Cat Refuge

by Liza O'Connor

  “But why did you hurt me at the end?”

  Tiburon shook his head. “It was not intentional. Like your domestic cats, my penis is barbed. When I withdraw, it cuts the uterus.”

  “But the pain wasn’t nearly as intense the second and third time.”

  “That’s because my blood possesses healing qualities.

  “I don’t understand.” She backed away from him.

  He grabbed her hand and pulled it to his mouth. “You do understand. You just don’t want to remember.” He nipped the tip of her finger and suckled the flow of blood.

  “No, don’t,” she whispered, but the pleasure was too intense for her to pull her hand away.

  Puncturing his finger, he forced his bleeding digit into her mouth. The taste was so sweet, like the drink he had given her the night before. Her whole body tingled as she suckled hard.

  Then the reality of what she was doing crashed in. She pushed his hand away. “No.”

  “Catina, you must.”

  “No. It’s vile. I’ll never do that again.”

  “Catina,” he whispered as he pulled her reluctant and stiff body into his arms. “You must. You carry my child and it needs blood.”

  Catina’s knees gave way at his proclamation. Only his arms kept her standing. “What?”

  “You carry in your womb a female. She needs proper nourishment. If you deny her, she will die.”

  “How do you know I’m pregnant?”

  “I can sense her presence. She is still very young, but she has a strong presence.” He smiled and kissed her. “The two of us have made a strong female.”

  Catina sat down on the bench. “My God! Is all this true?”

  Tiburon sat down beside her and silently watched as she grappled with reality.

  “How can you be both cat and human?”

  “Actually, I’m neither. I come from an adaptive race who happens to resemble your black panther. However, our cognitive abilities are far more closely aligned with humans. When my father first arrived on Earth, he mated a female panther and the result was my sister. She has learned to transform to the human form, but it is much more difficult for her than it is for me. My mother was human.”

  “So our baby will be human?”

  “Three quarters. She’ll be beautiful, I promise you.”

  She leaned against his shoulder. “This is all so incomprehensible. Your sister is a panther…”

  “But not like me. She is part alien, part animal. Had you entered her cage, she would have killed you. Eventually, she will gain sufficient strength to change into her human form. Then you can meet her. But as long as she remains in her cat state, give her wide berth. Now go on up to the house while I tend to her.”

  Catina nodded and walked up the path. She stopped outside of the panther’s cage. Tiburon entered the cage and latched the gate behind him. “What’s her name?” Catina asked.

  “The tribe called her Negra Morta: Black Death.”

  As Catina locked eyes with the panther, she felt she was staring into a chasm of hell. The black orbs burned with venom and death. She remembered the sad eyes of Sheba, her panther. “What did you do with my panther?”

  Tiburon caressed his sister’s neck, then looked up and met her eyes. “I relieved her from her life.”

  He killed her, Catina realized. “You had no right!”

  Tiburon’s eyes flared with rage. “I had every right. I needed the panther as a decoy, so they wouldn’t realize my sister was gone. Don’t you dare attempt to compare the value of some dumb tortured animal to my sister!”

  The anger and violence that radiated from him frightened her. Where was her kind and loving husband now? She turned and ran up the path.

  ***

  Connors rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Feeling a very strong sense of déjà-vu, he walked around the house, to the garden. She stood there wearing the exact same dress she had in his dream. Instinctively, he reached in his jacket and pulled his gun. His eyes searched the shrubbery for Tiburon.

  “Agent Connors!” she said, her smile fading as she saw his gun. “Are you planning to shoot me?”

  He put the gun back into his shoulder holster and smiled apologetically. “It seems we are always getting off on the wrong foot. Forgive me. Is Tiburon around?” he asked as he studied her face. She had been beautiful yesterday, but today he’d swear she was five years younger and twice as beautiful.

  Cat blushed and continued to cut flowers and lay them in her basket. She recognized the admiration and desire in his eyes. How much simpler her life would be if she had married a man such as Agent Connors.

