She smiled at the grizzly shifter. He was sitting at the table next to Kat. Lila was in his arms and she was sucking on her fist and staring up at him.
“Hey, Bria. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
She sat down across from him as Kat stood. “You want some tea, honey?”
“I can get it,” Bria said.
“Sit and relax.” Kat grabbed a mug and popped a teabag into it.
“Is Ava here?” Bria asked.
Bishop shook his head. “She’s at home having a nap. Lila was up most of the night with a bit of a fever.”
“Poor baby.” Bria reached out and stroked Lila’s leg. “She’s feeling better?”
“Yeah.” He bent his head and kissed the baby’s forehead. She smiled around her fist and Bishop nuzzled her cheek before making a low growl to her. Lila kicked her feet in excitement, and dropped her hand. Her smile widened until Bria could see all of her gums.
She laughed. “Lila sure loves her daddy, huh?”
“She does.” Kat handed her the mug of tea before kissing Lila’s head. “She loves her Auntie Kat too. Isn’t that right, Lila?”
She purred to the baby and Lila’s eyes widened at the sound before she smiled again.
“I should get going,” Bishop said. “Lila will be hungry soon and I’m interrupting your visit with Bria.”
“You’re not,” Kat said. “You’re welcome to drop by anytime, honey. You know that.”
“Hey, Stripes.” Ronin strolled into the kitchen. “What’s happening?”
“Hi, Ronin.”
“You heading out?” Kat asked.
“I am. But first...” Ronin held his hands out for the baby.
Bishop hesitated, and Ronin laughed. “Don’t hog the baby, big guy.”
“Don’t drop her.” Bishop handed Lila over.
“Your daddy needs to have a little faith in Uncle Ronin, doesn’t he?” Ronin kissed Lila’s cheek before cradling her in one arm and taking a selfie.
“What are you doing?” Kat asked as Ronin handed Lila back to Bishop.
“Texting this picture to your mom.”
“Ronin, don’t you dare.”
Bria laughed, and Ronin grinned at her. “You think I should send Eleanor the picture, right?”
“Yep.”
“Bria, don’t encourage him,” Kat said.
Ronin hit a button on his phone. “Done.”
He tucked his phone into his pocket and gave Kat an innocent look when her phone started to buzz. “Who could that be?”
Kat hissed at him, but he just grinned and kissed the tip of her nose. “Later, Kitten.”
He left, and Bria took a sip of tea as Kat said, “Bishop was just telling me that he and Ava are thinking about buying a new house.”
“Oh yeah?” Bria said.
Bishop nodded as he placed Lila into the car seat and buckled her in. “Yes. We need a bigger place now that we have Lila. The house next to Mal and Willow is for sale.”
“I told Bishop that you worked for a real estate agent. Any chance you could set up a meeting with Jace?” Kat asked.
“Sure. I’ll talk to him tomorrow and set up an appointment this week, if you’d like? Do you want me to text you or Ava?”
“Ava,” Bishop said. “She’s easier to get a hold of during the day. You can get her number from Kat. Thanks, Bria.”
“You bet.”
Bishop bent and kissed Kat on the cheek. “Bye, Kat.”
“Bye, honey. Tell Ava I said hello.”
Bishop left and when the front door shut, Kat sank into the chair next to Bria. “So, how was your date with the wolf shifter?”
“Terrible,” Bria said. “We met at Bud’s and it was going okay at first. Then he threatened Rosalie and then told me I owed him for buying dinner, and then Jace just about shifted and tore him apart.”
“Wait, back up. Why were Jace and his assistant on your date with you?”
Bria laughed. “No, they weren’t…let me start from the beginning.”
* * *
“Okay, so, Jace came to your rescue like a tiger in shining armour and then you spent the rest of the date drinking with him. But you’re not banging him,” Kat said.
“Kat! He’s my boss, of course I’m not having sex with him.”
“You want to though. Even just talking about how he went after the wolf shifter, got you all hot and bothered. I could smell it.”
