“You snarled at me. Did I hurt you?”

His hand near her face stroked her cheek. “No, Zandy. I didn’t mean to yell. It was just that you were killing me.”

Her fear eased. “In a literal sense?”

“No. It felt so good that it was too much to take.”

She could relate. “Oversensitive?”

“To put it mildly.” He cupped her face. “I’m so sorry I frightened you.” He inhaled. “I made you really afraid, Zandy.”

She wound her arms around his shoulders. “I know that. You just kind of scared me there for a second.”

“I’m so sorry,” he rasped.

“It’s okay.”

He purred and shifted on her, stretching his body lower down hers. He buried his face in her neck and nuzzled his mouth there. “I’d never hurt you. Never. I don’t ever want to smell fear on you again.”

“I’m fine. I know you wouldn’t hurt me. It startled me more,” she lied. He was really upset that he’d frightened her. “I’m okay.”

His head lifted until he could peer into her eyes again. “You are so much more than fine.” He reached between them and gripped her thigh to adjust it enough for his h*ps to fit between legs. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Zandy moaned as Tiger’s rigid shaft entered her pu**y. “How can you still be hard?”

He brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m not human, Zandy. It’s the animal in me. I can f**k you until I drop from exhaustion. I just need a minute to recover.”

She moaned, moving against him, matching his thrusts. He moved slowly, setting a pace that drove her to pleasure. He shifted on her and put his hand between them.

“I can’t last long with you, Zandy. You make me come over and over again.” His finger found her cl*t and stroked. “Come for me now.”

She thrashed and moaned. The pressure against the bundle of nerves grew as he rubbed her harder and faster. His h*ps kept perfect time with his finger. She cried out his name and cl**axed. Tiger snarled her name as he found his release.

* * * * *

Tiger rolled to his side and drew Zandy against him as they recovered from another round of sex. The sky began to darken above them as the sun lowered in the sky behind the treetops. He didn’t have to watch her drive away any time soon. She was his until morning.

The smell of sex and their mingled scents seemed right to him. His hand caressed her hip as her hot breath fanned his chest where she faced him. Her eyes were closed and her face relaxed in near sleep.

He’d frightened her. The smell of it was gone but the memory remained. It only reminded him of how different they were. A Species female would have just snarled back at him, known not to fear him. Zandy was human.

He closed his eyes to take deep breaths. The bird sounds faded as a cool breeze picked up. It felt good against his heated skin but the female against him burrowed closer. Another reminder that she wasn’t Species.

“Let’s get under the covers. I’ll keep you warm.”

Her lips brushed near his nipple. “I know you will.”

They both shifted enough to get under the thick comforter he’d taken from his bed. The sheets were his as well, ones he’d stripped from his bed after lunch. His scent was strong on them and it was almost as if he were in his own bed. The air mattress was just a lot softer. He settled on his back to allow her to cuddle into his side and use his arm as her pillow. He carefully tucked the blankets to make sure she wasn’t chilled.

Her hand stroked his chest sluggishly and she yawned. It couldn’t be much past seven but she was tired. He’d worn her out after her day of work. It made him feel a little guilty. She hadn’t complained but Species had a high sex drive. He should have taken it easier on her.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

He glanced down and found her peering up at him with a curious look. Her green eyes were beautiful to him. “Sleep. I’m right here.”

“It’s too early.”

“You’ve had a long day.”

A smile softened her lips. “It ended really well.”

He couldn’t help but smile back. “It has. I could take a nap,” he lied. He wasn’t tired but she was exhausted.

“Okay.” A yawn broke. “We’ll do that but wake me when you do.”

“I will.”

She closed her eyes as he stroked her lower back. She was small compared to Species females and they rarely allowed a male to pet them after sharing sex. They also didn’t cuddle against his side or use his biceps for a pillow. He enjoyed the feel of her so close.

Her breathing changed quickly to that of a deep sleep but he continued to touch her. She’d wanted to know what he was thinking but it wasn’t anything he wanted to share. Zandy Gordon didn’t fit into his life but she fit perfectly into his arms. He was at a loss over what to do.

A mate would leave him vulnerable in a way he never wanted to be. Mercile had taught him young to never value anything he couldn’t live without. They’d used any weakness they discovered against him and others of his kind to try to control them. He was a survivor but a mate would expose him to untold pain if he were to lose her.

It’s just sex, he tried to convince himself. He wasn’t buying that thin excuse though. A small female with red hair and green eyes had broken through his barriers of self-protection when nothing else ever had.

He’d allowed himself friends. He’d even learned to depend on other Species. It had been a risk but he’d known deep down he could survive their loss if something ever happened to them. It would cause him a lot of pain but he’d go on. The thought of something happening to Zandy made him grow icy cold inside. His hand paused on her lower back to just feel her breathing.