“Yeah.” A rasp of a zipper sounded followed by the rustle of clothing. “Take off your panties.”
Sudden excitement pounded through her veins as he lifted her black skirt and helped her skim her silky panties down her legs. He kissed her again like he had out on the balcony, and need zapped the length of her body. His breath caressed her face while his hand skimmed her bare bottom.
“Unfasten your blouse and pull up your bra so I can feel your breasts.”
Lana never considered disobeying. With shaky hands she slipped several buttons free of their holes and tugged at her lace bra, baring her breasts. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she saw the gleam of his before he lowered his head and sucked a nipple deep into his mouth. She moaned, especially when he slipped a finger into her pussy, gently stretching and testing her readiness.
“Got to get inside you,” he muttered. “Now.” He dragged his finger from her channel, skimming it over her clit before guiding his cock into her. “Curl your legs around me. I’ll do the work.”
Writhing in his grip and panting hard at the sheer naughtiness and with her need, she felt the tension inside the dark cupboard. He pushed into her, gripping her hips while he shafted her deep. There was nothing practiced or calm about this joining. Frantic, he grasped her hips and drove into her again and again, grunting with each hard thrust.
Lana just hung on, thrilling to the masterful exhibition of his strength. He crushed her mouth under his and removed one hand to pinch her nipple. A ribbon of pain curled down to her pussy, combining with the hard stroke across her clit. The perfect touch to throw her into a maelstrom of pleasure. Her cunt pulsed in hard spasms of pleasure and after one more series of hard thrusts, Duncan groaned in climax. Breathing hard, he held her against him while they both recovered from the experience.
“Lana, you’re so hot,” he said before claiming her mouth. When the kiss ended, he lifted her off his cock. “I have a hanky somewhere. My mother said I should never leave home without one in my pocket. No idea why since I rarely use it,” he added with a laugh. “Here. You might need that to clean up a bit.”
With her heart still racing, Lana accepted the hanky and righted her clothes. The rustle of fabric indicated Duncan did the same. “Where are my panties?”
“They’re in my pocket. Do you want them?” Voices outside the door made her freeze in horror.
“Come on, we could do it in here. Don’t make me wait until we get home. I’m desperate for you,” a man said, his husky voice full of persuasion.
“What if we get caught?” his feminine companion asked in clear doubt.
“We won’t.”
Lana squeezed closer to Duncan, horror filling her. They were about to get caught. Heat filled her cheeks along with panic.
“All right,” the woman said.
Carpet muted their footsteps. The jangle of the doorknob sounded loud in the confines of the cupboard. Lana barely restrained her gasp.
“Damn, it’s locked,” the man said. “We’ll have to find somewhere else.”
Lana leaned into Duncan in sheer relief then the man’s words registered. “Are we locked in here?”
“No, I had hold of the doorknob. We’re good.” He soothed her with a languid kiss and Lana let her fear drift away. This was the best business-related party she’d ever attended.
Chapter Nine
Lana stared at the pregnancy test in horror. Although pleased she could take the normal human test rather than making a special trip to Middlemarch to see the vet who doubled as a feline doctor, she hated the result.
Positive.
The familiar nauseous sensation in her stomach that had driven her to take the test in the first place made itself known. She swallowed rapidly to no avail, tossed the test aside and made a run for the bathroom, barely making it in time. Pregnant. The thought rippled through her head, echoing endlessly. What the hell was she going to do?
Lana padded out to the passage, grabbed a flannel from the cupboard and returned to the bathroom. Soaking it with cool water, she wiped her face on autopilot.
Pregnant.
Trapped.
She’d have to tell Duncan. The idea of lying didn’t sit well. Besides, it wouldn’t take long for him to guess her predicament. The other alternative…no…unthinkable. She would have this child, the problem being the second she informed Duncan he’d order her to marry him. She be trapped firmly just as she’d been with Jamie. Actually, the trap would be steel-tight since with a child involved, Duncan would be more determined to get his way. A wife and child in one swoop. Yes, there was only one way he’d react. Excitement followed by mating—the possessive feline when a woman bore his child. He’d expect to raise it, and if she refused, the rest of the feline community would shun her.
