Claiming Their Cat (23 page)

“How far to the next town?”

“Forty miles,” said the young man.

“How much?”

After he
had told
her, she agreed. Putting distance away from this place was the first hurdle.

Creed glanced at
his watch. Brody must be starving. His wolf continued a low growl at the women who sat beside him, brushed against him, and tried to
draw
him into a conversation. Rio’s growl matched his own. Creed stood. “I’ll check on Cat.”

Rio popped up beside him. “I’ll
come
with you.”

When they reached the
back
, Rio said, “I think I’ve been slimed.”

“I know what you
mean
. Were women that annoying before?”

“No, because we were the ones on the prowl, not the other way around.’

Creed grinned. “Feels good to be mated.”

“Yep, can’t wait to get her home tonight.”

Creed stopped at the restroom door and paused to listen.
No sucking.
No
soft
breaths that belonged to Cat or Brody.
He turned the knob and eased the door open.

Empty.

Rio pushed him
aside
. “Where the fuck are they?”

Creed’s wolf inhaled deep and compelled him through the back and out the door. Fear gripped his soul as he followed his nose down the alley towards the street.

Rio got there first and stopped on the curb. “Their scent ends here.”

They both knew she was in a vehicle. Her
scent
was sorrow tinged with a hint of fear. “She left us,” said Rio.

Creed ran his hand through his hair. “Ila was
right
. We couldn’t prevent her from leaving.”

“But we didn’t betray her
,
” Rio said as he started running for the truck.

That was true, but something triggered her to leave. Was it because they didn’t tell
her that they
loved her, tell
her that she
was theirs?

Creed climbed in, cranked the SUV, shoved the
vehicle
in reverse, and spun out of the
space
almost
crashing into a car. His only
plan
was to
drive
around and
hope
to
spot
them.
If he were running with the money that Rio had given her, he would try to
put
as much
road
between them as possible.
There were many towns in all directions. Did she
hail
a cab or
plead
to someone to
give
her a lift?

“Wait,” said Rio. “Didn’t Ila say Cat would end up back in the hands of that bastard?”

Creed cringed. Ila was never wrong.
Why in the hell hadn’t they heeded her prediction.

“If that’s true. The only way to
save
them is to
rescue
them after Alvarez has them.”

“But what hasn’t Ila told us? For all we know, Alvarez finds out Brody ain’t his and kills them both before we get there.”

“Don’t say that,” Rio
ground
out. “I will not let Alvarez
take
our
mate
and our
child
. I’m going to call in some favors and have people look for her. What I think you and I
need
to do is
get
our asses
back
to Mexico. Who knows, maybe we can beat her there and intercept.”

The whole plan hinged on Ila and her fucking
gift
. What if Ila’s
sight
was
wrong
and Cat took a
ride
with a serial killer or a child molester? Maybe Alvarez’s goons already had her.

“Help me decide,” pleaded Rio.

“I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I, but I don’t know how to
find
her. Ila’s never been
wrong
. Fate can’t be so
cruel
that she’d make a mistake now.”

“Alright, but we need some help.”

“I’ve got plenty of werewolf manpower.”

Rio made his phone calls while Creed headed back to the estate. They’d
devise
an
assault
plan
and pray that Ila was on her game.

Draco held the
door open for Lucy as she entered her
home
. They
’
d eaten at a fancy Italian restaurant and picked up a movie. It was his turn to choose, and he made sure it had lots of action and explosions. He strayed back there to the black curtain, but his
mate
threatened to walk out on him, and she would have.

Lucy always picked sappy movies that made her cry
. S
he might as well shove a knife directly
in
to his heart.
She tried to explain that she wanted to
weep
, but he couldn’t
buy
into that.

Tonight’s
date
would be different.
He’d rev her up with a kick-ass flick and put the move on her.
He’d
kiss
Lucy like she’d never been kissed before, not a peck, but a full frontal assault. She’d either
throw
him out or be swept away in the
pleasure
that only he could
give
.

He was desperate—more
desperate
than he’d ever been. His
poor
cock was in dire need of relief.
Of course, he could just tie her to the bed and torment her with pleasure.
Nah, she wasn’t ready for that
—yet
.

An hour later, Lucy was snoring softly against his shoulder. How could she sleep though this awesome movie? He knew she was tired, been on her feet all day, but she needed sex—eventually—whether she’d admit it or not, but not tonight.

