Doris O'Connor (5 page)

He sighed, and she did risk a glance at his face. Her heart flipped over at the intense way he was studying her. Lust warred with determination and some other deep felt emotion in the swirling mists of his eyes that changed to his tiger's as she watched him. His beast's low purr vibrated through her, and she held her breath at the struggle she sensed in him. When he finally spoke his voice was deathly calm, every carefully enunciated word travelled along her nerve endings and sent darts of anticipation over her skin, until all sensations settled deep in her core.

"Why did you go to the club? I know you talked online. I was mad as fuck when I found out."

"You were?"

He smiled a toothy grim-faced response, and Estelle wondered at the flash of emotion crossing his ragged features. He ran one clawed finger along her collar bone, and he shook his head at her indrawn breath in response.

"Yes, I was. Because I wanted you from the first minute my tiger scented you across the office. But you're such a young thing, and I was married." He laughed, and a chill went down Estelle's spine.

"By the time I finally got the bitch I was married to, to agree to a divorce, I knew I could never have you. My tastes aren't for the likes of you. At least that's what I thought." His golden eyes focused on her, and Estelle lost herself in the emotion blazing in them.

"So imagine my surprise when I find out that you've joined Ink's website. And not only that, but that you were following his instructions so precisely." He smiled again as heat rose into her cheeks, remembering that day in the hallway. He had known she was wearing a butt plug then.

"And before you ask, I didn’t hack into your computer, but I'm a Dom. I recognize another Dom training a sub when I see it. It damn well nearly killed me that it wasn't me doing the training."

Hope unfurled in Estelle's chest like the delicate petals of a flower raising its head to the first rays of the morning sun. Surely that meant he had to care for her a little, didn't it?

"So, you see, I really need to know why you went to that club.

And why you stayed when you thought Ink was me? I'd have expected you to run away screaming. In fact I was counting on it. I was outside the club. I saw you going in, and I waited. When you stayed I figured you made your choice, and I—" He shook his head again and stalked away, the dejected slump of his shoulders pulling at her heart strings. "I figured you made your choice, and I was too late.

And then today, when I couldn't stay away anymore, to smell my brother and that damn Siberian Tiger still all over you…"

The growl that followed was the most tiger-like she'd ever heard, and Estelle was half expecting him to shift there and then. He would be damn beautiful as his tiger self, Estelle was sure, and she couldn't suppress a grin. Tigers had always been her favorite animal after all.

"What's so damn amusing, Estelle?"

She jumped at the affronted tones, and she couldn't help the giggle escaping. He looked like a little boy whose favorite toy had been snatched away from him.

"I was just thinking how ironic it is that I have a collection of stuffed toy tigers sitting on my bed. Guess I've always slept with tigers."

His eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms, even as his own lips twitched at what he read in her face.

"Tigers as in plural? That your kink now? ‘Cause I have to tell you, that's Ink's thing, not mine. I had a belly full of that with the ex, and I'm getting too old for that shit. I want a mate, Estelle, not a play thing. So if that's what gets you off then I suggest you slink back to my twin."

Dread flooded Estelle at the snarled words, and she scrambled to her feet.

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean… I—" She bit her lip and withdrew her outstretched hand before she could touch him.

"Then what do you mean?"

"I mean, I only went along with it because I thought you wanted me to. I mean not you– Ink, but I thought it was you, and oh shit. Look, I heard the rumors about you, and I knew you wouldn’t want me all straight-laced and prim and proper, and then I got drunk one night, and I told my best friend, and Neeve, being Neeve, signed me up to that website. I thought If I learned how to be a sub, then maybe you would be interested in me, and then at the club…I thought it was you, and Grisha… well, he's very…err. I've just fucked it all up, haven't I? You hate me now, and—"

The kiss came out of nowhere, hard, bruising, possessive.

Nathan's mouth devoured hers, and she whimpered her need into the kiss, as her heart soared at the words he mumbled when they came up for air.

"I could never hate you, you silly little thing."

Heart pounding in her chest Estelle rounded the corner. A quick glance at her phone confirmed that Nathan had found the note she'd pinned to her front door.

It had simply said:
Gone to the club. You need to sort this.

His text was just as direct:
What the fuck?

She had given herself a head start, just enough that he would be right behind her. She was in perfectly respectable jeans and a tank top, and she doubted any of the shifters who frequented Club Ink would dare make a move on the intended mate of the co–owner, but she wasn't taking any chances. She might be topping from the bottom right now, and she had no doubt earned herself one heck of a spanking session – she grinned at the thought – but she didn't really want to get herself into more trouble than she was already in.

The wolf shifter guarding the door pushed away from his slouching position and raised his head in the air to get her scent. An almost imperceptible move, but one Estelle had seen enough times over the last two weeks to recognize. After their talk in the office, Nathan had decreed that they needed to get to “know” each other. As a result, he'd wined and dined her, and they'd spent the last weekend at his parents’ place.