Bria flushed. “You know I’m attracted to him. But, he doesn’t want a relationship and he -”
“Then why did he rescue you from your dickhead date?”
“Well, because he’s a nice guy. He saw that I was in trouble.”
“Right, that’s it.”
“It is,” Bria insisted. “Is he attracted to me? Yeah, just like I’m attracted to him. Doesn’t mean he wants to date me. In fact, he’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want to date. Which is why I’m going out with a coyote shifter on Saturday.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. I need to find someone before my next heat and I’m running out of time, Kit Kat. If I don’t have a boyfriend, then I really will have to chain myself to, like, the radiator or something.”
“Or, just use the app,” Kat said. “I know how that makes you feel, trust me I do, but it’s better than sleeping with a random shifter you find at the bar. Right?”
“I guess.”
“Did you download the app?”
“I did but I haven’t set up an account or anything.”
“Set it up right now and we’ll look at a few shifters together.” Kat took Bria’s empty mug to the sink and rinsed it before adding a teabag to it. “I’ll make us more tea.”
“It could work out with the coyote shifter. He seemed nice.”
“If it does, then you can delete your account on Heat Me Up,” Kat said. “But if it doesn’t…”
“Fine.” Bria pulled out her phone and set up her account as Kat made them both a cup of tea. By the time she put the steaming liquid in front of her, Bria was scrolling through the app.
“He’s good looking.” Kat studied the bear shifter. “Pretty eyes.”
Bria just shrugged. “He’s okay. I’m not really into dating bears.”
“It’s not dating,” Kat reminded her. “You can’t think about it like that. Be right back, I gotta pee.”
She left the kitchen and Bria scrolled through a few more shifters. She drummed her fingers on the table, checked the doorway for Kat, and then used the search function to type in Jace’s name.
What the hell? His account was there along with a brief bio and a picture of him, but it said ‘inactive’ in the space for his email.
“His account is inactive? Since when?”
She jumped and hissed in fright at the sound of Kat’s voice. She held her phone against her chest so Kat couldn’t see it. “You scared me, Kit Kat.”
“Sorry.” Kat sat down and sipped at her tea. “You don’t need to hide the screen. I saw that you were looking at Jace’s profile. When did he go inactive?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He told me Friday night that he met with a shifter the day before but that it didn’t work with his schedule.”
“He told me his schedule was flexible,” Kat said.
“He said the same thing to me. I don’t know why that’s changed.”
“I think I do.”
“It has nothing to do with me,” Bria said.
“No? So, why is his account inactive all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know. It’s busy at work. Maybe his schedule really is too full.”
“Maybe,” Kat said. “So, did you see anyone else with potential or did you just stare at Jace’s profile the whole time?”
Bria set her phone down and picked up her tea. “Let’s talk about something else, okay? When are you and Ronin getting married?”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
Bria laughed. “Who would have thought your mother would be anxious for you to marry a bird shifter?”
“I know, right? Ronin has won her over completely. You know where he was going this afternoon? To a football game with my father. Even Dad thinks he’s great.”
“I’m really happy for you, Kat.”
“Thanks, honey.”
“Also – ridiculously jealous.”
Kat leaned forward and took her hand. “You’re gonna find the right guy for you. I know it.”
“Maybe.” She stared into her tea. She was terribly afraid she had already found the right guy – he just didn’t want her the way she wanted him.
* * *
“Hi, Bria.”
Ava walked into the office and Bria smiled at her.
“Hi, Ava. How are you?”
“I’m good. Bishop and I have a two o’clock meeting with Jace.”
“Great. Have a seat.” Bria stood and moved around the desk. “Can I get you a cup of coffee or glass of water?”
“Water, please.”
“Sure. Where’s sweet Lila today?”
“She’s with my mom for a few hours,” Ava said.
“Jace is running about ten minutes behind but he is on his way.”
“That’s fine,” Ava said as Rosalie walked into reception. “Bishop texted me and he’s still five minutes away.” She smiled at Rosalie. “Hi there.”
“Rosalie, this is my friend Ava. Ava, this is Jace’s assistant Rosalie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rosalie said. “Bria, I’m just running out to the post office. Be back in about half an hour.”
