Cat Refuge

by Liza O'Connor

  He said nothing, but Catina could hear the raggedness of his breath. He was in emotional pain.

  “What is wrong with your sister?”

  “What does it matter to you?” he asked, his voice bitter and hard.

  Catina felt his words as sharply as a strike upon her face.

  “Is she ill?”

  “Yes.” His voice was so soft she could barely hear him.

  “Will she die?

  “If I do not get to her soon, yes, she will die.”

  His reply shocked her. “Can’t the doctors in America help her?”

  “No. I am her only hope. There is no one else.”

  Catina refused to accept this. Surely there had to be an alternative…one that didn’t require her to marry him, that is. “Can’t you get a Visa?”

  “No,” he snapped.

  “Why not?”

  Sighing heavily, he met her eyes. “I am deemed unsuitable. If you will not fulfill your promise, then my sister will die. It is as simple as that.”

  The pain in his voice assured he spoke the truth. She was his last and only chance to reach America. “If we did this—get married—you would be willing to sign a pre-nup?”

  His intense eyes focused on her as he replied. “Of course.”

  Catina stared at the dark form, wishing she could touch his handsome face. She was certain he would give her the strength she would need to do this.

  “All right,” she whispered. “I’ll keep my promise.”

  “Thank you,” he replied, his voice so low, it was almost a growl. He approached her bed, leaned over and gently pressed his lips against her pounding temple. Her headache dissipated, leaving only the searing touch of his lips.

  By the time Catina realized the impact of his touch, he had disappeared from the room, as silently as a panther.

  Chapter 3

  She awoke to darkness. She opened her eyes but could see nothing. She listened for movement, sensing she was not alone.

  A low rumbling purr emanated from the corner. As she stared at the corner, the black shape of a panther came toward her. It lifted its body halfway onto the bed with its huge paws positioned on both sides of her face. It lowered its massive face against the side of her head and sniffed. The rumbling purrs resonated through her body as its tongue caressed her neck.

  Why was the cat here? How could he be here? She reached up and stroked his massive head. Her touch seemed to startle the animal as he pulled his head back and sniffed her outreached hand. She opened her palm to his investigative sniffs. When he seemed convinced it held no danger, he pushed his head under her hand, as if encouraging her to resume her caresses.

  His fur felt different from her wild cats, silkier and longer than the course tuft of her panther, two mountain lions, and four tigers and a lion. As she stroked his muscular neck and powerful shoulders, she closed her eyes, and gave way to her pleasure as her hospital gown was gently pulled from her body by his teeth. Then the pleasures of the prior night repeated.

  A low growl of desire emanated from him as he drove himself deep inside her body. She had never known lovemaking such as this before. He did not move in and out, rather pushed deeper and deeper into her, filling her whole being. Once she climaxed from the pleasure, he punctured his finger and placed it into her mouth. The sweetness of his blood tantalized her senses and she suckled with a passionate hunger.

  When he pulled himself from her, she felt as if her body ripped in two. Reflexively she bit down on his finger. He did not pull away but seemed to encourage her to continue to suckle it. As the sweetness ran down her throat, the searing pain lessened. But nothing made sense. How could a panther puncture his finger? He had paws, not fingers.

  Within a few moments, the pain was just a memory, washed away by a soothing calm and peaceful tranquility, which lured her into a deep slumber.

  Chapter 4

  When she awoke the next morning, Dr. Tiburon sat on the side of her bed holding a strand of her blonde hair. He seemed fascinated by its texture and color.

  She had barely opened her eyes when he smiled. “Good morning.” He released her strand of hair with reluctance. “Your headache is gone? Yes?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. The American consulate wishes to visit you this morning.”

  “Why?”

  Dr. Tiburon’s eyes narrowed. “He does not believe our planned marriage is legitimate. Knowing that I have applied several times for Visas, he believes I have somehow forced you to marry me so that I can gain entry into the United States.”

  Catina’s heart fluttered. The idea of an interrogation by authorities worried her. She had never been a very good liar.

  Dr. Tiburon caressed her arm. “You have not changed your mind, have you?”

  Catina almost jumped by the sensations his touch awoke. All the memories of the prior night’s dream rushed to the surface of her mind. “N…no,” she stammered. “I just thought I’d have more time to prepare for this.”

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Unfortunately, we do not have time. My sister is in great danger. I have arranged for us to return to the States tomorrow.”

  “We will be married tomorrow?” she asked from a haze of pleasure created by his simple kiss.

  “No. We will be married at noon today. We leave Nairobi tomorrow.”

  Since he still held her hand to his lips, she uncurled her fingers and let them venture across his lips and across the sharp points of his teeth. All were filed to pin pricking points. They felt exactly as they had felt in her dream last night. It had been a dream, hadn’t it? she wondered as she looked up into his dark expressive eyes.

  He lifted her fingers from his razor-sharp teeth. “A child does not choose the tribe in which he is born. He can only choose the manner in which he lives his life. When a missionary doctor foolishly arrived at my village, I aided his escape. In return, he took me and my sister with him. He helped me obtain my training as a doctor.”

  “And your sister?”

