He didnt think it was possible, but he got even harder. You touch me in any way, and its going to be over.
A small knowing smile lifted her lips. Then I wont touch you there.
Hesitating for only a moment, he moved off her and did as she demanded, watching, enrapt, as she stripped out of her jacket, shirt, and bra with a single move. She was glorious in her nakedness, her dark hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves. With a move that sent fire arcing through his veins, she lifted one leg and straddled him, her wet sheath nestled tight against his zipper.
From her perch, she watched him with a mixture of softness and power. On his tongue he tasted the sweetness of an emotion he couldnt quite put a name to, an emotion he could taste for the rest of his life and never tire of.
Delaney leaned forward, her fingers tracing the gold armband on his arm, then moving over the feral mark, the claw marks, above his left breast, exploring him. She bent her head until her lips brushed the feral marks, sending a shock of chills through his body.
She was kissing the very thing that had once destroyed everything hed cared about, as if she understood. As if she accepted them. And him.
When nothing could be further from the truth.
Delaney Randall had no idea hed been marked by the tiger. That he was immortal. That he was a shape-shifter. And if she ever figured out what he was, shed turn and run. Just as Gretchen had.
No she wouldnt. Running wasnt her style. Delaney would get her gun and hunt him down like the monster he was.
She rose from kissing his chest, her eyes tight with question and soft with concern as she laid her hand over the scars on his chest.
That bothered you. That I kissed you there.
Had his thoughts shown that clearly? He reached for her, stroking her cheek. The scars bring back memories. Unpleasant ones. You didnt do anything wrong.
Im sorry for whatever hurt you, Tighe. Or whoever.
It was a long time ago. But warmth filled his chest at the compassion in her eyes. Sweet nature, but he wouldnt allow anyone to hurt her. Ever. Even after hed stolen her memories of him, hed watch over her from a distance. Protect her in any way he could for the short years of her existence.
The thought of it, that she wouldnt be completely lost to him, eased the tight ache in his chest. She wouldnt be out of his life. His role in hers would just change.
But this would probably be the only time hed ever make love to her.
CHAPTER 16
Delaney ran her hands over the hard planes of Tighes chest as she straddled his half-clothed body, reveling in the beauty of the man. Sunshine poured across his muscled contours, glinting off the antique gold armband he wore, an armband, she realized, with an attractive, stylized tigers head. Her gaze moved to the rippling muscles of his arms as damp heat pooled deep in her body. He was glorious, and she wanted him so badly, she was shaking with it.
Bracing her hands on his chest, she rubbed herself against the hard length of the erection between her legs, an erection still fully covered by his pants. It was a problem she was more than ready to dispose of.
D. He gripped her hips, holding her still. Not yet. He looked up at her with an expression that seemed to be a mix of heat, pain, and tenderness. Seemed to be because she couldnt see his eyes behind those shades. Hed never once let her see his eyes, and she wanted to see them. Needed to see them.
She reached for his sunglasses, but he snatched her wrists. No, brown eyes. He lifted his hips, pressing against her sensitive flesh, distracting her as he no doubt intended. Undress me, Delaney.
For a moment longer, she looked at his face, always half-closed to her. He didnt fully trust her. And why should he, any more than she trusted him? They were on opposite sides of the law. From opposite worlds.
What was she even doing with him? She knew virtually nothing about him. She didnt even know his full name!
He rocked against her again, sending pleasure cascading through her body. Reminding her where she was. And what she wanted. At this moment, at least.
Theirs wasnt a relationship so much as an encounter. And it wouldnt last. It couldnt last. But for this short time, he was hers, and she intended to enjoy every moment of it.
She bent her head to trail her lips over the hard planes of his body, then reached for the zipper of his pants.
He groaned. D.
She pulled his pants off him as he had hers. Beneath the soft jeans she found green silk boxers and slid her palm against the ridge beneath.
Tighe sucked his breath in hard. Take them off, he groaned. And she did, sliding the silky fabric down his hips, revealing the largest, thickest erection shed ever seen. Not that shed seen that many. All of two. Still, Tighes wasextraordinary.
