Chapter Four

During the journey from Lisbon to Boston, Zane and Kesi spoke little. Several times Zane tried to initiate conversation, but Kesi replied with as few words as possible.

His quiet politeness combined with the sexy yet intelligent look in his eyes turned Kesi on more than she wanted to admit. In her entire life, no man had roused her interest as much as this weretiger. She would not allow herself to surrender to these childish and dangerous feelings for him. Dangerous because she knew no man could truly be trusted.

It seemed nothing had been going right for her lately. Her run of bad luck had begun when Raine, who was in charge of the eastern USA units, went to India with Sanjay. The First Wraths had required an experienced warrior to take her place. When they asked Kesi, she couldn’t refuse.

Kesi had always preferred fieldwork to politics. In truth she’d be much happier assigned to a unit working on a case. She’d rather be fighting toe-to-toe with the enemy than delegating authority and dealing directly with the First Wraths. Now having this weretiger shadowing her every move was absolutely unbearable. Her plan was to send him out on as many cases as possible. With any luck he might get killed on duty.

A horrible feeling twisted Kesi’s gut. That was a monstrous thing to think. She didn’t actually want Zane dead, just away from her.

While in the USA, Kesi had taken up residence in Raine’s house just outside of Boston. Caitlin, a talented witch who acted as her assistant, also lived there. Caitlin was a tremendous help. Not only was she knowledgeable in most aspects of the supernatural world, but she was a personable woman and an excellent judge of character. She also had far more patience than Kesi would ever possess. Now that Zane would be staying with them at the house, Kesi was especially happy for Caitlin’s presence. Most likely she would be familiar with weretigers and could take over most of the contact with Zane. At least that would keep him out of her way when he wasn’t off on one of the many cases she planned to assign him. She knew weretigers were tough, but maybe she could wear him out and have him begging for an early return to India. If the weretiger wanted a taste of what it meant to be a Wakened Veil, she intended to see that he got it.

Caitlin met them at the airport. The small red-haired witch was of the fairy race, from a tribe of fairies on the British Isles. Like vampires, fairies were endowed with long life. As they stepped into the car, Caitlin glanced at Zane, curiosity in her large blue eyes. Kesi took that as a good sign. With Caitlin’s inquisitive nature, it should be easy to coax her into practically taking over Kesi’s assignment. Once the initial introductions were made, Caitlin and Zane fell into amiable conversation. Then Kesi began to worry a little. Caitlin seemed quite taken with Zane. His subtle charm and reserved manner could be most disarming. Even Kesi found herself softening a bit as she listened to him converse. Talking to Caitlin, he seemed far less arrogant and smiled often.

As Kesi had hoped, Caitlin had some familiarity with weretigers. Her instructor in the magical arts had been thorough. Caitlin spoke of her teacher often and he was among the few men trusted by the Wakened Veils. It had taken many years for him to gain that trust, which was why Kesi treated with skepticism the Veils’ sudden interest in allying with the weretiger clan.

Of course Vidonia had known Sanjay for over a thousand years. During that time he had kept the Veils’ secret, even from his own people, so that warranted some measure of trust. But who was to say that all members of his clan would be so discreet and so benign?

Zane, for example, was considered quite young in the supernatural world. The Veils didn’t know him. Of course it was her job to decide if he was worthy of the Veils. Damn. That in itself abolished her idea about Caitlin taking over the assignment. Kesi might hate teaming up with Zane, but the First Wraths had trusted her to study him and she had never been one to shirk her responsibility. She had been thinking of ways to avoid contact with him when she needed to watch him with a million eyes, looking for proof that he and his clan were not fit to ally with her beloved organization.

When they arrived at the house, Kesi brought her luggage to her room while Caitlin showed Zane to his room. Moments later, the fairy witch knocked on Kesi’s door then stepped inside.

“Yes?” Kesi asked, taking clothes from her suitcase.

Caitlin sat on the edge of the bed and studied her with discerning eyes. “You were uncharacteristically quiet during the ride from the airport. Is something wrong?”

“Just sitting back and observing the enemy.”

Her eyes narrowed, Caitlin asked, “Enemy? I thought Zane was an ally?”

“That’s what he wants us to think, and I suppose he is until he proves otherwise. I’ve learned not to trust any man completely.”

“Some can be trusted.”

“So I’ve heard, but I’m careful.”

“We’re all careful. Not all men are like your father and husband. Kesi, it’s been over fifteen hundred years since you escaped them. In all that time you’ve never gotten serious about any man.”

“I take their blood and if I get the urge for a good fuck I’ll take that, too. They’re not necessary for anything else.”

“There is love,” Caitlin said softly.

“I love our sisterhood. I love my friends. I don’t want or need to love a man. One way or the other they’re trouble. Besides, I like my freedom.”

“True love won’t limit your life but enrich it.”

Kesi raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see you tying yourself down with a husband.”

“I’m still looking.”

“Maybe I am too.”

“You’re not looking, Kesi. You’re too busy fighting. Fighting enemies. Fighting yourself.”

“If you’re finished analyzing me, we can get down to business. Once I’m unpacked I need you to give me a crash course in weretigers.”

