Diego started talking to Brody, who was already unsteady on his feet. The bear brothers liked their beer. Diego laughed at something Brody said, dark eyes flashing over his wicked smile.
Yes! Cassidy’s libido told her. Why not?
Careful, said her heart.
“No. Not yet. It’s too soon.”
Lindsay shook her head. “Honey, believe me, I’m torn apart for you. But you also know that Donovan, of all people, would never expect you to put on sackcloth and ashes and grieve the rest of your life. He understood that Shifters have to produce as many cubs as we can. He wouldn’t be that selfish.”
“I know that. I also know you’re rationalizing to get me to go out catting with you.”
Lindsay laughed and gave Cassidy a half hug. “Oh, come on, I gotta try. Let’s go out after the party and dance until dawn. You can’t tell me a night on the town wouldn’t be a good thing.”
“It would be.” Cassidy felt restless and itchy, needing to work off some heat. “Can’t. I got confined, remember?”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “You aren’t taking that seriously, are you?”
Cassidy glanced at Diego again. He wasn’t looking at her, but she could feel the awareness stretching between himself and her.
She knew damn well she could avoid the cops and Diego and go about as she pleased. But for some reason, she wanted to keep to her probation, wanted to show Diego she could be trusted. “Yes. I think I am.”
Lindsay sighed. “Ah, well, we have better celebrations right here in Shiftertown anyway. The night’s still young, and as I said, Donovan always liked a good party.”
“Yes,” Cassidy said. “Go on, enjoy yourself.”
Lindsay saluted Cassidy with her beer bottle. “Let me go see if I can land me some Latino cop.” She laughed again as Cassidy’s tension returned. “Don’t worry, Cass. Xavier. I’m going for Xavier.” She licked her lips. “Damn, what a great name.”
Cassidy watched her go, feeling the tightness in her body. All over the common, Shifters celebrated the life of Donovan Grady, the Feline Shifter who’d made friends with everyone. He’d been funny, stubborn, impossible, wild, and well loved.
Maybe Lindsay was right. Donovan had always laughed at Cassidy whenever she moped. That had irritated her a little, as though Donovan couldn’t acknowledge that sadness was important. But he’d tickle her or tease her, or take her out to Coolers and tell her to dance like a maniac until she felt better.
What the hell?
Cassidy upended her beer bottle and took a long draught. Then she ran back into the house, changed into her favorite dancing dress, and went out again. She’d push down her guilt about her fight with Donovan the last night she’d seen him alive, let loose, and party as hard as Donovan ever had. She’d been his mate, and she’d honor him.
She pretended not to acknowledge her little shiver when Diego’s gaze went to her in her slinky blue tube dress. Looking away, she stepped into the middle of the dancing Shifters and let out a wild whoop.
“Cassidy, I swear to the gods, you have the best tail in town.” Shane danced up behind Cassidy a few crazy hours later, beer bottle in one hand.
“You should know, Shane,” Cassidy shouted over the noise. “You chase enough tails.”
Music continued to blare through the trees, and Shifters were dancing, drinking, laughing, shouting. Diego was spending his time talking to Eric and Jace, though Lindsay had enticed Xavier into dancing. Cassidy drank beer after beer and danced with male after male, but Diego didn’t seem to notice.
Shane laughed at her. “You put on a tight dress and shake it, sweetie, you gotta expect every male to come running.”
Cassidy lifted her hands over her head and swayed to the music. She’d discarded her heels to dance. She could move better barefoot.
Shane wanted to mate, Cassidy scented. But Shane always wanted to mate, so that was nothing new.
Nature made female Shifters as horny as the males, more sometimes. Cubs were few and far between, so females in their fertile years had the drive to go for it as often as they could with as many males as were available, in order to search for the most viable seed. Mr. Viable Seed got to be the permanent mate, blessed under sun and moon.
At least, that’s how it had been centuries ago in the wild. Now Shifters were more civilized. Right?
Biological urges didn’t explain the mate bond, however; that almost magical twining of hearts. Mate-bonded mates would live and die for each other—literally.
