Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

“You are a Shifter now too.”
His last statement echoed in the otherwise cozy living room and Violet blinked slowly. Of course, this would happen.
Naturally, the hottest guy in the universe who happened to rescue her on Christmas Eve, like her own personal Hallmark movie, was too good to be true. In other words, the man was batshit crazy.
Dang it.
Still, all her volunteering at the senior home had allowed for her to see the violent episodes that could accompany dementia, even early onset as he was clearly exhibiting. Its evil alter ego Alzheimer’s Disease was just as bad, but Violet knew better than to rouse his emotions.
She nodded and got to her feet while he watched her from his perch on the floor. Odd how catlike his movements seemed to her now that he mentioned being a Tiger Shifter.
His entire body was so lithe and graceful, and the way he was sprawled on the floor very much reminded her of cats she’d seen sprawled in the sun.
Violet closed her mouth and pulled the borrowed robe around her waist, securing it more tightly and turned to give him another small, tight lipped smile. There was nothing to be done for him now. Maybe when she escaped she could call for help. The kind that brought sedatives and white jackets.
“Excuse me, a moment,” she said and headed for the bathroom.
“Violet? I am not crazy,” he said and from the sound of it, he was following her.
“Oh, I didn’t say you were crazy,” she returned and hurried.
“Violet! Please, turn around,” he said in a voice that brokered no denial.
She stopped and closed her eyes, hating that she was stuck indoors with a man she wanted to jump on, but who happened to think he could turn into a big cat.
Of all the stupid luck, she growled and stopped abruptly when the sound turned into an actual growl.
What the fucking fuck was going on?
“Violet, I am going to change into my Tiger now, but I want you to understand that I would never hurt you. Don’t be afraid, okay?”
By the time she turned to face him, Dean was gloriously naked once more. Violet’s mouth went dry as she eyed him slowly from the top of his dark head down his impressive chest, ridiculously defined eight pack, to that part of him that was currently standing to full attention.
“Never mind that now, little one, it’s my Tiger that wants to meet you,” he said in a voice that was even deeper than before.
She continued to stare a beat longer, then her gaze dropped and she could hardly stop herself from looking her fill. Her eyes travelled down his thick muscular thighs to his calves, and even his feet.
She was sick, she told herself, even as her insides warmed at the sight. Oh well. It was true though, he had nice feet, she thought, and as a nail tech she truly appreciated that in a person.
“Dean, look, I know what I write doesn’t appeal to everyone, but you don’t need to poke fun,” she decided to call this what it was, a joke at her expense.
Wouldn’t be the first time, after all, but still, she hadn’t pegged him as cruel. This was why she used a pseudonym in her writing. Not everyone was mature enough or had a wide enough imagination to handle the content that went hand in hand with paranormal romance.
“Look at me,” he commanded and she did, unable to stop herself from obeying when he used that strange tone of voice.
It was like something inside of her recognized his power and strength. She wasn’t forced to watch, it was nothing like that. More of a compulsion, a deep seated interest in seeing this thing through.
“Dean, look, I get it. I should be grateful to you and I am for saving me, but I understand if I made you uncomfortable with that kiss. I was out of line-”
Grrr.
“Holy shit,” Violet gasped as the man she’d been trying to apologize to stopped being a man.
One second Dean was standing there, the next second, an enormous orange and black striped Tiger was prowling towards her in the suddenly very small hallway. Violet backed up, one step after another until she hit the wall.
“Okay, I admit it. You were right. Big kitty, nice kitty. Please don’t eat me,” she muttered and closed her eyes as the great, striped beast advanced on her.
He was so much bigger than the Tigers she’d seen at the zoo. So much prettier too, something inside her whispered.
Her poor frazzled brain could hardly put together the facts. Dean Romero was a Tiger Shifter. A real, live Shifter. Like the ones she wrote about. Only better because, well, because he was real.
She winced as she felt his beast’s hot breath on her face, anticipating his next move with all the bravery of a B-Horror movie TSTL, that is too-stupid-to-live female main character.
Sigh. Okay, this was so not her proudest moment, but at least she didn’t scream when his hot, sandpapery tongue swiped her from chin to forehead.
"Ooh," she gasped and giggled instead as the Dean-cat proceeded to lick and sniff at her face.
“Okay,” she said when his massive paw reached out and pressed against her cheek as he licked and licked, “okay, that’s enough. Bad kitty!”
His Tiger chuffed loudly, but the beast allowed her to push him away from her face, choosing to bump her belly with his nose next. His head was enormous, and as he laid down, she realized she could probably ride him like a pony. Not that she would try.
Now it made sense, the size of the cabin. The extra wide hallways and huge couch and skylights. He probably did like to lie in the sunshine, like a big overgrown tabby.
Violet grinned, fascinated with the creature as she reached out a cautious hand to stroke his thick, rich fur. She’d always loved Tigers. Who didn’t? She thought as she proceeded to scratch him behind the ears and pet his gloriously thick coat.
“Such a big, boy. Such a pretty boy,” she murmured and laughed when he sniffed indignantly, “sorry I mean, what a handsome man.”
His Tiger seemed to preen at that, and the beast pressed closer to her, knocking her off her feet and purring loudly as he dipped his head to sniff the apex of her thighs.
“No, no! Naughty kitty!” she said and tapped him on the nose, “No sniffing my girly bits!” she scolded when he attempted to do so again.
She watched in awe as the air around his fur began to shimmer and glow as he swapped fur for skin, then suddenly, Violet found herself wrapped in the arms of a very handsome, very naked Dean Romero.
Sigh.
“Believe me now, mate?” he growled, his voice still thick with his Tiger as he dipped his head to inhale the skin at the base of her neck.
Shivers of anticipation raced through her at his nearness. She felt drunk with wanting him, her need spurred on by the possessive hold and the feeling of his long, hard thickness pressed against her soft belly.
At some point the robe had opened and she was wearing only the thin, silk pajama top. Moisture pooled between her legs and Violet knew without a doubt she was going to give in to this man, to this Tiger Shifter, before the night was through.
So, why wait? A voice inside her asked. Take what is already ours.
“Mine,” she said the word aloud and Dean’s hold tightened.
His teal eyes glowed with what she recognized was his beast and his nostrils flared as he breathed in deep and growled as if tasting her arousal in the air.
“Yes, yoursss,” he hissed the word with a little more of his Tiger showing in the sharpening of his features.
For some reason, that alone was ridiculously hot. She felt the rumbling growl that was building inside his chest through the thin silk and her own body like he was her own, personal vibrator and wasn’t that an interesting thought.
“Um, Dean?”
“What is it, little one?” he said and adjusted his hold, dropping hot, open mouthed kisses to her shoulder and neck.
“Fuck, that feels good,” she moaned.
“I can make it feel better,” he said, and met her wide eyed stare with his smoldering seafoam gaze.
She saw the promise in them as clear as day and for once in her life, Violet was ready to take the plunge, to do something completely out of character,
“Then do it,” she raised her head and dropped the challenge, gasping when he lifted her off the floor and proceeded to carry her up the spiral staircase to the second floor loft that served as his bedroom.