Free Liars and Tigers by Breanna Hayse Page A

dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts, and that her
favorite plant was an Ocotillo. The day after she shared these things, she came
home to find a box of Hawaiian candy on her bed and a blooming Ocotillo plant
in the corner of her room, next to the window. She had no idea that he had
driven clear out to the desert to find the perfect plant for her, or that he
had picked out the pot and planted it himself.
    Misha's freshness brought
out parts of Alex that were new and unique, and he found himself looking
forward to the daily time alone with her. They'd started jogging together every
morning, and regularly sharing meals after taking turns feeding the 'children'.
They'd had four additional flogging 'play' sessions together, and Misha was
becoming more verbal in what she liked. Alex was coming to truly respect the
solemn woman, despite her tendency to be incredibly tenacious and pig-headed.
He admired the ways in which she could handle herself in precarious situations,
and how she showed remarkable resourcefulness when faced with obstacles. He
also loved to hear her giggle like a little girl. That alone was a rare treat
and it left him feeling happy, young, and carefree.
    He had discovered that wine
helped Misha release some of her fears. Over a bottle of wine several nights
before, Misha had drunkenly disclosed information about her childhood and the
origin of her avid distrust in people, along with the reason for her unusual
modesty. She told him, downing another short glass of Cabernet, that she had
been severely neglected by parents with a major gambling addiction. She'd been
raised by a miserly, uber-religious spinster in a foster home in Pahrump,
Nevada, and had not seen her parents since the day they abandoned her in front
of a casino.
    With a sad sigh, Misha had
finished her wine and said that she had been knobby kneed, clumsy, and, in her
opinion, ugly as a warthog. Her ugliness made her a loner, and she started
spending more time in the wilderness and away from people. She appeared to be
surprised when Alex quickly interrupted to make a point to tell her that she no
longer fit that description. He was sincere when he told her that she was
lovelier than any sunset he had seen, and just as unique and special. His
comment that people were fools if they couldn't see her beauty had pleased her
greatly. Enough to ask more about his past.
    Alex talked about his time
in the service, his miserable marriage to a socialite who wanted him as a bank
account and arm candy, and that he had used the money left to him by his
grandfather to build the refuge. That act alone sent his ex-wife into a frenzy,
but he had boldly informed her that since she had no claim to the funds, it was
his to do with as he pleased. He shared that his mother had passed ten years
prior, and that he was very close to his father, Senator Hodges (ret) who lived
up near Malibu.
    To his dismay, Alex
discovered that he was starting to fall in love with his little Tiger, and with
those feelings came a sense of desire to have her completely. But she kept him
at arm's distance, and never allowed herself to express anything other than
friendship to him.
    "Are you
listening?" Misha was asking, jarring Alex back to the present.
    "I'm sorry, lost in
thought."
    "About what?"
    "Nothing is
particular," he lied, "just wondering if I need to get another fridge
to hold the meat that fat little thing will need."
    "That makes no sense. I
bring home his rations from the reserve. There is no reason to spend the money
and get another unit."
    "Maybe I need another
freezer for venison."
    "That's ridiculous. You
don't hunt animals. What's gotten into you?" Misha asked, as she dried
Rodin with an old towel. The cub grabbed it with his teeth and started growling
as he tugged on the material. Misha tugged back, and the game began in earnest.
Soon, the two puppies were joining in, and she was forced to relinquish her
hold before those same little teeth mistook her hand for the now shredded