Catching Her Tigers [Tigers of Twisted, Texas 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Kitty, come to me.” Craig held out his arms.

  Kitty took a step toward him then turned toward John. “You hurt Mommy. Why did you hurt Mommy, Daddy?”

  “I didn’t, honey. Just stay where you are. Your uncle and his friend came to say good-bye.” John narrowed his eyes. “No one’s taking my kids from me.”

  Teag squirmed, once again trying to get free. “You hurt Mommy. We saw you hurt Mommy.”

  Pain seared through Marrick. Knowing John had killed his sister was hard enough. Knowing the kids had seen him do it, made it even harder. “Let them go, John. You turn them loose and we’ll give you a head’s start.”

  “Listen to him, man,” added Craig.

  “No. Don’t listen to them, John.”

  Marrick pivoted around to find Lisa striding toward them. Somehow she’d managed to find them. “Go back to the house, Lisa.”

  “No. I won’t. You can’t make me. Not any longer.” She moved toward John. “Please. You’ve got to help me. They’ve kept me with them, forcing me to stay.”

  Marrick gawked at her. What was she doing? “Lisa.” He couldn’t find any other words.

  She kept moving closer to the killer. “They said they’d hurt the children if I didn’t stay. They said I was their mate.” She crossed her arms as though trying to warm herself. “Can you believe that? Me? Letting these two touch me?”

  John studied her, obviously trying to understand. “Why should I believe you?”

  She paused, an incredulous look on her face. “I didn’t tell them that I saw you. I protected you. Now I need you to protect me.”

  “I don’t know…” John frowned, obviously unsure what to think.

  “You have to believe me. If you don’t, they’re going to make me theirs. Please, you’ve got to save me. Let me come with you and the kids. They love me, don’t you, kids?”

  John’s heated gaze slid over her body. “Kitty, do you like this woman?”

  “Uh-huh,” whispered Kitty. “Teagie does, too.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Craig moved toward Lisa. “Babe, what are you doing?”

  “Stay away from me.” Lisa hurried over to stand near John. She pulled the children close, turning them away from Craig and Marrick. “Don’t ever touch me again. I hate you. I hate both of you.”

  * * * *

  Lisa’s heart broke to say those words. Marrick’s and Craig’s hurt tore at her. She wanted to soothe their furrowed brows and wipe away the pain on their faces, but she had to keep going. When she’d come up the slope and seen them, she’d recognized their standoff.

  “I hate you.” She added all the vehemence she could muster then relaxed her hateful expression. “But I love the children. Please, John, take me with you.”

  She was winning him over. His eyes had darkened, only the bits of amber brightening as he slid his lustful gaze over her.

  “You’d come with me? You’d take care of the kids?”

  Lisa held back a curse as Teag struggled to get free. “Yes. I can take you back to my home. They don’t know where that is. Or we can go wherever you want. I have enough money to get us by for a year or two. We can make a life together. Just you, me, and the twins.”

  “Do you know what they are?” John waved the gun toward Marrick and Craig. “What the rest of us are?”

  “I know.” She licked her lips, drawing his attention. “I wasn’t sure if Teag and Kitty knew.”

  He laughed, the sound hard to her ears. “They do now.”

  “Good.” She turned the children loose and moved closer, getting within a foot of him and the large branch on the ground. If her plan didn’t work…

  She shoved the awful idea away. It had to work. “They sicken me. I’ve been watching them hunt for you and getting nowhere.” As much as it made her cringe, she slipped her hand along his shoulder. “I want a real man. A real tiger. One who does whatever he wants.”

  She could feel him straighten to his full height. The man had an ego and she’d just stroked it.

  “Lisa, stop it.” Marrick’s tone was tortured.

  “Babe, you can’t do this.” Craig’s eyes pleaded with her.

  She ignored them. “There’s just one thing.”

  “What’s that?” asked John.

