Mercy (Tails Book 2) Read online

  “Yep. She has the car keys.”

  He looked back at Mercy, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs. “I don’t think your sister is going home with you tonight.”

  “Oh?” she asked with a chuckle.

  “Duke’s not the sort of male to act like that in public with a female he’s not interested in. I believe, but I’m not sure, that they’re heart-matches, too.”

  “What’s a heart-match?” Whatever it meant, she liked the term. It was sweet.

  “I’ll explain it when we can talk in private.”

  She exhaled and then smiled at the sweetly sincere way he was looking at her. “Let’s go get the keys from my sister and then we can talk somewhere.”

  He put his arm at her back and led her through the crowd until they reached the booth where Duke and Ree were making out.

  “I need to get the car keys to my sister,” Ree said.

  “I’m right here,” Mercy said, thinking that she and Barron had excellent timing.

  “Oh!” Ree’s cheeks were flushed. “Do you want me to take you home?”

  Duke snarled, and the sound sent a note of fear down her spine. Barron moved until he was standing partially in front of Mercy, and she found the protective move endearing.

  Mercy put her hand on Barron’s back. “Hell no!” she said to Ree. “Barron told me who you were with and said that it appeared you wouldn’t be heading home with me tonight, so I came to get the keys.”

  Ree’s cheeks darkened further. “Geez. That is decidedly uncool.”

  “Nah, it’s awesome,” Mercy promised.

  Duke made hard eye contact with Barron. “Mercy’s important to my mate, and that makes her important to me. Am I making myself clear?”

  “Of course,” Barron said. “On my life, I’ll see her home safely.”

  Mercy fanned herself with a grin. “I freaking love shifters.”

  Ree pushed the keys across the table and told Mercy to text her in the morning.

  “Don’t do anything I would,” Mercy said, winking as she tucked the keys into her pocket and waved. Barron led her away from the booth, but instead of heading toward the door, he directed her to the counter.

  He waved at the man who’d served them earlier. “Titus, this is Mercy. Sweetheart, this is Titus – he’s the co-owner of the bar with Duke and also part of the pride.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she said.

  Titus nodded. “You, too.”

  “I’m going to take my break early,” Barron said.

  “Sure thing.”

  Barron led her down a hall past the bathrooms and toward a door under a bright red exit sign. He pushed it open for her and she saw picnic tables set up underneath an awning. “This is for employees,” he said as he gestured to a table away from the door. “I was hoping it was empty so we could talk.”

  As she sat next to him, she texted Maisie and explained she’d found someone nice to talk to and would see her later. After getting a thumbs-up emoji in response, she smiled and put her phone in the back pocket of her jean skirt.

  “I want to ask you something,” she said.

  He was straddling the bench, resting one arm on the worn tabletop and holding one of her hands. “You can ask me anything.”

  “What did you mean when you said Duke and Ree were heart-matches?”

  “We’re lion shifters. My people find our mates one of two ways – a heart-match, which is akin to love at first sight, and a mate-match, which is an arranged mating through a matchmaker.”

  “I didn’t know people still used matchmakers.”

  “I don’t know about humans, but there are shifter groups that do.”

  She looked at their linked fingers. His skin was a little tanner than hers, his fingertips calloused, his hand dwarfing hers. She was short and curvy, and she felt entirely petite next to his broad shoulders and muscles on top of muscles.

  He rubbed her hand with his thumb. “My parents were mate-matched. I don’t know if they were ever happy. My dad took off when I was a kid and left me and my mom to chase another lioness. It’s not something that generally happens. Mate-matches are essentially a contract between the male and female, and they’re not easily broken. But my dad said he hated his life and believed the other female was his heart-match, so my mom didn’t fight him. She passed away a few years later. I haven’t heard from my dad since he walked out, even though my grandparents contacted him when it happened. He didn’t want anything to do with me, and the feeling is entirely mutual.”

  “That’s so sad. I’m sorry you were abandoned.”

  “Are your parents around?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “They died in a car accident right after I finished high school.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

  “Well, this conversation took a depressing turn,” she said.

  He chuckled. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just wanted to explain how our people usually find mates, because it’s important to what’s going on between you and I.”

  “Is that the heart-match thing you mentioned?”

  With a nod, he cleared his throat, his eyes flashing to a shimmering gold. “I felt you before I even saw you tonight. I know it’s fast for you because you’re human, and your kind tend to date for a while and then make declarations about intentions and emotions, but that’s not how shifters work. You’re my heart-match, the one female on the planet meant to be mine.”

  He wasn’t wrong – humans didn’t usually jump right into a serious relationship before they’d done much more than kiss a few times. But how else could she explain the way she was attracted to Barron? Sure he was sexy, but it was more than physical attraction. She’d been unable to keep her eyes off him even for the handful of minutes she’d been in the bar after meeting him.

  Maybe animal attraction was a real thing.

  Chapter Three

  Barron was captivated by Mercy. She was beautiful, curved like a goddess deserving of worship, and made his cat purr uncontrollably. The only thing on his mind was making her his mate in truth – marking her and loving her – but she was human, and he didn’t want to rush her into something she didn’t fully understand.

