Page 32 of Tempting the Tiger
‘Not for that,’ he signs immediately, probably scenting my badly-timed arousal. ‘It’ll be like last night, but in the same bed. We can sleep side by side, reassuring ourselves that the other person is safe.’
That’s not as much fun as I might want, but like hell am I saying no. He’s right that it’ll help us both sleep.
He doesn’t seem to care that I’m only in boxer briefs as we close the window, cross the antique Moroccan rug that spans most of the room, and climb in on opposite sides of the bed. He shuffles his joggers off after he’s under the covers, which is cute, and I catch a glimpse of maroon briefs that I hope to one day have permission to examine more closely. He turns off the bedside lamp, then we settle down and lie side by side, not touching, both of us staring up at the four poster bed canopy.
Neither of us move. I’m not sure if it’s better or worse to be this close but unable to touch.
You know what? Fuck being chill. That’s never been my style.
I prop myself up slightly and wait until he looks at me, knowing tiger shifters can see in the dark. ‘Dragons sleep best when we’re curled around our treasure.’
He swallows hard, my smart tiger understanding immediately. There’s a long moment when I think he’s going to say no, but then he nods and turns onto his side, facing away from me.
Something inside me settles as I lie down again, on my side this time, and slowly move closer to allow him time to change his mind. He doesn’t, and soon I’m pressed against him, my chest to his back, the fronts of my legs pressed to the backs of his. I slide one arm under his head and the other around his chest, carefully keeping a slight gap between my half-hard cock and his arse. Helies completely still for a moment before adjusting his head on my bicep and snuggling back into my hold. I tighten my grip on him and close my eyes.
Now I can finally sleep.
Chapter Eight
BRYN
I wake up alone. Raj’s scent still lingers, although the sheets next to me are cold, and the open curtains allow me to see the murky grey skies threatening rain. I didn’t expect to sleep so late, not after I spent half the night waking up from nightmares that only Raj’s scent and continued presence could calm me down from, and now that my eyes are open my dragon is already urging me to go find our treasure.
Since I’m fully on board with that idea, I get out of bed and stretch. My clothes are still in the room next door, so I round the bed and head for the door. Before I can get there it opens and a man with carelessly styled black hair and olive skin quickly backs into the room, his footsteps careful. His shoulders rise and he freezes before slowly turning towards me with wide eyes.
I inhale the scent of jaguar shifter.
He whips out his phone, holds up a hand as he speaks into it, then passes it to me. It’s open on his Notes app.
Sorry for barging in. I was sure this was the room Raj was sleeping in. His scent comes in here and yours goes next door. Why is that when you’re in here? I’m jet by the way.
I type a quick reply.
I’m Bryn. Raj was sleeping in here. I came in through the window and spent the night in bed with him.
Might as well establish right now that Raj is mine. I already have to keep an eye on Skye before I even know what his human form looks like, and now Jet’s coming into Raj’s room as well? That’s unacceptable.
When I hand the phone back, Jet taps on it then watches me for a minute before grinning.
Well, now isn’t that interesting. I’m going to get so much mileage out of that and I like your style climbing in through the window to woo him is exactly the sort of thing I would do for someone. I’m using the speak function on what you’ve written by the way dyslexia is a bitch
Huh. Judging by his grin, maybe I don’t need to worry about Jet being competition for Raj’s affection.
Me: Why are you sneaking in here?
Jet: To set up a prank of course. Has Raj told you about our prank war? It’s the stuff of legend.
Me: Nope.
Jet: If you promise not to tell him I was in here I won’t tease him about how I got to see you in your underwear nice ink by the way.
He winks at me, his grin turning sly.
Me: I don’t think he likes me enough to get jealous, but sure.
Jet: Oh, trust me, if you spent the night in his bed, he likes you.
My dragon preens, and I can’t help the smirk that plays on my lips. Jet’s grin widens, and he gestures to the door. I nod and follow him out. He waits in the hall while I quickly use the bathroom and retrieve clean clothes from the bedroom I started last night in, before we head downstairs together.
