White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel) (15 page)

Addie had to wonder whether she’d be sleeping in the bed in this room or in the big bed across the hall, and whether it would be with or without Kendrick.

When she checked their bedroom, it was lit but empty, as was the living room. Charlie must have gone to bed, because he was nowhere in sight.

Addie poured herself a glass of water in the kitchen and carried it back down the hall with her. She heard voices from Seamus’s room but it didn’t sound like he was on the phone anymore. Kendrick’s rumble answered Seamus and Addie tiptoed along the hall until she stood outside Seamus’s door.

“I don’t know when it started,” Seamus said. “I had it all my life, maybe, and it finally was noticeable when terrible things happened.”

“But terrible things have happened to us before,” Kendrick said. “We’ve had death, outright slaughter, had to flee for our lives. Why didn’t you know about it then?”

“I have no idea,” Seamus said. “All I want to know is, what the hell is a Shifter empath, and how did I get this way? Dealing with it, Kendrick, has been a bitch.”

A
ddie had no idea what a Shifter empath was, and her curiosity stirred. She leaned closer, listening without shame.

“Dylan didn’t tell you about what happened to me?” Seamus asked.

“Dylan didn’t tell me a lot of things,” Kendrick said. “Not that I’ve actually had many conversations with him. He gave orders; I gave him information. I don’t really blame him. It’s tough for leaders to know who to trust.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Seamus’s growls softened. “Thank you for trusting
me
. Now, what are we going to do?”

“Can you find Jaycee? Or Dimitri?”

“I don’t know.” Seamus sounded troubled. “Haven’t heard from either of them since we went to ground. Of course, I’ve been inside a Shiftertown and both of them must think I went over to the dark side. But I’ll try to find them. Francesca can help.”

“Only if Francesca can get away from the Shifters. I don’t want her or Katie to be hurt by this.”

Amusement entered Seamus’s tone. “You’re not going to believe this, but the two that broke our compound—Rebecca
and Walker Danielson—are pretty good people. They take care of foster cubs and help a lot of Shifters. We’ve become good friends.”

“I might choke on the sentimentality,” Kendrick rumbled. “But I’m going to trust you to know which Shifters
you
can trust. Try to get hold of this Ben guy too. Seems like he’s resourceful.” Kendrick paused. “Addie saw Tiger and Spike yesterday when she went into San Antonio. She said they saw her but they have no reason to connect her to me. Do they?”

Seamus whistled. “If Tiger saw her . . . He’s something different, is Tiger. That might be a problem.”

“Do you trust him?”

“With my life. But . . .” Seamus trailed off. “Then again, it depends. Tiger obeys only Tiger. Even Dylan can’t control him. No one can, except his mate, who is half his size—it’s adorable. Tiger doesn’t wear a real Collar either. I mean, who would be fool enough to put one on him?”

“Hmm.” Kendrick’s concern touched Addie through the door. “Well, I’ll worry about him when I need to. Sleep on it.” He gave a laugh. “That is, if you aren’t busy calling your mate again to coo at her.”

“I don’t coo.” Seamus didn’t sound the least bit embarrassed. “And Bree’s a wonderful woman. You’ll see.”

Kendrick made another growling noise, then there was a rustle, both men going silent. Addie pictured them hugging again—they liked to do that.

Before she knew it, the doorknob was turning. Addie fled down the hall, trying to move swiftly and silently, the water in her glass sloshing over.

She made it to the bedroom but a second later, Kendrick was there, pushing her inside, rescuing the water before she dropped it.

He closed the door and leaned against it. “Never think a Shifter can’t hear the softest footfall, Addison.”

In the dim light cast by the lamp on the nightstand, Kendrick’s face faded into shadows, but his green eyes were sharp.

Addie shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. “I was curious.”

“If you want to know anything, all you have to do is ask.”

Addie snorted a laugh. “Yeah, right. When you first met me, you wouldn’t even tell me your name.”

“I told you plenty tonight.”

Addie could not decide whether Kendrick was angry or not. He remained against the door, blocking her way out but not advancing on her.

“Not everything,” she countered. “What’s a Shifter empath?”

Kendrick finally left the door. He went to the dresser and drew off his shirt. His firm back came into view, crisscrossed with fine white scars.

