A Game of Cat & Mouse

by Astrid Cielo

  Miranda followed Essence into the

  house, her nose delighting at the scent of food. She hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning.

  “I’ll check the back of the house if you want to look around in here?” Essence nodded, and Miranda walked toward the back.

  The first room was a well-kept bedroom; the only thing out of place was the unmade bed, definitely Essence’s bedroom. The next room was a bathroom. Miranda

  searched the cabinets carefully, leaving when she found no sign of the little boy.

  She walked into the last room and knew instantly this was Gunner’s room. Stuffed animals and blocks littered the floor.

  Unfinished coloring pages hung

  haphazardly throughout the room. Miranda could smell the little boy, Essence, and a strangely familiar scent.

  Essence walked into his room, her eyes filling with more tears. “I didn’t find him.”

  “Neither did I. What did Gunner eat for supper last night?”

  Essence’s face twisted in confusion, but she answered, “Tuna fish sandwich. His favorite. I think we should go back to the alpha’s home. He wanted us to stay put.”

  Miranda nodded, her stomach growling at the faint scent of tuna fish that mixed with the myriad of scents in Gunner’s room. She followed Essence out of the house, but her steps faltered as the wind blew in her face, the faint scent of Gunner and tuna fish assaulting her nose. Miranda grabbed Essence’s hand and pointed in the opposite direction that Caleb and his group searched.

  “What’s that way?”

  “There used to be a mining camp way back in the early 1900s, but all the children know not to go there.”

  “Did any of the search parties search there?”

  “I don’t know, but I doubt it. Like I said, all the children know not to go in there.”

  “I can smell him, and it’s coming from that direction,” Essence lifted her head and sniffed.

  “I don’t smell anything.”

  Miranda stared at her disbelievingly.

  How could she not smell her own child?

  Her eyes widened as she realized that cougar’s sense of smell was not as acute as that of a mouse. She could smell him, but Essence couldn’t.

  “Come on, let’s at least go check. If he’s not there, then we’ll know for sure, but if he is, then he could be hurt.”

  Essence looked skeptical, but at the mention of her child being hurt, she nodded and followed Miranda.

  Chapter 8

  The old mine encampment was an

  accident waiting to happen. Someone had taken what seemed minimal amounts of time to nail boards haphazardly over the entrance and crumbling shacks were

  scattered everywhere. Despite the smell of decay and dirt, Miranda could still smell Gunner’s unique scent and the remnants of the tuna fish sandwich he’d eaten for supper.

  “He’s here,” Miranda said as she

  followed her nose to entrance of the mine.

  Although someone had arranged the

  boards in what seemed to be a senseless fashion, their placement was close enough to keep most things out. Miranda took a deep breath and shifted before crawling out of her dress towards the crack between two boards.

  “You’re a mouse!”

  Miranda turned to look up at the

  surprised face of Essence, her eyes widened as she regarded her. She

  squeaked at her before scurrying into the mineshaft, sniffing for the trail to Gunner.

  Miranda’s nose led her to a small cart, probably used to take supplies in and out of the shaft, that was covered by a piece of plywood. She could hear the small

  inhalations and exhalations of the tiny child she knew lie within, erasing her fears of his death. She shifted back, swept the obstructing wood from the top of the cart, and stared down at the sleeping form of a three-year-old Gunner.

  “Gunner?” The little boy stirred and began to cry. Miranda reached down and pulled him out, holding him close, and reassuring him everything would be okay.

  “Come on, Gunner, your mommy has been looking everywhere for you.”

  Miranda clasped the boy by the hand and led him to the entrance to a pacing mother.

  “Gunner!” .

  “Mama!” Gunner ran to her, sticking his little arms between the boards to reach for Essence.

  “Okay, Gunner, let’s get out of here.

  Just shift and follow me.”

  Gunner turned and nodded, the dirt

  causing the tear tracks to stand out in stark contrast on his face. “Oh and, by the way, don’t eat me. I’m a mouse, okay?”