Thoughts of mating—casual and otherwise—conjured the dark eyes and handsome smile of Diego Escobar. How he’d looked at her out in the woods, how he’d felt against her body when she’d hugged him before the ritual started.
“Sorry, Shane,” Cassidy said. “I just want to dance.”
Shane moved in close behind her. “Oh, come on. You never heard of the horizontal bop?”
Cassidy burst out laughing. Shane was a shit and never changed. “You only like to do it as a bear. My wildcat’s not letting a bear on her back. No way.”
“I’d make an exception for you, Cass.”
“Sure, for me. And for Lindsay. And Sadie, and Michelle…”
“Hey, I’m a bear in his prime.”
“You’re a bear whose mom is looking for him.”
Shane jerked around. “She is? Where?”
Cassidy laughed harder. “Goddess, you’re easy. Your mom’s the sweetest woman alive.”
“Shit, Cass, don’t do that to me.” Shane blew out his breath. “She might be sweet to you, but Mama can be one mean grizzly.”
Cassidy laughed. She’d been baiting Shane for years, and he’d been teasing her back.
Lindsay came whirling in between Xavier, who looked like he was having a fine time, and Kyle, Eric’s Lupine tracker. “Great party!” Lindsay shouted. She whooped as she let both men lift her and carry her back under the lights.
Cassidy looked back to where Eric stood, and she stopped. Diego was no longer with him. Where was he?
She scanned the crowd but nowhere saw the tall human with midnight hair. His brother was still dancing with Lindsay, his body moving with rhythmic grace, but no Diego.
Shane bumped into her. “What’s up, Cass?”
Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t feel like dancing anymore.”
“Fine by me. My room’s empty. Brody will be out all night, and that’s good, because you know how he snores…”
“Sorry, Shane. I can’t.”
“I get it.” Shane embraced her from behind, the gigantic man giving a gigantic hug. “Donovan was a great guy, Cass. We all miss him.”
Cassidy’s heartache came back. She wiped her eyes as Shane released her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Good night, Shane,” she said.
“See ya, Cass.” Shane sounded downhearted, but let her go.
Cassidy walked away from him, unsteady after all the beer she’d had, and sought the house. She was drunk, she was sad, and she’d do nothing but make a fool of herself if she stayed outside and kept obviously searching for Diego.
She blundered into the lightless house, the music blasting away on the porch. It was pitch-black inside, but Shifters could see in the dark, right?
Cassidy ran smack into the tall, hard body of a man walking through their kitchen. His scent was all over her in an instant.
“Diego,” she said, her breath gone.
Her emotions, her need, and way too much beer rocked through her. Staying pressed against Diego’s chest, Cassidy twined her arms around him, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed him on his hot, smooth lips.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Diego found his arms full of luscious, beautiful Shifter. Cassidy’s mouth opened his, and she swayed against him, arms tight around his neck.
The taste of her… He had to have more. He had to have more, now.
Diego cupped her head in his hands and pressed her up to him. God help him.
Her mouth was on fire. He devoured her, lic
king, tasting, sliding lips on hers. Her tongue met his in a rapid dance, her mouth strong.
He was hard, and Cass wriggling against his front wasn’t helping. She smelled like beer and musk and Cassidy. And damn, he loved what she was wearing.
The dress under his hands hugged every inch of her. He felt her ass, her back, the curve of her waist, and he wasn’t finding a line of any bra. When she’d walked out of the house in that, he’d forgotten how to breathe.
Cassidy kissed him hard, harder. Diego wrapped one arm around her buttocks, pulling her up against him, his hand finding bare thigh. Her skin was satin soft and hot, so hot.
Cassidy’s fingers furrowed his hair, while Diego moved his hand upward…
“Whoa.” The male voice boomed through the living room—not Eric, not Jace, not Xavier. “What the hell?”
Diego eased his mouth from Cassidy’s. She made a little sound of protest and sought his kiss again.
Shane the bear stood in the doorway to the kitchen, empty beer bottle in hand. The man was nearly seven feet tall and radiated menace with a capital M. Grizzlies could be placid when content, but get them mad, and it was a different story.
