Cade let his body begin to shift from lion form so he could stand before Eve and talk with his human voice. He preferred to spend his days lazing around in the sun at the preserve. Human life was much too complicated for his liking.
Besides, he thought, glancing back at the lioness with whom he shared the cage. Mia needs me. I can’t abandon her now.
Tan fur rippled into waist length blond hair, automatically blowing forward over his naked chest. Eve averted her eyes. He thought it funny, the way she got embarrassed by their nakedness. After centuries of changing form, all the cat shifters had gotten used to walking around naked. Besides, being half cat kept them trim and lean and most looked damned good in the buff. They had absolutely nothing to hide.
“Howdy, doc,” Cade drawled, grinning widely as he crossed over to her. He put his hands on his hips, standing proudly, his cock nestled between his thighs.
“Uh, Cade, do you mind, buddy?” Viktor asked, pointedly. “You’re embarrassing my wife.”
“Can’t help it,” Cade laughed. “She’s so cute when she’s red.”
“Cade, get dressed,” Eve said, her face turning a darker shade. “Or so help me I’ll shave you in cat form just to see if those pretty locks of yours fall off.”
Viktor looked down at Eve’s blushing face. The pheromones he was emitting were potent enough for the whole preserve to smell. His voice dipped and his voice became husky. “Yeah, she is cute, isn’t she?”
“Eh, come on,” Cade grumbled, waving his hand in the air in a feeble attempt to get rid of the pheromones. “Give us bachelors a break, would you?”
“One of the girls who works for us says that King’s been intimidating her,” Eve interrupted their teasing. Viktor chuckled lightly, but kept quiet. “Care to tell me why you’re harassing the help?”
“Oh, her.” Cade frowned and crossed over to the small cave. He was still angry when he thought about the woman telling him how she’d slept with another man. Pushing on a fabricated rock, he waited for a secret compartment to open. The preserve was closed and he felt like getting out of the cage. Taking the clothes he found inside the compartment, he pulled on a T-shirt. Tight blue jeans were soon to follow.
“Yeah, her,” Eve said, tapping her foot. “Care to explain?”
“I hope you fired her.” He shook his head. That woman was annoying as hell, putting him down one minute as if she actually knew him and then talking about fucking another guy the next. It didn’t help that just seeing her walk near his cage made his body tight with desire. Everything about her was a distraction. His cock twitched, wanting to rise to full length. He was glad he’d dressed, not wanting Viktor to mistake the reaction for Eve. Eve was beautiful, but she was also very much taken. Catshifters respected each other’s territory.
“Well, no, I didn’t,” Eve said. Cade wondered at the relief he felt at her statement. “I know Fiona is a handful, but Finn’s been insistent that we keep her on. He says it’s a matter of great importance and the truth is I have nowhere else to put her. I’ve tried everything. She can’t cook so the small café’s out, she’s useless in the lab and all the other cats aren’t as patient as I know you can be. I put her in this section because I thought you’d be nice to her.”
“Vik, tell your wife to turn off the flattery and batting eyelashes,” Cade said, even as he felt himself softening to Eve’s dilemma. She really was a good person and he hated to see her so upset—especially in her so recently delicate condition. “You should talk to Finn and tell him her attitude is all wrong for this place.”
“I will,” Eve promised, “just as soon as he gets back from Europe. So, can you do me a favor and put up with her until then? Please? For me, Cade?”
“Well…” He hesitated, his resolve crumbling. Damn, but he was weak when it came to his female friends. “Okay, I’ll stop harassing her.” He paused, giving a meaningful look down to her flat belly. “But only if you name the baby you’re carrying after me.”
Eve looked confused and Cade knew Viktor hadn’t told her yet. She turned to her husband in surprise. Viktor shot him a look of slight annoyance, but Cade didn’t care as he gave an insolent grin. With a light jump, he hopped over the tall fence with ease and strolled down the path. As he walked away, he heard Viktor say, “I was going to tell you, my love, but there wasn’t time. It just happened this morning.”