“I don’t really know,” Kendrick said. “Seamus says he can sense strong emotions in others, feel what they’re feeling. That’s why he was so upset on the hill—he caught my grief at having to kill Ivan. So he says, anyway.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Addie said. She remembered the deep pain in his eyes when he’d used the sword on the dying Shifter. She came to him, putting her hand on his bare arm. “You okay?”

Kendrick looked swiftly down at her. “Addison, it’s best not to touch me.”

Addie blinked and withdrew. “No? I was getting the idea that Shifters liked the touchy-feely stuff. Or maybe it’s only Shifter guys with Shifter guys?” She sent him a sly smile.

She only meant to tease him, but Kendrick stared at her as though he had no idea what she was talking about.

“Every time you touch me, I want you more.” Kendrick turned around and stepped to her. Addison had to crank her head back to keep her eyes on his face. “I want you so much it’s killing me.”

Addison let her hand drift to his. “Kendrick, I’ve probably made it obvious I don’t mind.” She softened her voice. “I really don’t.”

The snarl that worked its way from Kendrick’s throat was harsh. His big hands closed over her arms, and he lifted her from her feet and carried her backward to the bed. Addie stifled a yelp, his strength powerful.

She’d thought the height of the bed would stymie him,
but Addison found herself on her back on the mattress, Kendrick on hands and knees over her.

“You tempt your fate,” he said, his words soft as a whisper. “I’m not gentle, Addison. Never have been.”

Addie disagreed, having seen how tenderly he held his cubs and Robbie. She recalled how careful he’d been with them when they’d played on the grass in their animal forms. He’d made sure he never hurt them.

“Tell you what,” Addie said, trying to keep her voice steady. “How about we just sleep? We both need it.” She stroked his arm, finding his skin hot and tight.

Kendrick leaned close, his eyes hard. “You want me to lie here with you, holding you for comfort? You think we can do something that tame? Every time I’m with you, I want you, and not in a nice way. What happened in the barn is only the barest beginning. I want you every way I can have you, and I don’t want it gentle. I’ve only ever been with Shifter females, and they can take what I need to do. You can’t. And so I’ll be sleeping on the porch tonight.”

Addie’s eyes widened but her heart beat faster in excitement. “You have no idea the harassment I took at the diner. Most was in fun, but some of the guys were mean, and rough.” She thought of a few pats on her ass that had stung, some that had been accompanied by a grip of hard fingers. “You’re not like that. No matter how badass you think you are.”

“Addison.” Kendrick leaned closer, his body heat covering her. “You play with fire.”

“Fire can be good.” Addie dared put one finger to the hollow at his collarbone, touching where a Shifter Collar would be. “It warms you and cooks things.”

“It can also be the most destructive thing on earth.”

Kendrick’s growl came again. He leaned even closer, fists tightening on either side of her head, and licked her from chin to the bridge of her nose.

His tongue was hot, his breath scalding. Kendrick came down again, this time licking across her mouth. The third time, he dipped between her parted lips, stroking inside, nudging her tongue to respond.

Addie took the weight of him, wrapping him in her arms.
She slanted her mouth across his, opening for his kiss, which was deeper than any he’d given her yet. Kendrick moved his tongue inside her mouth the same as when he’d gone down on her in the barn. The sexiest moment of her life.

This one was rivaling it. While she was clothed this time, the heat of Kendrick’s bare chest through her thin shirt was intoxicating. She skimmed her hands down his smooth back, his muscles working as he strengthened the kiss. She felt his cock through his jeans as she had earlier today, his wanting clear.

Kendrick moved one hand to her shoulder, pressing down with powerful fingers. She was pinned to the mattress, Kendrick’s hold not letting her move. His kiss turned hard, almost savage, Addie sinking into softness with him on top of her.

Instead of terrifying her—which was what he was trying to do—Addie felt exhilarated. She wrapped her foot around his firm calf and pulled him closer still.

Kendrick snarled and ripped his mouth from hers. His eyes had lightened, the green so pale it was almost white. He lifted his hand from her shoulder, the other off the bed. Bedding tore, the fist that had braced him having become a paw with claws.

Another snarl and he sprang away from her, landing on his feet beside the bed. “No!”

Addie grabbed the edge of the mattress and peered over it. “What’s the matter?” Her breath came swiftly, the chill of his leaving sharp.

