The sound of beeps and bings and blings tugged at Lara’s hot dream. Something burned in her chest as if someone had stabbed a fiery poker through muscle and bone. She inhaled the smell of disinfectants and medicine instead of smoke. Where was she?

Panic fluttered inside her, but her body failed to respond. Her eyes were heavy as if her lids had been glued shut. Her limbs were heavy. Her heart beat was slothish.

Someone caressed her limp hand. Tingles swept up her arm and slowly awakened her sluggish body.

She opened her eyes to find herself lying in a hospital room. The shades were drawn and only a tiny bit of sunlight was allowed to enter the room. The television was off. An IV was hooked up to her wrist.

Griff sat next to her in a small chair, his thumb stroking her hand. His hair was disheveled as if he had been running his fingers through it again and again.

“Griff, she’s awake,” a soft feminine voice said. She knew that gentle tone. Cora. It was Cora.

Griff lifted his head. His pale face was stricken. His golden eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles were underneath them. He clasped her hand. “Lara?” His voice was unsteady and she thought any minute it would shatter.

She tried to moisten her lips, but didn’t have enough spit to do it. She opened her mouth to answer, but a bone-splitting cough stole her words.

“Easy, Lara.” Cora was at her side with a cup of water. She draped her arm around Lara’s shoulder. “Here, drink this.” She didn’t look much better than Griff. Mascara was smeared underneath her eyes and her lips were drawn tight.

Seth was standing in the corner looking helpless.

Lara sipped the water. Coolness rushed over the dryness in her throat and eased the brittleness on her lips. “What happened?” Her voice was harsh and hard.

Griff pushed her hair back. “You were shot. Kevin fired.” He turned his head away as if trying to gain control. “You shoved me out of the way.”

She gripped his hand, but her strength was so weak. She wasn’t sure he felt it. “I couldn’t let you die.”

He jerked his head back to her. His dark eyelashes were wet. Anguish flashed in his eyes. “I thought…I thought you were going to die.” He put her hand next to his forehead and kissed it. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have gone after Kevin. It’s my fault.”

Tears were on his cheeks. Something she didn’t think a tough convict would ever show.

“Griff, look at me.”

He stared down at her with a furrowed brow.

“It’s not your fault.”

He drew in a shaky breath. “Yeah, you keep saying that, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”

She smiled, wishing she could mate with him now, but the sharp pain in her chest had different ideas. “How long have I been in here?”

Cora fluffed her pillow. “A week. The doctors weren’t sure you were going to make it.” She tilted her head toward Griff. “He’s been mad with grief. He broke his hand.”

Griff raised his casted hand. “Won’t be slamming any more walls for a while.”

“What happened to Kevin––”

Griff’s eyes darkened. “Dead. He’s lucky the cops shot him.”

Lara shivered, knowing no one would have been able to stop him from ripping Kevin apart.

Cora glared. “Get a hold of yourself, Griff. Lara just told you that she needs you.”

Seth came up behind her and put his hands on her slender shoulders. “Easy tigress.” He kissed the back of her neck. “He knows. I think we need to give them some room. I’ll buy you a coke to calm you down.”

Cora kissed Lara’s forehead. “We’ll be back soon.” She took Seth’s hand and they both left.

She opened her mouth, but pain whizzed through her and she gasped.

“Shhhhh.” He kissed her dry lips. “Before you ask, the bad guys are all in jail. They won’t be coming after us anytime soon. You’re safe.”

She took a deep breath, waiting for the pain to ease away. “No, we’re safe. I want to be with you, Griff. I want to be with you forever.”

“I know. But first you have to get well. I’m not going anywhere. Sleep.”

She closed her eyes, holding onto his hand, and dreamed of smoldering tiger eyes.

A week later, a nurse pushed Lara to the hospital entrance. Snow had sprinkled on the ground and the sun was hiding today. Gray clouds covered the skyline, but she didn’t care. She was free at last from the pokes and jabs of the hospital.

