Chapter Four

Sanjay and Rahul were guided to the basement of Vidonia’s villa where they were locked in cells. While all weretigers hated the thought of imprisonment, Sanjay had a particular loathing of bondage. Long ago, when their first clan had divided, many wars were fought among weretigers.

Severely wounded in battle, Sanjay had been captured by rivals and locked in a cage so small he could scarcely turn around. Eventually his warriors freed him, but since then had been unable to completely overcome his hatred of enclosed places.

His current cell wasn’t as small as that horrible cage, and included the comfort of a bed and toilet, yet to Sanjay it was almost unbearable. No sooner had the guards locked him inside than his heart began pounding and he had to remind himself to breathe.

“Father, are you all right?” Rahul called, his voice laced with concern. Though unable to see each other since their cells were on opposite sides of the same wall, Rahul knew about Sanjay’s hatred of small spaces. Apparently the anger he’d been harboring for his father hadn’t completely overcome his affection.

“Fine.” Sanjay closed his eyes and concentrated on taking several slow, even breaths.

“You shouldn’t have interfered in this,” Rahul continued. “I could have handled Saloni.”

“They were going to kill you.”

“Now they’ll probably kill us both. You shouldn’t have struck a bargain with these bitches.”

“If what you told me is true, there is a chance justice will be done.”

“If?” Rahul snapped. “You doubt me? You think I could do the things they say?”

Sanjay growled, not in the mood to argue with his obstinate son. “If I thought that, the Veils wouldn’t have to kill you. I’d do it myself.”

Rahul fell silent, mostly likely guessing Sanjay had just about reached the limit of his patience.

After a moment, Rahul continued, “I don’t know why she refuses to speak to me. I know we could work this out if she would talk instead of fight.”

“There are two reasons she would not want to talk. She either hates you and wants to see you executed—“ “I told you—“ “Or,” Sanjay’s voice rose above his son’s interruption, “she still has feelings for you and fears that speaking to you will weaken her resolve.”

“I like that thought better. And what about you? How did you convince these women to hear you out? Don’t think I didn’t notice how you and Raine look at each other.”

“I just met her on the night I rescued you.”

“That doesn’t matter. Love strikes like an assassin’s dagger – without warning and without mercy.”

“I am not in love, Rahul,” Sanjay said, though somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that if he spent any length of time with Raine he would be lost to her. “Besides, love got us into this situation to begin with.”

Rahul sighed so deeply that Sanjay heard him from his cell. “That is true. I thought Saloni had already gotten her revenge on me by rejecting my proposal. Just when I’ve finally gotten over her and am ready to settle down and start a family, she does this to me.”

Sanjay gripped the bars on his cell door and allowed his head to drop to his chest as he continued fighting the panic welling inside him. He reminded himself this was not a cruelly small cage, nor was the situation permanent. His grip on the steel tightened and he felt it bend. His eyes flew open and he straightened, bracing himself more firmly. Pulling on the bars while at the same time shifting into man-beast form, he grunted. His muscles burned and a light sweat broke out over his body. The bars bent a bit more. He relaxed his hold, panting slightly, and smiled.

Definitely not a permanent situation. Still, it was best to play along with the Veils and allow them to find justice, if possible.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Rahul asked.

“I’m sure,” Sanjay replied, his breathing once again under control. He walked to the bed and sat.

Knowing he could break out helped him relax, though he still hated being cooped up.

He and Rahul fell silent for a time. By the occasional hum of a mantra coming from Rahul’s cell, he guessed the youth was practicing relaxation techniques and stretching to pass the time.

Sanjay’s thoughts spun out of control, swinging from the trial to Raine and Vidonia, then back to the cage again. He and Rahul would be trapped at least until the trial a few days hence.

In an attempt to center himself, he sat cross legged on the floor and closed his eyes. The backs of his hands rested on his knees and he breathed slowly, evenly. If he couldn’t shift shape and run through miles of open country, meditation was the next best thing.

He wasn’t sure exactly how much time passed before he caught the scent of sandalwood perfume.

Raine.

