A Tiger's Bride (A Lion's Pride Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

you, but overall, I’d call it a success.”
    “She dances like an angel.” Light as a feather and more beautiful.
    Ack. Was that his tiger hacking a hairball at his ridiculous poetic side that kept regurgitating the oddest things? At least it was only about Teena.
    “But she only dances like that with you. Imagine that.”
    Why imagine when he knew it was fate?
    Teena was his mate. Or would be as soon as he could get her away from her family. What was a tiger to do?
    Stalk, of course.
    Rawr .

Chapter Four
    Teena stalked off, her blood boiling but for so many reasons. Peeved at her dad, a little peeved at herself, and aroused, damn him.
    While they were talking, she’d managed to forget Dmitri was a poor choice. As they danced, she could think only of how good it felt. How right.
    How fated…?
    Given Meena had recently explained to her how it felt to know she’d met the one, Teena had to wonder.
    His appearance hit her in the chest each time, a powerful blow that made her breathing stutter, her heart pound madly, and the most delicious heat to invade her.
    She liked Dmitri.
    She desired Dmitri.
    He’s ours, said her lioness.
    But as Daddy reminded her, she was only second best.
    It stung. It stung more than it should have but only because it was so true. Dmitri was using her as a replacement. Despite all his pretty words and claims, the fact remained that she was second choice.
    And she hated it.
    In that moment she might have even hated her sister.
    Why couldn’t we have met first?
    Her father chased after her, his “Baby girl, don’t you walk away from me,” not helping her plaintive tantrum.
    She whirled, eyes bright with tears but voice steady as she said, “I will do what I want. I am a grown woman.”
    “A grown woman that I’m trying to stop from making a mistake. I know that Russian fellow seems sincere and whatnot, but we know what he’s after.”
    “A replacement.” Bitterly said, her lips tightening.
    “I was going to say good genes.”
    “Whatever. Apparently it’s too much to believe that, while he might have come after me because I’ve got big hips, perhaps he hung out with me all night because, hey, maybe I’m kind of fun.”
    “Sure he did.”
    She didn’t like the placating tone in his voice at all. “Are you implying I’m boring?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Yes you are because I’m not as wild as Meena or outspoken as Luna. Or thinking that every situation needs a violent resolution.”
    “Violence is more efficient,” her father grumbled.
    “Don’t change the subject. The fact of the matter is, whether Dmitri is playing me or not, it isn’t for you or Luna or anyone else to decide. It’s my choice if I want to listen to him compliment me or tell him about my third grade trip.” Which had resulted in her and Meena getting banned from the zoo…for life. “I was having fun. It didn’t mean I was about to elope with him.” Although she did have a very Meena thought along the lines of Wait a second, wouldn’t mother have a kitten if I did? As for her father, she could only imagine the swath of destruction.
    A pity she didn’t have the guts to do it.
    This was assuming that Dmitri truly meant what he said, that he wanted her. Thing was, could she look past being second place?
    I was until someone pointed it out to me.
    And all this was moot.
    Dmitri would probably steer a wide berth now given the antics of her family.
    I wish they’d trust me more. She hadn’t made it to her ripe age still a virgin because she fell for false flattery.
    Given she wasn’t in the mood to dance anymore—in her state she’d probably cause some serious harm—she began to head back to the house, only she got waylaid on the way by a pair of ugly cousins, a few times removed, who insisted they share a drink.
    While not much of a drinker, the Jell-O shots went down nicely as she bitched about her father to anyone who would listen.
    After the fourth—or was it the fifth?—cherry-flavored