by Rachel Real
As I lay down in the sauna, totally spent. I felt at least things were—mostly—getting back to normal.
Chapter Six
I awoke in the middle of the night, too restless to sleep. When I turned over, I saw Garfield’s arm wrapped around me. I slunk from underneath his weight. Even though in the past I relished his after sex snuggle. Now, though, I needed time to think. Quickly, I ran outside, barefoot and dressed only in a soft white night gown out onto the beach in front of our estate.
Now, the Blackthorns expected me to marry their son and carry their child. What if my husband ever found out? He would kill Lynx.
You should have seen this coming miles away, Rory. This is beside the very obvious fact that I didn’t know the first thing about “breeding” weretiger cubs.
Would it hurt? All of this should be the last of my worries. Right now, I had to find a way to keep this charade from Garfield.
He had done so much for me, that I can’t embarrass him. Sure, he’s safe but he’s also a good man.
*
“I’ve arranged for Raoul to take us into town today,” Garfield spoke as I grabbed a cup of coffee.
No. No way!
If the tiger clan see me gallivanting around town with my husband they’ll question my loyalty to Lynx. They’re beasts who knows what it means to betray their clan? It could mean the end of my life and my husband’s. And I’d even be fine with death if it meant I wouldn’t have to face Garfield with the truth.
The truth that I’m a terrible no good cheater.
Garfield and I strolled along Main Street in the center of Bayside. The town was full of little knick knack shops for candles, chocolates and glass blown vases. I’d be able to actually enjoy our trek, if I wasn’t so nervous.
“Hey, why don’t we stop by that art store. I’ve been wanting to look for some art to decorate our wine cellar,” Garfield remarked as his hand guided me forward by my lower back.
I trundled in while Garfield waltzed behind. A blonde shop keeper with innocent looking eyes greeted us.
“Welcome, we’ve got a pretty good special for today. A BOGO. Buy one get one half off.”
I noticed she then sniffed the air and then her eyes glared at me with a sinister expression.
“I’m looking for something abstract,” Garfield mused.
Garfield stared fascinated at all of the paintings—that looked like glorified scribbles to me—hanging on the wall.
“Sure, right this way, sir.”
Then Garfield walked off to look at the other works. The evil eyed vixen approached me.
“What do you think you’re doing bringing in another mate when you have promised your womb to another!” she hissed.
I held my hands up. This is the reason why I was so afraid to even show my face in Bayside, because all of the tigers knew each other.
“How dare you bring a rival weretiger to disgrace your new mate...”
“Wait...” I said squinting. “Rival weretiger?”
The blond growled. “Yes, that man you’ve so carelessly paraded in here is of shifter blood. The Blackthorn clan will hear about this. Mark my words.”
It’s like an anvil had been dropped on me. Garfield? Garfield is a beast of the night? Then my memories flushed back to all of those heated sex sessions where he’d thrust his pelvis into my hips as if he were trying to breed me. And the way he couldn’t get enough of my scent... Or, the way he loved to eat the choicest cuts of meat and ate it so rare.
How couldn’t I have noticed this before?
Garfield came walking back, looking me over with his heart-stopping gaze.
“I think I found just the one.” He showed me the painting of a woman being sacrificed on a stone altar. Her full body spilled out of her dress draped over her body. She was being sacrificed to some kind of beast.
“Um, it’s nice,” My face blanched white.
What was I supposed to say? That I know the truth. That I know now you’re more wild animal than a man?
Garfield then grabbed me by my waist and we both exited the store.
*
As we strolled even further down into town. We heard something shout at our backs.
“I bet you people who live on Sunset Hill think you’re better than everyone else in Bayside,” they roared.
Just ignore it,” my husband warned, keeping me tight at his side as we walked.
“Then suddenly somebody threw a glass bottle at my back and Garfield turned fast, furious. I noticed his eyes flashed a blaze of gold and he marched over to the group of drunken ogling men.
“I will rip you apart!” he hollered.
I knew that Garfield had a temper but I’d never seen him go to this extreme. He started pummeling mindlessly on the group of men. I ran over just wanting the violence to stop. Garfield stood up hyperventilating and when I looked down, I gasped at his bloody fists.
“Christ...” I shouted.
I then noticed something much worse and I was horrified.
Lynx’s brother from the other night, Caleb, had been laying there bloodied on the ground.
Chapter Seven
Garfield calmly walked over to the water at the edge of the beach and let the waves wash away the blood on his hands. I bent down to check Caleb’s pulse.
Thank god he’s still alive!
Now, I had to get him to reveal the truth. There’s no way Garfield could deny it anymore. He was an animal. He was a beast. And he needed to tell me.
Right now.
“I’ve seen strange things since we’ve gotten married, but I never spoke about it. Like the rare meat that you must have for dinner and the way your eyes burn gold in the candle light... is there something I should now Garfield? You can tell me. I’m your wife,” I pleaded.
Garfield slowly turned towards me with his wet fists still clenched.
“Rory, I never wanted you to see me this way. Yes, there’s something I’ve been hiding. But only because I thought I had become a changed man. But I guess it’s true what they say—a tiger cannot change its stripes...”
