A Tiger's Destiny (Tiger Protectors Book 3) Read online

  “You did exactly what I needed, whether it was what I thought I wanted at the time or not. That definitely counts for something,” she said with a sigh.

  With one smooth motion, Kel wrapped his arm under Sofia’s legs and pulled her onto his lap. Every second she was near, he could feel his strength returning more rapidly, like she was the source.

  And with both Domingo Arnal and Aaron Felding in the care of the dragons, he was free to go be with his mate.

  And he knew just where to take her.

  “Jace!” he called, and his dark-haired brother came over.

  “How are you doing?” Jace asked.

  “Fine,” Kel said, arms still around Sofia. “But I need a change of clothes and some car keys.”

  “Sure,” Jace said, pulling his keys out and handing them over. “I can get a ride home with Carter. He’s coming over soon to help, already back from his trip.”

  “Tell him everything’s fine,” Kel said.

  “I’ll run and grab you some clothes,” Jace said, turning to leave.

  Sofia looked up at him. “Where are we going?”

  Kel grinned. “I finally get to show you my home.”

  “Sounds great to me,” she said, and they snuggled until Jace came back with what they needed.

  Everything had worked out, and all that was left was for Kel to tell his mate how he felt and welcome her into his life. Oh, and claim her. He was especially looking forward to that part.

  * * *

  Sofia tried not to laugh as Kel got out of the car he’d parked in the underground garage of a large, upscale high-rise building. The only spare clothing to be had came from one of the cops at the scene, and it was far too small for Kel’s large stature. She liked the way the button-up shirt was undone in the front, the way his thighs and calves strained the pants.

  But she could tell from his ruffled hair and the impatient look on his face that it wasn’t the time to point out how funny he looked, even if she found it adorable. They had more important things to discuss.

  He opened the door for her and helped her out, then sniffed the air before frowning. “I can still scent them on you,” he said. “I’ll have to remedy that soon.”

  A little chill went down her spine at the thought of it, and then Kel put her arm through his and led her to the elevator that went up to the apartments.

  “This is a nice place,” she said. “Not what I expected.”

  “What did you expect?” he asked, pushing the button at the very top.

  “I don’t know. Something more undercover or discreet?”

  “Nah,” he said. “I’m never here, usually. But when I am, I like to enjoy my time in a nice place. Not some hidden cabin in the woods. Or a renovated bomb shelter like Jace.”

  She laughed. She could just picture the hard-core bounty hunter living somewhere just like that.

  “Although, I think he did move since he took a mate,” Kel said, frowning, his blue eyes narrowed in thought as he looked down at her. “If you don’t like my place or if you want to go somewhere else, just say the word. I’ve saved up a lifetime of money, and we can do whatever you want. We don’t have to hide as much anymore, now that we know Domingo was your main problem. Now that he’s been dealt with, by both tigers and dragons, I don’t think anyone else is going to try anything.” He cracked his knuckles, and a seam on the shirt popped loose.

  He gave her an embarrassed look as he tried to see what had popped, but when he turned, the sleeve ripped away from the shoulder, baring one powerful deltoid. He grinned apologetically. “They didn’t have my size.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m going to be ripping them off you anyway.”

  He went speechless at that, just standing there looking adorable in his too-small, ripped clothing, his blond hair mussed, his blue eyes burning in anticipation. She leaned up on her toes and kissed him on the nose just as the elevator dinged that they had reached their destination.

  She giggled and walked out, and he followed after.

  “Get back here,” he said. “I’m not done with you.”

  Her mouth fell open in a silent gasp as she looked around her. Kel’s apartment was amazing. Clean and open, with white walls and warm-gray carpet, and sparsely furnished with a few couches and end tables, plus a main coffee table, upon which a bowl of pistachios sat next to a bag of pistachios.

  But what made it seem like a home, and personal, were the little knickknacks and trinkets littering the house, on nearly every table and every shelf. Globes, little figures carved from wood, miniature flags from different countries.

  He walked over to a shelf and pulled a figurine of a woman off of it. It was carved in brass and looked ancient. “As you can see, I’ve enjoyed collecting things. Sort of building a life here.”

  She found it adorable. She’d always had to travel, always had to run, but she’d never had a home base to come back to. Now she did.

  There was a big window that looked out over the city, and she walked to it, enjoying the view.

  The most magical part about it was how much it already felt like home.

  Kel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Do you like it?”

  “Like it?” she said. “It’s just what I would have done for myself. I love it.”

  “Good,” he said. “And do you love me?”

  Her heart pounded as she turned to him. She saw vulnerability in his eyes and wondered at the fact that she could somehow affect this tall, strong man so deeply. “I love you more than anything in the world. More than I ever thought possible. I know I reacted wrong,” she said, taking his hand. “But when Felding called with his threats, all I could think of was my parents’ house burning and gunshots in the distance and how much it would tear me apart if that happened to you.”

  He ran a hand through her hair, pulling her in against his chest. He still smelled faintly of gunpowder but also of his own spicy, masculine scent.

  She relaxed as she snuggled against him.

