Tiger Read online

  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