Tiger

  She was shocked at his rage and the way he practically dragged her to a Jeep. He didn’t hurt her but he was abrupt as he steered her into the passenger seat, stomped around the front of the Jeep and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  The engine started and he snarled at Smiley who approached.

  “You’re done escorting Zandy. Take Richard back to work. You didn’t protect her.”

  Smiley looked shocked and his mouth opened to defend himself from the verbal attack but Tiger punched the gas. The Jeep shot forward and Zandy grabbed hold of the seat and the bar in front of her since the things didn’t have doors.

  Tiger refused to even glance her way as he drove quickly back to her building. One hand stayed on the wheel while the other kept hold of his bleeding cheek. Hot tears filled Zandy’s eyes. He’d gotten hurt protecting her and he obviously blamed her. She couldn’t have guessed some crazy, bald New Species would attack her.

  He finally spoke. “I told you to leave the cafeteria but you refused. You don’t know us or what we are capable of. You aren’t in your world.” He growled the words and each one of them hurt her feelings. “You aren’t to leave here until you’re out of heat. I won’t be fighting other males again to keep them from showing you just how unlike human males we are.”

  He stopped the Jeep in front of the apartment building and Zandy didn’t wait for him to turn off the engine. She jumped out and quickly walked toward her door. Two New Species were standing on the sidewalk and they parted to allow her to pass. She didn’t glance at either of them as she hurried toward her door.

  “Zandy? Where are you going? We’re not done talking,” Tiger snarled.

  She kept going and blinked furiously to hold back her tears. The front door wasn’t locked—no need for it since officers were stationed outside the building at all times. The door closed firmly behind her and she spun, twisting the locks. Seconds later Tiger tried to open the door.

  “Zandy? Open up.”

  The tears fell. She had been terrified when Vengeance had come after her. Tiger blamed her but it wasn’t her fault some of them were freaky about ovulating women.

  “Fuck you, Tiger. Go teach your men some control. It’s not my fault what happened.”

  The door shook when he tried to jerk it open. “Zandy? Open this door.”

  “Did you hear me? Fuck off.” She wiped at her tears. “How dare you yell at me for being a victim? Screw yourself.” She turned her back on the door and rushed into the bedroom.

  He punched the door and she winced from the sound. He didn’t kick it down though, something she was pretty sure he could have done. It hurt that he’d blamed her. He was wrong for that and she wasn’t going to take that bullshit from anyone. Even him.

  * * * * *

  Tiger was furious as he listened and heard the sound of water inside the apartment. Zandy had turned on her shower to avoid hearing him knocking. He lowered his hand and turned to face the two males watching him. He glared.

  One of them hesitated. “Is everything all right, Tiger? We smell that you have been in a fight with Vengeance and you are very angry with the little female.”

  Tiger gritted his teeth. “She started her heat cycle and wouldn’t leave the damn cafeteria. I had to fight off Vengeance so he didn’t tear her clothes off and force himself on her. I’m pissed.”

  “I smelled her fear,” Torrent admitted softly. “It was strong and she had tears in her eyes.”

  Tiger suddenly felt like shit. He’d been so angry he hadn’t noticed her fear or her tears. He’d been oblivious in his rage. If he hadn’t been there Zandy could have gotten hurt. He was ready to kill Vengeance. The damn male was out of control.

  “We’ll make sure she’s safe,” Tree promised. “We’re trained well about human females. They don’t understand how some of our wilder males will react to something they don’t give a second thought about. I’m sure she didn’t mean to start trouble.”

  Tiger nodded. “I’m going to go have a chat with Vengeance.”

  Tiger spun away and went to his Jeep. He wanted to kick some ass and he knew a male who would be damn sorry for attacking Zandy. He grew angrier every mile he drove until he reached his target’s home. He turned off the engine and climbed out.

  “Vengeance!” Tiger tore at his shirt, kicking his shoes off as he neared the house. The door was unlocked and he barreled inside. The male he sought sat in a chair facing him. “Get up. Go outside. We’re going to fight.”