“You have a weretiger right here in the house. Why don’t you just ask Zane?”

Kesi curled her lip and sighed. “Because I should have at least some background about his people other than what I’ve learned from the few weretigers I’ve fought and the lovesick gossip I hear from Raine and Saloni.”

“I know you, Kesi. I realize you’d probably like to avoid Zane and have this whole situation go away.”

“I don’t ….”

“But I also know you do your duty. He seems like a nice man. Maybe this duty will be more enjoyable than you imagine, if you let it.”

Kesi’s stomach tightened with disgust. Mostly because Caitlin was probably right. When Zane and the witch had been talking in the car, she’d actually felt a hint of jealousy. Zane had spoken in a warm, friendly tone completely unexpected from the stern weretiger.

Caitlin continued, “This assignment can be a burden or a pleasure, depending on how you deal with it.”

“Okay. Okay. Enough with the philosophy lesson. Leave me alone for a while. As soon as I’m unpacked, I want a rundown of everything that’s happened with our units for the past few days.

Zane will join us. There’s no reason he shouldn’t jump right into business, too. As long as we have an extra pair of hands, we might as well use them.”

* * * *

The meeting with Zane and Caitlin went smoothly. He listened attentively to the witch’s briefing and asked what Kesi considered intelligent questions. It seemed that during her brief absence everything had remained under control.

After the meeting, Kesi dismissed her two companions, knowing that Zane must be as tired and stressed as she was from several days of constant travel. Both were nocturnal creatures and with airline schedules and meetings with the First Wraths, they had been up for more days than they preferred.

Kesi went to her room, had a long hot shower, stretched out naked on her bed, and tried to rest.

As usual her mind was in overdrive. She slept only a short time before waking from a dream in which she and Zane were acting in far from professional manner. In the dream the gorgeous weretiger took her in his arms and kissed her. She had no desire to resist, but clung to him, enjoying his deep, lustful kisses.

Kesi snapped awake, her pulse racing, her nipples stiff with desire, and a throbbing ache between her legs. Damn Zane and his hypnotic eyes, lustful scent, and voice that seemed made to whisper sexy innuendos in a woman’s ear.

She stood and pulled on red shorts and a matching exercise bra. What she needed was a workout, something to focus on beside issues with the Veils and her annoying attraction to Zane.

Raine had a spacious home gym on the east side of her house. She’d knocked out the walls between a couple of rooms, added a polished wood floor and completely mirrored one wall from floor to ceiling. Kesi always enjoyed working out in that room, particularly at night when the moon shone in through the skylights.

As she approached the gym, her keen vampiric sense of smell detected Zane’s delicious aroma.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected to find him here since she’d assumed he would be tired from their trip.

Kesi stepped into the gym. Her gaze fixed on Zane whose long, lean body was stretched into a headstand on a mat in the center of the room. Barefoot and shirtless, he wore soft cotton trousers.

The sleek muscles of his lean torso glistened with sweat as he had apparently been working out for a while.

His eyes were closed, but almost as soon as Kesi stepped into the room they opened. He lowered his legs and stood, his movements fluid, the perfect example of masculine grace.

“Didn’t mean to disturb you,” Kesi said. She glanced over his broad shoulders and chest, his sleek abs and sinewy arms. Again she noted his luscious throat and resisted the urge to lick her lips. Something told her his blood would taste absolutely delicious.

“Not at all. I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d try to relax with some exercise. I will leave you to your privacy.”

He rolled up his mat and stood to leave, but Kesi stopped him with a hand on his forearm. His flesh was warm and slick, his muscles rock hard. As if transfixed, she stared at her smooth ebony hand against his pale flesh dusted with chestnut hair. A jolt of desire shot through her. She turned her gaze to his face and found him staring at her with an aroused look. His gaze swept her from head to toe, lingering a bit on her full breasts, the stiff nipples clearly outlined by the stretchy material of the exercise bra. His eyes met hers, and the faintest smile touched his lips. Stunned by the rush of emotions between them, she dropped her hand from his arm.

“You don’t have to go,” she said. “It’s a big gym.”

He nodded, spread his mat on the floor and returned to his yoga postures.

Kesi warmed up with some stretches, though her attention focused on Zane. In the car he’d told Caitlin about his life growing up in India. He seemed very proud of his roots and his clan.

“Tell me more about your goddess,” Kesi ventured. “I’m curious about a group of males loyal to a woman.”

“The goddess created us to help her free the world from evil. To fight for justice. She is the one who gives life yet metes out retribution. She is the mother and the protector.”

“And because of her you respect women?”

“Most of us follow the goddess’ creed. Long ago our main clan divided and some decided to abuse their power, but we fight them, much like your Wakened Veils fight for justice.”

Kesi narrowed her eyes. Dare she allow this man to compare his group of cats to the Wakened Veils?

He continued, “The strength of the tiger is not meant to be misused. It is a gift from the goddess.”

“I’m curious about your shape shifting ability. I’ve seen your kind in their tiger form and also somewhere between man and beast, but I’ve never witnessed a complete transformation. Is it similar to werewolves?”

