Liars and Tigers (9 page)

"Let's try
this one," Alex said, running the material across her back. "It's a
mop flogger. I have two different ones. This one has suede strands that are
looped so there are no free ends, and this one," he traded implements,
smiling as Misha groaned, "is heavy rope covered with rabbit fur. It's
very nice, but also can pack quite a punch."

"Go for
it," she murmured. "Oh!"

Alex flung the
rabbit/rope flogger between her shoulder blades, watching as she lifted her
torso partially off the bed, then he followed with the lighter suede flogger.
Her movements suggested that she was becoming aroused very quickly.

"How are
you doing?"

"You are
making me fucking horny, Alex! Harder!"

"Let me
change to something less sensual," he said, picking up a ball-chain
flogger. "This is metal and is made of the ball chain that we use for
hanging dog tags. It's not for hard use," he explained, running the
chilling metal over her warm flesh. "It's a good cool down. I'll do a
light pinwheel with it."

Misha wriggled as
the icy metal kissed the backs of her knees and thighs, across her bottom and
up her back to the shoulder blades. He ran it back down, allowed the flails to
trickle over her body.

"It almost
feels like drops of cold water," Misha proclaimed, burying her face in the
mattress. "It's sooo nice."

"Just one
more thing and we are done for the night," Alex said, adjusting his
uncomfortable erection. "This will help you come down. Just a little bit
of coconut and almond oil."

Alex slid the
oil over her back, buttocks, and down her legs, rubbing and caressing gently.
He made certain not to make any sexual advances, honoring her request to remain
chaste. His hands tingled against the velvety texture of her skin, and he
focused on her pleasure to ensure she would return for more.

"Must you
stop?" Misha whined as he untied her hands.

Alex climbed
onto the bed next to her unmoving body. "This was your first time. I don't
want to overwhelm you."

"When can
we do this again?" she asked, lazily lifting her head to smile.

"Whenever
you are a good girl and in the mood," he chuckled. "There is much
more to the experience than this, but you need to be worked up to it. It also
helps if you are naked."

"I don't
want to be naked," Misha pouted.

"I know,
you told me. May I ask why?"

"I'm very
modest, that's all."

"Have you
ever, well, slept with anyone?" Alex asked carefully.

"No."

"I can't believe how
fast they are growing," Misha said, watching as the two large puppies
wrestled with their six-week-old adopted brother. Rodin was remarkably gentle
with his little claws, almost instinctively knowing he could hurt his litter
mates. The puppies weren't as controlled, biting and pulling at his tail and
eyes, yapping noisily when they received a loud hiss from his snarling little
mouth. Kena watched her litter carefully, making sure the play was not out of
control. She panted heavily and rose to walk over to the swimming pool where
she settled onto the wide, second step.

"You think he'll go
in?" Alex asked, watching the tiger follow her. Rodin laid his belly on
the edge of the stairs and dipped his foot into the cool water. His tail
twitched as he licked his wet paw.

"I don't know. Bengals
love the water, but he's still so small," Misha shrugged, filming the
events. "I'm hoping that this video of how he is adapting to life with his
surrogate litter is really going to help raise awareness."

"Even I have to admit
that his interaction with Kena and the puppies is absolutely adorable, and will
also be a great tool for raising funds for the reserve and more research. I've
contacted several supporters who are anxious to see this. One even said that we
might be able to make it into a documentary."

"I don't care about
that stuff. I just want people to know what these animals are really like, and
how they adapt to changes."

"Always my little
scientist," Alex chuckled, ignoring the sharp look she gave him.

"I'm not your anything.
Except a roommate and employee."

"You don't think we've
become friends during these last six weeks? I've rather enjoyed the time we
have spent together, especially as light play partners. You've been enjoying
that, haven't you?"

"Well, yeah,"
Misha blushed slightly. "I know I'm frustrating you, though. I can
tell."

"You're not frustrating
me. Yes, I would like to take you a little further than flogging, but I
promised not to push you until you were ready. That is your call."

"It's because I'm a
virgin, isn't it?"

"Partly, yes. I will
never impose myself upon you physically."

"Oh, baloney!"
Misha laughed. "You always use your physical presence to impose."

"I can't help being a
bull in a china shop," Alex shrugged, with a smile. "On the other
hand, you haven't tried to beat me up recently either, and I have found that
very pleasant."

"Well, you haven't been
a total ass lately. It makes you tolerable to be around. Don't push your luck
though," Misha snipped at his boyish smile. "Do you think flashing
that dimple will make me succumb to your charms, Mr. Hodges?"

"One can only hope,
Miss Miller. Do you swim? I've never seen you even stick your toe in the
water."

"Yes, I can swim. I
just prefer not to."

"Well, one of these
days I'm going to get you into that pool and see how a wet cat reacts to cold
water," Alex teased.

"Try it, and you'll get
scratched. I don't do pools, and I don't do bathing suits. I've told you I am
extremely modest and don't like to expose myself."

Alex raised his eyebrow at
her statement. It dawned on him that she had very little in the way of a
wardrobe, so perhaps it wasn't just her absurd modesty, but the fact that she
didn't own a bathing suit.

"I need a new suit
anyway," he mentioned, picking at the navy blue trunks he wore. "This
one is just plain ugly. Maybe we can hit the store later. Come with me and help
me pick one out, and I'll buy you a new one too."

"I'm not wearing a
bathing suit, Alex. Ever. You know why now. End of story."

"You don't have to…"

Misha rolled her eyes.
"I'm not skinny dipping either. What is it with men? You are like a dog
with a bone. Let it go, please, I am not comfortable with anyone looking at my
body."

"One day you might meet
someone and…"

"When that happens then
he, and only he, can see me naked. Oh, look! Rodin is getting brave."

