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  “What I promised. To spank that delicious derrière of yours, chère.”

  She struggled, though desire pooled between her legs. Lézare threw one leg over hers, keeping her in place.

  “You think you’re in charge?” She panted the words out in short bursts of breaths.

  With one hand on her ass, searing her flesh, the other slid down the crease between her ass and thigh, tracing her flesh so lightly he left tiny bumps in his fingers’ wake. When he slipped his fingers against her folds, and his fingertips feather-stroked her swollen lips, her muscles tightened with arousal. Her back arched against her will, and yet very much in line with her desires.

  “Very much so, chère.” With a flattened hand, he tapped her ass, the impact making her breath catch. The sting followed the burn.

  He massaged her tender skin with one hand while the other hand teased her pussy lips, touching them ever so lightly, then pushing in.

  Desire batted indignation within her.

  And yet his fingers continued, massaging, slipping in, going out, bringing her juices out and slickening her lips, then back in. Then out. In. Out. Her back arched, her ass pushed ever upward. Still trapped beneath his leg, her legs tried to spread to take more of his fingers in.

  The hand massaging her ass rose, and dropped swiftly. A fierce smack that made a high squeal slip out.

  Her muscles tightened around his fingers. His groan was her reward, though her tender flesh stung with intensity.

  “Please.” Her voice was distorted with passion and pain.

  “Please? Please what, chère?” His fingers plunged in deeply. His hand dropped on her ass with a sharp tap.

  That was her undoing. A crunching and stretching sound yielded to her shifting. Within seconds she was in her white tigress form, snarling and turning to face Lézare.

  She stepped back. He’d shifted along with her. He was a huge white tiger, majestic, deep-chested and broad-shouldered. His eyes flashed a deep dark brown, a golden glow in their depths.

  He snarled back and pushed on her to establish a sync, the way that shifters communicated, creating a link that allowed them to speak within their minds.

  We weren’ done, chère.

  She cocked her head, studied his tiger. My tigress was done.

  He laughed in their synched link, a soft laugh, sexy and at the same time challenging. He stalked closer, though they were already in crowded quarters.

  She swatted at him with her claws extended, semi-playful. She didn’t intend to hurt him, and she wasn’t sure she could anyway. His tiger was massive.

  I like the fire in you. He put his head against her withers, just above her shoulders and opened his tiger’s mouth, gripping her neck. Shift back so I can make love to you, or I’ll mount you in your tigress form. And chère, I want to do so much more to you than that.

  Natalya didn’t think she could have fallen more in love Lézare that she had, but she was wrong. His words, his actions, everything he was sent her to the next level. She shifted quickly, still in her clothing, and faced him. He was still in his tiger form, an incredible feline. She reached her hand out, buried her fingers in his fur and leaned close, letting that luxurious fur touch her face. Seconds later he’d shifted into his human form.

  “Chère, I want you.” He picked her up, sat her on the seat, and she raised up so he could pull her panties over her hips, then down her thighs and completely off.

  “Open your legs.”

  His command, explicit and blunt, made her heart pound. She parted her legs. His eyes seared as he stared, branding her as his. She closed her eyes against the intensity and yearning behind them.

  She heard him lower himself and concentrated on the sound of the water lapping and the image of the man in front of her, muscular, handsome, and completely hers—forever.

  She felt the warmth of his breath on her inner thighs and flinched as if she’d been burned. His fingers on each knee pressed insistently, opening her legs even more. Without warning his finger slid in; Natalya released a small sound, part protest, part pleasure and all beseeching—wanting Lézare, needing him.

  He began to stroke her with an in-and-out rhythm that had her channel gripping his moisture-slickened finger, her hips writhing for more. That one finger was joined by another, delving deep with the ruthless and relentless objective of delivering pleasure. Then his mouth closed over her clit and he sucked in deeply, claiming the swollen nub.

  For a moment, Natalya’s cries drowned out every other sound.

  “I have to have you.” His voice was raspy, the tiger in it reaching out to capture the tigress within her.

