White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel) (11 page)

He climbed to his feet, not in the least stiff from kneeling on the hard floor. In fact, he wanted to race away, to run, until he dropped in exhaustion. Only then would his frenzy abate, only then could he leave her alone.

Addison was flushed, her hair in tangles, her shaking hands balling at her sides. Her eyes shone, though, and when Kendrick took a step back from her, her smile blossomed.

She gave him a shy but happy look and started to reach for her sagging jeans, but Kendrick caught her around the waist. Addison started, but he pulled her to him, tight against his body, loving the feeling of her bare flesh against his clothes. He didn’t try to kiss or caress her, he simply hugged her.

For a Shifter, holding was the next best thing to sex. Hugging meant touch, soothing, warmth, protection, happiness, safety, complete trust. Kendrick held on, burying his face in the curve of Addison’s neck.

She hugged Kendrick in return, laughing softly as he squeezed her. They swayed back and forth as heat sifted around them and dust hung in the air.

Addison suppressed a small sneeze. Kendrick raised his head but he didn’t want to let her go.

He had to, though, or he’d say to hell with it and take her. Kendrick would mate-claim her, go into mate frenzy, and forget about Dylan, his Shifters, those hunting him.

A snarl worked its way up through his throat. Kendrick’s skin was hot, itching, but there was no relief because the wild heat was
inside
him.

The snarl came out. Kendrick pushed away from a startled Addison and stripped out of his clothes. He tossed his own T-shirt at her feet right before he shifted to tiger.

He heard the horse whinny in terror, Addison cry out. But Kendrick was gone, the white tiger sprinting out into the sunlight and rising heat of the desert morning.

*   *   *

A
ddie managed to pull up and fasten her jeans before her strength left her. Then she fell back against a stall door and pressed her hands to her face.

She’d just had the most brilliant orgasm of her life, with a man who could change into a
tiger
. Her body was still shuddering with it, hot all over, a tightness within her easing.

She realized she’d just changed somehow. The Addie
who’d walked into the barn, ready to pry out of Kendrick a clear explanation of events, was gone. A new Addie stood in her place, and she wasn’t sure what she’d learn about her.

One thing—she loved what Kendrick had done with his tongue. He’d done it to pleasure her and also to frighten her, to show he could do anything to her.

Well, if he’d been going for terror, his plan had backfired. Addie felt cleansed, as though some darkness she’d been holding on to without knowing it had been ripped free.

Kendrick had only made her want him more, hope he’d continue what this first pleasuring had meant to lead to.

The sound of voices cut into her afterglow. Addie jumped then swooped down and snatched up the shirt Kendrick had dropped. She stepped back into deeper shadow and slid the shirt on, kicking Kendrick’s empty jeans into a corner just before Charlie and the three cubs walked up to the barn.

The barn had no doors, and she could see the four clearly in the sunshine—Charlie with his slightly stooped shoulders, the littler cubs dancing around, Robbie walking more sedately. Addie scooped up the tattered remains of the other shirt and her bra and crumpled them into a ball in her hand.

The horse had ventured forward again after Kendrick departed and now watched in curiosity as the boys and Charlie came in. She whickered a greeting to Charlie but gave the cubs a wary eye. She knew that they, like Kendrick, weren’t human.

Addie patted the horse, calming her. Charlie’s glance took her in, noting at once that she wore the shirt Kendrick had left the house in. The man was no fool.

“Do you still ride her?” Addie asked to cover her awkwardness.

Charlie laughed, going along with it. He wouldn’t embarrass her. “Me? No. But you’re welcome to, and the boys might want to.”

“Nah,” Robbie said at once. “She won’t let me. Wolves eat horses.”

“
I
wouldn’t eat her,” Brett said. “What do tigers eat?”

“Well, now, let’s see,” Charlie said. “Tigers mostly live in India, so they’d eat elephants, wouldn’t they?”

Brett and Zane went round-eyed. “A whole elephant?” Zane bleated. “I don’t think I could eat a whole elephant. What else do they eat?”

Charlie shrugged. “Well, sometimes, people.”

“Ewwww,” the cubs said at the same time. Brett finished, “I’d never eat people. People are nice, like Addie. She gives us pie. Can we have some pie, Addie?”

Addie shook her head in wonder. “You just had breakfast.”

“I know, but we’re hungry again,” Brett said, and Zane agreed.

“They’re always hungry.” Robbie shared a look with Addie, one that adults might as they contemplated the antics of the kids.

