by Lauren Dane
“What else can I do?”
He leaned against the doorjamb as she moved, pulling out towels, knowing where he kept everything. That pleased him a great deal.
“I could be upset, which is silly because, well, because I’m not. Maybe it’s because I’m already different, already not quite human. Maybe it’s because my cat trusts yours and that’s keeping me mellow. I don’t know. What I do know is that freaking out never solved a damned thing. Obviously I have questions. I wonder how my magick will work, clearly it’s different now. I wonder what it’ll mean to Renee, who made the choice not to change. I worry about your family and I don’t want to mess with your status.”
“Fuck that. Listen, if you want me to be brutally honest? It strengthens me. You’re not only a witch, which brings me status, you’ve taken on a cat. And she came to you in her own, totally improbable way. My cats will see this as a sign that fate meant you to be at my side. They will see you as my destiny and as the destiny of the jamboree.”
She turned to him, a smile on her face. “I prefer brutal honesty any day. I’m not fragile, Max. I need to know the details. I can’t help you if I don’t know the details.”
Of course he forgot what he was going to say next as she bent to turn the water on in his shower and the curve of her pussy caught his attention.
“I haven’t had you from behind yet,” he murmured.
She looked back over her shoulder at him, mischief on her mouth. Bracing her feet apart, she then leaned forward and gripped the side of the tub. “What’s stopping you now?”
He should have resisted.
But when he sank back into her heat, he couldn’t feel guilty. Especially when she arched, pushing back to meet his thrust.
His cat wanted to roar with satisfaction at the primal act of possession. At the way she reacted to his touch. He wasn’t ready for her cat though, at the ferocity of her response to his. He needed the support of the wall, held on as everything she was filled him, settled in and took over.
He might have marked her with his teeth, with his seed and his intent, but she marked him just the same.
And when he came, he fell into her totally. She owned him in a way he doubted he’d ever be able to articulate fully.
Gentle hands soaped her up as she leaned back against him. She didn’t bother opening her eyes, instead, she experimented with her newly enhanced senses.
“This is amazing. Part of the magick I work is called othersight. Anyone could see it if they could toss aside the barriers we erect from birth to close out all the external stimulus. Anyway, it’s a lot like this. Do you see like this all the time?”
She paused as he soaped her pussy, detouring to play against the barbell. “Answer this first,” he murmured. “What made you pierce yourself this way?”
“I came out of a shitty marriage with a lot of frustrated sexuality. I repressed it for years, but it’s not natural to do that. We’re all sexual beings. So I sort of threw myself into a sexual reawakening. I got the navel piercing first, before I’d married. And I remembered liking the edge of pain. I saw a clitoral hood piercing in a movie, yes a porn movie.” She laughed. “And I liked how it looked. The place that did my tattoos also had a piercing station. I gave it a try.”
“Mm. Well, my cat’s not so thrilled with some strange man with his head between your thighs playing with your clit. But I do like the results.”
“It was a woman.”
“Even better. The other humans I know who’ve taken the change, and there aren’t many, we like to keep to ourselves, say it’s like all your senses are at twelve. As for what I see like, I’ve never seen any other way so I don’t know how to explain it. I see the inner light in people. I can sense a lie. I know when you’re turned on because your body heats up and your pussy gets sticky for me.”
He said the hottest stuff.
“What will happen tomorrow? Are you in trouble with your father?”
“No. We have to get permission to change a human. I didn’t get that. But he can feel the birth of a new cat into his jamboree. He knew you’d transformed because it was another being he was connected to and responsible for. My mother felt it as well. But I didn’t lie, they know I have no reason to lie. So I’m not in trouble at all. They’re going to want to speak with us tomorrow before the dinner so we have to arrive early.”
“Great.” She hoped things wouldn’t get worse because of this.
“The dinner will be far more than a normal dinner now. You have to understand that. I’ve marked you, which means we’re married as I explained. This will be a huge celebration because you’re my wife, and I’m next-in-line. On top of that, you’ve taken on a cat and at the end of the evening, you’ll transform.”
