Chosen Mate (Catamount Lion Shifters #2)

by J. H. Croix

  He leaned forward and took her lips in a swift and fierce kiss. In less than three seconds, Phoebe thought she might go up in flames. He pulled away, softly nipping her bottom lip as he did. “So, should I come by in about an hour?”

  She nodded. Dazed, she climbed into her car and let it warm up for a few minutes after she started it. Her whole body tingled. She touched her fingers to her lips, as if she could hold onto the sensation Jake left behind.

  Chapter 5

  Jake walked into Phoebe’s house and smiled. She’d put up a small Christmas tree in the corner of her living room, a young balsam fir that she’d plant come spring. Insisting on a live Christmas tree was classic Phoebe. She hated the idea of cutting trees down solely for the sake of decorating them and then watching them wither and die. For as long as he could recall, her Christmas trees were live, their root balls soaking in a stainless steel tub camouflaged with red felt. Every spring, she’d find the perfect spot and plant the tree. Her decorations were simple with holiday lights draped around the tree and nothing more. A fire flickered in the woodstove. He followed the sound of Phoebe’s voice into the kitchen.

  While he’d been driving over, he considered that he and Phoebe hadn’t discussed how to talk about their relationship with their many mutual friends. He hadn’t considered hiding it, but he figured it was something they should talk about. If it were any friend other than Shana, he wouldn’t hesitate to walk in and kiss Phoebe senseless, like he wanted to do every time he saw her, and leave the explanations for later. But with everything Shana had been through, he wasn’t so sure she needed to bear witness to the newly acknowledged feelings between him and Phoebe. He told himself he’d find a way to keep his hands off of Phoebe for the duration of dinner. He hoped he could manage.

  Phoebe’s back was to him when he walked into the kitchen. She was slicing something on the counter. Her hair was tied in a loose knot that fell haphazardly to the side. She wore a soft cotton shirt of bright red fabric that hugged her curves, accentuating the dip at her waist and flare of her hips. He reined in the urge to walk over and kiss the curve of her neck and cup her luscious bottom in his hands.

  “Hey Jake, it’s so good to see you,” Shana said as she stood up from the table.

  Jake strode to her side and tugged her into a quick embrace. “How are you?” he asked, pulling back and looking into her eyes.

  Shana smiled softly, her eyes tired, but determined. He sensed that she’d decided she was going to face the mess Callen left behind. She nodded firmly. “I’m getting there. I went back to work today.”

  He stepped back from her when she moved to sit down. “Glad to hear you made it back to work.” He paused, wondering what to talk about with her. There was so much happening that linked to Callen, and yet Shana had been left to face his betrayal on her own.

  Shana held his eyes. “Don’t be afraid to talk in front of me. I told Phoebe I’m tired of everyone tiptoeing around me. Callen died and it’s awful. And now I know he wasn’t who I thought he was, which makes it all worse. The town’s in an uproar, so don’t try to act like nothing’s going on. The way I see it, it’s better if I hear what’s happening. Otherwise, I’ve got a million places I can go in my head, most of them even worse.”

  Jake considered Shana’s words. Ever since he’d stumbled on Callen’s betrayal, he’d wondered how Shana was feeling. She was a strong woman, one of the strongest female shifters in the area. He figured Callen’s betrayal would sting even more as a result. She’d been a leader in Catamount, alongside Callen. Though she’d been cleared of any involvement in Callen’s dealings, there were whispers. Jake knew they stung. It didn’t surprise him she’d want to face this head on, that was her personality. He met her eyes and nodded firmly.

  Phoebe turned to them, setting the chopping knife on the counter and wiping her hands on a towel. She caught his eyes. A current of electricity pulled taut between them. Jake forced himself to remain where he stood and attempted to smile casually at her.

  “Shana wants to help with the investigation,” Phoebe said, her eyes holding his. “I think you should let her. She might be able to point us in the right direction. She didn’t know Callen was doing what he did, but she might be able to figure out things like what his aliases meant. What do you think?”

