by Unknown
“Okay then. I’ll leave you to it and be back in a few hours. I’ve probably got every gadget known to mankind in either the living room or the study just off the kitchen if you want to watch some television or surf the Net. Although, everything is cleverly hidden, but since you’re such a smart girl I’m sure you can figure it out.”
“Sure, sure, no problem.” She only half listened to him as she went about her quick two-minute shower and then dressed in clean jeans and a plain baby blue t-shirt. She wished she had the kind of figure that allowed her to forgo the bra, not only because it simply felt better but eventually he’d be back and she wanted to distract him. She wasn’t above using anything to get what she wanted.
Unfortunately, these babies needed a lot of support or they'd be down to her waist.
She quickly found the food and scarfed down every bite of what he’d left her. Looking down at the empty plate, she marveled at her appetite. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten that much in one sitting, and for a fleeting moment wondered if he’d put something in it to get her to eat all of it.
No, she wouldn’t let her paranoia get the best of her. Instead she’d keep focusing on the facts thus far. Kane had been upfront with her about what was happening, and she had no cause for thinking of his potential treachery...yet.
She pushed away from the kitchen table and cleaned up after herself, she was a guest in his home, after all, and occasionally she did remember a few manners.
With the kitchen now spotless, she hunted around for something to do next. Sitting around and doing nothing never suited her very well. She remembered his comments about electronics and thought checking her email might not be a bad idea. There weren’t many people she kept up with these days, but she often conducted business via e-mail when necessary, so it benefited her to check in from time to time.
Walking into the living room, she observed only the one doorway leading off of it. She slipped into the study and looked around. The natural earth tones and handmade wooden furniture continued through here. A desk and chair sat in the corner, but no computer. What had he said about having to find them? She began searching through drawers and cabinets to no avail.
All right, Lara, he said they were here so think about it, where would you hide a computer? She sat down behind the desk and began feeling along the edges for secret latches or compartments. Thirty seconds later her fingers hit a tiny lever she almost missed and sprang open a hidden drawer. There inside sat a slim laptop, multiple cell phones, and a PDA. All state of the art, high-end equipment. Kane, the fun loving, horndog brother of the trio kept secrets hidden behind that façade of his.
She removed the laptop and carried it with her to the living room. She’d watch some television or something while she waited. Not, however, until she pulled up Google Earth and studied the satellite images of the region she’d returned to. He had the home turf advantage over her, and it never hurt to know as much information about the situation she found herself in. Much easier to come up with a plan of action that way. Self-preservation 101.
***
As usually happened when Lara got involved in her research, hours passed and she lost track of time. She stretched her arms and decided to make some fresh coffee. Walking to the kitchen, a knock sounded at the front door. Lara paused in her tracks and debated what to do. Kane had said they were pretty far from the rest of the clan and hadn’t said a word about expecting anyone to stop by. Maybe she’d ignore it and pretend not to be here.
Still curious to know who’d arrived, she padded silently to the window to check it out.
“I can hear you in there.”
She sighed. Damn cats. This one was female, though, and didn’t look particularly friendly.
“Kane’s not here.” She called through the door, reluctant to let anyone she didn’t know inside. She wasn’t exactly the most popular person around here, and her defenses were somewhat weak in the face of a shifter.
“I didn’t come here to see Kane. I want to speak with you.”
That threw Lara back. A feline coming to see her...at Kane’s place. How did she even know about her, unless Kane sent her?
Lara wrenched open the door and stared down at the pretty blonde woman standing on the porch. She eyed her cautiously from the short denim dress and cute sandals that tied up her calves to the bright red polish on her nails.
Lara was pretty damned comfortable in her own skin, but standing next this woman...
“What do you want with me?” Lara asked impatiently. The hair on the back of her neck had stood on end the minute she opened the door and her adrenalin had kicked up a notch or two.
“I thought we should meet.”
“And why is that?” Her instincts screamed she wasn’t going to like the direction this conversation was headed.
“Considering my relationship with Kane, I think I should be informed about the trouble he is brewing up with the clan.”
Her relationship. The words stabbed at her pride and suddenly her stomach tightened in knots.
“He should be back soon, you can ask him yourself.” Lara tried to shut the door but the woman slapped her hand on the wood and pushed, catching her off guard.
“I will talk to Kane, but first I want to talk to you, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen like a good little human.”
The woman’s sickly sweet over exagerrated southern accent turned Lara’s stomach as she tamped down the desire to kick some serious ass. She laughed instead.
But, she doubted anyone would consider it a funny ha-ha kind of sound. More like a warning to anyone with half a brain.
“I’m not anyone’s version of a good little anything. Never have been and never will.” She clenched her hands into fists. She wasn’t totally green. Years of martial arts training whenever she could fit it in gave her at least something to work with.
“Feisty too, I see. You don’t have to get your panties all in a twist because of little ole me. I didn’t come here to hurt you. At least, not this time.”
Lara considered the fact this woman was a shifter and physically more powerful than herself, which had no impact on her need to attack her. She thought about what magic she could conjure up, but without even a small amulet she was woefully unprepared for a battle.