Her eyes stung, the lump in her throat testament to her anxiety.
What the hell was she going to do?
The phone rang.
“Lana, you ready to rock and roll down here in the kitchen.”
“Sorry, I slept in. I’ll come down in a few minutes.”
“Good-oh.” The phone clunked when her chef hung up.
Lana sucked in a deep breath, deciding to cope with the present instead of the future. If this morning sickness continued to plan, she should be okay working down in the kitchen.
Lana stripped off her sleep shirt and avoided a glance in the mirror. Pregnancy and all its reality didn’t appeal now or in the future. She jumped under the shower. Ten minutes later she entered the kitchen determined to concentrate on business instead of Duncan and the baby.
The next couple of days continued in the same vein. Sick as soon as she woke. After a shower and a piece of dry toast her stomach settled enough to work. Thankfully Duncan had gone on a trip to Christchurch to attend a cattle sale. He’d rung her and cowardly she’d let the answer phone pick up his calls.
On the third night she sat in her dark apartment trying to work out what to do. She needed to visit the doctor in Middlemarch. Picking up the phone, she rang him and made an appointment for the following evening.
* * * * *
“Lana! How nice to see you.” Emily bustled around the counter of her cafe and hugged her. “What are you doing here?”
Fresh from her doctor’s appointment, tears welled into her eyes and splashed down her face.
With a concerned look Emily hustled her out the back to her kitchen area. “Here. Sit down.” She pushed a stool toward Lana. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m pregnant,” Lana blurted, every bit of fear and panic she felt echoing in the two words.
“Oh Lana.” Emily’s arms came around her in a warm hug. “Is it Duncan’s baby?”
“Yes,” Lana sobbed.
“And you haven’t told him.”
Lana accepted the hanky Emily produced and tried not to think about the way Duncan always carried a handkerchief in his pocket because his mother had told him to. “No, I haven’t seen him this week.”
“I don’t think you need to worry, Lana. Duncan will be ecstatic. He’ll want to mate with you.”
Lana mopped her tears with the white hanky. “That’s the problem. Jamie loved me. I know he did, but he hated me working. He wanted me to stay at home and I couldn’t do that. Toward the end our arguments were so bitter. If he hadn’t died, I think we would have parted by now. He didn’t know I took the Pill to prevent pregnancy.”
“Oh,” Emily said. “You can’t not tell Duncan. Felines love children…” she trailed off, and they stared at each other in pained silence.
“Jamie thought I couldn’t get pregnant because I always rushed around at work and didn’t relax enough.”
Emily snorted. “I take it sex wasn’t a problem.”
“No. It’s a problem this time,” she said glumly. “I should have remained celibate and then this wouldn’t be happening. It’s just that I hadn’t had sex for so long and I craved a man’s touch.”
“I understand that. You know I was married to a hum
an before Saber?” At Lana’s nod, she continued. “He cheated on me continually. I hadn’t had sex for months and came to attend the Middlemarch ball because I wanted to have some fun and get laid.”
“What happened?” Lana asked.
“I met Saber and we had sex. I missed the train back to Dunedin and stayed with Saber. The man convinced me we were meant for each other and I’m still here.”
“Are you trying to have children?”
“Not yet,” Emily said, unperturbed by the personal question. “Saber said he wanted me to himself for a while and that it wouldn’t hurt to practice.” She shook her head and grinned. “The man sure does like to practice. You know Duncan and Saber are a lot alike. I’m sure if you talked to Duncan you could work something out.”
Lana sighed. “I know I need to talk to him.” She hesitated and swallowed. “I’m frightened. I can’t see any alternatives.”
“Do you love Duncan?”
“Honestly, I’ve tried not to think about it. All I wanted was a weekend of good sex. I didn’t even mean to see him again.”