  She nodded at Teag. “He has to stop biting.” She zeroed in on the small boy, hoping he’d catch her silent meaning. “Do you hear me, Teag? No. More. Biting.”

  Holding her breath, she got ready to act in case the boy understood her. Sure enough, as he had done so many times before, he took her words as a challenge. Opening his mouth wide, he grabbed his father’s arm and bit down.

  “Shit!” John turned Teag loose.

  Lisa snatched up the branch as fast as she could. She brought it up in a wide arc with as every ounce of strength in her. Although she’d aimed for John’s head, she connected with the back of his neck.

  John let out another howl of pain as Craig and Marrick jumped on top of him. She was knocked out of the way. Scrambling to her feet, she took hold of Teag and Kitty then began pulling them down the slope.

  “Go, kids!” She pushed them ahead of her, knowing they could go a lot faster without her. “Run to the house and go to your room. Lock the door behind you. Don’t come out unless it’s me or one of your uncles.”

  Thankfully, the children heeded her and took off running. She turned back. Craig and Marrick stood over John who lay on the ground unmoving.

  “Baby, keep moving. Watch over the kids until we get back,” ordered Marrick.

  She didn’t want to leave them, but the children needed her more. “Be careful.”

  “It’s almost over,” said Craig. “Go on.”

  She nodded then spun around and started running. By the time she was halfway back to the house, Purdy, Marvin, and a couple of other men she’d seen around town were rushing toward the slope. She bent over, her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

  “Where are they?” Purdy leaned over to search her face.

  “There.” She pointed in the direction she’d come from. “The kids?”

  “They should be back at the house by now. Are you going to be okay?”

  “I’m fine. Go. They’ve got John.”

  The men took off running. She stayed where she was, gulping in replenishing drags of much needed air. When she was finally able, she started toward the house again.

  * * * *

  Lisa was up and on her feet, moving toward Craig and Marrick when they came through the front door. After getting John Bask into town, the pride’s council had been called together for an emergency meeting. Although she’d wanted to go with them, she’d promised to stay with Teag and Kitty and wait for their return. The kids took a while to settle down after what they’d gone through with their father, but she’d finally gotten the twins engrossed in their favorite movie.

  Marrick and Craig stalked in and dropped to the couch. Their faces looked haggard as though they’d aged several years in the time they’d been gone.

  “Is it over?”

  “It’s over,” answered Marrick as he glanced at the kids sitting at the kitchen table. Their movie played on Craig’s computer while they ate cookies and milk. “The council exiled John. He won’t be able to join another pride anywhere in the world.”

  “They let him go?” How could they? He’d murdered his wife. “That’s all the punishment he gets?” She lowered her voice. “I don’t want to sound mean, but he deserves so much more. He killed your sister and left his poor kids without their mother.”

  Marrick’s jaw clenched and he cast his gaze down. A low rumble of a growl came out of him.

  Craig leaned closer. “Weretigers don’t kill each other except when there’s no other way. We don’t have the death penalty even if we would’ve liked one.”

  Marrick scoffed. “Yeah, that’s the official line. Most of the time, when we seek justice, we get justice.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked.

&
nbsp; “It means I should’ve killed him when I had the chance. Instead, I let the others haul him before the council.”

  She checked Craig and saw that he felt the same way. “Then why didn’t you?”

  A small smile played on Marrick’s lips, but it held no real joy. “Because I was stupid. And too slow to act.”

  “So John is exiled. Big deal.”

  “Actually, it is a big deal.” Craig took the small glass bowl off the coffee table and worked it around in his hands as though he simply needed something to do. “Weretigers are like a lot of other cats. We like solitude, but at the same time, we want to be part of a pride. As an exile, John won’t have any pride to take his back. That leaves him vulnerable to a lot of other shifters.”

  “If we’re lucky, the werewolves will get him.” Marrick grim smile grew.

  “Werewolves? So they exist, too? What about vampires?”