  “Standing here, with the flowers all around you, you look like an angel.”

  She smiled shyly and cut another flower.

  “Is he here?” Jason asked again.

  “Yes,” she replied, wishing for a brief moment he wasn’t.

  “Where is he?”

  “Below, with the cats.” She touched his arm as he started to pass her. “You shouldn’t go down there.”

  “Why?” Jason asked. Standing this close to her was almost unbearable. She was the most sensuous woman he had ever met. And the shyer she became the more he wanted her. How did that bastard Tiburon end up with such a woman?

  “He’s with the panther. She doesn’t like strangers.”

  “Well, it’s because of the panther I’m here. Dr. Taylor says the panther is his. He claims Tiburon set fire to the hospital and stole her last night.”

  Catina frowned. Tiburon set fire to the hospital? What about all the other animals? She realized that Tiburon cared nothing for animals, only his sister. If Jason tried to take his sister, Tiburon would kill him. She did not want this kind and good man to die.

  She looked up into his concerned face. “That’s not true. Tiburon was with me last night. In addition, the courts awarded me custody of that panther two months ago. I have the papers inside. Would you like to see them?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  Catina led him to the library and pulled a document from the desk file cabinet. “Here. As you can see, the court gave me custody of that cat after it was rescued from the traveling circus. Who is this Dr. Taylor that claims Tabetha is his?”

  Jason scanned the document. He jotted down the court docket number. He would have to verify its authenticity with court records, but it looked legit. “And you have only one panther on the premises?”

  “Only one.”

  He did not miss a moment of deception that crossed her face. “I’d like to see for myself.” He noticed her immediate reaction of fear.

  “You don’t believe me?” She stood and approached him.

  As she neared, the sweet smell of her body caused his member to stiffen. His jaw clinched in annoyance at his body’s reaction. “If you were in my position, would you believe you?”

  Catina laughed. “Yes, I would. I’m not a liar, Mr. Connors.” She reached for his hand and held it up to her face. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Sorry. I tried putting a Band-Aid on it this morning, but it must have fallen off. If I got blood on your carpet or anything, just send me the cleaning bill and I’ll take care of it.”

  She studied the finger with such intensity. “It looks quite deep. Come with me. I’ll take care of you.” She pulled him upstairs towards her bedroom bathroom.

  “Wasn’t there a washroom downstairs?” He felt very uncomfortable with the situation. Just the touch of her hand had aroused him to a full erection. The last thing he needed was for her husband to find him in the bedroom with an obvious erection bulging against his pants.

  “Yes, but the bandages and antibiotic creams are up here.” She led him to the sink and looked about. “Give your hands a good scrub. I’ll go get a towel.”

  When she returned with a towel, she almost seemed mesmerized as the red blood mixed and swirled with the water. She reached over and turned off the cold water.

  “Damn thing won’t stop bleeding,” he murmured, watching as
she wrapped the towel around it and pressed hard. “This is going to ruin your towel.”

  “It’s an old one.” She applied pressure to the finger.

  Jason could barely breathe. His mind was intoxicated with her. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone in his life.

  She uncovered his hand and studied his wound. At first, it appeared she had stopped the bleeding, but slowly a red bead bubbled on the tip. “Almost,” she whispered just before she slipped her mouth over the finger and suckled it.

  Jason’s knees almost buckled from the desire that tore through his body. “Catina, don’t,” he protested. At least he thought he said it. Maybe he didn’t. He leaned against the sink, so it would hold him up, letting the waves of passion flow over him. God! If a little finger suck was this good, he could hardly fathom the pleasure sex would bring.

  He touched her breasts. She moaned and moved closer into him, pressing her body against his, never for a moment releasing the finger she suckled.

  He dropped his hand lower and massaged her between the legs. She moaned and pressed even harder against him. He pulled on her dress, but she was pressed so tight against him, the dress would not budge.

