Craving More (19 page)

Because
he didn’t think he would be able to pull away again if he tasted her lips, he
pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped back.

“I’m
going to allow you to go with me cause I don’t think I can stop you from
following, you damn well better stay behind me though. I don’t want you
confronting her. She’s unstable and I would die if something were to happen to
you. Are we clear?”

She
studied him for a moment and he prayed she would listen. He should have known
she would go with him and not back to her house like he said. She was too
independent and certainly not used to being told what to do. It was amazing she
let him hold the reins the last couple of weeks. With a quick nod of her head
she agreed to his demand.

He
grinned and peeled off the rest of his clothes. Seconds later they both
shifted. He bumped his shoulder into her before rubbing his face along hers.

The
rightness of being next to her in tiger form settled his nerves. She provided a
comfort he didn’t know he needed.

They
took off into the woods following the scent markings left by Macy’s expensive
perfume.

Entering
the clearing next to the lake ahead of Corrine, he came to a halt. Leaving
Corrine hidden in the trees with no way around him, they finally found Macy.
She sat naked on one of the large rocks Corrine had lounged on their first
night together. Macy’s legs were crossed all prim and proper with a Cheshire
grin plastered across her face.

“It’s
about time you got here, Jett,” she purred. “I wasn’t sure how much longer I
could wait around. God, I forgot how handsome you are as a tiger.”

Slowly
she stood, making her way toward him, a blatant sexual swing in her hips. The
overt gesture turned his stomach. He couldn’t believe he used to be turned on
by such a display.

“You
know your girlfriend is a heifer and such a cry baby. You should have seen the
way she bawled over that revolting bakery. I swear she must eat half of what
she makes to begin with.”

The
closer Macy got to him the more he noticed about her. He no longer saw the
beautiful, sophisticated girl he’d dated in college. The girl every guy wanted
but only he got to have. Now he saw her for what she really was. An unstable,
disturbed stalker who just wouldn’t go away.

Her
eyes had a crazed, paranoid gleam.
Her hair looked dirty and
wild.
Every once in a while she took quick frantic glances from side to
side like she expected someone to be next to her. Her fingers would twitch
beside her legs before he saw her pinch her skin. She didn’t seem to notice his
study of her as she continued to talk.

“Are
you sure your girlfriend and that other woman aren’t lesbians? Is that why
you’re with her?
To see some girl-on-girl action?
If I
had known you liked that I would have shown you a good time long ago. I know
plenty of women who would love to be with me.” She ran her hand over her hair
before trailing it down her body. Jett had no desire to follow her hand’s path
yet was unable to look away. Her hand bounced over her ribs, which were
sticking out. She didn’t look like she had eaten anything in weeks.

It
was a good thing Corrine was blocked in. He didn’t need her hearing Macy’s
crazy rambling. There was no doubt in his mind that Corrine would rip Macy’s
throat out if given the chance.

He
just needed to stall long enough for Consortium members to get there and take
Macy away. They would also deal with the fire and police departments. They had
a way of looking after their own. Keeping as much as they could in house.

Macy
stopped a few feet in front of him. “Come out and play with me Jett. You know
you want to fuck me.” She bit her lip and twirled her hair around a finger in a
practiced move that repulsed him further.

He
couldn’t believe this was what he once thought was the epitome of sexy.

Jett
felt Corrine nudge him from behind. There was no way he was letting her get
near Macy. Taking a step back he bumped into her, emitting a low warning growl.

Macy,
still oblivious to Corrine’s presence, thought he was growling at her.

“Murph,”
she whined. The high-pitched sound grated on his nerves. In the past he either
put up with it or just blocked it out. Usually giving in. Not anymore though.
He was only too happy Corrine didn’t feel she had to needle him into doing what
she wanted. He would gladly do anything she asked to begin with.

Before
he could cater to Corrine and anything she wished, he had to take control of
this situation. Keep Macy talking and occupied until relief got there. Without
thinking through what he was about to do, he quickly shifted. He chanced a
glance behind. Corrine still in tiger form stood swishing her tail angrily back
and forth.

He
spoke to her lowly, “I’m buying us some time. Stay hidden in the trees. Help is
on the way.”

Swallowing his pride and revulsion, Jett walked
further into the clearing toward doom.

Corrine was dumbfounded.
What the hell!
Oh no he did not just
tell her to stay put like a good little kitty!
That man may meet his death yet.

Still,
like the fool she was beginning to believe she was when it came to him, she sat
down, a large Colorado blue spruce blocking her from their view.

She
saw the look of triumph on Macy’s face when Jett’s naked ass walked her way.
Saw the way her eyes hungrily ate his body up. She just wished she could see
Jett’s face to know what he thought of Crazy Macy.

Low
murmurs reached her sensitive ears but trees buffered the words. It was all she
could do not to get closer and overhear.

After
a bit her curiosity got the best of her. Being careful to not make noise,
Corrine got up and inched forward. The closer she got, the more frustrated and
pissed off she became. She only had a clear view of Macy and Corrine had a
driving need to see Jett’s face. Giving up on her current position she circled
around to the side. Getting the clear view of Jett and Macy’s profiles she
desperately needed.

What
she saw was unexpected as jealousy took hold of her.

Macy
leaned into Jett, caressing his arm while laughing up into his face flirting
and batting her eyes. She pressed her small pointy breasts against his chest,
rubbing back and forth.

Corrine
couldn’t stop her tiger’s response if she wanted to. Her ears rotated and
flattened slightly, displaying her agitation. Teeth bared, a low, loud growl
escaped, as Jett did nothing to stop Macy’s fondling.

Macy
glared in her direction. “I see your pussy is here after all,” she said loud
enough to be heard.