Rosalie left, and Bria smiled at Ava. “I’ll grab your water. Be right back.”
When she returned with the water, Ava was standing near the desk and, Bria groaned inwardly, Lincoln was standing next to her. She hurried forward and handed Ava the glass of water.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ava Lewis.” Lincoln’s voice was a husky purr.
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Ava said.
“So,” Lincoln’s gaze drifted to Ava’s bare left hand before back to her face, “what’s a pretty little human like you doing in our office?”
Ava gave him an amused look. “Buying a house. Isn’t that why people usually come to your office?”
Bria choked down her laughter as Lincoln’s cheeks went red. “I’ve already got the perfect condo in mind for you. Two bedrooms, one bath, in the heart of downtown. Close to the hottest nightclubs and best restaurants in the city.”
The door opened, and Bishop strode into reception. Bria waved at the giant grizzly, but he ignored her. His lip was curling, and he was sniffing the air. No doubt he could smell Lincoln’s arousal just like she could. Deciding the lion shifter could use a lesson in manners, Bria kept her mouth shut as Bishop moved silently behind him.
Lincoln reached out and tugged on a lock of Ava’s red hair. “What do you say? I could set up an appointment for you to look at it. It’s perfect for a single girl looking for a little fun. Maybe we could have dinner afterward and -”
The deep growl made the lion shifter freeze. He sniffed the air before turning. Bishop loomed over him, his face red and his hands in fists. “Touch my mate again, lion shifter, and your head will hang on the wall of my home.”
Lincoln held his hands up and took a step to the right. Bria could practically see the steam rising from Bishop’s ears as he wrapped one beefy arm around Ava’s waist. He drew the curvy redhead into his embrace and glared at Lincoln.
Lincoln cleared his throat. Bria couldn’t smell any fear coming off the lion shifter. She couldn’t decide if Lincoln was incredibly brave or incredibly stupid as he grinned at Bishop. “My apologies. I didn’t know she was your mate.”
“She carries my scent,” Bishop growled at him.
“True. She does have a rather thick scent of grizzly on her.” He lifted his left hand and pointed to his ring finger. “But when a lady hasn’t got a ring, she’s not truly mated, is she?”
Bishop snarled, and his beard thickened. “She belongs to me.”
“Honey, stop.” Ava patted Bishop’s chest. “He’s just trying to get you riled up now.”
Lincoln grinned. “Maybe just a little. It was nice to meet you, Ava.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, winked at Bishop and walked out of reception. Bishop was still growling under his breath and his shirt was straining against his shoulders. Ava rubbed his chest again.
“You’re mine,” Bishop said to her. “Mine.”
“Yes,” she replied. “I’m yours, honey. Relax, okay?”
“If he touches you again -”
“He won’t.”
Bria watched as Ava smoothed her hand over his chest a third time and smiled at the angry grizzly shifter before pressing a kiss against his mouth. He relaxed and his body returned to its normal size. He gave Bria a sheepish smile. “Uh, hi, Bria. Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I was just telling Ava that Jace is on his way. I’ll take you to the boardroom, okay?”
“Sure.” Bishop took Ava’s hand, his gaze lingering on her ring finger. As she led them to the board room, Bria had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before Ava was wearing a wedding ring.
* * *
“How are your mom and dad doing?” Lincoln gave him an uncharacteristically somber look as Jace climbed into the car.
“They’re doing okay. We went to his grave today and then walked along the river. Jonah used to love swimming there.”
“I remember.”
Jace stared out the windshield. “Mom said to say thank you for the flowers. It means a lot to her that you remember what today is.”
“You and I have been best friends since we were kids,” Lincoln said. “I’m not going to forget Jonah’s birthday.”
The lion shifter backed out of Jace’s driveway and drove down the street. “Why don’t we forget about going to the club and just buy some beer and chill at my place tonight. We can watch the game.”
“No, I want to go to the club.”