Chapter Two
Cade shifted his motorcycle into gear. Riding was almost as nice as running free on all fours through an open plain. He loved the feel of the wind in his long hair, the freedom of the cool night as he rode through the countryside. Only tonight, he wasn’t headed to the countryside. He was going into town.
For some reason, he was drawn to find some female companionship. Shifting his hips, he suppressed a growl. His cock was so hard that he could barely straddle the big bike without feeling the discomfort of it vibrating throughout his entire frame. He knew damned well who the reason was, even if he hated to admit it.
Fiona. Her name was Fiona. He hadn’t known until he heard Eve say it. The woman didn’t wear a nametag like the rest of the staff at the preserve. It didn’t stop him from staring at her shirt though, especially her round breasts.
Cade liked aggravating the woman, because she aggravated him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just his temper that she provoked, but his libido. Every time he was near her, he’d smell her sweet perfume and it was all he could do not to shift and throw her up against the chain-link fence just to fuck her delicate little body until neither of them could walk straight. She was so tiny, with wide green eyes and beautiful auburn hair. Oh, and her breasts. Man, they would fill his hands to overflowing. She had dark, round nipples too. He knew because he’d splashed her one hot day when she’d taken off her work shirt. The damp white undershirt had molded very nicely to her upper body.
He growled, loud and long into the wind as he sped up, hunching forward on the bike. His stomach was tight with pent up need. Already he could smell her in his head. He was going to find her tonight and he was going to purge the aggravating woman from his system so he could think straight.
Damn those green eyes of hers!
Mm, and her mouth. Cade forced the motorcycle to go faster until he soared over the dark pavement. That woman had the kind of full lips a man paid big bucks to have wrapped around his cock. Damn, but he wanted to fuck her sweet little mouth. Already he could picture it in his head—had been picturing it since first seeing her at the preserve.
Hell, while he was at it, he might as well fuck her firm little ass, too. No reason to leave any part of the woman untried. The carnal instinct inside him was strong and bursting to get out. He’d suppressed his animalistic human nature for too long and it was suddenly letting loose with a vengeance.
“Fiona,” he whispered, knowing that tonight was about so much more than sex. This was his future. Their future. He was a cat, used to trusting instinct. And every instinct told him he’d found the one. His mate. The aggravatingly annoying beautiful Fiona.
He didn’t want to admit it, but there it was. Fiona was his mate.
When desire was this hot, there was only one way to cool it. He needed to feed the flames until they were spent. Only then would the fire burn itself out. Only then would she belong completely to him. Cade took a deep breath. He only hoped she felt the same way.
* * * *
Fiona sat alone in the corner booth, eating her grilled chicken on a bed of salad. Sighing, she thought, I really need to get out of this depression…
Almost regretfully she thought about work. Her father had really picked a doozey of a job for her this time and she’d have to do it until he told her where to go next. He was punishing her for disobeying his will to begin with. Fredrick LaSalle had wanted her to marry the right man, get the right house, have the right babies. When she didn’t do it, forsaking his desires to live her own life, he’d been livid. Crawling back to him hadn’t been easy, but she had no choice. It was either she lived up to her responsi
bilities and paid for her mistakes by honoring her ‘debt’ to creditors, or she declared bankruptcy and took the easy way out.
Fiona was not the kind of girl to take the easy way out. Besides, doing things this way was also a form of self-punishment. She’d been such a fool for trusting James!
Taking a sip of water, Fiona forgot the salad and slumped down in her seat, losing her appetite. What she needed was a diversion. She needed a man—some drifter coming through town who wouldn’t be averse to having a one-night stand. She hadn’t been lying when she told King that she needed to get laid. Her pussy ached with need, even more so now that she didn’t have an eligible partner with whom to slake her desire.
Apparently the lion didn’t think it was such a good idea. Good thing she didn’t need his approval to go through with her plan. She’d always been a sexually charged person, but since starting at the preserve, her lust had gotten worse. It was probably just a coincidence, but it didn’t make her life any more tolerable. Unfortunately, she needed a willing candidate and she had no clue where to get one.
