Trancing the Tiger (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 1) Page 21

  He catapulted through the air, smacking into the wall a few feet away.

  A horrendous screech rent the air, and the oxygen in the room sucked inward as the Dragon inhaled. Exhaling, it spewed flames like a fucking nuclear blowtorch.

  The paper thin walls of the store instantly caught fire. Boar shrieked in agony, the fiery tendrils lapping over him.

  Sheng coughed from the constricting coils of smoke as he crawled to his feet. The Matchmaker pressed a hand on his arm and he nodded. They needed to get Lucy out of here before anyone else observed what she’d done. Before the building came crashing down with them trapped inside this relentless inferno.

  He stared into the blazing flares, mesmerized for a moment by the beautiful yet lethal flames—like the ones responsible for his family’s deaths.

  Dread’s icy fingers seized his muscles. Lucy. He refused to lose her, too. Stamping down his panic, he assessed the situation. How could he soothe the Dragon when the beast seemed hell-bent on torching this place?

  Shielding his face from the searing heat with his forearm, he crept toward the Dragon admiring its work. An ominous creak overhead told him the building had a minute or two left before it crumbled on top of them.

  “Lucy!” he shouted above the roar of the flames, hoping she still existed in there somewhere, that she hadn’t been buried beneath the strength of two spirit animals. One was hard enough to control.

  The Dragon turned luminescent green eyes on him. Cocking its head, the glowing dimmed until the cloaking extinguished. Wasting not a second, he scooped Lucy into his arms as her body fell limp. Dodging flames, he burst through the backdoor into the alley, pieces of the ceiling crashing down behind him. He choked on the smoke in his lungs and searched for the Matchmaker.

  Always a woman with a plan, she held open the door to her car. “Get in.”

  He crawled inside with Lucy clutched to his chest. The door slammed behind him and, a moment later, the Matchmaker climbed into the driver’s seat. The car lurched forward as they sped away.

  Sirens wailed in the distance, likely approaching the carnage they’d left behind. Was Boar dead? Sheng rolled the tension from his shoulders. Chosen were damned hard to kill. If he’d had more time, he would’ve hauled Boar from the wreckage and finished the job, but Lucy had been his priority.

  His concern shifted to the Dragon inside her.

  Let the Matchmaker suck on that.

  “You are aware of what you must do, Li.” As if reading his mind, her obsidian gaze met his in the rearview mirror.

  He nodded. Yeah, he knew.

  “Hide her where even I can’t find you. Speak to no one. Not even the Kongsi. I’ll buy as much time as I can for us to figure this out.”

  He shuddered at the words she left unspoken. The Council would have to be told. Lucy would be brought before them and subjected to whatever decision they would make.

  He’d better come up with a damn good counter-argument before then.

  Lucy moaned, blinking.

  “Shh, rest.” Sheng’s voice soothed her as his rough, calloused fingers stroked her forehead.

  She sighed, her body relaxing into his caress. Until she inhaled again and the scent of smoky fumes invaded her nostrils. She bolted upright, straining against the steel arms wrapped around her. “Fire. There was a fire.” The words babbled out of her mouth as her mind tried to make sense of the images flashing across her vision.

  “Ah!” She cried, thrusting a hand to her temple. The images died and the pain subsided.

  Odd. As she sniffed again, seeking the smoky scent, her head throbbed in augmenting increments. She cleared her mind, and the pain vanished as if her subconscious didn’t want her to remember.

  Remember what?

  “Sheng?” She twisted in his arms to observe his grim features.

  The wind whipped around them, slashing his hair across his face. Salty spray filled her nostrils, cleansing her nose of the smoke.

  Leaning out of his arms, she scanned her surroundings. They were on the water in a boat. “Where are we?”

  “Safe.”

  “Safe from what?” she pressed, but his focus remained on steering the small vessel through the undulating waves.

  She shivered as the wind chilled her, and clutched his warm body.

  With his arm secured around her, she snuggled into his lap. She nestled her face against his chest and encircled her arms around his waist, taking comfort in his steady heartbeat. She didn’t recall a thing, yet he was right.

