Butterflies started to swarm in Tabitha’s stomach. His muscles were tense with anger, his hands balled into fists. Shifting would help him release whatever made him furious. “No, let’s do it. I need to see what happens. You won’t attack me or anything, will you?”
A mixture of a growl and laugh came from Ty's throat. “No, love, I won't hurt you. Once I change, I’ll still be me, just in a different form. A much bigger form. I have one request before I shift.”
She cocked her head to the side, waiting for his request. “What would you like?”
“I want one last kiss. If my shifting freaks you out, it might be my last kiss. Will you kiss me one last time, Tabby?”
Tabitha left the bed and eliminated the short distance between them. “Ty, you told me yourself this is natural and I’ll have to go through it. Why would I be so freaked that I wouldn't want to be with you once you’ve shifted?” She stood on her tipsy toes, and not waiting for an answer, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. What she thought would have been a sweet peck on the lips turned into a hungry and demanding kiss.
Ty broke the kiss but still held her close. “Tabby, if I don't do this now, I will take you. As much as I want that, I want our first time to be gentle. If I take you in the mood I’m in right now, I won’t be gentle.”
Ty slipped out of his clothes and stood in front of the couch. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood in awe of his body. She wanted to run her hands over every inch of him.
“This is going to look painful, but I promise it’s not as bad as you think. Just stay over there until I complete the change. I don't want to hurt you by accident.”
Ty stood in front of the couch and started to shake ever so slightly. Slowly, the tiger fur started to come through his skin. The reddish-orange and black hair looked soft enough to run her hands through. Tabitha took a step forward, wanting to touch it, before remembering Ty’s words. She stayed where she was, never taking her eyes off him.
The bones seemed to break and morph into different shapes, forcing him to fall forward toward the floor. Just when it appeared he would hit the floor, his body completed the transition. There in front of her was a tiger, and four large tiger paws supported his massive body. His mere size had her speechless. From head to tail, he had to be eight feet long and weighed over four hundred and fifty pounds.
He shook his body, fluffing his hair out, as he observed her. Tabitha watched, not moving from the bed until Ty lay on the floor softly purring. Taking that as a sign, she moved slowly, leaving the bed and gradually inching closer.
Even though she knew he wouldn't hurt her, she was a little hesitant about rushing up to him. Closing the space between them, she reached out to touch him before lowering herself to sit on the floor next to him.
Ty lifted his head from between his paws and laid it in her lap. She raised her hand and touched the top of his head. His fur was velvety. As she ran her palm over it, he let out a soft purr and when she rubbed behind his ears, his purring grew louder, as if he were enjoying the feeling. “Ty, I don't know if you can understand me, but you’re picturesque. I have only seen tigers in photographs, but this is amazing.”
Ty licked her cheek, as if to let her know he understood, and that’s when she noticed his long, sharp teeth. Without thinking, she reached for them but then thought better of it. Ty must have understood she wanted to touch them because he opened his mouth and moved it closer to her hand. Inching her hand farther away, she closed her eyes, and she could have sworn she heard him say, “Go ahead, baby, touch them.”
She froze in place. She would have bet her life she’d heard him, but she couldn’t have, could she? “I must be crazy,” she said more to herself than Ty.
“You heard me, didn't you?” The voice was in her head, not out loud.
Tabitha shook her head. “No, I'm losing my mind. This must be some kind of dream, and I’m going to wake up any moment.”
“Tabby, it’s not a dream. You can really hear me. I think we just found out what your power from your father's line is.”
She wanted to turn this into something to be happy for, but she worried he might be able to hear everything she was thinking. “Does that mean you can hear my thoughts also?”
“No, you don’t have to worry. I can't hear your thoughts now. I might be able to hear them when you’re in tiger form if you project them to me. I don’t have the gift to hear what others are thinking. But let me tell you that you’re amazing. You have taken this all so well. Most people would have run off screaming by now. We normally don't shift for newbies.”
She was still rubbing Ty's head. “You’re pretty amazing yourself, big guy. I needed to see the change. I was starting to freak myself out about how bad it would be. It doesn't look nearly as bad as I thought it would. The only thing I can't get over is how much of you that you still are when you’re in tiger form. I was thinking that the animal would take over more.”
“You can feel the animal there, but it’s not all consuming unless you allow it to be, and that's when we get rogue shifters. Want to feel the teeth? I know you wanted to earlier but thought I might bite your hand off. Come on, darling, I only nibble.”
She had to chuckle at the last comment. “Only nibble, huh?” She could have sworn the tiger smiled at her. “I didn't think you would bite me. I just thought it wasn't such a good idea. They are so long and look so sharp.”
“Come on, I know you want to.”
He opened his mouth, and slowly, she started to move her hand toward it. He wouldn't hurt her. He was gentle and loving, but another tiger could turn in a moment. “They are so sharp.”
When she moved her hand away from his mouth, Ty looked up at her. His crystal clear blue eyes gazed at her with so much trust. “Satisfied, love?” she heard him say in her head.