  Jake forced his eyes away from Phoebe and looked to Shana. “Shana, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

  Shana cut him off, her eyes resolute. “Jake, I’m sick to learn about what Callen was doing. Please let me try to help. If you don’t trust me, you can watch over my shoulder every step of the way.”

  Jake shook his head. “Of course I trust you! We all trust you. If you’re wondering…”

  Shana interjected again. “Since you won’t say it, I will. If I were you, I’d be worried about me. Callen was my husband. I loved him, or at least I loved the man I believed him to be. How he hid what he was doing so completely is beyond me. All I knew was he was on his quest to connect with shifters out West. I’m wondering how I could have been so blind. I don’t blame you and everyone else for being suspicious.” Shana’s eyes were bright with tears as she looked between him and Phoebe.

  Phoebe moved toward her, and Shana waved her away. She wiped at her tears and took a shuddering breath. Phoebe’s eyes caught his, and it was all he could do not to step to her side and pull her in his arms. He knew it pained her deeply to see her friend go through this. He thought it was best to be direct with Shana.

  He met Shana’s eyes. “I trust you because I’ve known you forever, and there’s no doubt in my mind you had nothing to do with what Callen was doing. But I also made sure to back up my trust with facts. When I stumbled onto Callen’s email aliases, I crosschecked every single email he sent with your schedule at the hospital. You were never home when those emails were sent.” He glanced at Phoebe, relieved she already knew he’d done this. He had to, not because he didn’t trust Shana, but because of the very reason Shana thought people might doubt her. “In case you’re thinking I did that because I didn’t trust you, think again. I did it because I wanted to make sure no one had reason to doubt you.”

  Shana held his gaze steadily. “I’m so relieved you did that. I’d rather you did than didn’t. I just…” She paused, her breath hitching. “…don’t know how I could have fallen for Callen’s lies. I’m so angry with him, and he’s gone, so I can’t do anything about it. I want to go talk to his family, but I don’t dare. I’m afraid of what I might say and what they might know. Have you looked into anyone else other than Randall?”

  Jake nodded. “We’re investigating anyone connected to Callen. I promise you, we’ll get to the bottom of this. If you want to help, let’s talk to Dane first.”

  Shana rolled her eyes. “That’s what Phoebe said. You know he won’t let me anywhere near any of this. He’s so freaked out about Chloe getting kidnapped, he’s got me giving him my schedule every day.”

  Jake shrugged. “Far as I’m concerned, that makes sense.” If Jake had his way, every woman who mattered to him, family and friends, would stay far away from the mess Callen had left behind. Anger sparked under his skin at the reminder of Chloe’s kidnapping.

  It was Phoebe’s turn to interject. “Are you serious? Jake, Shana can’t be expected to report in to Dane every day!”

  Jake met Phoebe’s eyes, which were flashing with irritation. After Chloe’s kidnapping by Callen’s younger brother, Randall, and one of Callen’s contacts from Montana, Jake had been worried for anyone and everyone connected to shifters in Catamount. His closest friend Dane, of course, was hyper-aware after Chloe was kidnapped. Dane’s family was swirling in the center of the storm with Shana his sister and Chloe his fiancée. For Jake, even the passing thought that something could happen to Phoebe knotted fear around his heart. He looked between Phoebe and Shana. He reined in his desire to command them to stay out of this. He knew them both well enough to know that would result in the opposite. It took a massi
ve effort with his protective instincts in high gear, but he bit back his words and forced himself to speak slowly.

  “Look, we’re worried about everyone. After what happened to Chloe, the last thing anyone wants is for someone else to get kidnapped. We already know about the guy at the hospital.” His words stopped when he realized Shana might not know about that. When he looked to Phoebe, she nodded in Shana’s direction.

  “She knows. We didn’t say anything, but she figured it out,” Phoebe commented.

  Shana rolled her eyes. “As if I wouldn’t notice that you all were trying to keep me out of an entire wing on our floor.” Looking back at Jake, she continued. “That’s my point. Tiptoeing around me isn’t helping. It’s not like I don’t notice. I get why Dane’s worried, I do. I just want to try to help if I can.”

