Destined Mate (Catamount Lion Shifters #4)

by J. H. Croix

  Hayden had no choice but to fight back. The weak voice of his human mind worried over where Shana was. He’d lost sight of her once Clint started attacking. Hayden sustained several deep scratches, but he avoided getting pinned despite the fact he was outnumbered.

  In the blur of claws and fur, he heard a roar. Shana leapt upon Clint’s back, sinking her teeth into his neck. She threw him under her, pinning him as she held onto his throat, her grip relentless. She gave Hayden time to knock back the other shifter. Deep in the struggle of holding them, Hayden didn’t hear the police approaching. He heard the whistle of darts through the air before they landed. He backed off instantly, fearful Shana would get darted. He knew Glen could recognize him in lion form, but he didn’t think the officers would be able to quickly ascertain Shana was safe. He dashed toward her. She’d released Clint, but stood above him.

  Hayden flinched when the tiny dart sank into her skin. She wobbled and collapsed to the ground. He had to call on every ounce of his humanity to keep from roaring his displeasure. He knew the officers who’d responded were friendly to shifters and a few of them were shifters, but it wouldn’t help at all for him to make a scene over what he knew to be an accident. She was an unfamiliar shifter to everyone present other than him. It stood to reason they’d take the safest route and tranquilize her. In the muddle of the following moments, Hayden shifted back into human form.

  Glen tossed him some clothes. Shana and the other shifters had shifted back into human form once they collapsed. Hayden knelt at her side.

  Glen approached him and handed him a blanket. “We didn’t know she was friendly. Sorry about this.”

  Hayden nodded tightly as he carefully wrapped the blanket around Shana and lifted her in his arms. “Yeah. You couldn’t have known who she was. She showed up at the office today right before…” He paused, gesturing toward the other man.

  Glen nodded. “Dwight Weber. He’s a mid-level dealer. From what we can piece together, he got riled up after we arrested three of his guys. Clint might think he covered his tracks pretty well, but from our interviews today so far, people have been getting pretty damn pissed with how hard he tries to stay away from the dirty work. Too much reward with not enough risk.” Glen paused and glanced to Shana. “How about I give you a ride back to your office? If you want, we can stop by Warner’s place to get her checked out.”

  Warner was one of the few doctors in the area who happened to be a shifter. Attempting to explain why Shana had been darted with an animal tranquilizer to any other doctor would be confusing and raise unwanted suspicion.

  “That’d be great.” Hayden adjusted Shana in his arms and followed Glen to his car.

  Chapter 15

  Shana came awake slowly. She rolled her head to the side to find herself looking out a window. The sun was setting over the mountains, its rays casting a soft light through the room. She turned the other way to find she was resting on a couch with a soft, silky blanket tucked around her. Her brain felt fuzzy. She stretched and tried to recall how she got here. She knew she must be at Hayden’s house because where else could she be? The last thing she remembered was running through the trees and the skirmish that followed. She remembered the taste of iron in her mouth when she bit into the shifter’s neck, but her memory stopped there. She pushed the blanket down and sat up. Her body ached, but she felt okay.

  She stretched and stood. Glancing down, she discovered she must have been wearing one of Hayden’s shirts. It swallowed her, hanging to her knees, the flannel soft against her skin. She rolled the sleeves up and took in the room. It was a sparsely furnished living room with a couch and two chairs. Though basic, the furniture had luxurious pillows in a soft sage green. Scenic black and white photographs hung on the walls. She heard the sound of water running and followed it, finding Hayden in the kitchen. He stood at the sink rinsing dishes.

  “Hey.”

  He swung around when she spoke. “Shana! You should be resting.” He wiped his hands on a dishtowel and tossed it on the counter behind him as he walked in her direction.

  When he reached her, he slid his palms down her arms, his touch warm and strong. She brushed her tangled hair out of her eyes. He tried to turn her back in the direction of the living room, but she held firm where she stood. “I’m fine. I don’t need to rest. I’m a little tired, but that’s it. How did I get here?”