Just then, like a sign from above, a single headlight shone into the restaurant’s front window as a motorcycle came to a stop. Her heart nearly exploded in her chest as the rider cut the engine. The light shut off and, in the soft glow of the streetlamps, she saw a man like no other. He had incredibly chiseled features, a broad muscular body, and long blond hair that flowed to his waist.
Her eyes traveled down over his body as he lifted a leg over the bike. He was trim, fit, lean. Tight denim hugged his thick thighs and outlined his perfect hips. Now this was what she needed. A man that looked this good would definitely know how to treat a woman in bed. Heck, at this point Fiona would gladly let him take her anywhere, just so long as he took her.
Feeling slightly reckless and knowing she had little to lose at this point in her life, she met the man’s eyes boldly as he stepped into the restaurant. His wide frame seemed to fill up the tiny dining area and his vivid green gaze found her instantly. When he looked directly at her, it was as if the whole world faded away. Lightning pierced her soul at his attention, making her shake all the way down to her toes. He didn’t move for a long time, appearing just as stunned as she was.
Carnal, primitive fire had never consumed her like it did when she looked at him. A silent understanding seemed to pass between them. Fiona reached blindly for her purse to find her wallet. The man stepped toward her, his chin lowering some as he neared. There was something very predatory in his gaze, the primal fire of a hunter on the prowl. Her heart sped in her chest, thundering in her ears. This was insanity, but she didn’t care. She’d prayed for a gift like this.
He stopped at her table and glanced over her. Men like this just didn’t exist, did they? Everything about him radiated potent male. His eyes flickered to her hand still stuck in her purse. A slow grin curled the side of his face as he reached behind his back and pulled out his wallet. Without looking, he grabbed a bill and tossed it down on the table. Then, he offered her his hand.
Fiona gripped her purse, shaking slightly as she slipped her fingers into his warm ones. He turned, leading her from the restaurant. Her eyes drifted down to the tight fit of his jeans. The denim hugged his perfect ass. Everything but the man was a blur and inside her body every nerve seemed to whisper, This is meant to be. Go with him. Be with him.
He led her out the door to his motorcycle and let go of her hand to climb on. Fiona watched, wondering what she should do. His large thighs straddled the seat and she swallowed to see the obvious bulge of his cock pressing against his jeans. Unless he stuffed his crotch with a sock or something, the man was incredibly well-hung.
“Where are we going?” she asked, trying to come to her senses, trying to ignore the pull he had on her. The strange, animal magnetism was too potent to disregard. It was like part of her soul knew this man, knew that she’d be okay with him. Strange thoughts whispered in her head.
Go with him.
Be with him.
He’s yours. Claim him.
“For a ride,” he answered, his tone husky. His silky voice was almost as gorgeous as he was. A brow arched on his chiseled face. “Why? You got somewhere else to be?”
“No,” she answered, before she could think to stop herself. Why did she say that? Why was she even out here? This was crazy!
Claim him.
“Worried, then?” There was challenge in his words, but also a light teasing. When he looked at her in such a way, he became so familiar. A nagging thought pulled at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t quite place where she would’ve seen him before.
Yeah, in your dreams, silly. Now go and claim him!
Fiona smiled as she looked deep into his green eyes. He had kind eyes, soft and affectionate. She trusted those eyes. Regrettably, she wasn’t so sure she had the best judgment. She had trusted James, after all.
This is a mistake. Don’t trust your instinct. He’s a stranger. This is crazy.
Fiona opened her mouth to politely thank him for the offer and decline, but the breeze pushed his masculine scent over her and she got a deep whiff of it instead. It was like he emitted a pheromone she couldn’t resist. Instantly, her body numbed and all she could think about was having sex with the delicious man in front of her. Nothing else mattered but the need building in her stomach. Her nipples budded against her shirt, begging to be freed.