“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with werewolves other than stories I’ve heard. But I would be happy to shift shape for you. However it requires me to undress. Providing you are not offended ….”

“In my tribe, nudity was not something to be ashamed of, but a way of life. Unless you’re uncomfortable changing in front of me--” He stood and, before she could comment further, removed his trousers. Kesi fell silent for a moment, trying not to ogle his long, steely legs, his thick, semi-erect cock, and impressive balls.

Damn this was one fine man. Her gaze trailed him from head to toe.

Zane’s eyes slipped shut, and he drew a deep breath that expanded his chest and tightened his sleek abs even more. He released it slowly, and, as he, did his entire body changed. His facial structure broadened and elongated. A thick white and brown coat sprouted from his human skin, and he hovered between human and tiger form, a bipedal man-beast. His very bones became flexible, and he dropped onto all fours. Within seconds the change was complete and a magnificent white Bengal tiger stood before her. His blue eyes gazed up at her, seeming even paler against his snowy fur.

Kesi had lived over fifteen hundred years and had seen much of the supernatural world. She’d even seen other weretigers, but nothing had prepared her for the full beauty of Zane. He paced in front of her on enormous paws, his gorgeous feline face turned up toward her. Growling softly, he approached and thrust his pink nose against her hand.

She couldn’t keep from smiling and burying her hands in his striped coat. The fur was thick and coarse, his body warm and his muscles hard. She felt them ripple beneath her palms.

“So beautiful,” she murmured then paused, mentally scolding herself for speaking aloud. She wasn’t supposed to be impressed by him.

For several moments he stood still, allowing her to explore him from nose to tail then he used his massive head to nudge her against the wall. A twinge of apprehension darted through her when he rose onto his hind legs and placed his front paws on either side of her head. She was about to shove him away when he shifted back to his human form. One moment the tiger was pinning her to the wall and the next Zane the man was. His hands braced on the wall, he trapped her, his naked body so close to hers that she felt heat radiating from him. His delicious, sexy scent filled her, and her nipples tightened to hard peaks of desire.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

He shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed upon her. He inched a bit closer, his lips almost touching hers.

The warrior in Kesi told her to give him a swift jab in the balls, but the woman in her had other ideas.

A low growl rumbled in his chest, a sexual sound that she couldn’t help responding to. His lips were so near, as was that magnificent neck she longed to lick and bite. He’d started this game, and suddenly she wanted to finish it.

Kesi slid her hands over his ribs and up his chest, relishing the dusting of hair over his warm flesh. She brushed her thumbs over his flat nipples, and he covered her mouth in a kiss that nearly stole her breath. His warm, moist lips moved firmly yet tenderly against hers. He slipped his tongue between her lips, and hers met it in a carnal dance. Kesi wrapped her arms around his neck and wove her fingers through his short brown hair, loving its thickness. It was almost as coarse as the tiger’s coat, and he still carried the wild, alluring scent of the beast.

Zane groaned softly and wrapped one arm snugly around her waist while burying his hand in her hair. In her long life Kesi had kissed many men, but this kiss was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. If this indicated what it was like to be with a weretiger, she could finally understand Raine and Saloni’s attraction to their mates. Until this moment she had never seen anything special about weretigers. At times she’d mockingly called them big “pussycats”. Nor was she particularly attracted to white men. Zane was an exception on both counts. She wanted him so badly that she was already wet with need, her heart pounding with desire, and her fangs aching for a taste of his blood.

By the way he kissed her, she knew he felt the same. Long, slow sweeps of his tongue explored every part of her mouth. His arm squeezed her closer and closer to his steely body until her breasts flattened against his chest, and she felt as if their hearts beat as one. All the while he gently massaged her scalp, his fingers soothing her with more tenderness than she’d ever expected from a man.

He murmured to her in a language she didn’t understand, yet his tone was so soft and breathless that she knew what he said had to be good.

Kesi had learned one of the best things about her supernatural existence was that she could be a bit less cautious than a mortal when it came to sex. Vampires didn’t generally contract diseases, and while they could become pregnant, she was covered by a birth control potion supplied by Caitlin. If she felt like bedding a man, she usually didn’t hesitate. At the moment she wanted Zane so badly it was almost physically painful, yet something made her pause.

His lips had moved from hers to travel down her neck. Kissing his way across her shoulder, he slipped the straps off her bra and pushed down the fabric, freeing her breasts to his mouth and hands. He cupped one of the soft spheres and bent to take the nipple between his lips. His tongue rolled over the taut peak, and desire shot through Kesi. She clutched his head and panted. Only when he sucked harder and her clit buzzed, edging her closer and closer to climax, did she push against his shoulders.

“Zane, no,” she panted.

Almost instantly he paused and lifted his gaze to hers. The raw passion in his eyes pushed her own lust to greater heights. Why was she stopping what would undoubtedly be a fantastic sexual experience?

Because she felt more for him than simple lust. He inspired her interest. She found him charming and intelligent. The sort of man she wanted to know better.

“I’m sorry. I had no right,” he said and took a step back, giving her room to breathe, to think.

