Tall, Dark and Panther Read online

  For most of his life, he’d been internal about feelings. Lust and need were easy to accept when passion drove the man or the panther. Love? That was dangerous. Yet, he didn’t feel nervous or worried about loving Maya. He felt strangely happy. Fulfilled. Like he’d been waiting for her his entire life. Now that he had her, he felt complete.

  “I’m sorry,” she finally said a few minutes into their drive. “I can’t believe they were so rude back there.”

  He glanced at her and then back at the road. “I’m sorry you were hurt, but what you said, it means a lot to me.”

  She placed a hand on his lap, and he found he had to pull over or having it there would distract him enough that he might get them into an accident.

  “I was honest. I didn’t expect to be shouting my love for you at my family.” She gave a sad laugh. “But I’m not taking it back. You have taught me that by not settling for Bud or other losers, I finally found someone who was worth my love.”

  His chest ached. The hope he saw in her eyes mirrored the one in his heart. He raised a shaky hand up to her face and cupped her cheek. “I have never spoken much about my feelings, so forgive me if I don’t get things right the first time.” He gulped back at the knot in his throat. No woman had ever made him feel so special. “You captivated me when I met you. It was easy to blame desire and lust. There was that. But shifters have a sense for who they belong with. We can find our life partners a lot easier than humans can. I found mine in you.” He used his other hand to lift hers to his chest. “I refused to get into feelings, not because I don’t want to care, but most of my life that is something I pushed away and locked deep in my heart.”

  She nodded. “I understand.”

  “Thank you for that, but you broke down those walls. And the emotions I tried to push away have taken over my heart. I love you, Maya.”

  A dazzling smile broke over her lips. “Really?”

  He nodded slowly, still coming to terms with it himself. “I do. My panther chose you as our mate, but I fell in love with the woman that loves to dance in her underwear when she thinks nobody is watching.” Her eyes widened, and her jaw hung open, making him laugh. “I was watching. You were so beautiful. So carefree. I loved it.”

  SIXTEEN

  Maya’s heart thumped so hard she almost couldn’t hear what Noah was saying. She definitely heard him say he loved her. He. Loved. Her. Jesus H. Christ! This was her biggest fantasy come true. Noah had brought happiness into her life. He’d never in the entire time they’d been together, mention her having to lose weight, change her body, or her personality. He’d always talked about how much he loved who she was.

  “I love you, Noah.” The words tore from her throat and exposed her heart to him. She had never felt this raw and open before.

  He captured her lips in a kiss, and the fear and anguish over showing emotions disappeared. He kissed her hard, punishing, as if he wanted to brand her lips with his own. There was a new desperation in the way he touched her. She’d swear it was like he couldn’t get enough.

  He pulled back, leaving them both breathless, and held her face in his hands. “I love you too, Maya. I love your sexy body. I love your humor and your good heart.”

  She loved his sexy body too. Hell, she loved everything about him. “I’m glad you don’t want me to change.”

  “Never. This is you. I will always want you to be true to yourself. Will you be my mate?”

  “I didn’t think you chose your mate?”

  “I don’t. You’ve been the only one from the moment I saw you, but I am not going to assume you will accept just because I said that.”

  “You mean you’d have lived with my rejection and stayed alone?” She gasped.

  “Yes. If you didn’t want to be my mate, yes. I want you to be with me because you want to above anything else. Not because my panther and I have fallen for your scent.”

  If it was possible, she loved him even more at that moment. “I will be your mate. I’ll be anything you want.”

  He grinned and glanced down at her top. “Can you be naked the moment we get home?”

  She laughed and nodded. “For you, anything.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  * * *

  Maya loved taking strolls with Noah. He’d proved in a short time just how special she was to him. Though she didn’t talk to her family, she didn’t feel alone, thanks to him.

  They were walking toward the building when she caught sight of Bud across the street.

  “Oh, no.” She sighed. “It’s been too good to be true. I knew he’d pop up at some point.”

  Noah growled and released her hand to run up the street. Bud screamed and dashed into the woods.

  “Noah, what are you doing?” She ran after him.

  “Teaching this guy a lesson in survival. Don’t piss off a panther,” he threw the words over his shoulder.

  Then, she gasped, her eyes widening as she watched Noah tear through his clothes. His body twisted and re-shaped in the middle of a jump, landing on all fours as a giant black cat. She gulped and ran harder. If he killed Bud, how the hell would she explain that to the cops? Oh yeah, this guy turns to a giant panther, and he tore him to shreds. They’d take her straight to the psych ward.

  Bud fell on the ground, and Noah stopped a few feet away. She watched the stand off between Bud and the panther.

  “Bud, what the hell are you doing here? I told you I wasn’t getting back with you!”