  Gunner laughed and nodded. Miranda shifted into her mouse form and found herself being towered over by a spotted cougar kitten. Miranda squeaked at him before scurrying out of the shaft.

  Gunner tried to get out of the shaft, but his head wouldn’t fit through any of the gaps close to his height. How did he get in there in the first place? Miranda shifted back and looked around for something to pry the boards off the entrance while Essence consoled the crying Gunner. She came back with what seemed to be a

  sturdy limb and, with Essence’s help, pried a board close to the ground, creating a space big enough for Gunner to climb through. He leapt into his mother’s arms when he crawled free, his mother raining kisses upon his tear-and dirt-streaked face.

  Essence hugged her child close and

  looked at Miranda, her voice breaking as she said, “Thank you, Miranda.”

  ***

  Caleb breathed a sigh of relief when he received the call that Gunner had been found in the old mineshaft. Although he was relieved that Gunner was safe, he realized he had to do something to keep the kids from going near that place.

  Anything could have happened to Gunner while he was in that mineshaft. He still wasn’t sure who had thought to look in a place everyone was sure none of the kids ever went.

  As he entered his home, he searched out Miranda, finding her covered in dirt and sitting on the couch with a three-year-old Gunner on her lap, talking animatedly about his adventure. Caleb could envision her holding their child while her belly swelled with another. Miranda looked up and smiled, her brown eyes sparkling, and despite the coating of dust, she was still the most beautiful female he’d ever seen.

  Caleb walked to her and bent, kissing her lips briefly before turning his attention to the small kitten that was seeking sanctuary in his mate’s lap.

  “Gunner, I believe you have some

  explaining to do.”

  Gunner looked up into Caleb’s face, his eyes widening at the tone of voice his alpha was using. Miranda stood up and handed Gunner back to his mother.

  “Not right now, Caleb,” Miranda said.

  “He has to know that what he did was wrong.”

  Miranda’s brown eyes pleaded with him, and an almost angry flare lightened their depths. “Not. Right. Now.”

  Caleb nodded and turned back to his pride. He couldn’t help but think of how great she would be as alpha female.

  “Thanks, everyone, for helping to look for Gunner. We will meet later at the mine to discuss how to keep the children from playing near the mineshaft. Essence, take Gunner home.”

  Essence nodded and placed her son in Zackary’s arms before turning to Miranda and enveloping her in a hug. Miranda looked surprised but allowed Essence to hug her, the taller woman dwarfing his small mate.

  “Thank you again, Miranda. Thanks to you I have my baby back.”

  Miranda found Gunner?

  The rest of the pride followed, leaving Caleb alone with his beautiful mate. First things first, his mouse needed a bath.

  “Come on, I’ll run you a bath.”

  Caleb pulled Miranda to her feet from her position on the couch. She instantly put her hand in his, and he couldn’t stifle the overwhelming sense of pride that she trusted him so readily. He led Miranda to his bathroom and filled the tub with hot water. He turned to find her naked, watching him with interest. He turned the water o
ff and turned to take her in his arms. He clasped her curly brown hair in his hand and pulled her head back gently before capturing her lips, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She sighed, her arms coming up to encircle his neck as she relaxed in his hold.

  Caleb gloried in the feel of her naked body pressed against his. He wound his other hand around Miranda’s waist and down to cup her buttocks, squeezing the firm globes gently with his hand. He couldn’t wait to bury himself in her, to claim her as his mate.

  Reluctantly he pulled away, biting her bottom lip gently. Miranda opened her eyes, and Caleb saw her gaze glazed over in lust. She tightened her hold in an attempt to pull him back to her. He chuckled, clasped her hands in his, and turned her to lead his dirty mate to the bath. She squealed when he lifted her and sat her in the tub of water, her moan of pleasure hardening him further.

  Miranda sank in the water, her beautiful body visible beneath the clear water.

  Picking up the soap, he began to work it into a lather before he reached for her, intent on running his hands over her mouthwatering body. Her hands came up to hold his, and he looked into her big brown eyes.

