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Unfortunately, she’d been there last night when he’d gone for a long-needed run in his shifted form. He’d been able to stretch his muscles, get all the kinks out and tire himself out.
With his mate this close and the Gutierrez Cartel making a play to move into his territory, he’d left himself vulnerable to attack—not that of a rival or enemy, but to a beautiful tigress who needed to be mated to a strong tiger who could bend her to his will. Tigresses like Larisa could be difficult. They only respected a mate stronger than they were but would not submit willingly. It would take a tiger with an enormous amount of patience, a strong strap, and a hard cock to bring her into line.
His worry was that having taken her to his bed last night, everyone in the clan would think her claimed. He needed to shut that shit down—not only with the rest of the clan, but with Larisa, as well. He could blame his lapse of judgment on a lot of things—stress, need, the high from a run, the residual from having drunk too much—none of it mattered. If he couldn’t find her a mate who could overlook his transgressions, he would find her a mate outside of the clan. He would not, regardless of her father’s wishes, return her to her origin clan. Larisa deserved better than that.
Larisa rolled over in the bed, snaking her hand down to his already hard cock to stroke and tease. “Did I please my alpha last night?” she purred.
Visions of Larisa on her knees, sucking his cock with skill and a determination to swallow him down, arose. The issue was that he knew it was not out of wanting to please her alpha or even the man she was with. Larisa did things for one reason and one reason only, to further her own ends. She was seductive, beautiful, and always had an ulterior motive—one she kept hidden from everyone but herself.
He'd lost enough of his iron control to let the beast come out to play before forcing it into submission some time last night. He did not normally succumb to his more primal self. When Larisa had sidled up to him in the men’s changing room before he’d had a chance to pull on any clothes, he’d pulled her across his thigh and peppered her backside with his hand, tattooing his displeasure with her behavior and making both of them snarl and hiss in anger and outrage. Larisa had never been subjected to the will and authority of anyone, her father included. He’d let the headstrong beauty run wild.
Bodie had spanked her until she’d capitulated, meaning to let her up and give her a final swat to send her on her way. Only his tiger had gotten a good long whiff of her aroused scent and when she’d turned around and sunk to her knees, he’d let the beast take control.
Fisting her hair, he’d taken her mouth with strong, bold strokes, making her choke and sputter on his engorged member as he’d taken his pleasure. Using her mouth instead of her cunt, he’d pounded into her, not allowing her to move as he drove into her over and over again. When he’d finally spilled himself in her belly, she had swallowed every last drop and then used the tip of her tongue to lick him clean. All the while, she had looked into his eyes, smiling as she tried to manipulate him.
Bad enough that he’d used her mouth to alleviate his ache, the knowing and scheming smile had all but enraged him. Bodie had tossed her over his shoulder, carried her to his bed, and fucked her long and hard throughout the night. Not once did he have the urge to take her neck in a claiming bite, not even when he’d taken her from behind and she’d offered herself to him. Nor had his barbs released to strafe her inner walls, preparing them to trap his seed until it could fertilize her egg. He’d been more than happy last night to fuck her, but not once had he thought to breed her.
Bodie was torn between feeding her vanity and pride and telling her the truth. As much as it would hurt to admit his own shortcomings as an alpha, he knew the truth would be the best and kindest thing he could do.
“You are a gorgeous tigress, Larisa, you know that, but what happened last night should not have happened, and it will not happen again. Last night proved we both need to find our mate. We both know that we are not that to each other. I will ask my warriors if there is one of them that could overlook their alpha’s moment of weakness in order to claim such a beautiful mate. If there is not, I will task Navarro with finding you one.”
The words had barely left his mouth when her hand cracked across his cheek. “You bastard,” she hissed. “How dare you think to fuck me all night and then toss me aside this morning because you’ve had your fill.”
There was a knock on the door. “Come,” called Bodie, not once taking his eyes off Larisa. She might be female and therefore inherently smaller and weaker than he, but she was also a tigress. Often her kind would attack even knowing the odds if they felt threatened or gravely insulted.
Bodie’s beta, Navarro, entered the room. “The Gutierrez Syndicate has entered the city.”
Bodie nodded. “Take Larisa and confine her to her room, by whatever means you deem necessary.”
Larisa threw herself at him, dropping to her knees. “Please my alpha, do not use me so cruelly and then abandon me.”
Navarro was no fool. He knew Larisa was not his alpha’s mate. His hand whipped out and slapped Larisa’s ass. She released her hold on Bodie and turned on Navarro.
“How dare you lay a hand on me? Our alpha has taken me to his bed. I will be his mate.”
“Our alpha is not your mate, and when he finds you dosed his drink last night with catnip, the lingering redness from a mild spanking may well be replaced with the stripes from his belt.”
“Catnip? She dosed me with catnip.” Bodie groaned, knowing Navarro spoke the truth. “Before I deal with an external threat like the cartel, I will damn sure deal with an internal one.”
“It was only a little bit,” Larisa said, trying to retreat.
“There is a reason catnip is forbidden within this clan. While it may make for some amusing antics in housecats, it can have deadly results in tigers,” explained Navarro, coming between Bodie and Larisa. “You could take your belt to her and lay down welts that would take days to heal. But then I’d have to challenge you, and I would hate to kill my oldest and best friend.”
“Why would you challenge him?” asked Larisa hesitantly.
Navarro turned, his eyes pinning her in place. “Because while I could forgive a drugged reaction to a beautiful, bewitching tigress such as yourself, I would never let him truly harm you.”
Bodie started to laugh. “You’re mad.”
Navarro shrugged. “Perhaps. But as you are quite certain your fated mate now lies within the boundaries of our territory, I am equally as certain that mine stands here in this room.”
Bodie put his hand on Navarro’s shoulder. “You could forgive my indiscretion? I would accept a challenge from you to defend her honor but not to the death. I will not be forced to kill you.”
“You arrogant bastard,” laughed Navarro. “What makes you think I couldn’t take you?”
“A lifetime of attempts. But I do apologize.”
“No, my Alpha, it is I who begs your forgiveness for my mate’s inexcusable behavior.”
