of his nipples and he sucked in a deep breath. “I use a relaxer and straighten it. Why?”

  “I’d like to see it natural.”

  “It looks as though I comb it with a weed whacker that way. No one wants to see that. Believe me.” She laughed as she reached down to take his already hard cock into her hand. “Now, are we through talking?” she asked as she slid her hand up and down his hard length.

  “Oh, we’re through talking.” He sat up and jumped from the bed. “Where are your toys?”

  Her face darkened in another blush. “In that drawer.” She pointed to the night stand next to his hip.

  Bending, he opened the drawer and grinned. “Just what I needed.” He held up one thick toy by its end. “Now, roll over.”

  “Um...” She glanced at the toy, then at his hard cock and licked her lips. “What do you plan to do with that?”

  “I plan to fuck you until you can’t walk. That’s what I plan to do with it.”

  Again, she glanced at his erection. “Can’t you use that? It’s what it’s there for.”

  “Roll over onto your stomach, baby.” He said the words slowly, keeping his voice even. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.” Derek wasn’t sure the thought of pain was what caused her reticence. If anything, she was embarrassed, if the darkened shade of her complexion was any indication.

  Still, she rolled over, trusting him to keep his word.

  He smiled. Trusting him was yet another step she took in accepting them both into her life.

  Reaching into the drawer, he grabbed a bottle of body oil. “On your knees, please.” He reached down and caressed the globe of her ass. Splaying his fingers wide, he admired the differences. His fingers, though tanned, appeared lighter against the soft flesh of her ass.

  “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to the small of her back and then the top of each rounded cheek. “You have the perfect body with your hourglass figure and your wonderful ass.”

  “I have a big ass,” she shot back. “Ow!” Kelly cried when he lightly slapped the soft globe. “What was that for?” She reached back and rubbed the cheek.

  “What did we tell you about talking shit about yourself?” Leaning down, he kissed the very spot he’d just slapped, though he knew it couldn’t have hurt much. There wasn’t even a mark where his hand made contact. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. He merely wanted to get her attention.

  “You said you wouldn’t allow anyone to talk crap about me,” she replied. “Even myself.”

  “Exactly.” He poured a small amount of oil on her ass before inserting one finger then another and another until he had three of his fingers deep inside her back hole. “You’re tight.” He thought about how it would feel to have his cock shoved deep inside that tight hole and squeezed his eyes shut with a groan. “Now,” he said as he eased the toy into her vagina. “I’m going to fuck you until you scream.”

  “Please do.” She wriggled her ass. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”

  “I, my dear,” he said as he positioned the head of his cock at the tight rosebud of her anus. “Can say the same.”

  He leaned forward, pressing the head of his cock against her ass. Slowly, the head slipped beyond the tight ring and he paused, allowing her flesh to adjust to his larger size.

  She wriggled her hips again, just before pushing herself back, her ass taking the entire length of him deep. They both groaned.

  Her muscles clasped him tight as he stayed still behind her, his hands kneading her ass as he stared down to where their bodies met—light against dark. His cock throbbed, bucking inside her and she moaned.

  “Please, Derek,” she begged. “Do it. Do it, now!” She ground herself against him, then leaned forward as he pulled back. Her muscles drew across his flesh, dragging another moan from his chest as he shoved himself forward, burying himself deeper and deeper within her waiting flesh.

  Reaching around, she moved the vibrator, turned it on and let out another long moan. The vibrations nearly drove him mad with the need to drive himself deeper and deeper within her tight hole. This was it. This was sex with his mate and his body could do no other than sate itself within her slick depths. Another mindless thrust drove him deeper, and deeper. Over and over, he rammed himself inside her until the lightning surrounded him, filling him, and her scream of release sent him over the edge into an abyss of ecstasy. Slowly, he pulled himself from her tight ass and fell to the bed beside her.

  After a moment, he rose from the bed, went to the bathroom, took a quick shower then wet a washcloth with warm water and a touch of soap. Returning, he gently cleaned her up, so that they could both sleep comfortably. He then tossed the rag onto the floor in the corner.

  Gathering her into his arms, he pulled her close, her ear next to his lips. He whispered, “I love you, Kelly. More than life itself.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kelly clawed her way from sleep, a smile on her face. What a dream she’d had. She opened her eyes and pushed the blankets down to her waist. Too bad she couldn’t live that dream, and too bad it had stopped with making love to Derek. She would have loved to know what it would have felt like to make love with both of them, even if it had been only a fantasy.

