Page 5 of Tempting the Tiger

“Oh, yeah.”

His words were softer than before as if they’d suddenly brushed across silk. Grace’s gaze wandered over him. He was steel wrapped in velvet she thought. That made him dangerous.

“Go out with me.”

Grace blinked not understanding what he had said. “What?”

He leaned forward and she saw a flash of something in his eyes. “Go out with me.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Was this some kind of joke? Maybe a dare between shifters? Chase the chubby and see who gets her in bed first? Her brows narrowed into a frown. She’d been the brunt of more than one joke during her lifetime. The last had been when she’d actually believed a man loved her.

She’d vowed then and there never again to put herself in that position. “Don’t,” she said. “Just don’t.” She was mortified when tears started to form in her eyes.

Keair heard the disbelief in her voice and saw the hurt in her eyes. He felt a surge of rage that threatened to set his cat free, ready to exact revenge against the ass wipe that had caused her such pain, smashed her confidence.

He stood up and walked to the door. He knew instantly that she thought he was leaving. Far from it. He turned the lock of the door before walking back to the desk.

“What, what are you doing?” She sat in her chair, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. He loved that innocence, but he wanted to see something else in those beautiful brown depths. Passion, desire. He pushed her chair back then gathered one of her hands in his, pulling her to her feet.

“Would you like me to tell you why I want to go out with you or show you?”

She bit her lip and he almost made the decision for her. He cupped her face in his hand, noticing the contrast in their skin tones. His was naturally tanned thanks to his genetics. “Your complexion is like honey and cream.”

“I don’t get in the sun much.”

“But yet you have freckles across your nose and cheeks.”

“I know, I hate them.”

“I love them. In fact, I can’t wait to taste them—all over your body.” He grinned down at her and Grace swore she was about to faint.

“Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of brown. Do they go deep and dark when you’re aroused, Grace?”

She didn’t know what happened to her eyes when she was aroused, but she sure knew what happened to her pussy when she was. It got wet. Really, really wet. Like right now. Why did the sound of her name when he spoke it make her think of lust-filled nights at his side?

No way was that happening.

Gathering the courage to look up at him, she saw that his eyes were now a deep, dark amber—a color she had never seen before. Did his darken when aroused? Did his body—

She groaned when she chanced a glance below his waist. His cock was doing what came naturally. Hardening, thickening, growing. She unconsciously licked her lips thinking of how much she wanted to taste him.

He wrapped his fingers around the back of her head, tightening his hold on her, tugging her gently against him. Before she knew it, his other arm was wrapped around her and she was being pressed against the hard evidence of his desire. And being kissed for what felt like the very first time in her life.

His mouth claimed hers, parting her lips as his tongue thrust deep and hard, stroking hers. It was a kiss to make a woman moan and beg a man. To make her want him more than was sensible. The kiss was dangerous.

The feel of that strength, that powerful maleness, rocked her.

The slide of his tongue against hers was the singularly most sexual thing she had ever experienced. She’d been kissed before, had sex before, but she’d never, ever, been about to come from the touch of a man’s tongue.

Immediately, her thoughts exploded, wondering what it would be like to feel his tongue against her pussy.

“Open wider for me, baby,” he growled against her lips and she did, allowing him total and exclusive access.

His fingers tightened on the nape of her neck, holding her still as he plundered her mouth. Licking the roof, stroking along her teeth. His touch grew harder, hotter as he tangled his tongue with hers, teaching her things about kissing she’d never imagined.

Suddenly, her world shifted and she realized she was living one of those life-changing moments. Those that altered the course of one’s destiny. Those that made time stand still.

Those that were bound to shatter a heart into a million pieces.