  The explosion of sensations, and the starbursts behind her eyelids made her grab his shoulders. She dug her nails in deep as her body clenched around his strong fingers, spasming with each thrust. Frenzied cascades of ecstasy culminated in a scream that was lost in his mouth as his lips secured hers in a kiss.

  Natalya opened her eyes to find the tiger in his, a strong, golden glow that suffused her tigress with warmth. She tasted herself on his lips, savoring the salty earthiness of her slickness. Lézare pulled her toward him, his roughness bringing her back from what felt like a whirlpool, closer to a new realm of pleasure.

  He thrust forward into her, and a delicious pain sizzled inside, eliciting a new sound from her throat, the husky howl of her tigress’s release.

  He ground against her, then began to move at a rapid, wild pace, pulling out and pushing deep, enveloping himself over and over while her flesh fought to keep him from drawing away by tightening fiercely around him.

  His back arched and a harsh sound left his lips. His grip was like steel, clutching her to him as his orgasm pulsed deep within her, catching her off guard and sending her spiraling into her own climax.

  With a speed that could only be attributed to his tiger, Lézare’s lips latched onto her neck and he sank his teeth into her flesh. She gasped as the instant of pain transformed to a flush of pleasure that forced a shiver throughout her body.

  He pushed off but remained inside her and held her at arm’s length. A smile, slow and wicked, emerged on his face. “You won’ be running from me again.”

  “Lézare.” Natalya’s voice was soft as the depth of his love infused her. “I told you I was yours.”

  “I’m taking no chances with you, tigress.” He lapped at the tiny, quickly healing wounds he’d left at the base of her neck.

  Lézare watched her sleep. She’d barely been able to keep her eyes open after he’d couple bonded with her. She’d laid her head on his shoulder and before he knew it, tiny bursts of breath were escaping from her parted lips every time her chest rose and fell. He’d moved aside and let her take the bench seat, covering her with a sheet that he’d found in a drawer nearby.

  This was the woman he loved—and he had her. His chest filled with joy. His spirit was renewed. He’d never fully comprehended how empty his life had been until now, until this very moment, as he reflected on how much she meant to him.

  He texted Theo, told him to call his attorney and make any and all necessary steps to ensure there were no obstacles to giving Claudette Dunnington a grant so she could have her own money.

  He called Alexa, but it rolled over to her voicemail. That didn’t surprise him; she’d been up late with the ball, after all, and it wasn’t quite time for the brunch.

  Sacre bleu, I’ve missed the ball and now I’ll miss the brunch.

  This was a first. Lézare never shirked his responsibilities to his family or their obligations to the shifter community. Hopefully Alexa had fulfilled his role.

  He looked at Natalya again, and realized that it was all worth it. Of course, he’d have to smooth things out with his sisters, get them to see who Natalya really was.

  That shouldn’t be a problem.

  I hope.

  With any luck, Valencia had shown up without a problem. And Evie hadn’t killed Mason Martinez.

  I picked a fine time to leave town.

&nbs
p; He dialed Vax’s number.

  “How’s my nephew—or is that cousin, twice removed? I think I’d rather to call him my nephew.”

  At the other end, Vax laughed. “He’s thriving. And sleeping. So is his mother. Where are you?”

  “Austin. I’ll be home later this evening. Would you make sure Mae and Doc don’ leave? I have someone I want Mae to meet.”

  “Sure. Who?”

  “An elemental.”

  “Austin. Do I need to ask why you were in Austin?” Vax paused. “Do I need to ask why?”

  “I’ll catch you up when I get home. I have another call or two to make.” Lézare tapped the end icon on his phone.

  One more thing to do: He dialed the homeless shelter and talked to the woman named Monica, who’d let him in early this morning. He told her he was a relative of Ms. Claudette and he was going to take her to Arceneaux Point, and that there’d be no need to worry about her.

  “You’re family? Oh, that’s wonderful. I’m so glad.”

  “I’ll be by later on this afternoon to pick her up. It’s time for her to go home.”

  If only I’d known much earlier.

