Free Mail Order Tiger Bride Wars: A Scorchingly Hot BBW Shifter Romance by Dawn Steele Page A

his nose became a snout. Orange and black fur sprouted from his fair skin.
    It an instant, a magnificent tiger stood before her. She could feel the heat and power radiating off him. His eyes were brown, and she could feel Cole within the beast – the same amusement and intelligence and keen regard for his environment. He stared at her, and she stared back. The flashlight trembled in her hand.
    He metamorphosed back into his human body. This time, the transformation was even faster.
    He stood back up.
    “See? That was easy, wasn’t it?” he said.
    A lump bolted to her throat.
    “You want to me shift,” she said.
    “Yes. I’m right here with you. Nothing will go wrong.”
    “B-but . . . it’s been a long time.”
    “I know.”
    “But you know why I don’t shift. I did tell you, right?”
    “ That was last week’s news. This week, you’re a new person.”
    Yes, she was.
    But still –
    She looked down at her flashlight and boots. City girl . Had she really changed all that much?
    “You won’t be a fat tiger,” he said meaningfully. “And even if you were, I won’t care.” The sincerity shone on his face.
    He doesn’t care. If he doesn’t, why should I care?
    Bit it would mean . . . stripping down in front of him.
    He saw her mortified face and understood.
    “I won’t look while you undress,” he assured her. He made a big show about turning around one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. “See? I will walk behind this tree. Promise I won’t peek.”
    He walked, and she could admire the movements of his naked and firm buttocks as he went behind the nearest tree.
    My, but he was sexy!
    Did he know how sexy he was? (Of course he knew it.)
    Her cheeks suddenly flamed. He expected her to undress right here, just like he did. And he expected her to transform at will.
    But that’s what you do. You’re a shifter.
    What if I can’t remember how to do it?
    Her heart was beating very quickly, but she desperately wanted to do this. This was the start of a new her.
    No regrets .
    She undid the buttons on her blouse. She fumbled, feeling self-conscious. Don’t . She shrugged off her shirt and her boots. Then her jeans. Her bra came off next, getting caught in the crook of her elbow. Her huge breasts sprung free.
    He still didn’t move from behind the tree.
    “You OK?” he called.
    “ Just peachy.”
    She took a deep breath. She could do this. She stepped out of her panties.
    There. She was totally naked. Now she was supposed to do what came naturally. Uh . . . how did it go again? It used to be easy as a kid. Well, not that easy. Maybe like riding a bike. Or learning how to skate.
    How did it go again?
    “Have you done it yet?” he called.
    “No.”
    “Need my help?”
    “No!” She was naked.
    She closed her eyes and willed herself to transform.
    Ummmmmmm .
    It was such a strain. She willed her bones to mould and change, fixing the image of a tiger in her mind’s eye. She clenched her fists.
    It wasn’t happening.
    “You OK?” he asked again.
    Her eyes snapped open. “I . . . don’t remember how to do it.”
    “Mind if I help?”
    But I’m naked!
    You’re a shifter! You’re not supposed to be conscious about it in front of another shifter!
    “Yes,” she said in a small voice. And cringed as he exited from behind the tree. He’s going to think I’m awful, awful, awful .
    Then she remembered what he said. You can’t control how people will perceive you or how they think about you, but you can certainly control how you feel about it .
    He reappeared, and he was smiling as he took her body in. Fat, fat, fat!
    “You’re beautiful,” he said reverently.
    She was incredulous. She studied his face as he came closer. There was truth in his expression and a light was shining in his eyes.
    He stood before her and locked eyes with her. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You are beautiful, every inch of you, and I mean it.”
    His hand came up and gently touched her cheek. His touch was so