Youre huge, she breathed.
Even through his sunglasses, she could feel his gaze on her. His fingers slid between her legs. Thats why youre going to be ready, sweetheart. Wet and open and crying for me to take you before I enter you.
His words sent the heat inside her flaring as she groaned from his touch. What makes you think Im not already? She pulled his boxers all the way off, but as she turned to toss them onto the floor, Tighe rose and grabbed her around the waist, turning her until she was on her hands and knees on the bed.
Tighe.
He knelt beside her, one hand cupping her breast while the other traced her spine to her tailbone and lower, sliding into the crease of her buttocks. His finger found her wet, ready heat and slid inside.
Fire shot through her, and she arched, hissing with pleasure as his finger dove deep inside her. She pressed against his hand, wanting more. Needing more.
Easy, brown eyes. He added a second finger, then a third. While his fingers probed her depths, his other hand played with her breast, twirling her nipple until she was gasping with desire.
Tighe.
By the time his fingers left her, her breathing was labored, her pulse thick, desire pounding through her body. She rose onto her knees and faced him, pushing at his shoulders. I either want you inside me, or I want to taste you, as you tasted me. Your choice.
His mouth widened, not quite a smile, but definitely a satisfied look. Then he pulled her against him, chest to chest, and kissed her, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth.
Without warning, he fell back onto the pillow, pulling her down on top of him. You can taste me. For as long as I can stand it. Goddess, but I want your lips on me.
He released her, and she smiled, pushing herself off his chest and turning, her gaze caressing that long thickness. With a single finger, she traced the throbbing vein running from the base of his shaft all the way to the head, delighting in the sharp intake of his breath.
Her fingers slid down the satin flesh, reveling in the feel of him. Clasping him gently, she bent and ran her tongue over the slit at the tip, tasting the drop of moisture clinging there. She twirled her tongue around the head and was just about to pull him fully into her mouth when his hands grabbed her hips.
Lift your leg, D.
Im not through.
He moaned. I hope not. But I want my mouth on you, too.
Her eyes widened, and she grabbed hold of his thighs, bracing herself as he pulled her hips back and situated her knees on either side of his face.
Thenoh God. At the exact moment he thrust his shaft into her mouth, his tongue dove into her core. Sensations exploded throughout her body as she sucked on the flesh in her mouth, giving him pleasure even as she took it from him in return. His lovemaking was a heady mix of gentleness and aggression, his hands on her hips shaking, gripping her tightly, telling her clearly of his own barely restrained passion.
He began to suck on her sensitive nub until her hips were rocking of their own volition, desperate for the release that was almost there. Almost there. The closer she came to completion, the harder she sucked on him, until he suddenly pulled her away and flipped her onto her back.
Then he was over her, spreading her legs with his knee. I have to be inside you, brown eyes. His voice was taut. Pained.
Yes.
Look at me, Delaney. Look at me.
But when she tried, all she saw was herself reflected in those damned sunglasses. Her spurt of annoyance disappeared as he pushed that thick head against her opening. She gasped as he pressed into her, stretching her. Her body was wet and ready, and the feel of him exquisite. Beyond pleasure. Beyond anything shed ever dreamed she could feel.
Okay? he asked.
Ah, she groaned, wrapping her arms around his sweat-slicked back. Yes. Oh, yes. Better than okay. Better thanOh, Tighe, she moaned, as he pushed all the way inside, pulled nearly out of her, then thrust back inside, faster than before. Her eyes rolled back, her eyelids dropping as incredible pleasure became her entire world.
Delaney, look at me.
She forced her eyes open as he thrust inside her again and again, his rhythm hard and demanding, at once rough and infinitely gentle.
Again, she stared at herself in the reflection of his sunglasses. Blast it. Here they were as intimate as they could possibly be, and she couldnt even see his eyes. On a spurt of annoyance, she reached up and grabbed the sunglasses, yanked them off his face, and tossed them onto the floor.
D, no. His eyes snapped closed before she could see so much as a hint of the green eyes shed seen on his twin. Damn it.