  Ven slowly rose to his feet. “I expected you.”

  “I’m sure you did.” Tiger backed out of the house. “You touched Zandy.”

  The canine lumbered outside, limping from their earlier fight. Tiger rolled his shoulders as he stopped some distance from the house. He expected Vengeance to come at him but the male just hung his head while he kept his arms loose at his sides.

  “Fight me.”

  Vengeance’s chin lifted and he grimly met Tiger’s glare. “I won’t hit back. I know what I did was wrong. Punish me.” He put his hands behind his back and locked them there.

  “Why did you do it if you knew it was wrong?” Tiger’s temper nearly boiled over but he managed not to lunge forward to attack.

  “You never had a mate.” Tears welled up in the other male’s eyes. “I miss her so deeply.”

  Tiger’s fists unclenched. It was hard to feel rage in the face of such raw pain.

  “I am empty inside. I don’t sleep well. I force myself to eat and live. Some days I wish I’d died with her. I fought for so many years to survive. You know how strong our will to live is. I lost that when she was killed.”

  Hot tears slid down Vengeance’s face and the shock of seeing a Species male cry left Tiger speechless.

  “She had feelings for me. She would play with my hair and comb it with her fingers.” He reached up to touch his bald head. “It’s why I refuse to allow it to grow back. It reminds me of her. Some nights I howl from my grief. I run until my legs give way and I wait for winter to come. Maybe I will fall in the snow from exhaustion and the cold will keep me from waking. Do you think there really is a heaven? Do you think she’s waiting there for me? Will she be angry that I didn’t die right after she did? Sometimes I dream that she is mad at me for surviving when she didn’t.”

  Emotion made Tiger’s chest hurt as he breathed. “Ven…”

  The male lowered his gaze to the ground. “Our females aren’t interested in taking a mate. They resist any form of attachment now that they have been freed. Mercile gave me a female to see if mated couples could produce children but I grew to have deep feelings for her. It makes it worse when I’ve shared sex with a few of our females. They don’t touch me the way my mate did or allow me to hold them while I sleep. The human females seem so fragile that they should have a mate. I’d take such good care of one.” He wiped at his tears and met Tiger’s gaze. “I don’t mean to frighten them. I just want a mate again so bad. I think Species females would fight to the death to avoid being with one male now that they have choices but a human one accepts it. I keep thinking if I could just claim one that I’d have the time to show her how I’d never hurt her and that I would do anything for her. She would be here to get to know me.”

  “Damn it, Ven, you’re breaking my heart. I came here to bust your head. You can’t keep going after human females.”

  “I know. I see them though and something inside me just reacts before I can think it through. I’m so lonely and I would be an excellent mate.” His shoulders straightened. “I have no one.”

  Tiger stalked closer and touched his arm. “You can’t just carry one off. It would be cool if it was that easy but it’s not.”

  “I’m skilled at sharing sex and I have learned how to cook. I’m an excellent fighter. I would keep her warm in my arms and die to protect her.”

  “I’m sure you would.”

  “I’ve been learning more about their culture with the television. I know if I am ever to have another mate she is going to have
to be a human. That’s how much I want one. They used to be the enemy but it doesn’t matter. I can’t stand being alone anymore. Mercile made me dependent on my mate and she had feelings for me. I just want that again.”

  “Learn that they need more from a male than just being stolen and claimed. That’s why you scare them. It’s barbaric to toss her over your shoulder and run off.”

  “They believe I would hurt their bodies by forcing shared sex. I would make her want me first.”

  “You can’t make them do anything.”

  Vengeance’s eyes narrowed. “I am very skilled with sex. My mate taught me well.”

  A smile curved Tiger’s mouth. “Seducing a female and making her love you aren’t always the same.”

  “They should be.”

  “Life isn’t that simple.”

  “I’m lost in this world.”

