Bria and the Tiger (The Shifters Series Book 5) Page 3

  “I know,” he said. “But let’s give my back a chance to heal.”

  She snarled, and he squeezed her hand as she dropped her purse and kicked off her heels. He led her down the hallway.

  “I’m not waiting for your back to heal,” she said heatedly. “I can’t wait, so if you’re not going to help me, then I’m fucking leaving and you can’t stop me.”

  They were in his bedroom now and without speaking, he pushed her over the back of the armchair that was next to the small gas fireplace. He unzipped her skirt before raking it down her legs. He thrust the fingers of his left hand into her pussy as he worked at the buttons on his jeans with his right.

  She moaned and drove back against his hand as he moved it rapidly back and forth.

  “Your cock!” She gasped. “Give me your cock!”

  “I’m working on it, honey,” he muttered.

  Her yowl of displeasure turned into a moan of pure delight when his fingers were replaced with the blunt head of his cock. He speared into her, nearly lifting her off her feet. She tore at the fabric of the chair, her nails shredding it as he thrust back and forth.

  Her orgasm hit her and as she was shuddering her way through the aftershocks, his hands were unbuttoning her shirt and pulling it from her body. He unhooked the clasps of her bra and she tossed it impatiently to the floor.

  “So lovely,” he whispered as she straightened and then squeezed his cock with her inner walls.

  He uttered a curse and cupped her breasts, his fingers flicking her nipples as he drove rhythmically in and out of her tight pussy. She squeezed around him and shrieked with pleasure as he pinched her nipples and sent her over the edge again.

  “More,” she begged. He pulled out of her and lifted her easily.

  “Yes.” He set her on the bed. “Spread your legs.”

  She spread them eagerly as he stripped off his clothes and sank to his knees beside the bed. She watched as his dark head dipped between her smooth thighs.

  “Oh fuck, that feels so good!” She shrieked when his tongue slid across her swollen clit. He sucked it into his mouth, teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves with his lips and his tongue until she howled her release.

  Bria purred and writhed and clutched at his head as he brought her repeatedly to orgasm with his fingers and mouth. Had she ever been with someone this good? Someone who knew exactly what to do?

  He spent the next hour with his face buried between her legs, and his hands pinning hers to the bed and away from his shredded back. When the sheets were in strips around her body and she was spent and shuddering, he wiped his dripping face on the sheets before reaching into the nightstand. He unwrapped the condom, rolling it down onto his cock as she stared up at him.

  “I feel so much better.” She purred as he nudged her thighs apart and knelt between them.

  “Good,” he said. “I’m glad. Are you ready for me?”

  She nodded. She was actually feeling a little sleepy and her body was a wet noodle, but she wasn’t about to deny the man an orgasm when he had just spent the last hour and a half bringing her repeatedly to orgasm.

  He slid into her and she squeezed around him compulsively, as he hooked her thigh around his waist.

  “So tight,” he muttered before his own deep, rumbling purr started.

  The sound brought a spark of pleasure to her belly and she arched her hips up to meet each of his downward strokes.

  “That’s right, baby,” he rasped. “I know you’re tired, but fuck me with that tight little pussy.”

  Another shudder of pleasure and she tugged his mouth down to her breast. He sucked on her nipple, and she moaned as a flash of heat spread through her pelvis. He teased it into a hard, little peak before licking a slow circle around it.

  “Can you come once more for me?” The speed of his thrusts increased. “I really want to feel you coming all over my cock.”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “That’s my good girl,” he whispered. Another sweet shudder of pleasure went through her at his approval.

  “Do you need me to rub your clit?” He licked her ear before sucking on her earlobe.

  She arched her back, rubbing her sensitive nipples against his hard chest. “Yes, please.”

  He reached between them and she tensed a little. She had come so many times that she needed him to touch her clit to come again, but she was also incredibly oversensitive. She mentally prepared herself for the pain that would come with it.

  To her surprise, he brushed her clit with just the tips of his fingers and so lightly that it stimulated rather than hurt.