  With him, she was safe.

  “We’re here.” The boat veered to the right and the dying echo of the motor dulled.

  “Where is here?” She lifted her head and glanced behind her.

  “I told you. Safe.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and stood, propping her on her feet at his side. He hopped out of the boat first, lifted her in his arms, and deposited her on soft, uneven ground. Sand. They’d landed on a beach, hemmed in by jungle. Clouds filled the sky, the lapping of waves the sole clue to their whereabouts.

  “It’s an island.” He elaborated the direction of her conclusions. As he fell silent, that appeared to be the only elaboration he would make. After removing a large pack from the boat, he shrugged it onto his shoulders, seized her hand, and led her inland. They followed an overgrown path into the trees. She tensed, her mind spinning over the various poisonous snakes and other dangerous jungle creatures.

  Scorpions. Vipers. Monkeys, even.

  His grip on her arm tightened. Oh yeah. No need to worry. Sheng was by far the most ferocious beast in this jungle.

  The path ended in a mosaic of stones, and she squinted to make out where he’d led her. An enormous, thatched-roofed structure greeted them. It stood on raised, whitewashed concrete stilts, likely to keep out flood waters. And snakes. Yuck.

  The exotic, bungalow-style cottage was more luxurious than any of the other Malaysian cabins she’d observed scattered along the coastline.

  He didn’t knock but, instead, withdrew a key. Aha. He owned this place.

  “Come inside.” He extended his hand from the open doorway and she accepted it, eager to be out of the jungle. Inside the dim entranceway, the dusty scent of a long-unused dwelling filled her nostrils. The particles tickled her nose, and she sneezed.

  “Sorry. I’ll air things out. You stay here, okay?” To emphasize his command, he plunked her down by the shoulders, forcing her to sit on the narrow bench gracing one side of the hall.

  After shucking his shoes, he slid the door behind her closed and disappeared from view.

  Left alone, she tried to focus on how they’d landed here, but the pounding migraine that surfaced at her attempts proved discouragement enough. She frowned at her hands, nestled in her lap.

  Sheng approached a few minutes later, the room behind him lit with candles. An airy breeze fluttered through the cabin, carrying sweet floral notes.

  “Are you hungry? Tired?” He knelt and slipped off her shoes, the murmur of his inquiry as soft as the caress he gave her ankles. He grasped her hand and lifted her to her feet.

  She tilted back her head. “Puzzled.”

  “Oh?” One black brow arched. His body relaxed, and a grin crept into his expression. The strain of the past few hours evaporated into…playfulness. He bent forward and nuzzled her cheek. His stiffening arousal pressed into her belly, screaming one conclusive fact.

  On this island, they were very alone.

  “Don’t worry about anything, okay? You’re safe here, with me.”

  His murmured assurances should have soothed her, but his quick change of subject pricked the hairs on the back of her neck. She shrugged out of his grasp and stepped past him to follow the hallway.

  Above their heads, half a dozen fans circulating the humid air were nestled into an elaborately crafted design of wooden planks. The same warm, golden brown teak hardwood composed the walls and floor of the open-concept layout. Several rectangular columns divided the room into cozy sections. A
modern kitchen graced one corner near the long dining table, while another led into a sunken living room furnished with a plushly cushioned rattan sofa.

  Sheng led her through a back door and onto a walkway. They passed several other, smaller cabins before the walkway spiraled upward to a hut nestled into the trees.

  As she poked her head inside the doorway, Sheng growled low. “This one’s mine. You’ll be staying here.”

  She tensed as he stalked up behind her to nuzzle her hair. Instead of accompanying her inside, though, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and wandered back down the walkway.

  Too tired to argue, she trudged through the room to plop on the bed. After she pulled the mosquito netting closed, she snuggled beneath the sheets and drifted off.

  ***

  Sheng paced the length of the kitchen, raking his hands through his hair. What the hell was he supposed to do? Fucking wait here while the Council decided Lucy’s fate? Place their safety in the Matchmaker’s calculating hands? He’d never handled trusting others with his fate. No way would he do the same with Lucy’s. She meant too damn much to him, Dragon or not.