  “All of it,” answered Craig. “Wherever he goes, he’ll be in danger. If another group of shifters finds out he’s alone, he becomes an easy target.”

  “Especially since I’ll spread the word that he’s out of our pride.”

  “So he’s a dead man walking? Is that what you’re saying?” A shiver ran through her. Exile might prove worse than any death penalty.

  “Yeah. He is.”

  “And what about you? What did the council say about you shifting during the day?”

  “Under the circumstances, they decided they’d let it pass this time.” Marrick groaned and worked his neck around.

  Craig stood, letting out a huge sigh. “It’s over and I’m starving. How about I fix us some dinner?”

  “There’s soup on top of the stove.” She motioned to the kids. “Teag and Kitty already ate their dinner.”

  She’d fixed dinner, knowing the men could use some comfort food, but also hoping the children would go to bed early. Even if they didn’t feel up to sex, she wanted to comfort them in any way she could.

  “Sounds good.” The laugh lines around Craig’s eyes crinkled together. “Babe, what you did, whacking John and all, was amazing. You saved the kids and maybe our lives.”

  “I had to do something.”

  “You sure had us fooled. For a minute, I thought you were serious about leaving with him.”

  Shrugging, she downplayed his praise. “But only for a minute, huh?”

  “Yeah. You had me convinced until you said you had money.” Craig scoffed. “When you said that, then I knew you were lying.”

  “I was hoping you’d catch on.”

  “Like I said. You were amazing.” Craig’s stomach grumbled. “I’m ready for some grub. Marrick?”

  “I’ll get some in a while.” Marrick slicked his fingers through his hair and slumped down.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  He didn’t look at her. “I will be. Later.”

  She wasn’t sure what else she could say or do. “If you need anything…” Standing, she yelped when he snagged her by the arm.

  “Tell me you’re staying. For good. For us and the kids. Tell me.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat. He’d never sounded so vulnerable. “Yes. I’m staying for as long as you want me. For a lifetime, if that’s what you want.”

  “That’s what we all want.” He moved to caress the curve of her hip. “That’s what we all need.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll do.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on top of his head. “Let me fix you a bowl.”

  Moving to the kitchen, she couldn’t help but smile. She’d made her decision. They were her men and her children now.

  Epilogue

  Feeling naughty, Lisa dove under the covers. As had become their habit—as long as they remembered to lock the bedroom door—she, Craig, and Marrick had gone to bed naked. Why bother with a nightie when it would get torn off her as soon they got into bed?

  Her hand encircled Craig’s cock as she scooted over closer to Marrick. Flicking her tongue over his cock, she slid it into her mouth. A smile came as the men awakened from her touch.

  “Holy shit.” Craig gripped the bedspread.

  “Fucking yeah.” Marrick’s hands tunneled into her hair.

  In and out she pulled Marrick’s cock. Up and down she slid her palm over Craig’s shaft. Within a minute, both men were hard and throbbing. They moaned their delights, accented with an occasional growl.

  She switched, taking Craig’s cock into her mouth while her hand cupped Marrick’s balls. Lying across Craig’s leg, she rocked back and forth, rubbing her breasts against him. He moaned again and put his hands in her hair as Marrick had done.

  Pumping, sucking, she worked them, showing them her love. She’d adored them before, but after having lived with them for the past month, she’d grown to love them more than she would’ve ever believed it possible to love anyone. How had she lived before finding them? She’d gained not only two amazing, sexy, caring men, but she’d become part of a family.

  Shoot. The kids will be up soon.

  She quickened her pace, rolling her tongue over Craig’s length as she picked up speed with Marrick’s cock. They’d spread their legs, giving her access, but also an invitation.

  Which one to ride?

  She’d learned their likes and knew both of them enjoyed having her on top. Trying to remember which one she’d ridden yesterday, she decided to just go for it. Why worry when she’d end up riding them both anyway?

  She flicked her tongue over the end of Craig’s in a good-bye, and then crawled on top of Marrick. He threw off the cover, gripped her by the waist, and hoisted her over his cock.

