Tiger snarled. He was frustrated and worse. Bestial was right. He needed to tell Zandy that he had no intention of ever letting her go. They were mated. He just needed to make her feel secure about him before he did. She might bolt and unlike Bestial, he'd never force her to stay, even though it would tear his heart out of his chest if she left.

Zandy saw Tiger's Jeep pull up in front of the building at four o'clock on the dot. She shoved her feet into her shoes and waved goodbye to Richard. She was out the door before Tiger could reach it. He grinned as his arms wrapped around her in a hug.

"I missed you." He lowered his head and brushed a kiss on her lips.

She laughed. "I would guess so. We're giving Richard and all the cameras a show."

His beautiful blue eyes sparkled. "That wasn't a show. This is one."

Zandy gasped when Tiger lifted her up until her feet left the ground. She automatically wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her until she had to fight the urge to straddle his hips with her legs. She wanted to ride him through their clothing just to feel his rigid cock pressed against her clit, instead of where it rested at her lower belly. She desperately needed some relief from the flames of desire burning through her body. He tore his lips from hers.

"Let's go," he growled. His beautiful catlike eyes were passion filled.

"Oh yeah. Let's go. Drive fast."

He walked with her in his arms and placed her in the passenger seat. He nuzzled her neck before he let go. "I will." He rushed to get behind the wheel.

She glanced over at him and loved seeing his tense features. That promised really hot sex the moment they reached his house.

Tiger parked in the driveway and climbed out. Zandy didn't wait for him to come around to her side, instead she bolted for the front door. She heard him growl loudly and his heavy footfalls assured her he was in pursuit. She reached the porch steps but didn't make it to the top before hands grabbed her hips. He spun her around and bent, his body bumped her hips. Zandy laughed when she ended up upside down, hanging over his shoulder. He straightened and cupped her ass to keep her in place.

He quickly opened the door and strode through the living room, down the hall and into their bedroom. She gasped when he dumped her flat on her back on the soft mattress. He backed up as she used her elbows to lift her upper body and stare at him.

"Take your clothes off or I'll tear them from your body. I want you right now."

He bent and just ripped off his shoes, throwing them haphazardly behind him. His fingers snagged his shirt, jerking it over his head to reveal his sexy abs and tan chest. Muscular arms rose to yank the hair tie from the ponytail that contained his long hair. He shook his head and the silky strands fell in disarray around his shoulders. His blue eyes narrowed and he growled.

"Now, Zandy. I mean it. I know you like that top. Take it off or it's a cleaning rag."

She sat up all the way and quickly removed the shirt and bra. Tiger opened his pants and just shoved them down and kicked free of them. His cock was thick and hard, pointing right at her. She dropped back down and lifted her hips as she wiggled out of her pants and panties. He was already tugging on the bottom of the legs to get them off. Tiger tossed them behind him to fall somewhere near where his had landed.

Zandy licked her lips when she lay there totally naked, sprawled in the middle of his bed. Tiger's gaze fixed on her mouth and a purr came from him. He put a knee on the bed, dropped forward to bend with his hands braced on the mattress and crawled forward until she was caged under his body.

It was hard to think when she wanted him so badly but she'd had hours to contemplate things before he'd arrived to pick her up from work. They didn't do so well in the talking department on serious issues, each leery of the other, but there was one thing she was determined to get to the bottom of.

"Wait!" She lifted her hands to flatten on his chest before he could drop down over her. "Maybe I should take a shower first. It was kind of hot today and I'm sweaty. I probably smell bad."

He inhaled through his nose and another purr came from him, his chest vibrating against her hands. "No shower. You smell good enough to eat." His gaze lowered down her body and he backed up a few feet until his face hovered over her stomach. "I want to find out if you taste as good as you scent. Spread your thighs wide apart for me."

She really wanted him to go down on her, her clit throbbed in anticipation of that hot, hungry mouth of his and all the wonderful things he could do to her with it. Her nipples hardened and her belly quivered. It was tough but she took a shaky breath and resisted parting her legs to give him access. It was even worse when he dipped his head to place an open-mouthed kiss on the hollow of her hip.

"Tiger," she whispered.

He growled softly and then purred. "You scent so damn good."

He had to know she was in heat. Her mind screamed that at her. "Um, Tiger?"

His lips inched lower, his cheeks nuzzling her thighs, which he wanted open. "Yes, little one?"

"Um, I think you should buy condoms. I'm ovulating again."