  “Why don’t you join me?” Her face

  flamed despite her bold words.

  Caleb stood and disrobed. She followed his every move. Finally, he stood naked before her. Caleb couldn’t remember a time he’d been more grateful he

  remodeled his house. This wasn’t the house that he’d grown up in, but after his parents’ deaths, he couldn’t bring himself to live in the house that was full of their memories. His childhood home stood empty, and several members of the pride took turns keeping it clean. It touched his heart that the pride would step in and manage the upkeep of the house. When he’d moved into this one, he poured himself in remodeling it to keep his mind off how much he missed his mother and father.

  At the time he hadn’t realized he was creating a home for his mate, but now looking back at the modifications he’d made, even he couldn’t deny that fate had ensured he would be ready for Miranda.

  Placing the extra-large claw tub in the bathroom had led to this moment. Had allowed him the ability to climb in behind his mate and hold her wet and naked body against his.

  “Is that better?” Miranda nodded and lay back, resting her head on his chest.

  Caleb grabbed the soap again and

  moved his soapy hands slowly over

  Miranda’s slight curves. Miranda arched into his ministrations, putting her breasts into his hands. Caleb teased her nipples into peaks, his head bending to lick the droplets of water from her neck. Miranda moaned, the sound echoing throughout the bathroom.

  “Tell me how much you like me touching your beautiful breasts.”

  Miranda’s hands threaded through his hair. “Yes,” she breathed out.

  “Miranda.” Caleb growled, nipping her neck and stopping his teasing to her breasts. Miranda squirmed, rubbing her delectable backside against his close-to-bursting erection. Caleb barely restrained his groan of pleasure.

  “Caleb, please don’t stop!”

  “Tell me.”

  “Caleb!”

  “Tell me, Miranda.”

  Miranda released a huff before whining, “I need you to touch me, Caleb! It makes me feel so good. Please!”

  Caleb tilted her head to the side,

  allowing him access to her mouth. He took her mouth in a heated kiss, his tongue immediately plunging into her honeyed depths. He resumed torturing her nipples, tugging on the stiff peaks rhythmically.

  Miranda’s hips undulated, her backside sending delightful sparks over his shaft.

  He trailed one of his hands over her flat stomach to tease her folds.

  Miranda arched suddenly, and his finger dipped into her wet channel. She bucked against his fingers, seeking for him to fill her. Caleb complied and allowed her to move herself against his hand, impaling her on two of his fingers. The sounds of her enjoyment echoed throughout the room, and her rhythm faltered, signaling her impending climax. Caleb trailed his other hand down and pinched her

  engorged clit between his thumb and index finger, and just like that, her orgasm was on her. Miranda cried out, her nails digging into his arms as her vaginal muscles clenched around his fingers.

  Miranda sighed and settled back against his chest as Caleb removed his fingers from her softly rippling sheath. Using small, soothing circles, he rubbed his hands against her skin.

  Caleb kissed her head, content to lie with her in his arms, and though his erection was hard enough to drive nails, he couldn’t have been happier.

  Chapter 9

  Miranda lay boneless on Caleb chest as the water cooled, and her breath came in pants. Caleb kissed her head and rubbed soothing circles over her skin as she came down from the orgasm he’d supplied.

  Settling herself more comfortably against him, she felt his erection against her back.

  Miranda smiled as she withdrew from him.

  Caleb’s hands left her slowly as she turned and kneeled in the tub between his legs, facing him. Thank goodness, he had such a big tub.

  Picking up the forgotten soap, she

  lathered her hands and reached for his sculpted chest. Caleb’s mouth curled into a grin as he watched her. Miranda smoothed her soapy hands over his shoulders and chest, paying special attention to his flat nipples.

  Caleb hissed, and Miranda looked up to smirk at him.

  “What are you doing, sweetheart?”

  “It’s my turn.” Miranda continued her journey across his abdomen, her hands delighting in the indentions of his muscles.