  “Oh,” she moaned. “Fuck, you are so good at this.”

  “Thank you.” His whisper held a tinge of amusement.

  He thrust faster, keeping that light caressing of her clit until she forgot her weariness and was moaning and arching against him, searching desperately for relief.

  “I’m close,” he panted into her ear. “Your pussy is so hot I can’t hold out any longer. I’m sorry.”

  If she’d had the breath, if she hadn’t been so close to an orgasm, she would have told him in no uncertain terms that he had nothing to be sorry about. The shifter had the stamina of a god. Instead, she squeezed her inner muscles around him and he groaned loudly. The pressure of his fingers increased just enough to make her peak. She cried out, her muscles clenching around his thick cock. He groaned again before he found his own release, his body shaking against hers.

  He kissed her neck before rolling off of her and disposing of the condom. Bria, her body weak and finally sated, stared dreamily at the ceiling.

  Get up and go home, Bria. You can’t stay the night.

  No, she really couldn’t, but the tiger shifter was already tucking her limp body under the quilt and she made a happy little purr when he spooned her. She was warm and tired, and it wouldn’t hurt to sleep for an hour or two. Besides, she wasn’t entirely certain she could walk anyway. The tiger shifter kissed the back of her shoulder and she purred again. He made a rumbling purr in reply that was oddly soothing.

  Chapter Three

  She woke just before dawn, blinking sleepily at the unfamiliar ceiling as a faint feeling of relief went through her. Her cycle was done, and the pulsing need that had tormented her for the past two days had disappeared. She stretched lazily before wincing. Her thigh muscles had just started screaming at her and she moved her legs gingerly under the quilt. What the hell did she do to herself? Did she –

  She hissed in sudden dismay. Oh shit, she had fucked a complete stranger last night. She turned her head and stared at the broad back of the tiger shifter. He was sprawled on his stomach, his head buried beneath his pillow and his large body taking up most of the queen bed.

  “Bria, you idiot,” she whispered before blinking back the hot tears. She sat up slowly, holding the quilt against her naked chest and watching the shifter for any movement. His naked back was covered in deep slashes and she bit back her moan of shame. She had done that to him. She had clawed and scratched and bitten him while he fucked her senseless and she had begged for more.

  Feeling nauseous, she slid out from the bed and quietly dressed. As she crept toward the door, the floorboards made a loud squeak. She froze as the shifter snorted and scratched at one of the slashes on his back. He muttered something before sliding his hand back under the quilt. She released her breath in a quiet hiss and eased the door open. She closed it quietly behind her and hurried down the stairs. Her purse and her shoes were lying on the hallway floor, and she snatched her cell phone from her purse and dialed for an Uber as she slipped out the front door.

  * * *

  Two hours later, freshly showered and holding a tray with two cups of coffee in one hand, she rang the doorbell of Kat’s house. The door opened and Kat, still in her robe, smiled at her. “Bria, what are you doing here?”

  “I – I did something really bad, Kit Kat.” Bria burst into tears.

  “Oh, honey, come inside.”

  Twen
ty minutes later, Bria stared into her coffee cup as she waited for Kat to yell at her.

  Instead of yelling, Kat said, “Thank God. The way you looked, I thought you had murdered someone or something.”

  “Did you hear what I said?” Bria said. “I slept with a total stranger last night. I was completely out of control. I didn’t care who he was or if he was dangerous. I let him fuck me in a public washroom while I shredded his back with my claws. Then I went home with him and screwed him six ways to Sunday.”

  “Well, that wasn’t your best idea,” Kat said. “But it could have been worse. Sounds like the guy did you a favour by keeping you away from that snake shifter. Do you think he was telling you the truth about that?”

  “Honestly? Yes. Now that I’m back in control, there was something off about that damn snake.”

  She stared at the table. “I just keep thinking – what if I had tried to fuck a human or a shifter who wasn’t that strong? The marks on his back were so deep. It must have hurt like hell when I did it.”