  “I’ve never wanted anything like I want you,” she said. “And I wanted you almost from the moment we met.”

  “I know,” he said. “It’s like it’s some kind of destiny.” He pulled his cuff back and rolled it up, exposing his wrist and forearm and holding it out to her. At the center were two little hearts, chained together. It was right where she’d scratched him when she’d been caught up in the throes of sex.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “I was going to ask you to explain it,” he said. “This is how the dragons convinced me to come after you.” He rolled his sleeve back down as far as it would go, since it was too small. “It’s the mark of a mate. You mated me, you sneaky jaguar.”

  She laughed out loud but was totally shocked. “I mated you?”

  “Yep,” he said, folding his arms and crowding her against the window intimidatingly. “So are you going to make an honest man out of me, Sofia?”

  She laughed and avoided his eyes. “I don’t know,” she said. “That was awfully sneaky of me.” Her eyes darted to his. “Wait, did you mate me?”

  “No,” he said, a glitter of amusement in his eyes despite his stern expression. “I was the one who showed restraint. But I did know you were my mate all along. I just wanted to wait and make sure you didn’t feel pressured.” He put a hand over his face. “I should have just gone for it.”

  “I appreciate your restraint,” she said. “But I guess it makes sense that I mated you. That would explain why I felt so powerfully protective of you that I would just run into danger, on top of everything I’ve been through.” She wound her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her. “I guess I better make an honest man out of you after all.”

  He nodded. “And I can’t wait to give you my mark.”

  “What’s it going to be?” she asked, eyes wide.

  He thought about it a moment. “I’ll let you be surprised. See what I feel in the heat of the moment.”

  She frowned. “But w
hat if I end up with something like a pistachio? You think about them an awful lot.”

  “Not when I’m with you,” he said. “You’re all I can think of. Far more addictive than my favorite snack. Although, a pistachio would be the highest compliment, in my opinion.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she grumbled.

  He pulled back to look down at her, blue eyes soft and warm. “It doesn’t matter, though, right? As long as you’re mine and I’m yours forever.”

  She nodded, resting her head against his chest. “Yes, that’s all that matters.”

  “Good,” he said, swooping her up in his arms. “Then I’m going to take this to the bedroom. I got a mate to claim.”

  She giggled and held her breath, knowing this was going to be hot.

  13

  Sofia was light as air in Kel’s arms as he carried her to the bedroom. His bedroom.

  Somehow, everything about this had come together more right than he could have ever imagined.

  He laid her down on the huge, soft bed he rarely slept on, grateful he’d just chosen the most expensive model in the catalog on principle. Sofia deserved the best of everything.

  She was still wearing the clothes from this morning, and the scents on it reminded him of the people who had chased her, apparently for years.

  Extending a single claw on his finger, he sliced carefully down the middle of her blouse and took it off of her, tossing it to the side as she blushed. Next, he cut off the button on her jeans and cut a slit down the sides of both legs, then did likewise to them, too, leaving her there in nothing but her bra and panties.

  He’d ask later if he could burn the scraps, too. But he had more important things to do right now.

  “No more running, then?” Kel asked as he tore off the hilariously small shirt he had on and straddled her on the bed, loving the delicious feel of her generous figure beneath him.

  “No more running. But that doesn’t mean you get to be the boss all the time,” she said coyly, writhing beneath him and teasing with her curves.

  “When it comes to this…” he said, coming down and placing a long kiss between her breasts as his hands found the corners of her hips and caressed them, “I’ll make it feel so good you won’t need to worry about it.”

  Sofia opened her mouth to say something more but was cut off by a gentle gasp being drawn from her lips as he pulled her bra lower and licked over her nipple.

  She was so soft, everywhere. So perfect.

  Damn, he’d gotten lucky.

  He pulled off her bra and just marveled at her beauty for a moment, running a hand through her dark hair and holding her gently behind her neck as his other hand caressed the soft flesh of her breast.

  “Are you going to sit there looking, or are you going to claim me?” she challenged playfully as she tilted her head and rested it fully against his hand, as if she couldn’t get enough of his touch.

  Kel growled in response and ran his hand down between her legs and underneath her panties, quickly moving into a slow rhythm that made Sofia moan and bite her upper lip as her body arched beneath him.

  Hell yes, he’d claim her.

  Kel could feel her getting wetter as he stroked her clit over and over, her body warming as she shuddered with each touch and her breath caught. As he continued to stimulate her with his hand, he came down to her neck, kissing her there fervently and licking the soft lobe of her ear, further adding to her arousal.

  It didn’t take long for her to climax, her entire body tensing against him as he held her close while she rode out the throes of ecstasy that overtook her.

  His tiger was so close, responding to her being so near, responding to her pleasure and eager to take its mate.

  You and me both, big guy.

  Once she was able to relax again, Kel slipped off her panties, leaving her beautiful and completely bare to him.

  She looked great in a cute shirt and jeans, but she looked by far the best naked.

  Kel came off of her and moved between her legs, eager to give her just one more, when he was interrupted by Sofia’s hand on his shoulder.

