Wicked As He Comes: BBW Tiger Shifter Paranormal Romance (Tiger In Her Bed Book 3) (5 page)

The male weretigers in the Alexander family had one weakness: when they met their potential mate, they had difficulty controlling the urge to shift until they could properly mark and claim them.

And as a weretiger, John couldn’t bind his mate without her consent.

And poor little Jane, he thought in amusement, she really had no idea what she was getting in to.

He came home in the early morning. He didn’t want to disturb his new wife and decided to crash on the sofa. He stirred a few hours later when he sensed a presence in the living room. He saw George sitting at the end of the couch, peering at him curiously.

“Hey there, champ,” John said in a low tone, “what are you doing up so early?”

“I always get up early to write,” he said. “If I’m up early enough, Harry isn’t around to make fun of me.”

John gave a smile. “It must be exhausting being so mature for your age.”

George tilted his head to the side, and for just a split second, John thought he saw appreciation in those eyes of his. But instead, there was a pause before George continued. “Well, someone has to be, especially when you have a brother like Harry.  Anyway, I know who you are,” he said in a matter-of-fact way, and John blinked.

“Really? I will say you’re a little young to be paying attention to music producers.”

“You know very well what I mean,” George said, a little more seriousness in his tone, even as he kept it low as he leaned forward. “Let’s say… your furry secret.”

John had been slowly making his way towards the kitchen, but he paused now, raising an eyebrow at George. “Do you, now?”

George nodded.

“How?”

“A gift, I guess. I can see the glamour behind the Others. You’d be surprised that one-tenth of people roaming around New York City aren’t entirely humans. Werewolves. Faes. Dragons. Elven folks. You name it.”

He watched George with a new appreciation. “Impressive. So why tell me?”

“I just want you to know,” said George. “I haven’t told anyone but my sister. Harry doesn’t know. My brother couldn’t keep his mouth shut if his life depended on it…” he hesitated a moment. “I know your secret so if you do anything to hurt my sister…” He let the sentence hang.

Why you little blackmailer. . . Although, I must admit I’m impressed
. John smiled, relaxing a little, stepping forward and putting a hand on the counter. “There are a lot of things you have to worry about, champ, but that’s not one of them. That much I can swear.” The two of them locked eyes for a long while, but eventually, George gave a reluctant nod.

“So where are you going so early anyway?”

“In fact,” John said, “I’m stepping out to make a call; I’m setting up a dinner tomorrow night with this Uncle Alfred of yours.”

George’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“I don’t want your sister to fight this alone. She has me now. This is a job for the man of the house.”

George opened his mouth to speak but hesitated before finally saying, “Word of advice, my uncle is a two-headed snake. You have to be cautious around him.”

John arched his eyebrows, amused. “How do you know that?”

“The fact that I’m not an idiot?”

“No, you definitely are not. Let me tell you something, Jane is my mate. I’ll do anything in my power to protect her and you and Harry. You are all my family now and it is my job to protect my family and keep you all safe.”

The boy looked somewhat mollified by his words.

He gave George a quick nod before disappearing out the door, cell phone in hand.

*  *  *

The moment John killed his car engine, his new wife fidgeted in her seat. The parking valet in his dark livery hurried to his side, ready to take the vehicle. They were about to dine at the Four Seasons. He had invited Alfred Benedict to dinner. His mom would come a bit later with the twins and his brothers with their mates. Rather than skirt around the problem, John planned a frontal attack. He wanted Alfred to know that his wife and her brothers were now under the Alexander’s family protection. Whatever that old goat was planning, he had to stop.

However, Jane seemed hesitant. “John, I don’t think this is a good idea. I was planning to confront my uncle by myself. I really don’t want to involve your family in this mess. You and your mom have already done plenty for us.”

“We
are
family now, Jane. The moment you married me, your problems become
our
problems, and in our family, we solve our problems together.”

