Liars and Tigers (17 page)

"Yes,"
she whispered, her eyes closed.

"How
badly do you want more?"

"Don't
make me beg."

"I
want you to beg," his lips wrapped around the heaving nipple of her left
breast. "I love that you can't block me. Maybe Carlos should have gagged
you, too."

"Stop
talking," Misha panted.

"That's
been your problem," Alex mumbled into her warm flesh. Misha squealed as he
captured a nipple between his teeth and pulled upon it. "You don't talk.
You just react."

"Ohhh…"
Misha's body began to shine with perspiration. "More. Please."

"More
of what? My mouth?" Alex asked, moving to her other breast as his hand
caressed her glistening mound. "Tell me, Tiger, what do you want more
of?"

Misha
whimpered, biting her lower lip while he tugged upon her other nipple with his
lips. "Don't make me say it."

"If
you want it, you will have to ask for it. For now on, no more guessing games.
Tell me what you want."

"I
want you, damn it."

"How
do you want me?"

"Shit,"
she gasped, as his fingers found their warm nesting ground within her, "I
want all of you. I want your heart, your mind, your body and your love! I want
you!" Her voice raised in pitch.

"Do
you want to feel me inside of you? To mount you like a tiger takes his chosen
mate?"

"Yes.
Please, Alex, do it," she pleaded.

"I
can't exactly take you from behind, but I can use this set up to our
advantage," Alex responded, his voice hoarse as he released his bobbing
cock from his jeans. "Can you feel me rubbing my length against your
thighs, Misha?"

"Oh
Lord," she muttered. "You feel so big. Please don't hurt me."

"I
will never hurt you. Not intentionally," Alex murmured, flicking her clit
with his finger as he nestled the mushroomed head against her dripping
passageway.

"More,"
Misha begged, as he slowly inched the tip of his manhood inside of her.

"Easy,
girl," he coaxed, cradling her hips in his hands. "Easy, now…"

Misha
let out a quick yelp, wriggling her body as her opening adjusted to his width.
Satisfied that she was ready for more, Alex pushed harder, and slid into the
tight glove of her shaft. Misha cried out unintelligible words and began to
rock her pelvis back and forth, forcing him to seat himself more deeply within
her. Cautiously, aware of her recently lost virginity, Alex waited to feel her
muscle relax around his rod, and only then began to pump his cock in slow,
piston-like motions. He dug his fingertips into her hips as his arousal grew
and swelled to press against the velvety softness of her inner walls.

Her
demands to impale her came as wordless growls, and he complied, fully aware of
the primal grunts and growls they shared between them. Misha stiffened for a
single breath, began to quiver, and spastically arched her body to take him in.
She shuddered under his powerful strides and roared aloud her pleasure. Alex's
body tightened and he plunged deep into her shelter in shivering pulses,
bathing her in his juices. His heart pounded with joy. He had won the hunt and
taken his mate.

He
curved his body over hers and kissed the tears from both her cheeks, following
those with a kiss on the lips. "I love you," he said, looking into her
glazed eyes. "Will you marry me?"

Misha
blinked through her happy tears. "Yes."

Alex
gently untied the ropes and lowered the sling to the ground. After massaging
the blood back to her limbs, he helped Misha to her feet and handed her a
modeling robe.

"Let's
get you inside and cleaned up," he said softly, lifting her in his arms.
She clung to him with her hands around his neck, burying her face under his
chin. Alex felt a lump in his chest as her simple gesture brought back memories
of how he would carry his children to bed. After settling her on the guest bed,
he drew her a bath complete with bubbles, but to his dismay, Rodin found his
way in before Misha.

"Damn
it, cat," Alex grumbled, hands on his hips as he stared at the fuzzy animal
swatting at the bubbles. "This bath was not meant for you. Don't you know
cats are supposed to hate the water? I guess that doesn't count for you,
though," he said, kneeling on the floor and reaching in to bathe the young
tiger.

"Watch
out, he likes to bite during baths. Water makes him playful," Misha said,
leaning against the door frame with a smile.

"I'm
getting that message. Ow! Watch the teeth, mister," Alex scolded, as he
scrubbed the rest of the plaster powder from the cub's coat. "Okay, that's
enough already. I am not a snack."

"I
bet you are great with kids," Misha commented, while Alex wrestled the cub
with a towel during the drying process.

"Kids
are easier and they don't have sharp little teeth. Stop that!" Alex
reprimanded, after Rodin grabbed his hand in his mouth. The cub released him
and sat back, twitching his tail.

"Watch
out," Misha laughed, "he's plotting revenge. That tail twitch is your
warning sign."

"Revenge
for what?" Alex asked, placing the wet towel on the rack and emptying the
tub. "Telling him not to bite me?"

"Oh
no," Misha giggled. "For making him get out of the water. Don't turn
your back on him. He is ready to pounce."

"Let
go of my foot, you little fuzzball!" Alex ordered. Rodin had wrapped his
front paws around Alex's right leg, and was alternatively chewing and kicking
at his foot. Misha laughed hysterically while Alex attempted to shake the cub
off his leg. "Do you think this is funny?"

"Very
much so! Don't get mad, he's only playing. Rodin? Come here, baby," Misha
chuckled, patting her thigh. The cub released his 'prey' and joined her,
rubbing his body against her legs. "I'll go put him in his crate while you
draw me another bath, okay? Call me when it's ready."

"Deal,"
Alex agreed. He rinsed out the tub and refilled it. Hmmm, was there enough room
for the two of them? It filled quickly and, after glancing at the bathroom
door, Alex stripped his clothes from his body and settled down against the high
backed porcelain tub. "I'm waiting, Mish!" he called.