  “We all are but we have each other. Stop charging after human females, Ven. You said you’re learning about their culture? Learn that. I’d suggest coming at them gently and talking to them. Allow them to get to know you first before you try to convince them to go home with you.”

  “She isn’t with a male. I thought she might want one.”

  “Yes. She is.” Tiger’s voice deepened. “She’s mine.”

  “Your scent isn’t on her.”

  “My mark is.”

  “How did you lure her into being yours?”

  Tiger released him. “It’s a long story and I’ve made mistakes.”

  “So have I.”

  “Let’s go inside and talk.”

  Vengeance turned. “You are lucky, Tiger. Mate her and know happiness.”

  Tiger wanted to curse. He’d really screwed up with Zandy. She’d locked him out of her apartment and refused to speak to him. He didn’t know how to make it right.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Zandy bit her lip and stared at the locked door, wishing there was a peephole. “Who is it?”

  “It’s Creek,” a familiar female voice stated. “I brought you dinner.”

  Zandy quickly unlocked the door and opened it wide. The New Species female smiled, holding a bag in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. She stepped inside the apartment and swept her gaze around the room.

  “I thought you could use a drink after today. I know human females enjoy wine. Are you all right? Richard is fine but a little shaken up. I hope you are in the mood to eat a steak. I know you like to have that for lunch sometimes.”

  “That sounds wonderful.” She took the bag and the wine. “Have a seat. I’ll get us some glasses.”

  “I brought my dinner too. Do you mind if I eat with you?”

  It explained how heavy and big the bag was. “I’d love that.” She put it on the coffee table and rushed to the kitchen to get silverware and glasses. She hunted up a bottle opener.

  They sat side by side on the couch and Creek sniffed the air. Zandy turned her head to stare at her friend.

  “You are in heat. It’s not just a faint smell now. It’s hit you full force.”

  “That’s so weird. I hope I don’t stink.” She hated the thought. “Women can’t tell when they ovulate.”

  “Species can. We get very aroused for sex and want it often. You don’t suffer that condition?”

  “Nope.”

  “You are lucky. I am sorry Vengeance went after you. He lives in the Wild Zone and hasn’t learned manners. Some of our more uncivilized males live there and they tend to allow their animal sides to rule. I’m sure he wouldn’t have harmed you but you would have had one horny male on your hands.”

  “He would have forced me?”

  Creek hesitated and then smiled. “He would have convinced you that you wanted sex. Our males would never take us unless our bodies were prepared for them. They can be very persuasive when they really want a female.”

  Zandy shook her head. “He wouldn’t have convinced me.”

  “I would disagree.” Creek took a sip of wine and looked surprised. “It is fruity but not bad.”

  “You never had wine before?”

  “No. We don’t drink alcohol but I like it.” She set the glass down. “Vengeance would have stripped you bare and buried his face against your sex. They can convince you to want them.” A wide grin spread across her face. “They are good at that. You being in heat would have assured he wanted to do that to you. They go crazy over the taste of a female in heat.”

  Her mouth was hanging open and Zandy had to force it closed. “Okay.”

  Creek chuckled. “You should see your eyes. Does this shock you? Don’t your males love to lick your sex and taste you?”

  “Um, most of them prefer women to go down on them.”

  Creek’s amusement instantly died as she gawked. “Why?”

  “What do you mean, why? They like getting head.”

  “What is that?”

  Zandy blinked. “Oral sex. Men love getting oral sex from women.”

  “Our males don’t ask.” Her chest puffed out a little. “They want to convince us to share sex with them. There’s no reason for us to tempt them that way to share sex with us. We are few and they are many. They have to work harder at sex to impress us since we have a large selection of males to choose from.”

  “Wow.” Zandy sipped her wine. “So you never go down on the guys?”

  “No.”

  Zandy decided to change the subject. “I feel horrible about that fight today. I should have just left when Tiger told me to.”

  “It’s not your fault you didn’t understand how tempting you were to males or that they would come after you aggressively. You’re human.”