Her breast was tender. According to the doctors, she was lucky. The bullet had been a clean entry, not hitting any major organs. But it had torn muscle and broken a rib.

Griff pulled up in the brand new black Escalade Mr. Burkley had bought her, probably in hopes she wouldn’t sue the firm.

He ran around the SUV and helped her inside. His strong arms made her feel safe.

When he got back inside, he turned. “Do you want to go to Cora’s house or your parents or a hotel? Mr. Burkley said the firm would pay for it.”

She shook her head. “No. I want to go to your place.”

“Are you sure?” His eyes brightened and excitement drifted into his voice.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She leaned over and kissed him on his lips.

He kissed her back hungrily. His tongue swirled around inside her mouth, and his beard scraped her lips. She had missed the tingles moving through her and wanted so much more.

He broke off first and looked at her through hooded eyes. “My place, it is.”

She leaned back on the heated leather seat. The leaves were gone and cars sprayed slush onto the Escalade. The dreary day matched the constant weariness that had settled over her.

“I can’t go back to Buckley and Hartley. I’d never feel safe there again.” Her voice was devoid of emotion.

“What do you want to do?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if I want to be an attorney anymore. Law has lost its appeal.”

He put his hand on her cold one. “You can stay with me for long as you want.”

She looked at his handsome face. He’d saved her so many times and he was still saving her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Hell, no. Lara, I don’t want you to ever leave.”

She kissed his hand. “Then you have a deal. I only feel safe with you.”

He parked the SUV in front of his hotel room––lucky thirteen. He opened the door.

“I’ll carry you.”

She didn’t argue and allowed him to carry her through the doorway. She numbly wished it was a threshold, but he hadn’t said anything about marriage and she was too tired to ask.

He carefully laid her on the bed with its threadbare blankets that looked so comfortable. He stretched out next to her and she placed her head on his chest. His pounding heart was like a lullaby. She yawned. “I’m so tired.”

He stroked her hair. “Then sleep, mate, sleep.”

She snuggled next to him, wanting his smell on her. Knowing he was next to her, kept the nightmares away.

The days of getting out of the hospital had turned into weeks. Her wound had turned into a dime-size scar. Griff called it her taking-one-for-their-team scar. He’d been great these past weeks, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being scared all the time.

Any sudden nose–a car backfiring, a can of pop opening, a crackle of paper––made her fall to pieces.

Griff had kept his distance from her, only kissing her and stopping anything more intimate.

Well, she was damn tired of him suddenly being a gentleman.

She wanted her convict back.

The sound of the shower summoned her bravery. He was in there naked.

And she wanted him.

Yesterday, Cora had taken her to the doctor who had said she was ready to return to all activities, including sex. She’d told Griff last night, but he hadn’t made a move.

Maybe her scar disgusted him.

One way to find out.

She stripped down. She marched into the dinghy bathroom and slammed the door.

“Lara?” Griff yanked the shower curtain back. Fear, then curiosity, filled his eyes. He flashed a hungry gaze over her body. “What are you doing?”

She shivered, not sure if she could go through with this. “I want an answer.” Her voice came out stronger than she felt.

Water had plastered his hair to those massive shoulders and desire flooded through her veins.

She put her hands on her hips. “I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder. I’m tired of jumping at every single sound.”

“Okay.” He drew out the word. “Meaning?”

She tilted her head up and edged closer to the shower. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore.” He hadn’t made a move yet. What if things had changed?

“I got that.” He turned off the water. “So, why are you naked?”

“I want…I want…”

“You want what?” He stepped out of the shower. Droplets of water ran down his rippling muscles down his washboard stomach to the V that led to his aroused cock.

She moistened her lips. “I want…if you still want…”

He lifted her chin and his thumb brushed over her cheek. She stood breathlessly still, her heart pounding like a carpenter’s hammer, wondering if he guessed how this simple gesture sent unbelievable lusty sensations rippling down her throat, down to her tummy, down to her pussy.

