by Aliyah Burke
“Now, you,” he said with compulsion in his tone.
Narrowing her eyes, she shook her head at the push she experienced. “No. Help Dane.”
Aren huffed and muttered, “He’s gonna kill me.” Crouching at the tiger’s back, Aren placed his hands over the feline. One hovered above the neck and the other near the stomach.
Aida sat by the tiger’s head and asked. “Can I touch him?”
“Yes,” Aren replied without looking at her.
So she did, needing to have contact with him. Kept a hand on his cheek and scratched the large skull between his ears. Aida didn’t say a word when Aren sighed heavily, and that same soothing silver light flowed from his hands and encompassed both her and the tiger. Within her, Aida could feel the pain from both her ribs and throat disappear, and she realized he’d healed her.
She watched in total quiet, her eyes going from the big cat to the man. Aren was covered in sweat when the glow faded. Aida hurried to his side yet still hesitated before touching him.
“Are you okay?” she asked after removing her hand from the brief contact.
His intense eyes met hers, as if they saw more than she wished them to. “I will be. I’ve done all I can for him. He has to finish the journey.” Aren stood effortlessly. Aida followed and worried her lower lip. He reached for her hand and bowed over it, placing a kiss on the back. “Thank you, Aida.”
“Why are you thanking me? I’m the one who—”
“No,” he interrupted. “You saved him. I merely did some mending, but you, you Aida, saved him. I am in your debt.” He grinned. “I look forward to seeing you again, Aida. Tell him…tell him, I think Dane is a very good name.”
Aren walked out into the dark and vanished. What did he mean by that? She hadn’t even seen it get dark out. Locking the door, Aida curled up against the tiger, resting her hand deep into his once again plush coat.
Good night, tiger-mine. It may very well have been her imagination but she swore she heard chuffing in her head.
When morning came, Aida went about her business, and when she came back in, in the afternoon, her heart leapt to her throat. There no longer lay a tiger in the room. Dane lay there instead, on his side, dark hair falling over his face, obscuring it from her eyes. The blanket was around his waist and keeping it in place was Ruger’s large head.
Dane lifted his head and moved the hair from his face with an elegant yet decidedly masculine sweep of his hand. Aida bit her lower lip when she saw his beautiful tawny-green-gold eyes peering at her.
“Hey, tiger-mine,” she whispered, settling by him and touching his skin.
“Solnyshko moyo.” His voice just as deep and seductive as in her dreams. Dane stirred.
“Stay put. What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”
“You.”
Without a word, Aida curled up against him. His chest at her back. Dane slid his arm around her waist and drew her in close. He nuzzled the side of her neck and sighed heavily.
“Solnyshko moyo.”
Feeling safe for the first time since the attack, Aida gave herself over to the cradle of rest.
Chapter Eleven
It had to be a dream. That could be the only explanation as to why he felt Aida’s curves pressed against him. The light scent of vanilla, soft apple, and cinnamon flowed through him.
Aida? He felt torn between opening his eyes to see if she was truly there and not. His heart pounded. Inching closer to his woman, Dane held onto his belief she was real and gave into his body’s demand for rest.
The smell of food woke him. He opened his eyes and took in the surroundings. He recognized the furniture. Why am I on the floor? There was warmth at his back, and he turned slowly to see Ruger lying against him. The dog’s intelligent eyes stared at him from the confines of his scarred face, one which had the fresh markings on it that hadn’t faded. You risked your life to fight at my side. Thank you.
Two thumps of a tail were all he got before Ruger closed his eyes. Dane smiled and struggled to a sitting position. Peering under the sheet, he rubbed a hand over his face and dressed himself in a pair of black satiny lounge pants with green-gold bolts down the side.
He had just pushed to his feet when the door opened and Aida walked in carrying a basket. Dane’s mouth grew dry. She wore a tatty gray shirt and a loose skirt, her hair unconfined and free. With her foot, she kicked the door shut behind her and set the basket down. Kamau moved by him.
