Before I can utter a word, he suddenly morphs before my very eyes. It happens so quickly I can hardly register it before an enormous tiger is standing on all fours before me.
And oh my god, he’s beautiful.
I can see the sandy blonde color of his hair in his fur. It fades into a creamy white. His black stripes are bold and proud. My eyes trail down to his enormous paws as he pads across the room over to me.
His head is huge, and I feel a moment of surreality. I’m in a room with a tiger. A freaking tiger!
When he’s standing by the bed, he’s at eye level with me, and I instantly recognize his golden eyes are those of Raoul, the man.
I expel the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and against my better judgement, I reach out a hand to touch his fur. I don’t plan it. It’s like my hand moves of its own volition without permission from my brain. I’m helpless to stop it.
Raoul’s eyes flicker closed when I touch him. His fur is soft underneath my fingertips, and I lightly stroke his head like I would a big cat.
I jump when a rumble sounds from his throat. Holy shit, he’s purring!
I snatch my hand back and swallow. Raoul’s eyes snap open, pinning me in his predatory gaze, and then he morphs back into his human state in the blink of an eye so that I’m staring at eye level with his very large, very aroused male body part. I can see the huge bulge of it in his slacks.
My face flames, and I avert my gaze. God, did me stroking his head like that turn him on that much?
“I’ve never let anyone pet me like that,” his deep voice rumbles.
I look up at him. He doesn’t look angry, though. His eyes are soft as he gazes down at me.
“Why did you let me?” I ask, though I suspect I already know what he’s going to say.
He drops on his haunches before me, and I can still see a bit of the tiger in him as he runs his thumb along my bottom lip, his touching sending tingles shooting throughout my entire body. “Because you’re my mate, and there’s not much I would deny you.”
My throat goes dry as I stare at him. “How about giving me my freedom, then?” I challenge him.
His lips press into a thin line. He doesn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, he straightens to his full height, and I think I see a flash of hurt in his eyes before he turns his back on me.
“I have some business to attend to. Rest, and I’ll be back with food for you shortly,” he orders me before he exits the room.
Of course, I hop out of bed as soon as the door clicks shut, and of course, the fucker is locked. I expected no less.
That still doesn’t stop the disappointment from crashing through me.
I’m effectively trapped by a tiger, and while he might say I’m his mate, we all know cats are notorious for playing with their food before they eat it.
And I have no intention of being his little mouse.
* * *
I'm pacing by the window, contemplating potential escape routes when the door opens again. I've already checked the window and not only is it shut fast, but I would surely fall to my death if I could get it open and jump out of it anyway. Either that or break an arm or leg.
I spin toward the door, my tongue ready to lash out at my captor, but the words die in my throat when I see a woman walking in with a tray in her hands. When Raoul said he would bring me food, I assumed he meanthewould do it.
Still, seeing as how this is the first other person I've seen since he took me captive, excitement creeps over me. Plus, there’s the encouraging fact that she's a woman.
I naturally appeal to her, hoping that she will sympathize with my plight. Women's solidarity and all that, you know.
“Oh, thank God!” I rush over to her as she lays the tray on a little table in the corner of the opulent space. “I'm here against my will. Raoul kidnapped me. Can you help me?”
The woman casts me a cool glance. Her eyes are a startling shade of green, and her hair is long and blonde. She's tall and gorgeous.
Instead of any ounce of empathy in her eyes, her lip turns up into a sneer as she addresses me harshly, “Ungrateful little brat. You are not worthy of our king.”
“King?” I blink and take a step back.