She smiled remembering the enthusiastic welcome she'd received from Nathan's mother and his two sisters. His father had been more reserved, watching the interaction between his son and the

“young girl” he'd brought home out of hooded eyes so like his son's it had been rather unnerving. As had been the conversation she'd had with Mr. Fielding when she couldn't sleep the first night she'd been there. She'd stood wrapped in the woolen blanket she'd found on her bed, staring out into dark night sky when a rustling sound to her right had alerted her to the fact that she wasn't alone anymore. A beautiful golden tiger had padded out of the overgrown bushes bordering into the forest, and in the blink of an eye he had morphed into Nathan's father. Max Fielding had advanced towards her completely unabashed in his nakedness, whereas Estelle hadn't known where to look.

"Couldn't sleep?"

She'd shaken her head and continued to stare resolutely at the decking under her bare feet, causing Max to chuckle. He'd moved away briefly, and there had been a rustle of clothing; and when she'd dared look across, she'd thankfully seen jeans clad legs. She'd breathed a rather audible sigh of relief, and Max had flashed a toothy grin at her when she'd raised her eyes to his face.

"I forget how squeamish humans get about nakedness. Forgive me."

"It's not that I'm squeamish, it's just…" She'd shrugged her shoulders and smiled up at Max. "You're his dad. It's just a bit weird."

"Not any weirder than my son's more unusual past times. I'm assuming you don't find those weird." He'd smiled at her hasty shake of her head, and she'd known her cheeks had been hot enough to be used for lanterns. "I'd hoped he may have tempered his involvement after it all went pear shaped with Erica, but it seems not. Jordan tells me he's still as much in the lifestyle as he ever was."

"Jordan?" she'd asked.

"Forgive an old man. I cannot bring myself to call him Ink. He will always be Jordan to me. And I wish Nathan and he would bury the hatchet. It's not natural for twins to stay apart as much as my sons have. But then if you share a woman that's what happens. In the end Erica proved herself to be worthy of neither one of my sons,but by then the damage was done."

She'd gasped at that revelation. No wonder Nathan clammed up every time she'd asked about his ex-wife. And she'd only gone and slept with Ink, too.

Max had studied her thoughtfully, and Estelle had tried her hardest not to squirm under his steady regard. When he'd finally spoken again, she'd wanted the ground to swallow her up.

"You have a very expressive face, my dear. When I mentioned Jordan's name your face dropped, and your heart rate increased.

Please tell me Nathan is not sharing you."

"I most certainly am not, father. And I do not appreciate you interrogating my mate."

Hearing Nathan's deep rumble behind her before his arms round her waist had drawn her into his body in a protective embrace had been the sweetest sound ever.

"I'm glad to hear it, but don’t raise your voice to me, young cub. Not on my land. Not when your
mate
is a human you have yet to claim and young enough to be your daughter."

The arms holding her had tightened, and you could have cut the tension between father and son with a knife. Estelle had stamped her foot in frustration and growled her annoyance causing both men's tigers to growl in response. She rolled her eyes even now. She was sick and tired of hearing how young she was. She was twenty five for pity's sake, not some easily impressed school girl, and Nathan might be in his forties, but that didn't matter to her one iota.

When she'd said as much to Nathan's father, he'd simply smiled, patted her hand and left them alone. Nathan had claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss, completely scrambling her brains.

Unfortunately that was all he'd done, and she was sick and tired of

“getting to know” him. What she needed was a “good old seeing to”, and she couldn't think of a better way to get his iron control to slip, and to sort out the issues he had with his twin, than to go to the club.

By the time they'd left his parents’ place, Max had thawed towards her, and whilst she had not been able to hear the muttered words of goodbye uttered between father and son, Mrs. Fielding's tear-stained smile and the look both men had directed towards her had spoken volumes. Nathan had been quiet on the drive home, and she'd been content to sit and study his profile. The laughter lines around his eyes and the slight graying around his temples were the only indication of his age, and she'd sighed to herself, causing his tiger to rumble and Nathan to throw her a questioning look.

"It's nothing. I'm just wondering what a girl has to do to get a tiger to fuck her around these parts."

He'd ignored her, but the white knuckled grip on the steering wheel and the way he'd squirmed in his seat had given him away, and she'd hummed to herself. He dropped her home with the barest peck on the cheek and had hightailed it away from her, as though he didn't trust himself to be on his own with her. That damn tiger had way too much self-control for her liking.

So, today she decided to take matters into her own hands, which meant now she found herself staring into amused wolf eyes.

"Tell them to let me in. I have to speak to Ink, and I haven't got much time before Nathan shows up." The shifter sobered, looking over her shoulder.

"I think your time just ran out, little human."

Nathan's familiar scent engulfed her at the same time as the door opened, and a scowling Ink stood on the doorstep. Estelle winced at Nathan's claws sliced through her top in his haste to draw her behind him, and Ink's tiger growled.

"I suggest we take this inside, Nathan, if you insist on mauling your sub. Estelle is not into public exhibition, or have you added that to your repertoire now as well?"