He opened his eyes, straightened his legs, and shook them out a bit before rising to his feet in a single fluid motion. Seconds later, Raine approached.

For some inexplicable reason the woman seemed to become more beautiful each time he looked at her. Yes, he found her physically attractive, but her inner strength and compassion shone through, making her even more desirable. In many ways she was like her grandmother. Though as lovely as ever, Vidonia had never touched him the way Raine did. He had enjoyed their brief affair but hadn’t been terribly disappointed when it ended. Even now, he rebelled against the thought of never having Raine again. He resisted the urge to reach for her through the bars and pull her closer for a kiss.

“I came to see if you need anything,” she said. “Kesi and the others feel you must be kept under close watch, but the First Wraths agree you should be made comfortable.”

“How can weretigers be comfortable in a cage?” Rahul demanded.

Raine glanced at him. “My comments were directed at your father. If not for me speaking for you, you would be held in a rat hole a level below this one.”

“Saloni would like that, I bet,” Rahul said. “Another torment for the crime of offering her love.”

Raine held Sanjay’s gaze for a long moment before she walked out of his line of vision to Rahul’s cell. She said, “Since you seem to feel like talking, now is a good time for me to hear you out in preparation for the trial. As you know, I will be speaking for you and your father.”

“You have my thanks,” Rahul said. “But I still believe the most efficient way to end this would be for Saloni to speak to me. I’m sure if we had the chance to work this out—“ “You will have a chance to speak with her during the trial, under the First Wraths’ observation.

In the meantime, tell me everything from the moment you and Saloni met.”

* * * *

Five days later Rahul still awaited trial because the third member of the First Wraths had yet to arrive. With family business to attend in Egypt, she had sent word that it would be another three days before she could get there.

Other than brief trips to the shower, Sanjay and Rahul remained locked in their cells. Sanjay had been escorted to the phone one time to make contact with the acting leader of his clan. His distress at being imprisoned was beginning to tell on him. Though he communicated with his usual calm, the shadows beneath his eyes told of sleepless nights. The guards confirmed that for the past several nights he had been relentlessly pacing his cell, often in tiger form. Rahul seemed better able to cope with captivity.

Raine spent several hours a day with them, preparing for the trial, and she couldn’t help worrying about Sanjay. She had to get him out of that cell, even for a few hours. Several times she told her grandmother and the other First Wrath, Lani, that she would take full responsibility for him if they would allow her to take him out. Finally they agreed.

More eager to spend time alone with him than she wanted to admit, she hurried to the kitchen to pack a meal. She had promised they would stay near her grandmother’s property, so she intended to take him to the private stretch of beach behind the villa. There he could safely expel some energy in tiger form. She tried telling herself she chose the beach only for his benefit, but deep inside she fantasized about making love with him on the moon-kissed sand.

She was in the middle of fixing cheese sandwiches when Kesi and Bo stepped into the kitchen.

By the look on Kesi’s face she hadn’t come for food, but for an interrogation.

Without prelude, Kesi asked, “Are you sure it’s a wise idea to take Sanjay out?”

“He’s going nuts in that cell,” Raine said. “It’s not right.”

“Hello!” Bo waved a hand in front of Raine’s eyes. “Neither was attacking us.”

“He was trying to save his son and if you put your hand in front of my face again, lady, I’ll break it off at the elbow.”

“What a grouch.” Bo folded her arms beneath her breasts and leaned a narrow hip against the counter.

“All right, Raine. What the hell is going on with you and this guy?” Kesi demanded.

Raine glared at her friend. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. We’ve only know each other for what, a thousand years? You get this look in your eyes when you mention the tiger. I saw it the first time you talked about him and it’s been there ever since.”

“At first I didn’t agree with Kesi, but now I do,” Bo said. “I think you have a thing for the weretiger.”

“First of all, even if I did have a thing for him, I would never let it affect my judgment. I trust this guy, and so does my grandmother. They’ve met before.”

“Well that makes me feel a little better,” Kesi said. “Your grandmother is one member of the Veils who’ll be a jackass for no man.”

Raine paused in wrapping sandwiches and hurled Kesi an angry look. “Meaning I am?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You were thinking it.”

