Cat Scratch Fever

by Jodi Redford

  It was a damn good thing she hadn’t drank something, because spraying it out in a fit of shock probably would have ruined the lovey-dovey vibe she’d been trying to perfect. “Err, yeah. I can see why you would have thought that.” When exactly had Kinsey begun to lose her mental faculties? As her sister, Lilly should have noticed it sooner.

  The instant they stepped into the kitchen, Chloe rushed to Lilly and embraced her in a tight, exuberant hug that squeezed all of the air from Lilly’s lungs. Chloe’s shoulders shook with gentle sobs. “My baby is getting married.”

  Lilly glanced across the way and met Dante’s sheepish expression. Hell, he thought she’d be mad about him spilling the news? Not freaking likely. At least this way Chloe had some time for it to sink in. No telling how bone-crushing her initial hug might have been otherwise.

  They crossed to the kitchen table, where Chloe had already set out two extra places for Lilly and Dante. After everyone else had taken their seat, Chloe hovered like a frantic bee, seeing to any and all possible last-minute needs. Knowing full well that her mother would spend the whole evening waiting on them and ignoring her own plate, Lilly patted Chloe’s arm gently. “Mom, please sit down.”

  “But—”

  “We’re all good. Honestly,” Lilly said softly yet firmly.

  Finally Chloe took her at her word and sat across from Dante. Her mom waited for him to take the first bite of chicken, the desperate expectation on her face almost painful to witness. Thankfully Dante was too busy lustily devouring his food to notice. He smacked his lips in appreciation. “Absolutely delicious.”

  Chloe broke into a huge smile. Now that her worries had been laid to rest, she dug into her meal with a dainty gusto. Lilly sighed. Blotting the corner of his mouth with his napkin, Dante glanced at Chloe. “Any chance I can get the recipe for this before Lilly and I head out?”

  “Certainly. But I’m afraid Lilly doesn’t cook. Didn’t she tell you that?” A flash of panic streaked across Chloe’s face as if it’d just occurred to her that perhaps he’d been kept in the dark regarding Lilly’s lack of domestic skills and might now rescind his marriage proposal.

  “That she did.” Dante grinned. “Good thing I know my way around a kitchen.”

  Chloe lowered her fork, her expression hinting that the concept of a man anywhere near a stove was more unheard of than a cow being able to fly. “Surely you’re not planning to be the cook in the house?”

  Dante frowned. “Why not? I like to do it.”

  “But then what will Lilly do?”

  Dante was visibly confused by the question, but Lilly was all too aware what her mom was getting at. In Chloe’s eyes, if the wife didn’t bring something to the table—literally—her value was diminished and she risked having her place usurped by another. Of course, it didn’t matter that no amount of hard labor on Chloe’s part hadn’t altered her own circumstances. That was just the way things were.

  “It’s okay, Mom. Dante and I have an arrangement. He cooks and I clean up.” Much as the idea of getting her fingers anywhere near a sink drain trap tested her gag reflex, she’d do it to put her mom’s fears to rest.

  A lengthy silence descended, broken only by the occasional scrape of someone’s utensil. Lilly became aware of the heat of Kinsey’s penetrating gaze drilling into her forehead. Reluctantly, she lifted her focus from her plate and locked stares with Kinsey.

  “Are you planning to let Dad know you’re getting married?”

  “No. Why would I?”

  “Lilly,” Chloe scolded. “He’s your father. He deserves to be there on Sunday.”

  “Please. We both know he won’t even bother to show up.” From the corner of her eye, she noticed Dante watching her with barely restrained curiosity. He’d wanted answers from her earlier? Well no doubt he was about to get an earful, thanks to the argument she saw brewing on the horizon.

  Chloe fidgeted with the edge of the tablecloth. “He might surprise you.”

  “Not holding my breath.”

  Her agitation steadily increasing, Chloe gripped her napkin and carefully folded it into a perfect square. “He isn’t the same man anymore, Lilly. He’s changed.”