  “Next time, Kel,” she said, looking at him with a smile, then her gaze trailing lower to his waist. “Right now, I just need you inside me. I need to know I’ll be yours.”

  “So you’re saying I’m too good of a lover?” Kel replied playfully as he kissed along her neck again, adoring her body with every touch.

  “I promise there will be plenty of time over the rest of our lives for you to pleasure me,” she said with a sultry laugh. “But there’s only one thing I really want right now. So don’t make me tackle you and pull off those pants that have been teasing me ever since we got here,” she added, turning and whispering sexily into his ear.

  This kitty knew what she wanted. Kel liked that.

  He’d just make sure he gave her double next time to make up for it. It was only fair.

  Kel stood off the bed and undid the pants that had been handed to him earlier. The longer he’d been around Sofia, though, the harder he’d gotten, making the fit progressively worse.

  He undid the zipper and came free of the incredibly restrictive clothing. How he’d fit in those damn pants, he’d never know.

  All he knew was his mate needed him.

  And he needed his mate.

  He came back onto the bed and positioned himself between Sofia’s legs, so impossibly turned on just at the sight of her that it blew his mind. Then, with one slow push, he came inside, completely overtaken by her softness and wetness surrounding him.

  “That’s it,” she murmured, sounding pleased. “Even better than I remember,” she added as she wrapped her soft legs around his waist, locking them together.

  Kel had to agree. Knowing things would be final between them, knowing she’d forever be his made this more special, more amazing.

  With a smooth motion, he began to move inside her, thrusting slowly and controlling the speed he went to further his mate’s pleasure. As he did, Sofia gasped beneath him. Her scent was everywhere, as wild and erotic as she was, and he had to hold himself back if he wanted to make it last for her.

  He began to move faster, and as he did, Sofia gripped him with her hands tightly, signaling how close she was. The slick heat between them created a delicious friction that was beyond description, their bodies connecting together over and over again, creating burning pleasure.

  Kel reached a finger down to where their hips met and stroked once over her clit, pushing her over the edge.

  Sofia gripped him tightly as he felt her come around him, pulsing and throbbing with release, release so hot it seared his soul with happiness. She cried out his name to the heavens as he held her, feeling the sensations that rocked her body, and he watched with wonder the beauty of seeing his mate come.

  In a few moments, he’d make that title official.

  Before she’d fully relaxed from the orgasm, Kel began to move inside her again, intensifying his speed as Sofia voiced her pleasure, the sound of her quickening moans music to his ears.

  By now, Kel’s entire body was aflame with desire, so taut that only the desire to come with his mate, the two of them together, kept him in one piece. As his rhythm quickened and Sofia began to move her hips into his in time with him, his tiger roared and his claws extended on his right hand. Without thought or planning, his hand trailed down her leg to her ankle at his side, and his fingers traced ever so lightly over her skin, marking her as his.

  Both of them covered in a light sheen of sweat from exertion, both at the very edge of their limits, Kel pushed one last time into his mate, all the way to the hilt, and held there as they became one.

  Instantly, Sofia’s back arched off the bed and her hands dug into the sheets at her sides as she convulsed in sweet release. A moment later, Kel felt his own senses slip past all resistance into a freefall of pleasure. His body jerked as he came inside her, pumping with incredible power as the two of them were overcome by the ecstasy of the moment.

&
nbsp; All Kel could feel was the build from their lovemaking coming off him in waves, combined with the overwhelming love he felt for Sofia, which only further intensified it. Even as both of their bodies relaxed together, Kel held her tight, not wanting to let go and wanting to savor the moment as long as it possibly could be held.

  They were mates, bound by the same mystical force that had brought them together and the same power that kept the universe in order.

  Sofia gave out a long, happy sigh and relaxed on the bed. Kel leaned over and gave her a kiss on the lips, committing this experience to memory and looking forward to many more like this in the future. After they both exchanged sincere “I love yous,” he came out of her, went to the bathroom, quickly cleaned off, and grabbed two robes for them to use.

  He came to the bed and wrapped one of the robes around his mate, wanting her to stay warm. She sat up and shrugged it on, radiant with afterglow.

  Kel noticed the clock and saw it wasn’t even nighttime yet. Sofia had to be hungry.

  “So, mate, how about lunch and then a shower?” he offered, wholly focused on his mate’s happiness.

  “And then an encore?” she asked eagerly between tired breaths.

  Kel couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, and then an encore.”

  He picked up his mate and carried her into the kitchen, setting her on a comfortable padded stool while he rummaged around for whatever he had.

  It looked like chocolate chip pancakes were the order for the day.

  “That was amazing, Kel. Thank you,” Sofia said as she watched him gather a bowl, eggs, and other ingredients.

  Now that they were mated, there was something he needed to tell her.

  “Oh, by the way, Sofia. My real name’s Kelly.”

  “What! Are you serious?” she said, flabbergasted.

  Kel just nodded as he cracked eggs and began to whisk them.

  “You just mated me and now you bring that up?” she teased, narrowing her eyes at him in mock offense.

  “I didn’t think it would be a deal breaker,” he replied with a shrug. “I figured my lovemaking skills would make up for that minor detail.”