I gasped. When the truth was revealed, I felt sick to my stomach that somehow I’d laid with a beast. Two, in fact!
“Did you know this man?”
I shook my head trembling in fear. “Yes, he’s from a well established family here in Bayside. He’s Lynx Blackthorn’s brother,” I replied.
“The mechanic?”
“Yes,” I nodded.
I’ve lived with Garfield long enough to know there was something else he wasn’t telling me. I didn’t want to leave any unanswered questions hanging in the air.
“You need to tell me what’s going on? Or, I swear....” I threatened shaking my head.
I stomped my foot and threw my arms down at my sides. Garfield hat disgusted look in his eyes.
“The reason why I had left so suddenly that night is because I was trying to find a way to change what I am. I saw a witch doctor on the west side of the island. I didn’t want to be beast anymore but a man. I wanted to be a husband to my wife.” Hearing Garfield be so passionate about us only made my stomach roil. A stabbing pain of guilt that would never disappear.
“We’ve got to leave now,” I urged.
Garfield took my hand and waved over to his midnight black town car. Raoul swerved fast to pick us up. We both kicked up sand as we ran towards the car. Garfield opened the door and hurried me inside.
*
After we spoke some more Garfield did head off to bed, but I again I couldn’t get any sleep. This time I walked outside on the front porch, but with tears in my eyes. I had gotten so caught up with two different men. One who I loved me with all his passion and the other who passionately made love to me.
“Do you need me to dry your tears?” I heard a voice growl.
Lynx approached from the side at the speed of a prowl. He then stepped quickly onto the porch and grabbed me up in his arms. I felt sick and I felt a longing all the same time. Given his mood, Lynx Blackthorn proba
bly didn’t know what happened to his brother.
Not yet.
He then started to kiss along my neck, and I could feel his warm breath against my ears. He then let his fingers drift up my smooth curvy thighs. I jumped when I felt his touch graze my cotton white panties.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered in a dark husky voice.
I break free from his grasp.
“What are you crazy? My husband is inside!” I hissed.
Lynx raised a brow and cocked his head to the side, knowing something was amiss.
“You usually like when I finger you. Are you still rattled about the whole ‘wedding’ thing? We just stand on the beach make some fake vows and then the summer is over and you can disappear back in the city. I’ll make some excuse about why we broke it off—don’t worry about it. “
He then leaned in close to me again and let his hand slip further up my nightie. “You haven’t heard any strange rumors around town? Nothing at all?” I breathed my breath getting heavy as I tried to control my pulse under his hot touch.
“The only rumor I’ve heard is that there’s a woman who’s in need of a good lick of my tongue...” Lynx growled.
He smelled deliciously of motor oil and sweat and no matter how I tried to get the better of my senses. I didn’t want him to stop. He reminded me of the rough men I grew up with in New Orleans. Unkempt, free spirited and reckless.
Lynx Blackthorn then got on his knees and pulled up my dress so my cunt stared him directly in his face. He then yanked my panties to the side, and moistened my aching folds with his tongue. Lynx then spread my soft folds with his fingers and dove deeper with his tongue. I jerked then raked my fingers through his thick dark hair. He held me close and tight, wanting make sure I’d cum for him. So he could taste me.
A light turned on behind me.
Oh, God! Garfield’s awake!
But Lynx didn’t stop. I felt myself on the edge of pleasure, building up in every cell of my body that I felt like I’d explode. Lynx slaked his thirst roughly, pressing his nose into my pubis while forcing his two fingers deeper inside me. I moaned my fingers twitching in his thick coarse hair.
Rory!
I heard my husband call me from the inside.
Lynx rose up from his knees, pulling my body like a ragdoll against his chest.
The sexy tiger whispered in my ear. “Mr. Draper is none the wiser that I just tongue fucked his wife on his porch...”
Lynx gently set my body in the rocking chair and disappeared into the night. Garfield came marching out and saw me sitting their spent with my legs tightly crossed.
“What are you doing out here, Ro?” he asked. “You’ll catch a cold.”
I nodded sheepishly, feeling empty, ruined and oh so satisfied.
Chapter Eight
I knew I had to find some excuse to skip out this morning. Lynx expected to see me at the wedding ceremony with his family. There was no telling how any of that would turn out since his brother, Caleb, had been pummeled within an inch of his life.
Garfield approached me in the morning with a serious look on his face.
“I never want you to see me like that again. I was a monster last night. But I won’t let that side of me take control. As long as I take the ampoule the witch doctor gave me—you’ll never have to worry,” he explained.
Honestly, the last thing I wanted from my husband was to hide who he truly was. I knew all about hiding secrets, and I knew how terribly they can eat you raw inside. I wouldn’t wish such turmoil on anyone—man or beast.
I walked up to him and caressed his cheek. “I don’t want you to be anything more than who you are.”
Garfield grinned and hugged me. And no matter how hard he held me in his strong embrace, I only felt dead inside. He brushed some hair out of my eyes.
“I wish this summer could last forever. Just you and me and the endless blue ocean,” he pondered out loud.
