by Marie Cole
Cathan tapped his foot. And did she see claws? No, she had to be imagining it.
“Good. We should get back to your house,” he practically growled. “Now.”
She blinked and walked over to him. “Are you OK?”
He shook his head, his eyes continuously glancing around. They were golden with his cat. “I don’t like this. I have a really bad feeling.”
She lightly touched his arm. “Hey. It’ll be OK. I just need to lock up and we can go.”
He closed his eyes and blew out a breath. When he opened them again, they were receding to green. “Yeah, OK.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I just found you. I can’t lose you.”
“I’ll be fine, Cathan.” She smiled and kissed him gently. “I promise. I don’t want to go anywhere either.”
“My instincts are getting the better of me.”
She giggled. “You might be a bigger worrier than Greg. That’s impressive.”
He let out a playful snarl. “I’m not that bad.”
“Hmm, whatever you say, big guy.” She patted his arm. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He nodded quickly and followed her. He went out the door first, watching her back as she locked up.
“See, everything’s—”
She didn’t get to finish her sentence because Cathan immediately pushed her to the ground, covering her with his body.
“Cathan, what are you—?”
He cut her off with a loud growl. “Someone just took a shot at you.”
“What?”
That’s when she saw the smoking bullet hole not two feet away from them. Someone had actually shot at her. She hadn’t even heard a gunshot.
Cathan snarled, his eyes glowing as she felt claws prick her back. “I’m going to kill them.”
She quickly grabbed his face. “Cathan. Calm down.”
He growled deeper, baring fangs. She could practically see fur sprouting on his arms. Oh no, she couldn’t have him shift here. She really didn’t think she would be able to control his panther. “CATHAN! Your mate needs you. Calm. Down.”
He blinked, staring at her for a second. “My…mate…” He shook his head quickly, his eyes focusing on her. They were still golden, but at least his claws were gone now. “I… Kitten, I’m…”
She smiled. “Just get me home, OK?”
“Home. Yeah. Home.”
His demeanor changed immediately. His body stiffened and he shuffled her into his nearby truck. His gaze narrowed as he watched the street carefully.
She blew out a breath, placing a hand on her racing heart. Someone had shot at her? Why would they do that? She hadn’t done anything. Was it because of Greg’s job? She could see that, but it was still so unreal, like something from a movie.
She leaned back against her seat, watching Cathan circle around the truck cautiously, his body alert as he opened the door.
“I think they’re gone,” he said as he slipped inside the truck. “Just in case, though, get as low as you can in the seat.”
She obeyed and scooted down. Her thoughts were still jumbled and he was the professional. Now she just wanted to get home. With the protective looks he was giving her as he started the truck, she figured she’d end up mated by the end of the day.
And she realized she was just fine with that.
CHAPTER NINE
They had shot at his mate. His mate could’ve died. He hadn’t even claimed her yet and she could be dead.
He would fix that soon.
He practically dragged her into her house, keeping his eyes trained for anything out of the ordinary. Once he had locked the door behind them, he checked the rest of the house for any threats but there was nothing. When he returned to Josie, she was moving from foot to foot nervously. “I think Greg left.”
“Good,” he growled as he stalked toward her.
She backed up, nearly hitting the small table near the stairs. “Cathan? Are you OK?”
He shook his head and he knew by the hitch in her breath that his eyes were golden. He’d calmed down a little bit and managed to push the cat down earlier, but the damn thing wouldn’t have it now. “No. I’m not. I almost lost you.”
“I’m fine.”
“But if I hadn’t been there…” He blew out a rough breath. “I can’t lose you, Josie. You don’t know what it would do to me.”
“Cathan, I…”
He moved closer until he was in front of her. His hands rested on either side of her, caging her under him. He stared at her intently. “Shifters only get one mate. One person in the world that’s perfect for them. That completes them.” He lifted a hand, lightly touching her cheek. She leaned into the caress, making him smile. “You’re mine. Without you…I don’t think I could make it.”
She shook her head in denial. “You would. I know you would.”
“You think I’m stronger than I feel right now, kitten.” He stared into her beautiful brown eyes. “I need to claim you. I need to know you’re mine. And that I’m yours.”
She was quiet for a bit before finally nodding. “I… O-OK.” She blushed softly, and his smile grew. She was adorable. “You said the bite wouldn’t hurt, right?”
“Remember, I promised to make sure you’re too busy to notice it. But I have to be honest with you. To finish the mating I have to come inside you without a condom.”
Her face grew darker. She coughed. “I’m actually…on birth control, so…”
His cat roared in his mind that she wouldn’t carry his cub after this, but Cathan knew it was far too soon. Eventually, she’d bear his young. For now, he just wanted her.
“Where will you bite me?”
Her quietly asked question brought his attention back to her. He leaned forward and licked at her neck.
“Right here. Right between your neck and your shoulder.” He licked again and she moaned, tilting her head to the side. “I could bite you anywhere, but if it’s here everyone will see it.”
She gave a light giggle. “I feel like that’s more your cat than you.”
He blinked, pulling away from her for a second. “How could you know that?”