“Raine, you know I say what I think. I don’t fucking bite my tongue for anybody, even my friends.”

“Guys, let’s not fight among ourselves,” Bo said quietly. “We’re not trying to gang up on you, Raine. We just want to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing is going on. You want to know if I took his energy? You want to know if I fucked him?”

Kesi and Bo leaned closer, their eyes wide with anticipation.

“Too bad. It’s none of your business,” Raine smirked.

“Not funny.” Kesi glared.

“So not funny,” Bo agreed.

“Don’t you think it’s only fair for us to know—“ “Okay, Kesi. I like him. As I told you before, I think he’s telling the truth as he sees it and I believe he wants a peaceful solution to this problem.”

Kesi raised an eyebrow, reached for an olive, and popped it in her mouth. Winking, she said, “You think he’s sexy as hell and you’ve already done it with him how many times?”

Raine shook her head. “You two are unbelievable.”

“I’m right,” Kesi said.

“He’s off limits to me. I’m not in to sleeping with the same guy my grandmother had, even if it was literally ancient history.”

Kesi, who had been steadily munching olives, paused with one halfway to her lips. “Huh?”

“You mean you and your grandmother both slept with him?” Bo curled her lip. “Did I say yuck already?”

“Nope,” Kesi said.

“Yuck. Triple yuck. That’s sick even for a Succubus.”

“What do you mean, even for a Succubus?” Raine demanded, almost sorry she’d mentioned the whole mess to them. She felt as if she was somehow betraying Sanjay, but the situation had her mind reeling and she needed to talk to somebody. Kesi and Bo were her closest friends and she knew they wouldn’t betray her trust, unless they thought she was jeopardizing the Wakened Veils. Though they might not agree with her view on Sanjay, they knew her well enough to realize she would never do anything to harm their sisterhood.

“Okay, Bo, give her a break,” Kesi said. “I doubt she knew that he and Vidonia had done anything when she went to bed with him.”

“I didn’t.”

“Okay, let’s say by chance Rahul is set free. What happens then? If you feel for this guy you can’t just forget about him because granny had an affair with him. . .how long ago?”

“Two thousand years.”

“Two thousand years?” Bo chuckled. “Then don’t worry about it, woman. Obviously there was no great fire between them if they went this long without getting back together.”

“I know you, Raine. You’ve never gotten close to any guy, other than to drain his energy.” Kesi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and held her gaze. “If you like him, and he and his son aren’t the assholes I think they are, then go for it.”

Raine nodded. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, ladies, but I need to go before Sanjay loses his mind.”

“Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. With Rahul still in the cell, he won’t try to escape.”

Kesi winked. “That’s not what I meant.”

“All right.” Raine smile slightly. “I’ll be careful.”

* * * *

Sanjay stopped pacing when Raine and Fifi, in semi-wolf form, approached his cell. The loup-garou carried keys in her hairy, clawed hand. Her yellow eyes fixed warily on him as she unlocked the cell.

“What’s going on?” Sanjay asked, meeting Raine’s gaze.

“We’re getting out of here for a while,” she replied. “I thought you could use a little exercise.”

Sanjay heart soared at the thought of even a bit of freedom. It would be wonderful to breathe fresh air and look at something other than the cell. He stepped out, noting how strange it seemed not to have guards’ weapons trained on him.

“How did you arrange this?” he asked.

Raine merely gazed at him through her lashes and smiled before heading for the door.

His brow furrowed, Sanjay stood rooted in the same spot. He glanced over his shoulder toward Rahul’s cell. “What about Rahul?”

Pausing, Raine turned to him, then walked back. She tilted her head slightly to meet his gaze.

“I’m sorry, but they’ll only allow me to take you.”

“Then I won’t go.” He stepped back into the cell.

“Father, are you crazy?” Rahul called. “Go.”

“Not while you’re stuck here.”

“You hate being locked up,” Rahul said.

“And you enjoy it?”

“No, but I can deal with it. I want you to go. Have a run for both of us. Please.”

The sincerity in Rahul’s voice touched Sanjay deeply, yet he couldn’t in good conscience enjoy freedom while his son was still imprisoned.