“Say what you’ve come to say and then get out. You’ve got thirty seconds.”
“Don’t get too comfortable here. Kane may want to fuck you, although I don't understand why, but that will soon wear off and eventually he’ll get around to doing his duty...he always does. I can guarantee you, you won’t be leaving clan land again except in a box. And as for Kane, he is mine. We are to be mated at the next full moon, so don’t go getting any wild ideas about something more from him.” Suddenly the bitch’s nose flared as if catching a scent. Her face mottled with angry shades of red as she sniffed her way around Lara.
“You bitch!” she shrieked just before her hand wrapped around Lara’s neck, cutting off her air supply.
Lara clawed at her hands and twisted and turned her body, trying everything to break free from the chokehold. She stomped on one of the shifter’s sandaled feet and got a vicious snarl in return. She didn’t let go, but it loosened her grip just long enough to get some air.
Lara swung her right fist upward and connected with the bitch’s jaw in an easy uppercut. Her head sprang back and she let go of Lara. With probably only a fraction of a second to spare, Lara turned and ran with the idea of getting to one of the bedrooms and locking herself in. That should give her at least a minute or two to find some sort of weapon.
She didn’t even make it past the kitchen before she was tackled. Sharp claws dug viciously into her back as they both tumbled to the ground.
The woman grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked her head back. Lara bucked and fought, even with the sound of her favorite shirt being ripped from her back.
“What the hell is that?” The woman screamed so loud Lara winced at the sound so close to her ea
r. She sounded worse than a damn banshee.
Suddenly the woman was gone from her back and Lara lay free against the cold wood floor.
“Kitty, what the hell are you doing?”
Relief flooded through her at the sound of Kane’s voice. Shame, too. She’d been caught unprepared and likely would have been killed. She’d let her guard down for him, giving herself a chance to potentially believe in someone else. When would she learn?
She rolled onto her back and watched Kitty smooth down her dress and hair before she spoke. Lara rolled her eyes at the ludicrousness of her moves.
“You had no right coming here like this. You need to get out of my house right now.”
“Me? I have no right? What about you? Why have you not done your job already? And what the hell is that mark on the back of her neck? Is that what I think it is?”
Kane grabbed her then, his beefy hand wrapped tight around her bicep. She cried out in pain but he didn’t ease up. “You will do well to forget what you’ve seen here today. I’m warning you.”
She hissed at Kane, baring her sharp little teeth. Her eyes glowed gold and her claws extended on her hand. The bone structure of her face and hands changed and Lara realized she’d partially shifted.
“Don’t take me lightly, Kitty. I’m deadly serious here. This is none of your business, you need to remember that.”
The woman’s features changed back to full human and she gave Kane a sickly sweet smile. “Not everyone is afraid of you, you know. Enforcer doesn’t mean God.”
Kane steered her back to the front door, giving her no chance to say much else. “Tell your father our deal is off.”
“You fucking bastard. You think you can just throw me out like yesterday’s trash? For—for a fat little human?”
“Leave now.”
She dug her heels in at the threshold of the door and turned around to face them. “You.” She pointed at Lara. “This is your fault. It’s you who will pay and it won’t be fun, at least not for you.” She laughed, a chilling sound that raised gooseflesh along Lara’s arms.
Tired of dealing with the bullshit of this scene, Lara spun on her heels and headed for her room. She rubbed the back of her neck where she knew the birthmark was and wondered why the hell they were all freaking out about it, and why the hell was it itching all of a sudden? As soon as his crazy cat bitch left she would demand some answers. They needed to have a talk.
***
Kane slammed the door behind Kitty and leaned against the wood. The day had been complicated enough, he didn’t need a jealous bitch to add to the mix. He’d gotten her out of the house and away from Lara, but the damage was done. He couldn’t trust her to keep her mouth shut for a minute, let alone long enough for him to figure out what they were doing here. Now Lara had stormed to the back of the house, killing his hopes of more fun from this morning. She’d want answers and he wasn’t sure if he was prepared to give them.
Why had he given into the deal with Kitty’s father? He’d known from the start it would backfire on him. Because he wanted his brothers back, that’s why, and to do that he needed allies. Now things had gone from bad to worse.
Despite the serious nature of his work, today he’d found his mind wandering back to her every few minutes. Walking around all day in a constant state of arousal had cranked him up to the point of madness. He’d cut the questioning short and raced home to be with her.
“What’s going on, Kane?”
He raised his brow at the detached tone of her voice. When he sniffed the air around her he got nothing. No fear, no anger, just nothing. It was downright scary when she did that and reminded him just how ruthless she could be.
“Taking out the trash.” He quirked the corners of his mouth into a tight and hopeful smile.
“Uh huh. Now tell me what’s really going on here. Oh, and yeah, it would have been nice if you’d mentioned your girlfriend before I ended up face first on the ground.”
Kane winced at her sarcasm. This was one of those days when he wanted to curse his brother for doing this to him. Just a few short weeks ago he’d had very little to worry about. No pressure to procreate, no kill orders to complete, and no wayward mates on the death list driving him insane with lust.