“It’s not that I’m trying to discourage you from getting your rocks off with a random shifter, but is your brother’s birthday really the night to do it? Besides, isn’t that why you joined Heat Me Up? So you could fuck shifters without having to do the whole pick up random chicks at a bar?”
“I turned my account inactive.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” Lincoln turned left at the lights.
“It’s really busy at the office right now.”
“No busier than usual. Plus, it’s like two days a month. If you’d rather work instead of enjoying two days of non-stop fucking with a hot cat shifter, there is something seriously wrong with you. Are you having issues with the old twig and berries?”
He glanced at Jace’s crotch. “No shame if you are. The number of guys who can’t get their twig to stand up is surprisingly large. I hear, three out of five -”
“I’m going to a club tonight for the sole purpose of getting laid. There’s nothing wrong with my dick.”
“Again, I question whether your brother’s birthday is the night to do it,” Lincoln said. “You’re hurting and you’re vulnerable tonight and -”
“What have you done with my best friend?”
“Nothing. I can be sensitive and understanding. I mean, usually it’s because I’m trying to get into a shifter’s pants, but I can make an exception for you, my little snookums.” Lincoln grinned.
“I want to get drunk and find some random shifter to have sex with. It’s the perfect way to end an awful day.”
“Jace -”
“Enough, Lincoln. You have no idea what this is like. I don’t need your goddamn advice on how to get through the birthday of my dead brother.”
Lincoln didn’t reply and Jace sighed. “Fuck. I’m sorry. That was a really shitty thing for me to say. I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s fine, man. I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”
“I won’t.”
“All right. Hey, you sure you want to go to Club Delight? We usually go to Trinity,” Lincoln said.
“I’m sure. I’m tired of Trinity.”
He wasn’t, but he sure as hell couldn’t go back to Trinity any time soon. Going to Trinity to pick up a shifter didn’t feel right. Not when the last time he was there, he’d fucked Bria in the bathroom.
Is that the only reason it doesn’t feel right? Are you seriously going to fuck some other random woman when the one you really want is Bria?
He blocked out his inner voice. He couldn’t have Bria and he needed to get used to the idea. What better way than by sleeping with someone else?
I want Bria. Give her to me, his tiger growled.
Fuck, his tiger was going to drive him insane.
* * *
Well, the date with the coyote shifter wasn’t as disastrous as her date with Patrick, but it was not going well. Bria sipped at her drink and checked her watch again. Yeah, he wasn’t coming back. It had been forty minutes since Ron had excused himself to use the bathroom. She’d been ditched.
She finished her drink and watched the humans and shifters dancing for a few minutes before sliding off the stool. The club was busy tonight, and she was getting a bit of a headache from the loud beat of the music. She didn’t even know why Ron had suggested the club for a first date. They could barely even hear each other over the music. Maybe he’d suggested it because it would be easy to sneak away when he found her boring as hell.
She picked her way through the crowd of people and headed toward the exit. At least she wasn’t at Club Trinity. If Ron had suggested that one, she would have given him a hard no. She didn’t think she could ever go back there. Not with the memory of fucking Jace in the bathroom lingering in her head.
She walked out of the bar and took in a deep breath of the night air. It was hot and stuffy in the club and -
“Jace, we are leaving.”
She spun around, staring wide-eyed at Lincoln and Jace. The lion shifter was practically dragging Jace out of the club. Her hands flew to her mouth when Jace punched the lion shifter in the mouth.
“Goddammit, Jace!” Lincoln roared. Blood was trickling from his mouth and he dodged Jace’s second swing at him. The tiger shifter was swaying back and forth, and she could see the way his body was starting to swell.
As the humans and shifters waiting to get into the club watched with a mixture of amusement and trepidation, Lincoln grabbed Jace’s arm again. “Listen to me, you ass. My cousin is at the fucking hospital and I need to go. I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
“So then go,” Jace snarled at him before shaking free. “I don’t need you babysitting me.”
“Like hell you don’t. You’re already shitfaced and in no shape to be alone. Now get your striped ass in my goddamn car.”
“No.”