“But you have,” Emily said, a twinkle in her eyes. “Doesn’t that tell you something?”
“That feline men are persuasive.”
The front door of the restaurant opened and firm footsteps sounded. Saber strode into the kitchen, coming to an abrupt halt.
He frowned at Lana’s tearstained face. “Everything okay?”
“We’re fine,” Emily said. “You’ll stay the night, Lana? Sly and Joe are at home and you’ve met them before. They’ll enjoy the feminine company.”
“But—”
“You can see Duncan tomorrow,” Emily said firmly.
Early the next morning Emily waved Lana off with some parting advice.
“Tell the truth, everything, including your fears.” According to Emily they couldn’t fix potential problems between them if they weren’t honest with each other from the outset.
“All right.” The reply came automatically to reassure herself as much as Emily. Fear stalked her mind already at the thought of confronting Duncan. He was feline male and Jamie’s cousin. Like the rest of the feline males, he bore instincts to protect and nurture. He’d want to offer security, which for a feline meant mating.
Trapped.
Lana suppressed a shudder and started her car, backing from the driveway. With a last farewell wave at Emily, she drove toward the township and her visit to Duncan. No matter how Emily spun this pregnancy as positive, Lana couldn’t help seeing disaster ahead.
The morning sickness hit around the usual time. Lana pulled over on the side of the road and vomited on the dry grass verge. Breathing deep, she waited out the worst of the sickness before rummaging in her bag for the dry crackers Emily had given her after she’d refused breakfast. Fifteen minutes later, stomach settled, she continued her journey. The miles ticked over and her nerves increased proportionately until her stomach lurched with sickness again.
Trapped.
Tears stung her eyes and one escaped, rolling down her cheek. Her hands clutched the steering wheel with a white-knuckle grip. Lana swallowed and indicated left, pulling onto the road where Duncan lived. Unable to ring because in her fragile state she thought she’d start blubbering, she’d arrived early and hoped she’d catch him before he started his chores for the day. A breath eased out in relief when she saw his SUV parked outside his house. A second SUV, one she didn’t recognize, had parked beside it. She pulled up and switched off the ignition, inhaling a couple of times in the hope of settling her nerves. With trembling legs, she climbed out of the car.
“Lana!” Duncan’s smile was broad and welcoming. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” He strode toward her, arms outstretched, and grabbed her in a hug before pulling back to kiss her.
Some of the panic inside eased at his touch and obvious pleasure in seeing her. Since learning of her pregnancy, she worried about how he’d react. Now the fear started to grow about how to tell him. She didn’t want to blurt it out.
“Have I come at a bad time? You have visitors,” she said.
“Lana, you’re welcome to visit any time you want. Come inside so I can say hello properly.” His eyes gleamed and amusement washed through her at his obvious thoughts.
“What about your visitors?”
“Leaving,” he said, almost curtly. “I tried to ring you a couple of times yesterday and last night. I left messages.”
“I’ve been busy.” Lana walked at his side, the weight of his arm around her shoulders soothing some of her agitation.
“How long can you stay? I have a load of cattle arriving in about an hour.”
A small squeak and a blur of movement attracted Lana’s attention. A partially clothed Jennifer stood in the kitchen, her arms crossed over her naked breasts. “Oh, I didn’t know you were bringing your visitor inside,” she said.
A streak of pain stabbed Lana straight through the heart, and in that moment she knew she felt more than friendship for Duncan. She cared enough that he could hurt her, had hurt her. She glanced past the counter and her gaze settled on a flimsy royal blue robe draped over a chair. It didn’t belong to her. “I’m obviously in the way. I’ll go.”
“No, Lana.” Duncan grasped her arm and halted her retreat. “This isn’t what it looks like. Jennifer, what the hell are you doing? Get dressed.”
The woman pouted and dropped her arms to her sides to grab the robe. “Duncan, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to bring anyone into the kitchen.” After belting the robe at her waist she turned to Lana. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
Lana felt her mouth drop open in shock before swirling chagrin and anger formed a solid ball in the pit of her stomach. She wrenched from Duncan’s grip and backed away toward the door.