  His eyes sobered, and he angled his face down to capture her lips in a kiss. It was brief, but his kiss sent Shana’s pulse leaping and desire pooling in her belly. He pulled away, curling his hand around hers and tugging her to the kitchen table.

  A while later, Hayden stood to start some coffee. Shana leaned back in her chair. Hayden had given her a quick summary of events for the remainder of the afternoon. “Well, I guess I always knew getting darted with a tranquilizer was a distant possibility.”

  He turned back to her, shaking his head. “Glen said to send his apologies. They had no way of knowing who you were. The doctor said you’d sleep it off. You feeling okay?”

  She nodded. “Pretty much. A little tired, but it’s not too bad. Now that Clint’s been arrested, along with so many others, what do you think will happen now?”

  Hayden leaned against the counter, his eyes warm on hers. “Hard to say. They’ll be interviewing for days with the number of people they arrested. According to Glen, the info they had on Clint would put a dent in the local network.” He paused to pour two cups of coffee, walking over to the table and handing her one before sitting down across from her. “As far as I’m concerned, I may or may not be around much longer to find out what happens next. With Clint finally held accountable for his part, I feel like I’ve seen this through as far as I need to.”

  She took a sip of coffee, savoring the rich flavor. She considered that she’d planned to show up this morning and declare her love, hoping against hope that his feelings held strong for her. On the long flight out here, she’d clung to the memory of his words though doubts filtered in, lingering from the emotional emptiness she’d felt with Callen—the feeling that she wasn’t enough, couldn’t be enough for any man. She looked across the table to find Hayden’s warm caramel gaze on her. In the moment that followed, the air around them heated. Longing rushed through her. She took a breath and forced herself to focus, to remember she had to honor what he’d said to her before he left Catamount.

  “You said you’d wait until I was ready.”

  He nodded slowly. “I meant it.” His words were gruff.

  Her heart was full, fluttery joy rising inside. “I’m ready.”

  Hayden’s eyes darkened. He hooked his foot on the leg of the chair where she sat and dragged it closer to him. Her skin flushed, heat suffusing her. Her breath became shallow, her low belly clenched and pure fire slid through her veins. She faced him as his palms came to rest on her thighs, his touch a brand. The calloused surface of his skin sent shivers rushing through her as he slowly pushed her thighs apart, his hands curling around her hips and dragging her into his lap. She straddled him, her hair falling around his face. His hands kept moving, coasting up her sides, brushing the curves of her breasts, stroking up her neck and lacing into her hair.

  A frisson of awareness traveled up her spine, radiating outward. By the time he brought his mouth to hers, she was shuddering, tossed on the winds of emotion and desire. He was gentle for a brief moment before she twisted herself closer, sweet electricity sizzling between them. Their kiss went wild—hot, wet, and deep—his mouth devouring hers. One of his hands fisted in her hair, tugging her head back, his stubble scraping on the soft skin of her neck as his lips and teeth nibbled their way down. She shoved at his shirt. With one hand, he reached behind his head and yanked it off. He didn’t bother with the buttons on the shirt of his she wore, tearing the shirt apart and pushing it off her shoulders.

  She was bare underneath save for a pair of black silk panties. The feel of his cock, hard and hot, through the rough denim of his jeans was unbe
arably arousing. She curled her legs around his hips, riding him, pleasure streaking through her with each shift of her hips. She was soaked in want for him. Her breath came in ragged gasps.

  “Shana.”

  The rough, raw edge to his voice shivered over her skin. She dragged her eyes open to find his waiting—hot and dark. Inside she was pulsing with hot, liquid need. His palm stroked up her back. Heat twisted inside, her core drew tight. She couldn’t get close enough to the hard planes of his body, every inch of him pure, lean muscle. Pleasure tightened each time he arched his hips into hers, nudging against her core.