He then pulled me close, so fast I felt my head spin.
“Maybe we can spend the day in bed...” he growled.
“There’s an errand I have to run in town. I won’t be back until much later,” I told him resting my hand on his chest.
“What sort of errands must you run at seven in the morning?”
His voice sounded much less sure, like he suspected something strange but didn’t want to seem paranoid.
“I have to give the final deposit to Mr. Blackthorn or he won’t finish the restoration job. I know you wanted it to be completed as soon as possible.”
“Sure, Ro. Then I’ll just look forward to your return.”
And I knew the conversation took a serious turn when Garfield spoke overly polite.
I then lifted my ankle and tightened the buckle on the heel of my manolos. The echo of my heels clacking against the marble floor had this eerie tone. I knew something changed in my husband this morning. Even though he would never accuse me out loud. Garfield’s golden eyes said it all.
He suspected me—and now I know he’d obsess over what secrets I’m hiding.
*
This time instead of Lynx picking me up. I saw his sister Desdemona waiting for me.
“God, you can’t believe how much trouble you’re in...” she said smacking gum in the corner of your mouth.
“Have you spoken to Lynx?” I asked.
When I reached for the handle, she purposefully left the door locked. I heard the soft whirr as she rolled down the car door window.
“We know your sugar daddy knocked out my brother last night?” she accused me pursing her lips and staring me up and down.
I looked anxiously from left to right.
“What? Did you seriously think I would never find out? If my brother wasn’t such a desperate momma’s boy. He’d call this whole thing off. He’s really pissed y’know.”
To be honest, I found myself getting pissed off all on my own. I’ve done nothing but play along with Lynx’s scheme to make his “matriarch” or whatever happy. And because my husband gets into a drunken brawl with his brother all of a sudden all bets are off—to hell with that!
“Will you open the goddamn door... please,” I declared in my fake southern sweet voice. Desdemona could really grate on a girl’s ever loving last nerve. She smiled, and I heard a click!
“Didn’t think you had it in you. Nice to see you’ve got some bite...” she purred.
*
Everything was setup beautifully. Lots of white orchids hung from these paper vines wrapped on the branches of the willow trees. White tables with pressed white cloths covered them. Desdemona and I walked side by side as we approached most of the Blackthorn family way deep in rehearsals.
I could already see the scathing look in Lynx’s eyes. And then I saw Caleb standing there with a bandage of white gauze wrapped around his bruised forehead. Desdemona waltzed off when Lynx headed towards me.
“Do you think offending my family is a joke?”
“That’s unfair,” I replied.
“I’m serious, Rory. I had to calm down my mother for hours. Do you know how protective the Matriarch is about her own cubs? Jesus.”
“I don’t care,” I blurted then stormed off.
He followed right after me.
“What?”
“I’m saying I did this as some stupid favor to you, because you’ve been kind to me. But ever since I agreed to this madness, you’ve only been bossing me around. Look, I don’t have to do this. I don’t care if your crazy mother dies and never gets to see her son get married. I already have a husband. None of this is my problem.”
Lynx quieted down to make sure I finished screaming my rant.
“Listen, Rory. I realize I let my anger get out of hand. I’m sorry. This whole thing has turned into some kind of shifter sideshow. Knowing Caleb, he probably deserved to get his ass kicked last night. The important thing is my mother still thinks you don’t have a husband,” Lynx gazed at me trying to calm me down.
“But she does have a husband.
..”
Both Lynx and I turned, and I cupped my mouth with a trembling hand.
“Garfield?”
Chapter Nine
I blinked hard.
THIS. CANNOT. BE. HAPPENING.
Garfield flashed piercing looks at Lynx. But Lynx didn’t move an inch, only stood his ground.
“And to think I’ve been shelling out thousands of dollars so you could sleep with my wife behind my back!” Garfield growled.
“Hey, don’t blame me for giving her what she clearly wasn’t getting at home,” Lynx said eyeing my husband up and down.
Garfield lunged towards him. And he pushed Lynx into the sand, but out of view to the Blackthorn clan standing around only inches away.
I felt helpless watching these two testosterone freaks fight one another to the death. Over what? I’m not sure.
“Just stop it. Cut the crap right now!” I hollered.
The two men got up heaving and stared at me while trying desperately to catch their breath.
“Do you love this man, Rory?” Garfield huffed out of breath.
I hesitated to quickly answer, but my husband should know the truth.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Do you love this uptight rich boy too?” Lynx pointed his thumb at Garfield.
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
That’s when things got really interesting. Neither man understood how I could love them both at once.
“Unbelievable. I’ve denied my shifter side because of you. I’ve given everything to you. Haven’t I made you happy? Haven’t I given you the world and more?” Garfield measured everything by his wealth.
I shook my head, watching the trail of sweat roll down Garfield’s confused face.
“You changed my life. You loved me when I thought no one could,” I reassured him.
“Then why did you come crawling in to my bed?” Lynx butt in.
“Because despite that fact that in this moment, you Lynx Blackthorn, are being a total jackass. You’ve given me a spirit that I thought I’d lost forever.”