Estelle bristled inside at the scathing tones, but something in his expression made her bite her tongue. He was goading his brother, and Estelle bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. She should have known Ink would read the situation in one millisecond. She had always been an open book to him, from that very first online conversation, and with that cunning insight he had, he knew exactly what she was hoping to achieve. His smile deepened at Nathan's tiger's snarl, and he stepped back to let them both pass.

"My brother is slacking, allowing you to dress like that. If you were mine I would keep you naked."

He laughed and dodged the punch at his face easily. Hampered as Nathan was by still holding onto Estelle, as though he was afraid she was going to take off on him, his punch lacked the oomph required, and Nathan swore.

"Let's take this to my office and away from prying eyes.

Grisha here will look after Estelle for you. She's rather fond of him, I seem to recall," Ink said.

Sure enough Grisha's smiling face appeared round the corner.

The tall Russian propped one shoulder against the wall and, hands in pockets, winked at Estelle to all intents and purposes as though the air wasn't thick with testosterone and the barely controlled growls of furious tigers.

Estelle turned herself as much as she could with the death grip Nathan still had on her and slanted a kiss against his clenched jaw.

His furious tiger's eyes connected with hers. They bled back to amber, and his expression softened at her whispered words,"Speak to your brother, please, for me, Sir."

His grip on her loosened, and he rested his head against hers briefly before he growled into her ear. "You will pay for this, Estelle."

He glared at Grisha. "If you lay as much as a finger on her, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

Grisha grinned, nodded at Nathan, and motioned for Estelle to follow him. She did so, all too aware of Nathan's gaze boring a hole into her back. By the time they reached the bar and a worried looking Cherie, she all but collapsed onto the barstool.

"Make her a house special. She's going to need it." Grisha's deep voice washed over Estelle, soothing some of her anxiety. Across the club, Nathan and Ink disappeared behind a door marked
Private,
and Estelle downed in one long swallow the drink Cherie placed in front of her. Fire burned down her throat, and her stomach clenched; but that awful feeling of impending doom dissipated.

She looked up to Grisha for reassurance and found him watching her with a small smile.

"Tell me I've done the right thing, forcing him to come after me?"

Grisha nodded.

"You've done the right thing. They need to sort themselves out. Ink and Nathan were once as thick as thieves. I know Ink hasn't been the same since they fell out over the piece of cunt Nathan married." He smiled grimly at Estelle's involuntary flinch. "When I heard he'd claimed you, I was hoping you would force his hand. It's not good for business to have the two of them at each other's throats.

Mind you." He chuckled to himself, and his smile turned wicked. "I don’t rate your chances of being able to sit down well once this is all over."

Estelle had to agree, even as her pussy clenched and her heart rate sped up at the thought of Nathan's hands on her body.

Three hours later, Estelle indeed had trouble sitting down. Her blinking ass was going numb having sat on the chair for all that time, anxiously watching that door. Not only that, she'd felt like she was some sort of exhibit at the zoo. She'd swapped the cocktails for coffee in an effort to keep a clear head, and as a result of all that caffeine she was buzzing inside. The club had filled with people as the evening wore on, and watching the various demonstrations had her lacy thong soaked through. She was pretty sure her juices had to have spilled on the crotch of her jeans, and she was grateful beyond belief for the dim lighting.

Grisha had left her safely in the more than capable hands of one of the wolves who acted as security for the club, and she was completely engrossed in watching Grisha’sfire play demonstration on stage. Flames danced and flowed over the body of the restrained sub, who had entered deep sub space. A hush had fallen over the club as people gathered to watch, and Estelle smiled at Grisha's care and consideration over the woman's safety. Whoever he would eventually settle with was one lucky submissive. A warm hand massaged her shoulder, and she leant back into Nathan's familiar scent with a small sigh.

"You're not ready for that yet, Estelle."

Nathan's voice held that edge of steel that told Estelle he was in full Dom mode, and her whole being relaxed.
Finally.
She sighed her content and snuggled into Nathan's neck.

"Want to use one of the dungeons, Nathan?" Ink's amused voice shook her out of her happy state.

"No, I'm taking her home." Nathan's growled response rumbled against her back, and she giggled, earning herself a sharp little bite to her ear.

"Don't blame you." Ink slapped his brother on the back, and without a backward glance strolled towards the stage where Grisha was untying the sub.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in, my sweet little sub?" Nathan spun her around whilst he spoke, crowding her against the bar, and Estelle's excitement grew. Her nipples chafed against the confines of her bra, and she licked her dry lips. His pupils turned into slits, and his tiger growled. Estelle held her breath when he ran his fangs along her rapidly beating pulse in her neck.

"Move that cute ass of yours out of here now. And don’t say a word, or so help me, I'll take Ink up on his offer. I don't want our first time to take place here, where anyone could interrupt us, but if you give me sass, lady…" He ran one clawed finger along her nipples, and Estelle groaned at the delicious sensation. Her stomach tightened, and her breathing grew shallow.

"Please, Sir."