“’Course they are,” Charlie said. “They’re growing. Like you, Robbie. Tell you what, I’ll have Addie come and look at what all I have, and see what we can do. I might have to go to town for supplies,” Charlie said to Addie. “Wasn’t expecting company.”

“The ranch has been closed ten years, you said?” Addie asked him.

Charlie shrugged. “I didn’t close it down, not really. Edna wouldn’t have wanted that. But guests just stopped coming.”

“We’re guests,” Brett announced at the top of his voice. “We’ll be the best guests, ever.”

The horse danced back nervously at his loudness, and Robbie rolled his eyes. He didn’t admonish the little ones though.

“All right, then, let’s go make a shopping list,” Addie said.

Charlie was as eager as the cubs. “Come on, then—” He stopped and cocked his head, frowning suddenly. “Do I hear a cell phone?”

Addie looked down. Something was ringing under a hunk of straw in the corner, the sound incongruous with the peaceful barn.

Robbie and the cubs ran forward, Robbie reaching the source of the noise first. He pulled out an old-style flip phone
from the layers of straw. The little window in front showed a number and a name in tiny letters.

“Seamus,” Robbie read.

Brett and Zane shouted with excitement and started jumping up and down. They grabbed hands and kept jumping. “It’s Seamus. It’s Seamus. It’s Seamus. Answer it, Robbie!”

Addie had heard Kendrick and Ben mention Seamus. “Who is he exactly?” Addie asked them.

“One of Dad’s trackers,” Robbie answered, more subdued. He opened the phone and said cautiously, “Hello?”

“D
ad’s not here,” Robbie said into the phone, his brow puckering. “I mean, he’s here, but not
right
here. What do you want me to do?”

Addie didn’t like this. While Kendrick had spoken about contacting Seamus, she wasn’t certain this was a Shifter who could be trusted. Plus, just because the caller ID read “Seamus,” anyone could have stolen the phone and called in an attempt to locate Kendrick.

She took the phone from Robbie so quickly he didn’t have time to fight for it.

“Hello,” she said into it, voice firm. “I can’t let you talk to the cubs. If you want, I’ll take a message and have their father call you back.”

“Who—” The word cut off, and there was a long silence at the other end of the line.

Addie suspected that the
Who?
had been the first word of
Who the hell is this?
But Seamus—if it were Seamus—obviously didn’t want to speak to Addie.

“I’ll tell him you called,” she said. “Good-bye.”

Another startled exclamation came through before Addie clicked off the phone and closed it.

This wasn’t Kendrick’s phone, she was certain. Kendrick had broken and flushed
her
phone, and she was pretty sure he’d done the same to his, not wanting it to give away their position. If he’d had a phone, he wouldn’t have had to ask Ben to deliver messages for him.

Should she take it into the mare’s stall and let her stomp on it? A thousand pounds of horse would probably smash it pretty well.

Addie brushed off the last of the hay from the device, slid it into her pocket, and pasted on a smile for the waiting cubs. “Come on. Let’s go see about those groceries.”

*   *   *

K
endrick walked the bounds a good long time before he trusted himself back in the house with Addison. The small taste of her hadn’t eased his need; it had only flared it to life.

He didn’t sense anyone else out in the wide vista behind Charlie’s house, not another creature like Ben, no other Shifters. They were alone, for now.

When Kendrick believed himself calm enough—or at least convinced himself to go make sure Addison and the cubs were all right—he shifted back to his human form, recovered his jeans from the barn, and entered the house through the front door. He was ready to slip down the hall and find another shirt to cover his sunbaked torso, but Robbie saw him through the open kitchen door.

“Dad! We’re making a list. What do you want?”

Brett and Zane added their chorus. Kendrick made his way across the giant living room to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway.

Addison was talking with Charlie, the two getting along famously, as they debated how many eggs they’d need for breakfasts to come. Kendrick had anticipated Addison being awkward with him, or even fully afraid of him, but she broke from Charlie and came close to him without worry.

“Found this,” she said in a low voice, pressing something cool and hard into his hand. “Seamus called.”

Addison gave him a significant look, then turned around and went back to drawing up her shopping list.

“We’ll pay for all this, of course,” Addison said in a loud voice. “Kendrick?”

“Yes,” he said, distracted. He always made sure he had a stash of money where he could easily get to it. The five thousand the police had taken from Addison was a drop in the bucket.