“You’re not helping him by staying,” Raine said. “If you think you’re hiding how much this imprisonment is affecting you, you’re not, Sanjay. The trial will be in a few days and if you’re not rested and emotionally prepared, it won’t improve your chances of helping Rahul.”

“Father, you know she’s right,” Rahul continued. “If you don’t go for your sake, then go for mine.”

Sanjay held Raine’s gaze. He drew a breath and released it slowly before stepping out of the cell.

“Are you going?” Rahul called.

“Yes.”

“Good. Enjoy it.”

“He will,” Raine said, offering another comforting smile. “I’ll make sure if it.”

Torn between the excitement of being free and guilt over leaving Rahul behind, Sanjay followed Raine out of the basement and to the foyer.

From a small table by the door, she picked up a basket covered in blue cloth. “I made some food.”

“Where are we going?”

“The beach. It’s private and I thought this time of night might be safest for a black tiger to be out running.”

“Sounds good.”

“Carry that.” She used the toe of her sneaker to nudge a blanket folded on the floor.

Sanjay picked it up and they left the house. No sooner had he stepped outside than a thrill rushed through him. It felt wonderful to be out. He could scarcely control the urge to change into the tiger then and there, but he needed to wait for a more appropriate time and place.

It took only moments for them to arrive on the beach, but Raine continued walking down the long stretch, putting some distance between them and the villa.

“This is a beautiful country,” he commented. “I wish we were here under better circumstances.”

“So do I. And it is beautiful. You’ve never been to Portugal?”

“No.”

“I thought you might have when you and my grandmother—“ “You know about that?”

“She told me you were once lovers.”

“That was long ago.”

Raine glanced at him, her lips twitching in a smile. “She told me that, too.”

“She’s a very beautiful woman. You look much like her.”

Raine lifted an eyebrow. “At least your taste is consistent.”

He detected a hint of sarcasm and realized she might feel a bit uncomfortable, even jealous, about his past relationship with Vidonia. He hadn’t expected a Succubus to be possessive.

Usually after draining energy from victims, they cast them aside. Raine’s continued interest in him inspired hope that maybe, once they got through this dilemma with Rahul and Saloni, they might have a chance together. But not if she thought, no matter how wrongly, that he was comparing her to Vidonia. While they shared some similarities, they were two very different people. He had respected, even cared for, Vidonia, but he had never loved her. Raine, on the other hand, he could love deeply.

“You have her spirit,” he continued, “yet at the same time you’re nothing like her.”

“What do you mean?”

“She would not have allowed a second trial for Rahul.”

“But she’s the one—“ “At your urging. You convinced her. Vidonia is a strong woman, but so embittered by her experiences that she would never give a man the satisfaction of hearing his side of a story. That you were able to convince her proves how much she trusts your judgment.”

Raine shook her head. “You’re only partially right about that, Sanjay. She has a lot of respect for you. I’ve never heard her speak so highly of a man.”

“Raine—“ “Now isn’t the time to talk about these things. We’re supposed to be relaxing.”

“Forgive me if I find it difficult to relax until the trial is over.”

“Well, we can try.” She stopped and glanced around.

With the villa far behind them and no other homes in sight, they were free to do as they pleased.

“This is a good spot,” she continued.

Sanjay spread the blanket and Raine knelt upon it, placing the basket aside. Drawing a deep breath of marvelous seaside air, he gazed longingly at the stretch of beach. The tiger wakened inside him, growling for freedom.

* * * *

Raine glanced at Sanjay, noting the gleam in his dark eyes that hadn’t been there for days. Relief washed over her. She’d been worried about him. It seemed this reprieve was exactly what he needed before the trial.

“Why don’t you change?” she suggested, eager to see the black tiger in full force.

He started to shed his clothes, then paused, the zipper of his jeans halfway down, and gazed at her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Would you prefer I turned away?”

A smile flickered across his mouth. “No, actually. Do you want to watch me change?”

“Yes.” Her heartbeat quickened. “I would.”