  Caleb tensed his abdomen, and Miranda looked up to watch him carefully as she repeated the action. Again, his abdomen tensed, and he squirmed. Caleb was ticklish! Filing that away for later fun, she let her hands drift lower, never taking her eyes from his, and wrapped her hand around his sizeable erection.

  Caleb’s hips pumped forward, his

  erection gliding through her grasp. His hands tightened on the side of the tub.

  Miranda leaned forward and licked his lips.

  He captured her tongue and sucked it gently into his mouth. Her core clenched, and just like that, she wanted him inside of her. She couldn’t fathom ever getting enough of this man.

  Easing forward, Miranda straddled Caleb, bringing her breast-to-breast with him.

  Moaning at the sensation of rubbing her naked breasts over his chest and lifting upward, she kissed Caleb as his hands captured her hips, helping to align their bodies. Miranda eased down, taking him into her body.

  “That’s it, sweetheart; you feel so good,”

  Caleb said.

  Miranda nibbled at his jawline as she impaled herself fully on him. He grasped her hips in a silent plea to move, to ride him. She obliged, lifting and impaling herself in an easy rhythm. His hands drifted from her hips to her breasts, toying with the sensitive nipples. She moaned in frustration as she attempted to gain more leverage to move faster, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.

  “Caleb!”

  He must have sensed her inner turmoil or his need to pound into her overwhelmed him because he lifted her, the loss of his cock causing her vaginal muscles to clench in protest.

  “Turn around, baby.” His voice was laden with lust, husky. It scraped over her nerve endings, creating small shards of pleasure to tingle through her body.

  Miranda turned and allowed Caleb to adjust her over his erection. Taking her hands, he placed them so she could grab the sides of the tub. She leaned forward instinctively as he slammed her down on his cock. She cried out as her channel clenched greedily at his shaft.

  Using her legs and grip on the tub, Miranda followed the pace that Caleb set with his hands on her hips. She couldn’t believe how deep he felt. Her pleasure seemed to build quickly, their moans and groans mixing as echoes within the

  bathroom. Water sloshed, splashing to the floor as she moved faster and harder.

  Caleb trailed his hands over her, one to her brea
sts to toy with her nipples and the other to pinch and release her clit on the downward slide. She screamed and stilled as her orgasm claimed her, more powerful than any orgasm she’d ever experienced.

  Distantly she felt his hands clenching on her hips as he filled her sensitive sheath with his own completion.

  Caleb withdrew from her and picked her out of the tub. He dried her carefully before carrying her to the bed. Miranda yawned, and he kissed her nose.

  “Sleep, sweetheart. I’m going to check on a couple of things, and then I’ll be back.”

  “Okay.” Miranda said, her eyes already drifting closed. She heard as he dressed, and her mind allowed her to undress him as she slipped closer to oblivion.

  “Don’t punish Gunner. Please. I need to talk to you about that first.” Caleb looked undecided. He opened his mouth, and she knew he was going to say he had to ensure that Gunner understood what he did was wrong. “Please, Caleb. I know you didn’t trust me enough to tell be about you being the alpha, but something about what happened with Gunner isn’t adding up.”

  Caleb looked down at her, shocked, his eyes displaying a hurt she wished she could erase. She wished she could take back what she’d said. However, she couldn’t, and that was exactly how she felt when she found out that he was alpha.

  He’d disregarded telling her one of the most important parts of his life, especially when they were destined to be mated.

  Caleb’s status as alpha affected her.

  Selfish though it may be, it meant that, in reality, he would be focused on far more than just her by being forced to ensure the stability and safety of his pride.

  “Is that what you believe? That I didn’t tell you about being pride alpha because I didn’t trust you?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Miranda’s voice cracked as the tears filled her eyes.

  Damn this man! How could someone she loved so much keep something so

  important from her? Love? But deep down, she knew it was true. Despite how little time she’d known him she loved him.

  Caleb rested his head in his hands, his shoulders slumping in a sign of defeat. “I don’t know.” Caleb stood and walked toward the door, not looking back at Miranda.