The advantage of not wearing a Collar was that he could walk into a human bank, open an account, and pull money from it whenever he wanted. Unless he decided to shape-shift in the lobby, the humans would never know the difference.

More pressing was this unfamiliar cell phone in his hand and Addison’s words,
Seamus called.

His heart beating faster, Kendrick moved down the hall to the bedroom, opened the phone, and pressed the keys to call back the last number.

The phone rang twice before a familiar voice with a Scots accent answered with a cautious, “Who is this?”

“Me,” Kendrick said.

“Kendrick?” Seamus’s voice went soft and at the same time filled with relief. “Where the hell are you, man?”

“Safe. Tell me how I got this phone. It’s not mine.”

“I don’t have the faintest fecking idea. I got a text from Ben—weird guy who’s doing some work for Dylan—that said I should call this number, and I’d find you. Except I found Robbie—and a woman.”

“That’s Addison. She’s human.”

Seamus’s tone turned amused. “What, you had time to go to a groupie bar?”

“No,” Kendrick said, his voice going harsh. “She’s not a groupie.”

“Hey, don’t knock Shifter groupies—I found me a real sweetheart of one. We want to be mated, Kendrick. Except I want you to do it, not these Collared shites. Where are you?”

Kendrick paused. Seamus, one of his closest friends, sounded happier than Kendrick had ever known him. He
looked forward to presiding over the joining under sun and moon
after
he’d solved the problems raining on him now.

“We need to meet,” Kendrick said.

“I agree. I want to see you.” Seamus waited a beat. “Don’t let this go to your head, tiger-man, but we miss you.”

Kendrick warmed. “I’m your leader.” It was natural for Shifters with less dominance to want to be with those of higher dominance.

“No, shithead. Not you, Oh Great Leader. You, yourself, and your boys. They all right? Robbie sounded scared.”

“They’re fine. Keep your phone on you. I’ll pick a place and let you know. Do I have to tell you to keep it quiet?”

“Don’t get all emotional on me now.” Seamus’s voice was full of laughter, so good to hear. “I’m not Dylan’s man, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Thank you for that. I’ll be in touch.”

Kendrick punched the hang-up button and closed the phone, sliding it into his pocket.

Ben had left it, he suspected. While the man had been wandering the grounds before Addison spotted him at breakfast, he could have dropped a cell phone for Kendrick to find, then told Seamus to call it. Kendrick wondered how the hell he’d missed it.

Addison walked into the bedroom even as he had the thought, and shut the door, and Kendrick realized exactly how he’d missed it. He’d been focused on Addison alone. He’d been trying to tell himself that his sudden need for her was simply hormonal, after being celibate for so long.

Right. His urge for her sprang to life as soon as he saw her. He wanted to pull her to him, kiss her, climb with her to the absurdly high bed, finish what he’d started in the barn. His whole body sang for her.

“What do you want from the store?” Addison was asking. She stood against the closed door, a position which pushed her ample breasts at him. She’d grabbed the T-shirt he’d flung at her, this one black with a Harley logo on it.

Kendrick turned away to take another shirt from his duffel bag . . . and found the bag empty. Everything that had been inside it was gone.

“Dresser,” Addison said before he could ask. “Second drawer. I took the top one. That is, I’ll take it after I buy myself some more clothes.”

Kendrick opened the drawer to find his shirts, underwear, and socks in careful rows inside. She’d even folded his underwear, by the Goddess.

“I don’t want you going with Charlie,” Kendrick said, pulling out a shirt. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”

Addison’s eyes widened. “I’m going to let a
man
buy my clothes? Are you kidding me?” She studied him, her eyes dark blue and beautiful. “Besides, if people are looking for you, you showing up in a town will only alert someone to your presence. I bet there are Shifter spies all over South Texas. None of your enemies—or friends for that matter—know me. I’ll pretend I’m Charlie’s niece or granddaughter going with him to help him shop.”

Kendrick knew she was right, but the thought of her out of his sight, unprotected, made his fur itch. “Charlie can go on his own.”

Addison let out a sigh. “
Kendrick.
No one knows me. I can’t trust Charlie to pick out clothes for me either. I like him, but he’s still a guy.”

Kendrick grunted. “Tell Charlie to go to a town where he’s not known—not his regular places. I don’t need anyone commenting on how much food he’s buying. He’ll need a ton for the cubs. They eat a
lot
.”

Addison gave him her little smile, which made her eyes dance. “Most boys do.”

