Trancing the Tiger (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

of jungle trees parted and the entrance came into view straight ahead. Lungs burning, she raced toward the gate.
    Toward freedom and survival.
    A roar thundered right behind her, spooking her into veering left. A blur soared above her head, pounced off the massive tree trunk beside the gate, and tackled her.
    Her back smacked the ground, but a hand cushioned her head. Two heavy weights seized her wrists and suspended them beside her head while another clamped around her waist.
    Her eyelids flew open.
    Pale blue-gray eyes glinted at her. She gasped and struggled against the tight bindings.
    “Lucy.” A warm breath near her ear rasped her name. “Don’t be afraid.”
    She froze, recognizing the timbre as Sheng’s. Those were his strong, calloused hands gripping her wrists. His thighs wrapped around her waist, pinning her to the ground.
    And that was most definitely his stiffening arousal jutting into her abdomen.
    Desire sparked into her core. The danger of the night. The intensity of this sexy stranger. She’d all but lost her senses. Especially since Sheng’s eyes were black. Right?
    “Lucy.” He purred her name again, his cheek caressing hers in long, soft strokes. His grip eased and he drew back, his expression unreadable as he stared at her with those glowing blue-gray eyes. Freaky. “You shouldn’t have run.” After issuing his admonishment, he hauled her to her feet beside him and released her.
    The slight accent he carried was British. Made sense, as Malaysia had once been a colony of Britain. He’d likely learned English from a British instructor.
    “Is she okay?” Mei rushed to their side. The girl’s hands probed Lucy’s body before she squeezed her.
    Lucy choked in the tight embrace. Mei released her grasp. “Sorry. I’m just so glad you’re here.” The sprite clucked her tongue at Sheng. “You shouldn’t have chased her like that.”
    One corner of his mouth curved. “She ran.”
    As though that was just cause for tackling her like a pro football player and almost ravishing her. Lucy brushed aside the spark of attraction. He was clearly into something heavy, perhaps illegal, which she wanted no part of. She inched backward.
    “Lucy.” His voice growled low in warning, but she detected a note of provocation. A shiver coursed through her.
    “Oh, you must be freezing!” Mei shrugged out of her jacket and slipped it across Lucy’s shoulders. “Come on.”
    The doe-eyed girl snagged Lucy’s arm to lead her toward the entrance, but Sheng stopped her with a jerk of his head. “I’ll take her to the drop-off. Meet us there.”
    Mei didn’t question him. Her chocolate-hued ponytail bobbed in acquiescence, and the three others disappeared into the forest.
    Lucy gulped down her apprehension as they left her alone with Sheng, who moments ago had held her beneath his body as if ready to devour her. Now, he seemed eager to get rid of her.
    Sheng’s antisocial greeting at the airport—and hostile introduction on the terrace—slammed into her brain. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’ll go anywhere with you.”
    He tilted his head. “I’m sorry if I frightened y—”
    “You didn’t scare me. You growled at me.”
    His lips quirked. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t directed at you. I promise, if you come with me to the drop-off, I won’t hurt you.”
    If he hadn’t growled at her , then who the hell had his hostility been aimed at? She combed her fingers through the ends of her hair, debating trusting him. “Drop-off?” She perched her other hand on her hip. Did he intend to ship her back to America?
    “Trust me.” He winked. “You’re going to want to come along.” He strolled through the gate ahead of her as if there wasn’t a doubt in his mind she would follow.
    ***
    Sheng grappled for control that seemed as fleeting as his sanity. Lucy was off-limits. He’d reminded himself a thousand times tonight. Yet when Tiger had pinned her to the ground, Sheng would have taken her.