A Game of Cat & Mouse

by Astrid Cielo

  Chapter 1

  Caleb Anderson lazed in the woods

  beside his house, the small stream lulling him as he lay upon the rock enjoying the afternoon sun. He needed this more often. It’d been too long since he last allowed his cougar free, and he was feeling the stress, especially with the females trying to gain his attention and vying for him to claim one of them as his alpha female. To top it off, the office had been hectic lately. Caleb loved being an architect, and he realized how lucky he was to have his own contracting firm at the age of thirty. Lately though he had felt the weight of maintaining his own business and keeping the pride from breaking apart at the seams.

  Caleb had prayed to the powers that be more over the past year than he could ever remember at any other time. The deaths of his parents had not required so much prayer, although admittedly, he was praying for different things. His parents’

  deaths had left him in charge of the whole pride. He’d needed guidance, help to run a pride he’d not planned on running for a long time. Thoughts of his parents’ sudden deaths caused his heart to ache in an all-too-familiar way.

  Caleb’s parents had died in a car crash.

  It’d been a one-vehicle incident. It looked as if his father had swerved to the left, hitting a tree. The police assumed it was just his father’s attempt to miss some of the area wildlife, and he couldn’t right himself before crashing. Whatever the reason, it had left Caleb with the whole pride, alone, without an alpha female.

  Caleb wished his father were here now.

  His father had been a wise and proud leader. Everyone had loved his father and simply adored his mother. Caleb knew he would never be as great as his parents, but he would strive to make them proud. He knew one thing for certain; he would only take an alpha female when he found his true mate. However, the females of his pride didn’t seem to understand that concept.

  From long ago, his mother’s voice came back to him as she tucked her six-year-old boy into bed.

  “Son, when the time comes to find a mate, don’t settle, baby. Don’t settle for anything less than your true mate. I wouldn’t want my son to be anything but happy.”

  “Like you and Daddy?”

  Caleb’s mother smiled at him, her

  golden brown eyes lighting with a dreamy gaze.

  “Yes, sweetheart, just like me and

  Daddy.”

  Stretching out his claws scraping against the rock, Caleb turned lazily to the other side. This was his favorite spot, just a few miles within the woods behind his house.

  The thick wooded area thinned out around the stream that wove through much of the pride’s property, and the rocks that surrounded the small meandering body of water allowed for some decent sunning spots during the afternoon. Caleb could still remember playing here as a kitten with other boys in the pride. He could also remember getting in trouble and his mother spanking him. Caleb allowed the sound of the stream to pull him into a nap.

  Yes, a nap was what he needed. Every cat needed a catnap.

  A scent tickled his nose, pulling him back from what promised to be a blessed dream world. This scent had him up and

  searching for the source before he realized what he was doing. Caleb had to find it.

  ***

  Miranda Sullivan could not believe her luck of becoming lost and in mouse form no less. All she had wanted to do was explore some of the wooded area

  surrounding her home, but after a few hours of walking around in circles, she was totally exhausted. Now all she wanted was to get back to her new house, the one-bedroom, one-bath cottage she’d fallen instantly in love with. What wasn’t to love with its light blue paint and dark blue trim, the little bay window in the living room that allowed the light to shine through in the morning, and the flower garden in the back had enticed her to sign the lease?

  At first, she hadn’t been too keen on the whole move-out-on-her-own thing.

  Miranda had actually enjoyed living with her family. However, the truth of the matter was she’d graduated college, earned her degree in elementary

  education, and had even earned the

  position at Pinewood Creek Elementary School. Therefore, she couldn’t let all her hard work go to waste, but letting go of the security provided by living with her parents had been difficult.

  Miranda gave a squeak of distress as her frustration mounted. Yeah, it would be easier to find her way in human form, but walking around naked in the woods was one way to attract attention – and

  probably not the kind she wanted.