John sighed and took her hand, then brought it to his lips and kissed it. “Listen, babe. I can’t imagine how difficult life was for you after your parents’ death. But those days are over. You have me now. You have us. Let me worry about your problems now.”

She looked perturbed. “John, I feel like crap. I blackmailed you into marrying me and now you and your family have showed us nothing but kindness.”

He arched a brow. “Is that what you’re worrying about?”

Discomfiture was palpable on her face.

He barked a short laugh. “Babe, if I weren’t attracted to you, I would never have married you in the first place. Do you think you’re the first person who tried to blackmail me?”

Her eyes widened. “You get blackmailed a lot?”

“Not a lot, but occasionally. Of course, I never gave in to their demands.” He stroked her hair. “I want you, Jane. From the moment I saw you in that café in Vegas, I knew you were the one for me.”

That earned him a smile. “Kinda cheesy, coming from you.”

“Say whatever you want but it’s the truth. Let’s go; I’d like to get to the table before your uncle. I have to inspect my battlefield.”

He opened the door and stepped out, then joined his wife, casting an admiring gaze over her. He’d made sure to have a lovely new outfit bought for her for the evening: a stylish black blazer and matching skirt with a lovely green shirt underneath, new gold earrings, and a pair of stilettos she picked out herself. He was wearing his usual: chinos, oxfords, a partly unbuttoned shirt, and a sport jacket. It was all designer clothing, but he wore it in a way that made it look as though he’d thrown it on while hurrying out the door. Probably because he had, but Jane hadn’t been able to take her eyes off of him all afternoon, so he guessed it worked out well enough. He took her hand as they sauntered past the door.

“I still think this is a bad idea, John. This is a man that could have murdered my parents,” Jane said firmly, giving him a serious look.

“I’m not easily intimidated, darling. You’ll find that out soon enough.”

“I know you think you’re streetwise, John,” she said. “But you’ve lived a sheltered life. You don’t know the first thing about a life like mine.”

That got John’s attention, and he turned with an apologetic expression. “I hope I never minimized your experiences in any way?”

Jane opened her mouth to speak, but just blushed in the end, while crossing her arms. “No, no you haven’t. I just... I don’t want anyone to get hurt, John.”

John opened his mouth to say something further, but he stopped, realizing that he was pushing her a little too far. He put a hand on her arm, stroking it gently with a reassuring smile. “Jane, my darling, you have every right to be concerned. I am a sheltered man used to getting what he wants. But all I ask tonight is that you trust me.”

Jane gave him a long, hard look, and after a time, she nodded and took the arm John offered her.

He could sense the uncertainty in her. It was understandable. She wanted to see whether her attempt at defending the twins would really work, but she wasn’t expecting it to be tested in front of Alfred Benedict himself. But John’s family had faced worse than this kind of person before.

“That’s him,” Jane whispered as they approached the restaurant.

Alfred had beat them to the restaurant, and he was already talking with the maitre’d. So much for inspecting his battleground first, John thought, slightly annoyed.

Alfred Benedict was every bit what John was expecting. He was a wiry, white-haired man in his late sixties in an expensive Armani suit and impeccable jewelry on both hands. Unfortunately, he had a kindly face. It was easy to see how a number of people could be deceived by such a person. Particularly so, considering his wealth.

“...ah, and here they are now!” Alfred said jovially, opening his arms wide to John and Jane as they approached. “My dearest niece and brand-new nephew, how nice it is to see you.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Jane stiffened beside him. “Long time no see, uncle,” Jane said, and John could hear the tinge of restrained anger in her voice.

“Where’s the twins? I haven’t seen them in a while,” asked Alfred.

His wife gave her uncle the iciest glare.

“They’ll be here shortly with my mother,” said John quickly before she could.

“Savannah? Ah, I haven’t seen her in a long time as well. How’s your mother?”

“She’s fine and in great health.”

“Your mother must be, what, pushing seventy, isn’t she?”

