Tempting the Tiger by Lacey Thorn Page A

grin. Until the ringing of his phone interrupted.
    “Where are you?” Tah wasn’t one to beat around the bush with a simple hello.
    “On my way back,” Reno answered.
    “Good. I had a bad feeling. Abby had to hold me back from coming after you last night. I’ve paced the fucking floors today driving everyone crazy waiting to hear from you. Couldn’t take it anymore. You okay? Everything okay?”
    “I’m good.” His glance speared back toward the open bathroom door and the steam slowly making its way out. “I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
    “Tonight?”
    “No.” Something told him he’d never make it driving straight through. He already wanted Amia again. He figured they’d make a few stops along the way. Maybe he could get her to open more than her body to him. Maybe she would want more than his body in return.
    “Reno?”
    “I’m here. I’ve… I won’t be coming back empty-handed. I’ve got a member of the Blane family with me.”
    “Does he have answers?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’m going to take my time, make sure we’re not being followed on the way back.” He wasn’t sure why he didn’t correct Tah’s misconception that the person with Reno was a man. He just wasn’t ready to share Amia yet.
    “Call me daily until you get your ass back here, or I’m coming after you, which will piss Abby off, which will piss me the fuck off.”
    Reno laughed. “Point taken.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” Tah asked quietly. “I swear I heard you roar in pain. It fired through my brain and had me leaping out of bed ready to fight. Scared the shit out of Abby.”
    Reno wondered if Tah really was his pride leader. He’d always felt a connection to his best friend, long before they knew anything about spirits and shifters and beasts sleeping inside. Was it possible Tah could sense when one of his pride was awake and in pain? Because Reno had no doubt his animal spirit was awake and ready to fight. In fact, he found spirit too gentle of a word for what was inside him. It was a fucking beast, as dominant and arrogant as the man. Didn’t that just figure.
    “I’m good. I’ll call and check in tonight. Take care of Abby.”
    He hung up and tossed the phone on the disheveled bed. He would do as he said, keep his eyes open and make sure they weren’t followed. Someone had definitely been watching them in the woods earlier when Amia had run. He’d sensed it, but he hadn’t sensed any threat, only curiosity. That’s the only reason he’d been able to push it aside and make love to Amia when they got back inside the cabin. That and the fact the beast had been so demanding. Now, he was back to mulling it over. Was it possible Amia had a friend keeping track of her? She didn’t act as if she did. But there was definitely more going on than he knew right then.
    “I’m using all the hot water,” Amia called from the bathroom.
    “Coming,” he hollered back, stopping to check the door. He inhaled deeply but smelled nothing but the mingled scents of him and Amia and the sex they’d just shared. His cock, which had been going down, twitched happily, making him groan. Fuck. This was going to be a long-ass trip back to Colorado.
    She turned toward him with a smile that wrapped around him as he stepped in the bathroom and got his first look at her all wet and naked, covered in soap suds and looking like a dream. Thank God for sheer shower curtains that hid nothing.
    “I’m almost finished,” she said.
    They were far from finished. He had a feeling there was more between them than just great sex. He could keep ignoring his beast as long as he wanted, but he doubted it would change anything. The beast was determined Amia belonged to him, no matter how much the man said it couldn’t be. Reno had no idea which side would win this battle or how Amia would react to his primal urge to claim her. She already wanted to leave him. A bite like the one he ached to give her would send her