Read Tiger Time for Free Online

my world.”
     
    She stared at him, too amazed to form words. There was a whole other world than the one she’d grown up in. It seemed unreal. “But...I want to marry and have children.”
     
    “Oh, Tabby,” he said, pulling her into his embrace. “We can do all of that. But maybe we should take it slow. After all, you just found out you are a tiger shifter.”
     
    She relaxed in Ty’s arms. Feeling his arms tight around her gave her a comfort she’d never felt before. Everything was sinking in, but instead of being concerned about being a tiger shifter, the death of Alice, or finding the man that was supposed to be her lifemate, the shock that was forefront in her mind was that he’d called her Tabby. “You called me Tabby. I've never had a nickname before.”
     
    For a brief moment, a hurt look crossed his face. Just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. He looked as though she’d stabbed him in the chest. “Do you not like it?”
     
    “That's not it at all. I love it. I always believed nicknames mean you mattered.”
     
    “Tabby, you matter to me. I have watched over you since your parents died. You have always mattered to me, and you always will. You are my world. Come on, babe, you need to get some more sleep. You haven’t been getting enough, and I know you’re still tired. We’ll pack when you get up.” They hesitated, neither of them wanting the embrace to end, but sleep was the best.
     
    Between the long day and the last few weeks of very little sleep, Ty was right; she was tired. She wanted to curl up in bed and cuddle next to him. “What about Mike? He could have someone come after me.”
     
    She crawled into bed, and Ty pulled the blanket up from the bottom of the mattress and covered her. “Tabby, you’re my mate. I won't let anything happen to you. I’m going to make us flight reservations, and then I’ll lie with you. Is leaving tomorrow fine with you?”
     
    Tabitha nodded, snuggling deep in the blanket as she watched Ty move around her cramped apartment. Dodging the sofa, he moved into the kitchen, where a pad and pen lay on the counter. He tried to speak quietly as if trying not to disturb her, but she could still hear him making reservations for them to fly home to Alaska.
     
    Home? I have a place I can finally call home, with people who care. No matter how many times she told herself that, she couldn’t believe it.  
     
    Growing up in foster care, all she’d wanted was people who cared about her and a place to call home. Now she wasn’t so sure. She’d been trained to be a loner, to not rely on anyone. Would that have to change now? Could she handle it?
     
    She lay lost in her own thoughts as Ty finished making reservations. She opened her eyes to find him standing next to the bed.
     
    “I thought you would be sleeping. You’ve had a difficult day.”
     
    “I missed you. Won’t you lay with me?”
     
    Without answering, he took off his dress shirt and crawled into bed next to her, cuddling his body close to hers. He felt warm, and their bodies fit side-by-side like they belonged together. Like two pieces of the same puzzle final joined. She couldn’t get enough of his warmth and the feeling of belonging that she found in his embrace.
     
    Ty slid his arm under her head. Her check rested on his bicep, and their gazes met. He rolled onto his side to face her. He reached for her cheek, drawing them together until their lips met.
     
    His lips on hers made her body tingle. It felt as if electricity was all around them, waiting to explode. It didn't hurt, just provided a strange pins and needles feeling. She didn't let her mind talk her out of it. She wanted this. Her heart knew this was what she needed, no matter what her head was saying.
     
    He was her mate.
     
    Gently pulling back just a little, Ty looked at her. “Tabby, I'm sorry. I don't want to rush you. The tiger in me wants to claim you as my mate now. Tigers are not very patient.” As he said