“Dane,” she murmured, tucking some hair behind one ear.
“Solnyshko moyo.” He strode to her, gathered her in close and kissed her. Gentle but branding. Tender yet possessive. Her taste flooded him, and his tiger roared in response. Dane took all she offered and backed off when she arched into him. “Are you okay?” he questioned, cupping the sides of her face.
“I am now.” She touched the pendant positioned at the base of his neck. “How about you?”
“I feel…better than I ever have.”
Her gaze warmed, the gold seemed to melt and swirl in with the browns. “You still need to rest and take it easy.”
He grinned. “For now. I think I need to convince you I am nowhere near a tabby.”
Aida flushed. “You heard that?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” He remembered his amusement when his tiger had shared that with him.
“Figures,” she groused, wrapping her arms around him. “Can you tell me what all that was?”
“Yes.” He skimmed his thumb along her lips. “But you know that’s not all we have to deal with.” There was no way he wasn’t going to claim her as his mate, not now.
Shivers moved through her. Aida kissed the pad of his thumb. “Good.” She stepped away and went to the kitchen. Dane followed, loath to leave her even for a moment. Sitting at the table, he touched the pendant and looked at her.
“Tell me about this.”
This? I’m facing away from you. What this are you talking about?
Dane grinned at the sound of her sultry voice in his mind again. I’ve missed this connection with you, my love.
As have I. Now what are you talking about?
The necklace.
He could both see and feel her body tense. Dane got up and moved to stand behind her. Sliding his arms around her, he pressed into her figure. “Why the tensing?” he murmured, stroking her arms and feeling the rigidity slowly begin to dissipate.
Aida sighed heavily. “What did you want to know about it?”
Dane picked her up and held her to his chest. “Everything.” He carried her to the mattress on the floor and sat, positioning her so she straddled his lap. “Tell me about it.”
“My cousin, Len, was a…what do you call it…a petrologist who loved to dabble in astrological gemology. He made it for me; it was the last thing he gave me.”
Dane could feel her pain, and it ate at his gut. He opened his mouth to speak when she lifted the pendant from his skin, stared at it, and a sad look of remembrance filled her face.
“This reddish pink one is Rhodochrosite, it’s used to attract your soul mate. In the middle is Sugilite, there to protect the soul on its quest and deflect negative energy. Then the final one is Rhodonite. Len said this one restores inner balance and peace, helps resolve conflict and heal past trauma. It also promotes love and peace bringing the wearer balance, steadiness and calm.”
“And he made it for you?” Attracting a soul mate? That worked. In fact, each of the stones made sense to him. And explained the pink light he’d seen around him for that brief moment.
“Yes. He…he gave it to me at our fave hangout. Len was like my brother, my protector.”
“What happened to him, solnyshko moyo? Why does his memory make you hurt so bad?”
Her large eyes stayed transfixed on the pendant she continued to hold. Dane stroked a hand down the side of her face, his thumb brushing away the fat tear which began a trek down her skin. Tell me, my love. Let me share your pain with you.
No words escaped h
er lips, but while the tears fell faster, Dane could see the memory as she relived it.
The bar was loud and crowded. She and Len sat at a tall table near the back with beers and burgers before them. Len took Aida’s hand and placed the necklace in her palm. “Oh, Len,” she said. “It’s so beautiful. Why?”
“Because you are my best cousin and I wanted to give you something. Keep it close to your heart, Aida.”
She slid the leather thong over her head and smiled when it sat around her neck. “Thank you.”
Two men approached the table, and one reached for Aida. Len pushed the man’s reaching hand away. He came back swinging, and in seconds, the two were scuffling. As quickly as it began, it ended, with Len as the winner. The attacker and his friend slunk off before the bouncer could get there.
“You shouldn’t fight, Len.”
“Some things are worth fighting for.”
“Crazy man.”