  Turning around in a circle, she finally heard the trickling of water. Well, even if she didn’t find her way out of this seemingly endless forest anytime soon, she was still parched. At least if she followed the sound of the stream, she could assuage her thirst if nothing else, and maybe she would find a way out of this never-ending forest.

  Her heart nearly exploded out of her chest when the shadow fell over her, but she almost wet herself when she looked up to find sharp teeth, sharp claws, and the attention of an honest-to-gods cougar.

  Chapter 2

  Caleb could not believe his eyes. The scent that had captivated him and his beast belonged to a mouse, one that smelled good enough to eat, but that was absurd. He’d not eaten a mouse since he was a kitten.

  Besides, the feelings this little mouse’s scent evoked were certainly not the need-a-good-meal variety.

  Caleb leaned down to sniff at the little rodent that just stared at him with those eyes too big for her face. Her? Surely, he’d missed something. He took in a deep sample of the mouse’s unique scent, and his whole body tensed. If he didn’t know any better, Caleb would say that he was attracted to the little mouse. No!

  Definitely not. What the hell is going on?

  Caleb extended his paw, intent on

  touching the little mouse whose scent intrigued him beyond measure. The little mouse gave a squeak of displeasure before its body began to contort and in the place of the itty-bitty mouse stood the most gorgeous creature he’d ever laid his eyes on. Now why the hell was she hitting him?

  Shifting quickly, he pulled the exquisite morsel against him and pinned her flailing arms to her sides. Caleb almost couldn’t think straight with her little body pressed against his. It didn’t help that they were both as naked as the day they were born.

  The female struggled, her pale face turning red and enhancing the smattering of freckles that covered the bridge of her nose. Her dark brown eyes were large in her cherub-like face, and an unruly mop of light brown hair curling in large ringlets to her shoulders completed her beautiful features. She was a tiny female, at least a foot shorter than his six feet two height.

  Caleb had never wanted a woman this instantly, but he wanted to eat this little morsel – definitely not the need-a-meal variety of eating. Her struggling made him aware of her lithe body pressed against his and causing his cock to stir against the soft skin of her lower abdomen. She stilled instantly and stared up at him, the fire replaced with unmistakable fear.

  “Shh, little mouse, I’m not gonna hurt you,” Caleb said, attempting to soothe, but the words came out husky even to his own ears.

  Her scent was driving him crazy. Before he could stop himself, Caleb placed his nose against her neck and inhaled, his whole body tensing again—as if in

  anticipation. But in anticipation of what?

  Her whimper of distress sent every

  protective instinct he had into over drive.

  Protect our mate, Caleb’s beast

  demanded.

  Oh shit, she’s my mate!

  Caleb pulled back abruptly, looking at the female that was his. His true mate.

  He frowned when he realized tears ran down her cheeks. Cale
b felt like an ass for distressing her, and her distress was causing his beast to prowl along the confines of his soul, wanting to break free, to comfort and protect its mate. Caleb gritted his teeth and took a deep breath trying to get his cougar under control.

  “Please, don’t hurt me.” Her frightened voice made his heart break.

  Pulling her into an embrace he meant to be comforting, he rubbed soothing circles over her back, whispering that he wouldn’t hurt her and that she was safe. Eventually the tension drained from her little body, and he sat down, taking her with him.

  Settling her in his lap, he cradled her close, his hands playing absently with her curly brown hair.

  “My name is Caleb. Caleb Anderson.”

  She giggled, and he smiled at the

  beautiful sound.

  “Well, are you going to tell me your name?”

  ***

  Miranda took a deep breath, and oddly, she relaxed even more into his embrace.

  He smelled like home, safe and warm. She sighed in contentment before she

  answered his question.

  “Miranda.”

  Caleb repeated her name, his baritone voice sending shivers down her spine.

  “What brings you to my piece of the woods, little mouse?”

  Miranda felt her face flame. How did she explain that she’d gotten lost? She of all people should know better than to go traipsing through the forest, and in animal form no less.

