Tiger Read online

  Zandy didn’t budge. She took a few deep breaths and stared at the woods around her, appreciating the beauty of what she saw but she couldn’t ignore the way her breasts felt achy. Her panties were soaked to the point she’d need to change them when she got home and it had spread to dampen her thighs. Desire still had her heart beating faster than normal.

  It would be unwise to risk her new job by sleeping with the head of security at the NSO. The bills, mortgage payment and her eating depended on avoiding getting fired. Is he really worth risking all that? Her eyes closed and all she could see was those eyes of his. They seemed to stare right into her soul when he looked at her and she shivered from the memory of his hands gripping her ass. Tiger was dangerous, unlike any other man she’d ever known and she’d never wanted anything more than him.

  Get in your car, damn it. Run! The last thing you need is to get involved with another man and this can’t go anywhere. You’ve sworn off men, remember? Two divorces, thirty-one years old and you’re always attracted to toxic men.

  She didn’t budge, just remained there with her eyes closed and silently listed all the reasons she needed to leave. She finally opened them and leaned down to collect her discarded shoes. She tossed them into the passenger side of her car and turned her head to watch the way he’d gone. Wise or not, she wasn’t leaving. He was coming back and she’d be there waiting when he did.

  On an up note she’d read that New Species were sterile and didn’t carry sexually transmitted diseases. He couldn’t knock her up or give her anything bad if they did end up having sex.

  * * * * *

  Tiger hauled the human out of the Jeep, shoved him at two of the officers and then handed over the rifle he’d confiscated from the jerk. “I caught him with this and took him to my Jeep to call it in but then he ran. I had to chase him down. He’s stupid so be wary.”

  The male who accepted responsibility for the prisoner nodded grimly. “Yes, Tiger.”

  “There may be more of them. Shut down the area, seal the gates and don’t allow anyone to leave or enter this way. I am going hunting.”

  “We’ll gather reinforcements to assist you.”

  “No.” Tiger shook his head. “I’m going alone. Make sure all the wall patrols are warned. Be sure they are wearing their protective gear in case of snipers. I’m turning off my radio. I plan to be totally silent while I search the woods.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” the second officer growled. “We are stronger in numbers.”

  “We’re also louder. I’m in charge and I just gave you an order. Seal it down. No one in or out and don’t be alarmed if you can’t contact me. I’ll be out there.” He spun to stomp back to the Jeep and leaped inside.

  His dick was still hard, his body burning to finish what he’d started with Zandy. He really hoped she hadn’t been lying. The thought of her being gone when he returned made him want to snarl.

  Another part of him hoped she wouldn’t be waiting. Touching her made him lose all control. He’d nearly taken her in front of a human witness and he didn’t even give a damn. He just wanted her.

  Her taste and the feel of her in his arms made him feel foreign, crazy things. He should return home to take a cold shower and find a Species female. They didn’t want commitment and were usually easy to understand despite Kit’s recent odd behavior. Zandy… Tiger had no idea what she wanted from him besides sex.

  No way was he taking a mate. He shook his head as he started the engine and threw it in drive, ignoring the worry on the other males’ faces as they watched him leave. He hated the tiny bit of guilt he felt over lying. The fact that he was willing to tell falsehoods to be with the attractive human rang alarm bells in his brain.

  Not that it stopped him from driving as fast as he could to return to where she hopefully waited. He took the turns a little too fast, broke the speed laws they had set for safety and only slowed when he came to the last curve of the road, to avoid hitting her car if it was still parked there.

  The sight of her made him want to roar in victory. She was his. He was going to strip her bare and do all the things he wanted. Raw hunger gripped him. He wanted Zandy Gordon and he was going to have her.

  He grinned, ecstatic all of a sudden as all doubt vanished. He’d worry about what it meant to want her, what she meant to him, later. Right now he just wanted to get her alone, away from the road, and put his hands back on her.

  There was a wide strip of grass that he used to park the Jeep. He tore the keys from the ignition and pocketed them as he jumped out. He strode right to her and held out his hand.

  “Give me your keys.”

  She blinked, obviously not expecting him to say that, but eased away from the car anyway. “They are in the ignition.”

  “I’m going to move your car off the road and park it behind my vehicle.”

  She nodded and inched away from her car as he moved impatiently. The urge to just bend, toss her over his shoulder and carry her deeper into the woods was strong. He doubted she’d appreciate his carnal thoughts of how he’d like to take her on the ground. He tried to cool his heated blood while he opened the door and attempted to wiggle his big body inside her car.

  The female had short legs and the steering wheel squeezed him until he got hold of the lever to shove the seat all the way back. The car smelled of her, laundry soap and something he couldn’t identify. He drove it off the road, parked it behind his Jeep and reached over to shove her purse under the seat, out of sight. The road was mostly secure but anyone could wander by if they were looking for trouble.

  The element of danger wasn’t missed by Tiger. He’d already found one human with a gun stalking the woods near Reservation walls. The man could have friends. That gave him pause as he removed the keys from the ignition, pocketed them and locked her car door.

  One look at Zandy’s steady green gaze and he decided she was worth some risk. He’d be aware of their surroundings and hoped he could remember to stay alert while he touched her. The smart thing would be to have her follow him back to the gates and take her to his house but the officers would talk. Tiger with a human female would cause a stir, considering his outspoken beliefs that Species males were foolish to hook up with them.

  Zandy chewed on her bottom lip, an uncertain expression making her appear fragile. He quickly closed the distance between them to scoop her up in his arms. She gasped but gripped his shoulders.

  “I can walk.”

  He resisted grinning, amused. She was light in his arms, felt good so close to him, and he wanted her there. “You’re not wearing shoes. I have you.” He forced his gaze from hers, turned toward his Jeep, and quickly headed that way.

  “Where are we going?” Zandy relaxed in Tiger’s arms.

  “I’m taking you away from the road. I don’t want any interruptions in case others are trespassing.” He paused by the side of the Jeep. “Do you see the blanket folded on the back bench? Could you please grab it?”

  She had to let go of him with one arm. He bent her over a little and she grabbed it and dropped it on her lap. Her arm wound around his neck again.

  “You really should let me walk. It’s just grass.”

  “I don’t want you to hurt your feet and where we are going there might be rocks and small twigs. Trust me. I have you.”

  Yes, you do, she admitted silently. The man was strong. He held her in his arms as if she didn’t weigh anything as he maneuvered through the trees quickly. It dawned on her that he was mostly a stranger. She was allowing him to take her deep into the woods and it probably wasn’t the brightest idea she’d ever had. He could be a serial killer but she doubted it. Something about him just made her trust him. Her intuition had been wrong before about people but Tiger wasn’t exactly a regular guy.

  “There is a pretty stream ahead,” he rasped. “We will go there.”

  That sounds romantic. She smiled, liking that. “Okay.”

  She studied his face. He really was gorgeous in a masculin