Hiring the Tiger Read online

  “Sorry, what?” Jasprite smiled attentively to the old witch.

  The crone looked at her with the kind of smile that knew secrets and approved. “He was my tiger, you know.”

  “A tiger?”

  The captain, still lingering over his dinner snorted disdainfully. “Tiger plucking tea leaves and carrying crates, can you imagine, Miss?”

  Yenna ignored the man. “I made him. To protect my guests. Pulled a human soul out of the air and put it into a tiger cub’s body. He was mine.”

  Jasprite wasn’t certain how to answer the elderly witch. She could not tell if she was being warned or if the old witch hoped to impress her. Either way it was dangerous to misspeak.

  The old woman went on, maybe a little mournful, maybe a little wistful. “But tigers aren’t like wolves. You treat a wolf well and he’ll stay, he’ll obey, he’ll want nothing more than to please you.”

  The captain looked up from his curry, apparently not believing the old witch, though even he didn’t dare correct her.

  “Tigers need more to interest them.” Yenna’s aged hand tremored as she dipped it into a pouch at her side, but if the old woman had magic in her pocket she didn’t share it with Jasprite. “He’ll leave us some day. Probably with a woman. Much luck to her.”

  Jasprite only half listened. The wolves had opened a crate with herbs, and they unpacked the bundles nearly as fast as Jasprite could tick them off her list.

  Still when her wagon creaked, Jasprite roared. “Mr. Saily! I must insist you wait until all the crates are cleared.”

  Yenna laughed, delighted by nothing in particular. Jasprite thought for a moment the old woman was pleased with her temper, but Yenna stared at the dirt and mumbled to herself.

  Jasprite caught of whiff of some enchantment touching her face, then dismissed it as the scent of the fey wheat.

  Chapter Three

  He’d watched the merchant—Jasprite Doughton, if the nameplate on her chest could be trusted—shame Ramsay, thwart Saily, impress Yenna, and fly her dragon to the town stables with the same effortless grace. He’d bounced around the opulent third-floor room. She didn’t decorate the room with flowers or discarded jewelry or clothes laid out for the next day. But her scent only lingered near the washroom, so maybe she didn’t had time. He waited for her, getting more aroused the longer she made him wait.

  It seemed that he’d waited for hours, tightening his arm and leg bands and his belt. Like all shifters, he couldn’t hold his human form completely naked, but like most young men he had a few tricks to get out of his pants without doing anything too embarrassing.

  He worried she wouldn’t like the look of the bands, too dirty, too bold. Then he scoffed because he didn’t give a damn if she liked the look of them. Then he worried she’d decide he was a frivolous expense.

  Fuck the bet, he’d take for her free. Now, he wanted her.

  Now she was here.

  He smelled her in the hallway, potent and sexual. She walked with quick long strides and opened the door before he could decide if he ought to be found in the balcony or on the bed.

  Jasprite locked the door after she entered, then dropped the key into her front vest pocket. She grinned at him, the kind of leer men give the village girls washing their clothing at the river. It made him feel curiously misplaced.

  “So, the captain was wrong. The chest was delivered safe and whole. You didn’t even open it.”

  “I didn’t have the key.” He’d resisted the desire to pick it. “Ramsay also said you ought to hire a soldier to do this work.”

  “A miscreant will do the job more thoroughly.” She pulled off her suit jacket and hung it on a wall hook, never taking her eyes from him. “Though, I’ll be honest, I don’t like animals. Especially large ones. They don’t take direction well. Your witch said—”

  “Yenna’s not like that.” He wasn’t some creature who belonged to another woman and had been cast aside. It was vitally important that she know. “She never—”

  “Don’t interrupt me.”

  Nav’s lip curled before he could control his face.

  “Ms. Yenna said you’re a tiger.”

  Nav grinned. “She’s not wrong.”

  The lady’s eyebrow rose with annoyance. He wasn’t playing properly. He tried to be timid again. “Did you want proof, Lady Doughton?”

  “Never had a tiger for hire.” She grinned at her name then pulled the string of jewels out of her bun, plucked something from the string, and tossed something over to him. He caught a key. “Open the chest.”

