by Bobbi Romans
“I know I taught you more manners than Starl. I’m Rebecca, his mortified mother, and you are?”
Zhara extended her hand into his mothers. “Zhara Johnson, pleasure to meet you.”
“Mom’s food is famous around these parts,” Starl announced proudly and obviously trying to butter his mother up .
Zhara remembered the feast Mrs. Markson had been preparing. She figured they’d all chowed down and had a good laugh at the city slicker who’d run home. The thought pissed her off again. She didn’t tuck tail ever. Yet she had.
Dumb ass.
“Well, am I to assume you need a room for the night and some food?” Starl’s mom—Rebecca—asked when Zhara’s stomach rumbled loud enough the entire kitchen echoed from it.
“I would be deep in your debt. Where do I sign in and pay?” she questioned, bringing her purse from her shoulder and unsnapping it to grab her wallet.
“Rubbish. A friend of Starl’s isn’t charged here. Starl, take her up to the atrium room so she can get freshened up for a late dinner. Now, the roast is tomorrow’s meal, but we’ve got some baked chicken and potato salad left over from dinner. Would that suffice, honey?”
“Wow, will it ever. Thank you so much. Are you sure I’m not putting you out in any way?”
“Not a bit. Now you go on up and I’ll get your plate ready.”
All the while the discussion went on, Starl wore a grin. Zhara assumed his mother thought might be a potential suitor of her son. Starl wasn’t making anything clear to her, either. Zhara hoped Rebecca didn’t think them a couple, but had her suspicions otherwise.
Starl opened the door to not just any old room, but a room where one entire wall plus the ceiling were made entirely of glass. The front wall overlooked the lake; the ceiling, the beautiful Maine sky. The effect created a spectacular array of visual delights.
“Best room in the place. Like it?”
“Like it? Are you kidding me? This is my room for the night?” she asked, a bit breathless. The shots from earlier and Starl’s close proximity made her head swim and her lady bits tingle. When he came to stand behind her, the heat from his body penetrated her blouse and she nearly melted into him. Wanted to, and the fact he turned her on so quickly when she’d come to meet Dax’s family confused her on many levels.
Surely if she were truly in love, she wouldn’t be having any kind of feelings for another man.
Right?
Chapter Four
Dax paced in the confinement of the kitchen and tried to understand his mother’s words. Right now in his angry state all he understood, was blah, blah, Sparrow, blah.
Sparrow. Bitch had risen from the ranks to once again nail him in the ass.
“Dude, seriously, I only meant to fuck with you a little bit, not bust you and your mate up.” Fin held the icy bottle against his swollen eye before taking a long slow drag of beer, then putting it back again.
“Don’t speak to me,” Dax seethed. Deep down he didn’t think his little brother had meant for all this to happen. Hell, Fin hated Sparrow near as much as he did. But with the wicked princess lineage and what happened before—well, they were instructed to play nice the remainder of her highness’s days.
“I will not have my boys fighting like that. No matter what,” Willow stated firmly.
“Willow, baby, let me talk to the boys right now. You go on out and enjoy one of your shows.” Dax’s dad entered the kitchen, appearing as disapproving as their mother. He kissed his wife on her forehead and even a blind man would have seen the anxiety melt from her body.
That’s what Dax wanted. Someone he connected with where one touch meant the world. He’d had it with Zhara, until Fin fucked around and ruined any potential chance at mating this weekend. He’d planned on proposing in the human tradition then whisking her away to the cave for the Tiger ritual. The antique ring he’d selected was tucked safely in his bag upstairs.
He called around, checking for any Johnsons who might have registered for a room. None. How someone could vanish in a small town like theirs, where everyone knew everyone else, without help was beyond him. The asshole on the cycle who’d whisked her away must have taken her somewhere. Contacting the authorities would get him nowhere as it hadn’t been twenty-four hours yet and Zhara was a grown, competent woman.
Maybe he’d been asking the wrong questions. The bike had been unique and custom-built and shouldn’t be too hard to track down.