“With you changing, yes.” She chose to keep silent about other things she wanted him to satisfy. She wanted Ty to claim her as his mate. “Do you have to stay like that all nigh—” Before she could finish the sentence, he changed back to human form. One moment he was a tiger and she was rubbing his head, and the next moment he was a naked man with his head resting in her lap.
“Oh my.” She shivered from the magic in the air.
“Sorry, babe, didn't mean to frighten you. I was anxious to change back and continue what we started before I changed. That is if you’re still in the mood?” He gave her a cocky grin, as if to say she wouldn't turn down a naked man in her lap. To wipe the smile off his face, she bent to kiss him.
Their lips met, and it was like a drug they couldn’t get enough of. Ty leaned up, taking the kiss that started off sweet and innocent to a whole ‘nother level. As their kisses grew deeper and longer, Ty slid her turtleneck up, parting their mouths only long enough to lift it over her head.
The sweater slid over her head to lie lost on the floor, and Ty kissed her neck before slowly working his way down to her breasts. He drew his tongue along the tops of her breasts where the cups of the bra hid the best part from view, as he slipped his hands around back to unhook her bra.
When the bra slid down to join her sweater, a purr filled the space between them, making her freeze.
“Did you just purr at my breast?” Her voice held the disbelief she felt.
He glanced up at her and nodded slightly. His mouth never left her breast. Taking her nipple into his mouth, he rolled his tongue around it before gently placing it between his teeth and pulling. Her thoughts skittered over those huge tiger teeth, but his gentle nipping stole her control. Her back arched, leaving Ty no choice but to loosen his teeth or cause her pain. He removed them from the nipple and slowly kissed his way across to the other one.
Ty pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and laid it behind her on the floor, and in a deep sexy drawl, he instructed her, “Lay down, Tabby, and let me pleasure you.” She stretched out on the blanket, watching him with wanting eyes. He was the only thing she could see.
Ty leane
d over her, claiming her lips before taking his sweet time kissing a path down her body, spending extra time for each breast. As he kissed her abdomen, his fingers worked to unbutton her jeans before he pulled them down her legs. Using her toes, she kicked off her sneakers, allowing her jeans to slide completely off. Once they were out of the way, his teeth latched onto her red thong, tugging on it until it broke free.
“What the hell?” she gasped as she propped herself up on her elbows.
“My patience wore thin.” He cocked his head to the side, giving her a sly grin.
She had to agree with him there. He spent so much time and effort taking off her clothes, it was beginning to feel like torture. She’d never had anyone take her clothes off, and tonight all she wanted to do was be as naked as he was. She wanted every inch of their bare flesh touching.
She caressed his cheek, and he turned his head to kiss her wrist. Her face heated with awareness from the way he was staring down at her. “Let me make this time memorable for you. Mating is supposed to be special and all about the female. Lay back and enjoy this.” She did as he asked, running her hands over his body, feeling the muscles on his skin contract as he moved and the warmth he gave off.
Look at him. I could never get tired of his body. His washboard abs that make me want to run my tongue over them and to have his arms wrapped around me as if I am his world. Now that would be the life.
She was jolted out of her thoughts by the heat of electricity sparking around their bodies. There was a beauty to it that whipped away any fears she might have had.
“Tabby, I need to ask, are you sure about this? Once I have claimed you as my mate, there is no going back. We’ll be mated forever; we’re not like humans. You won't be able to divorce me. If you have doubts, it’s best to wait.” His voice cracked.
Propping herself up on her elbow, she kissed him. “Ty, I’m sure. As you said, I’m your mate. Why would I want to fight it? I want you.” She kissed him again but this time, she let her desire race through her. She wanted to chase his worries away.
As Ty entered her, she could feel the air explode around them, as if they had just unleashed something. He took his time allowing her core to adjust around him.
There was a gentle quality to Ty, not only during sex, which would have surprised many. Most would have just seen him as menacing and intimidating because of his size. She was lucky enough to see another side of him, a side she was sure not many got to see.
He made sure to please every inch of her. She loved his body touching hers. Every touch like the first touch. When she wasn't sure she could take any more and was at the edge of bliss, she heard Ty say, “Baby, come for me.”
As their bodies relaxed, a burning sensation coursed through her right hand. A whimper escaped her, and Ty hissed as they brought their hands into view. There was a moon design burned into the tops of their hands.
Ty rolled off to lie beside her on the blanket.
Motioning toward their hands, she asked, “Did you know it would happen?” A faint trace of the pain she felt from her hand still in her voice.
“No, Tabby, I didn't...” He couldn't tear his gaze away from their hands as if he couldn’t believe it. “Not really.”
“What do you mean not really? Either you did or you didn't. Which is it?”
“Tabby, I'm sorry. I guess I knew there was a chance.”
“You knew there was a chance of this and you didn’t tell me?” This time she couldn't keep the pain from her voice. The searing pain from her hand made her testy, leaving him the unfortunate outlet for her discomfort. She was hurt that he’d tried to hide something like this from her.
