The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

She squeaked when he took up his pace again, only to stop suddenly right in front of her. Too late for her to slow her steps, Elissa walked right into his back.
His big, sexy, muscular back that smelled of something spicy and delicious.
“Oof,” she groaned, but smiled when he turned and warm hands touched her shoulders, steadying her.
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes warming with concern.
Elissa nodded her reply. His thumbs were moving in tiny little circles on the sleeves of her damp blouse, creating little infernos along her skin through the thin fabric.
That’s kind of nice, she thought.
Elissa leaned into the touch, loving the sensations he was causing. She whimpered when he withdrew his hands and stepped a couple of feet away. He opened a solid wooden door to reveal an enormous bathroom.
“In here.”
She marveled at the size of the bathroom. Heck, it was bigger than her bedroom back home. Dark blue tiles lined the floors and the walls, a sunken tub sat in the center, and a glass enclosed shower was off to the left.
It was big and expensive looking. A luxury she would love to indulge in.
With him.
Would he want to share a bath with her? Did mates do things like that? Her thoughts were positively x rated as far as the man standing next to her was concerned. Still, she couldn’t seem to stop.
Hunter was like a walking, talking fantasy come to life. She just had to look at him and the images of him and her doing the nasty were set to permanent replay, for fuck’s sake.
All that delicious muscle and smooth tanned skin. He was breathtaking. What would it feel like to slide into that tub knowing he was waiting in the depths of that warm water just for her?
Her stomach tightened. She might as well just throw her panties away. Like all of them. What was the point? They would never stay dry around him.
That was assuming he meant it when he’d said she was his mate. Who could be sure? Not her. She was used to being in the friend zone for any of the really good-looking guys she knew. Not that they were in his league.
Neither was she, for that matter. Chubby and cute, sure. But streamlined and gorgeous? She most definitely was not. Hunter was like the blessed offspring of a supermodel and a professional football player, only hotter. Way hotter.
He had more going for him than any one man she’d ever seen. What was he doing contacting a matchmaking service? Even a Magical one.
She sure as hell didn’t know, but she was glad. Otherwise, she might never have laid eyes on him.
Whoa. Was it getting warm in here?
The sound of a rumbling growl met her ears. When she looked at him, she noted he’d moved closer once again. Just a step, but it was enough for her to feel the heat radiating from his body.
Gulp.
His eyes were glowing, a lightning thin line of gold rimmed the translucent teal.
Was that his Tiger?
Oh my.
Gulp again.
She watched him inhale the air around her deeply. His big body tensed, but he never broke eye contact. He watched her, like a cat eyeing a mouse. A mouse he wanted to eat.
Here kitty.
Clearing her throat, she took a step back. Hunter followed, nodding his head at the tub and shower stalls. She noticed the way he clenched and unclenched his fists.
Like he was trying to regain some semblance of control. She liked that. Knowing she threw him off balance was a rush. A totally hot one.
Elissa had never had that kind of power. She bit her lip, wondering how far to pursue this newfound discovery. It made her bold, daring thoughts filled her. Would it be wise to touch him? Was she allowed to?
“Please help yourself to a warm bath if you like. There’s soap and shampoo in the dispenser. Towels and a bathrobe are in the closet,” he pointed to a cabinet and went to the door.
“Hunter?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for taking care of you. It is my privilege.”
Well, day-um.
That was unexpected. She’d been prepared for the sexy, but not the heart melting sweetness. Elissa felt herself grow warm from the inside out.
Her damp clothes and the state of her hair forgotten. Were there even men left in the world who said things like that to women? Apparently, there was one. And if this was real, he was hers.
That is, if she believed Mr. Stregovich’s claims. Maybe she should, after all. What did she have to lose?
Only your heart, Lissa. Only your heart.
Before she could lose herself in her thoughts and nagging doubts, he spoke again. The sound of that deep, rumbling voice met her ears, and she sighed. She could listen to him all day long.
“Elissa, I know we’re strangers and this whole thing has been kind of sudden, but you can trust me. I swear, I will always tell you the truth.”
She swallowed hard. Might as well test him now and find out if he was trustworthy.
“Can I ask you something, Hunter?”
“Anything,” his voice was deep and low.
Glowing teal eyes raked over her body, she knew her top was clinging to her breasts because of the rain, and normally, she’d shy away from anyone who stared.
But Elissa liked his eyes on her. She enjoyed knowing the flare of his nostrils and licking of his lips was because of her. It did wonderful things to her self-confidence, knowing he wanted her.
Maybe she was foolish, but for the first time in forever, Elissa wanted to throw caution to the wind. Tired of always doing the right thing. The expected thing. The boring thing.
She wanted to take a leap of faith, like Uncle Uzzi had said. She wanted to jump right into the deep end.
With him.
“Hunter, what does it mean to be your mate?”
She took one step closer to him, then another.
“It means, uh,” he breathed deep.
He is scenting me, she thought.