They settled back into eating and Len told her about the stones inlaid in the charm. Not even five minutes later, someone shouted at them, and a man stood there. The same one Len had fought earlier. He pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants and shot Len twice in the chest.
Her cousin never stood a chance.
The memory faded, and Dane stared at Aida. Her eyes still shed tears, and her fingers were clenched around the teardrop pendant. “Aida,” he whispered, wiping away more of the falling tears.
“It was my fault. If I’d just danced with him, Len would still be alive.”
“No, baby. That was not your fault.” Dane raged and longed to rip the man apart for causing her this much pain.
“I left America as soon as possible and have no desire to go back.”
“Solnyshko moyo.”
Aida released the necklace and buried her face into his neck. Dane allowed her to cry it out, sharing his love with her, not rushing her to work through her feelings. Eventually, she fell asleep, and Dane kissed her after laying her on the couch and covering her with a blanket. Then, he picked up the living room, replacing the mattresses back upon the beds and putting on fresh linens. Once that was finished, he checked the food then knelt back down beside her.
“Solnyshko moyo. Aida, come on, baby. Wake up.”
Her lids lifted slowly, exposing her beautiful eyes to him. Her entire expression softened as she smiled. “You’re here. I was afraid it was a dream.”
Dane bent down and nuzzled the side of her face. “No dream, solnyshko moyo.” Her scent wound around him, and his body hardened painfully. He licked along her jugular, and his cock pulsed insistently in his pants.
Mine!
She mewled and slid her arms up around his neck, drawing him in closer. “Dane,” she moaned.
He could feel his tiger at the surface. Dane kissed her, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. Her fingers tightened in his hair and she arched into him. Flames burst along his skin, and fire poured through his veins.
“Dane,” she sighed into his mouth.
“Mine, Aida. Mine.”
“Always,” she murmured her agreement against his lips.
With a low sound of possession, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to her bedroom. Placing her on the bed, he lowered his body over hers.
“Protection?” she asked.
His gaze flew to hers. And he snarled slightly at the humor he saw in her gold-flecked eyes. Her full lips turned up as well.
“Funny, solnyshko moyo.”
“I thought so,” she quipped, sliding her hands over his bare back to settle at his waist.
Dane ran a hand up her skirt and closed his eyes in pleasure the second he felt her center’s moistness. With a rumble, he snapped her underwear and drove two fingers deep inside her wet heat.
“Ohhh!” she moaned, her hips rising to meet him.
The scent of her arousal was making him crazy. Her pussy gripped his fingers like they never wanted to let him go. His shaft grew even harder, and Dane removed his pants without hesitation, finally realizing the benefit of being able to do that with just his mind. Her cream coated his thrusting digits, and he ground his jaw.
“Please,” Aida begged.
Pulling his fingers out of her, Dane maneuvered his thick shaft to her entrance. Slowly, he thrust home inside her, holding her gaze the entire time. Her pussy held him like a custom-made velvet glove, handcrafted for him and him alone. He damn near purred in pleasure.
“Ahh yeah,” she whispered.
He couldn’t say anything. The roar of a tiger crouched on the tip of his tongue. Dane held still, eyes closing, while trying to give her the opportunity to adjust to his size.
Move, Dane.
Opening his eyes, he found her staring at him. You’re so tight, Aida. Hot. Wet. And so fucking tight.
Her gaze smoldered; the gold speckle seemed to become liquid and meld with the brown. I won’t break, tiger-mine.
Dane withdrew, and her eyes fluttered. Watch me, solnyshko moyo. Watch me as we make love, as I claim you and as I fill you full of seed and give you my child.
Her eyes darkened, and her internal muscles rippled along his cock. Dane pushed forward again. Back and forth, he moved, their eyes on one another, her moans both verbal and in his head.
Sweet goddess, what are you doing to me?
Making love to my mate.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. You said we weren’t mated.