Alex chuckled as Misha
successfully changed the subject. He could be patient if he wished to be, and
he knew that this girl was well worth the wait. She was like her rescued cats,
skittish and gun-shy, and needed a lot of time and patience to help her learn
to trust. He wished he knew more about her, and the reason why she was so
defensive. Jack knew most of it, but refused to share her story with him. Alex
sighed. One day, she would open up and share her heart.

Together, they watched the
cub inch his way into the pool, first resting his front paws on the step with
his back end remaining dry. Gingerly, he introduced his left rear paw to the
water, paused, and then brought his right foot down to the step.

"I don't think Kena's
too happy about her kitty," Misha giggled, as the dog rumbled a warning
growl. Rodin ignored her, walking across the steps and crawling over the
mastiff's back. In one smooth motion, he was in the pool. Kena jumped to her feet,
barking frantically at the splashing cub.

"I'll get him,"
Alex sighed.

"He's fine. Bengals are
made for the water. Let him learn how to swim," Misha reassured him.

 
Alex just shook his head and dove into
the pool, making sure he drenched Misha in the process. Rodin followed him as
he swam laps, and then crawled into his arms when he stood in the shallow end.
The tiger cub purred loudly, licking the water off his chin with a rough
tongue.

"You're getting too big
to carry for much longer, kitty," Alex said, cradling the cub
affectionately before handing him over to a very wet and annoyed Misha. "I
think he's hit the fifteen pound mark. I'm just glad he hasn't decided to make
my fingers part of his diet. Those little piranha teeth are sharp as
hell."

"I can't believe you
got me wet, you jerk."

"You needed some
cooling off," he said, wiping his face with a towel. He watched as Misha
flipped the cub onto his back and rubbed the furry tummy. "You know you
won't be able to do that for much longer, honey."

"Yeah, I know. I gotta
enjoy it while I can, right?"

Alex watched her, his heart
aching. She needed to remember the cub was not a pet and would have to be
introduced to a habitat as soon as he was old enough to fend for himself. Right
now, though, Alex did not have the heart to break Misha's delight. His new
roommate was quite a challenge to get to know, surprising him on occasion with
a few tidbits of information about herself, which he was quick to jump onto.
Like her weakness for dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts, and that her
favorite plant was an Ocotillo. The day after she shared these things, she came
home to find a box of Hawaiian candy on her bed and a blooming Ocotillo plant
in the corner of her room, next to the window. She had no idea that he had
driven clear out to the desert to find the perfect plant for her, or that he
had picked out the pot and planted it himself.

Misha's freshness brought
out parts of Alex that were new and unique, and he found himself looking
forward to the daily time alone with her. They'd started jogging together every
morning, and regularly sharing meals after taking turns feeding the 'children'.
They'd had four additional flogging 'play' sessions together, and Misha was
becoming more verbal in what she liked. Alex was coming to truly respect the
solemn woman, despite her tendency to be incredibly tenacious and pig-headed.
He admired the ways in which she could handle herself in precarious situations,
and how she showed remarkable resourcefulness when faced with obstacles. He
also loved to hear her giggle like a little girl. That alone was a rare treat
and it left him feeling happy, young, and carefree.

He had discovered that wine
helped Misha release some of her fears. Over a bottle of wine several nights
before, Misha had drunkenly disclosed information about her childhood and the
origin of her avid distrust in people, along with the reason for her unusual
modesty. She told him, downing another short glass of Cabernet, that she had
been severely neglected by parents with a major gambling addiction. She'd been
raised by a miserly, uber-religious spinster in a foster home in Pahrump,
Nevada, and had not seen her parents since the day they abandoned her in front
of a casino.

With a sad sigh, Misha had
finished her wine and said that she had been knobby kneed, clumsy, and, in her
opinion, ugly as a warthog. Her ugliness made her a loner, and she started
spending more time in the wilderness and away from people. She appeared to be
surprised when Alex quickly interrupted to make a point to tell her that she no
longer fit that description. He was sincere when he told her that she was
lovelier than any sunset he had seen, and just as unique and special. His
comment that people were fools if they couldn't see her beauty had pleased her
greatly. Enough to ask more about his past.

Alex talked about his time
in the service, his miserable marriage to a socialite who wanted him as a bank
account and arm candy, and that he had used the money left to him by his
grandfather to build the refuge. That act alone sent his ex-wife into a frenzy,
but he had boldly informed her that since she had no claim to the funds, it was
his to do with as he pleased. He shared that his mother had passed ten years
prior, and that he was very close to his father, Senator Hodges (ret) who lived
up near Malibu.

To his dismay, Alex
discovered that he was starting to fall in love with his little Tiger, and with
those feelings came a sense of desire to have her completely. But she kept him
at arm's distance, and never allowed herself to express anything other than
friendship to him.

"Are you
listening?" Misha was asking, jarring Alex back to the present.

"I'm sorry, lost in
thought."

"About what?"

"Nothing is
particular," he lied, "just wondering if I need to get another fridge
to hold the meat that fat little thing will need."

"That makes no sense. I
bring home his rations from the reserve. There is no reason to spend the money
and get another unit."

"Maybe I need another
freezer for venison."

"That's ridiculous. You
don't hunt animals. What's gotten into you?" Misha asked, as she dried
Rodin with an old towel. The cub grabbed it with his teeth and started growling
as he tugged on the material. Misha tugged back, and the game began in earnest.
Soon, the two puppies were joining in, and she was forced to relinquish her
hold before those same little teeth mistook her hand for the now shredded rag.

When Alex didn't answer,
Misha changed the subject again. "I'm going to miss those pups when
they're gone. Are you sure you have to sell them?"