by Crymsyn Hart
A Cat for All
Copyright © January 2012, Crymsyn Hart
Cover art by For the Muse Designs © January 2012
Amira Press
Charlotte, NC 28227
www.amirapress.com
ISBN: 978-1-937394-26-4
No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Amira Press.
Chapter One
She stared at the stars while sipping at her drink. The tart taste of the lemonade helped to soothe the strong bite of the alcohol also in the glass. It also eased the sad ache that surrounded her heart. The hotel she was at was a bit run-down, but it was the same one she stayed at with her mother when she was a child. Now her mother was dead, and the funeral had been a few hours before that. She trembled to think about how her old pride had stared at her when she stood at the graveside service with her sister. The growls of disgust and loathing were something she had expected, but it still stung her soul. Mason had his fun torturing her with not inviting her into her old home. Any way that he could torture her, he would. Finally he allowed her to enter. More memories of her past threatened to overwhelm her. I can’t think about that anymore. The pride banished me five years ago, and it was something I had braced for. But that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t hurt. Mom is gone. Mason didn’t speak to me at all. Patty was the only one glad to see me. Tomorrow night, I have to leave this land behind once more.
A cool breeze slipped along her skin, teasing the strands of her shoulder-length brown hair. The strong scent of the ocean accompanied the gust and made her cringe. It had been a long time since she’d watched the sun rise over the water, painting the horizon in strips of pinks, oranges, and light yellows. Her favorite was when the sun reflected off the clouds, transforming the dawn into a gateway to another world. Now the dark water was a churning vat of ink that had no color. Many times Orianna wished she could stand on the warm sand and feel it squish between her toes. If she walked on it now, it would be cold and clammy. The beach at night wasn’t appetizing anymore.
Orianna leaned on her balcony railing, hearing the ice cubes clink in her glass from the subtle movement of her shifting feet. A band played below. Couples were dancing and enjoying themselves, not knowing a predator lingered in their midst. It would be too tempting to join them. Just by focusing on the couples below, she could smell their alcohol-tinged sweat. Hear the enticing murmurs of their heartbeats and the sweet nothings the lovers cooed to one another. She took another sip of her drink, but her throat was already parched from the thought of the blood running underneath the paper-thin skin. She swept her gaze over the crowd. A couple of men sat with their backs toward her as they watched television. The one wearing the red shirt had blond hair so light it seemed white, and the other wearing the blue shirt had dark brown hair. A gaggle of women had gathered in one corner and were talking amongst themselves pointing toward the two men at the bar. They were probably going to try and hit on the men. Orianna felt a little bad for the unsuspecting males who were focused on the television screen mounted above the bar. From her vantage point she saw the man in red had his hand on the other man’s thigh, caressing it. She chuckled. Sorry, girls. I guess you’re out of luck. As she peered at the rest of the crowd, she noticed a lone man apart from the others.
His gaze took in the band, the couples, and then trailed along the balconies. She was only one floor up so she could watch his eyes. The man seemed normal enough, but something about his eyes held her attention. Orianna licked her lips. The hunger burned in the pit of her stomach, branching outward until her veins felt like they were stretched thin. Her jaw muscles tightened. She gripped the terrace and fought the oncoming transformation. As she clenched her drink, the glass shattered in her hand. The sudden pain of an embedded shard in her skin helped Orianna focus through the ravaging hunger. She plucked the glass from her palm, licked the wound, and then pressed it against her leg to staunch the bleeding. When she glanced at the man below, he beckoned her to join him on the dance floor. A small smile turned up the corners of her lips.
Why not go down there and see what he’s all about? I haven’t had any fun in a long time. Something good has to come out of tonight. Orianna raised her hand in acknowledgment, and his grin widened. Once she reached the bar, the band had put their instruments down and begun to mingle with the crowd. The pounding of the hearts around her were louder than the band’s drums had been. She gritted her teeth, pushed the hammering away, and focused on the one part of her that helped her remain normal.
Orianna hunted for the man who had lured her from the safety of her room. But he had vanished. After waiting a few more minutes, she shook her head and headed to the beach, drawn by the distant flame of a bonfire. Memories of times past with the pride played on her consciousness, but she shoved them away. Maybe she could draw some warmth into her cold body.
“Going somewhere?”
She turned toward the voice. The man who had drawn her downstairs stood before her. The light from the club cast his shadow along the edge of the sand and the boardwalk. His face remained in shadow, but he possessed a magnetism that drew her toward him. She figured that charisma got him into trouble. He had no idea how much trouble he was going to get into with her. The mystery man stepped further into the light. His skin was golden. His arms were crossed over his chest and showed off the defined muscles of his biceps. He was taller than her, over six feet. Leather pants hugged his well-muscled legs. Orianna noticed his hands were large, but his nails were manicured and gleamed in the light. Designer shoes encased his feet. The night was balmy, but even with the vest he didn’t seem to notice the cutting breeze coming off the ocean.
“I was going for a walk. Get away from the crowd. All the noise gives me a headache.”