Corrine
stepped out into the clearing. Her stance aggressive, prepared to attack. The overwhelming
need to protect her territory and her home rode high. This was the bitch
responsible for burning down her business.
Most likely the
reason for all of the strange things happening too.

She
was going to pay for it all and soon. Especially for thinking she could lure
Jett back to her side.

Corrine
let go of the doubt about Jett’s feelings for her. Let go of her hesitation to
commit and embraced what she knew within. They were mates. Meant for each
other. Forever. When this was over whatever happened in the past was going to
firmly remain there. They were going to work on the future. Together.

Crouching
low, her tail close to the ground twitching violently every few seconds.
Corrine kept her eyes trained on Macy, waiting for her to make the next move.
It didn’t take long.

“I
told you to stay back Corrine,” Jett said. “I’ve got this.”

The
words were barely out of his mouth when Macy shoved him away with more strength
than
Corrine thought she should possess. He landed on
his ass, clearly unable to be of much help.

Macy
shifted, mouth hanging open, revealing deadly, dripping canines. Hissing she
lunged straight at Corrine.

Corrine
sprang to the side deftly avoiding the attack before shifting gears. Barreling
into Macy’s side, she knocked her off her feet.

Corrine
took the precious seconds to ensure Jett was out of the way. Pleased when she
saw he was back on his feet, keeping a distance from the two fighting tigers.

Macy
jumped back up onto all fours. Rushing forward she swiped with her extended
claws.

Unable
to move out of the way fast enough, pain lanced through Corrine’s leg.
The flesh tearing on her right front leg.
Warm blood flowed
down, pooling between the toes on her paw.

She
pushed the pain aside.
Dropping down and rolling away before
the next attack.

Out
of Macy’s reach, she slowly circled the crazed tiger waiting for the perfect
opening to attack.

Rustling
noises from the woods distracted Macy, allowing for Corrine to jump. Macy’s
strength reared its head. The woman had to be on something. No one this small
should have this much power. They wrestled on the ground, each struggling for
the upper hand. Growls and roars let loose by both of them echoed throughout
the clearing.

A
group of men burst through the trees stopping right inside the clearing
garnering their attention. Corrine broke free of Macy relinquishing her
dominant position.
 

She
kept a close eye on Macy as the tiger staggered to get her footing. Wobbling on
four feet, body shuddering, lungs laboring for breath. She looked wiped out but
not defeated. It was no less how Corrine felt.

Unexpectedly
Macy broke into a run, heading away from everyone. Corrine dashed after her
letting loose a ferocious growl.

The
men were behind her yelling and running toward them both. None of them would be
quick enough to catch them unless they shifted.

As
Macy was about to breach the wooded area Corrine leapt into the air landing on
the other tiger’s hindquarters while sinking her claws in. Stopping all forward
motion.

Macy
roared in rage before rolling onto her back showing her belly in submission.

Corrine
not trusting her moved to her side and in a swift move clamped her powerful
jaws on Macy’s throat. Squeezing just enough to break the skin. A strangled
noise escaped. She placed her paw on the tiger’s exposed belly. Ready to rip it
open
at the slightest flinch.

The
men skidded to a halt near them but none came close. Out of the corner of her
eye Corrine watched as Jett slowly approached them. Rounding them until he was
standing next to her, he placed a hand gently on her back. Moving it up
gradually in a soothing circling motion. Once his hand was on the nap of her
neck, she felt him drop to his knees next to her draping his body over her
back. His head close to her ear. The heat of his body melted into her.

“Let
go baby,” he said quietly.

She
grunted low in her throat. Not quite ready to let go of her prey.

“Please.
I need you to let go so they can take care of her,” he pleaded.

Just
the thought of her being taken care of raised the fur on her back. She dropped
lower, her jaws closing on Macy’s throat a fraction more.

“Now
baby, I know she pissed you off but you aren’t the type to kill without
reason.”

Frankly
she thought she had plenty of reason and he should know that. Pulling her paw
back, she dug her claws into Macy’s soft belly. Puncturing the skin. The tiger
moaned and Corrine got the sick, fleeting satisfaction knowing she was in pain.
She wanted Macy to feel the type of pain she had been in at seeing her bakery
burnt down and her mate in the arms of another woman.

“Please,
honey, let go. These men are going to take her away. Get her the help she needs
and never let her back into the population. You know we have ways of dealing
with shifters like her.” He stroked his large hand down her back sending
spirals of pleasure through her.

They
were at a stand still. He hadn’t given her a good enough reason to let go. And
she couldn’t convince herself that Macy didn’t deserve swift punishment.

A
throat cleared to her left. A man approached tentatively. Tall and muscular
like Jett. He had the same rugged good looks.
Chiseled
cheekbones and strong angular nose.
It was Jett, just older. Gray
peppered his hair giving him an air of dignity and authority.

“Corrine,”
his deep baritone pricked at her ears. “I need you to let Macy go. Much more of
this and we’re going to have to haul you both off and I’d hate to do that to my
son. Seems he’s quite taken with you and I don’t want to ruin that.”

Corrine
grunted but still didn’t let go.

“You’re
a stubborn one aren’t you? Not too stubborn I hope. Jett needs a woman who will
stand up to him but not run right over him, attempting to control every aspect
of his life.” Jett’s Dad’s eyes hardened dropping to the tiger beneath her.
Bringing his gaze back to her it softened, “I think that woman is you. Now be a
good girl and let go.” The man had the nerve to wink at her.
A
small smile tipping his lips.
She snorted. As much as she wanted to be
ticked at the man’s attitude, she couldn’t help but be charmed. Just like she
was when Jett was acting like a fool.