Lincoln growled with anger. “You think this is what Jonah would want? You think he’d want you getting drunk on his birthday, and then fucking whichever random female finds you pathetic enough to throw a pity fuck your way?”
“Fuck you!” Jace shouted. “Don’t you dare fucking say his name again or I’ll kill you, Lincoln! Do you hear me? I’ll fucking kill you!”
“You can try,” Lincoln snarled as a golden-coloured beard grew on his face.
Without thinking about it, Bria ran forward. Both Jace and Lincoln were on the verge of shifting and she was worried they would try and tear each other apart.
“Jace!” She grabbed Jace’s arm and he swung around. His snarl of anger switched to loud purring. He pulled her into his embrace and rubbed his face against her throat.
“Hi, baby.” He purred into her ear before rubbing his face against her throat again.
“Hi,” she said. Lincoln was staring at them and she patted Jace’s back. “Let me go.”
“Don’t wanna,” he mumbled before threading his hand into her hair. He pulled her head back so he could mark the entire length of her neck before rubbing his face against the curve of her jaw.
“Jesus, Jace,” Lincoln groaned. “Bria, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Jace, let me go.”
He let go of her reluctantly. He was still purring and Lincoln rolled his eyes. “You’re gonna be fucking humiliated tomorrow.”
“How drunk is he?” Bria asked.
She was almost knocked over when Jace staggered behind her and rubbed his big body against her. Lincoln grabbed her arm to steady her and Jace snarled at him before yanking Bria out of his grip. He pressed her back against his chest and wrapped his arm around her waist. He rubbed his face repeatedly against her hair before licking her neck.
“Stop,” she said.
He growled like a sulky kitten but stopped licking her. He refused to release her though and she ignored his erection pressing against her ass. “How drunk is he, Lincoln?”
“Very.” Lincoln wiped the blood from his mouth. “Dammit, Jace, stop marking Bria, you idiot.”
Jace growled at him before marking Bria’s throat again. He purred to her and she swallowed down her answering purr as Lincoln’s phone buzzed. The lion shifter glanced at it and muttered a curse.
“What’s wrong?” Bria asked.
“My aunt is texting me. My cousin was in a car accident and is at the hospital. I told my aunt I’d meet her there, but I need to get Jace home first. Except he’s refusing to leave the club.”
Bria rocked forward as Jace gently headbutted the back of her skull before sweeping aside her hair and licking the back of her neck.
“You smell good,” he said before purring to her again. She gasped when he gave her throat a hard nip with his fangs.
“Jace!” Lincoln said. “Quit biting your receptionist!”
Jace licked away the small trickle of blood flowing down her skin as Lincoln said, “He’s not usually like this, I swear. It’s a rough day for him. It’s his brother’s birthday and…”
“I know about his brother,” Bria said.
“Really?” Lincoln gave her a look of surprise. “He doesn’t usually talk about Jonah.”
“He, um, he mentioned it the other night. Listen,” she said as Lincoln’s phone buzzed again, “go to the hospital. I’ll get Jace home.”
Lincoln shook his head. “You’ll never convince him to leave the club. He’s itching for a fight and if he gets in a fight with someone, you could get hurt.”
Jace was still licking his bite on her throat and Bria touched his arm around her waist. “Jace, it’s time to leave. I’m going to drive you home because Lincoln has to go to the hospital. Okay?”
“Sure.” Jace licked the bite again and pressed his dick against her ass.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lincoln said.
Bria almost giggled at the look of exasperation on Lincoln’s face. “Go, Lincoln. I’ll get him home.”
“I’ll help you get him to the car,” Lincoln said.
“I don’t need help,” Jace said. He took Bria’s hand and staggered toward the parking lot.
She tugged him in the direction of her car and smiled at Lincoln when he followed them. “I hope your cousin is okay.”
“Me too. He’s a cheetah shifter so he should heal fine but he’s my aunt’s only kid and she is freaking out.”
“You’re close to your aunt?”
“Yeah. Listen, are you sure you don’t mind giving Jace a ride home? I can call him a cab or -”
“No cab.” Jace leaned down and nuzzled Bria’s neck. “I’m taking Bria home and fucking her.”