  She stopped mid-stretch when she noticed she hurt in places she shouldn’t if that had all been a dream. Slowly turning her head, she glanced at the pillow on the other side of the bed. It was empty, but she’d swear there was an indentation in it where a head would have been.

  Rolling onto her side, she reached out, grabbed the pillow and drug it against her. She groaned when she buried her face in the pillow and Derek’s familiar scent filled her senses. “It wasn’t a dream.”

  “No, love. It wasn’t a dream.” Derek walked into the room, carrying a tray. He set it down on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. He stared into her e
yes with that stunning blue gaze that always managed to immobilize her.

  “We’re here and we aren’t leaving you... ever.” Leaning over, he pressed a chaste kiss against her lips and pulled the towel off the tray.

  A veritable feast sat waiting for her to break her fast. Kelly swallowed thickly as she stared at the fattening dishes that tempted her to dig in. “I can’t eat that.” She gestured to the plate. “Do you have any idea how many calories are in that cheese sauce?” She tried not to inhale. Every breath tempted her to eat every morsel of food on the tray while her brain kept telling her just that one meal could put at least five pounds back on her hips.

  “I don’t care how many calories are in it.” Shrugging, he reached over to the nightstand, grabbed a slice of thick, hickory-smoked bacon and waved it under her nose.

  “You don’t play fair.” Groaning, she leaned back and closed her eyes.

  “No, love. We play to win,” Zach said as he sauntered into the room holding three steaming cups of coffee. “I hope you like yours with cream and sugar.”

  “Why do I get the feeling that you both know exactly how I like my coffee?” She scowled up at him as she took the cup.

  “Because we love you?” He gave her an unrepentant grin.

  Kelly inhaled sharply. “You love me?” Did he really mean it? She glanced at the window with the sun shining bright through the glass and wondered exactly what it meant when a man said that in the bright light of day.

  “It means we love you.”

  She jumped at his words and took a sip from her cup, hoping to hide her guilty blush in her coffee. “I—I didn’t realize I said that out loud.” She closed her eyes with a little moan at the flavor bursting over her tongue. “Real sugar. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve tasted that.” She set the cup down with a little shake of her head. “I wish I could drink more, but I can’t.” She rolled to the far side of the bed and stood, dragging the sheet with her.

  There was no way she was flashing her inordinately large ass in front of them, especially in the bright, unforgiving light of day, and she needed a shower.

  It didn’t take her long. Apparently, both of the guys had taxed her water heater quite well and after only a few minutes of frantic washing, she hopped out from under the cold spray and toweled herself dry.

  “Damn,” she said with a frown. All of her clothes were in the other room and, if she wasn’t mistaken, so were Zach and Derek. Wrapping the sheet around her, she glanced in the mirror, pulled off her shower cap and squared her shoulders. She’d have to face them again sometime.

  Opening the door, she swept out into the room and headed for her vanity. It was time she tested her blood and took her injections.

  “Are you going to eat? It’s getting cold.”

  Neither of them looked happy that she refused their meal. They didn’t understand. Perhaps it was time she explained things so they would.

  “I’m diabetic, now. Apparently I had been for quite some time and just didn’t know it.” She pulled her glucometer from its case, and tested her sugar. “If I eat that...” She paused, nodding toward the tray. “The calories alone will make my sugar levels skyrocket.” She frowned at the results blinking up at her. “Damn. It’s almost two-hundred and I haven’t even had breakfast yet. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that damned cheeseburger yesterday afternoon.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us this yesterday?” Derek frowned at her and stood. “We wouldn’t have ordered that for you.”

  “You would have listened?” she asked with a snort.

  “We aren’t human men, love, and you shouldn’t compare us to them.” Derek frowned at her.

  “It’s been my experience that men don’t listen to anything but their hormones when trying to get into a woman’s panties.” She paused. “Besides, it’s just as much my fault. I hadn’t had a cheeseburger in so long, I wanted it.”

  Zach moved closer, wincing when she pinched her lower stomach and jabbed the needle into herself. “How do you do that?” He cringed. “I could never do that. I hate needles with a friggin’ passion.”

  “You’d do it if your life depended on it.” She put her meds away and stood, wrapping the sheet around herself. “If you two will excuse me, I need to put some clothes on.”

  “You need breakfast.” Derek practically growled at her as she made her way toward the bathroom door. “You can get dressed later.”

  “I’d hoped to avoid this a little longer.” Kelly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “But I can see that you two are determined to make it happen now.” She shook her head with a sigh.