“Don’t you think it’s a wee strange how Sparrow split like she did? I mean, if her purpose was to cause problems between you and Zhara, and she accomplished that, wouldn’t she want to stick around to bask in the misery?”
Fin had a point. She would have under normal circumstances.
“Fuck. How much do you want to make a bet she’s over at the Longs’ B & B? I bet Sparrow recognized the biker and took off to keep from having to lie if confronted.” Dax punched the kitchen wall next to him and left a nice, fist-sized hole.
“You will be repairing that tomorrow,” his father stated, not sounding the least bit surprised or upset.
Dax nodded in agreement as Fin commented about the biker.
“Didn’t I hear Starl was back in town? Sparrow’s older brother?” Fin seemed to direct the question at both his dad and Rocky, who’d finally ventured into the kitchen to find out if everyone was still alive.
“Yeah, I think I did overhear something about his release and return,” Rocky stated, heading to the fridge for no doubt another beer.
“Zhara has no business being around the Longs. That bunch is wild. Makes our motley crew seem like Sunday church picnickers,” Fin spouted, shooting Dax a serious glare.
“No shit. Question is who bails who out?” Dax grated between ground teeth. Rage boiled his blood at what Zhara was doing and with whom she might be doing it. She’d appeared so hurt. By the time he’d shoved Sparrow off and caught the pain reflected in her eyes, he’d missed the opportunity to stop her. To explain he hadn’t done anything. Sparrow had leapt on him like a bitch in heat. Sparrow was his past, Zhara his future. But Zhara had fled, and now he needed to find her before he lost her forever.
“Man, if the Longs get their claws into her…” Fin trailed off, growing as anxious as Dax.
“God only knows what lies they’ll tell her. They’ve been trying to convince the town how poor Sparrow was used and abused by us for years. I’m not sure if they truly believe their daughter is that innocent or just want the Markson name to go down in flames and be the big Tigers in town again.” Again, thoughts of Zhara in their clutches had his tiger itching to come out for a fight. Sad part was, he knew not to act on his instinct. Zhara would definitely run if she saw him as wild as his tiger counterpart screamed to be.
“Are we gonna sit her like pussies or go find her?” Fin rumbled. Even Rocky seemed to get amped up at the prospects of a throw down.
“Whoa. Now you boys hold on a damn minute. It took your mother and I quite some time to formulate a peace between our families after the Sparrow episode. Until we know for sure what’s going on, no one is doing a damned thing. Do you both understand me?”
It had been a long time since Dax saw his dad throw his weight around. He might be older, but he could still take any of them out with his skill. Forget the fact that, if they survived the tussle, his mother would surely finish them off for daring to upset their dad.
“Why don’t you guys let me do some intel first?” Rocky offered. “I’m the cousin. Nobody ever pays me much heed anyway. I’ll slip into town and do some digging around.”
“Good idea, Rocky. And as for you two knuckleheads, I’ve a barn in need of repairs. Both of you hit the sack for a long, hard morning.”
Dax knew his dad understood that, at some point, he’d go after Zhara. Explain. No one, not even his parents, would stop him. His dad also understood that, if he went, and found her with one of Sparrow’s brothers, blood would spill. Period.
“Tomorrow night, though. If she hasn’t checked in
. I go after her.”
“Fair enough, son.”
Dax grabbed a beer and headed upstairs. He’d sense if Zhara was in trouble, and she wasn’t. The connection they had...
Wait. Hell, yeah. He’d connect to her as he had when they met. Via dreams.
***
Whether it was from Starl’s closeness or the shots earlier, Zhara did her best to ignore the warmth that spread rapidly through her and seemed to bloom in one, lower region.
Damn, but he even smells good too.
She pivoted with the intention of stepping away and found herself falling as the heel of her shoe inexplicably broke. She tossed out her and hands met warm, hard flesh instead of the sudden impact of the cool wooden floor. A save that didn’t feel the slightest bit safe.