“Say it.” His voice was hard and husky.

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Lara, I wanted to touch and kiss you. It’s been killing me but I need to know this is what you want before we go further.”

“Griff.” She put her hands on his hard pecks, one hand covering the eagle’s head. “I told you that the doctor said we could––”

“I know what the doctor said. I’m not talking about sex.” His eyes darkened and she thought she could hear a growl.

“You’re talking about mating.”

“Once done, it can’t be undone. You’ve got a career, Lara. Being with a convict could crash your career. Is that what you want?” She could detect sadness and loneliness in his voice.

She glided hand over his cock and he hissed.

“I don’t care about being an attorney. I want to be a writer.” She licked his peck. “What I care about is you. In case you’ve forgotten, Simba, I took a bullet for you. I love you.”

“Simba’s a lion. I’m a tiger.”

Her eyes widened and she laughed. “I know. Thank God, you’re a tiger. I want to be a tiger, too. I want to stop being a scared rabbit. I want to be with you.”

“You’re anything but a scared rabbit. You’ve always been a tigress.” He slipped his hand around her neck. “Are you sure? Are you really sure?”

She widened her legs and pulled his cock toward her pussy. “Yes, I’m sure. Do I have to take you?”

“Hell, no.” He put his hand on her pussy. “You’re wet.”

“Wet for you.”

He inserted a finger inside her folds and rubbed his thumb over her clit. “I can make you wetter.”

She was breathing hard. “I know you can.”

He pressed his lips on her throat. He flitted his hot and moist tongue up to her ear lobe where he playfully tugged on it with his teeth. Tingles tapped over her skin like a tumulus thunderstorm. His other hand pulled and teased her already budded nipple that increased her heartbeat, sending blood thumping between her thighs. Her legs shook and she clung to his massive arms. She was dangerously close to having an orgasm.

He inched his mouth down her throat to her chest.

Heat flushed over her cheeks. She covered her scar with her shaking hand.

He moved her hand. “Never hide anything from me.” He gently kissed her scar. “This is a medal of honor.” He stared up at her. “You saved my life. Something I can never repay you for.”

She stroked his hair. “That’s not true. You’ve saved mine more than once. I only did what I knew you would do for me.”

“Yes, I would. A thousand times over. You’re my mate.”

“What does that mean to you?”

He suckled her breast, sending tremors through her. “It means you’re part of me. We can never be parted. You’re my life.”

“Say it.”

“Say what?” He bit her nipple that unleashed a rush of pleasure inside her.

“Say it, damn it.”

“You mean, I love you?” His timbre voice left her guessing if it was even a possibility.

“Yes. Do you?” She held her breath, waiting for him to respond.

He got on his knees and spread her shaking thighs wider. His mouth was on her pussy, his tongue protruding deeper. His tongue swirled and traced patterns along her folds that sent waves of elation through her.

“You didn’t…didn’t answer me.” She didn’t get an answer as her first orgasm in a long time rocked her, and she held onto his shoulders to keep from collapsing.

He licked his way up her body. “I didn’t?”

“No, you didn’t.” He lifted her up by her buttocks and slid her onto his erect cock.

“Yes.” She welcomed his first powerful thrust with a cry of bliss. She held her breath, her body quaking with excitement, waiting in anticipation for the upcoming slick friction as her folds spread, accommodating his large size.

“Lock your legs around me.”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. He moved her toward the wall. “I’ll go gentle.”

“No.” She tilted her hips, taking him deeper, and moving back and forth.

He matched her slow pace, but then he led the intensity, increasing the pace. Her buttocks and back slammed against the wall with each thrust. Pain and pleasure rippled through her again and again. She squeezed her legs tighter acround his hips, wanting to share every shudder, every shiver, every sensitive tingle.

Something was coming, a crescendo of emotion that was whipping through her. It was wild as if she were running through an open field.