His mouth stopped placing kisses on her and he grew very still. It was almost as if he froze as the seconds passed. He finally raised his head and met her watchful gaze, studying her.

"I don't need them with you, Zandy."

Her heart pounded, wondering what he'd say. She was almost afraid of his answer. "Why not?"

He moved suddenly, gripped her inner thighs, and parted them. Instead of answering, his mouth fastened on her clit and sucked on her. The sensations hit her hard and fast as he purred loudly, adding vibrations into the mix. She collapsed flat and her fingers delved into his silky hair, needing something to hold on to as pleasure swamped her.

"Oh god."

Tiger was relentless as he played with her clit with strong tugs of his mouth and licks. He lapped at her rapidly as his purrs grew deeper and stronger. His hands kept her thighs open when it became too intense and she tried to close them. Her back arched and she cried out his name as she came hard and fast.

His hands released her and the bed shifted as he moved. She struggled to recover as she opened her eyes to see what he was doing. He rolled her over onto her stomach suddenly and came down on top of her back. His thighs pushed hers apart and she moaned when the thick tip of his cock brushed against her pussy. He drove into her with one fluid motion that put him balls-deep inside her.

Tiger braced his arms to avoid crushing her upper body under his and he forced her legs wider apart. He held still while her pussy adjusted to the feel of his cock stretching it apart to fit him. His mouth found her neck and sharp teeth nipped her gently. He withdrew almost completely from her before he drove up, fucking her deeply.

Zandy clawed the bedding and turned her head enough to breathe as Tiger rode her fast and furiously. She was totally pinned beneath him. Her climax was still making her twitch and more pleasure rolled through her. Tiger purred and growled, his braced arms shifting enough to tighten his hold on her when he caged her ribs.

"I can't stop," he snarled. "You're so tight and hot. You smell so good." His teeth scored her shoulder, not biting, just grazing her.

"Yes," she encouraged. She wasn't sure if it was for him to keep pounding her as roughly as he did because it felt incredible or if she wanted him to bite her. "Don't stop."

She moaned, trying to shove her ass back to meet him. He moved faster and held her tighter as more of his weight came down until she couldn't move at all. It turned her on more that all she could do was take him as he pounded into her. She screamed as she climaxed a second time, her body not even recovered from the first one. Ecstasy tore through her and she trembled. She went a little limp and knew she was in danger of passing out.

Tiger drove into her deeply one last time, ground his hips against her ass and his roar nearly deafened her. He could have done any lion proud at that moment. He jerked in sharp, tight spasms as she felt him coming inside her.

She panted, trying to catch her breath. Sweat tickled slightly between their bodies. Tiger groaned and collapsed completely over her, going totally limp. He crushed her against the mattress.

"Weight," Zandy gasped.

He seemed to struggle to find the strength to lift his upper body again but he did it until she could breathe again. He lowered his head and licked her shoulder where he'd bitten her in the past. She turned her head enough to see his face.

"Did you bite me again?"

He chuckled. "No, but I wanted to."

Her eyes closed. "Wow."

He nuzzled her neck. "I feel the same."

The ability to think returned as her body recovered. Tiger knew she was in heat and that he could get her pregnant. It was possible that he didn't use condoms because he could be sterile. She frowned, pondering it.

"What's wrong, Zandy?" Tiger nibbled her ear.

"Is there a medical condition that you have that makes you sterile? I know New Species can have babies. The doctor slipped and told me after she saw the bite marks you put on me. She thought we were mated."

His body stiffened against hers. She turned her head and met his gaze. He had paled enough for her to notice and as she studied his eyes, she realized what she was seeing in them. Guilt.

"What is going on?"

He glanced away. "Nothing."

It hurt. "You're lying to me. Look at me and tell me what is going on. I'm in heat but you didn't say a word. Torrent had to tell me. I even had you smell me and you know I'm ovulating. You're even acting different during sex. You're more aggressive. Not that I'm complaining. Why didn't you tell me I'm in heat?"

He met her gaze again. The emotion she saw stunned her. She could almost swear she saw fear. He moved suddenly and his hands encircled her wrists. He jerked them up the bed and kept them there.

"Why are you holding me down?" She wasn't afraid, but he was. She was sure that's what she was seeing as they stared at each other.

"I don't want you trying to run from me."

"Why the hell would I run from you and could you at least flip me over if you're going to pin me down? I like to look into your eyes without getting a crick in my neck."

He hesitated but let go of her wrists, flattening his palms on the bed. He pushed up until his body wasn't touching hers. "Roll over."