  He knelt and opened the red chest with a game smile.

  The smile left quickly. “Holy Hades…”

  Under the layers of cotton were shackles, collars, whips. Long thick phallic statues of carved and polished wood, glass, and shining metal molded for a very specific purpose. Gags, hoods, dozens of other toys he’d never seen even in the most wicked books.

  She chuckled, not a pleasant sound. “I knew you wouldn’t be ready.”

  “Uh…” He looked from the box to her. He wanted her strong thighs, those tempting breasts, her cruel smile. But the box … men were supposed to use toys like that, not women.

  “You like my collection?”

  “I don’t know, actually.”

  She hummed, unimpressed with his answer. She sauntered over and peered with him into her box of deviance. Her thighs were level with his face, and he inhaled the rich fresh wetness between her legs. He wanted her so much.

  Nav swallowed, uncomfortable on his knees. He should have been the one staring down at her. She should have been the one to feel small and desired. Instead, she’d made him nothing more than his throbbing cock and his wordless mouth.

  “Yes, this is exactly my problem with large animals. Especially ones that belong to other women.” She gripped his chin.

  “I don’t belong to Yenna.”

  She grinned. “I know who you belong to.”

  Nav shivered a little at the ownership in her confidence.

  Jasprite let him go. “I do like a pretty face though. So, I’ll make an exception for you, tiger.”

  She could still tell him no? He wasn’t sure he had the option himself.

  The woman unbuttoned her vest. “Pick out what you’ll let me use on you and I’ll tell you what you’re worth.”

  The bitch. He ought to walk out. Instead, he stared at the shackles, at the statues, at the tiny metal torture devises. Fabric rustled as she slid out of her vest and folded it over her arm. The fabric was so light he could see the black corset shaping her waist and the pink nipples brushing the delicate blouse.

  He wasn’t going anywhere.

  Jasprite dropped her vest on the chair by the window and leaned on its arm. She looked delicious framed by the dusty street, the field of blue fey wheat, the golden afternoon light. The woman loosened her silk cravat and exposed her throat. It was the most sensual thing he’d ever seen.

  “Otherwise, you can send me a real rent-boy.”

  He shuddered at the escape she offered. He’d never felt so out of control, and he hated her for doing this to him.

  Of course, she wasn’t doing anything. He didn’t need her money, and he didn’t need to win that bet. He could walk out of here right now if he wanted and have a great story about the weird wealthy lady to share with the pack.

  The woman chuckled. “That captain strikes me as better suited to the job.”

  Nav growled at the idea that Ramsay—fucking Rasmay—could satisfy her better than he could.

  He wasn’t going anywhere. He wanted this woman. Wanted to see her come, to hear her moan, to have his cock buried in the juicy cunt he could smell across the room. So, he looked at her toys and chose a thin rope. It didn’t seem enough, so he also picked out—and it nearly killed him—a leather collar.

  When he looked to see if his choice was accepted, she snorted. “Nothing else?”

  To be honest, he didn’t recognize the rest. He put his hand on a whip, hesitat
ed, then because she saw his hesitation, he picked it.

  Jasprite put the whip back and tossed a different one into the pile with the collar and rope. “That’s the one for tender backs.”

  The merchant reached into the box and plucked out a tin of lotion, and a thin glass statue. “Will you use these on me?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s not a great selection. I’ll give you three gold.” She grinned wickedly and glanced sidelong at the statue. “I’ll give you a hundred if you let me use that on you.”

  Nav shook his head firmly, then chuckled. “Maybe you do want Ramsay.”

  Jasprite chuckled and slammed the lid. He jolted at the boom. “No. I like a tiger for hire.”

  The world melted away when her hand circled and squeezed his cock, until the center of his understanding was in her hand and in her voice.

  “Now, take off your pants.”