With a slight nodded, he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his jeans. Raine fought the urge to lick her lips at the sight of his gorgeous body. Every night she’d thought about making love with him, of feeling his hardness pressed where she was so wet and wanting.

His eyes closed and his chest expanded with a deep breath. As he released it, his body changed.

Muscles and bones reshaped and hair sprouted from his smooth, dark skin. Within seconds she faced the most beautiful were creature she had ever seen. Other than the expression in his piercing eyes, there was little difference between the weretiger and a real tiger. A stunning black coat marked with slightly paler stripes covered his long powerful body. Enormous paws sank in the sand as he stepped closer to Raine.

Her pulse racing, she remained still, torn between awe and fear, yet she need not have worried.

In his tiger form, Sanjay retained all his memories and though immersed in his wild nature, the core of his being remained the same. He would not harm her.

The tiger’s face hovered inches from hers. He moved a bit closer and sniffed her face. His whiskers and nose tickled her and she laughed. Slowly she lifted her hand and touched his neck.

The fur was rough, the muscles beneath thick and hard. Rising on her knees, she ran both hands over his shoulders and back. Her fingers sank into the cushion of black fur.

“So beautiful,” she murmured. Other than a ripple of muscles, he remained still beneath her exploration. Gaining confidence, she rested her cheek against his back and closed her eyes. She inhaled his scent, a stronger, wilder version of Sanjay’s natural musk.

With a low grunt, he moved away, apparently eager for a run.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Have fun.”

One powerful leap carried him halfway toward the water. With another he splashed into the waves breaking on shore and took off at a run. His long legs stretched as he tore down the beach, moonlight gleaming on his black coat.

When he grew tired of running, he waded into the ocean, swimming so far out that Raine lost sight of him and nearly panicked. How the hell could she save a drowning tiger? Standing, she ran toward the water, then stopped, breathing a sigh of relief when the moonlight reflected off his gleaming eyes. He swam back and jogged out of the water where he shook off and approached her.

If a tiger could smile, he definitely would have been. Black eyes glistened, his expression more alive than it had been in days. Then those eyes closed and several breaths later, Sanjay the man stood in front of her. Wet black hair clung to his shoulders and arms. Slightly breathless from the vigorous exercise, his broad chest rose and fell.

With a suddenness that stole her breath, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face between her neck and shoulder. Being in his arms felt so wonderful that she didn’t even care that he was getting her wet with seawater.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“You’re welcome.” She clung to him for a moment, then ran her hands over his back, relishing the sensation of hard muscle beneath smooth skin. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Then let’s eat.”

“Let’s eat a little later,” he said in a voice husky and licked her ear.

A quiver of desire ran down her spine. She gripped him harder, pressing even closer to him as he kissed her neck. “Umm, Sanjay, I’ve missed this.”

“So have I,” he breathed before covering her mouth in a passionate kiss. One steely arm wrapped around her waist. He buried his hand in her hair and gently stroked her scalp.

Their tongues met, greedily thrusting and tasting. They fully explored each other’s mouths while their hands touched every inch of their skin they could reach.

Sanjay tugged her T-shirt up her body. Raine lifted her arms above her head so he could remove it completely.

His gaze fixed on her breasts. Generous cleavage swelled above the lacy red bra. He bent and kissed the plump flesh while at the same time unhooking the bra. Raine breathed deeply, enjoying the sensation of his warm lips on her skin. Her nipples tightened with anticipation. As she shrugged off the unfastened bra, he cupped her breasts and rolled his thumbs over her berrylike nipples.

“I have longed for this,” he said, his voice raw with passion.

“So have I,” she breathed.

With a coquettish smile, she folded her arms across her breasts and ran to the blanket. He chased, caught her around the waist and tumbled onto the blanket, cushioning her body with his as he struck the ground.

“Oh, Sanjay,” she said between kisses. She kicked off her sneakers and he pressed her onto her back.

Rising to his knees, he trailed his long, slender fingers between her breasts and down her belly.

He tugged off her pants, then her socks.

She hoped they wouldn’t get caught. If Kesi and Bo followed them out of nosiness, they’d feel her wrath.

