Free Romance: The Tiger's Hired Mate: BBW Tiger Shifter Romance Standalone (Spicy Shifters Book 2) by Ashley Hunter Page B

women wet and weak-kneed was business as usual.  Surprisingly, she felt no anger or sadness that this was just a one-off.  She had enjoyed it for what it was, and she still intended to resign when they got back to the States.  Career didn’t matter to her now, and she could have at least one beautiful memory to cherish when she walked away.
    “You’re awake.”  The sound of Joshua’s soft voice coming form the other side of the room startled her.
    She sat up and saw him sitting in one of the comfortable armchairs near the balcony window.  A silk dressing gown was wrapped round his chiselled body.  “Hi,” she said sleepily.  “Are you okay?”
    “My dad told me this day would come,” Joshua said, staring out into the distance.  His toes dug into the soft fabric of the carpet.  “I’d one day meet my mate.”
    Amanda scratched at her tangled hair and yawned.  “What are you talking about?  Do you want some breakfast?”
    “You don’t get it,” Joshua said hotly, getting out of the armchair.  “You’re the one, the one I’m meant to be with.  I tried to fight it.  I thought you were like all the rest, just interested in my money and status, but I knew deep down that wasn’t true.  When you got so upset over Natasha’s publicity stunt, I knew then but I tried to fight it.”
    Amanda stared at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying.  “Are you on something, Joshua?  Don’t tell me, Ashley gave you some of his gear?”
    “You and me are meant to be together,” Joshua said, pain flashing in his eyes.
    Amanda sighed deeply.  “Look, Joshua, that’s very sweet of you, but I’m not that innocent and naïve.  I know the score.  Last night was fantastic, better than anything I’ve ever had, and I really mean that.  But I understand this is just a casual thing.  I wasn’t going to tell you this yet, but I’m going to resign.  I’ve had a wonderful time, don’t get me wrong, but this world, your world, just isn’t meant for me.”
    “I have to show you,” Joshua said in a hollow voice.
    Amanda stared as he slipped off his dressing gown, standing naked in front of her.  A tingle danced between her legs as the prospect of a second round with him looked certain.  Instead, he remained where he was, his face blank.
    Amanda started to grow worried.  “Joshua?  What’s wrong?”
    He did not answer.  His eyes speared her and he started to change.  There, before her uncomprehending eyes, fur, yellow with black stripes spread across his body.  He bared his teeth, and they elongated into large, curving fangs that distorted the shape of his mouth. 
    Amanda pressed herself against the bedstead and stared in silent horror.  Joshua lurched over and his body contorted and shifted, until he had transformed into a magnificent living tiger.
    Amanda screamed, and scrambled to get out of the bed.  In one blur-like motion, the tiger had jumped onto the duvet and pinned her down.  The animal’s snout came inches to her face, watching her with Joshua’s eyes.
    “Do not be afraid, Amanda,” the tiger said in a gruff voice.  “It’s me, Joshua.”
    She let out a strangled cry.  In one fluid movement, Joshua transformed back into human form.  “You have many questions,” he said in an emotionless voice.
    “How. . . how did you do that?” Amanda gasped, trying to stop herself from having a heart attack.
    “You can thank my notable ancestor Jack Tarran for this situation,” Joshua went on dryly.  “I and all the male line of my family inherited the curse from him.”
    “I don’t understand,” Amanda said, still shaking.
    Joshua nodded.  “I’ll give you a condensed history lesson of my family.  Jack Tarran was an officer in the East India Inc. during the seventeenth century.  It was he who established the family fortune but in exchange he received the power to become a weretiger.”
    “A weretiger?”
    “That is what I am.  A weretiger has the power to