She smiled. “Well, your eyes are golden for one. For another thing, I know you’re not going to be that possessive.”
He growled playfully. “How do you know? I could be.”
“You’re not though.” She raised her hands to cup his face. He closed his eyes and lolled his head into the touch. “You’re protective, yes, but not possessive. I know it.”
He leaned down and kissed her. Because he couldn’t not kiss her anymore. She opened her mouth and her flavors exploded on his tongue.
He forced himself to pull back a bit, his lips still hovering over hers. “I have to get you upstairs. I won’t mate you on a damn table.” He grinned slightly. “Not this time at least.”
She gasped when he scooped her up. “P-Put me down, Cathan! You’ll… I’m too heavy…”
He could smell her arousal waning under embarrassment. He couldn’t have that. He kissed her forehead before starting to make his way up the stairs. “I want to carry you, kitten. Please let me?”
She blushed, but nodded in silence. He grinned and hurried them upstairs. He gently moved her to open the door, closing it with his foot behind them. He kissed her, dropping her to the bed as he crowded her. She moaned into the kiss, opening her mouth for him. He groaned and slipped his hands to her waist.
“Naked,” he growled against her lips. “I need you naked.”
*
Josie shuddered. She was perfectly OK with naked. She wanted him naked too. Wanted this more than she’d thought possible.
There was just one problem.
“I kinda can’t get naked with you on me like this.”
He groaned out a chuckle. “You’re probably right, but I don’t wanna move yet.” He rolled his hips, the bar of his cock rubbing against her covered mound. They both moaned at the contact. “You feel so good, kitten.”
“So do yo
u, but it’ll feel better naked, so hop off me.”
His shoulders shook with laughter, but he sat up. “Hop off?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I swear, kitten.” He grinned and the look in his eyes took her breath away. “I never expected this. It’s so rare for us to find our mates. I’m so glad you’re mine.”
She felt her cheeks heat and she turned her head away. “I…”
He grabbed her face, pulling her toward him. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, giving a small smile. “Nothing.”
He narrowed his gaze, the gold in his eyes slowly fading back to green. “Are you sure, kitten? We don’t have to do this.”
“No, I want to. I just… I’m still in shock, I guess.”
“Shock?”
“I just…” Hell, he was going to make her say it. “You’re so…” She waved a hand at his body. “And I’m so…” She repeated the hand motion at her own body.
He growled as his grip tightened. “You’re gorgeous is what you are.”
She shook her head, trying to will away tears. “I’m not. I know that.” She wasn’t usually this self-conscious, but she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t blind and she knew what she saw.
He was silent for a moment before moving his hands to her sweater. “I’m going to get you naked now, kitten. Are you OK with that?”
“What about…?”
He smirked. “You mean what you were saying? I’m ignoring it. I know I can’t change your opinions in a night, kitten. But I want you to know that I think you’re gorgeous.”
She nodded, biting her lip.
He gave a gentle smile. “You don’t need to be nervous, kitten.” He licked his lips. “I’ll be gentle.”
She laughed quietly. “Somehow I doubt that, but thank you. Now didn’t you say something about naked?”
He growled as he pulled off her sweater. “I did.” He held out a finger, a claw growing from his nail. “Are you attached to that bra?”
“I…” Her breathing grew heavy as she shook her head. “N-Not really.”
“Good.” He flicked his finger, the bra spitting down the middle. The material fell to the bed. He groaned as he palmed her heavy breasts. “Hell, kitten.” He thumbed her nipples as she arched her back into his touch.
“Cathan, please,” she moaned. She squirmed as he pulled at her rings.
“You don’t have to beg for anything.”
“Then get naked.”
He choked out a laugh before standing up. “I don’t think you’re done either, kitten.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not the point.” She reached down to her pants, snapping them open.
By the time she started wiggling out of them, her panther was already naked, his hands grabbing hers and pulling the pants down completely. He snarled, ripping her panties off in one move. She moaned softly, looking into his golden eyes.
His nostrils flared. “Damn kitten, you smell so good.”
She wasn’t sure about that, but he seemed pleased, so who was she to argue?
He licked his lips and looked at her, his eyes glowing. She was almost positive his eyes actually looked slitted like a cat’s. “I want to taste you.”
She blushed softly. “No one’s ever…”
He growled, his head dipping between her legs. He pushed her thighs apart with his broad shoulders before his tongue lapped at her slit. She moaned, gripping his hair. His eyes closed as he licked and nibbled at her pussy, his loud purr surrounding them. The sound vibrated against her lower body, causing a shudder to run through her.
“C-Cathan!”
*
Hell, his mate tasted amazing. His cat wanted her taste in his mouth forever. Cathan did too, but he had other plans.
But first he needed her to come.
He pushed a pair of fingers into her pussy, wrapping his lips around her clit. He purred, loving when her body bowed and her scream echoed in the room. His cat was chuffing with happiness that their mate liked their purrs. That they were pleasing her.
Cathan wasn’t exactly sad about it either. Josie tasted delicious and looked amazing while she was lost in pleasure. But he knew she’d taste even better when she came.
