“Just, well, I hear your mother in my head and I thought... well, Cade seemed really shaken when Dr. Matthews was stitching up your back.”
Fiona took a deep breath. Cade was King. She’d told King everything, confessed her feelings for him without censure. She’d told that lion everything—how Cade made her feel, how he gave her the best sex of her life. How could she possibly face him after that?
“No,” she answered. Her stomach growled and she walked toward the door. “We barely know each other.”
“But—”
“I’m starved,” Fiona said, placing a hand on his shoulder. It was nice not feeling the usual tension between them. “Let’s go raid the kitchen. I know where mom hides the cheesecake.”
* * * *
Fiona smiled at her sister. It was so great to have Darcy home. Biting into a piece of cold chicken, she swung her legs as she sat on the kitchen counter.
“So, meet anyone special in Italy?” Fiona asked, eyeing her sister. Darcy blushed. “Oh my! You did!”
The two sisters were nearly identical—from their red hair and green eyes—only Darcy’s hair was a mess of curls compared to Fiona’s straighter locks.
“Well, yeah...” Darcy grinned and then rolled her eyes in embarrassment.
“So, Darcy got herself a little Italian action, did she?” Fiona teased.
“Actually, he’s American,” Darcy admitted before jumping up and down and giving a small squeal of excitement.
“Do tell.”
“I think you know him. Finn O’Conner? He owns the Jameson Wild Life Rescue and Preserve.”
“Ugh, you’re dating my boss?” Fiona teased, before stopping to think. Actually, Mr. O’Conner wouldn’t be her boss anymore, since she had no intention of going back to the preserve.
“No, he doesn’t even know I like him,” Darcy admitted, her expression shy. “I never got the nerve to tell him. Anyway, I want to hear about you. I overheard Daddy talking to someone on the phone. Something about Fiona and Cade? Hmm?”
Fiona felt the blood draining from her face. She set her chicken aside and pushed the plate away, losing her appetite. Hopping off the counter, she washed her hands under the facet and said, so Darcy couldn’t see her expression, “I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” Darcy asked. Fiona didn’t answer. How could she? Every part of her missed Cade. It was insanity, but it was like her soul just knew him. “Sis? Talk to me.”
“I think I love him.” It was strange to admit the words out loud, but how could she stop them? She never lied to Darcy. “But, I hardly know him.”
“Mom always tells me that when you meet the one, you just know.” Darcy brushed back Fiona’s hair and rested her head on her shoulder. “If you love him, then what’s the problem? Who cares if you don’t know him?”
“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Have you asked him?”
“No.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
Damn your logic, Darcy!
Fiona frowned. “No.”
“Well, then I think you know what you need to do.” Patting her shoulder, Darcy left Fiona alone in the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
Fiona’s stomach was a bunch of nerves. She took a deep breath, forcing her legs to walk up the slight incline that would lead her to the lion’s den and to Cade. She didn’t know where else to look for him and was a little scared of seeing Eve and Viktor after all that had happened.
Were they shifters too? Were the other caged animals?
She stopped walking, worried about what he’d say. The sundress she wore was on loan from Darcy—a dress for good luck she’d bought while she was in Italy. The blue and cream floral print set off the red in her hair. Clutching a bouquet of daisies, she studied them.
Was it stupid to buy a man flowers? Especially a man like Cade?
“You’re just going to thank him for saving your life. That’s all. See what he does and go from there. Just go and thank him.” Fiona’s feet refused to take another step.
Maybe I should just tell him. Cade, I love you. No, I can’t say it like that.
She bit her lip in thought, trying to organize her words in her mind.
Okay, Cade, I know we haven’t known each other long, but I think I’m in love with you. I love you. Do you think you could love me? Do you think that there is a chance for us after a few explosive dates and an embarrassing tell-all confession when I thought you were a lion? Is it crazy that I think I know you? That I hear you in my head and that I want to always hear you in my head? I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you. I want to bear you children and grow old. Wait, no, not grow old. I’m immortal now and won’t do that, but the children part would be nice. I can’t shift, so maybe you’d consider living in a house and not in a cage. I don’t know...
Fiona let loose a self-depreciating groan. “That’s the stupidest thing ever.”
“Really? Because I was just thinking that it was about the sweetest.” Cade’s warm tone washed over her and she spun around in surprise. He wore a loose T-shirt and tight blue jeans. Seeing that his body was already aroused almost made her blush, if not for the fact that her body was reacting to him in the exact same way. His eyes roamed over her in appreciation before stopping on the flowers. “Are those for me?”
“Ah.” She glanced down and this time she did blush. “Yeah. Is that stupid? Buying a man flowers?”
He smiled, shaking his head in denial. “Not at all.”
The brush of his hand against her cheek was like heaven. She’d missed him so much.
“I missed you, too,” he said.
Are you in my head?
He grinned and nodded.
Yes, she heard him answer. We’re connected.
“And,” he continued out loud, “for the record, you’re not crazy. However, if you are, well then I’m crazy too. I’ve loved you since the first moment you walked by my cage. I just saw you and knew that you would always be my mate.”