Zhara eyed Starl, and before thoughts could formulate past how fast he’d moved to catch her, she caught a growl-like sound and his mouth was on hers. Part of her thought to push away from him. She and Dax were an item, and she and Starl had met only hours earlier. This wasn’t right.
Another part of her told that part to shut the hell up.
Her back hit a wall as the unyielding flesh of a male chest crushed into her, pinning her immobile. His lips moved across hers, foraging and sampling the new territory. When his tongue traced the contours of her mouth, she opened, ready, able, and willing.
Wait. Willing?
Her mind swirled with mixed emotions, but her body responded to Starl in shocking fashion.
A knee slipped between hers and lifted her from the floor. He nipped her jaw as he hungrily feasted on anything she offered up. He growled lightly when she adjusted her stance, and raised her higher until she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his hips to keep from teetering over.
Starl ground his erection against her leaving no doubt how much he wanted her. The way he kissed her and pinned her in such an alpha way shot lust scorching through her. Wrong as hooking up on the rebound might be, Zhara wanted his zipper down and to yank her panties to the side. Wanted the steel poking her inside, not teasing her from the outside.
“Zhara, you need to say stop now, or there’s no turning back.”
She tried, but no sounds came, other than a loud ripping and the sensation of cool air against a seriously hot spot.
Right as she thought her prayers would be answered, she heard Starl mumble, “Not like this,” and he moved them to the bed. Antique springs squeaked in protest as their weight crashed upon the soft mattress.
Starl rose above her and yanked his shirt over his head and began to unbutton her blouse. He broke out in a wolfish grin, and Zhara took the moment to take in the beautiful contrast between their skin tones. Though his bore the signs of many a day in the sun, against hers, he seemed fair skinned. Together, they accentuated each another. Like rich cream in the perfect cup of strong coffee.
“Are you sure?” His words came out husky as testosterone filled the room.
No, she wasn’t. Things around her grew hazy and not shutting her eyes for a moment, became impossible. Almost as if she was being called to sleep.
Only for a second to clear my thoughts, she mentally promised closing them.
Chapter Five
Zhara came to when cool air caressed her breasts and the former warmth she’d experienced vanished. She sat up and tried to peer through the darkness, but her world had been doused in ink. Blackness enveloped the room and panic surged.
“Sshh, I’m back.”
Dax.
All the crap earlier in the day no longer mattered. Only his being with her here and now. This meant everything. He’d come after her.
“I love you, Zhara. Only you. Always you. I told you. You’re my mate.”
He’d spoken these words numerous times. What’d she do to prove she trusted him and believed in them? Let some little, skinny-ass blonde bimbo bust them up. Her mind shot back to the moment of regret. Dax had never touched Sparrow. In fact, his hands had gone up in the air in an “I’m not touching” sign, which actually gave Sparrow the opening to strike with a surprise kiss.
Bitch.
Her knees were opened, and Dax slid between them as he ran his body up the length of hers until he was able to reach her breasts. His mouth latched onto a tight bud and rolled the sensitized pearl between his lips and teeth as one might suck on a savory candy. He relished each and every swirl, or so the occasional growls indicated.
“I missed you,” Zhara moaned wondering when Dax had arrived to the Inn.
Deft fingers skimmed her body lower until they found her bundle of nerves. He toyed with her clit until she gyrated her hips off the bed and further into his hands. Damn, but the man knew how to zero in on the kill spot. Boy, did he ever. He took her to the edge faster than anyone else.
His lips left her nipple with a slight pop and nibbled their way down to nip and blow into her belly button as he continued to move lower. When heated puffs misted across her slit, she reached for his hair. Instinct drove her claws to grasp his short cut, which proved impossible. Instead she urged his head closer with pressure until his mouth was where she needed it to be.
“Yes. Right there. Don’t you dare move.” She hissed when his tongue snaked through her folds.