Rather than relief she felt longing. She missed his warmth, his touch.

He continued, “It is not my place to seduce ….”

“Zane, you talk way too much,” she said, took his face in her hands and kissed him. Her tongue thrust between his lips, pouring all her passion into that kiss.

He responded with equal fervor, pulling her to him in a crushing embrace. The feeling of her bare breasts pressed against his chest was so erotic that she moaned and pushed even closer to him. Another wonderful sensation registered in her passion-clouded mind--that of his stiff cock trapped between their bodies. His hands swept over her shoulders and back, warming and enticing her. He slipped his hands inside her shorts and panties, grasped her buttocks and kneaded the taut globes.

Kesi moaned, completely enraptured by him. If they were stuck together on this assignment, why shouldn’t she enjoy it? Besides, her orders had been to learn about weretigers. Well she was about to know this one quite intimately.

Without warning, Zane swept her into his arms. Laughing, Kesi clung to his neck, rather surprised. Being a tall woman, lean yet well-muscled, she wasn’t the sort men swept off her feet.

He carried her to his mat, knelt, and placed her upon it. Using his fingertips he stroked her face, gently caressed her eyelids and traced the shape of her nose and lips.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Kesi.”

It felt good hearing him say he liked her looks. Though she knew by his aroused scent and the lustful expression in his eyes that he found her attractive, she liked having him tell her.

She caressed his cheek. “You’re not bad yourself, weretiger.”

Smiling slightly, Zane stretched out beside her. His warm body half covered hers, and he slipped a long, muscled leg between hers. A jolt of passion shot through her, and she wrapped her legs around his.

His hand rested on her thigh then slowly caressed it, working his way upward until his palm rested on her hip. Then he slid his hand to her lower back and stroked her bare flesh. At the same moment he took her lower lip gently between his teeth and ran the tip of his tongue over it. Then he sucked upon it tenderly.

Kesi closed her eyes and moaned softly. She clutched handfuls of his hair and rolled toward him.

One of his legs covered hers while he devoured her lips with deep, wet kisses. Kesi’s heart beat out of control, and she tingled all over. Her rules about not bedding a man she could fall for were forgotten. All she knew was that he turned her on more than anyone she’d ever known.

Damn she wanted him. She needed to feel his cock deep inside her. Feel her breasts pressed intimately against his chest. Speaking of chests, he had one of the best she’d ever seen or felt. It was broad and muscular yet not overpowering. Sleek, rock-hard and perfect. She slipped her hands between their bodies so she could feel his chest, and he pulled back slightly, giving her more access to the broad, hair-dusted expanse.

She pushed against him, and he rolled onto his back. Those gorgeous blue eyes swept over her as she straddled his hips and stroked the hard ridges of his chiseled abs. His cock, now stiff and ready, pressed against her bottom, and she squirmed a bit.

“Weretiger, you are so fine,” she purred, leaning forward so she could cover his chest with kisses. Her tongue rolled over his flat nipple, and she used the tip of a fang to scrape it gently. He growled, a sound of pleasure, and a new thrill rushed through her. So, he liked the sensation of fangs on his skin. Most people did, especially when a vampire had mastered the technique of bringing pleasure with a bite. Kesi considered herself a rather good biter. Biting a supernatural creature like him was usually even more fun than biting a human. With humans she always had to be careful not to take too much and unintentionally kill them, but Zane’s powerful weretiger constitution could take--and give--more than any human could hope to.

She felt him tug the bottom of her exercise bra upward, and she moved enough for him to pull it over her head. She sat back so he could cup her breasts. The scent of his arousal grew stronger, and her gaze fixed on his hands as they stroked and kneaded her breasts. The sensation was wonderful. He squeezed the soft mounds with the perfect amount of pressure and brushed his thumbs over her nipples. The dark brown peaks stiffened even more. Little bumps rose on the areolas, and her breathing quickened as her passion grew.

“Come here,” he said, his voice raw with lust, and tugged her downward.

Kesi braced a hand on either side of his head and gasped when he took one of her nipples between his lips and sucked. Pure desire rolled through her when he used his warm, wet tongue to caress the stiff nub. He alternated between sucking and licking until the nipple was almost painfully sensitive, and Kesi’s breathing grew ragged with pleasure.

Her eyes closed, she gasped and moaned his name, relishing every luscious moment.

Finally he moved to her other nipple, and she nearly sobbed with pleasure. “Zane, oh baby, I want you so much.”

He growled, a primal expression of male delight. Kesi loved that sound. She wanted to hear it again. She wanted to make him gasp and writhe like he had done to her. Then she wanted him to claim her. Throw her down and thrust his thick, hard cock into her until she exploded in ecstasy.

What the hell had happened to her? She’d fucked men before but never had she wanted one to “claim” her. Usually she was the one in control. She couldn’t get off unless she was in charge.

Even though she sat astride Zane, she knew she wasn’t in control. Not of herself and certainly not of him. No one controlled this weretiger, except maybe with love. If he loved someone, like he loved his clan, then he would obey their wishes out of respect and affection.