“Jennifer,” Duncan snapped.
“She should go,” Jennifer said. “She’s spoiling my announcement. I wanted to be alone, but I might as well just tell you. I’m pregnant! You’re going to be a daddy.”
Lana turned and fled. Shock held her together while she started her car and whipped down Duncan’s driveway. In her rear-vision mirror she saw Duncan run out of the house. Seconds later Jennifer joined him, cuddling up to him like a sex kitten. The honk of a horn dragged her back to the present and she slowed, pulling over to allow a stock truck to pass on the narrow road. With one last anguished glance at the couple standing in front of the house, she concentrated hard on her driving so she made it back to Queenstown without having an accident. A baby counted on her. For five minutes she managed to hold it together before the tears started to flow. Her vision blurred, her chest ached. Lana pulled off the road and gave in to the tears, screwing up her face and chest heaving with the strength of her sobs.
The scene flashed before her eyes. Duncan and Jennifer. She’d seen them together several times and never guessed. Her entire body stiffened, agony flooding mind and limbs. The idea of Jennifer laughing behind her back…it shouldn’t have mattered. It did. Had he been seeing Jennifer all this time while he’d been sleeping with her? She clamped her eyes shut, curling her body over the steering wheel, a whimper squeezing past the lump in her throat.
The ironic thing—one that crystallized in her mind—she’d fallen for Duncan harder than she’d either wanted or suspected and it was too late. She couldn’t have him.
* * * * *
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Duncan snarled at Jennifer. He pushed her away from him and she returned like a magnet, her hands reaching in an attempt to cling. “I haven’t slept with you since the bull ride carnival in South Auckland. Six months ago.” He removed her hands again and stepped out of range, restricting himself to glaring when he wanted to wring her neck so badly his hands shook. “I’ve told you before. I’m seeing someone else and I’m not interested in you.”
“You’re going to sleep with me,” Jennifer said, flashing him a brilliant smile while thrusting out her chest enough to make her robe gape. Her air of self-confidence gr
ated and made him want to lash out.
“No, I’m not.” The need to wring her neck increased and he spat out a pithy curse. The creamy curves did nothing for him, not when he ached for Lana. God, the expression on her face… He brushed past Jennifer, heading inside to grab his keys. Lana would listen to him. She had to.
Almost inside, the approach of a vehicle grabbed his attention. Damn, the cattle truck. He wouldn’t be going anywhere for a few hours.
“I’m going to unload the cattle. Make sure you’re gone by the time I get back.”
“I love you,” Jennifer said.
“Bullshit,” Duncan spat. “One last time. I don’t want you. I’m not interested.”
“What about your reputation? How do you think people will react when they learn I’m pregnant and you’re refusing to take responsibility?”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Duncan said, and he spoke the truth.
“I’ll tell everyone.”
“Do your worst.” Duncan didn’t think things could get worse. Lana thought he’d lied to her, that he’d slept with Jennifer and made her pregnant. He turned and walked away without looking back.
* * * * *
Duncan walked into the restaurant shortly before closing time. Good. With only one table still occupied, Lana couldn’t pretend she didn’t have time to talk to him. He knew the second she spotted him. Her body tensed and the stack of dirty dishes she held went flying. They crashed to the tiled floor, attracting the attention of the remaining customers and her staff.
“Are you okay?” Duncan hated the signs of distress on her face, hated knowing he’d caused so much anguish.
“Go away,” she said in a strained voice. “I don’t want to talk to you.” She pushed through a set of double doors and returned almost straightaway with a broom and dustpan.
“Let me help.” Duncan stooped to pick up several of the larger pieces of china.
“There is nothing between us. Please just go away and leave me alone.” Her words were thick with tears.
“Do you need a hand, Lana?” a young male waiter asked.
Cat and Mouse Page 13