  Dr. Tiburon’s face clouded. “He took her to the States as his mistress.”

  “Not his wife?”

  “No, he already had a wife.”

  “Then how did she get in?”

  “Smuggling was not so difficult back then. I could have gotten in that way, myself. However, I chose to stay and utilize the training I have received. Here I could help. There are so many villages needing a doctor. While they are initially frightened by my appearance, they relax once I arrive several times and never eat their children.”

  “Eat their children?”

  “My tribesmen are flesh eaters—any flesh, including human.”

  His revelation stunned her. She could see the pain in his eyes. He confessed this, knowing she might change her mind about the marriage. To marry a doctor needing to save his sister was one thing, but to marry a flesh eater…

  She reached out and stroked his cheekbone. “I’m sorry. That must be hurtful—every village you enter, fearing and mistrusting you.”

  She could see the surprise register in his eyes, then relief. She was glad she had not failed him.

  “At first, it was very hard. I was young and easy to anger. I would save a child from malaria only to have the mother hurl stones at me the next time I appeared at their village. Only the most desperate would come during the first week of my visit. Then as time progressed and no one was devoured, finally they would allow me to help them. My worst fear was that a man-eating lion would arrive at a village the same time as me. I would have no doubt died in my sleep before I was even aware of the problem.”

  “Would it not have been better to stay here in the city where people are less prejudicial?”

  The doctor laughed, but the laugh held no joy. “Do you ever wonder why I can spend so much time caring for you?” He smiled. “You are my only patient. The reason I go to the villages is that no one else will. A charity fund, whose management only comes to Nairobi once a year, hired me. They were less concerned w
ith my teeth and more concerned about getting medical care to the villages. The same charity runs this hospital. Legally, it is required to provide me access to practice when I am in Nairobi.”

  He chuckled softly. “You are the first and only patient I’ve ever treated on their premises. Had you not made a miraculous recovery, I’ve no doubt that the chief of staff would have relieved me from your care. However, it’s difficult to fault a doctor when his patient heals in half the time normally anticipated for venomous snake wounds. A bite as severe as yours would normally result in amputation and probable death. Yet, here you lay, with barely a scar to show for your ordeal.”

  Catina had not realized the full extent of the debt she owed him. The recollection of how she had questioned the pills he gave her filled her with shame. She was surprised he hadn’t been angrier than he had been. So much abuse, all because he was born into the wrong tribe. She wrapped her hand over his. “If we are to be married today, then I think I should know your first name.”

  “In my tribe, I was only given one name. However, I took the name of my first tutor when I began schooling so that I would have two names as everyone else. His name was Joseph. But everyone calls me Tiburon.” He studied her several moments. “You’re sure you still wish to marry me?”

  Catina smiled. “I am more certain now than before. You are a good man, Tiburon. It is my honor to marry you.”

  When he tentatively leaned towards her, she raised her head to ensure their kiss. The touch of lips ignited the prior night’s dreams, and her body ached with raw primeval hunger. She pushed herself against him, gasping at the searing sensation of his hands against her flesh. When he broke the kiss, she was almost incoherent from the passion his touch called forth.

  His laugh was low and warm as he brushed back her hair and reached over to the chair where her gown laid. “You should dress before the consulate arrives. I’ve brought you clothes. I hope you like them.”

  Catina blushed, holding the sheet to her chest. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened just then.”

  “No need to apologize. I was just as intrigued as you were. We can pursue this later today, after the ceremony.”

  His word chilled her heart—the marriage ceremony. For a moment, she had forgotten that he only needed her to obtain entry into the States. While she felt captured by passion, his expediency was the need to save his sister. Once in America, he would leave her. She could not allow her heart to become involved. This marriage was to be nothing more than the fulfillment of Schuler’s promise.

  Chapter 5

  She sat in a hard wood chair and waited for her interrogation. When Tiburon and the consulate arrived, she could tell by the smile in Tiburon’s eyes, that her husband-to-be was pleased with her appearance. His gift of clothes fit her beautifully.

  The consulate, Mr. Belding, was a thin wiry man in his late forties. Catina was amazed that a white man living for years in the African sun could remain so pale and sickly looking.

  “You appear remarkably well, Ms. Nelson. The hospital had you listed as critical when you were medevacked out of the village.”

  Catina smiled and looked up at Tiburon who stood behind her. “I’ve received excellent care.”

  Tiburon let his hand rest on her shoulder. Without thinking, Catina wrapped her hand around his.

  Belding frowned at their display of affection. “Yes. Well, proper medical care is always appreciated, but it hardly requires that you marry the doctor who provides it.”

  Catina laughed. “I’ve never heard love described in such a fashion.”

  Belding leaned forward. “Is that what this is? Love? Seems unlikely. You’ve only known the doctor a couple of weeks, and the first week I believe you were unconscious.”

  Catina had thought she’d be afraid of the consulate. Now she realized she had no reason to fear the man. It was very easy to defend their marriage as one of love—easier than she wished.

  “Love doesn’t work that way. I knew from the first moment I saw Tiburon, he was my soul mate. The only reason it took a whole week for us to decide to marry was because we had to risk our pride by sharing what we felt. When we realized the feelings were mutual, we had no other choice but to marry.”

