Free Fast and the Furriest by Celia Kyle Page B

him and Zoe to Darcy. Darcy, who still glared and hissed at the wolf she held.
    Ares carefully set his mate aside, not looking forward to breaking into a catfight, but he couldn’t have a wolf killing one of his tigers either. “Darcy, I need you to back off.”
    There was no way he could order a wolf and expect her to listen, alpha or not.
    “Alpha,” another hiss from the female. No wonder she sucked at PR. She couldn’t even navigate a fucking conversation in the damned kitchen.
    A huff came from Zoe, the sound filled with annoyance, and then he was surprised once more when his mate darted past him, snatched up the newspaper, rolled it and then… whacked Ronnie on the back of the head with it. “No. Bad dog. No treats for you.”
    Ronnie turned her glare on Zoe. “What kind of treats?”
    Darcy’s attention bounced between his mate and Ronnie before finally landing on him. “Alpha, they’re crazy.”
    Yeah, they were, and one of ’em was his. With luck, he wouldn’t get stuck with Ronnie forever. He’d really hate having to talk to the national wolf alpha every time his youngest daughter broke a nail while on tiger land.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    Zoe wanted to sit on the back deck with Ares and take a minute to breathe away from the pride and Ronnie. Oh, she loved her best friend and cared for the other tigers, but she had no doubt the day was going to be long and grueling. All she wanted was five minutes of space to connect with her…mate?…before they were dragged into politics and posturing.
    For now, she had to be happy being in the same house with him. It would have been the same room, but Darcy had dragged him off for some sort of strategy session. Ronnie had gone with them, to make sure Zoe’s “pussy” didn’t stray and try to sniff some other chick’s ass. Plus, Ronnie had experienced some of this drama when the wolves came out and could help guide the two tigers onto an easier, public relation-y path.
    Around the same time, Ares ignored the offer of PR help and went right to the insult. He told her cats didn’t sniff asses. That was all dogs. “You know, your kind.”
    Smiling to herself, Zoe reached for another plate, rinsing it off before taking a soapy sponge to the slick surface. Yeah, there was a dishwasher right beside the sink, but washing things by hand gave her time to think of nothing while still looking busy. So, she scrubbed away the remnants of breakfast and absently listened to the sounds in the house.
    A few tigers still lingered, their low purrs and soft snores reaching out to her—contented cats. There were other noises, the house creaking as it settled, the trees whispering with the breeze, and the occasional growl from the direction of Ares’s office. She recognized one as Ronnie’s, and that had her smiling.
    Then she jolted, as a low, familiar murmur reached her ears. “What put that smile on your face?”
    “I didn’t hear you coming. Where are Darcy and Ronnie?”
    “Arguing about font sizes for the press release. Don’t know what it’s gonna say but for some reason, we have to start with Times New Roman or Book Antiqua first.”
    Thick, strong arms wrapped around her waist, and a warm chest pressed against her back as he fitted them together. She leaned back, resting her head on his shoulder. When he brushed his lips across her temple, she bared her neck for him, silently encouraging him to slide them down her throat. She shivered when he did as she asked, his mouth leaving a burning trail of kisses on her skin until he got to the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
    He grasped her flesh between his teeth and bit down, increasing the pressure until a simmering pain wrapped around her, and she released a low whimper. Her pussy clenched, nipples hardening, even as the ache grew and battled her arousal.
    A sound built in her throat, not quite a hum but not a groan either. It was more like a… purr. Yes, she purred for him. That was something they needed to talk