Page 15 of Bria and the Tiger

It was the last thing she wanted, but she nodded in defeat and waited as he ordered his coffee. She picked hers up, dismayed at the way her hands were shaking. She found a table near the back as he grabbed his coffee and joined her.

“Hi,” he said as he sat down across from her.

The table was small - too small - and she sat back when his knees bumped against hers.

“Um, hi.”

“So, you’re friends with Kat?”

She nodded as he sipped at the coffee. “I’ve only met her once, but she seemed really nice.”

“Yeah.” She stared at the table.

“Bria?”

“I’m sorry I ran out on you the other morning. That was really, uh, ungrateful of me, but I was embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.” She was babbling but couldn’t stop. “When I woke up, my heat cycle was done and I was ashamed at what I had done to you, but I shouldn’t have just taken off like that. It was really rude of me. I just – I wanted to say thank you. You really helped me out.”

“You’re welcome.”

She waited for more and when he just took another sip of coffee, she frowned at him. “That’s it?”

“What else did you want me to say?”

“I don’t know, that you’re not upset with me for leaving like that.”

“Why would I be?”

Her face went red and she glared at him. “Listen, maybe you’re used to just having random, casual sex with strangers but I’m not, okay? What happened between us was really out of character for me and I don’t want you thinking I’m some kind of – of whore.”

“I don’t.” He gave her a look of confusion. “You were in heat and couldn’t help yourself.”

“I’m not weak!” She snarled, even though she was terribly afraid that she was.

“I didn’t think you were.”

Her sudden anger vanished, and she rubbed at her temples. “What a mess.”

“It isn’t. In fact, I think this makes things a lot smoother for us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know exactly what I can do for you during your next heat cycle. I can still provide you with references, of course, but now you have first-hand knowledge. That will make your decision easier, right?”

“God,” she muttered. “I guess now I know why you were so – so good at it. You do this for a living.”

He laughed. “I don’t do this for a living, Bria. There’s no money exchanged and as much as I enjoy sex – I can’t exactly live off of it.”

“Why did you help me?” She asked. “Why did you warn me about that snake shifter and why did you…”

A small grin crossed his face. A weird tingle of heat went through her belly and her cat perked up.

“Why did I help ease your need?” He suggested.

“Yeah,” she mumbled.

“I told you – I’ve seen that slimy snake do this before and I’d finally had enough.”

She pulled compulsively on a strand of hair as he said, “As far as the easing your need goes – I knew it was the only way to keep you from taking the snake home.”

---