  ****

  An hour later, still naked, still painfully hard, still on his back with his hands tied together to the leg of the bed, Nav had learned things about his body he never expected to learn. He knew now how sensitive a man’s nipples could be since she’d sat on his stomach and pinched and slapped his chest. He knew now how much his cock and balls could ache with lust, even after she’d sat on his thighs and tortured them. He knew now he could beg, and quite loudly, for mercy while a whip burned his skin and made his cock twitch for more. He enjoyed her abuse, and it disgusted him.

  She tugged the collar to get him to lick her cunt faster. “Come on, you son of a bitch, get your tongue deep.”

  She held the bed post and crouched over his face. Earlier she’d kept her swelled sex out of his reach and demanded he lick so that he’d strained the collar to touch the tip of his tongue to the lips of her sex. Now, she smothered him in her dripping cunt, and if he didn’t flail and buck against her thighs, he might suffocate in her delicious sex.

  He obeyed her, though, pushing his tongue inside her body as deep as he could. Nav had the mad idea if he pleased her enough, if he could make her come often enough, eventually he’d melt through her cruelty and she’d let his cock inside. She made no promises or threats, only demands and slaps.

  “Faster.”

  He licked faster, running out of breath again.

  Jasprite didn’t relent, but kept his face buried. She rubbed her cunt back and forth until her thighs tensed and she shuddered and grunted. When she came, she didn’t squeal and whimper like other women, she growled and grunted. He was very experienced in her orgasms after an hour of torture.

  He panted when she rose from her crouch. He didn’t know how long she’d leave him alone. He had a deep terror she’d say she was finished and make him leave without letting him come. He didn’t think even this woman could be so cruel.

  But she was a goddess when she walked around him and ran a hand through her long silken hair. Naked except for the black corset, which fitted like an over-sized belt, snug around her waist. It cradled her breasts, which she hadn’t allowed him to touch. Still, her nipples were rigid with arousal.

  The woman sank on his thighs and raked her nails across his naked sides. She caught the new red stripes she’d given him with her whip. She tickled at the belt, threatening to force his transformation, which would hurt like hell before he broke the ropes. She laughed at his fear then wrapped a hand around his cock.

  He groaned as she stroked, and for a moment, it was almost over. Between her soft hand and her hard grip, he wasn’t going to last. She wasn’t going to torture him anymore. She’d let him come and it would break him.

  “You’ve been very well-behaved for an animal.” Jasprite pinched at his balls again. “Would our friend Ramsay believe me if I told him you could be such a good little bitch?”

  “I fucking hate you.” He bucked against her hand and strained at the ropes.

  She laughed and squeezed his cock harder. “That’s naughty. Maybe I won’t let you come after all.”

  “Please, please, please…” Sometimes begging worked.

  Jasprite pinched the base of his shaft, and he yelped and writhed. Sometimes it didn’t.

  She leaned over him. “Give me one good reason to let you fuck me?”

  A tremor of lust flooded his tormented body. If she’d been stroking, instead of pinching, he would have come. Just hearing the words “fuck me” from her sweet mouth nearly tipped him over the edge.

  He didn’t have a good answer. Because he needed it. Because she wanted it. Because he’d fucking burst. Because a wicked unnatural woman like her needed to be properly fucked. Because he loved how wicked and unnatural she was and it wasn’t fair for any women to make a man who loved her suffer this much.

  Jasprite laughed at his silence and leaned over to bite his lips. His mouth was bruised from her teeth, but when she came near enough he strained his shoulders and kissed her.

  Kissing always worked.

  Her hand dipped around the collar to pull him higher so she could kiss deeper. She was a glutton for his tongue in her mouth, for her teeth on his lips. While they kissed, she rolled her hips, slipping up and down on his body. The lips of her sex cradled his cock.

  He broke the kiss because he couldn’t control his groan, and she gripped his shaft tight in her hand, angled it upward. His tip grazed the hot stickiness of her cunt.

  “Beg for it.” She growled.

  “Please … I’ll go crazy if you don’t … please.” He didn’t recognize his voice, his tone, his need. He was always the one in power, and he couldn’t understand how he’d lost himself so quickly. “Please…”

  “Watch.” Jasprite jerked at his collar. “Don’t move.”