“Nothing like a first meeting with your family turning into a wedding party and a meet-the-new-cat party. No pressure or anything.”
He kissed her. “You’ll be just fine. You were born to be right here, right now. Trust that and trust me. We’ll have to work on you making the choice to transform rather than have it take over when you aren’t ready. You’ll need to change with the other cats in the jamboree present. It’s part of your ceremonial and physical entry into the jamboree as a member. I’ll be with you, as will my father. He’s your alpha and he’ll guide your cat forward. It’s hard the first few times for the newly changed.”
“It sucks that I’ve got to deal with these messed-up witches. I’d love to spend all my time experimenting with these changes.”
She turned in his arms, kissing his chest.
“We’ve got time. You’ll have more physical strength now. My cat is comforted in part by that. We’ll deal with the witches and then get on with our lives.” He helped her out, handing her a big towel to wrap up in.
“You seem disappointed that I’m not upset,” she teased.
He paused, taking her arm and turning it. “Querida, look.”
She glanced down and saw the slice in her arm was gone. “Cool.”
His look of surprise melted away into a smile. “It is, actually.”
Chapter Ten
Max checked in every few minutes. Just seeing how she was feeling. Which amused her. He seemed befuddled and sweetly happy that she’d accepted him and this change. She’d meant it when she’d told him earlier that she never found much point in railing against the random chaos that fate often threw in your path.
In truth, she felt…satisfied. Safe. Comfortable in her own skin. Part of it, she imagined, was from him. Max was the kind of person who just went through his life totally sure of himself and his place. This was endearing, even when he was a pushy butthead.
She’d been loved over her life. Rosemary loved her, definitely. Renee did. Her family did. But that part of her that had felt unmoored wasn’t unsettled anymore. Because she did belong in a way she simply didn’t question.
That stability of thought enabled her to look honestly at her life and know for certain she’d always belonged to someone. Still was a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter and now, unexpectedly enough, a wife.
She began to laugh and he looked up from his computer where he’d been working for part of the morning. “Should I be worried?”
“I was just anticipating the look on Beth’s face. Makes me want to rub my hands together with glee.”
“You’re now a higher rank than she is. That ought to make you giggle some more. Sadistic woman.”
“She hurt my sister. I don’t like that.”
He looked up from the screen again. “I don’t either. This isn’t going to be totally easy, you know that, right? Galen will be behind you, as will Renee. Gibson. Armando.”
“Pretty much everyone but Carlos and Beth.” She waved a hand as she stood. “Pffft. Don’t care. I have things to do. I need to work on some lesson plans. How about I meet you at your parents’ at two?”
“How about no. I thought you were going to move in here?”
“I am. I just figured it would take some time to get that all organ
ized. In the meantime I still have a job and stuff. I have to water my plants and do laundry. I’m also totally in need of some maintenance. I’m sure you’d love me with hairy legs. After all, you’re all furry sometimes. But I need some girl time.”
“Gibson told me to inform you he’ll get you all boxed up and moved in one day. You’re safer here, so he has an ulterior motive.”
“Listen here, bossy, I need to be, you know, consulted on this stuff. Yes, yes, I agreed to move in here. And why not? Hot cock on tap whenever I want it.”
He laughed.
“It’s a big-assed house. There are like super bodyguards all over the place. You have a great view, and when I get my car, I can park it in a garage. So all in all, I support that. But don’t think that just because I’m furry now and your mate or wife or whatever you want to call it, that you can push me around.”
“I’d never dream of it.” He continued typing, and she knew he would shine her on to do exactly what he wanted because he was that way. Luckily, she was that way too and would push him right back. It made for pretty hot sex and she knew it was all well meaning. If she had a man who let her push him around, it would be boring. Max was her equal, that was exciting.
“I’ll speak with Gibson today. I’m sure he’ll be at dinner.”
