Seth held her hand as they walked across the street to her condo. It was on the second floor and the balcony faced Buffalo Mountain which was her favorite view. It was only a one bedroom and one bath, but the vaulted ceilings and large living room made it seem bigger.

Cora couldn’t believe she was so stupid as she unlocked her door. Seth smelled so damn good–pine, wind, and power. This was a man who had lived on the streets and fought to survive. He hadn’t been handed money like Miles. He had to fight to keep everything he had, reminding her of the outlaws of the wild west; an original bad boy.

Don’tbestupid,don’tbestupid,don’tbestupid.

“Wow, this is nice.” He looked around the living room that had a gas log fireplace and tall windows that framed the mountains.

“It’s small. Only one bedroom and one bath, but it’s just me.” Her place diminished in size with Seth. He walked across the hard floors to the patio doors. “Great view.”

“Yes, it is,” she whispered. But she wasn’t talking about the mountains. His jeans hugged his tight ass.

She clenched her fists to keep her hands from running over his leather jacket. Why was it whenever she was around him she wanted to strip off her clothes and mount him like a harlot?

She’d never felt like that about anybody–not even Miles.

Taking a quivering breath, she turned her back. “I was going to make hamburgers and a fruit salad. Nothing special.” She headed toward the kitchen.

He shed his jacket and lay it across the back of the couch. “Hamburgers sound great.”

She grabbed the thawing hamburger out of the sink and took buns out of the refrigerator. “I only have a George Foreman grill.”

“I don’t mind.” He came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. The brush of his lips sent her body trembling.

“Dinner. Remember?” She wiggled away from him.

He put his hands up. “Okay. I’ll behave. Do you have anything to drink?”

“Yeah, I do, but I only have red wine. It’s on the baker’s rack.” She opened the cupboard and pulled out two wine glasses.

“Got it.” He poured the red liquor into the glasses and slid one toward her.

He sat on his bar stool. “Can I help with anything?”

“You can slice up tomatoes and lettuce.” She slapped the meat into patties then put them on wax paper. “Do you want cheese on yours?”

“Sure.” He lifted his eyebrow. He opened her double-door refrigerator and pulled out a tomato and a head of lettuce. He sliced the tomato and lettuce on the cutting board. Her kitchen was so small that his arms brushed against hers. “How many of those are you making?”

Ignoring the tingles rushing up her arm and the spike in her body temperature, she smacked the meat harder. “A bunch.” She shrugged. “I like to freeze them.”

“Where’s your grill?”

“In the cupboard next to the stove.”

When he knelt down to get it, she inhaled the masculine scent that made her heartbeat quicken. If she wasn’t careful, the hamburgers would be forgotten, and she’d be lost in his arms.

She concentrated on finishing making the patties, then cut the wax paper into squares. She made a stack of them to put in the freezer except for three. Seth was a tiger-shifter and one patty definitely wouldn’t be enough.

“I’ll cook the burgers,” he said, as he plugged in the grill. He opened up the refrigerator again and brought out a hunk of cheddar cheese.

“Thanks.” She put away the rest of the burgers and washed her hands. She had to maneuver around Seth to get the fruit. Every time she brushed up against him, she had to remind herself why she didn’t want to have sex with him.

Remember Caterina. Remember Caterina. Remember Caterina.

Fruit salad wouldn’t be enough for a shifter, so she pulled out a bag of chips and a can of olives. She quickly set them on the dining room table.

The hamburgers crackled and splattered on the grill, but their aroma didn’t block out Seth’s scent that seemed to be calling to her, tempting her to kiss him, reminding her of how his mouth and hands brought her to the greatest orgasms she’d ever had. She drained her wine, trying to ignore the desire brewing inside her and ignoring his questionable look.

Concentrate.

Dinner was ready in a manner of minutes. Cora had set the table and refilled both their glasses.

“Looks delicious,” he said. But he wasn’t looking at the food. He was looking at her. His heated gaze made her freeze where she was.

He slipped his hand around her neck and gently pulled her to him. She should break away, push on his chest, but instead, she parted her lips, eager to taste him again.

He brushed his lips over hers, slow and tender at first, but when she molded herself against him, the kissed turned hard and possessive. She gave in to her temptation and threaded her fingers through his silky hair.

He gazed down at her with hooded eyes. “If I start this, I’m not liable to stop.”

“I know.”

“Is this what you want?”

She pressed her hands on his chest and could feel his fast beating heart that matched the pace of her own. His arousal pushed against her thigh. “You mean if I asked you to stop, you would?”

He tilted his head back. “It would kill me, but I would.”

When she’d been with Miles, it was always about him. He’d never asked her what she wanted. It was always about him. Always.

According to Caterina, nothing had changed. It didn’t matter if Caterina was tired, sick, or uninterested. If he wanted to fuck, she’d better be ready, but Seth was asking her – something she didn’t think a tiger would do.

She smiled. “I wouldn’t want to kill you.” She licked the stubble on his cheek and he shuddered.

“Are you sure?”

Her hands glided underneath his shirt. “Better here than behind the Arvada library.”

He sucked in a deep breath. “Damn straight.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her across the floor to her bedroom. He set her on the bed.

“This time, I want to be on top.” She pushed him gently on to the bed.

“Anything you desire, sweetheart.” The gold of his eyes turned dark enough to cause the fine hairs of along her forearms to stand on end.

She stretched out on top of him and softly nipped his lip. “Can I tie you up?”