She very much wanted him to focus that kind of love on her, and it frightened her.

With a suddenness that stole her breath, he pushed her onto her back, his body covering hers.

Jarred out of that euphoric moment, she opened her eyes and stared into his, looking for any sign of the sadistic cruelty she’d seen in men before. There was none. All she saw was tenderness mixed with burning lust – an irresistible combination.

“I want you, too,” he said. “Are you protected?”

“Vampires don’t contract sexually transmitted diseases.”

“Neither do my kind.”

“And I’m on a birth control potion. Works better than any human invention.”

He stood, and Kesi’s gaze fixed on his cock and balls. She had seen her share of naked men and had to admit he was the finest specimen she’d ever had the pleasure to look upon. His cock was large, though not obnoxiously so. Veins pattered the thick, light-skinned staff. A particularly thick vein running under the smooth, bulbous head drew her attention. She longed to trail the tip of her tongue over it.

Why just think about it? Smiling, she crawled toward him on her hands and knees. Never in her life had she imagined willingly crawling to a man, but she already knew that with Zane everything was different. It was as if being with him freed a part of her she’d kept locked away out of fear. For some unfathomable reason she knew the weretiger wouldn’t abuse the gift she intended to bestow upon him. She wanted to pleasure him. And, lord, she wanted to be pleasured by him in return!

He stood, his gaze fixed on her and his face tense with anticipation, though he made no move toward her. She knelt in front of him, clasped his cock in her hands, and took the head between her lips.

She felt him draw a sharp, pleasured breath as she sucked him. Every now and then she’d swirl her tongue over the crown of his erection and use the very tip of her tongue to tease the little eye.

While she sucked and licked, she used her hand to stroke his shaft, feeling it swell even more and pulse in her grip, the flesh satiny, yet like steel beneath.

Damn, Kesi was so turned on that a shiver ripped down her spine. Her clit buzzed and her pussy, now drenched with lust, ached for his cock.

She moved one hand to his balls and kneaded gently then she lapped his cock from head to base and back again.

“Kesi. This feels so damn good,” he panted and ran his fingers through her hair. He massaged her scalp, and, though she knew the pleasure must now be close to unbearable, he never gripped her painfully or forced her head closer.

He didn’t have to. She once again began sucking his cock. This time she drew so deeply upon him that the crown of his erection brushed the back of her throat.

“That’s enough,” he panted, though his hips thrust against her, the movements controlled so as not to choke her. “Any more and it’ll be all over.”

She withdrew his cock from her mouth with painful slowness. No sooner had she finished than he knelt and pushed her onto her back.

A wicked grin on his lips, he thrust her legs apart, and positioned himself between them. “Never let it be said I don’t pay my debts.”

Before she could reply he tugged her legs over his shoulders, covered her clit with his mouth, and began lapping in a rhythm that soon had her writhing with impending orgasm. Every swipe of his hot, wet tongue was like the most wonderful torture she’d ever imagined.

“Zane, oh, yeah. Oh baby, please. Oh!” She arched against him, and he clutched her bottom, holding her tightly against his face as he licked and sucked her clit.

The climax struck her with the force of a battle ax, but with quite the opposite effect. Wave after wave of pure bliss washed over her. Kesi moaned and shook, her entire body straining with unimaginable pleasure.

Zane didn’t stop licking until she collapsed completely, her muscles quivering and breasts heaving with each ragged breath. His skilled mouth left her clit, and he removed her legs from his shoulders.

Kesi’s eyes were still closed, and she’d scarcely recovered when he mounted her and thrust his rock-hard cock into her lust-drenched pussy.

Her eyes flew open, and she stared at him. She wanted him so badly it was almost painful. How could she want to come again after such an amazing orgasm? But she did want to come. The look in his eyes, the way he filled her with long, slow thrusts, rekindled her passion, and she squirmed with need.

“Zane, oh, yes,” she breathed, her fingers clutching the hard, rounded muscles of his broad shoulders.

“Kesi,” he said, his voice deep yet tender. Again he spoke in his language. One of these days she must ask him to teach it to her.

“I don’t know what the hell you just said, Zane,” she panted as his thrusting increased, “but I liked the sound of it.”

“I said, beautiful warrior, I am honored to serve you and to give you pleasure.”

Kesi smiled. “I like that. I--oh, Zane!” All coherent thoughts left her as he doubled his pace and drove her headlong into another intense orgasm. This time, seconds after her hot, wet sheath pulsed around his engorged staff, he joined her in ecstasy. He stiffened and roared with pleasure.

His body surged into her then he collapsed atop her, his face buried against her neck.

In spite of the peaceful, satisfied feeling, the vampire in Kesi longed for something more. She wanted--no she needed--to taste the weretiger’s blood.

She pushed against him, and he rolled onto his back, smiling, his eyes still closed. Lying atop him, she brushed hair from his brow and whispered against his lips, “Zane?”

“Yes?”

“Let me take your blood.”

He opened his eyes and glanced at her with arousal, curiosity, and complete trust. Then he turned his head to the side, exposing the side of his neck. That strong yet beautiful neck had turned her on from the first.

