Loving the Tigers by Tianna Xander Page B

them.
    Drowsy, she tried to smile when Derek kissed the top of her head, his hands sliding down her back to rest on the small of her back. Water splashed and the body wash bottle made a rude noise just before Zach pressed a wash cloth against her, cleaning her intimately with so much care, she didn’t think to be embarrassed. She could only feel loved as he slid the wet and soapy cloth over her pussy and anus.
    She took a deep breath when he stopped. Her world slowed its spinning until a sensation of soothing warmth settled over her. Closing her eyes, she relaxed against Derek for a moment and let herself enjoy the moment.
    “Are we mated, now?” Kelly hadn’t known she would ask the question until the words escaped her lips.
    “Yes.” Derek slid his hands up her back and back down to cup her buttocks. “Do you feel any differently?”
    “No.” She shook her head, her cheek rubbing against the smooth skin of his chest. “Should I?”
    Should she feel different? Her sugar hadn’t been high. She would have felt it if it had been. It usually made her tired and generally feel like crap.
    “I should test my sugar before I go to bed, though.” She’d missed testing it after dinner. “I can’t tell you how much I would love never having to give myself injections ever again.” She sighed against Derek’s chest. “I know I should get up and do it. I just don’t want to move.”
    “It’s okay, malysh. ” Derek chuckled as he stood. “We should all go into the other room and go to bed.” He stood, still holding her in his arms. “Let us go test your sugar levels then go to bed.” His breath brushed her ear and she shivered.
    “What does malysh mean? You’ve never called me that, before.” She scowled up at him, resting her hands on his ribs. She’d pinch him good if she found out that was some derogatory term in another language.
    “It means baby, ” Zach pressed a quick kiss to her shoulder. “I would call you kotik. ” He smiled at her scowl. “That means pussycat.”
    “Oh.” Her face burned. Would she ever get used to their compliments and endearing names for her?
    When Derek set her on her feet, Zach grabbed a bath towel and quickly dried her off.
    Kelly could do nothing but stand swaying on her feet. “I’m so tired.” She frowned. “I’ll bet my blood sugar is out of this world,” she said with a sigh as Zach dropped the towel, bent and scooped her up in his arms. “Damn, and I’d hoped that I’d be like you, now.” She gave him a sleepy smile. “I think it’d be cool to shift shape into a tiger or something equally as awesome. Too bad it didn’t work.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Does that mean I’m not really your mate?” She swiped the moisture from her cheeks. “I don’t know what I’ll do if we can’t spend the rest of our lives together. I—I love you two so much. I don’t want to have to let you go.”
    She would if their happiness depended on it, but it would kill her.
    “Shh... kotik. There is nothing to fear.” Zach pressed a kiss to her temple as he carried her to the vanity and set her on the chair. “Now, test your blood so we can go to bed.” He winked. “I’m very tired and I would like nothing more than to hold you while I sleep.”
    Derek winced when she pierced her finger with the lancet. “I don’t know how you do that. Getting injured is one thing. Purposely poking holes in my body is something I could never do.”
    “Like I said. You’d do it if your life depended on it.” She glanced down at the tester and blinked. “It’s seventy-eight. My numbers haven’t been that low since I started testing.”
    Could she believe it worked—that she was one of them?
    She scratched her thighs and rubbed her back against the chair. “Why do I itch all over?” She narrowed her eyes and glared at her mates. “Do you two have fleas?”
    “Fleas?” Derek’s eyes widened. “I don’t have fleas!”
    “Then why do I itch like crazy?” She