  Then the room seemed to fill with blackness. With a sickened déjà vu, Jason watched expecting the panther to crush her neck.

  “No!” he cried out, too weak to even try for his gun.

  Tiburon yanked her away, as if she were a rag doll. “Catina! What are you…” he paused as he noted a touch of blood on her lips. His eyes dilated as he noted blood dripping from Jason’s hand to the floor. He handed the towel on the counter to Jason. “I think you had better leave, Mr. Connors.”

  Jason started to explain what had happened but stopped. What the hell had happened?

  He wrapped the towel around his finger and tore down the stairs. When he reached his car, he got in and locked the door. However, his hands were too shaky to start the car. After a while, his head cleared, but he still couldn’t comprehend what had just occurred between him and Catina. God! He’d never been so aroused in his life!

  Remembering Tiburon’s face, he supposed he was lucky the man hadn’t ripped him in two. No doubt, Tiburon would file charges against him. Jason laid his head in his hands. Great way to end a successful career! Get hit with rape charges on a stupid immigration gig.

  The rap on the window almost gave him a heart attack. Tiburon loomed outside. Jason considered trying to get his keys in the ignition and getting the hell out. Instead, he breathed in deep and rolled down the window.

  “Are you all right?” Tiburon asked, studying him carefully.

  The civility of the question shocked him. “Yeah…look I don’t know what happened up there, but it didn’t mean anything.”

  Tiburon looked back to the house. “Don’t worry about it. Women get a little odd when they’re pregnant.”

  Jason felt like Tiburon had just slammed him against concrete. “She’s….” he found he couldn’t even say it aloud.

  “Yeah.” Tiburon knelt beside the car, so he could keep an eye on the house while he talked to Jason. “By the way, why had you stopped by?”

  Jason swallowed, finding the man’s acceptance of the situation unnaturally reserved. “We got a complaint that you stole somebody’s cat.”

  Tiburon smiled and shook his head. “Dr. Taylor, no doubt.”

  “He says you set fire to an animal hospital and stole his black panther.”

  Tiburon continued to stare at the house. “And when did I do this?”

  “Last night.”

  “I was with Catina. You can ask her.”

  “I already did. How many panthers are here?”

  “One. Her name’s Tabetha. Due to mistreatment from a prior owner she is rather ill-tempered and mistrusting. I’ve forbidden Catina to care for her until after our baby is born. In fact, I was taking care of her when you were inside with my wife.”

  The man’s tact was amazing. “I do need to verify there’s only one panther on site. I can get a warrant…”

  “That’s not necessary,” he assured Jason. “I’d show you now, but I would like to see to my wife presently. Perhaps later today?”

  “Later today would be fine,” Jason said. ‘See to his wife.’ His words would have concerned him had they been made in anger. Could Tiburon be so cold blooded, or did he simply not care?

  Tiburon finally tore his eyes away from the house to stare at Jason. “You’re thinking if I were an ordinary man, I’d be trying to tear you in two.” Tiburon smiled, letting Jason get a close-up view of the sharpened teeth. “If you were an ordinary man, I just might do that. However, I need you, Mr. Connors, and a slight indiscretion with my wife doesn’t alter that. Taylor has placed you on the game board, but I believe you will come to fight my cause.” He stood and stepped away from the car. “Call me before you come in the future.”

  Jason finally found his keys and turned the ignition. “Would one o’clock be fine for the search?” Jason called out as Tiburon walked back to the house.

  Tiburon stopped and smiled. The question seemed to amuse him. “One is fine. Honk your horn when you arrive so I’ll know you’re here.”

  Chapter 16

  Kyle honked his horn and cursed under his breath. Women—always late! When the door opened, and Carmella leaned inside the passenger side, he sighed. Probably has a thousand pounds of luggage which she expects him to lug about.