“Let me explain.” He must have taken her silence as a sign that she would listen, because he continued, “There hasn't been a tiger of your line to mate with another tiger in the last eighty-five years. There were rumors that it would happen if someone from your line mated with another tiger and not a human, but no one could be sure. It was just information that the elders passed down from generation to generation. I never believed it until now. I’m sorry I didn't tell you, but I honestly didn't think of it.”
She could hear in his voice that he was telling the truth.
“So what does this mean?”
“If I remember the story right, it means we’re the highest ranking tigers. Once you mated with me, it brought me into the line. It means we could claim our rightful title as King and Queen of all the tigers and not just of the Alaska tigers.” He paused as if gathering his thoughts. “If this is a fact, then I would say everything that the book says is true.”
Tabby could feel her eyes go big, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know but had to ask. “What book? What does it say?”
“Your father gave me a book to give to you once we were sure you were going to go through the change. No one can open it besides your line. But since I was entrusted with helping you through the change, your father opened it one evening and we read it together. If I remember correctly, it says there will be a female tiger that claims her place as Queen and unites the tigers.”
“Where’s this book now?”
“Babe, you are a genius.” He leaded over to kiss her cheek before he shot up onto his feet and grabbed his discarded jeans. “I brought it with me. It’s in my bag in the car.”
Chapter Nine
By the time Ty returned from the car, Tabby was dressed again and digging around to see if there was anything in the cabinets to make coffee or tea. There was a slight chill in the cabin, causing her to shiver.
Ty must not have spotted her when he opened the cabin door because there was a slight edge of panic in his voice. “Tabby?”
“I'm over here. It’s chilly in here.” She closed the cabinet door.
Ty gave her a smug little grin. “Come here; I'll warm you up”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn't we just do that?” Grabbing the book from his hands, she gave him a rewarding kiss.
“Honest, Tabby, I was just going to offer to have you sit on my lap while we looked at the book. You would be warm in a matter of moments. Once you go through the transition, your body temperature always runs at one hundred and one. But I do plan to do what you were thinking again later. Come on, we need to find out what is in store for us and if there are any more little surprises.” Ty led her to the couch. Once there, he grabbed the blanket she’d thrown there from the floor and set it next to him. “On my lap and I promise to be good.”
She was pretty chilly, and he was right; his body was like her own personal heating blanket. She sat on his lap, and he threw the blanket over them. The heat coming from him made her want to curl her body into him. He seemed to know what she was thinking and put his big arms around her, pulling her closer. She rested her head against his chest and opened the book.
There was a lock on the side of the book, but when she went to unlock it, it seemed to just spring apart.
“It did that for your father too,” Ty said.
She turned to the first page, and there was a handwritten note addressed to her.
Tabitha,
If you’re reading this letter, I didn't get to see you grow up, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sure you’re an amazing woman. Hopefully you took after your mother more than you did me. But if you’re able to open this book, you must be on the brink of going through the change. I always knew you would follow in my footsteps. I’m just sorry to see that I won't be there to help you through it. But I know you’re in good hands. (Ty, you better take care of my baby.)
Tabitha, everything you read in this book is true and has been passed down through my family for generations. Now it goes to you. Everything you will need to know is in this book. I have faith that you will be able to accomplish much. I am honored that it is my daughter who is going to bring the tigers together.
In case you didn't guess, my gift was to know the future. I love you, Tabitha.
Love,
Your father
P.S. Ty, welcome to the
family. Glad to have you as my son-in-law. If you were wondering, it’s why I picked you. I wanted someone who cared as much about her as I do, even if you didn't know it at that time.
Tears were flowing down her face like a waterfall.
“Tabby, are you all right? You don't have to do this now.”
She wiped the moisture away with the sleeve of her shirt. “Yes, I’m fine. He loved me.”
He hugged her tighter to his body. “Yes, baby, he did, and he wanted the best for you.”
* * *
They spent hours going over the book. It consisted of spells, names of enemies, important dates in shifter history and pretty much anything the elders of Tabitha’s line thought might someday be useful to the tigress that would bring together all tigers. They wanted to pass on things they thought might be important.
When they got to what they believed was the end of the book, another hundred pages or so magically appeared. The first page read:
Tabitha and Ty have been chosen. Everything you read in the following pages has been sealed since the beginning of time. It will walk you through bringing tiger shifters from around the world together. Whenever you need advice or think you’re missing something, come back to the book. It will know what you need and will show it to you. Your first step is to return to Alaska. The safest place for you right now is with your clan. Tabitha, you need to meet and get to know your clan. From the clan you will choose three other tiger shifters to help you on your journey. We have chosen a number of good tigers that you can select from. You will be able to tell them apart from the others by the gold aura around them. Besides the two of you, only Raja may know about any of this. Raja is your Lieutenant now and will remain once you unite the tigers. Once you are in Alaska and have decided who you want as part of the chosen team, you will be told what to do next.
“I guess I should call Raja and inform him there is no need to send Leo and Thomas. We will leave for Alaska tomorrow if that's all right with you. Getting you among your own kind before your transition will make things easier on you. I’ll have Raja make us reservations, so we can rest.”
She nodded in agreement, still shocked. This is just too much. I went from being no one to someone pretty freaking special in such a short period.