Why this bastard...
His mother married his father at eighteen and had John when she was twenty-one. With her youthful appearance, people thought she was in her mid-forties. John put on his poker face and forced out a smile. “I sincerely hope you won’t say anything like that to my mother. You know women are sensitive about their age.”

Alfred laughed boisterously. “Sorry, sorry. My marriage didn’t work out, so I’m not good with this sort of thing.”

Yeah, sure, ‘cause you prefer banging your own mother,
John thought with a sneer of revulsion. He nodded to the maitre’d who waited on them expectantly. “Reservation for the Alexanders?”

The maitre’d inclined his head. “Right this way, sir.”

They were seated at their reserved table. A waiter introduced himself and asked if they would like to order drinks while waiting for the rest of the party to come. Alfred went with a shot of cognac. John wanted tonic water while his wife declined to order anything. Judging from her expression, she couldn’t wait to jump the table and attack Alfred with a butter knife.

Luckily, the rest of the party came shortly. Quinn and Vanessa. Trent and Arielle. His mom and the twins arrived five minutes after Trent. They were seated and exchanged pleasantries.

Alfred beamed at Savannah as they were about to place their order. “I must say, the years have been good to you,” he said to Savannah.

His mother laughed. “Too bad I can’t say the same to you, Alfie. You don’t look a day over ninety.”

The smile on Alfred’s face vanished. Jane looked at Savannah as if she wanted to kiss her on the spot.

Alfred cleared his throat. “Well, the past few years had been a trial.  I’ve lost people who were dear to me.”

“Ah, you have my sincere condolences. You’ve not contacted our family since your brother passed away. I’ve hosted a few charity galas in the Hamptons over the years and I haven’t seen you at any of them.”

“I prefer to keep to myself.”

“Well, that's too bad. I find my family and friends keep me busy and young at heart. After all, age is just a number, right? But enough of this gloom and doom. I don’t want to spoil my appetite.” Savannah looked up to the waiter. “I think I’ll have steak tonight. Fillet mignon, medium rare. No, make it rare, please.”

“Excellent choice, madam,” said the waiter.

“I’m having what she’s having,” said Quinn.

“Me too,” said Trent.

The rest ordered drinks and entrees while cordial introductions were made, and then they made forced small talk.

“Music production, you say?” Alfred asked John when he told him what he did for living.

“Your hearing is impeccable, Mr. Benedict,” said John. Alfred did not seem to like that. John knew Alfred’s type. Perfectly charming in public, but it was all a very thin veneer and easily goaded.

“Ah. Well, forgive me, I was just surprised that someone of your... stature, was involved in a business like that.”

“My trade isn’t for the frail, Mr. Benedict,” he said diplomatically. “Show business is really competitive.

“I see. Well, I’m happy that Jane is finally settling down with someone who can provide for her. This niece of mine is awfully flaky, you know,” he said, forcing a smile and a chuckle at Jane’s expense.

“Settling down!” Savannah laughed, “If I know my John, the last thing either of them will be doing is ‘settling’ anything!”

Jane couldn’t hold back a smile at Savannah’s sincerity, but Alfred seemed put off. Not ten minutes into the dinner, and he was already uncomfortable.

“Well, some people simply aren’t able to make a living off of trust funds and inheritances, so they have to make a living for themselves. She’s remarkably adaptable like that, you know?” John said, and he could almost feel Jane’s blush next to him as she reached over and squeezed his hand under the table.

Alfred let out a very terse smile, and there was an uncomfortable pause for a few long moments before Savannah came to the rescue again.

Dinner proceeded in roughly the same fashion. Appetizers and the main course were served while everyone at the table either said very little or said something that made someone else tense. Alfred dropped comments about how well business was going, and John could smell Jane’s anger building up inside her. His mother spoke openly and freely as she always did, raving about her family and sometimes openly ridiculing Alfred’s pretense, and Alfred would shut down for a while afterwards. The twins said nothing the whole dinner.