  She needed him inside of her. Now. She forced herself to push back and tore his jeans open, shoving them out of the way and freeing his arousal. She curled a hand around it, stroking up and down swiftly before rising. His hand curled on her hip and held her in place, his grip implacable. He stroked a finger across the wet silk. Her breath caught and a whimper escaped her throat. Oh god. She just needed to feel him inside her, to be as close as possible. He pushed the silk out of the way and delved into her wet folds.

  “Hayden…”

  His name came out on a broken moan. His gaze burned into her. He nudged his cock into her folds, holding still—need sharpened its claws in that hot moment. In a swift surge, he drove into her. She arched back and sank onto him. His hand guiding her, she began to ride him, rolling up and down along his length, the clench of her channel pulsing. Pressure swirled in a storm inside, spinning her tight.

  He stayed with her, his body rigid as he rose to meet her hips. Sensation was all she knew and she rode the tide of it until her climax burst through her. He was right behind her. Her channel throbbed around him when he cried out her name, his head slamming back and then forward with the heave of his breath. Pleasure pinged through every cell in her body as the storm of sensation eased. Her head fell into the crook of his shoulder. His hand roughly stroked through her hair.

  A while later, they’d untangled themselves, showered and enjoyed a dinner of takeout pizza. Shana stood in the kitchen in yet another of Hayden’s shirts. She sipped on a glass of wine. He closed the dishwasher and turned to face her. She stepped close and tipped her head into his chest.

  “So, we didn’t really talk,” she said, her words muffled.

  He chuckled, his arms coming around her. Being held close by him felt so good, tears clogged her throat.

  “No, no we didn’t. I said everything I needed to say the day I left Catamount. Was there something you wanted to say?”

  She nodded and lifted her head. “I love you. I’m sorry I got so… I don’t know, confused about it. I just needed a little time to sort things out.”

  His eyes held her, his gaze steady and sure. “As soon as I knew how I felt, you should have been the first to know. I didn’t want to pressure you.”

  “That’s the thing. You didn’t pressure me. I just…”

  He shook his head. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. I’m just glad you didn’t make me wait longer.” He angled his head down, his lips taking hers in a swift kiss. “Love you.”

  “Love you...” she whispered against his lips. She rested her head on his chest, savoring the sound of his heartbeat.

  Chapter 16

  Hayden took a last look around his office. It had been over a month since Clint was arrested. Hayden had been offered Clint’s job, but he’d persuaded the department to agree to a transfer to Maine. He would be assuming the regional director position in Maine in a town adjacent to Catamount. The smuggling network wasn’t dead in Bozeman, but it had taken a significant hit. Much as Hayden would have liked to think it was gone altogether, he figured it was well on its way. Glen promised to keep him posted if they had any significant developments going forward. Clint was being stubborn so far, refusing to cooperate. Hayden figured Clint was struggling to accept the loss of his power—power in both of his lives.

  He flicked the lights off and walked out, carrying a small box containing his personal items. This chapter of his life was closing. Anticipation thrummed through him as he drove away. Shana had returned to Catamount three weeks ago. She needed to get back for work. He spent the remainder of his time here getting organized to move. Even though he’d lived here for years, his life was fairly easy to tidy up. He’d never put roots down. He quickly found a renter to take over the lease on his house. Once he confirmed his work situation, he stayed only until his replacement was hired.

  A sense of longing drove him. He missed Shana when she wasn’t near and couldn’t wait to be by her side again. He waited impatiently for his flight once he got to the airport.

  ***

  Shana stood in the kitchen at the guesthouse. The scent of onions and garlic permeated the room. She’d been cooking like crazy lately. It offered an outlet for her restless energy while she waited for Hayden to return to Catamount. He’d told her last night he thought he should have everything tied up in another week. Though they talked every morning and every night, she missed him so much it hurt.

  Her back was to the door as she added broccoli to the pan, stirring in a mix of brown sugar and soy sauce with ginger. As she reached for the spatula, she heard the door open. Assuming it was Dane or Chloe, she called out a hello.