  “You’re something else, Lézare Arceneaux.” Natalya’s voice was sleep-husky and sexy.

  His head snapped in her direction. “When did you wake up?”

  A smile crept onto her face, a gentle smile, one that made her eyes light up. She pulled the sheet higher with a touch of modesty that made her even sexier. He felt a stirring in his pants.

  Damn. This woman.

  He sighed.

  “A few moments ago.”

  “So you heard my conversations?”

  She nodded.

  “You didn’ hear the one I haven’ had yet.”

  “Which one is that?” She looked puzzled, her brows dipping into a tiny V.

  “The one where I call your father and tell him you’re mine.”

  A delicate pink laced her cheeks. “I like the sound of that.” She cocked her head, a half-smile on her lips. Then, suddenly, the smile vanished. “My father! I need to tell him where I am! Not to worry!” She jumped to her feet, the sheet wrapped around her.

  “He knows.”

  She froze. “What?”

  “When he couldn’ find you, he called me. He thought after the way we’d returned you, all those months ago, that we could do the same thing again.”

  She shoved her hair out of her face impatiently and chewed on her lip. “He really needs to stop treating me like I’m his little girl.”

  “He’s just worried. I told him I’d found you and that you were fine.”

  She nodded. “About Ms. Claudette…”

  “You’re coming with me. You’re living at Arceneaux Point.”

  “Was that a question?” she teased him, her eyes glittering dangerously.

  “Would it matter if it was?”

  He rose from the chair and stalked toward her, danger and lust in his eyes.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lézare was driving. In the backseat, Ms. Claudette was napping. They were almost at Arceneaux Point.

  He handed Natalya his phone. “Call Vax. He has a new son. Callie just gave birth.”

  “At your house? During the ball?”

  “Yes. They named him Eli. Healthy little boy.”

  “I’m happy for him.” She bit back the urge to cry at the misery she’d created for Vax and his family. She should apologize, do something, say something. “Lézare…”

  “You have to forgive yourself, chère. They’ll forgive you. In this world there has to be mercy and compassion, especially for the repentant.” He pointed toward the phone.

  She nodded, then pressed Vax’s name and handed him the phone.

  “Can you meet me at your cabin, and bring Mae? Callie’s still staying in the main house, right?” A pause, then he continued, “Just Mae for now. Don’ tell anyone else, especially my sisters. Not yet.”

  Natalya knew why he’d said not to tell his sisters. He was seeking to avoid the fireworks. But why did he want Mae there?

  “Earlier, on the boat, I heard you say you had an—” She glanced back at Claudette, whose eyes were closed. Was she sleeping? Could she say the word elemental? No, she didn’t want to take a chance. “I heard you say you had someone that you wanted Mae to meet.”

  Lézare glanced in the rearview mirror. He was probably worried about the same thing—Ms. Claudette overhearing. “Mae is just like…” He indicated the backseat with a nod of his head.

  Natalya had questions, but they’d have to wait until they were alone.

  Arceneaux Point’s drive came into view, but he passed it. She glanced at him, wondering what he was doing.

  “Avoiding the main house, for now,” Lézare said.

  He took the next right and drove down a lane surrounded by trees in a tight formation, blocking the view to anything but the road in front and the road behind. He pulled into a clearing in which stood several old cabins.

  Natalya hadn’t grown up in the area, but she knew what the cabins were. They’d been the homes of slaves in days past. But why were they still standing?

  “My great-great-grandfather Étienne’s home, before he left to make a new life for himself.” He paused, then added, “Elsewhere.”

  Her curiosity was piqued. She wanted to ask questions, but Lézare had parked and turned the engine off and Vax and Mae were coming out of the cabin on the far right.

  “Ms. Claudette, we’re here,” Lézare said, then climbed out the vehicle.

  He opened the door for Natalya, then held it open for Ms. Claudette.

  Vax’s eyes were on Natalya. “What…?”

  Lézare saw Natalya flinch at Vax’s reaction. He put his arm around her, then said, “I’ll explain later.”

  Vax nodded.

