Carnal Instinct (A Ghost Cat Book)

by Pillow Michelle M.

  “Because I love him,” her mother answered. Fiona frowned slightly. Teresa took a deep breath. “Because the first moment I saw him I knew we were meant to be together. I just looked at him and I knew.”

  “Just like that? And you’ve had no regrets?” Fiona thought of Cade. He’d been in her head, but she didn’t know what to do about it. At night, she dreamed of him, her body so hot she barely had to touch herself to orgasm. During the day, she caught herself searching the crowds for him. He wasn’t there, at least not that she saw. Sometimes she thought she felt him watching her, but if he was he never approached.

  “Well, we’ve had our share of fights to be sure, but I have no regrets,” Teresa said. Fiona quirked a brow, wondering what her mother would consider a ‘fight.’ The mild-mannered woman hadn’t lifted her voice a day in her life. Teresa laughed. “What? We have.”

  “Oh, really.” Fiona smirked. “When?”

  “The last time was the day you moved out, Ms. Smarty Pants, if you must know.”

  Fiona wiped the look off her face. “Anyway, as you were saying, you love him and have no regrets.”

  “You tend to make things so complicated, just like your father.” Teresa shook her head and picked up her tea. “Sometimes, darling, life is what you want it to be. The women on our side of the family can just feel our soul mates. It’s an instinct inside us, a pull we can’t ignore. If you think you’ve found him, then why fight it? Life can be so short and so cruel. You have to grab the things you know you want and just hold tight no matter the cost. And, if you find your soul mate, then you grab onto him and never let go.”

  “And if he doesn’t feel the same?”

  “If he’s your soul mate, he will.”

  Fiona studied her mother. “You’re deeper than you let on, you know.”

  “What?” Teresa winked. “Did you think all I knew how to do was throw parties?”

  She didn’t answer.

  Teresa sighed, motioning her hand to the side. “Now, tell me what you think of my new lilies. Aren’t they beautiful? I just love lilies.”

  Fiona dutifully turned her head, knowing her mother was ending the serious conversation. She eyed the pretty little white buds and nodded. Lily of the Valley was one of her favorites and her mother had always had a way with flowers. “Yeah, they really are beautiful.”

  Chapter Five

  Cade ran through the dark fields on all fours searching for the intruder. He’d picked up an unfamiliar scent about an hour before and the stronger the smell got, the more sure he became that the cat was a male shifter. And the way his gut clenched assured him that the shifter was up to no good. Besides, had he been friendly, the man would’ve shown respect and introduced himself to those at the preserve. It was simple etiquette to say hello before coming into someone’s home and Jameson Wild life Rescue and Preserve was home to many.

  Slowing his pace as he neared the tree line, he sniffed. He was getting closer to the man’s hideout. Cade crouched on all fours, silently moving into the dark woods. His cat eyes saw easily in the night, but he knew the shifter he tracked would most likely see him with just as little effort.

  Cade tensed, ready to pounce. His ears twitched in warning and his hair stood on end. A low growl sounded in the woods, near some dense brush close to the path.

  “What do you want?” an old voice yelled, after a long silence. “Leave me be.”

  The cat had shifted to his human form. Cade did the same, keeping his senses keenly alert for an ambush.

  “I said leave me be,” the man repeated. “I’m not doing anything wrong. Go away.”

  “You’re on private property, shifter,” Cade said.

  “You know where I am?”

  “Show yourself,” Cade demanded. An old man appeared from behind a tree, standing as naked as the day he was born. Instantly, Cade saw his white eyes. The man was blind. His guard relaxed some, but an uneasy feeling still resided in the pit of his stomach. In his centuries of living, he’d never met an old shifter. And, over time, the man’s body should’ve been able to restore his eyesight. Something was unmistakably wrong with this situation. “Who are you?”

  “Name’s Ricard.” The man shook as he leaned against the tree for support. He hardly looked able to support his own weight, let alone do anyone harm. Cade kept a keen eye on him, but relaxed his guard some as he felt no immediate danger. “Are you the shifter who’s been stalking me?”