She did, having to untangle their legs first. The second she was flat on her back he came down on her and grabbed her wrists again. They were jerked above her head and his fingers laced through hers to hold them down on the bed.

His beauty struck her as she studied Tiger. His hair was wild and his amazing eyes were so blue that she felt lost in them. He was her fallen angel, whom she loved. "Why do you think I'd run away from you? Please talk to me. The not knowing is worse than anything I'm thinking right now. Trust me on that. Whatever it is, we can work it out."

He chewed on his bottom lip. It made her attention focus there until he stopped and took a deep breath. He blew it out slowly and her gaze lifted to his. "You've been in heat for two days. It's why I've brought you lunch at work. I knew I couldn't take you to the cafeteria. The males would react and you'd know you were in heat. I had asked Torrent to send a female to deliver your lunch but obviously that didn't happen since you said he told you the truth."

"Why didn't you want me to know? I'm so confused."

"I wanted to get you pregnant."

She gaped at him in bewilderment. It took her reeling brain time to try to let what he'd said sink in. "Why?"

He lowered his face until they were sharing breaths. "I thought you'd be more agreeable to being my mate if you were with child. You would realize I purposely allowed it to happen to show you that I was serious about commitment. You've had males avoid that. I'm not. I hoped you'd also feel more bonded to me if it happened...and that you'd need me."

Her heart nearly stopped. "You want me to be your mate?"

"You already are, damn it." He growled as anger flashed in his eyes. "You're mine, Zandy. You have been since the moment you woke up on the hood of that Jeep and kissed me. I just didn't want to admit it at first but you're my mate and I'm yours."

Zandy could only gape at him. "Let me get this straight. You've been trying to get me pregnant? You didn't think you should ask me first?"

"I'm sorry. I know it was wrong but you've been hurt. I love you. I wanted to do anything to bind you to me as tightly as I am bound to you. You aren't Species and can't become addicted to my scent. You could walk away from me without suffering withdrawal. The thought of losing you drives me insane. I couldn't stand it."

Zandy wiggled. "Let go of my hands."

He hesitated but did it. "You deserve to hit me."

She reached up and cupped his face instead. "All you had to do was ask, Tiger. I would love to be your mate."

She saw his shock. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yes. I love you too. I don't need to own a super nose to feel addicted to you. My heart already is."

His mouth swooped down and covered hers. She moaned into his kiss. Tiger spread her legs with his and nudged her pussy with his cock until he entered her. She tore her mouth from his and moaned. Their gazes sought each other.

He purred. "I'm going to kill myself trying to get you pregnant. I want a baby with you. I want everything."

Zandy blinked back tears. "Then stop talking." She hooked her legs around his waist. "Less talking, more fucking."

He laughed. "I really do love you."

"I love you too, baby. I love how you feel inside me too. Do you really think I can get pregnant this fast?"

"I'm determined," he rasped.

"Lucky me."

She was a little frightened of the idea of having a baby. They were moving so fast. The memory of how close she'd come to losing him though shoved all doubts away. Life was short and she wasn't going to allow fear to stop her from grabbing happiness with both hands.

Epilogue.

Nine days later Zandy smiled at Smiley. "Thank you for doing this."

He warily regarded her. "Tiger is going to kill me. He said you are to never leave Reservation."

"I know but I really appreciate it."

He nodded. "I have seven highly trained officers in the area. They are far enough away to give you privacy but close enough to know if anyone poses a danger. Tiger will kill me if something happens to you. The others weren't given direct orders where you are concerned."

"You're a good friend."

He laughed. "Not to Tiger. But to you, yes."

Zandy shooed him with her hand. "I know you aren't happy about leaving me here alone but you need to go." She glanced at her watch. "Tiger should be reaching my work about now and Richard will give him the note. I'm betting he will get here really fast. Make sure he doesn't see you on the road."

"No way. I'm hiding until he has you in his arms and knows you're safe."

"You're sure the officers are far enough away?"

He nodded. "You told me what you planned. Tiger will tear them apart if they come this way and see too much of you. It's well known how mates are. Trust me. You have privacy, Zandy. Give me a minute and I'll be so far from here it won't be funny. Tiger is going to scent that I was here with you and be very angry. I'm going to run fast and far to avoid him."

He turned and sprinted into the woods away from the road. Zandy laughed and turned to examine the area by the creek. She smiled and kicked off her shoes, undressing. She eyed the area once more, feeling a little nervous but removed the rest of her clothing to wade into the water.