  How could he explain heart-match to her without it sounding like a pickup line? His biggest fear was that she’d think he was just a player looking for a quick lay, and while he wanted to well and truly rock her world, he wasn’t looking for a one-nighter. He wanted Mercy forever.

  She rubbed her thumb on his skin, staring at their joined hands. After a moment, she lifted her sapphire gaze to him. “It sounds impossible, but it feels right. It’s like I was meant to come here and find you, even if when I say that out loud it sounds kind of crazy.”

  He wanted to roar in happiness, but he tamped down the urge. No need to deafen her. “Really?”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “Yeah. We feel drawn to each other. You say I’m your heart-match. But what does it mean?”

  He blew out a breath. “Mating for my people is like marriage. That you’re my heart-match means that there isn’t any other female for me but you. When we mate, my lion will want to mark you so that everyone will know you’re mated.”

  “Mark like bite?”

  He lifted his free hand and stroked the side of her neck. He could feel her pulse under his thumb. “My fangs will come out and I’ll bite you here. It’ll hurt, but I promise I’ll be gentle and distract you with pleasure. I don’t want to cause you pain, but it’s what lions do when they join with their mate the first time.”

  “Join...like sex?” She bit her bottom lip, her eyes darkening.

  A purr rumbled in his chest. “Yes, sweetheart. We don’t have to do anything tonight. Or any night soon. There’s no timetable for us, and since you’re new to my world, I want you to know everything about me and my kind.”

  She rose onto her knees on the bench, facing him. She cupped his cheeks and kissed him, sweetly at first, but then she moaned softly and their lips parted at the same time, t
ongues touching and gliding together. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, the scent of her arousal blooming between them as their kiss deepened. His brain misfired, thoughts of taking his time flying out the window as her hands slid to his neck. Her nails scraped his skin and sent a riot of shivers up his spine.

  She tasted amazing, like strawberries and cream. He never wanted the kiss to end, even though they weren’t in a particularly private place considering the door could open at any moment and they’d have company.

  She sucked on his tongue with a throaty growl and he nearly came on the spot. His fingers flexed, and he wanted to slide them up her skirt and make her feel as amazing as she made him feel.

  The kiss ended far too soon, and she brushed her thumb over his lips.

  “It’s the strangest thing.”

  “What is, sweetheart?” he asked, gazing up at her. Her hair was a waterfall around her face, the ends a pretty pink color. He caught a lock and wrapped it around his finger, rubbing the soft strands.

  “I feel like I’ve known you forever, which sounds really clichéd in my head.” She smiled crookedly.

  “It’s because even though you’re human, you know what we are to each other.”

  She was quiet for a little while, and he let her have the silence. “Will you come home with me?” she asked.

  The happy purr stuttered in his chest. “Yes.”

  “I don’t know what will happen tonight, but I don’t want to be without you.”

  “Just being with you is enough. I’m not expecting anything but for us to get to know each other.”

  She kissed him and then moved off the bench. “When do you get off work?”

  “Normally not until we’re closed, but I’m going to ask Titus to let me take off.”

  “He won’t be mad?”

  “Nah. I never call out.”

  “Good. I wouldn’t mind sticking around, though.”

  He stood and took her hand. They walked back into the bar. “I just need to talk to Titus for a minute and get everything squared away and then we can go.”

  He left her at the side of the long counter, then gestured for Titus and spoke to him quickly, explaining that Mercy was his heart-match and he needed to spend time with her.

  “Heart-match, really? That’s awesome,” Titus said, glancing to where Mercy stood watching the band. “You probably want to leave.”

  “I’d like the whole weekend, actually. She doesn’t know anything about shifters, and I want her to understand what it means to be with me.”

  Titus’s brow rose. “Do you know what it means to be with her?”

  In the back of his mind, Barron had been fully aware of what mating with a human would mean for him. Pride laws were very specific when it came to mating and membership. In the Kedrick pride, like most prides in the States, males and females weren’t allowed to mate out of their own kind. Doing so – choosing to mate with another type of shifter, supernatural creature, or human – meant expulsion. He’d have to vacate his home, and he’d never be able to hunt with the pride again.

  “I do,” he said emphatically. His cat wouldn’t allow him to even consider walking away from her simply because she was human. She was his and he was hers, and no matter where they lived, they’d be their own pride and he’d be the happiest male on the planet.

  “Okay,” Titus said. “I’m happy for you. I’ll move some people around and cover for you. You can come back to work on Monday.”

  “Thanks.”

  Barron held out his hand to Mercy and she joined him. “Titus, this is my heart-match, Mercy.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Titus said.

  He took her through the bar and out the front door, introducing her to Diesel.

  “Some guys have all the luck,” Diesel said, shaking his hand. “Congrats, man. Truly.”

  “Thanks. I’m off until Monday.”

  “Oh damn, I hope they don’t call Mayhem to fill in. He scares everybody.”

  “Mayhem?” Mercy asked.