“If you have to ask . . .” Kendrick’s eyes held more anger than she’d ever seen in him. His fists balled and she realized he was barely containing his shift.

Addie swallowed her impulse to reach for him again, come what may. “Are you all right?”

“No!” Kendrick swung abruptly away, grabbed a shirt out of the dresser drawer, leaving it open and askew, and headed for the door. “Stay away from me, Addison.”

He opened the door and paused a moment, his head turned deliberately away from her. Then he squared his shoulders, dragged in a breath, and went out.

The
bang
of the door resounded through the house.

Addie flopped back down on the bed, hugging her arms over her chest. Her heart was pounding, her blood hot, her body still feeling his weight, the imprint of his hand, the sensation of his mouth.

I want you every way I can have you, and I don’t want it gentle.

Addie let out a sound between a sigh and a growl.
I don’t want it gentle, either
, she longed to call after him.
I just want it to be with you.

*   *   *

A
ddie was up early the next morning, after a night of fitful sleep. She got out of bed at dawn, showered, dressed, and walked out the front door, nearly tripping on a large white tiger who was stretched across the front porch, sound asleep.

The tiger blinked open his eyes when she stopped short, then he gave her a baleful green stare.

Addie pressed her hands to her chest. “So sorry to disturb his majesty. Oh, no, wait, it’s the
lion
that’s king of the beasts.”

She enjoyed Kendrick’s irritated growl for a few seconds, before her words shot back down her throat. A full-grown male lion with a thick black mane emerged from around the corner of the house and started up the porch steps.

Addie’s mouth went dry, and then she saw his eyes—golden-tawny and full of good humor. “Seamus?”

The lion gave her a little huffing bark, walked well around Kendrick, and butted his head into Addie’s side.

A thrill went through her as the huge, ferocious lion bumped her with affection, and again when her hand stroked his wiry, warm mane. At least not all Shifters were afraid to let her touch them.

Kendrick heaved himself to his feet and faced Seamus, his eyes narrowing. Seamus continued to lean against Addie, rumbling in enjoyment as Addie scratched under his mane.

From Kendrick’s throat came the grating sound of a tiger’s long growl, a noise that would send terror through the jungle. Seamus met Kendrick’s gaze, unimpressed.
Leisurely, he stepped away from Addie, shook himself out, yawned, then strolled off the porch again, sauntering away.

Addie found herself smiling in delight, her face aching with it. She wanted to laugh, and when Kendrick turned a look of fury on her, Addie couldn’t help herself. She let the laugh come out.

“The look on your face,” she said, pointing at Kendrick’s great, beautiful tiger visage, with his black stripes on snow white, his eyes luminous green. “It’s priceless.”

The tiger began to distort, and in a few seconds, Addie’s laugh choked off. Before her stood not a man or a tiger, but a half man, half tiger. White tiger’s fur spread over the steel-muscled armature of a man, the face Kendrick’s but with fur, tiger ears, and the teeth of a beast. His hands ended in claws, dark and sharp.

“He defies me.” Kendrick’s voice was guttural.

“He’s giving you a hard time,” Addie said, trying to hide her nervousness. “I heard him on the phone with his girlfriend. It’s painfully obvious how much he loves her.”

The tiger-beast-man rippled, the fur flowing away, Kendrick shrinking down to be Kendrick-sized again. He was completely naked, the morning sun kissing his skin.

“He’s never defied me,” Kendrick said, now sounding confused. “Not even as a joke.”

“People change. Seamus is madly in love with this woman, and he lives with her now, right? Wouldn’t that make him different?”

Addie saw him turn these thoughts over in his head, uncertain. “Yes,” he conceded.

Addie resisted the urge to reach a comforting hand to him. She liked that Kendrick stood here before her, bare and unashamed. If last night were anything to go by, touching him would make him retreat and run.

“Breakfast?” she suggested instead. “I’ll cook this morning and give Charlie a break. I make a mean pancake.”

“Pancakes!” Small voices chorused inside the house.

The three cubs pressed against the front window, not in the least surprised to see their father standing naked on the porch, facing Addie.

Addie gave them a shaky wave. “Probably you should get dressed,” she said to Kendrick, as though every inch of his body didn’t make her hot all over. She gave him an encouraging smile then made herself stroll, as leisurely as Seamus had, into the house.