Page 90 of Lucky In Love

“Holy shit! You really meant a damn tiger!”

As she leaned back against the dresser across from the desk, pressing her body as far away from the large and intimidating beast as she could get it, Shelly was unable to look away. The large fangs that were protruding from the upper jaw of the animal’s open mouth looked as if they could tear her limb from limb without much effort at all, and the sheer size of the tiger was something to be studied. She knew they were called big cats for a reason, but this one seemed larger than what she knew tigers to be. Maybe it was just that it was within a couple of yards of her. Seeing one in a hotel room was a lot different from seeing one in a zoo enclosure.

The muscles moving under the striped fur of its massive body made her bladder nearly give out, but there was something in the blue eyes of the animal that kept her from screaming and running away to escape. Although she knew the tiger could kill her, the surety that it wouldn’t was solid in her gut. She knew it was Crash. She knew it. Shelly had watched as he changed from the biker boy she had shared shots and laughs with at the bar to the magnificent beast that was lowering itself to a lying position on the bed before her. What she didn’t know was how.

“Either you slipped something into my drink, and I don’t think you did because I would have seen that, or you were telling the truth and I’m really seeing a damn tiger right now.”

In response, the animal gave what she could only call a whimper before it slowly crept forward and off the end of the bed, nearly forcing the edge of the mattress to flatten entirely. With its front paws on the floor and its hind end still perched on the bed, he bumped his forehead into her abdomen and began to rub his face all over her gently.

Shelly couldn’t help the shocked giggle that came out as she slowly lifted her shaking hands and began to stroke the slightly oily and rough fur of the tiger at the top and back of its head. “This is… Wow.”

Within seconds, Crash was kneeling before her again, having changed back into his human form, and was resting his forehead against her abdomen with his arms wrapped around her waist. “Don’t leave,” he mumbled into her shirt.

Still stroking the back of his head, she replied, “I won’t. Let’s get you to bed, Tigger.” She wasn’t sure why she wasn’t freaking out, but that was something she could examine later.

Crash pulled his head back and looked up at her. “Tiger.”

She grinned. “I said what I said.”

His eyes glowed a bright blue light that made her gasp, and a purr rumbled up his chest and vibrated through the air. “Fuck. I’m so happy you’re my mate.”

“We’ll talk about all of that more once you get in bed. Come on. Up.”

“Bossy,” he mumbled as he climbed to his feet and kissed her forehead. “I like it.”

As she helped him undress, it took everything she had to fight his playful and flirty advances. The man was persistent and most definitely attracted to her. He didn’t push too hard or cross any lines, but she didn’t want to take advantage of an obviously drunk man. She wanted him to remember their first time together, and she didn’t want it to be over faster than a speeding bullet. No, thank you.

Besides, consent was a thing, and Shelly wasn’t about to cross a line that she wouldn’t want a man to cross with her.

Just as she expected, the moment his head hit the pillow, he began to lightly snore. She chuckled as she undressed and slipped on his tee to sleep in. Their conversation would have to wait, she mused as she climbed in next to him and curled up to his side.

There was a lot to examine, a lot to think about, and to decide, but that was a tomorrow problem. Shelly was forcing herself to stay in the moment and see what the future offered her. She had been searching for her place in the world, her home, her purpose. Maybe she’d find it with a biker boy tiger who couldn’t handle his liquor and was a lost cause when it came to a game of quarters.

Chapter Four

Shelly

When Shelly woke up, the first thing that hit her was an amazing spicy musk and warmth that had her pressing her body further against the person lying next to her. Person lying next to her?

Her eyes flew open, and she turned her head to look at the still sleeping man. His dark brown hair was disheveled, and his lips were slightly parted in his slumber. Shelly tightened her hold on his waist and smiled when a quiet purr sounded and he rolled toward her, trying to wrap her up tight in his arms.

The need to pee wasn’t going to wait, so she quickly slid out of the way and replaced her body with her pillow, giving him something else to cuddle with. Then she tiptoed across the one-room space and into the bathroom and took care of her business.

As Shelly stood at the sink washing her hands, she stared at herself in the mirror and internally checked for any signs of alarm or hesitancy. Anything to tell her that the man in the other room was a person she shouldn’t believe in.

There was nothing.

The truth was Shelly trusted Crash. She was comfortable with him in a way she hadn’t been with another man in her entire life. Being with him was natural. When they talked, the conversation flowed and never felt awkward or forced. She wasn’t compelled to find just the right words or filter herself to come off as something she wasn’t. She liked the way he looked at her, talked to her, treated her, and prioritized her. When she spoke, he paid attention. He didn’t glance around the room, stare at her tits, or do any of the other crap men had done in the past that let her know they weren’t listening to a word she said. No, Crash heard every word. He wanted to hear every word. And she felt the same way about him.

During their conversations the night before, she knew he wasn’t in town for much longer. He had mentioned that he was supposed to be heading back home within the next few days, but he hadn’t put a plan in place. Crash had only mentioned that if he stayed in town past that night, he’d have to find another room or pay for a longer stay. The impression she got was that he didn’t want to leave without knowing for sure what was happening between them.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Shelly made a decision. She would ride this train for as long as the journey suited her and see where she ended up. With a little luck, it would be on the back of a motorcycle with her arms around a tiger shifter who wore leather and treated her as if she hung the moon and stars.

“He does call you ‘Lucky,’” she whispered to herself and shrugged.

Crash

Water. He needed water.