  “There are many other choices, Ms. Nelson. You date, then you become engaged, you might even move in together to test the waters. What you don’t do is marry someone you’ve only known for a week.”

  Catina shook her head. “You are describing the course of those who settle for something less than love. And the reason they take so long to make the decision is because deep in their hearts, they know they are just settling. Well, I’m not settling. I would never settle.” She sighed and gave him a half-smile. “Which is why I’m thirty-five years old and unmarried. All these years, I’ve held out for the real thing, and now that I’ve found it, you ask me why I’m in a rush. It took me thirty-five years to find Tiburon. Now that I have, I don’t want to waste a second more.”

  Belding studied her face as if searching for signs of duplicity. “Dr. Tiburon, I must insist upon speaking to Ms. Nelson alone.”

  “I told you yesterday, that as her doctor, I cannot allow that.”

  “Don’t give me that shit. I’m sitting here looking at her. She’s in perfect health. There’s no legitimate reason why I cannot speak to her alone. And I tell you this—I will not sign your entry Visa, unless I do speak to this woman alone.”

  Catina took Tiburon’s hand into hers and kissed it. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  When the door closed behind Tiburon, Belding’s tone changed from politeness to a sneering contempt. “I’ve seen women like you before. Bored, rich broads who think having a black buck in bed will be fun. However, I’ve never known one to be so stupid as to marry one.”

  She had never before felt such an intense rage surge through her. She struggled to contain her anger. “Your words offend me, Mr. Belding. If you use one more racial slur in my presence, I will report you to your superiors.”

  “From where? Prison? Because that’s where you’ll be if this sham of a marriage occurs.”

  “It is not a sham marriage. I fail to see why you have convinced yourself it is.”

  “Well, I’ll tell you why. Dr. Tiburon has on twelve occasions applied for Visas to the United States. Last month, I heard from sources that he had paid a woman twenty-thousand-dollars to marry him—an American woman.”

  “I didn’t even know Dr. Tiburon a month ago. I was in Central Africa reinstating several cheetahs back into the wild.”

  “I know that. You don’t think we checked you out? I know exactly when you came here and how much money you have.”

  “Then you know I don’t need twenty thousand dollars.”

  “So what happened to the twenty-thousand dollar woman?”

  Catina shook her head. “I have no idea. It doesn’t appear she ever existed.”

  He snorted with contempt. “Oh, she existed, all right.”

  “Then why is he marrying me?”

  He slammed his open palm onto the chair’s arm. “For the same reason: to obtain entry into the States. But the question is—what does he hold over you, to make you marry him?”

  She smiled. “It’s really simple. I love him.”

  He jumped up from his chair and stormed toward her. “Bullshit. A woman like you could have almost any man she wanted. Why would you choose a black flesh-eater?”

  Even though his face was barely an inch away from hers, she refused to flinch. “I warned you about the racial slurs, Mr. Belding.”

  “That’s not a slur. Did your fiancé fail to mention his family heritage?”

  She gently put a hand to his chest, moving him back. “If you are referring to the tribe in which he was born, I am aware they were cannibalistic.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “It bothers me that you judge a man by his tribe instead of his own good deeds. Tiburon left that tribe as a young boy and went on to become a doctor
, risking his life daily to help others. Knowing his history, and the hardships he has faced because of it, only makes me respect and love him more. Such adversity would crush and demoralize most men. Tiburon only grew stronger.”

  Belding sighed and returned to his chair. “Off the record, okay?” He leaned forward. “I know this man. He’s manipulative and controlling. He’s got something on you, something strong enough to make you risk jail time.”

  She shook her head. “That is not true.”

  “Tell me the truth and we’ll have that bastard in a Nairobi jail faster than you can blink. I promise, we won’t prosecute you for your part in this.”

  Catina sighed and leaned back in the chair. “I’m tired, Mr. Belding. Contrary to my healthy appearance, my recent dance with death has weakened me. So, I would like to end this interrogation. It is quite obvious, you do not believe I love Tiburon. Nor will I ever convince you of that fact. Thus, I am wasting my limited energy trying to change your mind. I stand firm on my statement. This is a marriage of love. I have not received money or other inducements to enter into this marriage.”

  She sighed and met his eyes. “So, I ask you to consider your next move carefully. I am an American, free to marry whom I choose, where I choose, and when I choose. If you attempt to get in my way, I will make it very clear with your superiors that you have interfered because you are a bigot and racist who is entirely unsuitable for a consulate position.”

  He sneered. “Are you threatening to get me fired, Ms. Nelson?”

  “No. Your actions will get you fired. I’ll just bring them to the appropriate people’s attention.”

  Belding stood and brushed off his pants as if their conversation had made him dirty. “As you wish, Ms. Nelson. But when it comes to light that this marriage is a sham, I’ll see to it you’re prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In case you aren’t aware, the maximum penalty is five years in a federal prison. Keep that in mind as you say your vows.”

  When he opened the door, Tiburon towered above him on the other side. Catina smiled at the protective scowl on his face. The man edge through the door and scurried down the hall as quickly as possible.