I want to see you.
Eyes closed, he thrust into her, his face a hard mask of concentration. Your timing sucks, brown eyes. His mouth came down on hers, and he kissed her hard, almost punishingly, driving home just how little she knew him.
Just how many secrets lay between them.
A lump formed in her throat, mired in anger, even as her body rose, swept away by the desire that flared within her whenever he was close. When the orgasm finally swept over her, she gave herself to it, soaring briefly before crashing back to reality.
Shed given herself to a man in a mask. A man who, even in lovemaking, kept a solid wall between them. What an idiot she was for thinking she could trust him. How could she forget she knew virtually nothing about him. Good grief, she didnt even know his full name.
Shed never even seen his eyes!
Tighe finished on a satisfied groan, then almost immediately pulled out of her and vaulted to the floor to fetch his sunglasses.
Angry with him and disgusted with herself, she rolled off the bed on the other side, gathered up her clothes, and strode to the bathroom visible on the other side of the room.
D?
She slammed the door and locked it behind her. Then she dropped her clothes on the cushioned stool and leaned back against the door.
Sex with a stranger. Thats all it had been. A man she didnt even know. A man who wouldnt even look her in the eye. When shed first woken up and seen him, shed felt a rush of joy, a need to be in his arms, as if that were the only place she truly belonged. For a short while, shed allowed herself to be swept away by the fantasy that he was a good man. A man whod come after her because he cared about her. A fantasy that she was falling just a little bit in love with him.
Ludicrous.
For him she was only a means to an end. A way to catch his brother. And she was an FBI agent with the same mission. It was time she remembered that.
With a growl of frustration, she pushed away from the door to start the shower. He was her captor, plain and simple. Forgetting that small fact and deluding herself into thinking she was developing feelings for him could well get her killed.
Tighe stared at the closed bathroom door, Delaneys bitter unhappiness lingering on his tongue. Hed known there could never be anything real between them. There were too many lies. Too much she must never know.
And she was beginning to understand that he would never let her in. Hed hoped he could at least finish making love to her before the truth came crashing down on him, but even that wasnt meant to be.
He locked the bedroom door from the outside, then went upstairs to take a shower and change.
No wonder you were so keen on getting your hands on this one again, Jag drawled as he walked through the upstairs living room. I heard her screaming from here.
Tighe whirled on him. Do you want to see my claws? he bit out.
Jag lifted his hands, palms out. Nope. Dont mind me.
Tighe took a quick shower and was back in the basement apartment, waiting for her, when Delaney came out of the bathroom.
Her gaze met his only briefly as she stepped into the bedroom, dressed once more in the white shirt and navy pants, her hair wet and slicked back from her face.
Where are my guns?
Safe. And out of your reach.
She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin in challenge. You said once that if you could get rid of my memories of you, youd let me go. Is that still true?
Inside, the tiger shook its head in denial.
Yes. He met that challenging gaze, his chest seizing. If I can get into your mind, I can free you. Then I can absolutely let you go.
I wont remember anything? I wont remember you?
No.
She nodded once with hard satisfaction. Do it.
No. Not yet. He wasnt ready to send her back. Yet if he could get inside her head, he knew what had to be done to free her from those visions. Which meant hed almost certainly succeed in stealing her memories, too. Hed succeed in wiping himself from her mind. And her life.
Delaney.
That was what he wanted, wasnt it? Of course it was. No attachments, especially to a human. Her back in her own world. Him free to fight the battles he had to fight without worrying about her.
Without her calming touch.
Without those wide, dark eyes questioning his every move. Filling with heat whenever he touched her. Shining with courage and fire and life.
Now, Tighe. Im tired of being your captive. I want my life back. I want you to get into my mind so I can be rid of you once and for all.
Her anger washed over him, a hot, biting rush that set off an ache deep in his chest. When he was through with her, she wouldnt remember him, not a thing about him. And he had a terrible feeling he would never forget her.