  She leaned in to him, as if seeking to gain strength. He squeezed her against his body, reminding her that they were in this together, that there was nothing to fear.

  Then he turned to Mae. “I wanted you here because of Ms. Claudette. She’s a distant cousin by marriage. Natalya found her in Austin. We brought her home.”

  Mae looked at Claudette, then focused on Claudette’s eyes. A flash of indigo appeared in Mae’s eyes. Dark clouds rolled in.

  “Allynne.” Mae’s voice didn’t sound human; it had an ethereal quality to it. Lézare knew that it was her elemental speaking.

  Natalya stared.

  “Benithe.” That was Allynne’s voice, and it was

  “You know each other?” Natalya asked.

  Claudette took Natalya’s hand, but Allynne was the one who spoke. “We go way back. Before Mae, before Claudette. In another century, on another continent.”

  “I haven’t seen her in ages,” Benithe explained to Natalya, then turned toward Allynne. “I haven’t seen you for at least two hundred years. Certainly not in this body.”

  “True. Not since…” Allynne paused. “How is Circe?” she asked.

  Mae’s expression changed. The indigo flame in the back of her dark eyes vanished. “I wouldn’t know.” And her voice changed. She was Mae again. “Though I’ll find out later. I’m going to see her…” A pause. “And the Order of Elementals. I’ll be making the trip with Astra.”

  “That will be an interesting reunion. Perhaps I should consider a visit,” Allynne said. “Maybe after I find a new…” She sighed. “Claudette is getting older, and her mate was not a shifter. She won’t have the longevity that you seem to have.”

  Lézare turned to Vax. “Ms. Claudette has graciously agreed to be our guest here at Arceneaux. I’d like to think that somewhere above, Étienne and Celine are smiling down on us.” A slow grin came to his face. “I think she’ll be just what my sisters will need.”

  “Your sisters…” Vax began.

  “What?”

  “Evie isn’t doing well with Mason being here. I think Alexa is distracted—” Vax glanced at Natalya. “Perhaps as you have been distracted.”

  Nataly
a took a deep breath. “Vax, I want to apologize to you and Callie. I know you can’t possibly forgive me. I—”

  Vax put his hand on her arm. “You are Lézare’s mate. You’ve couple bonded. He’s my cousin.” He exhaled. “That’s enough for me. Callie will agree completely. Trust me. There has to be room for forgiveness. I’ve seen too much of the chasms that can develop between families. We don’t want that.”

  “Thank you.” Natalya’s eyes brimmed with tears.

  Lézare kissed her on the temple. “See? All is well at Arceneaux Point.”

  “Your sisters…” Her voice was a wisp on the heavy, humid air.

  “Don’ worry about my sisters. They’ll see what you are to me, what I am to you. Trust me.” Lézare thumbed away an errant tear that had made a lazy trail over her cheekbone.

  “Let’s get Ms. Claudette settled in a room.” He glanced at his watch. “Looks like I’ve missed brunch. Are all the guests gone?”

  “Many have remained. They’re staying to see you,” Vax said.

  “Well, then, let’s get to the main house. I have an announcement to make.”

  Epilogue

  Lézare stood at the top of the staircase, his arm around Natalya. He scanned the assembled shifters, still in masquerade garb. Three faces which should be there were not—Alexa, Evie, Valencia. He didn’t let his concern show and forced a smile to his face. “I hope everyone has had a good time…”

  Catcalls, hooting, and clapping interrupted him. His smile grew more genuine. This was an annual Arceneaux event and tradition mattered to him, though he’d had to break it to find his true mate. He glanced at her, gave her a tiny wink.

  A soft blush kissed her cheeks.

  “It’s been a momentous Escape weekend, one I’m sure my ancestors, especially Étienne would have been proud. I found my mate.” He kissed Nataly on the cheek. “More catcalls ensued. He laughed and waved them off, smiled and waited for the din to die down. “My cousin Vax…” He waved toward Vax. “And his beautiful mate have added to our family. Elias Rafael Tiero. Shortly we’ll be serving brunch. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”