“Oh God,” Lincoln groaned again. “Okay, that’s it. I’m taking you home, you asshole.”
“I’m not fucking you. You’re way too hairy,” Jace said.
Bria burst out laughing and Jace grinned at her. “I’m funny.”
“No, you’re an idiot and you’re going to be so fucking embarrassed tomorrow,” Lincoln said.
“He probably won’t remember.” Bria unlocked her car.
“Again, I’m really sorry.” Lincoln opened the door. “Jesus, this is weird.”
“What’s weird?”
“Normally I’m the one being inappropriate and Jace is apologizing for me.”
She laughed again as Jace purred and leaned down to lick her throat.
“Are you sure you’re okay with taking him home?” Lincoln asked.
“Fine,” Bria said. “I can handle a drunk tiger shifter.”
Jace licked her throat. “I’ll be a good boy, little tiger. I promise. I’m going to make you feel so good again.”
“Again?” Lincoln arched his eyebrow at her.
She shrugged. “He’s drunk and doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
“Yeah,” Jace said, “I’m horny.”
She laughed. “I said drunk.”
“And horny,” he said.
“C’mon, get in the car.” Lincoln helped Jace into the car and buckled him in before shutting the door.
He patted her on the shoulder. “Thanks, Bria. I owe you.”
“It’s no problem.”
The car door opened and Jace leaned out, held in place by his seatbelt. He bared his fangs at Lincoln. “Don’t touch her! She’s mine!”
“Yeah, yeah, calm down, ya dick,” Lincoln said. “Can you even remember where you live?”
“I remember,” Jace said. “Bria, do you remember?”
She cleared her throat. “I’ll get directions from you. Goodnight, Lincoln.”
“Goodnight, Bria.”
She shut the passenger door and waved to Lincoln. As she climbed into the driver’s seat, she hoped to God that the lion shifter was distracted enough not to think too much about the things Jace said. She started the car and drove in the direction of Jace’s house. He placed his big hand on her thigh and rubbed.
“Hi, baby.”
“Hi, Jace.”
“How come you were at the club?”
“I was on a date.”
He growled and his hand tightened on her leg. “With who?”
“A coyote shifter named Ron.”
“Ron is a stupid name.”
She laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with the name Ron.”
He snorted. “Where is stupid Ron?”
“I don’t know. About an hour into the date he ditched me.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“He’s an idiot with a stupid name.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry you’re having such a bad day.”
He shrugged. “Jonah’s birthday is always bad. I miss him.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She patted the hand that was on her thigh and he linked their fingers together.
“I decided I was going to get drunk and then get laid by a random shifter.”
The little growl was escaping her mouth before she could stop it.
He grinned at her. “I like that you’re jealous.”
She didn’t reply, and he squeezed her hand. “Jonah would have thought it was a really dumb way to celebrate his birthday, but I didn’t care. I just didn’t want to think about it anymore, you know? I was with my parents all day and even after five years, they…”
He stopped and stared out the passenger window for a while. She drove in silence and didn’t pressure him to talk. When they were nearly to his house, he said, “Anyway, that was my plan. Only, halfway through the night I realized I didn’t want to fuck some random shifter. I wanted to fuck you again. Which I thought was impossible. Except here we are, driving to my house to have sex. I can’t wait to fuck you again, little tiger. I think about your tight little pussy way more than I should.”
He squinted at her neck. “Sorry I bit you. My tiger loses control when he’s around you.”
“It’s fine. It’ll be healed by tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait to taste your sweet pussy again.”
She ignored the slow burn of lust in her belly as she pulled into his driveway and shut the car off. “Okay, let’s get you in the house.”
“Yes, let’s.” His voice was eager.
She climbed out of the car and hurried to his side. He’d already unbuckled his seatbelt and she steadied him when he climbed out of the car. “Put your arm around me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He slung his arm around her shoulders and she guided him to the front door.
“Where are your keys?”
“Front pocket.” He yawned.