  She gaped at her mom. Anger and disbelief slowly leached into her veins. “You’ve taken him back. Again.”

  Chloe’s gaze turned pleading. “It’ll be different this time.”

  “No, it won’t. He’ll disappoint us. Like always. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Honey, no. Your father and I love each other, just like you and Dante—”

  Lilly scraped her chair back and stood. “We’re only getting married so I can get the land and he can stop his pack merger. That’s a whole lot more sensible than love in my book.”

  Turning her back on Chloe and Kinsey’s incredulous stares, Lilly stalked toward the exit.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dante hit the windshield defrost to high before sliding a glance in Lilly’s direction. “Everything okay over there?”

  “I’m fine.” She continued to stubbornly glare out the window. “Sorry you were dragged into that. Not exactly the most auspicious first dinner with the parental unit, huh?”

  He grunted. “You’re talking to the guy who decked his own father. If you’re looking to label yourself world’s worst offspring, you’ll have to arm-wrestle me for the trophy.”

  That managed to coax a ghost of a smile from her. “Yeah, guess we do make quite a pair.”

  “So I take it your folks had a difficult marriage?”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “What happened?”

  Lilly remained quiet long enough he figured she wasn’t going to answer. But just as he was about to change the subject, she turned to face him. “He cheated on her. A lot. Despite that, she’s always stuck by his side. Believe it or not, she never wanted to get the divorce.”

  “Sometimes people stay in a marriage for the wrong reasons. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”

  “If it ends up happening, you’ll just have to be there for her. It might not mean much, but I’ll be there too.”

  She shot him a surprised look. Snapping her mouth shut, she shook her head. “Nice of you to offer, but I certainly don’t expect you to endure my mother’s fits of sobbing and despair. Trust me, they’re not pretty.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I want to be here for you, pussycat. Anyway you need me.”

  She continued to eye him skeptically. He didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what she was thinking. Her dad had never been there for her and her family. Why would he be any different? He longed to assure her with his words, but he suspected they would only fall on deaf ears at the moment. The best thing he could do was give her time and show her through his actions that he meant what he said. “Now which street did you say I needed to take?”

  Lilly huddled back into her seat and fired off the directions again. Several minutes later, he veered right onto an unpaved road. Fortunately the thick crust of snow had filled in the majority of potholes. After a short jog, he pulled into a long winding driveway that led to a white Cape Cod style house. “I would have taken you as more the condo type.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Not enough space or privacy.”

  “Amen.” He slipped off his seat belt and gave her a considering look. “I was worried you’d eventually decide my place was too remote and backwoods for your taste.”

  “No, I like it. Plus it helps that I can work anywhere.” She flicked him a quick glance. “Not that I’m giving up my house anytime soon.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, I believe you already mentioned that.”

  “Good. Just so we’re clear.” Tucking her scarf securely within the neckline of her coat, she wrenched the passenger door open and hopped out. He was beginning to get used to her feisty stubbornness regarding her independence. Considering everything he’d learned tonight, it sort of made sense why she clung to it
so tenaciously.

  He climbed from the truck and unloaded their luggage. When he met her on the porch, she attempted to relieve him of her bag, but he brushed by her and strode through the doorway. Hell, she wasn’t the only one who knew how to be stubborn. “Where would you like me to put this?”

  “Do you really want me to answer that?”

  Chuckling, he left the vestibule behind and walked into the living room. The furnishings were similar to those at her cabin up north—stylish, feminine and undoubtedly expensive.

  “You can drop the bags by the couch.”

  He did as suggested and eyed the fireplace. “Want me to get that lit? It’ll chase some of the chill out of here.”

  Surprisingly, she agreed without once balking that she could do it herself. Once he’d finished the task and pulled the screen back in place to safeguard the crackling flames, he hefted to his feet and stripped out of his jacket. Lilly stashed their winter gear in the adjacent closet before joining him in front of the fire. Shivering, she hugged her chest.

  “It’ll warm up soon.”

  “I think I’m mostly suffering belated tension from dinner more than anything else.”