The first thing she noticed was his eyes when he came fully into the light. One was blue and the other was honey brown. She stifled a gasp. The man chuckled. The silky sound caressed her skin like smooth hands that knew how to pleasure her. It added a new level of intrigue to him.
“Don’t let my looks deceive you. I may look like a freak, but I assure you I’m not one.”
“I never said that you looked like a freak,” Orianna stammered, trying to hide her curiosity.
“You didn’t have to. It was written all over your face.” He waved his hand and smiled.
Orianna crossed her hands over her chest. She drummed her nails on her arm, getting tired of beating around the bush with him. “I can’t control my facial expressions. But I’m sure you must use your unusual eye color to pick up many women.”
He stepped forward, leaving only a couple of planks of the boardwalk between them. Close enough that the heat of his body blasted against her. She licked her lips, which gave her a taste of that warmth on the tip of her tongue. So close to him now, she sensed something about him that hadn’t been there before. The way he smiled, the natural swagger, and charm were more than him knowing he was a fine specimen of a man.
“Whoa! I never said anything about trying to pick you up. And I don’t think I’m God’s gift.”
“Really?” She raised an eyebrow. A small bit of rage wound along her veins from this foolish banter. Orianna had been fine in her room trying to forget about what had happened earlier that evening. “You were the one who invited me to join you.”
Her suitor growled. “How do you know I was focused on you? There are other women in the crowd. Do you think that every man wants you?”
Orianna didn’t think about what she would do next. Normally, she plotted out what she did when interacting with anyone. It was one reason she tried to stay away from the public because situations arose like this o
ne where she would lose all control. She had carefully planned out the confrontation she’d had earlier that night. If she hadn’t, then all hell would have broken loose. Although in some part it had. Her sister had been the one to help her stay cool. Mason knew how to push her buttons. Her base instincts had torn at her reason when dealing with the asshole.
She curled her fingers into a fist. Her nails dug into the meat of her palm. “I never believed that. Once upon a time, I had someone who thought the world of me. Now I’m on my own. You’re being a dick. Forget we ever talked.” She pushed past him, but he grabbed her arm and spun her around. Orianna was inches from him now. So close the musk of his flesh sat on the tip of her tongue. It was then she knew exactly what he was. He’d been very good at concealing his nature.
“I know what you are,” he purred next to her ear.
The timbre of his voice awakened a part of her that had been buried for a very long time. The sudden desire forced her to pull in a breath. The act of drawing in another ragged gulp of air brought in the salt of the ocean and left it sitting on her tongue. By nature she didn’t need to pull in air, but it was out of habit she kept doing it. It helped her hold onto her humanity.
“You have no idea what I am. I know you’re a tiger. The way you masked your presence was commendable. Now kindly let me go before I rip your fingers off and use them for chew toys.” Orianna tried to wrench her arm away, but his strength surprised her. The pain in her gums grew to hot nails pressing into her jaw as she fought the coming of her fangs. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.
The man before her drew in a deep breath and forced a smile. That gesture eased his intense expression. The furrows smoothed out in his forehead. He released her, but didn’t retreat. “I’m sorry. This isn’t going the way I had planned. I had hoped you might join me for a drink so we could get to know one other. I didn’t want to come off as a pompous horse’s ass.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Ryker Marsh.”
Orianna glanced at the hand and mulled over if she should accept it. She raised an eyebrow. “Your parents named you after a prison?”
Dark laughter exploded into the night. That sound shook the very foundations of her soul. Only one man had done that, and he was out of her life. She thought their relationship would last forever, but how wrong she had been. I can’t let his laughter be my undoing. It’s just a physical reaction. Nothing more. All humans and shape-shifters stir my hunger in some way. It’s my curse that I can’t run away from. I’ll be in the darkness until the end of time. No matter how hot one man gets me.
“No. They didn’t name me after the island—or the prison. I was named after my great-grandfather. Please, can’t we start over?” He remained where he was, but his voice had taken on a softer, more insistent tone that tugged at her heartstrings.
Something inside of her softened. It shouldn’t have, but it had been such a horrible night up until that point that maybe she did need someone else to help her crawl out of her funk. Not that she needed another man in her life. But she was hungry. She sucked on her lip for a split second, contemplating if it would really hurt her to have one drink. Orianna glanced at his eyes one last time and felt her lips curl into a smile. Her anger melted away.
Taking his hand, she introduced herself. “I’m Orianna Depaul.”
Ryker squeezed her hand gently. His hand was rough, and it covered hers completely. He could do some damage with those strong fingers if he desired. No rings adorned his fingers, and he didn’t wear a watch. His warm skin overwhelmed her coolness. It was like being near a fire to which she yearned to draw closer. But to indulge in it would only get her singed or burned.
“Nice to meet you. So would you like to have a drink with me?”
“I’d like that.”
He released her hand and gestured back toward the hotel. Orianna walked before him, noting how he kept his distance. She couldn’t help but steal glances at Ryker while they walked down the boardwalk and stepped back into the bar. The band had resumed playing, but the crowd had died down. The breeze was a little cooler. Ocean waves retreated from the beach as the tide went out. They slid into the seats at a hidden table behind two tall, potted palm trees. It was a secret escape from the world around them that made her believe for a second she could pretend to be mortal.