  Jake nodded slowly. “I’ll talk to Hank and Dane tomorrow. It’s fine with me if you help me sift through the mountain of emails I’m plowing through. You might have some insight into different aliases and maybe Callen dropped some clues about the people he was working with.”

  Shana nodded quickly. “How about I meet you at your office in the morning?”

  “How about we let Dane know first?” he countered. “He’d rather you work with me, if anything.”

  Shana huffed, but she didn’t argue. Conversation moved on. Jake was glad to see Shana, but found dinner highlighted a sad truth. Until he knew Catamount shifters were out of danger, there would be no casual dinners with friends that didn’t feel weighted by the threats swirling around. The level of betrayal set in motion by Callen was still on a destructive course. His younger brother waited in jail, holding their secrets close for now. Questions hung everywhere regarding who else might be involved.

  If Shana noticed the current buzzing between him and Phoebe, she gave no indication of it. For Jake’s part, it was taking all of his discipline to keep his hands off of Phoebe. Over many years of friendship, dinners with Phoebe and any combination of mutual friends had been common. Though he was accustomed to keeping a lid on his feelings, he couldn’t have known how difficult it would be once that lid had been blown off.

  The mundane activity of helping Phoebe clean up after dinner with Shana present brought his body to the edge of pain. Phoebe’s kitchen had never felt so small. The brush of her arm against his, the swing of her hair when it tumbled free, the catch of her breath when he gave in to the urge and swiftly stroked a hand down the curve of her hip when Shana stepped out to go to the bathroom—every tiny moment tightened the coil of desire inside of him.

  Phoebe’s dark eyes snagged on his as Shana’s footsteps approached the kitchen again. He couldn’t help himself and closed the space between them, dropping a kiss on the side of her neck.

  “Jake, what are you doing?” she whispered fiercely.

  He stepped back just as Shana entered the kitchen, savoring the satisfaction that rose in him at the flush staining Phoebe’s cheeks.

  Shana stepped to the table and picked up her purse, looping it over her shoulder. In moments, she said her goodbyes, assuring Jake she’d be at his office first thing tomorrow. Phoebe followed her to the door. Jake leaned against the wall, watching Phoebe close the door behind Shana. The fire had burned to embers in the woodstove, flickering sparks mingling amidst the soft light cast by the holiday lights on the tree.

  Phoebe turned and leaned against the door. Her hair fell in a rumple of dark curls around her shoulders. Her eyes met his, a question held in them. He covered the distance between them in quick strides, answering her unspoken question with a kiss. She gasped when he brought his lips to hers. He’d intended to be gentle, but the second her mouth opened, his kiss turned rough. Touching her set loose the lust that he could barely hold in check anymore. Years of discipline broke down completely. She was the key to his primal desire—calling to both sides of him though his cat simmered under his skin in every moment with her.

  He devoured her mouth—deep strokes, soft bites, and unrestrained want galloping through him. His pulse rocketed. He pressed her into the door, imprinting his body against hers, growling softly at the feel of her soft curves against him. He seared a wet path down her neck, coasting his hands up her sides to curl around her breasts, soft and heavy in his hands. He needed to feel her skin, the need so frantic, he tore at her shirt. The next few moments passed in a blur. Clothes were torn off, her soft skin flashed in the dimness, their ragged breathing mingled—until she was bare before him.

  She stood leaning against the door, her nipples peaked in the shadowed light, her generous breasts rising and falling with her breath. Her lips were parted, her eyes dark. He stood inches away, his chest bare, his arousal straining against the denim of his jeans. Jake was coming to love the side of Phoebe he saw when she was aroused. Though he’d tamped down many a fantasy of her over the years, his fantasies couldn’t have done justice to what she was like. Once the walls of her restraint fell, the passion between them burned so hot and high, he lost himself in it.

  She slowly reached forward, hooked a finger in his belt loop and drew him closer. The feel of her hand stroking the length of his arousal through his jeans almost brought him to his knees. Her eyes met his—a hot lick of a look—as she slid his zipper down and pushed him back a step. The warmth of her palm around his cock brought a groan. He tried to say her name, but couldn’t. Her breasts swayed as she leaned forward and took him in her mouth. She proceeded to bring him to the edge of a place he’d never been. He was always in control when it came to sex…always.