  “I have the perfect stress reliever.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Jeez. I thought I was obsessed with sex.”

  “I was talking about going for a run.” He grinned. “But maybe I like your idea better.”

  “A run? In this weather? You’ve got to be freaking nuts.”

  “Our fur is great insulation, pussycat.”

  “Wait a minute. Who said anything about shifting?”

  “I did. That’s state land your place is backed up to, right? Tons of wilderness to explore.”

  She shuddered delicately. “Oh my God, I’m engaged to Grizzly Adams.”

  “Come on, you’ll love it.” He yanked his flannel shirt off and started on the buttons of his fly.

  “We can have wild nookie in here instead,” she wheedled.

  “We will, believe me. Nothing gets your blood pumping and your body raring to go like a good run.”

  “I have a hard time believing this data of yours.”

  Laughing, he kicked his jeans and boots aside and began working her from her clothes. It was a difficult chore, considering her constant squirming as she tried to escape. Eventually he got her completely naked and herded her toward the door. He carefully kept his focus above her waistline, because staring too long at that delicious booty of hers might have sidetracked him from his mission. Which judging from the way she wiggled her butt against his groin, she knew all too well.

  After securing the door behind them, he sucked in a lungful of the crisp air. He barely registered the cold as the shift into his wolf form took effect. He dropped onto his haunches, his hands morphing into paws that were covered with thick, black fur. Swishing his tail on the porch floorboards, he waited for Lilly to shift. With a put-upon sigh, she crouched in front of him. A sparkling luminescence danced across her skin as the lithe, feline form of her Lynx took shape. Giving a dainty yawn, she licked her paw before grooming the tiny tufts of white fur topping her ears.

  He’d never seen her as a cat before. Probably for the better, because if he’d had the same reaction to her as he did now, he would have jumped her on the spot. Damn, there was just something incredibly sexy about those whiskers and sassy little tail. Stepping forward, he nudged her cheek before nuzzling her cute button nose. She paid him back with a flirtatious nip on his ear before dashing down the steps.

  So it was a chase she wanted. He was more than happy to oblige.

  Rumbling a growl, he leapt from the porch and galloped after her. For someone who bitched and moaned about going for a run, she was remarkably proficient at it. With light bounding steps, she darted through the trees, making her way deeper into the woods. The predator existing inside him took over, the thrill of the hunt like a fire in his blood. Tracking the scent of his mate ratcheted his horniness into overdrive. Drifting snowflakes melted on his lolling tongue, but the only taste he hungered for was Lilly. Keeping her trained in his sights, he leapt over a fallen log and plowed through the deeper bank of snow on the other side. She disappeared from view, and he sped up his pace until he came to a small clearing. Standing at the mouth of the ravine, he peered down into the valley.

  It took a moment to spot her, thanks to the way her fur practically blended with the snow. She’d chosen a pile of old leaves to help disguise her even further. Curled into a tight ball, she peeked at him beneath her improvised pelt of leaves. He swore he detected her snicker. Little vixen was convinced she’d outsmarted him. Ha.

  He slashed his gaze in the opposite direction and lifted his muzzle to the sky, pretending to sniff the air. Ducking his head low, he cantered off toward the far end of the ridge. He traversed to the bottom of the steep slope, and once out of the range of Lilly’s vision, circled back, using his own tracks to cover his reapproach. A good-sized boulder provided the ideal concealment for him to camp out and wait.

  Several minutes passed before he detected the crunch of cautious footsteps. His heart pounding with excitement, he inched closer to the edge of the rock. A flash of tawny fur appeared. With a triumphant howl, he launched himself at Lilly, rolling her into the snow. She gave a yelping hiss and tried to swat him away, but he only pinned her down with his forelegs and nuzzled her neck. Her purr rumbled in his ear.

  At that exact moment, he knew he was a goner. He’d gone and done the impossible—fallen head over tail in love with Lilly Prescott.

  Who would have thunk it? Certainly not him. But for some odd reason, nothing made better sense. Or felt more infinitely right.