  “What are you talking about? What have you been trying to avoid?”

  “How can I convince you that I’m not this perfect goddess you seem to think I am?” She waved her hand toward the case with her medication. “I’m diabetic. There’s a chance that any children I have could be born with it.” She turned her tear-filled gaze their way. “I tried to protect you from my imperfections, to keep you from having to reject me for them.” She shrugged. “I didn’t know I was diabetic when we first met. I should have told you yesterday, though. I don’t know why I didn’t want to tell you. I guess I kind of liked the fact that you two thought of me as being flawless.”

  She laughed before giving a hiccupping sob. “I guess I was just trying to save myself from your rejection.”

  “Why would we reject you, love?” Derek grasped her arm and pulled her into his embrace while Zack moved up behind her. “We love you. Nothing you can say will change that.”

  “You still want me?” She glanced up at them both, the hope evident in her eyes, in her expression.

  “Of course we still want you. In fact, what we have to tell you might even cement your decision in favor of remaining with us as our mate. However, I would have liked to have known you made the choice because you couldn’t live without us.”

  “Well...” She licked her lips and gave him a sexy grin. “I guess it’s a good thing I told you both that last night, then, isn’t it? But why does that matter?”

  “Because, darlin’, once we truly mate with you, you will be one of us, and I have never heard of any shape-shifter with any kind of human disease. So, you see? You can’t possibly pass anything on to our children but your inherent beauty.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kelly stared up at them both, her mouth open. She tried to speak a number of times, but nothing could make it past her lips.

  Her life had gone from the never-ending nightmare it had been in her hometown to something too good to be true. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, wondering how long she should wait for the proverbial other shoe to drop.

  “I—I...” She shook her head and tried again. “Are you serious? Once we mate for real, I won’t be a diabetic anymore? I’ll never have to give myself another stinking injection? I’ll never have to stick another pin in my finger to test my blood, ever again?”

  She stared up at the two men, her eyes wide, her entire body trembling with something she wasn’t certain she could name.

  What would it feel like to be normal again? What would it feel like never to have to worry about whether or not she had a serving of pasta, a scoop of ice cream, or a candy bar? Mostly, she wondered what her life would be like when she finally accepted both men into her bed.

  “As far as I know, there have never been any documented cases of any shifters with human ailments. I think there were even a few unscrupulous scientists who have done tests on shifters. Though, I can’t say so with any degree of certainty, but there are rumors.” Derek moved to the tray next to the bed and picked up a slice of bacon and held it in front of her face. “Care to try a slice? You don’t have to eat it all. We can hit a compromise until we’re mated and you’re one of us.” He smiled wanly. “Assuming that you want to become one of us, after all.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  Zach sighed behind her. “If you don’t, we must lea
ve you to live your life the way you see fit. We cannot remain close to you without completing the bond. It would not only endanger you, it would put anyone near you at risk. Even your elderly neighbor down the hall.” He thrust his fingers through his hair. “Even if you wanted a relationship with us, we wouldn’t be able to stay close to you without completing the bond. In fact, our beasts already rage with the intense need to claim you and make you ours at any cost.”

  “Oh.” She sighed. “I guess I don’t really have much of a choice at all.” She held up her hand when they would have said something. “I’m not blaming you.” Smiling, she placed her hands on their chests. “None of us have another option. It seems as though Mother Nature or fate has taken our choices from us.

  “The way I see it, nature has done me a huge favor.” She paused and slowly licked her lips. “I can’t think of two better men to spend the rest of my life with and...” She paused again and grinned. “I get to eat chocolate with real sugar again. That isn’t why I’ve decided to stay with you, but it’s a hell of a reward for making that decision.”

  “Why have you decided to stay with us?” Derek asked, his expression grim. “Is it because of the heat?”

  “No, silly.” She lightly slapped the center of his chest. “I told you already, but I guess you need to hear me say it again.” She shook her head. “Men can be so needy sometimes, I swear.” Glancing up, she met each of their gazes in turn. “I’m accepting you both because it didn’t take long for me to realize that even though I ran from you and we’ve spent the last several months apart, I’ve fallen helplessly and hopelessly in love with you both.”

  “Thank God!” both of them said at the same time.

  “I didn’t dare to hope that you could come to care for us so soon.” Zach pulled her into his arms and stared down into her eyes. “We knew you would come to love us, eventually. It is the nature of the heat. However, we had no idea that it would come so quickly.”