Page 22 of Catch a Tiger

Wait. A shirt?

It had been a long time since she’d seen a human who wasn’t pack or collective this close and personal, but she was pretty sure it was too cold for him to be wearing nothing but a creamy button-down shirt. Especially with how it was open all the way down to the middle of his impressive chest, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

She had to admit he was…captivating.

The sight of his broad shoulders had her forgetting why she’d been so annoyed, and she felt drawn to him in a way she never had with another person before – not even when she’d tried to fill that gaping emptiness with bland companionship where her soul should be.

Such a pretty tiger…

Even when he was human.

His wildness didn’t sing to her, but his darkness did and Vix wondered if he’d give her just atinytaste of his pain.

The scent of it was mouthwatering and she realized just howhungryshe was…

Starving.

Chapter 7

Vix

Vix had always been a ravenous little monster, starving for companionship, for touch, for tricks and trades, forlife…there were so many tasty things in this world to tempt and distract her from her purpose.

Like this man.

Her gaze caught on the silver chains dangling from his neck and the tinkling of charms soaked with magic. Just like the ravens, she’d always been drawn to pretty, shiny things and Vix couldn’t help herself as she tapped her finger against one, flinching slightly when magic burned her as well as silver.

Then her hand was on his chest, searching for the burn that was already healing. Her unexpected spike of concern made her frown because it didn’t make any sense. He wasn’t pack.

This shifter wore silver even though it burned.

Vix decided that was very…interesting.

It was such pretty skin though. Such a shame to ruin it over and over and over…

His scent of alpha and tiger and frozen hibiscus curled around her, making her entire body relax against her will. Shedropped back down to the snow, keeping her inquisitive gaze away from the green eyes that made her feel like she might just remembereverything,and she wasn’t sure she wanted that right now.

Her fingers trailed across such warm skin that reminded her of…Vix didn’t know what. Maybe the chestnuts she found sometimes? It was a gentle brown with the tiniest hint of cream, but his soft curly hair was dark, if not quite as dark as hers.

Another scent told her that magic was stitched into his flesh somewhere, but it wasn’t quite…right.

It had been averylong time since she’d seen someone in their human form who wasn’t pack, and she wondered if that was why she felt so drawn to this gorgeous thing above her. Enough she couldn’t be bothered to care about the risks.

Not when he’d been the one to approach her.

It still seemed like he should be cold, but she supposed the god of winter wouldn’t feel cold.

Warm fingers wiped blood from her cheek and Vix flinched, snarling as his spell over her broke and she flipped him over. Crouching over him, she dug her claws into his throat – promising death if he moved.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face before it died.

“You can touch me, but I can’t touch you?” he asked, irritation laced into every word.

Her head tilted at the shift in his tone, curious why he’d do that for her like he cared what she thought. “You wear silver.” Her fingers slid down his neck to wrap the titanium chain around her hand and the silver charms made her palm sizzle.

It burned – a sickeningly familiar sensation as she watched the steam rise from her flesh.

Vix forced herself to release his charms and watched as they fell onto bare skin. He didn’t react at all even though they startedburning him again. She could feel the dull ache of his pain and moved the charms so they rested over his shirt instead.

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