She took another step back. And another. “Nice kitty.” He snarled and even in the darkness she could see those white fangs. She wondered where the hell she left that goddamn baseball bat. If she had it, she could at least go down fighting.

The tiger kept moving forward, even as he pulled himself up onto his hind legs. Even as his white and orange fur receded back into his body, and his black stripes became the hair on his head.

Nik backed her up until she slammed into the wall, the door a good ten feet away. He slammed both of his hands against the wall, bracketing either side of her head. She stared up at him. His gold eyes still tiger’s eyes. His big fangs still visible.

“Nik?”

He closed his eyes. She could see his desperate fight to keep control and she marveled at the energy it took for him to go this far. His fangs receded back into his mouth.

He forced a smile, “I’m going to be okay.”

“You weren’t okay?”

Nik shook his head, “Not for you. No.”

What the hell did that mean? She reached up to touch his face, but Nik reared back. “No!” He took another breath. “I wouldn’t do that right now.”

“Dude…what are you doing?”

“Trying to keep control.”

“Why?” He stared at her like she’d grown horns. “What?”

He leaned into her and just as quickly pulled back. His body shaking, “This isn’t what I wanted. Not for us.”

Finally, she understood. If he fucked her now, it wouldn’t be all slow and delicious and Nik in total control. It would be animal fucking, only with two humans.

She remembered when she visited Sara the first time. In the middle of the night, she came down to the kitchen for a bottle of water and discovered Sara and Zach using the kitchen table most likely not in the way Lou’s Furniture Outlet intended. She didn’t linger, wanting to give her friends their privacy. But she witnessed enough to know animal fucking when she saw it. Raw. Dirty. Rough.

Score! “Oh, dude, this could totally work!”

“Angie,” he actually whined.

“Nik,” she whined back.

“You need to go.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Now!”

Frustrated as all hell, she slipped under his arm, and stormed out.

***

She had to be the craziest damn female he’d ever known in his entire life and if she hadn’t left that second, she’d be the most thoroughly fucked one, too.

Nik leaned his head against the wall and let out a sigh of relief. He’d explain everything to her tomorrow. As soon as he could manage, he would call Kisa and she’d take Angie back to her place.

By tomorrow he’d have complete control of himself. He wouldn’t be like this. Out-of-control Tiger-Nik. He wanted to seduce Angelina Santiago. Not fuck her up againstthe wall.

Well…he did want to do that eventually, but not right off the bat.

Nik heard a door open and he snapped to attention. What the hell? She hadn’t left. She was in his room. He could hear her moving around, muttering to herself and slamming drawers.

What was the woman doing?

After a few moments, she came back in. Stopped by the dresser, dropping something.

“All right, I know you’re all worried cause I’m much more human than you can ever hope to be, but really, don’t let that fool ya. I’m a hearty girl with great taste in shoes. And can I say I had a feeling you’d be well prepared. I have to admit. I like that in a man.” She slid back under his arm and stood in front of him.

“What in tarnation are you doing?” My God. She smells so good.

“Wow, do you people still say tarnation?” She shook her head. “Whatever. Anyway, I’m not waiting any longer for your pussy-teasing ass. Cause now you’re just starting to piss me off.”

“Sugar, you can’t handle me like this.” She didn’t seem to realize she needed him leashed. Like one of those white Bengal tigers in Vegas. Leashed, restrained, and perhaps even sedated. This was why he didn’t fuck humans. Too damn complicated. And they broke real easy, too.

“Handle you like what? All fanged out and cranky?”

“You need to go.”

“No. What I need is to get laid. By you.” She held up a condom. “Do you wanna do the honors, or should I?”

“I don’t think you under…”

“Fine. I’ll do it.” She ripped the package open. “I’m really good at this. I used to do demonstrations on cucumbers for Miki and Sara, cause Lord knows what those two would get up to if it weren’t for me…well, I guess the way Miki is now. All pregnant and unmarried. Just a lot sooner.”

Her hand gripped his cock, and he shut his eyes tight. He’d been hard as soon as he shifted back to human. Now it hurt. And her strong, cool fingers…not really helping.

She rolled the condom down the length of him.

“Angie…”

“That’ll work.” She gave him one more squeeze. “Now do you wanna do this up against the wall? Or go for it on the floor.”

Staring up at the ceiling, “Angelina…”

“Oooh! I know!” She scooted away from him, pulling off the T-shirt she wore. As usual…no underwear. Dammit, why wouldn’t the woman wear panties?

“I saw this on the Discovery Channel or PBS or something.”

She knelt down at the foot of the bed, stretching out facedown, her arms in front of her, gripping the bedspread. She glanced back at him. “Just pretend I have a tail.” She wiggled her ass and her eyebrows at him.