“These are Shifter boys. You have no idea.” Kendrick took his wallet from his pocket and pulled out about out a thousand dollars. “Give this to Charlie. I hope that’s enough.”

Addison’s eyes widened as she stared at the wad of bills. “Damn, Kendrick, do you always carry around this much money?”

Kendrick shrugged. “I never know when I’ll need it.

Addison’s fingers brushed his as she took the money. Kendrick quickly withdrew before he could grab her and not let go.

“Where’d you find the phone?” he asked.

“Barn.” Addison folded the bills and tucked them away. “I think Ben left it up there, don’t you? We didn’t hear the horse fuss, so Ben must not be a Shifter. Y’all make her nervous.”

“Ben’s not a Shifter,” Kendrick said. “I’m not quite sure what he is.” He didn’t like that.

“About this Seamus,” Addison said. Her smile was gone. “You trust him?”

“I’ve trusted him with my life. I’m going to meet with him—in a place I choose—and find out if I still
can
trust him.”

“Okaaayy. And when will you tell me all about that?”

Kendrick let his grin come. “When you get back from your shopping trip.”

“Oh, so now you’re going to let me go?”

“Yes, if you do what I say and go someplace Charlie doesn’t know anyone.”

“Are you having fun being arbitrary?”

Kendrick considered. “Yes.” He was, he realized. Fencing with Addison was more enjoyment than he’d had in a long time. Tasting her had been even better.

Addison pointed one finger at him. “I’ll hold you to it.”

She swung around, jerked open the door, and stalked out, her unfettered torso under his shirt a wonderful sight.

*   *   *

C
harlie decided he and Addie had better go into San Antonio, even though it was about a hundred miles away. Everyone in every small town in South Texas pretty much knew Charlie or had known Edna or her family—or his parents or his kids. His kids now lived in Houston doing highfalutin jobs he didn’t really understand, he said.

Kendrick told Charlie to watch over Addison, and Addison to watch over Charlie. Charlie promised to check in via his own cell phone, calling the phone Ben had left—a burner, Kendrick discovered. No name associated with the number.

Brett and Zane wanted to go with Addison.

“It’s a big trip, sweeties,” Addison said as she opened the door of Charlie’s pickup. Unlike the house, the pickup was
nearly new, with four-wheel drive, good for the middle of nowhere.

Zane threw himself on Addison’s legs and hung on. Brett stood next to his brother, looking as though he was trying not to cry.

“They’re afraid you won’t come back,” Robbie said behind them. “You’ll come back, won’t you, Addie?”

Kendrick had the same fear but he would never admit it out loud. Addison could drive out of his life right now—he wouldn’t blame her if she did. The thought tore at him, making him want to join Zane in hanging on to her.

“Of course, I’m coming back,” Addison said. “Just try and stop me. And I’ll have all kinds of fun presents for you.”

Zane wouldn’t let go. Kendrick stepped forward and unhooked him from around Addison’s legs. Zane struggled but his strength was no match for his father’s.

Zane threw his arms around Kendrick and clung to him, refusing to look as Addison climbed into the truck and slammed the door. Brett and Robbie watched forlornly as the pickup rolled away, though they returned Addison’s cheerful wave. Kendrick wanted to join Zane in yowling, feeling empty as the truck turned the corner, and was gone.

*   *   *

T
he trip to San Antonio was uneventful, to Addie’s relief, except for two incidents.

The first happened after Addie had enjoyed herself buying new tops, shorts, jeans, underwear, and a cute skirt she couldn’t resist. She felt a little guilty that Kendrick was paying for all this, but Addie had become an expert at finding the very best clothes for the least amount of money possible. Her sister, Ivy, said she should be called Shopping Master and give classes.

Addie would pay back Kendrick every penny when she could, she vowed. She made it her policy not to be in debt to anyone.

As they emerged from the discount store, Charlie insisting on carrying the bags, Charlie stopped her and gestured into the crowd. “Are those Shifters?”

He whispered it, and Addie came alert, her heart beating faster.

She glanced to where Charlie indicated. There were two of them, a couple lanes of parked cars away from Addie and Charlie. The two men strolled easily through the lot, making their way to the hardware store in the strip mall, but they attracted attention just by being there. Addie wasn’t the only one who’d turned to stare.

The Shifters resembled Kendrick, but then they didn’t. Both were large and solid in body, strength obvious. They didn’t display themselves—they wore modest T-shirts and jeans—but sunlight glinted on their Collars.