  “You said they were starting to heal, right?”

  Bria nodded, and Kat patted her hand. “Then it’s fine. Besides, you know better than anyone how resilient tiger shifters are. He’ll be completely healed in a day or two.”

  “I need to go to the doctor,” Bria said. “There’s something seriously wrong with me.”

  “There isn’t. So, your heat cycle made you sleep with a random stranger. Most cat shifters have been there, sweetheart. You used protection, right?”

  “Yes. But I wouldn’t have and wouldn’t have even cared if he hadn’t taken care of it.”

  “That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. Our heat cycles make us do crazy things sometimes.”

  Bria shook her head. “You’re wrong, Kat. It’s never been like this before. There’s something wrong with me.”

  “Honey, look at me.”

  Bria raised her gaze to Kat. The jaguar was giving her a sympathetic look and she didn’t object when Kat took her hand in a tight grip.

  “This is the first time you’ve been single, basically since you started your heat cycles, yeah?”

  Bria frowned in thought. “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I started dating Kyle in high school and we were together for nearly eight years, but then I was gone on the pilgrimage for three months.”

  “But you had sex with Raden during the pilgrimage, right?”

  “Yeah. We hooked up maybe two weeks after I got there.”

  “And you slept with him regularly, and during your heat cycle?” Kat asked.

  “Yes, but what does that have to do with what’s happening now?”

  “Everything. You know the rumour that heat cycles are much worse when you’re not having regular sex, right? Well, it’s not just a rumour.”

  “No,” Bria said.

  “Yes. It’s only going to get worse the longer you go without sex.”

  Bria’s mouth dropped open. “I – are you sure?”

  “Very sure,” Kat said. “Your first heat cycle without sex was bad, right? And this second one worse?”

  “So much worse,” Bria said.

  “I hate to tell you this, sweetie, but it’s not even half as bad as it’s going to get. I was feeling bad about just using Mark for sex during my cycles, so I went three heat cycles in a row without getting laid. By the fourth one, I had Ronin pinned to the floor of my office while I rode him like a damn pony. We weren’t even dating – I had barely spoken to him outside of work at that point.”

  “Oh fuck,” Bria dropped her head into her hands before breathing deeply. “Okay, it’s fine, it’s fine. I just need to find a boyfriend before my next heat cycle.”

  Kat raised her eyebrow at her. “You’re going to find a boyfriend in a month’s time?”

  “Yes. What? I can do it. I’m a good-looking girl, right? Maybe I don’t have a lot of sex experience, but I can get the goddamn job done. Any guy would be happy to have an unemployed girl who apparently bites and claws like a Tasmanian Devil when she doesn’t get sex on a regular basis.”

  Kat laughed. “Honey, you are awesome, but do you really want to just start dating some random shifter so that you don’t freak out during your next heat cycle?”

  Bria sighed loudly. “I don’t have a choice. I – I’m not strong like you.”

  “You can take the medication to curb your heat.”

  “No,” Bria said. “I won’t take it. My aunt has a friend whose daughter took the meds from twenty to twenty-five and now she’s having a terrible time getting pregnant. She wants kittens more than anything and she can’t have them. I don’t want that to be me in a few years, you know?”

  “I thought you didn’t want kittens.”

  “I don’t know for certain. If I meet someone who wants one, then I want to at least have the option.”

  “There is something else you can try.” Kat gave her a thoughtful look.

  “What?”

  “The website that - ”

  “No way,” Bria cut her off. “I’m not trolling that meat market looking for shifters who just want no-commitment-required sex with a horny cat shifter every month. I’m not that desperate.”

  “I did it.”

  Bria’s eyes widened. “Shut your mouth! You did not, Katarina Frost.”

  “I did. Well, I didn’t have sex with any of them, but I created an account and interviewed three different shifters.”

  “Holy shit,” Bria said. “When did you do this?”

  “While you were on your pilgrimage.”

  Why didn’t you go through with it? Were they all losers?”