The act itself was hot, and more moisture leaked from her needy sex. She bit her lip. Now he would know just how desperate she was for his touch.
Oh well. She never was the kind to hide her emotions. Elissa watched him open his mouth, pink tongue dart out as if he was tasting her on the air itself.
Good, she grinned. She wanted him to know how much she wanted him. She wanted him to want her back.
His eyes glittered and chest rumbled as she bent forward, tops of her breasts practically hitting the floor as she slipped off her shoes. Hunter cleared his throat.
“Hunter?” she reminded him of her question. This teasing side of her was new, and she welcomed it, wanted to explore it with him.
“It means that you are mine,” he growled, eyes flashing at her.
“You were created, fated if you will, just for me.”
Well, double day-um.
That was so hot. Elissa licked her suddenly dry lips, and he groaned with the action. He stepped closer, nuzzling her cheek with his and sucking in more of her scent. Fuck, she was desperate for his lips, his touch, anything he would give her. Desire swelled between them, so thick, she was oblivious to everything but him.
“I am the only one who can soothe that ache inside you, Nari,” he growled the words.
“What does that mean?”
“It means, my queen,” he told her.
“But what about me? What do I mean to you?” Elissa asked, betraying her secret doubts to him with those two questions.
She paused, waiting for some hint of cruelty or judgment. Only it never came.
Thank fuck.
Hunter cupped her face with his hands and lifted until she was forced to look at him. This close, the man was devastatingly handsome. So much so, she was pretty damn sure she was about to go up in flames from that one look.
“Elissa Phoenix, when I call you Nari, when I claim you are my mate, I am telling you that you, my beautiful female, are the single most important person in my life.”
Holy. Fuck.
“Okay then,” she replied.
Elissa could so live with that. If anyone else in the world had said that she would’ve scoffed at them. Actually, she’d probably have already told them off for talking shit to her.
Trust came hard for Elissa, but for some reason, one she could barely believe, she wanted to believe. She trusted this stranger. It was like her heart recognized him.
I think I might love him already, she mused, surprising herself.
All her doubts fell away as she leaned forward, and he stepped back once, then twice. Hunter followed her with his gaze, but he’d retreated. That was funny.
He stilled a few steps away, like a giant, sexy statue. She knew those wonderful muscles of his were ready to pounce. It was as if he was waiting for her to attack. The irony of it made her grin. He was a big, bad Tiger, but it was she who was stalking the predator.
“What else?” she asked as her hands went to the waistband of her leggings.
Teal eyes followed her movements with laser-like precision. Slowly, Elissa pushed the damp material over her wide hips and down her legs.
Normally, she’d be panicked by now. Her thighs were too big, her legs too short, but if what he’d said was true, he wouldn’t mind.
No, I’m not going there tonight.
She pushed away all negative thoughts. If she was his mate, he needed to see the real her before they went any further. Plump belly, round hips, thick thighs, large boobs, jiggly ass, and all.
No lies or misconceptions. She was who she was, and Elissa was a big girl. She’d make no apologies. Not now that he’d said she was his mate.
Better know what he was getting himself into now. She steeled herself for his cold rejection, surprised when the heat in his eyes declared anything but.
Judging from the sound building in his massive chest, Hunter didn’t mind her curves. Not one little itty bitty bit.
Her long top covered her private bits, but just the hint of her skin seemed to tempt him. His Tiger looked as if he wanted to come out and play, too. Gold rimmed eyes bore into hers.
“I said, what else?” she repeated, pausing with her hands on the hem of her tunic.
She might not be a Shifter, but she felt desire rise between them. Sensed it in the air. The large bathroom practically sizzled with the energy flowing between her and the big Tiger.
“Just what I said. You are mine. Only you. No one else. Not ever.”
“Yeah?”
“Yesssss,” he hissed, his control waning.
“You belong to me.”
“What if someone else comes along for you or me?” she asked.
“No,” he shook his head, baring his teeth.
“No other males. Mine,” he growled.
Fuck. That was so damn hot.
She noted his eyes were pure gold now and he was trembling with either desire or anger. Maybe a bit of both.
Uncle Uzzi did mention Shifters had a wildly jealous streak.
“If I belong to you, what are you gonna do about it?”
“Mate you. Claim you. Fuck you. Now.”
Elissa straightened her shoulders. Her hands going slowly towards the buttons of her tunic.
“Purrfect,” he grunted, as she revealed more and more of her skin to his glowing gaze.
“Lissa, it’s killing me to say this, but if you don’t want me to do something about this right now, I think I should leave.”
“What if I do want you to do something?” she asked, standing so close to him now she could feel his warm breath on her forehead.
For the first time in a long time, she felt sexy and wanted. There was power and beauty in that, but also something else. Her heart swelled and her body responded to the need she saw burning for her in his beautiful, glowing eyes.
A Shifter. A real honest to God Shifter. And he was hers. Her mate. She belonged to him, and he to her.
She just needed to let it happen.