  He lifted his head and stared down at her. If he could have gotten his way, he would have shifted and coaxed her to do the same so he could commemorate this historic moment by fucking her mindless in the snow.

  Somehow he doubted she would appreciate that, much less go for it. Rising to his feet, he cocked his head in invitation before barreling in the direction of the house. Halfway there, Lilly bulleted past him and beat him to the porch. By the time he reached the entrance, she’d already reverted to her human form and opened the door. Shifting from his wolf, he took the steps two at a time and raced over the threshold.

  The door slammed behind him, and he turned just as Lilly jumped into his arms. Sliding her fingers through his hair, she kissed him with desperate, hungry little whimpers and mewls. Her lips were cold and tasted of snow and pine-scented air. He rubbed his mouth over her frigid skin, attempting to bring the warmth back. Their tongues touched, stroked and offered the promise of more.

  Clinging to him, she tugged him toward the living room. They got no farther than the rug in front of the fireplace. His need for her outshouting all else, he dropped to his knees and dragged her down with him. Before her back even met the floor, his mouth latched on to her nipple. Curling his tongue, he worked the distended nub into a stiff peak. Lilly’s breathless gasps and murmurs fired his desire into maximum drive. His sole existence became focused on pleasing his mate. Gorging on her until he was drunk and intoxicated. He coasted his lips down her belly and rubbed his cheek on the thin strip of hair covering her mound. She let her legs fall open, and he closed his mouth over her pussy, eagerly lapping up her addictive honey. She squirmed and gasped, her thighs reflexively tightening around his head.

  Pride and victory sang through him when her clit pulsed beneath his tongue, signaling her climax. He wanted to keep her coming—give her at least a dozen more orgasms before he came up for air—but she nudged his shoulders, easing him away from her. The second he rolled onto his side, she scooted lower and swung her leg over his. Planting her palms in the middle of his chest, she pushed him flat and straddled him. Her wetness bathing him, she slowly sank onto his cock and closed her eyes on an ecstatic cry. The sound tripped along his spine, making him thicken inside her.

  He loved watching the uninhibited pleasure washing across her face. Loved the silken clasp of her pussy musc
les gripping him as she rode his shaft. If he spent the rest of his days buried within her, it still wouldn’t be long enough. He traced the feminine swells of her hips before squeezing the softness of her ass. Massaging each cheek with his hands, he countered her rocking motions and plunged deeper into her wetness. Her nails grazed his nipples. Lowering her head, she nipped his jaw. He groaned, his grip on her tightening. Her lips brushed lower an instant before her sharp little teeth sank into the side of his neck. A warning tingle shot along the base of his spine. She purred against his flesh. That was all it took to make him come. Hard.

  His cock pulsing, he poured his essence and love into her. Lilly shuddered in his arms, joining him on the tail end of his orgasm. Stroking her skin tenderly, he listened to her heart beating in perfect syncopation to his.

  After a moment, she lifted her head and stared at him. Her fingers moved to his neck and traced her bite mark. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why? We’re mates.”

  “None of this is real, Dante.”

  “It could be.”

  Panic flashed in her eyes. “Don’t say that.”

  “Would it be so horrible?”

  “Yes.”

  He caressed her cheek. “This is about your parents’ relationship, isn’t it? You’re afraid of ending up like them.”

  “And with good reason. I don’t want to be my mother.”

  “You’re not her. Just like I’m not your father. Or my father, for that matter, thank Christ.”

  She bit her lip. “People do stupid things when they’re in love.”

  He brushed the hair away from her eyes. “Do you love me?”

  “I…I don’t know.”

  “Well, I do. I’m madly, utterly and ridiculously in love with you, pussycat.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I wish you hadn’t said that.”

  “Most women like hearing it.”

  “You should know by now that I’m not like most women.” Whisking a wayward tear from the end of her nose, she climbed off him. “It was easier playacting at all this. I don’t even know how a normal marriage works, much less make it pan out for us.”