  “My name’s Cade,” Cade answered. He too was naked after shifting, but barely paid it any mind.

  “Nice to meet you, Cade,” the man said. “I didn’t mean to trespass. I don’t always know where I am. I haven’t seen anyone for months.”

  “You’re at the Jameson Wild Life Rescue and Preserve.” Cade took a slow step forward as Ricard reached out a hand. He took it, shaking it before hooking it onto his elbow to lead the man out of the trees toward the clearing.

  “Then I made it,” the man said, giving a great sigh. His body seemed to relax with what could only be relief. “I wasn’t sure. When no one picked me up, I assumed I’d gotten lost. Word has it there’s a lady here who takes in strays.”

  Yep, that would be Eve all right.

  Cade chuckled at the thought. It was no wonder that her generosity had gotten around the shifter world as well as the humans. Just as she took in strays left behind by human pet owners, it would seem she’d now become an infirmary and homeless shelter to down and out shifters.

  Eyeing the man, he still didn’t feel right about him. There was definitely something off to the whole situation. But, what could he do? He couldn’t leave Ricard to wander the woods unwatched and Eve wouldn’t be happy if he even thought about turning him out of the preserve. The woman really did have a soft heart.

  Though, she’d probably punish me by putting the birth control back into my food.

  Cade suppressed another chuckle. The extra hormones had made him feel a little edgy at times. She’d added it in all the shifter’s food. It wasn’t intentional. Eve didn’t know that they were shifters at the time and had thought she was keeping them from reproducing with the female cats. The female cats certainly didn’t hold any appeal to them.

  “Come on,” Cade said, as they made the south field. “You look hungry. Let’s get you something to eat and have Dr. Matthews check you out. The facility is about a mile from here. Are you up to the walk?”

  “Mind if we shift first?” Ricard asked. “I tend to do better in my old age when I shift.”

  Cade let go of him, letting the form of the lion instantly wash over his skin. When the fur covered every inch of him, he growled low in his throat. The old man was slower to shift, but soon he took the shape of a tiger. His orange and black fur looked ragged and dull, and he had to take hard, deep breaths.

  They began walking, taking a slow pace to accommodate Ricard’s weakness. The tiger was exceedingly thin and, being that he was blind, Cade assumed that he didn’t hunt very well.

  Strange, he thought. Very strange, indeed.

  * * * *

  “He was discovered along the south section last night,” Eve said, pointing at the tiger in the laboratory’s new arrival cage.

  Fiona nodded, eyeing the mangy tiger. The animal’s head was turned toward the far wall and he didn’t move to look at them. Eve studied the animal and Fiona took a moment to study her. The doctor had never spent time with her on her work shift before and Fiona thought it odd that she would do so now. They weren’t really doing anything, just talking shop.

  Eve really loved her job. It was clear in every word and every movement. She lived for this place. Fiona wished she could feel half as much for something in her life. She thought of Cade and shivered.

  The sterile building was nearly empty except for a few interns checking on the sick cats. A baby cougar was in one cage and the lioness, Mia, was in another. Eve had told her that Mia had a cyst on her back that was causing her pain. They’d just discovered it that morning and had her in to do tests.r />
  “Is he sick?” Fiona asked, turning her attention back to the mangy tiger.

  The tiger whipped around at the sound of her voice. His white eyes stared blindly in their direction and his head tilted to the side.

  “Huh,” Eve mused, kneeling down to get on the tiger’s level. “That’s the first he’s moved all morning. I think he likes your voice.”

  Fiona didn’t move, not liking the sensation that washed over her at the tiger’s attention. “I should probably get to work.”

  Eve blinked, looking up. She stood and nodded. “Actually, I wanted to ask you to spend some time with King today. He’s been a little down and I think some company will actually help him.”

  Fiona wondered at the request. Eve gave a small smile as she said the words.

  “All right,” Fiona agreed at last. “You just want me to sit by his cage today?”