The waiter appeared, and they ordered drinks. Beer for him, and she got another lemonade and vodka. As she sat back in her chair, Orianna felt her muscles relaxing. It would take more than a couple of drinks to have any effect on her, but it was nice to sip and play human with this man. After a few minutes of them not speaking, Ryker took another swig of his beer and then ran his fingers over the sweating bottle.
“I have to confess something to you.”
“Really? What is that? You’re really a horse’s ass after all?” She laughed.
The corners of his mouth turned into a smile. “No. Well, some think so.”
“So, what’s this big confession?”
He slid his hand over hers. This time the touch sent a spiral of lust through her. She gazed into his unusual-colored eyes. They held her captive, pinning her to the seat. Ryker traced small patterns on the back of her hand with his index finger. The little hairs stood along her arm. The passion he stirred in her caught her by surprise. Orianna tried to shrug it off because she had assumed it was only brought on by her mounting hunger.
“Even before I saw you there on the balcony, I knew who you were.”
“Really? And who am I?”
“You’ve been cast out of your pride. Today was the leader’s funeral, your mother.”
She jerked her hand away from his. “How do you know that? What the hell do you want with me?”
“I have my sources. Like I said, I have a proposition for you.” Ryker motioned to the bar behind her.
Orianna followed his gaze. The two men at the bar, whom she had spied earlier, had gotten up and were walking toward her. Each wore jeans, but one had a red T-shirt and the other a blue one. Wait a minute. I thought they were together. What are they doing with Ryker? They stopped at the table but kept their distance from her. A cold sweat broke out over her body. If she had a pulse, then it would have been racing. She glanced around for a way to escape. The quickest outlet was to vault over the railing behind her, but she didn’t know how quick the other men were. If the other two were shifters, then they would outrun her or at least keep up. It would be impossible for her to fight off two of them, let alone all three. Instead she took a breath and forced herself to stay in her seat.
“Are you gentlemen here to escort me away from the crowd and declare me a threat to society? Maybe slam a stake through my heart?”
The two others glanced at Ryker. The one in the red T-shirt answered. His golden skin shimmered under the light of the moon. Brooding, dark brown eyes were hidden under long, silver lashes. A white gold mane hung to his shoulders. He had defined cheekbones and lips full enough she’d love to taste them. He pulled out the chair next to her and perched on the edge.
“We’re not here to harm you. I’m Dallas, by the way.”
“Then what are you here for?” she asked.
The other man stepped forward. He was shorter than Ryker and Dallas. His hair was short and reddish brown, she observed now that he was closer. Blue-gray eyes studied her and darted to the other men. His nose was bent as if it had been broken one too many times. A scar marred his temple and sliced through the top of his left eyebrow. Another raised mark slashed his collarbone and went down under his blue T-shirt. He was wirier than the other two men, but she could still see the lean form of his muscles. His clothes were a little more ragged, and yet something about him was wilder than the other two. The kinetic energy around him disturbed the air and made her antsy, too. She figured he was a newly transformed cat and didn’t have control over his inner beast yet.
“We caught your unique scent three nights ago and found the carcass you left,” the other man said.
“This
is about me leaving a dead deer on your property? I didn’t realize any shifters lived there outside of pride lands. If so, I would’ve hunted somewhere else. Do I need to pay you for the animal? That is why you tracked me here?” Her jaw tightened, but she held in her anger.
“This isn’t about the deer, Orianna.” Ryker leaned over the table and took her hand again. He brought it to his lips and nipped the skin. “What Pierce is trying to say is that when he showed us the deer and we caught your scent, he insisted we come after you.” He leaned nearer, closed his eyes, and drew in a long breath.
A look of pure ecstasy crossed his face. The corners of his eyes scrunched up. His mouth formed into an O, and a small moan slipped from his throat. He opened his eyes and met her gaze. Ryker’s eyes burned with a passion she was starting to understand. When she studied the other two men, she saw the same fire in theirs. Dallas gripped the edge of the table. The muscles were tight in his jaw. Pierce placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. A look passed between them that made her wonder if they were romantically involved.
Ryker withdrew and took another sip of his beer. “We want you to come home with us. We can give you everything you’ve ever wanted. We can take away the hurt that haunts your soul.”
Chapter Two
It took a moment for Ryker’s words to sink in. Orianna glanced at the three men, not sure she believed Ryker’s proposal. She understood what they were asking. It had happened to her once before with the man who had stolen her soul and left her to die. There was no way these three were now claiming to be her mates. The world around her slowed. It seemed they were in their own little bubble and nothing else mattered except them. The ice cubes cracked and whined in her drink. Crashing sounds of the ocean dulled in comparison to the three men’s racing hearts. So loud they deafened her. It can’t be possible. They’re playing with me.
“Did the others send you here? Is that what this is about? Are you here to taunt me? Did Mason put you up to this?” She gritted her teeth. This all had to be a setup. Wasn’t it bad enough that she had been ordered never to venture into town after tonight? The ban had been lifted because her mother had called her home on her deathbed. If not for that, then she wouldn’t have been allowed to return.