  Nav looked down the length of his brown body, the raw red of his tortured nipples, the stripes she’d given him already fading into a rosy burn, the heaving of his concave abdomen as he panted with need. His cock stood straight and purple with arousal pointed at the plump shimmer of her cunt. He resisted the urge to thrust his hips and force himself inside. She wouldn’t like that. She’d hit his balls again, or twist his nipples, or worst of all, she’d leave.

  Her lips parted as she sank down and his cock pushed into her slit. She sighed, and he didn’t dare make a sound in case his pleasure displeased her. But that wetness was all his cock ached for, all that mattered in his world. His tip drank her moisture and twitched with violent need.

  Jasprite sank a little farther, and the head popped inside. He groaned, watching her sex swallow him slowly, and fought the urge to throw his head back, shut his eyes and roar. If he stopped watching, he’d thrust up, and if he moved, she’d leave.

  “You’ve got a great cock.” She sank lower. “I knew it when I grabbed it in the market stalls outside and when I saw you in the window, daring thing. Do you think Ramsay will still be around when I’m through with it? Will he see how I’ve used you?”

  Nav snarled in response. Then moaned with pleasure as she sat on his thighs, pushing his cock deep into her body. She hummed, reveling in her power and her pleasure, pinning him tight to the floor. Even if he wanted he could not thrust into her.

  “You stopped begging.” She wound her fingers around his collar, threatened to choke him again while his cock throbbed deep in her cunt.

  Nav dropped his head back and whined. He couldn’t take it. He wasn’t strong enough for this.

  She rolled her hips. So good… “Beg me to use you.”

  Nav, if he’d ever had any pride, couldn’t remember it now. “Please, use me. Use me to make yourself come.”

  “Do you hear yourself?” She rocked over him. “Begging like a bitch.”

  “I’m your bitch. Please, use me. Make yourself come.”

  Nav couldn’t tell if she’d grown tired of hearing him whimper, or if his begging sent her over the edge, but she finally relented. She dropped to her knees over him and rode him like a god-damned whore. She didn’t stop when she came. She didn’t hesitate to lean back and use his knees when he braced his feet on the ground and thrust
into her. He watched her breasts bounce wildly and her hair whip around in the windstorm of her lust.

  Then she was the one whimpering and moaning. She held his collar with one hand and touched her clit with the other while he slammed his cock into her slick, juicy cunt. The sound of her voice, high-pitched and lust-filled drove him out of his mind. He hardly knew he was doing it when he lifted the bed and freed his bound hands.

  Jasprite laughed with a wicked giddiness when he tossed her onto her back and rose on his knees to fuck her. The ropes crippled his reach when he tried to grab her legs and push them wide. Instead, he wrapped his arms around one leg, tossing her onto her side and spreading her wide, so he could pound into her faster.

  Still it wasn’t enough for her. “Come on, bitch. Fuck me harder.”

  She spasmed with another orgasm. The tightening of her muscles, her wet cunt gripping his cock as he pummeled her with all his force, finally released him. He roared as his cock poured into her, firing with each thrust until the world spiraled into nothing but white-hot bliss, then crashed down into a bone-deep exhaustion.

  “Holy fuck…” Nav couldn’t stop thrusting as if his body operated without his mind. But his pumping slowed as his cock quieted with content. His brain came back, and he was astonished to find himself kissing the woman who’d whipped, bound, and collared him.

  “Oh fuck…” he murmured and sank away from her body, almost afraid to touch her now that he’d come. Just in case she had the power to imprison him again.

  Jasprite rose on one elbow and leered at him. “I thought you’d never misbehave.”

  He stared at her with a wild fear. He had to get away from her, had to … get off this collar and rope before she drove him out of his mind again. He reached up to the collar. His fingers trembled too hard for him to unbuckle it.

  For a moment, she watched him struggle, and then she came near. Nav trembled. The toxic smell of his cum mingling with her made him want to touch her, to hold her, to keep her until he could fuck her again.

  “Hold still.” Her voice was softer now as she commanded him. The collar slackened and slid off his neck, and Nav cringed to think he’d ever allowed it to be put there in the first place.