“You did?” Fiona was so overwhelmed with emotion, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She started doing both. “Really?”
Cade leaned over and kissed her lightly, brushing his lips over her eyelids. “Really.”
“I was so scared you would think I was nuts. I’m sorry I freaked out on you,” she said.
“You were under a lot of stress. I can’t imagine seeing a shifter for the first time was easy for you.”
She laughed. “No, not really. But, I’m okay now.”
“I’m glad.” He cupped her face, brushing his lips to hers. Suddenly, he stopped and pulled back. “I’m sorry. Viktor told me I needed to just listen to you and not touch you.”
Fiona frowned. Huh? “Why in the world would he say that?”
Not touch her? Why? If he didn’t she might explode with the need building rapidly between her thighs. Cream nearly poured out of her at just the thought of Cade making love to her.
“Well, because as a cat, I act on my instincts and as a human you need me to—”
“Ah, I see,” Fiona giggled, lowering her voice into a soft purr. “You see, sweetie, I happen to be part cat myself and I like a man who acts on instinct.”
“You do?”
“Mm, yeah, definitely.” She licked her lips, liking the way his eyes darted down to watch. His pupils flashed with an inner fire, filling with yellow light. “Especially when you act on your more carnal instincts.”
A low rumbling growl sounded in the back of his throat, like a lion stalking his prey. Fiona dropped the flowers and grinned, backing up. She instinctively knew he would chase her and that he would get pleasure from the hunt. Her heart pounded in excitement and she wasn’t scared.
Running toward the den, she darted to the right to a small enclosure of trees. It wasn’t the most private, but it would have to do. It wasn’t like the preserve was open at this late hour anyway. Secretly, she’d hoped for the best and knew her body would dem
and his attentions, should he be willing to give them.
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Cade was gaining on her. She had no doubt he could’ve overtaken her at any time, but she enjoyed the game. Fiona ran faster.
Cade caught her just as she made the small enclosure. He roughly pulled her body along his hard frame, letting her feel the full extent of his cock pressing along her butt. Warm lips met her neck, licking a fiery trail to her ear.
Fiona trembled all the way to her toes. “I love the way you make me feel.”
“I love feeling you,” he whispered back, nipping at her neck with a dark, seductive chuckle. The dangerous thrill of his sharp teeth grazed her delicate flesh.
The breeze picked up, shaking the leaves overhead. Turning, she backed up against a tree, hidden from the walkway. Slowly, she worked the buttons along the front of her sundress free, exposing her lacy white bra. When she looked into his eyes, she felt him inside her. His voice was in her head, whispering seductive words, urging her to continue. His emotions were her own. At first, she’d thought that they were hers alone, but now realized that she’d always felt him inside her—from that moment he walked into the restaurant. Their instincts took them where her mind had been reluctant to go.
“I love you,” he whispered, grabbing her face and kissing her so passionately she couldn’t breathe.
“This is so crazy,” she panted when he let up. “I never believed in love at first sight, but it happened when I first saw you. I love you, too.”
He grinned, a look of intense pleasure on his face. He nipped playfully at her mouth a few times. His hands glided up to her breasts, kneading them trough the lacy material. The bra clasped in front and it didn’t take him long to unlatch it.
Cade slowly kneeled before her, worshiping her body with his lips. He kissed her breasts, sucking a taut nipple between his teeth. She heard his pleasure echoing in her head.
Mm, I love your breasts…
You make me so hard…
I can’t get enough of you…
Keeping his warm palms cupped over her chest, he continued down. She hadn’t unbuttoned her dress all the way, but he merely worked around it, licking and kissing her stomach. Groaning, she grabbed his beautiful hair and pushed him down. Cade chuckled and slid his hands down her sides to lift her dress. He pulled the skirt over his head and instantly jerked the lacy panties from her hips.
Fiona gasped, grabbing onto the tree behind her head as his mouth brushed over her pussy. His wet tongue probed her slit, licking at her cream.
Yes, she thought. More! Don’t stop.
Delicious, he responded.
His teeth grazed her clit, as he pulled the cheeks of her ass slightly apart. Fiona let go of the tree only to massage her breasts, tweaking the nipples as Cade’s mouth worked against her. It felt so good she didn’t want the sensations to end.
“Ah,” she cried softly, trying to keep from screaming at the top of her lungs. Mm, Cade, don’t stop. I love you. Please don’t stop.
His answering chuckle vibrated along her body, causing a torrent of cream to flood his mouth as she came hard. Her legs weakened and she would’ve fallen if not for his hold on her hips. When he pulled her skirt from his head, he had a victorious grin on his devilishly handsome face. “You like that, kitten?”
“Mm-hmm.” Fiona clutched his shoulders.
“I have something else you might like better,” he murmured. Cade kissed her, letting her taste herself on his tongue. It was highly erotic and it only turned her on more to sense how he enjoyed her pleasure in it.
