Page 41 of Tempting the Tiger
He stands up as well, his hands snapping. ‘Too good for me?’
My hand movements are just as sharp. ‘YouknowI don’t think that. You think I just did interpreting work in the SAS? Talked to a few people? Never got my hands dirty?’
‘Then why does it matter? I’ve got a criminal record either way. Lost my career, my dragon flight, my parents, even my fucking hoard. Now you’re telling me I’ll never stand a chance with you, no matter what I do.’ He turns and heads for the hall, cutting off any reply.
I don’t think so. I stalk after him, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him into the wall, his back hitting with a loud thud. ‘It matters because I want to let you fuck me into next week, and I can’t do that if you’re a racist dickhead who committed a hate crime. If you had a good reason, I will defend you to anyone and everyone. If not…’
My hands drop, my chest heaving. I’ve barely left enough space between us to sign, but I don’t move back because there’s finally some deliberation in those silvery-blue eyes.
He lifts his hands slowly. ‘I was protecting my sister. She was fourteen.’
A lot of pieces that didn’t make sense fall into place, but there’s one that doesn’t. ‘Why did you end up in prison instead of Lance?’
His eyes grow cold. ‘Because his lawyer was fae, the judge was fae, the jury were bought, and they even insisted on a fae interpreter for me during both our trials. It was never going to go any other way.’
I nod slowly. I’d obviously like more details, but he’s told me what I need to know. All I can think about now is how desperately I want to kiss him, and I’ve run out of reasons to deny usboth the pleasure. It no longer seems to matter that being with him would break some of my dating rules, or that I’ve been holding out for my fated mate. All that matters is the heat of his body, the plumpness of his lips, and whether my intrusive questions have pushed him away.
I step forward and press my body against his, searching his face to check that he still wants this. His eyes flare with heat and drop to my lips. He grips my hips, his fingers reaching for the hem of my shirt and sliding it up just enough to find the skin above my belt. He strokes gently, gaze now locked on mine, studying my reaction.
Time to take away that hint of doubt in his expression. I slot my thigh between his legs, grip the back of his head, and slam my lips down on his.
Chapter Ten
BRYN
Fuck, yes. I tighten my grip on Raj’s waist as he slips his tongue into my mouth, no hesitation about the fact that I’m not his usual gender of partner and seemingly over his concern about the direction of my moral compass. He tastes of spices and red wine, and although I’m not entirely over the hurt of him judging me by my past actions rather than solely who I am now, like hell am I going to turn him down when he smells this horny, his cock hardening against my hip.
In fact, I’m pretty sure if he keeps kissing me like this, I might even see his point of view.
I kiss him back with all the intensity that’s been building inside me since the day I met him. He stayed true to his word and let me get to know him more while we were at the manor, from his favourite street art to his love of cooking. It was a battle the first few times just to get him to let me help in the kitchen, but it felt like another way to connect and see more of the man beyond friendly, playful ‘Dhiren.’
Now I get to experience this part of him—his tongue tangling with mine, the smooth skin of his back as I explore under his shirt, and the way one of his hands is drifting down my chest. I hastily rearrange my poor, trapped cock before getting to work on his shirt buttons.
I get distracted when he unfastens my jeans, shoves them down with my underwear, and encourages me to grind against his denim-clad thigh. Fuck, it becomes obvious embarrassingly quickly that I’m not going to last long. Doesn’t he realise it’s been years for me?
I frantically get his belt open, unbutton and unzip his jeans, and get them down just far enough to feel his hairy thigh against my leaking cock. Ohshit, that’s it, that’s exactly what I need. His shirt is hanging half open, exposing his hairy chest, and his hands move from my hips to grip my bare arse, encouraging me to rut against him and take what I need.
I do exactly that, thrusting helplessly as my balls tighten and I feel a vibration in his chest. Fuck, I don’t want to waste what might be my only opportunity with him, but he’s so intensely sexy like this that I can’t hold back. My entire body floods with heat a moment before I spill all over his leg, aftershocks making me twitch a few times before I finally grow still.
He kisses me gently before pulling back slightly, a smug little smirk on his lips. I grip his waist and drop my forehead to his shoulder, trying to get my breath back and figure out how to make up for the fact that I just shot off like a teenager.
I raise my head and force myself to disentangle myself from him just enough that I can lift my unsteady hands. ‘Are you sure you’ve never been with a man before?’
His chest shakes with laughter. ‘Never, but I’m not exactly a virgin, and most of my pack date men.’
I make a vague mental note to show him the sign for ‘virgin’ later. There’s no hint of uneasiness from him at what we’ve doneso far, only an impressive bulge straining his underwear, and I’m tempted to drop to my knees right here. He deserves better than to be treated like a quick and dirty hookup, though.
I finish unbuttoning his shirt and push it off his shoulders. His eyes are hooded as I help him out of the rest of his clothes, his nostrils flaring when I rub the mess I left on his thigh into his skin. It’s a possessive move, and I’m pleased that he doesn’t object.
When he’s gloriously naked, his cock straining towards me like a heat-seeking missile, I quickly strip then take his hand to lead him back to the living room. Since my tiger probably wouldn’t appreciate a stain on his white sofa, I arrange the velvet throw to cover as much as possible, then urge him to sit down.
He does so, legs spread, hunger in his gaze. It’s a heady feeling, knowing he wants me this much.
As much as I’d love to give him the hard fucking he mentioned, I don’t want to do that without some sort of assurance that this is more than a one-time thing. Penetrative sex is a big deal for me, and just because I suspect he’s my fated mate doesn’t mean he actually is. I can’t risk that level of intimacy yet.
No, I have something else in mind tonight.
He seems content to let me lead, so I push the coffee table out of the way before dropping to my knees on the thin carpet. Maybe I should have laid him out on a bed instead, because I’ve been dreaming about exploring every inch of his golden brown skin, but I’m too impatient to bother changing location now. Right here will have to be good enough.