“Speaking of that, my mother called when you were in the shower. She made me promise to tell you tonight will be a full jamboree gathering.”
“What? I haven’t even told Renee yet!” She headed to the front door but of course he got there first.
“Where are you going?”
“Okay, here’s another thing we can’t be doing. I need to be able to come and go without a list of permissions. I have a thing about that. You know why. Also, back off. I can’t tell my sister about all this on the phone. Duh. I need to see her face to face. If she hears from other people, it’ll hurt her feelings.”
“Call her first. My father and mother know. Gibson knows. It’ll trickle down. Then we can go over there.”
She closed her eyes, seeking patience. “Max, I don’t need you to go with me everywhere.”
He stepped closer, nuzzling her, licking over the bite mark she’d left exposed. “I know. But I like to look at you. I like to watch you move and know I’ve touched every part of your body. I like you and my cat isn’t quite ready to not be with you a lot.”
“Oh your cat. Poor cat, gets the blame for all your bossy ways.” She smiled, knowing he couldn’t see her face, but would feel it anyway. “Get your keys and let’s roll. I’m going over to Renee’s now whether you are or not. Your cat will have to deal.”
“Sorry to get you guys up so early,” Kendra said to Jack, who looked adorably rumpled. “I need to talk to Renee.”
“You’re welcome here anytime, sweetness.” He kissed the top of her head and paused a moment. “I think I see why you’re here.”
“Yeah. Don’t let her talk to anyone on the phone until I tell her myself. Apparently the cats are a gossipy bunch and there’s a hootenanny tonight to celebrate.”
Max snorted. “There should be. Hey, Jack, got any coffee?”
“Just made a pot. Go on through. Galen should be back shortly, he went for a run. Renee is in the shower.”
“Ren?” she called out as she entered the bedroom.
“Kendra?” Renee came out of the bathroom on a puff of steam. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. More than all right. I wanted to tell you myself.” But Renee saw the mark and grinned widely.
“Get out! Yay, I’m so pleased for you both.” She hugged Kendra tight. “This is so awesome. How awesome is it that you found your Mister Right and he also happens to be my Mister Right’s brother?”
“There’s more.”
Renee grinned. “There’s always more with the de La Vega men.”
“It looks like I took a cat. I don’t know how. We were, well you know. He bit me and it was, wow, awesome and all, and then it just happened. I mean, one moment I’m in his bed all sex-exhausted, and the next I’m a freaking jaguar. I felt their magick, the energy of all the cats in their jamboree. My magick is…changed. Max says he’s never heard of anything like this. Ditto with Cesar and Imogene, but Gibson’s on the case so I’m sure we’ll have answers soon. He’s one of the most accomplished and together people I’ve ever met. Anyway, I need to talk to that witch who mated with one of Gabe’s wolves. Maybe he can tell me something, give me some insight. Rosemary and Mary might be able to help too.”
Renee simply stared at her.
“God. Do you hate me for not telling you right away? Are you mad that I took on a cat?”
Renee burst out laughing. “No! I’m trying not to be petty and not doing a very good job of it.”
“Beth?”
Both women laughed for some time about that.
“She’s going to flip her lid. If she wasn’t pregnant, I could be happier and maybe even taunt her. But now, she’s bearing the next generation of jaguar or some stupid shit like that, and I have to pretend she’s worthy of something nicer than a kick to the face.”
Kendra grinned at her sister. “She’s snotty. But there has to be a reason why. I mean, all the siblings except for her, even Carlos, find a way of at least being civil. Anyway, she sucks on lemons and we don’t care. Plus Max says I rank higher than she does. I love that. I may have to mention how I had no idea of that when she can hear it.”
“You’re such a bitch. It’s why I love you so much.” Renee kissed her forehead. “Max is out there? I bet his cat is doing the pee-pee dance to come in here to check on you.”
The laughter started anew.
“He can hear everything anyway. The nifty thing is, so can I.”
