Chapter 8
“Do you care what I want?”
Roman’s stomach clenched. He didn’t know if Lana’s question was an out, or a trap, or something else entirely, but since he’d started the conversation, he had to see it through.
“I want you to figure out what you want. Not what your streak wants. Not what you think your streak needs. I need you to tell me what you think is right.”
Oh, hell.
“Our streak.” His feeble attempt at using intimacy to deflect her implicit rejection of his idea didn’t elicit any response, so he forged ahead. “I want you, Lana. That is why I came back tonight. I regretted leaving the way I did. I wanted to see you again.” Roman crossed his fingers under the table, hoping she’d eventually see things his way.
“You want me? And why is that, pray tell?”
“I’m crazy about you. You do something to me. I can’t get you out of my system.”
“And that’s why you left? That’s why I didn’t hear from you again until tonight? Because you care about me?” Her voice rose. “That’s why you’re proposing to share me with your whole damn streak?”
“No,” he replied, knowing that he dug a grave for himself.
“Or is it because I’m a She-Tiger and I’m available?”
That comment from her made him go hard, the memory of her riding him flashing through his mind.
Could he stand for her to be with others? Or would the thought of her like that with his streak-mates drive a wedge between them?
It didn’t matter. He needed her. The streak needed her. “I would want you in my streak forever. I wouldn’t want a temporary arrangement. This would be for life.” He paused, suddenly considering one reason she might not be saying yes. “If you’ll have me.”
“Why wouldn’t I have you?” Her puzzlement seemed genuine.
“I’m an invalid. Your first mate must have been much stronger than I am.”
Lana shook her head impatiently. “Don’t be ridiculous. I couldn’t ask for a stronger protector than you.”
“I want you, Lana. I want you with me. I don’t want you to leave me or my streak. You don’t have to be alone anymore.”
“I want you, too, Roman. But I think we need to be clear on some things. I really do believe that we were meant to meet. And I am grateful to be part of a streak again. I’m even grateful for you.” She gave him a sweet smile. “But I was practically royalty in my previous streak, so I can hardly consent to being your streak’s concubine now. Neither my bloodline nor my self-respect will let me do that.”
“Of course.” Excitement began to flutter in his chest. She was going to say yes. It was just a beginning, but having an Alpha Mate could bring other female tigers to his streak. They could survive, even thrive. And he could make sure Lana was protected. “You won’t be our concubine.” He grinned. “I’ll make it clear to anyone who wants to court you that the reality will be closer to the opposite.”
She nodded solemnly, but a glimmer of amusement flickered in her eyes.
“How much do you want to tell them about your situation?” he asked.
“That will be up to you,” she said. “You can share as much or as little as you would like.”
“I’d like to let everyone know the danger you are in. So they will know to protect you. So that they are not caught off guard.”
“Do you trust your entire streak?”
“Implicitly.”
“Well, like I said, it’s your call. I know that you will protect us, and that you won’t do anything to put me in danger.” She paused, biting her bottom lip. “And that includes not letting me choose any mates who might be…”
“Less than perfect for you?”
She nodded. “Yes. That.”
So don’t mess it up, man.
“Thank you, Lana. This means more to me—to our entire streak—than you will ever know.”
“So,” she sighed, taking another sip of her espresso.
He finally sipped his. It was freezing cold.
“Now, for the practicality of things. Specifically, of how I should—what?—choose my other mates?”
“Yes, there is that.” He tapped his fingers on the table, considering.
“How would you prefer to go about introducing me to the streak?”
“I think I’d like to make the announcement to them alone, as a group, before they meet you, so they can feel free to ask any questions they have.”
“That’s probably a good idea. I agree.”
“But I’d also like to have you nearby. I wouldn’t want to leave for two hours and then come and get you. And I’d hate to worry about you during that time.”
She glanced up at him from beneath her lashes, suddenly shy at the thought of meeting the men who might be her mates. “I appreciate that.”
“What if you were in the hotel above our sanctuary? So that I could come up and get you once I had made the announcement, to introduce you, and to address any questions they might have?”
“You live beneath a hotel?”
* * *
“Oh... no. This will not do,” Lana said to him right after he swings the door open.
This was not the reaction he was expecting. His streak members had insisted he take over the official Alpha Quarters while he was leading them. He had gone to great pains to make it his own after he took over. He realized he’d expected Lana to be impressed.
“What’s wrong?”
“This is a man cave. No.”
“But...”
“Look, antlers and skull paintings might be great for a bachelor, but I am not doing this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know this place is safe,” she sighed, walking over to the steps which led up to the large bed on the platform. “But some windows would be nice. Everyone needs sunlight.”
“I know,” he said soothingly, stepping up to the bed and sitting next to her. “But you said it. It’s safe here. We can protect you here. I can protect you here.”
“You’re right. And I know suburbia isn’t exactly a great idea. But does this hotel have any lofts or residential suites or anything?”
“I don’t know. Jackson is in charge of that.”
“Of course you don’t.” She gave him a smile and put her hand on his thigh. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”
Roman tried to think of something to say to reinforce her realization, but came up with nothing.
“It’s okay,” she said. “But if I’m going to have more than one mate, I’m going to need my own space—I can’t simply move from one man’s bedroom to another’s. Then we’re right back to concubine territory.”
Roman laughed. “I’ll make sure you get your own suite. And you can decorate it to your liking. But it’ll probably be on this level. It’s the most secure.” He glanced around the room, and when he spoke again, his voice was a little plaintive. “You really don’t like this place?”
“It’s fine.” She gave a gentle laugh, taking his hand in hers and laying her head on his shoulder. “I’m used to the open skies and the plains. Living in an underground fortress with only artificial light is a big switch for me.”
“You get used to it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want to get used to living underground. It’s not me. But I know it’s actually perfect for the situation we’re in.”
“And we’re near the River Walk, so you can go for walks all the time, and stroll around the Alamo. As long as you have a guard with you at all times.”
“Thanks.” She squeezed his hand. “I appreciate you trying.”
“We’re going to be okay,” he squeezes her hand back. “You’ll see.”
“I’m sure we will be. But let’s get some sleep. I want to rent a truck from U-Haul and hit craigslist hard first thing in the morning.”
“Craigslist?”
“Yeah. It’s how I furnished my apartment. Tons of free stuff on there. Sometimes even brand new stuff. And what we can’t get for free, we can get for pretty cheap.”
“Okay. Since you have the day off, it’s a pretty good idea.”
“Good. Now, let’s get some sleep. This bed is definitely big enough for the both of us. Can I trust you to behave yourself?”
Maybe.
As it turned out, she couldn’t—and in the end, they were both okay with that.