Draco turned down the
volume
on the TV and eased himself to the side so he could scoop up Lucy.
Her soft moan was so sexy.
He loved the feel of her body against his, her softness, her scent, her everything. He toed her bedroom door open, managed to
ease
the covers
back
before laying her down.
She was so vulnerable, so trusting of him, it made what was left of his heart actually ache.
He could be
patient
for a little while longer, even if it killed him.

Using his
skill
, he scanned the
area
looking for any trouble. Finding none, he turned to head back down and
finish
his
movie
.

“Don’t go.”

Draco’s stopped, grateful for his excellent
hearing
. A normal person would have missed it. Was she even awake? He turned and smiled. She sat
in
the bed, dragging her hand through her short hair and stifling a yawn.

“What did you say?” Hell, he had to ask. Give her the opportunity to renege on what could have been an
impulse
reaction.

“I said don’t go.”

“You want to finish watching the movie?”

“No. I want…” Lucy voice cracked. Then she stood and began shedding her clothes. It wasn’t a practiced, seductive move, but it was still
sexy
as hell.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m stripping down.”

“And why are you doing that?”

When she was clothed only in a sexy bra and matching black panties, she said. “I’ve decided that I want you…in my bed. I realize this isn’t the most
sensual
move a woman can
make
, but I have to
hurry
this
along
before I
come
to my senses.”

His dick was
a
hard
rod
by now. She was hot as hell with all her curves, her boldness tempered by uncertainty, and the
frantic
pulse
drumming in the soft skin of her delicate throat. “I don’t think you’re ready to be fucked by a vampire.” Yes, it was
cruel
, but he meant it. She had to accept that fact, because he was sure once he slid into her sexual
heat
he’d never be able to control himself.

Lucy climbed on her bed and positioned herself against the pillows. “Well, I’m hot and bothered, and I’m going to do something about it. I
’
ll
let
you watch.”
A smile played around her lips but didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She was unsure of herself in this new role.
She trailed her hand down her belly, and it was torture to remain rooted in his spot.

“Answer one question for me. Why now? Why tonight?”

She licked her lips as her hand disappeared in her black, lacy scrap of silk. He could imagine how
silky
her honeyed heat would
feel
.

“You’ve proven that you’re not the
monster
of my nightmares. That you’re
funny
, honest, and patient.
That you could be anywhere else
you wanted to be
instead of babysitting me from sunset to sunrise.”

“But I’m a vampire.”

“Yes, but you won’t hurt me.”

No, he’d never hurt her. And…the sands had shifted. He also knew he couldn’t handle a rejection from her, to get lost in her
sensual
heat and
have
her
come
to her senses.

He was becoming such a pussy. Where was the fuck
-
’em
-
as
-
fast
-
as
-
you can
vamp
? Two or three at a time
.

“No, I won’t hurt you, but you have to be sure.”

“I’m sure. Just stop talking and watch.”

As his gaze zeroed in on the back of her had pushing against the fabric of her panties, Draco was
certain
she would
erode
away
his
self-control
. Hell, he might even come in his pants. Wouldn’t that be swell?

H
is fangs erupt
ed
; sharp points meant to mark his mate.
If he bit her, he was certain that she would never forgive him.

“I’m wet.”

Hell, he knew that too. Her arousal was driving him
insane
.

For once in his life, he was unsure of himself. How to proceed? Take what was offered and risk losing her forever.

“I can see the bulge in your pants from
here
. Don’t you want to come over here and
play
?”

Draco lost the war within and advanced on the bed.

He waved his hand and his clothes dissolved. “You shouldn’t tease a vampire.”

“I’m only planning on teasing one.”

He fisted his cock, gave it a pump. “You’d better not even look at anyone else, because I don’t want to kill anybody unnecessarily.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Very.” She had no idea.
He waved his hand again, and her panties and bra disappeared.
He didn’t have to
wave
his hand; it was just a
habit
. His gaze narrowed when her finger disappeared into the slick folds of her pussy.

“I want to taste your pussy.”

“Humm. That sounds…delightful.”

“Can I tie you to the bed?”

Her breath hitched, and her eyes rounded.

“I promise to untie you if you ask me to.”

She pulled her finger out of her pussy and swirled it around the tight bud of her clit. She was driving him crazy.