His eyes widened and his heart beat as wildly as hers. “Seriously?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

He licked his lips. “If that’s what you want, baby.”

She rolled off him and then off the bed. “Then strip.”

The sound of rustling clothes made her shake. What was she doing? She’d never done anything like this before, but she wanted to see if he’d let her be in control, let her take the lead. She turned her back and headed toward her closet to yank out two belts. She wasn’t a fool, and knew Seth could break out of the restraints, but if he wanted her to believe that he wasn’t like Miles, then he had to prove it.

When she turned around, Seth was lying naked on his back. His cock was fully aroused.

“You didn’t waste any time, did you?”

“I’m yours to command.”

She walked over. “Spread your arms wide.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

She didn’t answer him, but liked the sound of him being submissive, even if it was a lie. Her hands shaking, she strapped one wrist to her bedpost then quickly did the other. He watched her every move like a tiger biding his time.

She ran the tips of her fingers down one arm and he tensed.

He gritted his teeth. “Aren’t you going to get naked?”

She pinched his nipple. “I’m in control. You’re not.”

He gasped and pulled on the restraints, but didn’t break them. She was playing with fire, but she didn’t care.

Heat fanned through her body, just by teasing him made her hot. She glided her fingers down his torso, marveling at the muscle and how he shook beneath her touch. He was giving her the power, power that she definitely needed.

He could take her any time and do what he wanted to her. They both knew it.

She turned away from his hungry gaze and focused on his cock. She skimmed her fingers down his bellybutton to the narrow blond hairs.

“God, you’re killing me.”

“I haven’t even started yet.” She gently clasped her fingers around his cock, while her other hand cupped his balls.

He arched his back off the bed. “Cora.”

She glided her hand up down his shaft slowly, torturing him, her thumb brushing over the top as his cum sleeked out.

He released a groan and pulled on the restraints, but didn’t break free. She wasn’t done making him plead for release. She kissed the tip of his cock and licked the cum off her lips.

“Jaysus.”

She laughed, but then turned serious. She licked his shaft, twirling her tongue around him, marveling at how large he was.

He panted. “Suck me. Please suck.”

“Begging, are you?”

“Yes, damn it. Yes.”

“Not yet.” She laved his cock and squeezed it, tapering off his orgasm.

He was a mess, panting and trembling. She released him and put her mouth over his cock, plunging up and down as far as she could. He filled her mouth. His hips rocked up and down faster and faster. Her fingers played with his balls.

“Cora,” he screamed. He came in her mouth, hard and swift.

She swept her tongue over her lips. She pulled off her shirt and tossed it onto the floor.

“I want to please you.”

His husky voice tempted her to cut loose his restraints, but she wasn’t ready… Not yet.

She tossed off her bra and ran her palms over her budded nipples. He watched her eagerly. She liked how he looked at her as if she were his next meal. She skimmed her palms down her hot skin and gently pushed her underwear and sweats down her trembling thighs, her calves, and off her feet.

Her inner thighs were already wet. She cupped her pussy. “Do you want this?”

“Yes.”

She climbed onto the bed and straddled herself over his cock. She inserted one finger into her pussy, her thumb pushing against her clit. She jerked her head back.

“I like watching you pleasure yourself.”

“It’s not enough.” She slowly speared herself onto his erect cock. “You seem to always have a hard-on.” Her core spread apart taking him until he filled her.

“That’s the way it is with mates.”

She rode him, moving her hips around in a circle that turned into a feverish torment of one pleasure after another. He matched her rhythm, echoing her every spasm. He allowed her to control the pace, never breaking his bonds.

She massaged her breasts and tilted her head back. Skin flapped against skin and the rollercoaster reached a pinnacle peak. Her orgasm sent her flying down the hill in a bliss of ecstasy.

Seth was bathed in sweat, and he licked his lips.

She stretched over him and kissed him. “Thank you.”

He breathed heavily. “For what?”

“For letting me to take control.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll do anything to please you.” He still pulsed inside her.

“I’ll free you now.”

She fumbled untying the belts.

“I’ll do it.” In one easy flick, he freed both wrists and she found herself on her back.

He could have escaped anytime, but he hadn’t. She smiled and stretched her arms over her head. “Do what you like,” she purred.

“Don’t worry. I will.” He clasped his mouth on one nipple and sucked hard, igniting more pleasure inside her. He licked, laved, and sucked every inch of her slick body. His hands discovered where to caress, pluck, and pinch, driving her into a hot orgasm.

He collapsed on top of her. His breath was warm against her throat, his body damp against hers, and his cock wedged between her sleek muscles. She lightly moved her fingernails over his back, drawing little circles. This was bliss.

He nuzzled her neck. “Be my mate.”

She held her breath, gulping down air to stay quiet. The bliss edged away and reality slammed into her. She bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

“Cora?” He lifted his head. “Trust me. I’d never hurt you.”

“We should eat. I’m starving, aren’t you?”

He shook his head, but didn’t press the matter. He kissed the top of her forehead. “Fine. Let’s eat.” He pulled out of her and rolled off.

Cold brushed over her body where warmth had been. The passion in the room died, but she couldn’t bring herself to say she would be his mate. One time of allowing her to take control in the bedroom didn’t mean he wouldn’t be a domineering tiger like Miles was to Caterina.

Her freedom meant more to her than the best sex in the world. Sex she could have anytime she wanted, but once lost, she’d never reclaim her independence.