He pinched one nipple and bit her neck hard. It was a catalyst to triggering an orgasm that sent her heart racing and gasping for breath. She screamed and arched her back. He propelled his cock harder and faster until black dots flashed in front of her and she thought she’d faint.

In the next thrust, Griff roared, his warm seed spilling inside her.

Neither of them spoke as they grappled for breath. Griff was still moving his hips but at a much slower pace. Lara clung to him and laid her head on his sweaty chest.

“Oh, my God.” She struggled to talk. “That was…”

“Mating.” He ran his hand down her arm. “But that’s only the first part.”

She swallowed her trepidation, knowing he meant anal sex. Her gut twisted into tiny knots and her throat ran dry.

He kissed her forehead. “Are you ready? I swear to you it’s quite pleasurable.”

She shook, wanting to believe him, but God, he was huge. He could rip her apart.

He brushed his lips over hers. “Trust me.” His husky voice sent shivers down her spine. He slowly pulled out of her, but wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her from falling.

“First, I have to prepare you.”

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me.”

“You’ll see.” He lifted her closer to the medicine cabinet and pulled out a tube of lubricant.

“You’ve had that?”

He grinned. “I’m always prepared.” He tilted his head. “For your first time, I think it will be easier on the bed.” He scooped her into his arms before she could reply.

Her inner thighs ached from the out-of-this-world-orgasm, but she’d asked for this. It wasn’t like she was a terrified virgin.

Well, when it came to anal sex, it scared the pants off her.

He sat her on the bed. He rubbed the lubricant over his already erect cock that seemed to get bigger by the minute, while her anus got smaller by the minute.

He tilted his head back and laughed. “Relax. I’ll go nice and slow.”

She stared at his flesh. “Will it hurt?”

“Only if you tense up.”

“Okay, well, I’m screwed, because every inch of me is tense.”

He leaned over and kissed her lips. “You won’t be. Now climb on the bed and get on your hands and knees.”

She did as he asked, her thighs and arms trembling. She glanced over her shoulder. “You mean doggy style?”

“No, tiger style.” He edged closer.

She gritted her teeth, her heart pounding furiously, and waited to be ripped apart.

The bed creaked as he pushed his cock slowly into her anus. “You’re so tight.” He stroked her clit. “Come on, baby. Release your passion.”

She panted and swirled her hips to his masterful fingers.

“That’s it. I can feel you getting wet, hotter.” He moved his other hand along her sides, sending tingles all over her and she shivered.

He pushed his cock further inside her.

Pain throbbed between her cheeks, and she tensed. It was as if a huge fist was trying to get inside her.

He nuzzled her neck, his beard chaffing her skin. “Take deep breaths. Trust me.”

Lara forced herself to take a deep breath and then another. The tension pent up inside slowly lessened. His thumb worked magic. An orgasm was building inside her.

His cock slid deeper, stuffing her like a Thanksgiving turkey. She sucked in air, trying not to suffocate, and her fingers balled the bedspread into her tight fists.

“Widen your thighs, baby. That’s it. Now move with me.”

He continued to stroke and rub her clit. She followed his movement and found the pain to diminish into a pleasure that was twice as erotic as the one in the bathroom. She pressed her buttocks back, allowing him to plunge deeper into her rectum.

Something built inside her, sensations that she’d never felt before, flooded over. White dots blocked out her vision and the most powerful orgasm descended onto her like an explosion. Her heart and lungs went from racing to paralyzing. She cried out his name, not knowing if she could take much more. How much pleasure could one woman take?

He did one final thrust inside her and came. He lifted her body up, his cock still inside her, and played with her budded nipples. He kissed her throat. “It’s done. We’re mated.”

“Meaning?” She quivered from the sensations rippling through her.

“You belong to me.” His voice was husky and heavy. “I love you, Lara Black. This is just the beginning.”

He kept his promise and took her again and again until she melted into a blissful splendor. Fear was the furthest thing from her mind.