“Yes, I can. And I’ll have you know my cat does not do any such pee-pee dance, thank you very much, Renee,” Max called out from the other room.
“Come on. Let’s go out there. I need coffee. Then I need to go back to my place and work a bit. Or my old place. Whatever.”
They walked out and both of them paused at the sight of Galen, mopping his bare upper body off with his shirt, as he stood laughing and talking with Jack and Max.
“Hot damn. I think I just had some really dirty thoughts about your husbands.”
Renee nodded. “Go on ahead, I have ’em all the time.”
“Well, you’re not involved, though Max is. I promise there’s no brother touching in this particular filthy fantasy. Not between them anyway.”
They looked up, three sets of wary, sexy, alpha male eyes locked on the two women. Kendra waved. “Don’t mind us. We’re just objectifying you.”
Max rolled his eyes but Galen walked toward her. “Christ. Max was right.” He took her hands. “Welcome to our family, Kendra. Max needed someone like you. No, that’s not right. He needed you. And this cat of yours, ahhh, there she is.”
Kendra felt it then, the distinct brush against her insides, that otherness coiled within. “Wow,” she breathed out. “I felt her. My cat.”
Max was there at her side suddenly, pressing against her. “Mmmm.” He nuzzled again, that spot he’d marked and it drove her crazy. “I can scent her now. Stronger than before. It’s more than a ghost.”
“Stop that,” she murmured. “You’re stirring me up and this isn’t the place.”
He laughed, his lips near her ear. “I’d apologize but it’d be a lie.”
“Gah, you’re incorrigible.” She stepped away from him. Galen, smiling, handed her a mug of coffee.
“And you, stop looking so good. Put a shirt on.” Renee pointed toward their bedroom.
“No need to cover up on my part.” Kendra winked at him and Max swatted her ass.
The taste of her laughter was still on her lips when everything fell away and a new kind of sight jerked her into another level of consciousness. Numbers, numbers, numbers, they fell from her lips as she scrambled for the table. “Pen. Paper. Now.”
No one questioned her. The items she needed appeared and sh
e began to write.
“Call Rosemary,” Renee murmured as she read over Kendra’s shoulder. Max hoped his brother or Jack planned to do that because he wasn’t moving from Kendra’s side. Her magick had taken over in a way he’d not seen thus far, and he needed to stick there to be sure she would recover without a problem.
When she’d gone into this odd state, his bond with her had changed. He knew she was all right, but the way between them had been flooded with her energy and it changed his perception. Fascinating, even as he worried, he was certain she was fine.
“What is it?” Jack asked as Galen picked the phone up and began to dial.
“It’s…looks like streets and maybe a town? Numbers.”
Jack examined the paper. “Looks like coordinates. Latitude and longitude.”
“The spell,” Kendra said on a gulp of breath as if she’d surfaced from being underwater. “This is where he is.”
Rosemary and Mary glanced at the paper and agreed.
“This worked very fast. It usually takes at least several days.” Mary spoke as she studied Kendra intently. “And you have a carrier in there. A beast. You took on a cat?”
Rosemary looked up from the map Akio had brought over. “You’ve had all sorts of adventures we haven’t talked about.”
Kendra’s face fell a bit and Max glowered at her aunt. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I’ve done it on purpose. It’s all happened so fast and you weren’t here and I wanted to talk to you, but you have your own life to live right now. For the first time in forever you have your own life and you’re not responsible for me. I just wanted you to have that.”
“Let’s go for a walk, shall we?” Rosemary held her hand out and Max, though he wanted Kendra to confide in her aunt—it was clear they both needed it—he also didn’t want her out there without protection.
“Why don’t I accompany you both?” Akio bowed deeply. “I’ll refrain from eavesdropping.” He made an X over his heart and Kendra’s smile brightened the room.
Jack’s gaze moved to Max, checking in with him about that. Max nodded once. “We’ll need to put together a plan and a team to go out to these coordinates to investigate anyway. You have the time.”