Tighe grabbed her face and kissed her hard, marking her, daring her to push him away. Daring her to prove she only wanted to be rid of him. Her resistance lasted all of five seconds, then she melted in his arms and kissed him back fiercely, her arms sliding around his neck, her tongue twisting and twining with his. Desire flared, and the next thing he knew, his hands were in her hair, and he was thinking of nothing but stripping her of the clothes shed just put on and sliding into her all over again.
What am I doing?
He wasnt thinking. He couldnt think when she was close, let alone touching him, kissing him. Forcing himself to pull back, he stared down into her dazed eyes.
An odd mix of protectiveness and tenderness welled inside him, the ache in his chest intensifying as he raised his hand and stroked her cheek.
She was right. As much as he hated the prospect of wiping himself from her life, the sooner he did it the better. If he hadnt freed her by the time his soul splintered, her life was over. Lyon would see to it.
He traced her high cheekbone with his thumb.
Are you going to do it? she asked.
Tighe nodded slowly, pulling his scattered thoughts to the task at hand. Never before had he had any trouble clouding the thoughts of a human. But never before had he tried to breach the formidable barriers of Delaney Randall. And maybe that was the problem.
Why dont you try helping me this time, D? When you feel me pressing against your mind, let me in. Dont fight me.
Im not fighting you.
Yeah, you are, though maybe not consciously. This time, I want you to think about wanting me to come in. Do you remember when I pulled you out of the darkness?
Is this the same?
In a way, yes. But you werent at the gates that night. You werent there at all. I had to go deep to find you and pull you back.
Could you have captured my mind then?
Probably. If Id had time. Once I get in there, I have to disentangle you from the clone.
She watched him warily. From the what?
From thenever mind. If it gets bad, tell me, and Ill quit. Are you ready?
Yes.
He pushed her damp hair back from her face with his fingers. Think of that night, D, of how I came for you. Think of how you needed me. How you could need me again. Then let me in. Right now, right here. Let me in, Delaney.
His thumbs moved to her temples, and he rubbed gently, staring deep into her eyes. I wont hurt you, brown eyes. Let me in. He didnt push this time, but still, he tasted her desire on his tongue, rising more slowly, but rising all the same.
Youre going to make me come again, arent you? she whispered, but her voice was soft, with little inflection, as if she were at least partially mesmerized.
Thats not the plan, but it seems to happen every time I get too close to you, doesnt it? Relax, Delaney. Let me in.
Little by little, he felt her resistance give way. Excitement lifted his pulse. Dismay caught in his chest. It was going to work. He was going to be able to send her back.
He felt her mind catch with his and open. He was in.
Thats a girl. Just relax, D. Lets see what weve got here. With his mind he found again that twisted, tangled mass of dark Daemon threads and tried to follow it, to find the place where they attached. Damn, but they went deeper than hed expected.
Beneath his hands, he felt her tensing. Is this getting uncomfortable?
A little.
Hang in there, sweetheart. Maybe it wasnt as bad as it looked. Maybe if he
He gave a mental tug on one of the threads.
Delaney gasped.
That hurt?
Yes.
Damn. Little by little, he eased deeper, feeling her stiffen. If he could just find the source.
Once more, he gave a gentle tug, but Delaney cried out, and he stopped. Dammit. There was no way he could hope to free her without damaging her. There was nothing he could do for either of them but kill that son of a bitch clone.
Deep in his own mind, the tiger raised his head and gave a soft roar of satisfaction, then leaped to his feet, eyeing the bright opening into Delaneys mind.
Tighe saw what was about to happen. His mind seized. He had no way to stop it.
The tiger, already intrigued by her, leaped through that opening, trying to claim her for his own.
Delaney screamed.
Tighe wrenched the tiger back, but it was too late.
Delaney reared back, her pulse rocketing upward, her eyes glazing with terror, triggering the ancient fury that lived inside him, the rage of Gretchens betrayal, as fearful eyes always did.
But the fury was too much for his thinning control. He clawed to hang on, to keep from losing himself in a feral rage from which he might never escape. But it was too late.
End over end, his mind tumbled into the chaos, hurtling him headlong toward that black abyss.