She slid her hand into his pocket, grabbed his keys and opened the door. He kicked his shoes off and took her hand. “C’mon, let’s get you naked.”
She steadied him as he slowly climbed the stairs. He yawned again, but put his arm around her waist when they entered his bedroom and leaned down to nuzzle her neck. “I want you so much, little tiger.”
“We can’t have sex. You’re too drunk.
He made an admittedly adorable growl of disappointment. “I’m not that drunk.”
“You are.”
“I’ll make it good for you, little tiger. I promise,” he wheedled. He cupped her breast and licked her throat again before purring. “Take off your clothes and I’ll eat your pussy.”
“No,” she said. “I don’t want to have sex tonight, Jace.”
He immediately let go of her and stepped away. “Okay.”
She hated the hurt look on his face. “Because you’re drunk. Not because I don’t want you.”
He purred again. “So, when I’m sober, we’ll fuck. Right?”
“Uh, sure, maybe. Let’s get you undressed and into bed.”
“Okay.”
He followed her to the bed and she helped him out of his t-shirt. Fuck, his body was incredible. She ignored her urge to lick his chest and instead, unbuttoned his jeans. She pulled them down and he sat on the bed with a heavy thump before yawning again. Ignoring the way his dick pushed at his boxer briefs, she took off his jeans and his socks and placed them in the laundry hamper.
“Okay, climb in,” she said.
“Will you lie down with me?” He asked. “I won’t try and have sex with you. You can trust me.”
“I know.” She laid on the bed beside him and rubbed his back when he curled on his side next to her and put his arm around her waist. She cuddled him, listening to his deep raspy purr and not even aware she was purring back to him.
“Thanks for giving me a ride home, Bria.”
“You’re welcome. Will you tell me how your brother died?”
His purring cut out. “He committed suicide.”
“I’m sorry.” She held him closer.
He rubbed his cheek against her upper chest. “The day before he died, we had dinner together and I knew something was wrong but he – he wouldn’t admit it. I should have pushed him harder, should have made him tell me the truth.”
“It’s not your fault, honey.”
“That’s what my therapist said.” He lifted his head and squinted at her. “Do you think I’m weak for going to therapy?”
“Of course not. Why would I think that?”
“Tabitha did.”
“Who’s Tabitha?”
“No one. Never mind. I’m really thirsty. Do you think you could get me a drink of water?”
“Yes.” He rolled away from her and she stared at his naked back before sliding off the bed and going downstairs to the kitchen. She found a bottle of water in the fridge and brought it back upstairs.
She stopped in the doorway of Jace’s bedroom and stared at the tiger lounging on the bed. He was massive in size and his fur shone in the moonlight coming in through the window. He stared unblinkingly at her with his jade coloured eyes before chuffing.
She glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late.”
He chuffed again and made a yowling low-pitched noise.
“Okay. Just for a little while.”
She set the bottle of water on the nightstand and climbed onto the bed next to the tiger. She laid on her back and he purred happily and relaxed next to her. His tail flicked back and forth as he rested his giant head on her chest. She stroked his cheeks and the top of his head, before scratching around his ears.
His purr grew louder, and she smiled a little. Tiger shifters purred way more than regular tigers. In fact, most regular tigers couldn’t really purr at all. When she was younger, she’d wondered why tiger shifters had the ability to both roar and purr. But when she’d asked her dad, he had shrugged and said it was just another thing that made shifters unique from the regular animals.
She stroked the fur on Jace’s shoulders and scratched his neck. His head was getting heavy, but she didn’t ask him to move. He needed this and she liked being able to help him. Liked it a little too much.
Don’t read too much into this, Bria. He’s drunk and sad and not thinking clearly. He doesn’t want a relationship.
She sighed inwardly and stared at the ceiling as Jace purred. Yeah, she knew that. So, why was she happier lying in bed with a drunk Jace who only wanted her for sex, than she’d been for her entire relationship with Raden? She closed her eyes and continued to stroke Jace’s soft fur. He was already asleep. She would stay another half hour and then leave.