  Kat laughed. “Two of them weren’t great but the third one was good.”

  “So why didn’t you sleep with him?”

  “Because it was Ronin that I wanted, even then. Luckily for me, he was more than happy to help out during my heat cycle.”

  Bria continued to stare at her and Kat shrugged. “I think you should give it a try. You don’t even have to create an account. I still have the third shifter’s email and I’ll send it to you. He was a tiger shifter and, honestly, if I hadn’t already been half in love with Ronin at that point, I would have given him a try. He was handsome and polite and really seemed to care about meeting my needs each month.”

  “Yeah, and probably fourteen other cat shifters every month.”

  “Actually, he said he didn’t help out more than one cat shifter at a time,” Kat replied.

  “You believed him?”

  “Yes. Just email him, Bria. You can meet in a public place, he’ll give you references, and you can give them a call. If you’re not interested after meeting him, just email him and tell him. He wasn’t offended when I said no thanks. Plus, he said he didn’t mind scratching or biting. That’ll come in handy for you.”

  She grinned as Bria flushed. “I – yeah, maybe I will. My mom says it would be good for me to not be in a relationship for a while. She says I’ve barely spent any of my adult life being single, and I need to get to know who I really am.”

  Kat laughed. “God, I wish my mother was like that. She’s finally jumped off the ‘you’re going to die old and alone’ train, but now she’s hopped on the ‘you need to make me a grandmother before I die’ train. Ronin delights in teasing her about how he’s pretty certain he’s sterile. She falls for it every damn time.”

  “Do you think I need to be single for a while, Kat? I’ve always been in a relationship and honestly, I find it lonely to not be in one. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

  “I think you need to do what makes you happy. If being in a relationship makes you happy – then be in one. Just make sure it’s the right guy, okay?”

  Bria nodded, and Kat took a sip of her coffee. “How’s the job hunt going?”

  “Good, actually. I have two interviews this week. Both are just reception jobs, but my savings are dangerously low, so I’ll take what I can get. Maybe someday I’ll grow up and figure out what I actually want to do with my lif
e.”

  She took a drink of her coffee. “Thanks. I feel much better.”

  “Good. Email that tiger shifter, okay? It’s better than trolling for total strangers in a bar.”

  “Yeah,” Bria said. “I will.”

  * * *

  Bria paid for her coffee and moved to the other end of the counter. She shifted from foot to foot and tried to calm her racing pulse.

  After talking to Kat, she’d gone home and before she could lose her nerve, sent an email to Jace, the tiger shifter that she’d recommended. She kept it brief, explaining that she received his email from Kat and wondered if they could meet to discuss her heat cycle. Jace had replied within a couple of hours and agreed to meet. His email was short but well-written. Feeling a little sick to her stomach, she arranged to meet him at Starbucks the next morning.

  She smoothed her bright red top and wondered if her jeans were too tight. They did showcase her ass nicely and she considered it to be her best physical feature. Her boobs were too small to be proud of, but both Kyle and Raden had loved her ass.

  She sighed nervously. She hadn’t sent a picture to Jace and he hadn’t asked for one but now she wondered if she should have. What if he didn’t like what he saw?

  So what if he doesn’t? You’re still not entirely sure you can go through with this anyway.

  That was a good point. She sighed again. She had given him a description of what she was wearing so he could find her at Starbucks. She tentatively searched the people milling about. She didn’t see anyone who looked remotely big enough to be a tiger shifter and some of the nerves eased a little in her belly. She was early so he likely wouldn’t be here for another ten minutes anyway. She smoothed her shirt and picked at a loose thread near the button.

  “Bria?”

  A hand touched her elbow. The deep, raspy voice sounded vaguely familiar. She turned and raised her gaze to the hazel eyes of the tiger shifter who had fucked her in the bathroom three nights ago.

  “Hi, I’m Jace. It’s nice to…”

  They stared at each other in shocked silence. Her pulse pounded in her ears and she knew her mouth was hanging open like an idiot.