  “Tiger was hurt. His cheek was bleeding.”

  She laughed. “Don’t worry about him. Males fight often and we heal fast. Besides, the females will hear what he did and want to reward him. He was a hero.”

  “Reward him?” Zandy didn’t like the sound of that one bit.

  “Tiger is one of our best fighters. That’s why he heads security here. The males respect and fear him at the same time. The females will hear what he did for you and offer to share sex with him. Some female will be more than happy to tend to it.”

  Pain sliced through Zandy at the thought of some Species woman going after Tiger. He was mad at her and they were probably over. Would he sleep with someone else? She lifted her wineglass and downed the contents.

  She listened to Creek talk about missing Homeland and how she’d been assigned with fifteen other women to live and work at Reservation. She drank a few more glasses of wine and managed to finish her dinner. Creek finally seemed to notice how quiet Zandy had grown.

  “Are you tired?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll leave then. You aren’t supposed to go to work but you can. Tiger will get over his anger. You work with a human and they have no sense of smell. Richard also has a mate and I’ve never smelled arousal on him when it comes to you. I’m sure you’ll be safe with him.”

  Zandy stood up too fast after so many glasses of wine and stumbled. Creek gripped her arm to steady her and laughed.

  “I think you drank too much, my little friend.”

  “Probably. It’s been a long, bad day.”

  “You should call that male you are involved with and talk to him. It might make you feel better. You haven’t been able to see him since you’ve been asked to stay here for your safety.”

  “We had a fight and I think we’re over. Thank you for dinner and the wine.”

  “I’ll walk you to your room. You’re wobbling on your feet.”

  “Thanks.” Zandy couldn’t deny she was a bit drunk.

  Creek led her into the bedroom and pulled back the blankets. The other woman sniffed the air and got an odd look on her face as she stared at Zandy.

  “What?”

  “Have you changed your mind about wanting to share sex with one of our males?”

  “Nope. I was seeing someone and it just ended badly. Didn’t I just tell you that I think we??
?re over? We got into a fight.”

  “That’s right.” Creek helped her remove some of her clothes and climb into bed. “Were you seeing that male for long?”

  “Long enough that it really hurts that we’re over,” Zandy admitted. “I knew it couldn’t last.” Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back as she stared at her friend. “I envy you that whole refusing-to-get-serious-with-a-man thing. It sucks when you care about them and they don’t feel the same way.”

  Creek tucked her in. “I understand. Did you allow him to sleep with you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He held you while you slept?”

  “It was really nice,” Zandy admitted. “Falling in love sucks.”

  “I’m sure it does.” Creek moved away and paused at the door. “Sleep well, Zandy. I will see you in a few days after you’re out of heat and allowed to return to the cafeteria.”

  Zandy closed her eyes when Creek turned off the bedroom light. She heard the other woman cleaning up the other room and felt a little guilty. Hot tears spilled out though when she thought about Tiger. Was he with another woman? He hadn’t called her to apologize and he hadn’t shown up again at her door, trying to talk to her.

  The living room light went out and Creek closed the exterior door as she left. Zandy rolled onto her stomach and tried to push thoughts of Tiger away. She should have known better than to fall for him.

  * * * * *

  Tiger paced his bedroom, his thoughts on Zandy. He wanted to go to her but wasn’t sure she’d talk to him. He paused to stare at the phone. Would she answer if he called? He’d really lost his temper when Vengeance had gone after her. He’d hurt her feelings but wasn’t sure how to fix it. Humans were so different from Species females. One of them would have just hit him if he’d angered them but humans were known for holding grudges.

  He sat on the edge of his bed and opened the nightstand drawer. He withdrew the Ziploc bag he kept there and opened it. Zandy’s scent still lingered on her bra as he breathed her in. It only made him miss her more. The desire to go to her grew stronger so he sealed the bag again and put it away. Tormenting himself wasn’t going to help matters.