Dane snarled at her. You. Are. My. Mate. Mine! He delivered each word with a stabbing thrust. Her pulse increased, and he realized whatever the link they had was extremely powerful. In fact, it seemed as if the thin one had blended into the mating bond, strengthening what bound them together, and yet, it still remained incomplete. Tell me.
Tell you what? Her body rose and fell in perfect tandem to his. He stopped moving and stared at her. Frustration and raw need flared up in her eyes. Tired already, old man?
Tell me, Aida. He groaned as her muscles worked his shaft, encouraging him to give her what she wanted. What he wanted.
Give me what I want.
Don’t challenge me, mate, he rumbled dangerously.
Not mated.
Dane hissed, seriously hating those words coming from her. Mine. Tell me you are mine.
His cock pulsed within her when she licked her lips. You tell me.
I’m all yours, Aida. Even beyond the last breath I take, I am solely yours.
Her love sped along their shared link and embraced him. And I, too, am yours.
His tiger grunted its approval, and Dane rose up and gripped her hips, thrusting hard and deep within her. Aida’s mewls grew louder, and her slit held him tighter. He was so close to his release, but he wanted her to find pleasure first. While he wasn’t claiming her, this was the next best thing.
Come for me, Aida.
“Dane!” Her voice rent the air, prickling his skin.
Her body tightened, and with a deep shudder, she came hard. But it was more than that, she dissolved around him and launched him over after her. Dane lost control when, in his mind, he heard her purr a sound of pure pleasure. It resonated through him, stroking him in ways he never believed possible. He roared and thrust home two more times before he erupted, bathing her womb with his life force.
Heart pounding and sweaty, Dane kissed her and nipped her shoulder. Her pussy clenched around him again. Mine.
Her eyes closed, and she sighed. More. Aida lifted her lids and looked at him with a contented smile. And don’t hold back this time, tiger-mine. I want it all.
Dane bit her lower lip and growled. As you demand. He withdrew, flipped her over on her knees, ripped her skirt off, and with a groan of pleasure, sank his hard cock back into her welcoming heat.
Her head was down, hands gripping the blankets on the bed. God, Dane. I can feel you everywhere.
He smirked before getting back to the more important thing to do. Loving his woman. His mate.
Five hours later, he stirred. Aida lay pressed against h
im, her back along his side, her naked skin warm and inviting. Rising up on one arm, Dane trailed his hand down her curvaceous form. The sexy purr she made filled the air, and Aida turned her head, gracing him with her smile.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” she asked, her eyes heavy-lidded.
He tucked some hair behind her ear. “Probably.”
Aida rolled so they faced each other. “Then why aren’t you? You are supposed to be recovering.”
His fingers trailed over her hip. “I have other things in mind.”
“Me, too. But I have to know if this is what your life is like. You know with all the danger and unprovoked attacks.”
Dane stared into her eyes. “It is.”
She sighed and flopped on her back. “I was afraid of that.”
“That scares you.”
She cut her eyes to him and glared. “Ya think? I’m faced with shit I can’t even begin to fathom. A thing whose face splits and he has tentacles which hurt, by the way. He can choke me without laying a finger on me. Oh, then there’s the one who is an eagle, or a man, calls himself Aren. Who can heal with a touch. Let’s not forget you, tiger-man. So, yes…I’m scared.”
He knew she was doing her best to remain calm. Sending her a slight smile, he murmured, “Aren did come.”
“Yes. He saved me. And healed all of us. Oh, he said to tell you he thinks Dane is a good name.”
Dane chuckled. “I’m glad he came. He is the one you go to if anything ever happens to me, Aida.” Sobering, he caressed her cheek. “I’m so sorry you were in danger.”
“Stuff it. I don’t care about that… Well, not much. I was petrified for you. I couldn’t reach you. The tiger just lay there. I don’t like feeling helpless, Dane. Not at all.”
“Solnyshko moyo, I never—”
She covered his mouth. “I feel inadequate here. I’m dealing with people who have an edge on me.”
“You are not inadequate. Do not ever let me hear you say that.”