CHAPTER 17
Delaney stared in horror as the frightening vision in her mind gave way to a far more terrifying one in front of her. As Tighe released her, claws sprouted from his fingertips. Fangs sprang from his gums.
She stumbled back, slamming into the wall, her pulse pounding in her throat.
Tighe?
As she stared at him, colored lights erupted beneath his skin. And suddenly he was gone.
A tigera tiger
This. Is. Not. Happening.
She was not staring at a huge tiger. The very beast whod leaped at her in her head!
Her blood went cold. Her head began to spin. Not real. Not happening.
She was crazy. Crazy.
The tiger turned to her, staring at her with the same hunger shed seen in her mind. He started toward her. Panic ignited.
With a strangled scream, she whirled and lunged for the door before he attacked her. Before he tried to rip her limb from limb.
As she reached for the door, she looked back only to see the tiger disappear in the same wash of sparkling lights, returning to the creature that was neither man nor beast, but something horribly in between.
With a strangled cry, she grabbed the door, frantic to escape. Too late. Sharp knives plunged into her shoulders. She screamed from the pain, from the terror of knowing she was about to become tiger food.
The creature pulled the knives from her and whipped her around. Blood dripped from his claws. Her blood. He squeezed her shoulders, sinking those claws into her a second time.
Her mind went white with pain as she flung her head back. Unable to move. Unable to breathe. Blood ran down her chest and back and trickled down her arms.
Dont fear me! he growled between those terrifying teeth.
Tighes voice. Tighe. The word came out on a hiss of pain as her vision started to darken around the edges.
Behind her, the door burst open, knocking her into the creature. Tighe. Not Tighe.
His grip on her tightened. She screamed.
Two large men hurtled into the room and pulled Tighe off her in a haze of blood and agony, attacking him. Tackling him to the ground, ripping at him with fangs and claws.
Not real. Not real.
One hard swipe ripped Tighes face wide open. The flesh hung in bloody strips from the bones.
They were going to kill him.
She tried to lunge forward but was held back by a strong arm around her waist. Lets get you out of here. That voice. The same one whod rescued her from Tighes violence. The one whod knocked her out beside the Tidal Basin.
Theyre going to kill him. She struggled against the heavy weakness and terrible pain, struggled to free herself. I cant let them kill him!
Hell be fine, Delaney. Youre the only one in danger here.
He half pushed her, half carried her out of the room, then swept her up as her legs gave way. The pain was too much. Tears slid down her cheeks.
The man lowered her onto a sofa. She collapsed against the soft back, then cried out at the pressure against her wounds.
The man took her hand and she gripped his hard, gasping to breathe against the pain.
Im sorry you had to get mixed up in this.
His long face swam in the narrowing circle of her vision. Her head was too heavy to hold up, and she had to let it fall back against the sofa, but she struggled to meet the mans dark gaze.
Help him. Please.
Dimly, voices penetrated the haze of violence.
Shes alive, but she wont stay that way for long unless we get her to a healer. Shes bleeding like a sieve.
Let her die. Shes seen too much.
No! The denial rang through Tighes head, but no human sound came from his mouth. Nothing but snarls and growls as he thrashed against the restraints, pinned beneath the weight of three men.
Hawkes face appeared in front of him. Fight your way back, buddy. Delaneys going to die if you dont.
Sounds to me like shes going to die either way, a third voice drawled.
Hawke scowled. Shut up, Jag.
The faces bled together, merging with the colors that passed for his sight. Reds and yellows and oranges. Violence. Fury.
He growled, struggling to free himself. To attack.
Can you hear me, Tighe? Fight your way out of there, buddy. You hurt Delaney. Shes bleeding badly. She needs you.
Why the fuck do you think he cares? Jag drawled.
He doesnt care, Kougar replied. Hes using her to reach the visions.
He cares, Hawke said. Dont you, buddy? Hawkes face swam back into focus. Do you know, she fought me when I tried to get her out of here? She was struggling to get to you. To save you. From us.
The words penetrated the feral rage to reach his mind. She was trying to save him. Save him.