“I don’t have a girlfriend. What I do have, however, is a damn headache from arguing with people today, so if you’re planning to jump on that bandwagon go sing it somewhere else.”
He walked into the kitchen and searched the fridge for something to drink. What he needed right now was a drink—anything, really, to take his mind off the woman standing behind him watching him. He felt her gaze raking over him, hot and steady. The air now scented of her anger and it did nothing but make his dick harder in his pants. He was like an uncontrollable teenager. Maybe a cold shower?
“I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake.”
Kane turned, the chill of her voice warning him. “Mistake?”
“For some unknown reason you think I give a damn about what kind of day you’ve had, but I don’t. You brought me here and the first thing I’m doing is fending off your little jealous bitch. This is bullshit and you know it.”
A low growl sounded from his chest. He fought to tamp down his temper before he tackled her to the ground and bit her. Whether she realized it or not, this was foreplay. He took two strides forward and she stepped back. “Are you sure you want to push me now? Because some things can’t be taken back.”
“Spare me.”
His nostrils flared when the scent in the room changed. She was no longer just angry. Uh huh. The animal he couldn’t suppress aroused her. He took another step and her body hit the wall when she tried to back away.
“I’m serious, Kane. Coming here was a bad idea.” Her words died on her lips when he bent and sniffed at her neck.
“You’re wet.”
“Christ, Kane. This is serious business.” Her hands pushed at his chest but he didn’t back down.
“Yes it is.” He nipped at her bottom lip lightly with his teeth over and over, teasing and playing with her until she groaned from his touch. She could fight him all she wanted but nature would win, she always did. “But you’re still wet and just as hot as I am.”
She shook her head against his lips. “Stop playing. I want some answers.”
His fingers rubbed her breasts, grazing the nipples through the shirt she wore. She leaned into his hands on a low moan. He loved the sounds she made when he touched her almost as much as her screams when he made her come.
He squeezed and pinched her hard tips until she gasped, yet still she made no real move to get away. “Ask me anything you want.” A slight tremble moved through her shoulders as she fought for normal breath. Her hands roamed at his waist, pulling at his shirt until she loosened it from his pants.
“You’re overdressed.”
He fought a smile at her statement. Gone were the protests and instead the hunger gripped her as well. “Then you should do something about that.”
Her hands reached for the buttons of his shirt, twisting each one apart. When they were all unfastened she pushed the shirt from his shoulders, the pads of her fingers grazing against his skin. He bared his teeth at the streaks of heat the sensual move created and she chuckled at him.
“You’re not the only one who can enjoy the games, you know.”
“It’s like playing with fire and it’s hard to hold it back.” She yanked her top over her head and her unclothed breasts bounced in front of him. The loud rumble of a purr sounded in his throat and she gave him a wicked smile when she hooked the waistband of her pants.
“Then don’t.”
She had no idea what she asked for. She’d set the pace before but he didn’t think he could let that happen this time. Only one way to find out.
He dragged her to the floor with him and pushed her to her knees and hands. Ravenous hunger raged through him as he helped her pull her pants and the flimsy piece of lace she called panties down. Pale, smooth flesh drew him like a m
oth to flame. How was he supposed to resist this? A powerful rush of lust and triumph raced through him while he caressed the baby soft skin of her bare ass. His claws protracted and scraped lightly across the tender flesh while spikes of adrenalin directed his every move.
With his head filled with thoughts of getting inside her as quickly as possible, her hair fell around her face and revealed her mark. His mouth salivated with savage need. Precious seconds passed while he worked to stay in control before he bent and gave in to the desire to taste and lick his way across her heated skin.
He knew he couldn’t mark her, but he damn sure could fuck her until thoughts of biting her left him. Yet, his mouth traveled up to the back of her neck and his tongue swiped the small mark.
“What is it with my birthmark? Why is everyone making a big deal out of it?” she asked breathlessly.
He absently answered her, too lost in touching her. “It’s your mating mark. It’s the sign of a black cougar.”
Her body went rigid underneath him and in a split second he realized what he’d done.
She rolled from underneath him and came up in front of him, too quick for him to stop her. She kneed him under the chin and he fell backwards against the wall. Pain exploded in his head and his body reacted on instinct. He charged her and tackled her to the ground, but he didn’t have a good grip on her and she wriggled herself free.
“Calm down and let me explain.”
“Get the fuck away from me. Now!” The hatred in her voice startled, not to mention, offended him. It was not as if he’d been forcing himself on her. He’d never done that in his life, and he wasn’t about to now. Fine, let her cool her jets for a while.
He gave her one last hard glare before walking away. He didn’t need this shit.
Which was a damn lie.
Chapter Eight
Bran paced the floor of his study, restless and irritated. The council elders had listened to Kane’s request and, against some small opposition— himself included—decided to grant a tribunal to the damned witch. In a few days time, when everyone could be gathered, the case against Marlene would be reopened and examined thoroughly. That sure didn’t give him much time to find a way to stop it.