  “Pretty much. Just talk to him, let him hear your voice so he knows he’s not alone.”

  “Okay.” The word was slow coming and Fiona nodded. Suddenly, it sounded like just what she needed. She wanted to see the lion, even if he was temperamental half the time. “He’s not sick or anything, is he?”

  The tiger growled low in his throat. Eve glanced at him before saying, “No. Just depressed about Mia, I think.”

  Depressed? Lions get depressed? Fiona had never thought about it before, but she supposed it would happen. Mia was his wife of sorts, wasn’t she? He probably did miss his partner.

  “I’m on it,” Fiona said, turning to go to King’s cage.

  “Thank you!” Eve called as she walked out of the laboratory.

  It was a short walk through the preserve, but she found herself hurrying to see King. She had a lot on her mind and the lion was the perfect sounding board to get it all out.

  * * * *

  Cade watched Fiona as she talked to ‘King.’ She blushed as she spoke of him, whispering through the chain-link fence about what had gone on between them. The sunlight outlined her slender body as she sat on the ground, haloing her auburn hair to perfection.

  It was interesting to hear about their experiences from her viewpoint and he couldn’t help noticing the unguarded, dreamy smile that crossed her face or shone from her green eyes whenever she said his name…

  Cade.

  “Mm, enough about me,” Fiona said, setting her head against the fence. It was the closest she’d ever come to him in shifted form. He made no sudden moves, not wanting to scare her. She’d already seen enough displays of King’s temper, but Cade couldn’t help it. Whenever she spoke of herself with another man he saw blood. “How are you holding up?”

  He sighed softly. If only he could shift without her freaking out on him and tell her how he was. He’d been miserable without her, so lost and lonely.

  “It must be hard not having your wife with you,” she said, eyeing her hands.

  What? She knew?

  Cade pushed up on his front paws. Fiona pushed away from the fence at his movement.

  “I mean, you and Mia have been together a long time, huh? You must really miss her.”

  Mia? She thinks I’m married to Mia?

  Cade didn’t know whether to roar or try to laugh.

  “I wish I had someone like you worrying over me,” Fiona said, sighing wistfully.

  You do, kitten.

  “Oh, listen to me, babbling on about Cade. I hardly know him. He’s arrogant, possessive and probably a stalker. I wouldn’t be surprised if he rode into town fresh out of a mental institute. I know I belong in one for even going with him. I just couldn’t seem to stop myself. I saw him and I was compelled to follow him. You know, he had this smell to him. It drives me wild. I don’t think its cologne, per se, because he doesn’t appear to wear any, but it’s great.”

  She likes my smell.

  Cade grinned.

  But, she also thinks I escaped from an insane asylum.

  His grin fell.

  “Want to know a secret? Something I haven’t told anyone?” she asked him, her voice dropping as she looked into his eyes. He longed to pull her into his chest and hold her. “I think I’m in—”

  “Cade!”

  Cade tensed. It was Eve and she sounded hysterical. He stood up. Eve would never yell for him in the middle of the day unless it was an emergency. Fiona looked at him in confusion before standing.

  “Cade!” Eve screamed as she ran straight for his cage. Blood dotted her white lab coat and she looked pale. Stumbling slightly as she saw Fiona, she didn’t stop.

  “Dr. Mat—?” Fiona began.

  “Cade,” Eve said, looking down at him, her breath coming out in hard pants. “I need you. It’s…”

  “Cade?” Fiona whispered. They both ignored her.

  “...it’s Viktor,” Eve gasped. “And Mia. The tiger. He got loose and—”

  “What’s happened?” Fiona asked, sounding slightly hysterical. Cade was torn between comforting her and helping Eve—who was obviously distraught. “Did something happen?”

  Not given much of a choice, Cade glanced at Fiona and began to shift. Time seemed to slow as he transformed. Fiona paled, her expression of horror burning into him. He could see her tremble.

  “Cade?” Fiona whispered.

  “Fiona—” Cade reached for her, but she jerked further away.

