Her function was to release him from the bondage that had held him for more than fifty centuries. His debt to her was to protect her for the next twenty-four hours. He had a mission that would, in all likelihood, lead to his death. There was no place in his life for a woman.
But the beast disagreed. Vehemently. The tiger had chosen her as mate and would not listen to logic.
“You’re gorgeous.”
He jerked up his head, narrowed his eyes. She was still very much afraid of the tiger, but she had extended a hand toward him. Roric was once again taken aback by her courage.
Most women would run, screaming in terror if they’d witnessed what Aimee just had. She’d awakened to find a strange man in her bed, a man she’d had hot, uninhibited sex with in the dark of the night. The carnivals and demons were real. What she’d thought was a nightmare was actual fact. If that wasn’t enough, he’d changed from a man to a tiger in front of her very eyes.
In his tiger form, he was huge, much larger than a normal tiger would be, more powerful and much more dangerous. He snarled, exposing his sharp teeth, unable to hold back as anger took hold and consumed him. Fury rocked him to his core. The tiger roared out his pain, his anguish, unable to hold it in any longer.
Why had Hades attacked the Lady of the Beasts? She’d been no threat to him, content to spend her time among the animals in the wild spaces that dotted this planet. Why hadn’t she listened to his warnings and taken action before the minions of Hell had attacked them?
He’d asked himself the same questions all those long years ago and had never come up with any viable answers.
Aimee shifted ever so slightly on the bed, drawing his full attention. In his animal form, his senses were even more acute. He could see her more clearly, smell her more keenly and hear her heart as it pounded against her chest. She was sweating now with fear but determined to be brave.
He padded to the end of the bed and sat. He’d been wrong earlier when he’d told himself nothing Aimee could do would stop him if he chose to attack. She could stop him with nothing more than a glance. The tiger didn’t want her frightened of him, and neither did the man.
Roric lowered his head and leaned in close to Aimee. Her scent was almost overwhelming. She smelled of heated female skin, a hint of flowers and sex. He licked his lips, his large, pink tongue rolling from one side of his mouth to the other. He longed to taste her.
He held himself still as she reached out and brushed the top of his broad forehead. She pulled her fingers away immediately. He turned his head so he could see her. Her fingers were curled into her palm.
“You’re so soft.” Tentatively, she reached out to him again. This time her stroke was surer, firmer, as she raked her fingers lightly over his head. Roric gave a low rumble of pleasure, letting her know without words how much he enjoyed her touch.
“I can’t believe your hair is the exact same color as the tiger’s stripes.”
He could have told her they were all like that. Each warrior’s eyes and hair matched that of his animal. They weren’t separate, but one and the same, two creatures sharing one soul, two halves of a whole.
She scratched behind his ear, and he rolled his head to one side to give her better access. Aimee laughed and scratched harder. “You like that, do you?”
He didn’t reply, but closed his eyes and simply enjoyed her gentle caress. During earlier times, people had feared the warriors of the Lady of the Beasts. And rightfully so. They were untamed, unfettered by the rules of mankind. The only thing controlling them was their love and devotion to the Lady. Back in those days, the population had been more accepting of gods and goddesses, understanding the power they and the ones bound to them wielded.
The more she touched him, the faster Aimee’s fear was fading. He lifted his head and in one lithe movement jumped onto the bed beside her. Aimee screamed, jerking back toward the headboard. Her throat rippled as she swallowed. She gave a nervous laugh. “You’re incredibly fast.”
He could have told her that was nothing compared to what he could do. Or what he’d been able to do. He still wasn’t certain of his powers. They did seem to be growing and expanding with each passing moment, but would it be enough to save Aimee and himself?
He flexed his large muscles and sprawled out next to her. He knew time was short, but he wanted a few more minutes with her like this. The fact that she accepted him so easily surprised him. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. Had she known about him all along? Doubts crept back into his brain. Was she a tool of Hades or a gift from the Lady?
Aimee came up on her knees and crept closer. This time she used both hands, digging her fingertips into his fur and finding the flesh beneath. She massaged up and down his supple spine, wringing a yowl of pleasure from him.