Fiona blindly worked at his waistband, eager to free his hard cock. His hands were everywhere at once on her body, rubbing and pulling and massaging until she couldn’t open her eyes. Sensations flooded into her bloodstream, pumping vigorously though her. She’d never get enough of this man.
“I’ll never get enough of you either, kitten,” he said.
Fiona groaned, freeing his arousal. Grabbing it, she massaged the thick length, working her hand enthusiastically over the shaft. Animalistic noises sounded in the back of his throat and his eyes lit with the yellow fire of a shift. The wild cat inside him only excited her more.
Cade growled low in his throat and lifted her off the ground. Wildly, he worked himself between her thighs, thrust up into her slick depths with rough intensity. He called out as he sank all the way into her depths, stretching her tight sheath wide to fit him. Holding her up with his strong arms, he pumped into her.
Fiona matched his untamed rhythm, taking all of him—heart, soul and body. Her life would never be the same, but that was a good thing. It would be better, because she’d have Cade.
They climaxed in unison, their bodies exploding with intense pleasure. Fiona never felt so complete in her life. Cade held her close, buried deep, as the tremors wracked through them, only to subside into a mind-numbing aftermath. For a long time they didn’t move, locked together in a tight embrace.
“I want to make love to you every day for the rest of our lives,” Cade said, breathing hard. He lightly kissed her throat.
“Just the day?” She pretended to pout before giggling. “I’d kind of hoped for nights, as well.”
“Whatever you demand of me, kitten, is yours.” He moaned, again kissing her neck before letting her legs fall to the ground. His body slid from hers as he stroked her hair from her face. Sweat made the locks stick to her. Glancing down, she saw his long hair was also stuck to her—the blond locks clinging to her breasts.
“You really have to tell me how you get your hair so healthy,” she said, picking the strands off her flesh and studying them.
“Basking in the sun,” he answered. His voice lowered as he repeated her words back to her. “And licking my balls.”
“Oh!” Fiona hit his arms. “I’m sorry for that. I was in a bad mood. If I knew you could understand me, I never would have said that.”
“I know.” Cade winked, looking audaciously wicked. “But, also had you known, you wouldn’t have told me all that stuff about my cock being the biggest you’d ever had and me being such a wonderful lover.”
“Ah! I never said yours was the biggest.” Fiona felt her cheeks flame.
“Um, yeah you did. Trust me.” His grin widened as he nodded emphatically. “I was listening very closely.”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted and free. Hugging him close, she asked, “So, you never answered me about the cage thing. You won’t expect me to live in there with you, will you?”
“No, no cages. I only stayed in the den because of Mia.”
Fiona suddenly turned serious. “I’m sorry about Mia. I know you were with her—”
“Mia was a friend,” he said. Fiona believed him without question. “I did love her, but I mostly felt sorry for her. She had a rough life.”
“So what will we do? I’m sorry to say I’m flat broke. James took everything I had.”
“I don’t care about money,” Cade said. “But we also don’t have to worry about it. Having lived so long, I’ve tucked a little nest egg away.”
Fiona laughed. “So where will we go? What will we do with ourselves?” Seeing his gaze dart down to her breasts in meaning, she rolled her eyes. “God help me, I love your one track mind.”
“Technically, I’m the head of security here at the preserve. Finn’s offered repeatedly to let me build a house next to Eve and Viktor. It’s what I’d prefer. We do a lot of good here for both cats and shifters alike.”
“Uh, I’ve been meaning to ask about that. Are there a lot of shifters living here?”
“Just about half the population.” Cade kissed her lightly. “So, what do you think? Do you think you could be happy here?”
Fiona glanced around. “I think I could be happy anywhere, as long as I am with you. And, as long as you’re all willing to teach me what I need to know to be of some use. I really do want to help, but the truth is I don’t know much about caring for animals.”
Cade nipped at her neck. �
��Put your hand between my thighs and I’ll teach you how.”
“Ah! Cade!” Fiona tried to hold the appalled look, but ended up laughing. “I meant me helping out at the Preserve. I don’t know what to do, not really.”
“I know,” Cade chuckled. “Eve had to make up that fake checklist just to give you something to keep you busy.”
“Ah!” Fiona’s cheeks flamed.
“Don’t worry, kitten, I’ll teach you everything you need to know. We do have an eternity.”
“Hmm.” Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck. “It doesn’t feel long enough, but I guess it will have to do.”
Cade kissed her and there were no more words as he slowly made love to her again and again, long after the moon rose high over the preserve.
The End
Ghost Cats I: Animal Instinct is available in ebook.
To learn more about Michelle M. Pillow's other titles, please visit her website (www.michellepillow.com).
About the Author, Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, she has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural—ghosts, magical powers, and oh… vampires. What could be more alluring than being immortal, all-powerful, and eternally beautiful? After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.
She has been nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.
Michelle is a journalist for Paranormal Underground Magazine. She has a BGS in History/Business with an English Minor, and a Photography degree. In 2009 she and fellow author Mandy M. Roth started their own highly successful self-publishing endeavor named The Raven Books.
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