  But now, with Phoebe’s mouth on him, stroking, licking, and sucking, he fell into the hot and electric pulse around them. He looked down to see the arch of her spine as she leaned forward, her skin damp and glistening in the dim light. He slid his hands down her spine, coming to rest at her hips and holding on for dear life as she brought him fully into her mouth again and again. Just when he was on the verge of exploding, she went still and slowly drew away. She stood, eyes pinned to his, desire shimmering in her gaze.

  Her skin was dewy with the sheen of desire, her curls a wild rumple around her shoulders. Her pulse was visible in her neck, her breathing ragged. Jake closed the small space between them, lifting her roughly in his arms, turning to the couch and stretching her under him. She gasped as he pressed her back, shifting between her knees and pushing her thighs apart. Lust clawed at him. He ran his palms up her thighs, savoring the give of her skin. He stroked a finger through her wet folds, almost losing it when her hips writhed against his touch. With one hand gripping her hip and holding her still, he brought his mouth to the center of her. He dove into giving her pleasure—deep delves of his fingers into her channel, rough strokes of his tongue as he explored every inch of her. Her cries and gasps fed him, notching the heat inside higher and higher until he was taut with the restraint of holding back. Her body suddenly arched in a shivering stretch as he drew her clit into his mouth, holding suction until she convulsed around his hand. He slowed his movements until her body relaxed, soft shudders reverberating against him.

  With a growl, he hooked a hand under her thigh, lifting it swiftly and sliding up into the cradle of her hips as he shoved his jeans down. He fumbled for a condom and rolled it on with his free hand. Her folds were slick against the head of his cock. He grabbed onto a thin thread of control and met her eyes, forcing himself to wait. Her mouth parted, his name falling from her lips in a soft gasp. Only then did he plunge inside of her, growling when he sank to the hilt. The creamy clench of her channel almost pushed him over the edge, but he managed to hold on. Her eyes closed in the fevered passion of the moment.

  “Look at me,” he commanded softly.

  She did, those wild, dark eyes landing on his. Never breaking his gaze, he began to stroke inside her channel. The only thing that kept him from letting go was the promise in her eyes. Only when he felt her begin to throb around him did he let go. She flew apart again, her cries raining down around him as he pounded into her, the unbearable pressur
e inside of him finally letting loose.

  Chapter 6

  Phoebe drifted down slowly, the only thing anchoring her the feel of Jake’s skin against hers. Pleasure echoed in her body. When she came to full awareness and realized how wanton she’d just been with him, a flush washed through her. She wanted to run and hide, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t. She opened her eyes to find his blue gaze dark and intent on her.

  She took a breath, her breasts pushing against the hard planes of his chest as she did, accentuating the awareness of what his body did to her. Jake held still for a long moment before slowly shifting his hips away and untangling himself from her. Before she could even form a thought, much less move, he’d walked to the bathroom to dispose of his condom and returned to the living room to find her lying exactly where he’d left her.

  This…this…with Jake was flinging her so far out of her comfort zone she didn’t know what to do. Jake tugged his clothes on and picked up her scattered clothing. He sat beside her, his eyes warm and bemused. He ran a hand down her arm. Only then did she realize she was getting cold.

  “You’re going to freeze,” he said, swiftly rubbing both hands up and down her arms, which were pebbled from the chilled air.

  She finally broke out of her trance and accepted the clothes he handed to her. Moments later, they were back in the kitchen. She started water for tea, thinking it would give her something to do. Yet waiting for water to boil offered little distraction. Her mind spun over the unraveling of her control. All Jake had to do was look her way and her senses were overcome. She kept telling herself they had to slow down, had to make sure they weren’t on the way to blowing up their friendship. Then he touched her, and she went up in smoke. He was seated at the table, his legs stretched out in front of him. She turned to look at him, wondering what to say. Her heart wanted to curl up against him and just be with him, while her head wanted to calmly discuss what was happening and what they should do. The confusion between her heart and mind froze her.