Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(6)

This wasn't easy, despite the path being open and free of walls. Twice, Tony nearly lost his footing on Nate's dark floorboards. His crazily surging hormones were running riot through his muscles.

His klutziness seemed to amuse Chris.

"It's all right," he said, catching Tony's elbow the second time. "Once you've done this, you'll see it isn't hard."

"Oh it's hard," Tony joked. "And having a third leg is not helping my balance."

He meant to grin at the tiger over his shoulder. Instead, he tripped on an area rug. This time Chris wasn't quick enough to save him.

"Shit," he laughed, helping him off his knees.

His firm hold made Tony want to melt all over him. Seeing this, Chris's eyes went completely tiger, his irises flaring with golden light. "Don't make me kiss you before we get what we need."

"We're here," Tony panted, feeling ridiculous at being this overcome. He tipped his head toward the bathroom door.

Chris swung it open and went inside. Nate's bath was clean and modern: white subway tile, nickel fixtures, and a square glass-walled shower. Chris searched the medicine cabinet, came up empty, then rummaged in the chest where Nate stored the stuff he didn't want on display.

"Got it," the tiger said, sending a little jar spinning in the air before catching it neatly.

The coordination required for the simple act sparked a zing within Tony's groin. The response was like taking a tiger's measure out in the wild--as if Chris were demonstrating to Tony's beast that his reflexes were healthy. Of course, part of the energy Tony felt was nervous.

They were going to do this.

"Oh God," he murmured beneath his breath.

His companion grinned at him. "Should I promise to be gentle?"

"Um," Tony said, his knees turned to jelly with desire. "Maybe?"

Chris's fangs glinted. "I want you in a bed. I'll wash the damn sheets myself."

Shit, Tony thought, inwardly delighted at the assertive mojo the other man threw off. "Okay," he said, beginning to back toward the nearby corner where Nate's sleeping platform was.

Chris prowled forward at the same pace Tony was retreating. Tony panted harder, and the other man's tigerish grin broadened. Three strides in, Chris peeled his T-shirt over his head. Muscles moved impressively in his arms and chest, and then the shirt was gone.


Tony lost his breath at the athletic upper body Chris had revealed.

"Wow," he said, taking in the tiger's ripped pecs and abs. Like Tony, he was smooth-skinned and tan all over, his ribs and diaphragm going in and out. Sweat glittered like diamonds on his belly.

His erection was a massive ridge pushing out his jeans, leaving Tony in no doubt of his interest.

"You're a monster," he breathed admiringly.

He glanced up in time to watch a shadow flick across Chris's eyes. The darkness vanished a microsecond later, making Tony question if he'd seen it.

"I won't hurt you," Chris said. "You haven't chosen wrong."

Tony hadn't thought he had. Truthfully, he wasn't always right about people, but he was pretty good. "Neither have you," he assured, wondering what had darkened the other's mood.

Whatever it was, Chris shook it off. "Good," he said and undid the top button of his strained jeans.

Tony caught his lower lip under his canines.

"Strip," Chris ordered, letting Tony feel his authority.

Happy to obey, Tony pulled off his pink polo shirt, the one he'd worn to get his slightly conservative older brother's goat. Rick loved him, but he preferred Tony's gayness not to be obvious. As his chest appeared, Chris's handsome features flushed gratifyingly. Though Tony wasn't as big as Chris, he knew he had a good body. He posed so the other could admire it.

"Vamp," the tiger accused good-humoredly.

Tony's feet were already bare. He unbuttoned and unzipped his chinos. Preferring not to fall on his ass again, he pushed them carefully down his legs. His boxer briefs were black, their soft Y-front tented by his cock. Tony liked his underwear to fit snugly. To go by the way Chris's gaze dropped and lingered, the stretchy cotton outlined what he had on offer.

"Very nice," he complimented, his glowing eyes rising. "You can leave those on for me to take care of."

"I see you're the bossy type," Tony joked.

Chris stepped up to him. Their chests weren't quite touching but almost. Against his will, his wolf saw this as a threat. Tony took one step back and his calves hit the low mattress. The tiger raised his brows knowingly.

"I am your superior," he pointed out.

"Rank-wise," Tony clarified, excited by the other's size and closeness but trying not to yield too much advantage.

With a half-smile Tony thought might be smug, Chris tossed the jar of lube onto the bed. He put his big hands on the bare skin of Tony's waist. The length and hardness of his fingers were shiver inducing. Chris leaned closer.

"Experience-wise too," he whispered hotly in Tony's ear.

Before Tony could make a smart retort, Chris's fangs lightly nipped his earlobe. Thrills streaked helplessly through Tony's nerves. When it came to sex, wolves loved biting, licking, and claw-play. Apparently, big cats were game as well.