  Non-predator shifters were very rare, most picked off by non-shifter predators.

  They didn’t have the same defensive mechanisms as the sexy cat shifter holding her. Miranda wasn’t large, she didn’t have claws that could disembowel, nor did she possess the strength to defend herself from predators. What she did not have in terms of brute strength, size or weaponry, however, she made up for in sheer

  determination and cunning.

  “Well, little mouse?”

  Miranda took a big breath sure censure would follow.

  “I was exploring the wooded area

  behind my house. I just moved here, and I couldn’t resist.” Miranda hid her face in his chest, crawling closer to his body heat and his heady scent.

  “I’ve never met a mouse shifter before,”

  he said after a brief moment of silence that seemed to stretch for ages to Miranda.

  Caleb’s voice wasn’t censorious, but rather curious. Miranda smiled slightly in relief. She still did not want to get in trouble. Wait! Trouble?

  “Most haven’t had the pleasure of

  meeting a mouse shifter or any non—

  predatory shifter. We are somewhat rare.”

  “Why are you rare?” Another sigh. He was not going to let this go, and now would come the lecture.

  “Well, as you can imagine, we’re often eaten by other creatures.”

  “I’m sorry. Did you say eaten?”

  Miranda tensed at the growled

  statement. Why am I taking this? He isn’t anything to me! “I’m sorry we can’t all be ferocious felines with claws and teeth!”

  Miranda attempted to remove herself from his lap. To be honest, she wasn’t completely certain why she allowed him to hold her, and while she was naked no less. He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back to his lap.

  “Let me go!”

  Miranda did her best to sound menacing, but even she knew that her small stature and big eyes screamed nonthreatening.

  “No.” Caleb said it so simply that Miranda leaned back to look at the cat shifter, whose square jaw was set in stubbornness. His golden brown eyes flared with obduracy and something else she didn’t want to analyze too closely.

  Caleb was truly handsome, and her

  fingers itched to run through the locks of his shaggy dark brown hair. His body was pure muscle, lean and hard. She felt her face heat at the realization her body had enjoyed being pressed against his quite thoroughly, leaving her wet and achy.

  Quit ogling! It was extremely evident he wasn’t going to release her. There was no way she could overpower him. Miranda wiggled against his hold, and her thoughts were confirmed when Caleb tightened his grasp.

  Miranda rolled her eyes at his show of strength, because she knew well that strength and size didn’t always work in one’s favor. She relaxed and snuggled closer almost giggling when his hold relaxed. Taking a deep breath, Miranda allowed the change to flow over her. Now a mouse, his big beefcake arms were a mere stepladder. She squeaked at him in defiance before hauling her furry rodent tail. She wasn’t surprised that he shouted in indignation. She was still not surprised when he turned furry and started running after her, but by golly, it surprised Miranda by how excited she was that Caleb

  Anderson gave chase.

  Chapter 3

  Caleb could not believe the little mouse had given him the slip – at least for the moment. He watched as her little tail disappeared into the forest. He smiled as he allowed his cougar to take over. His Miranda was a sly little mouse, and his beast reveled in the thrill of the chase.

  Although he enjoyed the chase, Caleb still couldn’t dismiss the hurt that she would run. Doesn’t she realize that I am her mate? Of course that might be the exact reason she ran, among others. If he thought about it – and he did – he realized that maybe Miranda had been

  uncomfortable with the fact that they were both naked. This was odd considering shifters should be used to being naked around others since they were naked when they shifted. At least that was how it had been in his pride, but he did not really know how mice shifters operated. Miranda had said she was lost, but still she ran from him. Didn’t she know he would help her find her way – back to his house? Again, the truth made Caleb frustrated. No! She didn’t know. She probably didn’t even realize they were mates.

  Catching up to her twitching tail, he made his beast stay back, allowing her room to run. Caleb didn’t want to lose her.