“Listen, human cop,” Shane said, a growl in his voice. “I get that you let Cassidy go when you didn’t have to, but that don’t give you the right to touch her. If you don’t stop touching her, I’ll pull your arms off. Understand?”
“If I let go of her, she’s going to fall,” Diego said. Cassidy was sagging in his arms, her eyes half closed. “She’s drunk off her ass.”
“Am not,” Cassidy said in an indignant slur. “Shifters don’t get drunk.”
“This Shifter is.” Diego scooped her into his arms. Cassidy smiled up at him, still holding on. She was so beautiful when she smiled. “Where’s her bedroom?” Diego asked Shane.
“Aw, Diego,” Cassidy purred. “I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”
Shane gestured, still looking unfriendly. “This way.” He led Diego down a short hallway to a door at the end.
Diego carried Cassidy into a room that was painfully bare. A four-poster bed covered with quilts stood against one wall. A nightstand with a lamp and a pile of paperbacks reposed next to the bed, and a rocking chair with a cushion stood in the corner. Nothing more, no pictures, knickknacks, or electronics.
When Shane snapped on the lamp, the room glowed—Cassidy had painted the walls a soft yellow that made the barren room seem warm.
Shane stripped back the quilts, and Diego laid Cassidy on the sheets. Diego had to deliberately unclasp her hands from his neck to make her let go.
Cassidy was already barefoot, the soles of her feet dirty from dancing outside. Well, she might have to wash the sheets tomorrow. Diego turned Cassidy onto her side, in case she decided to lose all that beer in her sleep, and pulled the quilts up over her shoulders.
“Thanks, Diego,” she murmured. “You kiss nice.”
So did she. Damn, did she ever. “Glad you think so.”
“You’re not so bad, for a human. Stay with me, and keep kissing me.”
Shane rumbled. “She’s really drunk if she wants to kiss a human.” He bent down and dropped a peck on her cheek. “Sleep it off, Cass, honey.”
Diego looked down at Cassidy with a hunger he’d not felt in a long, long time. He pictured himself stripping off his clothes, climbing in behind her, pulling her back against him. Holding her all through the night. And in the morning, if she felt better, rolling into her warm nest and making swift love to her.
Diego settled for squeezing her shoulder. “Good night, Cassidy.”
She didn’t answer, already asleep. Diego turned off the lamp and left the room.
And found himself against the hall wall with a half human, half bear face an inch from his.
“I’m not kidding, human.” Shane’s voice was guttural, his teeth sharp, his breath like… that of a bear who’d been drinking a lot of beer. “Don’t mess with Cassidy.”
Diego had faced plenty of hard, conscienceless men in his time. But he’d also faced desperate men, and he’d learned the difference between anger born of arrogance and anger born of worry. Shane had anger born of worry.
“You care about Cassidy,” Diego said. “Are you in love with her?”
Shane’s eyes didn’t soften. “I met Cass twenty years ago, when we were shoved into this Shiftertown together. Brody and me thought my mother would be leader, because she’s naturally alpha. But Nell conceded dominance to Eric. If something happens to Eric, Cassidy takes over, not my mother, not Jace. Do you understand what I’m saying? Cassidy’s next in line. That’s weird for a Feline, because Felines rarely let their females rule. But no Shifter is able to touch Cassidy. The only things that can hurt her are humans and human laws. That means you, human cop. So don’t.”
A hand that ended in sharp grizzly claws landed on Diego’s chest, just below his throat. One swipe, and Diego would be dead. Shane’s Collar wouldn’t be quick enough to stop him.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Diego said calmly.
The bear snout receded and Diego looked again into Shane’s human face, but the claws remained.
“Of course I love Cass. I have for years. But she’s out of my reach, and I know it. When Donovan started chasing her, I faded in her eyes. Donovan, the charmer, charmed himself right into Cassidy’s bed. The two of them didn’t come out for days. Eric and Jace couldn’t sleep inside the house, and me and Brody had to get earplugs.”
And I’m standing outside the bedroom in question, while a half-drunk grizzly tells me about the sex life of the woman I’m seriously attracted to.
“Donovan passed a year ago,” Diego said. “What’s stopping you now?”
