Page 2 of Tempting the Tiger

“Jealousy does not become you, my friend.” Keair’s smile widened as he let the chair fall back in place. A year ago, hell even a month ago, he couldn’t even get the wolf to crack a smile, much less express any kind of emotion. The alpha’s new mate had certainly changed things. And for the better, Keair admitted. He liked the new, more relaxed attitude Bachar was exhibiting. And the occasional flashes of emotions in Tarek weren’t bad things either.

What he didn’t like was the hole inside himself that had opened up seeing the couple’s new happiness. And when they’d announced Sally’s pregnancy…well, that had caused his tiger to roar in pain.

He was the playboy of the pride and had never once considered trying to find his mate, or heaven’s above, settling down with a mate. He loved women, in all their shapes and sizes, tastes and smells, too much to give up his happy bachelorhood. Besides, he didn’t know if he could be faithful to just one woman. If he mated, that meant he would, by default, become the leader of his own streak. Which would lead to cats wanting to join, more mates, more families, more cubs…

He shut down the images that flooded his mind. He’d been a member of a streak once before. And he’d vowed never to be in one again.

“Hey, bro, what’s up?” Tarek was staring at him and Keair realized he’d been letting out a low, intense hum as if getting ready to attack. He glanced over at Bachar and saw the alpha had heard it too. He’d pulled Sally close and was scenting the air same as Tarek.

“Sorry. Nothing’s wrong.” He pushed back his chair, wincing as the metal legs scraped along the tile floor. Without another word, he hurried from the dining area and out into the fresh air.

“Damn, damn, damn,” he cursed, running his fingers through his hair. The movement pulled his gray knit sweater tight across his chest, but he didn’t pay any attention to the looks he received from two females entering the hotel. Even though a round of rough, ball-busting sex would take his mind off the past, it wasn’t what he needed. No, he needed to run. Striding to the back of the hotel, he sought the seclusion of the surrounding forest. His tiger wanted out. Maybe he’d find one of the men who had been causing problems for the pride. Maybe play a bloody game of cat and mouse.

As he rounded the side of the building, his gaze was caught by the sight of a small white van. Nothing unusual in that. Deliveries were made at the hotel all day long. But what was unusual was the curvy, round ass sticking out of the back door of the van.

Keair’s cat pulled him up short, demanding the man stop. Keair had no trouble obeying his cat. The sight was just as fascinating to him as it was to his tiger. He continued to watch as one leg pushed backward, searching for the small wire step below the floor of the van. Once purchase was made, the other one followed, the hips shifting back and forth and causing a rush of blood to leave Keair’s brain and head straight to his cock.

The ass connected to the top of the rounded thighs was curvier than some of the back roads guests had to travel to get to the hotel. It was thick as honey and he knew it would taste just as good. He licked his lips and inside his tiger did the same.

Maybe a little female diversion was exactly what he and his cat did need.

As he moved forward, the object of his attention bent her knees and tried to step to the ground. Instantly, his cat bounced into action, giving the man the means to reach the damsel in distress before she fell, butt down, onto the hard pavement.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Grace whispered under her breath as she felt herself lose her balance. Why had she tried to walk backward off the van with her hands full? Hadn’t she learned her lesson last month when she’d ended up flat on her back covered in raspberry cream?

Hoping to at least save the cherry pies she had in her hands, she thrust the four white boxes forward as she resigned herself to falling.

But the hard contact with the ground never happened. Instead, she felt herself being caught in midair by a pair of steel-like arms. Her breath left her lungs in a low swoosh. For a moment the sight of the face above her struck her completely dumb. He was beautiful. Like an angel come down from heaven. Or maybe the devil she thought a second later, seeing the smile curve his full lips. Lips that called to her, made her rethink her whole no-sex vow. His hair was black as midnight, falling slightly over his forehead and she had the sudden urge to touch it, push it away so she could see the color of his eyes.

“Well, hello, beautiful.”

OMG! Grace thought as the velvet sound of his voice ran through her. It felt as if every cell in her body was finally coming alive. All she could do was stare at him.

“Put her down, Keair.” Another masculine voice sounded from somewhere to her right, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the man who held her so securely in his arms. She’d never been carried in a man’s arms before and she realized she liked it. She liked it a lot.

“I don’t think so.” This time the stranger’s voice was almost a growl as if he resented the other man’s words. His arms tightened around her, pulling her higher up his chest. Instinctively, she wound her arm around his neck in case he dropped her. At her weight, she was more than an armful.

“Keair.” The other voice was a stern warning and Grace realized that the man did need to let her down. Besides the fact that his arms were probably killing him by now, not to mention his back, she became aware of her surroundings once again.

“Thank you for saving me, but you really do need to let me down.” He turned his face back to hers and this time she did see his eyes. They were a dark amber. The most unusual color she had ever seen before.

“I really do not.” He replied and her attention was caught and held by the movement of his lips. They were full and firm and she just knew they would taste like heaven. She parted hers slightly.

“Are you okay, Miss McKenzie.” This time the voice that sounded was familiar to Grace. It was Daniel, the manager of the hotel.

She reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the mesmerizing depths of the stranger’s eyes. Daniel stood a few feet away, his face anxious.

“I’m fine. If, umm, this gentlemen would put me down, I’ll get your order for you.”

“My name is Keair.” Another full-body shiver went through her when the man spoke. “What is yours?”

He lowered her gently to the ground, keeping his hands on her arms as she regained her footing. She stepped back, needing to put some space between them. Her whole body felt as if she had stuck her finger in a light socket.

Needing something to do to compose herself, she brushed her hands down her sides, making sure her long-tailed sweater was still in place. Even though it was early spring, there was still quite a nip in the air this early in the morning. She was grateful for the oversized fit of the sweater, needing something substantial between her and the magnetic gaze of her rescuer. A look that reminded her of a hungry predator.

“My name is Grace. But I’m sure you couldn’t tell that by the header I almost took.” Never had she felt so klutzy and ungraceful as she did right now. She chanced a glance upwards and found his gaze still on her. She quickly turned away. “Hopefully, I didn’t do any damage to your pies, Daniel.”

She gave the other man a smile and took the necessary steps to the back of the van. The pies had slid across the floor when she’d dropped them. She bit her lip not wanting to crawl back inside to get them.