Her doubt faded when he settled between her legs and ran his warm, wet tongue where she was so hot and aching for his touch.

“Sanjay!” she panted, weaving her fingers through his damp hair.

He growled and continued licking, teasing her to the brink of ecstasy. Several more long, rhythmic strokes and she exploded, every muscle in her body straining with pleasure.

Magnificent pulsations rolled through her.

Panting, she relaxed completely. She released his hair and her hands fell to her sides. Sanjay stretched out beside her, his warmth seeping into her. Finally she opened her eyes and smiled at him.

“That was so fantastic,” she said.

He nodded, his eyes gleaming with passion, and stroked her face. “You look so beautiful lying here.”

“Oh right. Sand all over me. My hair sticking up everywhere.”

“Very, very sexy.”

“Yeah?” She ran a fingertip over his lips.

“Oh yeah.”

“You’re on the sexy side yourself, weretiger.” She swept her hand down his side, over his hip, then curled it around his swollen staff. “I want you inside me again, Sanjay.”

In spite of his obvious state of desire, he shook his head. “I have no protection. I cannot risk giving you a child—“ “That’s sweet of you, tiger, but I’ve got it covered. One of the Veils is a witch and she supplies me with a very strong contraceptive potion. Besides, in case you don’t remember, this isn’t the first time we’ve made love without the condom.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“It’s not your fault. Most guys have trouble remembering when I drain their energy.”

“You mean you were using the potion that night, too?”

She nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have made love with you the first time without the condom.”

“Would you have really believed me?” she asked, unable to kept the knowing tone from her voice.

He cast her a half-annoyed, half-amused look. “Probably not.”

“But you do trust me now?”

“Yes.” He cupped her face and stared at her with such faith that her heart fluttered. “I trust you, Raine.”

“Sanjay?”

“Yes?”

She was about to beg him to make love to her, but refrained. Why did she always go to pieces around him? The man made her feel so damn girly it was pathetic, yet she liked it.

“What do you want, Raine?” he asked, his voice even more seductive, as if he knew exactly what she wanted but wouldn’t provide it unless she asked.

“What do you think?”

“Tell me.” His hand moved from her face to her breast where he languidly stroked the nipple, making it even harder and more sensitive. Each time his thumb rolled over the taut bud, she throbbed with need. The man was going to destroy her. A Succubus ruined by passion. The irony was laughable. “Tell me.”

“Why? You seem to know what I want.”

“And I will enthusiastically provide it, but I want you to tell me your desires.”

“Why?” she repeated, her breath deepening as he gently pinched her nipple. His hand moved from her breast and swept down her back to her buttocks. He kneaded the spheres, then pressed a fingertip to the delicate flesh between them.

Raine gasped, almost overcome by lust. Then his hand moved away.

“Tell me,” he murmured against her lips.

“Kiss me.” She had intended to sound demanding, yet the plea in her voice betrayed her desperation. At that moment her fondest desire was for him to claim her body like he had on the night they’d met. She wanted to be overpowered, filled by his hot, throbbing flesh. She wanted to be loved by him.

He covered her mouth in a breath-stealing kiss, his tongue plunging between her lips. Her tongue met it with fervor. When he broke the kiss, both were panting. His gaze fixed on hers with such intensity that she felt dizzy with lust.

“What more?” he demanded. “Ask and I will give.”

“Here.” She glanced at her nipple and brushed her fingertips over the pert flesh.

He moved lower and took her nipple between his lips. Licking and sucking the tender bud, he cupped her other breast in his hand and squeezed gently.

“Yes, oh, yes,” she breathed, closing her eyes and surrendering completely to pleasure.

His teeth lightly worried her nipple before he circled it once more with his tongue.

“The other one, too,” she panted.

Immediately he switched to her other breast. Raine clutched his head closer and arched against him, encouraging him in lustful whispers.

“Ah!” she cried sharply as he sucked hard. Her entire body burned with need. Unable to wait another moment before feeling him hard and demanding between her legs, she said, “Please, Sanjay, now.”

“Now what?” he purred and ran his tongue from her breast to her neck where he pressed feathery kisses along the side of it.

“Take me now. Now!”