Kesi moistened her lips then lowered her head and used her tongue to trace the enticing pit of his throat. She licked and kissed his entire neck. The gentle caresses of her lips and tongue obviously aroused him. His cock stiffened where it was trapped between them, and her keen hearing picked up the quickening rhythm of his heart.

Unable to resist a moment longer, she pierced the side of his neck with her fangs. He gasped and clung to her as she lapped and sucked, savoring the taste of the sweetest, most powerful blood she had ever had the pleasure to drink.

She drank longer and took more than she could from a mortal. Zane seemed to love every moment. Between moans and lustful growls, he murmured her name in husky whispers. When she finally pulled away, they were both utterly satisfied. Kesi lay beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. They remained there for several moments.

Finally Kesi opened her eyes and used a fingertip to trace lazy circles on his chest. “That was fun. You surprised me, weretiger. For some reason I thought you were going to be uptight.”

“It was hard not to be uptight around you when we first met.”

“What?” she feigned anger. “Pointing out a woman’s faults isn’t the best way to win her heart.”

He shifted position so that he stared down at her, her head still cushioned on his arm. His beautiful blue gaze fixed on her, making her pulse race. “Do you want your heart to be won?”

“I haven’t really thought about it,” she answered honestly.

“Because you’re too busy leading armies of the Wakened Veils. There is more to life than fighting, Kesi.”

Her smile faded, and she sat up, reaching for her shorts and bra. “When you’ve been fighting for as long as I have, it’s not easy to stop.”

“That’s why I’m glad the Wakened Veils are allying with our clan.”

“What do you mean?” She stood, noting with satisfaction that he watched her with longing as she pulled on her clothes.

“Your cause is worthy, and you’ve done what’s necessary, but women are not meant for such violence. It’s better that you ally yourself with men to fight for you.”

Kesi’s anger shot into the red zone. Placing a hand on her hips, she lifted her eyebrows and said, “Oh no you didn’t. You didn’t just say what I thought you said.”

He stood, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean to offend ….”

“Well you did. Plenty. I’ve been fighting for longer than you’ve been alive, pussycat.”

“There is no reason to resort to name calling.”

“And there’s no reason to resort to blatant chauvinism.”

“Chauvinism?” He looked genuinely confused. “How is it chauvinistic to want to serve and protect you?”

She laughed aloud. “Serve us? I doubt it. And protect? Men always use the excuse that they want to protect women when what they really mean is they want to control us.”

“I have no wish to control you.”

Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them she found him standing directly in front of her.

He gently cupped her chin in his hand and gazed into her eyes. “I will prove to you that my clan can be useful to you, that we respect you. It’s been too long since you’ve known a man, Kesi.”

“I’ve probably bedded more men than you’ve had birthdays.”

“That’s not what I mean by knowing a man. I’m talking about one who cares for you, not who simply wants to satisfy his physical desires.”

“And I suppose you’re the man to show me what it’s like to be cared for?”

“If you let me.”

His words and the sincere look in his eyes struck a chord in her that she needed to ignore. There was no way she could handle anything more than sex. Not with him. Not with any man. Looking into his big blue eyes she could see the freedom she’d fought so hard for slipping away. It would be easy to give in to the fantasy he painted of a woman and man together in a loving relationship, of her bearing the babies while he hunted for food and knocked out the enemies with a club. It was almost laughable yet at the same time appealing on a primal level. Ridiculous. That scenario had no part in modern times and the world she and the Veils had struggled to build. Yet he was a weretiger. Those primal instincts were very much live within him. He still stalked the swamplands by night, killed his food with fang and claw.

How could he possibly understand how much she valued her independence, her ability to defend herself and not depend on a father, brother or husband to do it?

She laughed humorlessly, jerked away from his touch and headed for the door. “Thanks for the workout, pussycat.”

“Kesi, you’re better than this.”

“How would you know?” She glared. “You don’t know me, and you obviously don’t know the Wakened Veils. But you will, pussycat. By the time three months are up you’ll know us very well. If you even last that long once I start assigning you to cases. You won’t just be dragging your fuzzy ass through the swampland fighting others of your own kind. You’ll be dealing with the scum of the supernatural world, kid. And you know what? I’m not so sure you’re man enough to handle it.”

He growled, the sound eerie when he stood before her in human form. His eyes blazed, yet when he spoke it was with his usual frustrating calmness. “Obviously you know weretigers even less than I know the Wakened Veils. It seems we both have much to learn, woman.”

Kesi hissed, baring her fangs, before she stalked out of the gym, slamming the door behind her.

* * * *

Kesi returned to her room, furiously tore off her clothes, and stalked to the shower. By the time she’d finished, she’d calmed down and realized she might have over reacted a bit toward Zane.

After all, he was a man and, even worse, a weretiger. Culturally he could never understand where she was coming from. She didn’t doubt he hadn’t meant to insult her by suggesting he could “care for” her. She knew many women, even members of the Veils, who longed to be “taken care” of by the right man. The problem was, Kesi had long ago faced the sad fact that there was no such thing as the right man. At least not for her.