  Tiger chuffed in extreme satisfaction at having discovered his yang at last. The other spirits would come flocking in, the combined energy of Tiger and Dragon drawing them like moths. Together, they would locate and defeat the Plague God.

  How had Lucy acquired the Dragon? If she was indeed a Shèhúnzéi, a Spirit Thief, who knew what else she could do? The term sank into his mind. Pretty much everyone discounted the notion of an ability to steal spirits—from Chosen and other hosts too.

  If Boar survived the fire, Sheng bet right about now Snake and the Ghee Hin were flipping out. Lucy had just become the most prized asset in their rivalry for the upper hand, making her one hell of a responsibility to protect.

  At least Dragon had proven itself more than capable of defending both Lucy and the Rabbit. He shuddered, recalling Dragon’s ferocity. Thank fuck that beast was on his side. If Snake ever got his foul hands on the spirit or Lucy… He fisted his hands. The Jade Emperor would never allow it. Or so he hoped.

  Ignoring the Matchmaker’s warning to keep this to himself, he plucked the satellite phone from the counter and dialed.

  Fang picked up on the first ring. “Where’ve you been, Li?” His voice pitched high and then low as he explained. “We’re frantic over here.”

  “You know where I am.”

  His cryptic answer received a grunt. “That bad?”

  “Yep.”

  “Reinforcements?”

  “Nah, we’ll just hang.”

  “Okay, but…are you sure?”

  Tiger chuffed into the phone and Sheng hung up, wishing it had been Ox who’d answered. Kassian would never coddle him. At least his family knew he and Lucy were safe and that was what mattered.

  His body tensed as he pictured her sleeping in his bed. What was she dreaming about? Could he top her fantasies?

  He’d soon find out.

  ***

  Dad? Lucy searched the mists for the retreating figure calling her name. I’m right here, she cried, but her voice was soundless.

  She broke into a sprint and caught up with him. He spun as she placed her hand on his arm.

  His warm brown gaze caressed her with love. She choked back a sob, hot tears slipping down her cheeks.

  “Don’t cry, my little Rabbit.” He brushed aside her tears and cupped her face. “I can’t let her die alone. I wouldn’t have passed this burden onto you, Luce, but I can’t carry it anymore. You must find the one who can.” He bent forward and a warm vapor hissed out of his mouth, enveloping her…

  Lucy bolted upright, chest heaving. The sheet clutched in her white-knuckled fists, she surveyed the bright room. Sunlight streamed in through the window on her left. Sweat plastered her hair and her thin clothing to her skin, but she shivered.

  The dream seemed so real. Her dad had looked and sounded exactly as she remembered him.

  Shrugging out of bed, she padded into the adjoining bathroom and rinsed away the remainder of her tremors in the rainfall shower. People often dreamed of loved ones they’d lost, right? Yet, this felt different, as though whatever her dad had asked her to do, she hadn’t done it yet.

  An uneasy incompleteness churned her gut. Had her dad given her the Dragon? Was he a Spirit Thief? Was she one, too? Why hadn’t he told her…about any of this? What he was, what she was, what he expected her to do with the Dragon…

  Sighing, she stepped out of the shower and combed her hair.

  The feminine products in Sheng’s bathroom should have concerned her, except she recognized the body wash as the same one Mei used in the women’s showers at Kek Lok Si. She’d bet the brush was hers too. As well as the clothes draped over the dresser, waiting for Lucy to put them on.

  Sheng. He’d thought of everything, hadn’t he? Taking care of her, offering a tenderness and compassion she hadn’t received in so long. With him, she was no longer alone in the world.

  She’d lost her family, but gained a new one. Because that’s what she was to Sheng, Kassian, Fang, and Mei. Family. Warmth bloomed in her heart and eased the pain of grief. Her parents might not be with her, but they were together and that was what counted.

  As she strolled out of the bathroom, a cool breeze of resolve drifted over her. Whatever came next, she was ready.

  Stepping to the window, she peered outside. From her vantage point in the trees, the turquoise ocean stretched for miles until it faded into the horizon. An even more beautiful sight greeted her as she dropped her survey to the terrace below.