“Cass herself.” The claws became blunt fingers again. “She’s not interested in me. I’m fine with that.” Shane gave a shrug, a man long used to the fact that he’d have to look elsewhere for happiness. “But I’m not going to let a human start confusing her and threatening his way into her pants.”
The claws had receded, but Diego knew that Shane could easily crush his windpipe with his huge fingers.
“First, I’ve already seen her without her pants.” A sight Diego would never forget, though that blue dress was damn sexy too. “Second, I want to keep her safe as much as you do. That’s why I want her here in Shiftertown. If she gets caught out again by someone besides me, she’ll be arrested and jailed, and I might not be able to protect her.” Diego fixed Shane with a sharp stare, even though he had to look up to do it. “Do me a favor and watch her for me, Shane. If she tries to leave Shiftertown, you stop her. And if you can’t stop her, call me. Me, and no one else. Can you do that? Help me out?”
Shane’s eyes narrowed. “You should ask Eric to help you.”
“Eric already let her go once.”
“That’s a point. Eric won’t stop Cass doing what she thinks she needs to do.” Shane drew a breath. “But I will.”
For some reason, Diego wanted to pat Shane’s shoulder and say, Good bear, but decided that might not be wise.
“I’ll come by, but I can’t be here all the time,” Diego said. “Just keep her out of trouble.”
“You got it, human cop.”
“Call me Diego. And I’ll tell you something.” He leaned a little closer to Shane. “If you think your mom’s tough, you should meet my mother.”
Shane’s face finally softened, and he chuckled. “Humans have a saying: When Mama ain’t happy…”
“… ain’t nobody happy,” they finished together.
Shane laughed a little harder and clapped Diego on the shoulders. Diego fought to keep to his feet.
“You’re funny, human cop. I mean, Diego. I’ll watch over Cass. I’m your bear. Time for you to leave now.”
Diego let the man put a heavy arm around his shoulders and lead him to the front door and out of the house.
Diego wondered, as he watched the bear Shifter sway toward the house next door, whether Cassidy would remember
in the morning what had been the most spectacular kiss of Diego’s life.
Diego figured he’d get shit from Shifter Division for how he’d handled Cassidy’s arrest, and sure enough, Lieutenant Reid, a man with ambitions in Shifter Division, accosted him the next day.
Diego was still reeling from the kiss he’d shared with Cassidy, still reveling in the scent and taste of her. He’d dreamed about her all night, thought about her while he showered, shaved, and readied himself for work. Imagining her being in the shower with him, smiling her red-lipped smile as she soaped his back, almost made him late.
Reid stopped him in the wide hall downstairs as Diego made for the elevator. “Anything to do with the Wardens is mine,” Reid said without greeting him. “You overstepped, Escobar.”
Diego eyed the man in dislike. Reid had a tall, lithe body—a runner’s muscles rather than a bodybuilder’s—and his eyes were so dark they were almost black.
“I made the arrest,” Diego said. “It was my call.”
“Two weeks’ confinement to Shiftertown?” Reid stepped closer, his dark eyes narrowing. “That’s it?”
“If you read my report, you’d know why I made the decision,” Diego said.
“Yeah, I read it. She still broke the law.”
Diego had no intention of explaining his motives. He’d learned as soon as he’d become a detective that people would question his every decision, especially those in his own rank in other divisions. Human nature, his captain told him.
“I’ve worked on Shifter cases a hell of a lot longer than you have,” Reid said. “They can look human, and they try to act human, but if you don’t treat them like the dangerous animals they are, you’ll pay for it. Don’t let the Collars fool you. You can’t tame them, you can’t trust them, and most of all, you can’t be their friend.”
Reid’s eyes held conviction, but Diego gave him a neutral nod. “Thanks, Reid. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Reid gave him a disgusted look but turned and marched away down the hall.
Diego could almost feel sorry for him. Shifter Division was the crap assignment—to make sure Shifters obeyed rules and didn’t go where they shouldn’t. For the most part, it was an easy assignment, because Shifters seemed to be pretty anal about obeying strictures. Shifter Division cops sat around panting for a chance to arrest and harass Shifters. Reid obviously fit right in, maybe too well.
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