  Bud glanced at her, fear bright in his eyes. “I w-wanted to...apologize t-to you.”

  She shook her head. “Apologizing isn’t going to change my mind. We’re done.”

  He nodded. “I w-wasn’t a-apologizing for you to c-come back. I got a new girlfriend. She’s a family friend. T-told me that I was a douche to you when I took you to visit my family. Made m-me see the error of my ways.”

  She smiled. Bud never stuttered before. He was really scared. “Noah, come over here,” she called to the big cat.

  The panther glanced at her and then back at Bud but didn’t move.

  “I said come.”

  Noah hissed at Bud, baring his teeth and giving a low growl as he moved toward her, his tail swishing with each step.

  “Thanks for the apology, Bud. I appreciate it. Now go. You’re lucky he listens to me.”

  Bud nodded and stood, running down the path away from them. She turned to face the panther only to face a naked Noah. “You are so bad!”

  He laughed and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her into his body. “You’re worse, babe. You laughed the minute he left.”

  “I can’t help it. Did you see him running? He skips as he runs. It’s damn funny.”

  He lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s go upstairs. There’s something I want to show you.”

  She laughed harder and curled her arms around his neck. “I am very familiar with what you want to show me.”

  “You still want to see it again.”

  Dammit, he was right. “I do. Never thought I’d see the day where I’d say I loved pussy. Big pussy at that.”

  He barked a laugh and led her to the building. “You are such a dirty talker.”

  She grinned and held his hand on their way home. “Oh, no. You’re the one with the magic tongue.”

  He winked at her. “Come on, I’ll show you some new things I can do with it.”

  She sighed and leaned into his hold. She’d never get tired of Noah. He was everything she’d wanted. Thank goodness Gerri had matched them up. Thinking of Gerri reminded her, she needed to invite her over for tea. She wondered who Gerri’s next victim would be. Whoever it was, they would surely end up with their own happy ending.

  EPILOGUE

  Gerri Wilder stared at the growing list of letters and emails she’d been going through. It was official. She needed an assistant. Great. Let the search begin. She wrote down a list of what she needed. Someone young. Preferably tidy. Who knew what needed to be done witho
ut her having to explain herself a million times. And she needed someone who could come work for her as soon as possible. She sent the list out to her nephew so he could find her a wolf to come assist her. Now to wait.

  THE END

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  HER PURRFECT MATCH

  CURVES ‘EM RIGHT

  TALL DARK AND PANTHER (out now)

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  The Sassy Mates Series

  And Fall for Girls with Curves and Guys with Fur

  Humor. Heat. Romance

  Get yours!

  Scent of a Mate - Book 1

  A Mate’s Bite – Book 2

  Unexpectedly Mated – Book 3

  A Sassy Wedding – Short 3.7

  The Mate Challenge – Book 4

  Sassy in Diapers – Short 4.3

  About the Author

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Milly Taiden (AKA April Angel) loves to write sexy stories. How sexy? So sexy they will surely make your ereader sizzle. Usually paranormal or contemporary, her stories are a great quick way to satisfy your craving for fun heroines with curves and sexy alphas with fur.

  Milly lives in New York City with her hubby, their boy child and their little dog “Needy Speedy.” She’s aware she’s bossy and is addicted to shoe shopping, chocolate (but who isn’t, right?), and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

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  If you liked this story, you might also enjoy by Milly Taiden:

  Sassy Mates Series

  Scent of a Mate Sassy Mates Book One

  A Mate’s Bite Sassy Mates Book Two

  Unexpectedly Mated Sassy Mates Book Three

  A Sassy Wedding Short 3.7

  The Mate Challenge Sassy Mates Book Four

  Sassy in Diapers Short 4.3

  Federal Paranormal Unit

  Wolf Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book One

  Dangerous Protector Federal Paranormal Unit Book Two

  Black Meadow Pack

  Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One

  Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two

  Paranormal Dating Agency

  Twice the Growl Book One

  Geek Bearing Gifts Book Two

  The Purrfect Match Book Three

  Curves ‘Em Right Book Four

  Tall, Dark and Panther Book Five

  FUR-ocious Lust

  Fur-Bidden Book One

  Fur-Gotten Book Two

  Fur-Given Book Three

  Other Works

  Wolf Fever

  Fate’s Wish

  Wynter’s Captive

  Sinfully Naughty Vol. 1

  Club Duo Boxed Set

  Don’t Drink and Hex

  Hex Gone Wild

  Hex and Kisses

  Hex You Up (coming soon)

  Hex with an Ex (coming soon)

  Alpha Owned

  Bitten by Night

  Seduced by Days

  Mated by Night

  Taken by Night

  Captured by Night (coming soon)

  Match Made in Hell

  Hellhound Needs a Mate (coming soon)

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