  He just wanted to follow her. We must catch her. Caleb agreed wholeheartedly with his cougar. Allowing a burst of speed, he pounced, careful to capture the precious little mouse in his paws – claws retracted of course.

  ***

  Caleb caught her! Miranda had been

  sure she’d lost him. Not that she knew where she was going in the first place because the fact still remained—she was lost. The paws that had once cradled her with surprising care faded to the calloused hands of a man. Caleb smiled down at her, his even white teeth curling into a cat-got-the-cream smile.

  “Now, little mouse, can you shift back and maybe I can help you out of these woods?”

  Caleb placed her on the ground and

  stared at her expectantly. Didn’t he know how disconcerting it was for her to be in her birthday suit? Apparently, it wasn’t that big of a deal for him, and considering his impressive physique, Miranda could understand his comfort with nudity.

  Miranda allowed herself to change and, once again, stood naked before him. She immediately attempted to cover herself and felt her face heat. Caleb’s hand under her chin pulled her gaze back to his mesmerizing golden brown eyes.

  “How can you be so uncomfortable being naked? Don’t you have to undress before you shift?”

  Miranda shook her head. Caleb looked puzzled, and Miranda laughed. “I’m a mouse.”

  Caleb nodded, but Miranda could tell he still didn’t get what she was trying to tell him.

  “When I shift, I compress, but when you shift, I’m assuming you enlarge, right?”

  Caleb nodded, a spark igniting in those eyes of his. Almost there.

  “That means I can shift and just burrow out of my pile of clothes.”

  “But you still shouldn’t be ashamed to stand in front of me naked.”

  Caleb’s words were soft like his fingers that traced her collarbone causing

  gooseflesh to erupt on her skin.

  “Why is that?” Miranda winced at how shaky her voice sounded. Caleb was affecting her more than she wanted to admit.

  “You are
my mate,” Caleb said his words laced with awe.

  Mate? But that can’t be right. I’m a mouse, and he… well, he is a freaking cat!

  Surely not! Miranda leaned forward and took a deep pull of his intoxicating scent.

  Soap. Someone had an apple for lunch. Oh my! There under all the scents he had encountered throughout the day was his own personal fragrance. It was like nighttime and rain all rolled into one. It bombarded her olfactory system and sent Miranda’s mind into meltdown.

  Miranda leaned forward, intent on

  becoming one with that intoxicating aroma. It made her want to roll around in it to cover herself with it and blend it with her own. Miranda placed her hands on Caleb’s shoulders and rubbed her face along his muscled pectorals, basking in his warmth and scent. Mate!

  Caleb was her mate. Miranda stepped back, her mind finally catching up to the wanton way she squirmed against Caleb’s delectable body in an attempt to get closer. Before she could get too far, Caleb grasped her and pulled her back into his embrace.

  Miranda could not dismiss the feeling of rightness that came from his embrace.

  “How can this be?” she whispered, her mind racing.

  Caleb didn’t answer. Miranda’s breath left her in a whoosh at the look of tension on his face. Cautiously Miranda lifted her hand, smoothing the line that furrowed between his brows, smiling when he

  relaxed slightly.

  Caleb’s focus turned to her mouth, and Miranda watched as Caleb seemed to have some type of internal debate. Then he was there, his fist grasping her hair and pulling her head back before angling his mouth over hers and taking her lips.

  Caleb’s well-muscled arm circled her waist, holding her pinned to him – naked flesh to naked flesh.

  Miranda gasped in shock and attempted to extricate herself from Caleb’s grasp, but the first foray of his tongue halted her.

  Miranda sighed and relaxed, her arms encircling his neck as Caleb plundered and teased her mouth.

  Past kisses faded from her mind as

  Caleb’s mouth turned from teasing to determined, proving his intent to claim that which belonged to him. Caleb’s restraining arms relaxed with her compliance, his hand around her waist drifting lower to clasp her buttocks and pull her to straddle his lap.