Brown eyes. The words were more growl than actual words, but he formed them.
Thats it, Tighe. Come back to us. Fight your way back, buddy.
She needs me. Brown eyes needs me.
He fought the chaos, struggling against its hard grip until he was sweating and panting from exertion. Finally, finally, with a groan of exhausted triumph, he pulled out of its grasp and away from the fury, snapping back into his skin.
His fangs and claws retracted, and he collapsed against the floor.
Get off me.
Let him go! Hawke snapped.
Kougar and Jag released him, and Tighe struggled to his feet, exhausted and bloody. Where is she?
The sofa.
Tighe stumbled through the door, his strength returning with every step. But he pulled up short when he saw her. Ice washed through his veins. She was sitting up, but barely, sunk deep into the sofa cushions, drenched in blood. Her blood. Which hed drawn.
Sweet thunder. What have I done?
He sank onto the sofa beside her and stared at her too-pale face. Delaney.
Her lashes swept slowly upward, her dark eyes glazed. Tighe?
His knuckles brushed her cheek. Unblemished. Thank the goddess he hadnt tried to hold her face. Im sorry, brown eyes. I never meant to hurt you. Im going to get you help. He turned to find Hawke standing in the doorway watching him.
Call Esmeria. Tell her were on our way.
But Hawke didnt move. Kougar stepped into the doorway behind him. Its forbidden to take a human to the enclave. You know that.
I dont give a fuck whats forbidden. Shes going to die!
He grabbed his cell phone and speed dialed Lyon and began talking the second Lyon answered. I went feral and attacked the Fed. She needs a healer. Either I take her to a human hospital or to Esmeria. Your call, but youre making it now. Shes out of time.
Have you taken her memories?
No.
She saw you feral?
Shes seen it all. Feral, tiger, shift, you name it. I lost control. I tried to shift to my tiger to regain it, but I couldnt stay there. I was too far gone.
Tighe
No! He knew what he was going to say. She lives, Roar. You have two choices, and thats it.
She cant be near other humans with the knowledge she now possesses. Nor can you take her to other Therians when you cant wipe her mind.
Tighe began to growl low in his throat, the fury threatening to sweep him away all over again until Delaneys soft hand slid over the back of his, pulling him back into his skin.
Tighe. Hawkes voice dragged his attention back into the room. Put Lyon on speaker.
With only a moments hesitation, Tighe pressed the button.
Lyons deep voice echoed into the room. Neither option is acceptable, Stripes. Im sorry.
Hawke took a step toward the phone. Theres another option, Chief. If he binds her to him, she cant betray him. Or us.
Tighes blood went cold. Bind her? A human? No way. Im not making her my mate.
Hawke shrugged. Your choice.
He couldnt. Couldnt.
It wouldnt be for long. Sixty years. Maybe seventy. Not long. But she knew what he was now. Seventy years living with that look of fear, that loathing.
I cant.
Then she dies, Hawke said softly.
Marry her or let her die.
Your choice. But was it?
He looked down at Delaney and found her watching him, a glimmer of warriors strength still visible in the dull pools of pain that had become her eyes.
A blade ripped through his chest at the thought of permanently quelling that bright, fierce spirit.
Which do you choose, Delaney, knowing what I am? Death? Or me for the rest of your life? Your choice.
She didnt hesitate. Dontwant to die.
He squeezed her hand. Then you wont. You wont die. What am I doing? He turned back to the phone. Im binding her. His gaze speared Hawkes. Call Esmeria and tell her well pick her up in ten minutes. Bring whatever she needs to heal a human in the car. Were going to Feral House.
What am I doing?
But he knew. As hed done six hundred years before, he was once again consigning himself to the hell of tying himself to a human.
CHAPTER 18
Paenthers fist tapped with rhythmic frustration against the cars door handle as Foxx drove past yet another damned field full of cows. The hills of the Blue Ridge rose around them, keeping their secretsif they held any.
He was seriously beginning to think Foxxs intuitive gift had flown. Theyd found no sign of the Mage. No sign of Vhyper. Goddamn nothing.