  When there was no response, she glanced over her shoulder to find Hayden striding through the room, a bag slung over his shoulder. Joy soared through her. She whirled around and raced to him. He dropped his bag and caught her in his arms, swinging her around. She peppered his face with kisses. When she pulled back, a tear tipped over her lashes. He wiped it away with his thumb, his own eyes shining with emotion.

  “Did I actually pull this off and surprise you?” he asked with a chuckle.

  She nodded. “You had me convinced you wouldn’t be here any sooner than next week!”

  His smile reached into her heart and grabbed hold. He brushed her hair away from her face, tucking a loose lock behind her ear. Shivers chased in the wake of his touch. “Got here as soon as I could,” he said gruffly. He fit his mouth over hers in a scorching kiss before pulling away, his breath heaving. “So good to see you.”

  Warmth unfurled through her. She smiled through her blurry gaze. “You too.”

  ***

  Shana walked across the town green toward Roxanne’s Country Store. The air was scented with growth—spring had finally taken hold in Catamount. The bare branches of the trees arching above the green were slowly filling with leaves, green grass had taken hold and flowers abounded. The always early daffodils were a cheery yellow as she walked past a bed of them along the edge of the green. Roxanne had flower boxes adorning every window of the store, so it was a veritable burst of color. Shana pushed through the door and headed straight for the deli in back.

  The tables were partially filled as it was mid-morning. If there was a lull for the store, it was now. Roxanne’s back was to the counter while she turned loaves of bread in the brick oven. Shana tapped on the little bell on the counter, purely to annoy Roxanne. Roxanne glanced over her shoulder and rolled her eyes the moment she saw Shana.

  “You know that’s for when I’m out back, right? When I’m standing two feet away, you can say my name,” she offered with a chuckle.

  Shana shrugged. “I know. Sometimes I can’t help myself.”

  Roxanne closed the oven and turned around. “Your temporary pass is running out soon.”

  “My temporary pass?”

  “The pass you get for annoying me. It’s so good to see you happy again that you get a pass for a little while. After that, I’ll throw the oven mitt at you.”

  Shana grinned. “Right. Can I get a coffee?”

  “Of course! Regular or espresso?”

  Shana considered for a moment. “Espresso. I have to head into the hospital for an evening shift in a little while.”

  Roxanne quickly prepped an espresso for her and handed it over. She lingered by the counter after she paid since there weren’t any other customers waiting. After a
few minutes of casual conversation, Roxanne’s eyes turned assessing.

  “How are things with Hayden?”

  Shana couldn’t help the flush that washed through her, not because she was embarrassed, but because the thought of Hayden sent heat flooding through her.

  “Good, really good.”

  Roxanne smiled softly. “You deserve a little slice of happiness. He stops by here almost every morning on his way to work, you know?”

  “He loves your coffee and says he’s hooked on your ham and cheese savories.”

  “That’s nice, but he’s been by enough now I’m not just guessing when I say he’s a good guy,” Roxanne offered.

  Shana chewed her lip. “I know. I still haven’t completely adjusted to the fact that he’s here and he’s with me.”

  “I figured. Get used to it because that man’s ridiculous about you.”

  Shana’s flush deepened. “He is?”

  Roxanne rolled her eyes. “As if you need me to tell you. Yes, seriously.” Her eyes sobered. “The past year’s been plain shitty for you. Especially when you tack it onto the last few years with Callen. You deserve someone like Hayden.” She paused, her eyes moving past Shana.

  Shana followed her gaze to see Hayden walking through the grocery aisles toward her. Her breath caught in her throat. He was so damn handsome with his caramel eyes and lean, hard body. As he got closer, she could feel the heat of his gaze from across the room. He strode up to her, smoothly slid a hand into her hair and kissed her. The kiss was brief, but sent liquid heat to her core and flutters twirling in her belly. One stroke of his tongue and he pulled away, nipping her bottom lip as he did.