  “Damn it, babe. I needed you first today,” complained Craig.

  “No more than I did.” Marrick’s gaze met hers as he slid his huge cock inside her.

  The feel of him stretching her vaginal walls had her laying her head back and sighing. Her breasts bounced with each of his thrusts until he caught them and began massaging her nipples.

  Craig got onto his knees and nibbled on her neck. “Make it short and sweet. I want my turn.”

  Her hair played around her face. Flattening her hands against Marrick’s chest, she leaned forward, prompting his cock to skim over her G-spot. The muscles in his chest rippled as he fondled her tits and pounded his cock into her.

  His only complaint was when Craig pried his hands off her breasts. His friend chuckled then claimed them for his own.

  “Is this the day, baby?” Marrick had a strange habit of talking while he made love.

  “The day you change me?” Her breath was ragged, making it difficult to talk.

  “Yeah,” murmured Craig with his lips to the curve of her shoulder. He tweaked her nipples then slicked his tongue along her skin. “You said you wanted to be a shifter.”

  “I do, but not today.”

  She didn’t expand on her answer. It wasn’t as though they hadn’t talked enough about it already. As she’d explained to them, she wanted to wait until Teag and Kitty started school. Having them in school would give her more time to adjust to life as a weretigress without having to worry about watching over them.

  “Okay. We’re ready whenever you are.”

  Craig moved behind her. “I’m coming in the back way, babe.”

  She laughed and bent forward, pushing out her butt. A coolness hit her anus as Craig lubricated her, preparing her. More times than not, he’d opted for taking her from behind and she loved it. Somehow it seemed more primal, more…tiger-like.

  Still, she was unprepared as he slammed his thighs against the backs of her legs and shoved his cock inside her ass. Pain hit her, but didn’t last long. Instead, the pleasure Marrick was giving her flowed over to her butt hole as Craig set up a rhythm to match his friend’s.

  “We’ve caught you now.”

  Although she didn’t say so, she knew he was wrong. She was the one who’d caught them. A giggle escaped her.

  I caught two tigers.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Marric
k barely got the word about before a growl rolled out of him. He paused, then with a low roar, he plunged into her again. His climax broke from him, shuddering his body under hers.

  She tightened her hold around his cock. Hot semen flowed into her. Although it would take time for the birth control pills to wear off, she couldn’t help but hope he’d planted their first child inside her.

  “Fuck. Too short.” Craig gripped her hips and pulled her back hard and fast. He paused, then with a roar that mimicked Marrick’s, he pulled out of her and let his release go.

  Her climax came on the heels of his, storming through her, taking both her mind and her body. She smothered her cry and fell on top of Marrick. Craig, his body still shaking, dropped to her side.

  They stayed still, enjoying the after-effects of their lovemaking. She listened, knowing it wouldn’t be long before the twins were up and running.

  “We love you.”

  The words were so simple, and yet the way Marrick said them made them sound like music.

  “I love you, too.” As it always did, the idea of having found them gave her a rush of joy.

  “I know we’ve talked about this before, but—”

  She interrupted Craig, answering before he could ask. It was as if they needed reassurance every day. “Yes, I’m staying. I’m your mate and your mine. And yes, I do want to change into a weretiger later. And yes, I do want kids of our own. Not that I could ever love them any more than I do Teag and Kitty. As for working, I think I’ll have enough to handle raising our kids.”

  Marrick’s chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh. “Like I said before, we’re ready whenever you are.”

  “Good.” She sat up and listened, hearing the voices of the children. “They’re up. Better get dressed, you two.”

  “You get dressed,” ordered Craig.

  She slapped his hands as she crawled over him to get out of the bed. “Oh, really? Are you planning on staying in bed all day?”

  “Nope.” Marrick was on his feet as Craig got out of the bed behind her.

  She threw on a T-shirt and yanked on her jeans. “What’s going on?”