He lapped at her clit as he scissored his fingers in her pussy. He knew she played with her toys, but he wasn’t dumb. He knew he was a big man. All shifters were. She needed to be ready.
He lifted his face to look up at her, licking his lips. “You taste amazing, kitten.”
She writhed against his fingers, moaning softly. “Cathan. Please!”
Hell, she might not need to beg him for anything, but hearing it sent a shudder through his body.
“Please what, my mate? Please make you come?”
“Yes!”
He growled, bringing his mouth back to her clit. He lapped and nipped at the bud as his fingers curled inside her. Her hips bucked against his mouth as she moaned. A few more licks and thrusts and her hips shot off the bed and her scream echoed around them as she came. He pulled out his fingers, pushing his tongue into her pussy to taste her. He was right. She tasted better as she came.
He crawled up her body, licking his lips as he looked down at her. “I’m going to fuck you now, kitten. Fuck you and bite you.” He looked into her eyes. “Are you sure you want this?”
His little mate gave a jerky nod. “Y-Yes, Cathan. Please.”
He didn’t need any more prodding.
He angled his cock at her pussy before thrusting inside. He bottomed out with a groan, his balls hitting her ass. She squirmed under him, soft moans and pants falling from her lips.
“Hell, kitten,” he rasped as his hips pumped and his cock slid in and out of her. “You feel amazing.”
She did. So tight and hot and wet. He had to hold himself back. Hope he wouldn’t spill before she came on his cock.
*
Josie moaned under Cathan, her hands gripping his shoulders.
“You… You feel good too. Hell…”
He was so big. He stretched her more than she’d thought possible, but it felt amazing.
He licked his lips, his eyes glancing at her neck. “I’m going to bite you, kitten.” He looked at her seriously even as his hips pistoned against her. “You’re sure? You’re sure you want this?”
She nodded before his cock hit a spot inside her that made her arch against him with a keen. “Cathan! Please!”
He growled before lowering his mouth to her neck. She felt his fangs scrape against her skin before he struck. Pleasure shot down her spine as he pierced her skin. She screamed as she came. Two more thrusts and he followed her, filling her pussy with his cum.
After a few moments, he pulled away from the bite, lapping at the blood. “You’re mine now, kitten.” He looked at her, his gaze sleepy and happy. “You’re mine and I’m yours.”
Josie felt her heart flutter at the gentle smile he gave. “I am and you are.”
He nuzzled her neck, licking at the bite mark. It sent shivers down her body, and she tilted her head to give him better access.
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet, kitten. I just wanted to give you a quick rest. You’re mine and I want to show you what that means.”
And he set about doing that for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER TEN
If Cathan woke to someone making noise downstairs one more time, he was going to shift and let the cat have his way. The damn thing was growling and hissing in his mind. The cat wanted free to tear apart the intruders in his mate’s home.
Cathan realized that would probably not be the best idea.
The cat didn’t agree.
The cat was a bloodthirsty fucker.
Cathan made his way downstairs in only his jeans, moving as slowly and carefully as possible. The alarm hadn’t gone off, so either it was someone with the code or someone had disabled it. His ears twitched as he heard whispered voices. So it wasn’t Greg downstairs.
“Where the hell is the bitch?”
“Don’t know, man. Boss said she lived alone, so it won’t be hard to take her down.”
Cathan barely suppressed a growl. Oh there was no way in fuck they were making it out alive.
He crept slowly toward the bottom of the stairs, making sure to keep his steps quiet. His nose twitched at the smell of gun oil. Hell, they were armed. At least they didn’t know about him. Yet.
“Maybe she’s upstairs,” he heard a man mutter. “Looks like there’s nothing down here.”
Yeah, come into my parlor said the spider to the fly.
The humans practically stomped toward the stairs, and he wanted to grin. They were pathetic at being stealthy. Then again, they didn’t realize there was a pissed off shifter waiting for them, so he couldn’t particularly blame them.
They’d learn that lesson when they died at his claws.
He heard the footsteps getting closer and he spread his hands, letting his claws grow from his once-short nails. Just a little bit closer…
The footsteps rounded the hallway and he heard the first one hit the stairs. He pounced.
“What the fuck?”
He growled as he took the first human to the ground, his claws against his throat. They didn’t sink in yet, merely touched the flesh. Another came up behind him, his footsteps loud in the quiet night Cathan grabbed him by the throat, deciding he could lie down next to his buddy. Two men were now under his claws and they had answers he needed.
“What are you doing here?” He knew the words were garbled by his fangs, but he couldn’t help it.
“Hey, man, you’re a bodyguard, right? Whatever the bitch is paying you, we’ll double. Just walk away.”
He snarled, baring his fangs. “Wrong answer.”
He heard a gun click behind him and felt the cold metal against his head. “You might wanna take us up on that, shifter.”
A third guy? Shit. He’d been too busy trying to get answers. He should’ve been paying closer attention. He stood up slowly, and the men he’d pinned got up. The gun remained against his head, but he could get out of this. He’d been in worse situations. He just needed to—
“Cathan?”
