Page 17 of Bria and the Tiger

“Would you – I mean, are you available then as well?”

Surprise crossed his face. “I don’t usually have cat shifters asking for me when they’re not in heat.”

This time she was positive her cheeks were on fire. She had no idea why she had said that, it had just come tumbling out of her. She realized with sudden clarity that she couldn’t do this. She was the relationship type, not the ‘fuck them once a month’ type and she was stupid to think she could even try.

He ran his fingers over a small shaving cut on his jaw. “I don’t do conventional relationships, Bria. This is why this arrangement works so well for me.”

She stood, and he immediately stood as well. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this with you. I’m sorry for wasting your time.” She pushed past the table and fled.

* * *

The tiny tiger shifter was quick. She was across the coffee shop and out the door before he could even think of going after her.

“Dammit, Jace, you fucking idiot,” he muttered. He sat down, pushed his half-finished coffee aside and stared blankly at the wall. It had rattled him badly when the woman in the red shirt with the amazing ass had turned around. He hadn’t expected to see the little tiger shifter from the club ever again. His tiger had immediately roared its approval and he had damn near rubbed up against her before he could get control of it again.

He had been ridiculously disappointed when he’d awoken and discovered she was gone, leaving nothing but healing scratches on his back and destroyed sheets. The woman was dynamite in bed and so responsive to his touch. Her aggression and frantic need had only increased his lust.

Christ, when she had bumped into him at the club and he had smelled her lust and felt her hips pressing against his groin, he had hardened immediately. He’d known instinctively that she was in her heat cycle, but she had skittered away before he could offer to help.

He had watched, growing angry when the snake shifter had arrowed in on her. It was pure instinct that had made him go after her in the bathroom to warn her. Her need had a strong hold on her by then and he had, again, acted on instinct, when he pushed her into the stall. Her scent, the way her blue eyes flashed fire at him – hell, even the way she had hissed at him - had his dick straining at his jeans.

He wasn’t lying when he told her he was tired, and he muttered another curse. Maybe she would have chosen him if he was a little more attentive and a little faster to ease her need. But he had shown four houses that day and there was a mistake with some paperwork that had nearly cost him a sale.

His assistant Rosalie was running on empty trying to cover both her job and reception. He didn’t blame her for the mistake, but he had spent a few tense hours calling the bank to fix the error and apologizing to the clients. He wouldn’t have even gone to the nightclub that night if he hadn’t promised Lincoln he would. Then the damn lion shifter had bailed on him at the first sight of the bunny shifter twitching her nose at him.

He reached for his coffee. It didn’t matter now, he had blown it with Bria. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much. He had three more emails from cat shifters wanting to meet with him. One of them would be a good fit.

I want Bria, his tiger growled sulkily. Give her to me.

Way too late. She specifically said she couldn’t do this with him which meant she was probably already choosing from the next on her list of applicants. He cursed again – why the fuck didn’t he make a better effort that night?

---