“Never.” The word was muffled, as his face was buried between her legs. His voice rumbled, though, and the vibrations against her clit caused her entire southern region to pulsate with sheer need. She gasped and gripped the edges of the sheets to keep from skyrocketing off the precipice of heaven she teetered on. Dax must have sensed her need, as he slid a finger within her wet channel at the exact moment he swirled his tongue under her hood and over the plumped nub hiding underneath.
Boom. She erupted on a keening cry.
Zhara fought to catch her breath. No sooner had she managed than she felt him line up with her pussy. His hands gripped her knees in a fierce, unyielding grip and with one powerful thrust of his hips he was fully seated within.
The delicious stretch of her vaginal walls, coupled with his hands holding her so open and vulnerable and Zhara succumbed to the power of her tiger shifter. Knew he would never hurt her—well, not intentionally. Dax slowly withdrew until just the head of his cock remained then paused, teasing her mercilessly. She supposed punishment came in many forms. This was hers, for her over the top reactions.
“Dax...please.”
“Say it again,” he hissed.
“Dax, I need you.”
“Only me. Always me,” he insisted.
“Yes. Always and only you. Forever.”
With the heat of the whispered promises against his ear, Dax slammed home. Powerful pumps picked up the pace from agonizingly controlled to wild and frenzied. Zhara clawed his ass. Couldn’t help herself. Needed to dig into his flesh, leaving marks to prove her claim.
The hands that held her thighs pushed them until her knees rested alongside his upper body. While she wasn’t model thin, she was active and quite…er…flexible. Especially when it counted.
She thrust her pelvis upwards, meeting and matching each flesh-slapping union. Though he had pushed up onto his arms, which she happened to be holding onto for dear life, her extended nipples still managed to brush his chest. Every sweep caused a sigh to escape her. They were so sensitive and swollen even the light hairs decorating Dax’s chest tickled them in the most erotic of fashions. Zhara used the backs of Dax’s legs to brace for better traction.
Masculine grunts filled the air, as did the heady scent of sweaty, aroused male. Dax was close. Time to up her game. She grabbed the back of his head and yanked him forward until her lips met his. Using her tongue, she traced their outline and the seam between until he parted his lips and devoured her mouth as he came on a curse. She shattered a mere moment behind him.
When Dax collapsed across her, she wrapped her legs about his waist. Kept him inside her, refusing to move. He’d softened, but with his extreme size, keeping him where he was proved easier than anticipated. She didn’t want to let go yet, and s
ince Dax hadn’t budged an inch, she’d assume he was fine with her plan.
She ran her fingers down his slick backside and relished the fact her man was with her, where he belonged. Zhara made a silent promise to never, ever walk way again.
An odd sound began around them. The damn ruckus irritated the shit out of her. She glanced about, trying to find the misery-making item, hoping Dax would pulverize whatever object spawned from hell was making the sound.
“Dax?” She shook him a bit. “The noise isn’t bothering you?”
Dax didn’t move or reply.
Damn, he’d really nodded off.
“Dax?” She tried shaking him again. When he still hadn’t moved, she began trying to inch out from beneath him.
Along with the buzz, and a zonk-like clanking going on, she could have sworn another male voice called out for her.
Strange. Why would Starl be yelling for her? Where had he been the last time she’d seen him? Oh, yeah. At his parents’ inn. Memories swirled of her being there, with him. Needing a place to stay and then the—kiss.
Confusion settled deep as Zhara struggled to figure out what had happened around her. Where was she? How had Dax come to be here with her?
She sat up and moved amidst the fog in the room to see an antique alarm clock ringing away.
What in the hell?
“Wow. Someone sleeps like the dead.”
Zhara rubbed her eyes, and the fog evaporated to leave her staring at Starl.
She glanced down and saw she only wore her bra. She lifted the covers to confirm her worst fear.
Oh, shit. Bare. No panties. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
Her gaze sought Starl and took note of his unclothed state and position in the bed. Well, after a pass or two over the large washboard chest. Yeah. He uh, did have an impressive chest. She dropped her head in her hands.