  Sheng occupied the stone-tiled square terrace, performing his qìgōng physical meditation.

  In. The. Nude.

  Every honed, masculine muscle flexed to perfection as he moved with effortless grace, sweeping his arm across his body, dipping his head, or raising his leg to extend it in front of him. Each movement so focused, so intense. At first the poses looked simple, until she noticed the sheen of sweat glistening off his body. The complicated actions required immense strength and concentration.

  Amazing how Sheng who bristled with energy also commanded it so well, stilling his body to the extreme.

  The tattoo of the Tiger gracing his back shifted as he switched positions, making it appear alive. She nibbled her lip and gawked at him. He was gorgeous. A piece of living, breathing art. Lethal. Graceful. Dangerous as hell still applied, for sure, but she no longer experienced even an ounce of trepidation in his presence. He wielded his strength to protect her.

  She smiled down at him, enjoying the play of the dawn’s rays across his bronzed flesh. His back was turned to her, but that didn’t make the view any less tantalizing. The man owned his sexy, wide shoulders, which gave way to a broad expanse of muscle, tapering to his waist. Oh my. The journey of her perusal titillated her further from there. The rounded, firm muscles of his ass were exquisite, and those long thick thighs screamed their power.

  She licked her lips, recalling how good he’d tasted. Her thighs squeezed together as pulses of longing shot through her core.

  She desired him. Badly.

  Now that he had her here, on this secluded island, the question was…

  Did he crave her just as much?

  Sheng lifted his head, his concentration broken as he detected the presence of another. Watching. Waiting.

  Wanting.

  Fuck, yeah. Lucy was awake. Not a coincidence he meditated where she could see him. The grin tugging at his lips faded. He didn’t care for the way the Matchmaker’s final words to him echoed in his mind.

  Oh, and Li? Don’t touch Lucy again until we figure this out.

  Her words confirmed she’d put two and two together about how the Dragon had been unleashed, but screw her command. The Matchmaker didn’t know a damn thing—certainly not the feelings he had for Lucy.

  Lucy wasn’t like any other woman he’d been with and well he knew it. Once he joined his body with hers, there wouldn’t be any going back. N
o one else for him.

  His emotions went beyond the labels of love and lust. To claim such would be like saying he’d fallen in love. How could he fall, when he’d always been there, at the bottom of that pit, waiting to catch her? No beginning and no end. Maybe they’d been lovers in a past life because it sure as hell felt that way to him. Like they’d always been together.

  Damn, but the Matchmaker sucked at her profession. She hadn’t picked up on this attachment, this devotion he carried for Lucy.

  He cocked his head at the breathy intake emanating from the window above. Now that he’d put on a show, seducing her mind with his version of foreplay, it was time for his turn.

  He finished the last pose, extended his arm in front of him, and bowed his head. Swiping the towel from the lawn chair to his right, he made his way along the path. He didn’t pass Lucy and his room was empty when he arrived. Shrugging off her absenteeism, he showered and wrapped the towel around his hips.

  Hiding, was she?

  Good, because Tiger loved to hunt.

  He stalked the halls, poking his head into each cabin, sniffing the air for any trace of her delicate floral scent. After the first few huts proved empty, he headed to the main cottage. Yep, her scent was stronger here, making his mouth water and his cock harden. He caught a flash of light-brown hair vanishing into the kitchen and followed her soft scuffling.

  Caught you. She peered inside the open refrigerator and her ass wriggled in the air as she hummed. Approaching her from behind, he squeezed her plush flesh. Her feminine gasp tightened his bollocks. She whirled around, straight into his arms. He wasted no time in slanting his mouth over hers, swallowing her surprise.

  “Lucy,” he murmured against her lips, his senses soaking in everything about her. The clean scent of her skin, the cling of her damp hair, the silk of the dress she wore. Every inch of her sang through his blood, a luscious indulgence.

  She kissed him back, moaning into his mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her nails scraping his scalp. He drew her in, hands roaming over her dress, slipping the ties loose.