After dressing in a tank top and jogging pants, she left her room and decided to find Zane. If they were to work together, they needed to sort out this situation as soon as possible. Fighting with him had been unprofessional and sleeping with him had been downright stupid.

When she reached the gym, she found it empty. She followed Zane’s scent to his room and heard no sound from behind the door so she assumed he was asleep. Maybe the jetlag had finally caught up to him. In truth, Kesi felt pretty tired herself. Tomorrow they could talk and then start over again, professionally this time.

Back in her room, Kesi drew the heavy drapes to block out the rising sun then climbed into bed.

Her thoughts still churned with business and Zane. Making love with him had been a mistake, yet she couldn’t help remembering his delicious kisses and how good it felt when he touched her body. Touching him had been just as arousing. His body was so powerful and masculine, the absolute beauty of man and tiger in one gorgeous creature. He was so strong and solid when she clung to him. Wild. Immovable. Frighteningly virile ….

* * * *

Kesi grunted in pain as she landed stomach down on the packed dirt ground. Pain flared through her ribs, and she spat blood from her cut lip.

Her father’s big, rough hand tightened painfully in her hair, and he dragged her to her knees.

“You’re too willful for your own good. If not for me, you wouldn’t be alive. I care for you, so until you have a husband who’s responsible for you, you will do as I say. Do you understand?”

Kesi clenched her teeth, her head spinning from pain, fear, and pure hatred.

“I asked you a question!” The back of his hand lashed across her face and Kesi gasped, tears springing into her eyes.

“Yes,” she said, her voice tight.

With a curl of his lip, he shoved her aside and stalked off.

Panting and trembling, Kesi turned and found a pair of long brown legs standing inches from her.

She swallowed hard and slowly looked up to a powerfully muscled body. A warriors’ body. Her husband’s narrow black eyes stared down at her with contempt and lust.

“You refuse to please me, woman?” he said, his voice deep as a lion’s. “It is your duty and my right. You are mine, under my care and protection. That means you serve me.”

She tried to stand, but he used his knee to shove her onto her back. His huge, rock-hard body covered hers. Gnarled hands grasped her wrists hard and pinned them above her head. His heavy leg thrust hers apart. In spite of how she struggled, she couldn’t overpower him.

Screaming, she bit and writhed, hear heart throbbing wildly. She would not let him take her. Not again. Never again.

“You need a man to care for you, Kesi.”

Numb with fear, she stopped struggling and stared at the man looming above her. It was no longer her husband, but Zane. His blue eyes glowed weirdly in the moonlight, and his lips drew back in a savage grin, exposing his thick tiger-like fangs.

* * * *

“Kesi! Kesi! What the hell is wrong in there?”

Caitlin’s shouting awoke Kesi from the nightmare. She leapt up with a start, gasping, her body drenched in sweat and her heart pounding so hard she thought it might leap through her chest.

“Kesi?”

“Yeah,” she replied, covering her terror with annoyance.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine. Just had a nightmare.”

“Do you want to talk?”

Kesi drew a deep breath and released it slowly, running a hand through her damp hair. She tugged at the wet front of her tank top. “No. Thanks. Go back to bed.”

“As long as you’re ….”

“Caitlin, I’m okay!” she said a bit more sharply than she’d intended to. Shaking her head, she walked to the door and opened it a crack.

Caitlin still stood there, looking concerned.

“Sorry, but I’m fine. Haven’t you ever had a nightmare before?”

“Yeah, but you were screaming like someone was killing you. I stopped Zane before he broke the damn door down.”

“He heard?”

Caitlin snorted. “I think the whole neighborhood heard. I told Zane to go back to bed and I’d find out what’s going ….”

“Caitlin? Is she all right?” Zane asked from the end of the hall.

Sighing, Kesi raised her eyes to the heavens. The last person she wanted to deal with now was him. Not after that nightmare.

“Yes. She’s fine,” Caitlin replied.

He must have gone back to bed because he didn’t speak again.

“Goodnight,” Kesi said.

“Goodnight.”

She closed the door as Caitlin turned away.

* * * *

After that, Kesi found it difficult to sleep. She drifted off for a couple of hours, then awoke early and headed for the gym for a quick workout before diving into business.

Zane was already there in his tiger form, bounding around the gym like a gigantic kitten. He rolled on his back, his paws stretching toward the ceiling, and glanced at her backward.

She couldn’t help thinking how cute he looked then could have kicked her own ass. First, he was a dangerous animal, not a pet pussycat in spite of how she liked to rib his kind with the nickname. Second she had to stop thinking below the waist and start using her brain. Give a man an inch and he’ll take a mile. Oh, he might seem nice and respectful now, but once he got it in his head that she was his property to “protect” and “take care of,” it would be all over for her.

She was a Wakened Veil, no longer at the mercy of men. Her freedom had been hard won, and she wasn’t about to give it up for anybody, especially a man.

Zane made an oddly pleasant purring sound, then rolled over, sprang to his feet, and shook his massive tiger’s head. He approached her slowly, and she watched the play of muscles beneath his white and brown pelt.