His body covered hers completely. The crown of his erection prodded her slick passage. Inch by delicious inch, he filled her with his thick staff. Raine moaned with pleasure and wrapped her arms and legs around him.

Teasing her with long, slow thrusts, Sanjay growled, a bewitching sound somewhere between tiger and man. Several times she tried to kiss him, but he avoided her lips, unwilling to give himself over to her Succubus power. She sensed he wanted to claim her first. Show her he could again be in control. At the moment she was too aroused to fight him. She merely held him tightly, urging him on in throaty whispers until the speed of his thrusts increased, the marvelous friction hurling her into an orgasm so intense she felt pleasure from the roots of her hair all the way to her feet. She opened her eyes, surprised that he was still rock-hard inside her.

“You’re ruining me, tiger, but I won’t go down without a fight,” she panted, bracing her hands against his shoulders and pushing, though he was too powerful for her to move. Still, he rolled onto his back and watched her through half-closed eyes that glimmered with desire.

His thighs parted so she could kneel between them. Grasping his cock in both hands, she bent and took the flushed head into her mouth. While she stroked the shaft she licked and sucked the crown. Her tongue teased the underside and rolled over the tiny eye, tasting the first droplet of his essence.

“Raine, ah!” he gasped, clutching handfuls of her hair. His hips thrust slightly and she knew he was restraining himself from lunging hard.

Turning him on rekindled her excitement. Already she longed to feel him inside her again, but she didn’t want to rush. After the way he teased her, he deserved payback.

She used her lips and tongue on him until she knew by the sound of his breathing and the tension in his body that he was on the verge of climax.

She mounted him swiftly, guiding his cock into her quivering pussy. Her breathing ragged, she rode him like a demon.

Sanjay’s eyes were closed. His neck arched and hips lunged upward, meeting her thrust for thrust. His animalistic groans and growls spurred her passion. She gasped with pleasure when his big hands grasped her waist, steadying her as their motions became even more frenzied.

“Yes, yes! Oh, Sanjay! Sanjay,” she gasped, her entire body trembling. She struggled to hold back, wanting to feel him come first, though she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep her orgasm at bay.

With a savage cry he bucked and came, his body hot and straining beneath her.

Raine burst with pleasure. Pulsations rolled through her as she collapsed on top of him.

For several moments they lay wrapped in each other’s arms while their breathing and heartbeats slowed to normal. Sanjay still held her close. Neither spoke, though many emotions drifted between them.

God, she was falling in love with this man. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if Rahul was found guilty at the trial.

Once they’d rested, she and Sanjay talked while eating the meal she’d packed.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” he said.

“You’re welcome. You seemed to be going crazy in that cage, not that I blame you.”

“I have a problem with cages,” he admitted. “A very long time ago, long before even your grandmother was born, there was unrest among my kind. Many battles. I was captured and held in a cage without food and scarcely enough water to stay alive. Since then I have not been able to abide small enclosures.”

The thought of him being tormented in such a way sickened her.

“If there was any way for me to convince them not to lock you up—” “I’m fine. I just wanted to share that with you because you were kind enough to do this for me.”

Raine nodded and reached for his hand. She squeezed it gently and he responded by tugging her a bit closer for a kiss filled with tenderness rather than passion. It made her feel good knowing there could be more between them than sex.

While she cleaned up the remains of dinner, he changed into his tiger form and had another long run down the beach. The night had grown chilly, so Raine wrapped the blanket around her. She warmed up quickly when Sanjay rejoined her and lay beside her. Cuddling close to his warm, furry body, she closed her eyes and stroked his beautiful tiger’s face. His dark eyes fixed on her, wild yet affectionate.

When they’d first met, they’d been enemies. Now she couldn’t imagine him as anything but a friend and lover. The only way to ensure that their relationship wouldn’t change was if Rahul was found innocent. Unfortunately, if he was telling the truth, that meant Saloni had lied. The Wakened Veils couldn’t be used for petty jealousy, only as vengeance against evil.

Raine never thought she would want one of her sisters to be wrong when it came to revenge, but better that than have Sanjay and Rahul put to death.