Speed Mating - A Midnight Liaisons Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

finding someone--"
    "I know. Sit."
    His voice was commanding; she immediately moved to the nearest chair and plopped into it, curving her long legs underneath, waiting for him to speak.
    "Last night after the speed mating, I made a few phone calls to the other tiger clans. Told them what we - - what you -- were looking for in a candidate. And while I can't guarantee that any of them are into a long-term relationship, I want you to at least have a few options for your child that don't involve hooking up with the nearest were-badger. Or worse, a human." He leveled a hard gaze at her.
    She felt herself grow flushed, sweat breaking out on her forehead. "Am I that obvious?"
    "Yes," he said bluntly. "But I'm glad you came to me."
    So were her ovaries. Especially when he said the word 'came'. Estrella clenched a hand over her stomach.
    "It's obvious you're going to go into heat very soon. I've sent the rest of the clan out of town for the week, just until we're sure that you've covered all your bases. I also talked to the lion alpha -- since you're half of each -- and he's sending his boys out hunting in East Texas just to be safe. Unless you had your eye on one of them?"
    She shook her head. She knew the local lions and they hadn't exactly been friendly. Or accepting. They were not even a choice for her. Her child would be fully accepted by his or her clan.
    "Okay then. I've flown three males from other tiger clans into town. I want you to take a few days and talk to each one of them. Let me know what your thoughts are. Find out which one is best for you and the baby."
    Suddenly she was weepy. "You did this for me?"
    "Of course. I'm your alpha. If you have a problem, you come to me, and we fix it. I'm here for you."
    Tears flooded her eyes. God, she was emotional lately. But just hearing that from Vic, well...it was something she'd needed to hear. She'd never felt more alone than this last week, being treated like a leper amongst men. Knowing that Vic was going out of his way to make this as smooth for her as possible? It made her giddy with happiness.
    It also made her incredibly emotional.
    Vic noticed her blubbering, and came around his desk with a sigh. "Don't cry, 'Strella. I can't stand to see you upset."
    "It's just...I'm always just..." so alone , she wanted to say, but the words lodged themselves in her throat. A tiger wouldn't know what it was like to be alone simply because you were born a half breed. As one of the Barlows, Vic wouldn't know what it was like to be abandoned by your father, lose your mother. She was always so lonely .
    Until now.
    He knelt in front of her chair and put his arms around her, awkwardly patting her back. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled her head against his shoulder, tucking her nose against his neck. It was fast becoming her favorite position with him, because it allowed her to take the most furtive sort of sniff of his scent. Not just his scent, but his skin--
    "Did you just sniff me?"
    Estrella bolted backward, flushing. "It's the heat."
    "Uh huh." He looked more amused than annoyed, though. “If you don’t want to go through with this, just say so.”
    “I kind of don’t have a choice. My vagina’s already prepping for the Shifter Superbowl.” And she sniffed, loudly.
    He stiffened against her.
    “Sorry.”
    “Just glad I wasn’t holding any wine this time,” he grumbled.
    She gave a teary giggle at that.
    “’Strella…You know I’m always here for you.”
    Yeah, but my brain keeps going to weird, dirty places when you’re trying to be supportive . So she said nothing.
    He gave her another little pat on the shoulder. "Why don't you go out and say hello to my cousins before you start crying again?"
    She nodded, then impulsively reached out and hugged him again. Why had she ever thought Vic scary? Under that fearsome exterior was the heart of a big pussycat.
    Literally.
    It might have been her imagination, but the hug went on for longer than she'd expected. She