He stood in front of her, his blue eyes fixed on hers, as if waiting for her to touch him. Though she longed to stroke him, she couldn’t. Not again. Instead she clenched her fists and stared at him with her coolest expression.

Seconds later, he changed to his human form and stood, naked, in front of her. She forced herself not to look at his gorgeous body, in particular his perfectly shaped cock and balls.

His gaze held hers and a slight smile touched his lips. “How are you?”

“Fine.”

Reaching out to caress her cheek, he said, “When you screamed I was concerned ….”

“There was no need.” She jerked away from his touch. “It was just a bad dream. I’m going to have a quick workout then we can get down to business.”

“Are you still angry with me?” he asked.

“No. About that. I didn’t mean to blow up at you. I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Perhaps I moved too quickly. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.

Next time ….”

“What do you mean next time?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Just because I apologized for overreacting doesn’t mean I’m taking back what I said about women and independence.”

“I am not challenging your so-called independence ….”

“So called? What do you mean by that?”

He sighed, looking exasperated. “Are you always so disagreeable?”

Kesi stalked across the room, picked up his jogging pants where he’d discarded them on the floor, and flung them at his chest. “Would you mind putting some clothes on?”

“You didn’t seem to mind whether or not I wore clothes yesterday,” he said coolly and stepped into the pants.

“What we did was a mistake, understand? It was unprofessional, inappropriate and inexcusable.”

“I agree it was unprofessional and perhaps inappropriate, but the attraction between us is not inexcusable.”

This man irritated her enough to make her consider driving a stake through her own heart. “What attraction?”

“I suppose you always make love to men you’re not attracted to?”

“Zane, can you at least try to forget about the lovemaking thing? Yesterday we were both horny and acted on impulse. Nothing more. From now on, we are going to do our jobs and pretend the fucking never happened. To me, it’s as if it never did.”

His jaw tightened visibly and a chill crept into his gaze. “Forgive me if I take lovemaking a little more seriously than you vampires do.”

“Now you’re insulting my kind?”

“Why not? To you it’s perfectly acceptable to insult my kind as well as mankind.”

“I’m just speaking from experience.”

“Yes. You like to brag about how much experience you have. I should have known the sort of woman you are when you said you’ve bedded more men than I’ve had birthdays.”

“Shit. I know you’re a tiger but you’re not going to turn into a stalker, are you?”

“No. I have better things to do with my time than stalk an unworthy bedmate.”

In spite of how she’d wanted to turn him off, Kesi bristled with annoyance. “Excuse me?”

“Consider yesterday’s incident forgotten.” His blue eyes flashed at her. “However, next time if you want to maintain distance, try saying no.”

“Would it have worked?” she snapped.

He strode toward her and for the first time in centuries she backed away from a man. Her back touched the wall and she stared into his hypnotic eyes, surprised by the emotion burning there.

Gently he cupped her chin. “I’m sorry for you,” he said, his voice just above a whisper. “Not all men are savages, Kesi.”

A shiver of combined lust and fear raced through Kesi. He terrified her almost as much as her father and husband, but for vastly different reasons. If she let him, he could steal all the independence she’d worked so hard for. Just looking at him made her legs weak with desire. She wanted him to take her in his arms again, to kiss her breathless and fill her with his thick, hard cock. She wanted to cling to him in ecstasy and afterward lie in the safety of his arms … No!

“If you’re not a savage then why am I backed against the wall?”

“Maybe because this is exactly what you want. I can give you what you desire most.”

“How the hell do you know what I desire?”

“I can see it in your eyes.” His fingertips trailed lazily over her cheek and jaw line. “You liked being possessed. Covered by a body stronger than yours, yet at the same time protected by it.

You want a man, Kesi. A real man, who can claim you, but never hurt you.”

“Back off, Zane.”

He dropped his hand from her chin, but didn’t move away, nor did he try to stop her when she stepped aside.

“From now on, pussycat, you keep your hands to yourself.”

“Fine. The question is, can you?”

She spun and glared into his eyes. “I made a mistake. As you said yourself, the incident is forgotten. From here on out we’re both going to fulfill our duty to the Wakened Veils. Think you can handle it?”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

“Good. I’ll meet you in the den in two hours. Then we’ll see what you’re made of.”

“You are a sad, lonely woman,” he told her.

She curled her lip. “At least I have pride enough in myself to take no for an answer.”

“How can you receive an answer to a question that’s never asked? As a vampire you can take what you want, when you want it. You talk about men and violence, but how many people have you taken against their will? How many have you entranced with your vampire eyes?”

His words cut deeper than she wanted to admit. Unfortunately he wasn’t far from the truth, at least about never allowing herself the chance for a real relationship.

“Are you able to put aside these personal issues and act as a professional?” she demanded.

He bowed from the neck, his expression solemn. “I will not speak of it again and I am at the service of the Wakened Veils.”

The haughty look in his eyes irked her. The man was too observant, too outwardly accommodating, and far too much of a temptation. If she gave in to him, she might as well give up her career, her freedom and life as she knew it. The only way to see that didn’t happen was to continue with her original plan. Make him wish he’d never been introduced to her or the Wakened Veils.