Kaden Lionheart, secret proprietor of Lyon's Den, is shocked and intrigued when he finds himself attracted to another Dom, a Mistress that goes by Noelle. The two Alphas collide and the sparks are intense. When Kaden wakes after a night of wicked, uninhibited sex, he discovers the Mark of the Mate on his palm. Mistress Noelle is his mate. And he doesn't know a single thing about her.

When the threat of blackmail brings Mistress Noelle to his door, Kaden discovers Noelle is none other than the infamous corporate powerhouse Sabrina Noelle, known to the many men she's crushed as Nutcracker. Determined to find out who is using their desires against Sabrina, Kaden agrees to help her expose the blackmailer.

Kaden has three weeks to finalize a multi-million dollar deal, convince a woman known as Nutcracker that she wants to spend the rest of her life with a shape-shifting lion, and figure out exactly who is blackmailing her. Then there's her irritating ex-boyfriend…

Excerpt

Kaden noticed the dark-skinned beauty the moment he entered the club. She wasn't his usual type, but he found himself drawn to the steel allure that clung to every inch of her voluptuous figure.

A figure that was perfectly framed in a snow white corset and mini-skirt. The corset pushed her full breasts up and out, placing them on prominent display, but in a way that was not overtly sexual. Despite her short height, the micro skirt showcased her thick thighs and calves so that they seemed to go on for years.

Kaden noticed two things at once. The mask she wore and the rose in her hair. The white satin mask informed him that she was new to the club. She was still uncertain about whether she wanted to reveal her identity to the unknown men and women who shared her fetishes. His gaze drifted to her midnight hair. The red rose she wore told him she was a Mistress looking for a specific sub. A shaft of acute displeasure ripped through him.

Kaden had secretly been hoping she was a submissive. He was a Dom dearly in need of one since he had parted ways with his last sub, Mary, due to his inability to commit to her. He hadn't ventured into Lyon's Den since.

Until tonight.

He stopped just inside the archway to the lounge she sat in and turned to the guard standing inside the enclave. "Black mask," he whispered to Adrian. The giant darted a glance in the direction Kaden had been looking before leaning down and grabbing one of the leather masks always on hand for those seeking to keep their identity unknown. When Adrian stood, there was a smile on his handsome face. "Here you go, sir," he said softly. But he couldn't quite keep the interest out of his voice or dim the bright light of mischief in his green eyes.

"Something funny, Adrian?"

"Funny, sir? No." He handed Kaden the mask and stepped back, giving Kaden room to pass.

Kaden glared at the chestnut-haired giant, put the leather on, and strode toward the Mistress.

The Angelic Mistress was not what he wanted or needed. Still, he couldn't stop himself from striding over to her. Something alien pierced his gut, making his veins swim with a feeling that was unlike any other he had experienced. The emotion was thick, molten, and a little unsavory. It demanded that he make her his. At least for one night.

Kaden knew the moment she realized where he was heading. She stilled, hand paused above a bright pink drink. Every inch of her lovely body tightened and Kaden couldn't help picturing it tightening as she came screaming his name. He wondered if she instinctively knew that she, the tigress, had become the prey.

Her dark pink tongue caressed her full bottom lip as she darted a quick glance at his face. Understanding dawned. Apparently the tigress had been watching Kaden as he watched her.

Kaden grinned in satisfaction. He could use that knowledge to his advantage. He purposely strode past the ebony beauty, walking close enough to where she sat that he could smell the distinct alluring scent of her soft, flowery perfume. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the slight change in posture that told him she was watching him walk away.

And she was not entirely pleased by his dismissal.

He took several steps away from her and folded his sinewy arms over his broad chest. And waited. Waited until the nervous energy that swam through him had dissipated. Waited until he had control over his emotions. The need coursing through him was as fast and dangerous as white water.

Only when he had bottled up everything but the hunger did Kaden move toward her, striding up to the soft curve of her supple back. "Good evening, Mistress," he whispered against her nape as he glided to her front.

He saw the shiver run through her body as he moved to stand before her. He squatted until he was on level with her warm brown eyes. "I would like to get to know you, Mistress…" He purposely drew out her title.

Her wet tongue glided along her bottom lip as she peered at him curiously. "Noelle," she said slowly. "Mistress Noelle."

"I would like to get to know you, Mistress Noelle."

Her gaze darted down his frame, taking in the hard muscles, the long length of his body, the cock he could already feel hardening, before lifting and glancing around the room. "You are a sub?" she said softly, whispering the words as though she could not believe them.

Kaden answered the question in her tone. "No, my name is Kaden. I'm a Master."

Her tongue appeared again, this time sweeping along her top lip. A nervous habit, an intoxicating nervous habit that brought to mind images of her tongue flicking against the swollen head of his cock. "Are you looking to…?"

Kaden started shaking his head no before she finished her question. He wasn't looking to switch. He knew himself enough to know that he could not submit control to a woman.

Not in that way.

One French tipped nail tapped the blood red rose in her midnight hair. "I am not looking to switch."

"I know."

One dark eyebrow lifted. "Then shouldn't you be looking to get to know a sub or do you believe all women are waiting to submit to a man?"

Kaden watched her for several seconds, looking deep into her eyes. Mistress Noelle was angry and scared. "No. I do believe there are women who are natural Dommes and then there are those who are determined to keep in control, even in the bedroom."

"Something tells me you think I'm the latter."

Kaden placed his hands on either side of her crossed thighs and leaned closer. He saw the slow widening of her eyes as he moved toward her. "I don't think, I know, sweetheart."