Misha
stood still in the door, surveying her surroundings. "Is there enough
room?" she asked, as Alex beckoned to her.

"We'll
make it work. Come join me," he said, blowing some bubbles from his face.

"I
can't believe I met a man who likes bubbles baths," Misha announced,
dropping her robe and picking her way into the tub. Alex grabbed her hand and
pulled her down to sit between his knees with her back against his chest.
"Is this really all happening?"

"It
is. How are you feeling?" Alex asked, as he used his hands to suds up her
shoulders, arms and chest. He ran slippery fingers over her soap-covered
breasts, and kissed the back of her neck, nipping occasionally.

"Good.
And more than a little embarrassed to be found in that position."

"Why
did you do it, Mish?"

"Do
what? Run away? Because the thought of being loved scared the hell out of me.
You know that," Misha confessed, closing her eyes to his stroking hands.

"Yes,
I am aware of that. The modeling. Why did you take on this pose for Carlos? You
knew how exposed you would be."

"Carlos
is one of the few artists that has a major bank account. He offered me ten
grand to sit for him. I figured if I did three or four sittings, I would have
enough down payment to afford a decent ranch of my own."

"You
don't need a ranch. Everything I have is yours, baby."

"I
know you don't understand," Misha said softly, parting her thighs as
Alex's nimble fingers urged their way between them, "but it's important to
me to have my own space. It's like your workout room. You don't like to share
it with anyone."

"I
get that, but this was extreme. I don't want you modeling anymore. At least,
not posing for pieces like this. Fully clothed, got it?"

"Nude
modeling is where the money is. I am not going to take your money, either, so
don't even think about offering it."

"I'm
dead serious. No nudity."

"You're
being ridiculous. Fine." Misha acquiesced.

"Why
are you so stubborn?"

"Why
are you so pig-headed?"

"Oh,
no you don't," Alex said, preventing her from exiting the tub. "No
more running off when you get your panties in a knot. We are going to talk out
things from now on, and share in the decision making process."

"I
don't need you to make decisions for me. I am more than capable of conducting
my life without your help."

"You're
angry. Why?" Alex held her firmly against his wet chest. "Stop
fighting me and talk."

"I
don't want to lose my independence. I worked hard to get it and am not willing
to just give it up."

"Honey,
being a couple means we both sacrifice something for each other. I'm not asking
you to give up anything, just allow me to be part of your decision process. You
liked it when I consulted you about how to keep Rodin, right?"

"Alex
Hodges," Misha twisted to look at him, "both you and I know that was
a set up to trap me. It was clear as day that it was also Jack's idea. I know
the old coot. Admit it."

"Busted."
Alex grinned. "And you jumped right in. It was selfish of me, but I saw no
other way to involve you without being too blatant."

"True,
subtlety is not your strong suite. Please understand that I need to do this,
for me," Misha said, reaching for his hand and bringing it to her lips.
"I know it doesn't sound special, but owning a ranch of my own is
something I've been saving for since I graduated college. Don't take that from
me."

"All
right, I'll support you. But no more nude modeling. Promise me," Alex said
firmly, reinforcing his position.

"I
promise."

"Good
girl. Turn around," Alex ordered, helping her straddle his lap.
"Lower yourself onto my cock, baby. Careful now…"

Misha
hummed, her eyes closed as she gripped his shoulders with both hands. Alex
steered himself within her and pumped her hips up and down his rigid organ,
diving into her depth with absolute purpose. He cringed as she dug her nails
into his back and raked them soundly as her thirst for him grew. She lifted her
face to the ceiling, exposing her throat, and Alex sank his teeth into her neck
just hard enough to make her shiver. His excitement grew when he realized that
she enjoyed the animalistic side of intimacy.

"When
we get home," he panted, increasing his tempo of penetration, "I am
going to tie you up and really have my way with you."

"Only
if you can catch me," Misha said back, her nails breaking his skin as she
clung to him. "Argh!"

Her
body rose and then sank upon his invading pole, engulfing it to the shaft as it
was forcefully buried within. Alex's skin tingled and his breath caught in his
throat as he, too, joined the rapturous tumult of ecstasy. His cock shuddered
inside its secure glove, spewing hot, fragrant juices into her cavern. He fell
against the back of the tub and pulled Misha over him, his cock slowly slipping
from her body.

"I
never thought it could be like this," she whispered into his throat.

Alex
mumbled his agreement, overjoyed that he had finally found a person with his
taste for the exotic.

***

Misha
was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping iced tea, when Carlos entered the
room.

"So
the prodigal artist returns, hmm?" she said, raising her eyebrow.

"My
Misha! Your young man? He is still here?"

"He's
grabbing a nap. I wore him out. Sit." Misha pointed to a chair. "Wipe
that silly grin off your face. You set me up."

"I
confess, I did just that. But you needed to be forced to stay in one place long
enough to see what you've been running from. Misha," Carlos touched her
hand, "you have light in your eyes. That dark emptiness is gone. It may
have taken some rope and a little creativity, but you deserve to be
happy."

"Those
other poses, the nymphs and the eternals…"

"Eternal
Springtime and the Kiss? Yes, what of them?"

"I
want to pose for you. I just cannot do another piece that exposes me quite as
much. Not now, anyway."

"Your
young man, Alex? He is good with you doing this?"

"Yes.
I don't want him present, though. He distracts me." Misha glanced away, hoping
she would not be caught in her lie.

"We
will set up our time then! The male models…"

"You
can sculpt them separately from me. I don't think Alex would go for another guy
touching me like that. He's very territorial," Misha said with a tiny
smile. "We don't need to provoke him, right?"

Carlos
appeared to be oblivious to Misha's plan and nodded fervently. "Whatever
you desire, my muse, it shall be yours."