  “One of the pride members,” Barron said. “He’s an anomaly – a black-furred lion. He’s not mean; he just looks pissed off all the time. Makes humans scatter.”

  “Fight or flight, huh?” she asked with a smile.

  “Exactly. Have a good night, D.”

  “You, too.”

  They left the bar and headed to the parking lot. “Where’s Ree’s car?”

  “A few rows back,” she said. “It’s a packed house tonight.”

  “Fridays usually are.”

  She unlocked the car and Barron opened the driver’s door for her. “You know what?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Do you have a car?”

  “I have a motorcycle, why?”

  “I was just wondering if I should leave the keys in the car here for Ree so she can drive home whenever.”

  “I’d be happy to drive us.”

  “Cool.” She sat behind the wheel, then closed the keys in the visor. She got out of the car and shut the door. “Lead the way.”

  He took her around to the back of the bar where he’d parked and handed her his helmet. He had a spare at home, but he hadn’t thought he’d need it tonight.

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “I’m a fast healer because of my shifter genes. Besides, you’re more precious anyway, and worth protecting.”

  “All this sweet talk. A girl could get used to it.” She buckled the helmet and smiled up at him.

  “You should. I plan to tell you all the time how lucky I am to know you.”

  He got on the bike and started the engine, then helped her settle behind him. She scooted close, threading her arms around his waist and splaying her hands on his chest. He was aware that she had a short skirt on and was thankful she was pressed against him so no one would see anything personal.

  “Ready, sweetness?”

  “You bet.” She rattled off her address and he entered it into his phone’s GPS and set it in the holder.

  He couldn’t wait to get her alone so they could talk. And maybe more. Whatever the night brought didn’t actually matter. He was just damn thankful to have her in his life.

  The drive to her apartment building was short. He enjoyed having her on the back of his bike, the way she clutched him tighter on curves. He parked and helped her off.

  As she took off the helmet, she said, “There are four units in the building. The owners live on the bottom – they’re a nice retired couple with a yappy sort of dog, and an ER doctor lives in the other one. Ree and I are across from each other on the second floor.”

  “You guys don’t live together?”

  “We did for a while, but she wanted her privacy so I moved across the hall. I’m not much of a cook, so I like to steal her food. She probably feels like I never left.”

  “I wish I could have taken you to my home, but I live with my grandpa.”

  “And I’m also human.” She ran her hands through her hair a few times. Then she removed a house key from a flap on the back of her cell case.

  “It’s not that you can’t come into the territory, it’s that I don’t want to be disrespectful to my grandpa by assuming he won’t mind waking up with a stranger in the house.”

  “I get that. I think it’s sweet.”

  “I want you to meet him, just not tonight when we’ve got so much to discuss.”

  The apartments had exterior entrances. The second floor had a metal staircase that led up to a landing, with the apartments on either side. She opened the door to the right and clicked on a light as she stepped in.

  “Welcome to my place. Make yourself at home.”

  He kicked the door shut and lifted her into his arms. He strode to the couch and sat on the comfortable cushions. She straddled his thighs, her knees sinking as she rested her hands on his shoulders and smiled at him.

  She played her fingers over the sides of his head where he kept his hair short, the light touch sending frissons of electr
icity through him. “We need to talk?” she whispered, her lips brushing his cheek and trailing down his neck.

  “I... don’t remember.”

  She gave a soft, sexy chuckle in his ear. “All I could think about on the ride here is what you meant by mating.” Leaning back slightly, she gave him a curious look.

  “It has a dual meaning: sex and biting,” he explained.

  “Only the guys bite?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want to bite me?”

  “One hundred percent. But not until you’re ready.”

  “If I’m ready now?”

  He opened his mouth but wasn’t sure what to say. His lion growled hopefully, wanting to make her their permanent mate. “I just need to tell you one thing.”

  “What?”

  “When we mate fully, whether it’s tonight or in the future, I won’t be part of my pride anymore.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s a pride law. Only lions can be part of the pride, and if a male or female chooses a mate outside of our kind, they’re banished.”

  “That sucks. Why does it matter that I’m human?”

  “It doesn’t matter to me one bit. But it will matter to my alpha and the pride. My grandpa won’t care, either. He was hoping I’d find my heart-match.”

  She settled back on his thighs with a frown. “You’re going to lose your people? What about your job?”

  He shrugged. “Yes, I won’t be part of the pride, but you and I will make our own pride. And as far as my job goes, I don’t have a clue. I don’t think Titus and Duke will fire me for mating you, but it doesn’t matter.”

  “It kind of does. Things like rent and utilities cost money.”

  “I have savings to carry us until I get a job somewhere else. But Titus also knows that you’re human, and he said I could come back to work on Monday, so I’m not really worried about it.”

  “If you’re sure? I hate that you’d lose something by being with me.”

  He cupped her face, letting his lion out enough so his eyes would change color. “I get you, Mercy. I know that it’s unusual for humans to have things go from zero to intense shortly after meeting someone, but I hope that you feel connected to me, too, even though you’re not a shifter.”