A soft moan passed her lips. Slowly, she climbed on the back of the bike and put her purse between them to keep her sex from rubbing up against his firm butt. Just the idea of it made cream gather between her thighs, dampening her panties even more.
Fiona didn’t care. She couldn’t resist, didn’t even think to try. Every fiber inside her body told her that this was right. This was the man she was meant to be with.
“No, I’m not worried, but you should be,” she said, answering his question, her tone husky as she slipped her arms around his firm waist. The man chuckled softly. His heat soaked into her as did his delicious smell. Wantonly, she pushed her chest along his back. Her breasts instantly swelled at the contact, sending fire through her blood. His long, gorgeous hair was crushed between them, lifting to tickle her bare arms. The man glanced over his shoulder and grinned, his expression saying he knew exactly what her reaction to him was.
“Do you believe in fate?” she asked, not knowing where the question came from. She never would’ve said that out loud to a man. It sounded so girly.
“I believe in destiny,” he answered, moving to turn the key. The bike roared to life, vibrating between her thighs. It took all her willpower not to wiggle against the tight leather seat until she orgasmed.
“Then let’s go.” Fiona held him tighter. Maybe she had met him before in a dream. Or maybe she was just a fool.
He nodded once, not turning back around as he revved the engine. Resting her head on his back, Fiona hugged him tightly and took a deep breath. Again the smell of him invaded her with its heady lust.
Oh, yeah. This is definitely the only place I have to be.
* * * *
Cade couldn’t believe that Fiona had followed him from the restaurant without question. Part of him was angry that she’d merely walk off with a stranger without so much as asking his name. Another part of him was elated that he didn’t have to waste time trying to convince her to go with him. His cock hurt too badly for him to be charming and smooth at the moment. If he had to seduce her later, fine, but right now he needed release.
Feeling her arms tighten around his waist as he purposefully sped up the motorcycle, he decided to be mad at her later. Besides, it was quite possible she felt and understood their destiny just as he had. She did ask about fate, after all. Was that her way of saying she knew and she accepted him as her mate? Cade gave a small smile. He’d have thought mating would be a lot more difficult than a couple of sentences.
This whole thing might turn out easier than he first pictured. The way her thighs curved around the back of his made his cock lurch
to be free of his jeans. Maybe her aggravated behavior at the preserve was because she’d been waiting for him to shift and make a move. It wasn’t completely unheard of for humans to know of his kind and accept it. Maybe Fiona knew he was a shifter. Though, he wasn’t about to shift and find out until she said something first. Her small body felt too good pressed along his back and it had been way too long since he’d been with a woman. He didn’t want to scare her away.
I’ll show you who’s lazy, he thought, remembering her words to him at the preserve. The idea held no malice, just pure intention. When I’m done with you, you won’t be able to walk and hopefully neither will I.
There was just something about her that made him forget every thought in his head. He looked at her and all he understood was desire. She wasn’t his normal type—sure, pretty was his type and she was way beyond pretty—but she knew nothing about animals, or at least about big cats. By the way she walked and acted at the preserve, she was a little on the prissy side. Cade was an outdoorsy type of guy, which wasn’t too surprising being that he was a shifter. He liked camping, hunting and hiking. He’d bet his right testicle that the preserve was the closest Fiona had ever been to the wilderness.
Despite these superficial differences, he’d wanted her from the first moment. The little look of fascination she sometimes got when she watched them was adorable and he could tell by her gentle movements that she was kind hearted under her wounded exterior. Cade would’ve loved to have met James, just so he could kick the man’s ass for hurting her.
The pull between them was strong. It invaded him to the point that he actually waited for her to walk by his cage. His eyes took in every movement of her body when she was near and he thought about her when she was gone. The restaurant was the first time he’d looked at her with his human eyes, but the attraction between them could’ve set the room on fire. She’d felt it too. He could smell that she did. Her longing was a fragrant scent in his head—calling to him, urging him to ride faster. He did, slipping her away into the night.
Carnal Instinct (A Ghost Cat Book) Page 2