  “Cade, I’m sorry, but I need you. Viktor’s hurt. Ricard jumped him and Mia got loose and tried to help him, but—”

  “I’m coming,” Cade said. Eve took off her lab coat as he leapt over the fence.

  “Ah!” Fiona cried, falling to the ground.

  Eve threw the lab coat at him as he landed. Glancing at Fiona, he said, “I can explain. Don’t go.”

  “Uh,” she whimpered, trembling on the ground.

  “Cade!” Eve insisted.

  Torn, he took off into a sprint.

  * * * *

  Fiona didn’t move as Cade ran off into the distance, tugging the white lab coat over his arms. Eve turned to her.

  “Fiona, I…” she hesitated, as she stepped backward in the direction of the lab. Her words hurried, she added, “I know this looks strange, but I promise it’s all right. Just... just get into the staff lounge and stay there. This is all under control. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Eve took off running, following to where Cade had disappeared. For a long moment, Fiona couldn’t move as she stared after them.

  “King?” she whispered. “Cade?”

  No, it can’t be.

  Cade?

  Fiona pushed to her feet, not knowing what to do. Cade was a lion? He was King? She looked at the cage. All this time, she’d been telling him her secrets. Oh, and today! All the stuff she’d said about having sex with him, of never having felt so much and never having had such pleasures.

  Torn between mortification and fear, Fiona glanced around the preserve, hugging her arms around her waist. If Cade was a cat-man, were there others? Her co-workers? Were they like Cade? Eve? Her husband, Viktor?

  “I have to get out of here,” she whispered, talking to herself. The sound of her own voice brought her no comfort. Shaking, she tried to make her way to the employee lounge to get her car keys. There was no way she was staying at the preserve now that she knew what was here.

  Grateful that it was still early evening, she kept moving, scanning around her as she walked. Then, out of nowhere, a voice came from behind her.

  “Fiona, what a surprise.”

  James?

  She tensed, suddenly nauseous.

  “What? Is that any way to greet the love of your life?” James said. She would’ve known his deep timbre anywhere.

  “You’re not,” she whispered. Her mind tried to process everything that was happening. Cats turning into men. James at the preserve.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Fiona,” James’ breath fanned her neck. She couldn’t run. This had to be a bad dream. “I thought I meant more to you than that. Had I known your taste ran toward shifters, I’d have shown myself
to you long ago.”

  “What?” At that she did pull away and spin around. Backing up, she shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

  James grinned and arched a brow. He wore a white lab coat much like the one Eve had given Cade when he turned. His eyes glowed, turning from brown to green. Other than that, he looked just as she remembered him—handsome, youthful.

  “What are you? What is going on? What do you want?”

  “Sweetheart, don’t get so dramatic on me.” James frowned and said, as if talking to a child, “Take a deep breath. Try to relax.”

  “You took everything from me. Don’t call me sweetheart!” Fiona continued to stumble away.

  “I am sorry about that, but you see, you refused to marry me and I had to get your money somehow.”

  “James, please, just go away.”

  He came for her, drawing nearer. His movements were confident and he didn’t walk as he once had—like his back was no longer hurt.

  As if it had ever been…

  “What are you?” she demanded.

  “A shifter. I turn into a tiger. Would you like to see?” His eyes again flashed, gleaming yellow.

  “That was you... Ricard. You’re Ricard.” Fiona tensed. “What did you do, James? Did you kill someone? What did you do?!”

  “Easy, turtledove,” he crooned. “Take it easy. I only killed the lioness. You see, I needed her blood. Call it my own personal fountain of youth. The others just got in my way.”

  “Was she a...?”

  “Shifter? No. Shifter blood doesn’t work. Only cat blood.”

  “Are you going to kill me?” Fiona hated herself for asking, but she couldn’t stop the question from escaping her lips. Insanely, she thought of Cade. Would he come for her? Did she want him to? Was one shifter better than another? In her heart, she already knew the answer. Cade might not have told her everything, but he wasn’t as bad as James.

  “Mm, probably not, my darling.”