  He had barely stepped out of the car before she opened the back door and tossed in a carryon. Before he could offer to open the trunk, she had seated herself in the front seat and latched her seat belt.

  “You’re prompt,” she noted appreciatively. “Best route at this hour will be 87 taking exit 12.”

  “I know that,” he snapped. “Is that all you’re taking? Don’t expect a Wal-Mart when we get there.”

  She considered this for a moment. “Actually, there is a Wal-Mart in Nairobi, just opened this spring.”

  In response, Kyle gunned the engine and sped down 87 bypassing the service road exit she had recommended. He expected her to protest. When she didn’t, he glanced over to discover her reading a document.

  Kyle tried to see what had enraptured her attention, but he couldn’t make out the print. The distraction almost caused him to rear end the car in front of him as the traffic came to a complete halt.

  Carmella looked up from her reading to attend to their near-death traffic accident. “The next exit for the service road is approximately one mile up on your right.”

  “I suppose you think I should just drive on the side of the road. Well, the CIA is evidently a little more cautious than the FBI when it comes to breaking laws.”

  Carmella laughed. Looking up and seeing his offended expression, she attempted to lose the smile. “I’m sorry, I thought you were joking.”

  Kyle wanted to feel outrage by her disparaging remark, but all he could think was how pretty she was when she smiled like that. “To hell with it,” he muttered as he pulled his car onto the side lane and passed the stalled traffic. “If we get stopped, you’ll have to show them your badge. I doubt a state trooper will cut a spook any slack.”

  Kyle had never been in the presence of a woman who wasn’t chatting his ear off. Her silence disturbed him. “So you’re pissed because I told you the truth?” he finally asked.

  Carmella looked up in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  “When I told you that they selected you because you’re black. Is that why you’re pissed?”

  Carmella’s pretty doe eyes just got rounder. “What makes you think I’m pissed?”

  “You’re not talking. I’ve never met a woman not talking who wasn’t pissed.”

  Her head tilted to the left. “Do you know a lot of women?”

  “Hundreds.”

  “And they’re never quiet?”

  “Not unless they’re pissed.”

  Carmella seemed to consider this for a moment. “Where do you meet these women?”

  Kyle
looked at her, certain she was setting him up again. “I don’t know. In strip joints, bars…you know, the regular places.”

  “I see.”

  “Your point?” he asked when he realized she had finished her questions and had resumed reading.

  She looked up from her paper. “I wasn’t making a point. I was just trying to understand why you thought all women are noisy.”

  Kyle watched as she buried her nose back in the paper.

  “And were you able to deduce why, Shirley Holmes?”

  “I believe so.” She turned the page and continued reading.

  “So, what’s your all-knowing answer?”

  “Probably two reasons. The places you go are not conducive to meeting quiet women. It’s also very likely that a man such as yourself isn’t attracted to the type of woman that tends to be quiet.”

  “So where would I go to meet a woman like you? The library?” he teased.

  She considered this. “Possibly. Or a bookstore.”

  Kyle shook his head. He couldn’t imagine going to a bookstore to pick up a woman. Glancing at her as she continued to read, he sighed. The woman was no doubt as naïve as a kitten. He suspected that she’d never stepped foot in a bar.

  They had both left their guns at home, so going through security was painless. Kyle felt naked without his gun, but he consoled himself it was only temporary. He had already made arrangements for a replacement gun when they arrived in Nairobi.

  When the flight attendant pointed them to first class, his eyebrows raised. “You guys must have a bigger budget than we do.”

  “Actually, they were free upgrades. I got them through the internet. I also got us a suite at the Hilton.”

  “A suite? Sounds romantic.”

  Carmella placed her case beneath the seat in front of her. “I thought it would look more appropriate. The suite has two bedrooms.”

  “Thank goodness for that,” he teased. “You want me to put that up here?” He pointed to her luggage. “Plenty of room.”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “You sure? It’ll give you more leg room.”