Cat Class (Trick Or Treat) (3 page)

With his hands on her chest, Joel slid his tongue up and down her slit. Her head lolled on her shoulders and she gripped the headboard for stability. He bit and sucked every inch of her folds. Joel scraped his teeth over her clit.

Hayden cried out. Maybe it was the thrill of being his first or the lust they already shared but something changed deep in her soul. He’d been a part of her life and she wanted more. She writhed on his face, loving his tongue on her body. Flutters started low in her belly and her legs quaked. Fighting the need to come, she scooted away from his greedy mouth.

“What?” He wiped his lips, then reached for her. “I wasn’t done eating.”

“You can do that later. We’ve got time.” Hayden sat at his side. “Pants. Off.” She nodded. “My turn to see you.”

Joel wriggled out of his jeans. He lay spread eagle on her bed. His cock, thick with a slight curve, pointed to the ceiling. A thatch of black hairs meandered up to his belly button in a thin line.
Taste him? Fuck him?
Both sounded like good ideas. She dragged her tongue along the underside of his dick. Salt and spice exploded on her taste buds. Pre-come glistened on the blunt head of his cock and she lapped at him.

“Holy shit.” Joel’s belly tensed, defining each muscle in his abs. “Want inside you.”

Okay, she’d take care of him later. Hayden licked her lips, then lined his cock up with her pussy. She breathed out and bore down on him.

“Fuck,” Joel growled. He arched his back, pushing more of his cock into her. Inch by delicious inch, he filled her. She groaned at the tight fit, but didn’t relent. No way she’d miss this. She tipped her head back and cupped her breasts. His pubic hairs tickled her cunt lips and the pressure from his slight thrusts tapped her clit. She rocked on his lap, rubbing him everywhere within her.

“Like heaven.” Joel held onto her waist. “I’ve craved this.” He tugged her forward. Her hair fell in her eyes and she rested her body on his. “Craved you.” He rolled them both over, pinning her beneath him. The angle gave him better leverage. He braced on his hands and knees. His thrusts sped up and a bead of sweat collected on his brow. The veins in his neck bulged and his breaths puffed on her skin.

Hayden hooked her ankles together at the small of his back and met him thrust for thrust. Joel gnashed his teeth. Yellow flashed in his green eyes and he groaned.

“Can’t hold this in.” He shook his head and panted. “Babe.”

“Come for me,” she whispered. She’d lost the battle to stave off her own orgasm. She arched her back and wrapped her fingers around his wrists. “Now.”

Joel trembled and his seed filled her womb. He continued to thrust, keeping their connection strong.

Hayden cried out and dug her nails into his arms. “Joel.” Stars exploded behind her eyes and her legs trembled. Her belly flip-flopped and her skin prickled.

For a long moment, Joel crouched over her and rested his forehead on hers. He touched her with soft pecks and open-mouthed kisses. “I’ve wanted to do this so many times. Sleeping by your side isn’t the same when you’re a cat. I’ve been in your arms -- now I want you in mine for the entire night.”

“I can do that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. Being with him was dangerous, but somehow the danger didn’t bother her. Knowing there was a distinct chance he’d want someone other than her -- now that scared her shitless. He wasn’t just her house cat. He was a sexy man who made her naughty fantasies look tame. He embodied the man she dreamed of. She loved him, but was that love enough to build a future together?

“How’d you get so good at sex?” She stared into his eyes. “If that was your first time, you’re better than average. I think you’re holding back.”

Joel shrugged, then pulled out of her. He flopped on his back and opened his arms. She’d blown his mind. He’d seen her with other men. How could he not? He’d been stuck in feline form for the last twelve months. Most of the guys she dated never made it past the living room. Ted had, and seeing her with him had made Joel mad as hell. Ted treated her like shit. Joel enjoyed snarling and hissing at the jackass.

He wasn’t sure how she felt, but love bubbled in his heart. He’d been more than a little infatuated with her since she took him home, but the sex pushed him over the edge. He knew down to his soul she was his mate.

“Come here.” When she snuggled up beside him, he petted her hair. He’d never get enough of her. “Being a cat means you can observe without people realizing it. I observed a lot, and some of it made me jealous as hell. You have a lot of toys. Toys aren’t as good as the real thing.”

Her eyes widened and she shrank away from him. “I never realized you watched me.” Pink flooded her cheeks.

Hot sex and she still succumbed to embarrassment. Goddess, he loved her.

“Did you hear something?” Hayden sat up. Her hair fell about her face in tangles and she covered her breasts. “A clicking sound?” She tipped her head. “Something is clicking. What’s going on?”

Joel sniffed the air. The smell was back -- the rank stench of death. He heard the clicking, too. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Not Branker, but one of his men. Shit. “Go in the bathroom.”

“Why?” Hayden yanked the sheet around her body. “What’s going on?”

He sniffed the air. Theodore Nugent -- the man who claimed he lost the mother cat and all her kittens. “Nugent, Branker’s right-hand man and a son of a bitch of a liar.” Joel hiked his jeans back up past his hips. “He’s here.” He pointed to the bathroom. “Hide in the bathroom. Lock the door. This isn’t your fight.”

“But he’ll kill you.” She shook her head. “You can’t fight him alone.”

“And I can’t risk you.” Joel tugged his shirt down and then zipped his pants. “The bastard will hurt you to get to me. I love you too much to let you take the fall for me.” He bounded past her to the living room. The front door handle jiggled. Now Joel knew what the clicking sound had been -- Nugent dicking with the locks. “Get the fuck out of here, Nugent.”

“I have orders. I’m staying until you give up,” came the guttural voice from the other side of the door. “Or until your girlie gives you up. Was she a good lay? Nice and tight? Or sloppy and loose? I bet she’s worn out and dry from all those other guys she’s been with.”

“He’s goading you,” Hayden replied from behind Joel. “Don’t give in.”

“Hay.” Damn it. Part of him wanted her to listen to him. The rest of him respected her coming to his aid. “I know he’s lying. It’s what he does. But you shouldn’t be out here. He will hurt you.”

“You’re my cat and my boyfriend. Nobody takes that away from me.” She’d dressed in a sloppy T-shirt and her sleep shorts. She nodded. “You’re not alone.”

“Isn’t that sweet? She’s going to stick with you.” Nugent thumped the door. “Take what you can get now. I know where you are, and Branker will be here in a minute. You can’t leave. Give up now and let your little girlfriend there know you’ll be back to a cat in a day’s time.”

Joel bit back a growl. Damn it. The asshole knew the other half of the equation. Confusion and frustration swirled in his brain. They’d had a connection. She brought out feelings he never thought he’d experience. He loved her. What the hell? If she wasn’t his mate, then yeah, he’d be a fucking housecat until Halloween again. He wasn’t about to succumb to another year of watching Hayden and knowing he couldn’t touch her. But another year beat being dead.

“I’m not worried.” Hayden grasped Joel’s hand. “Bring it.”

On the other side of the door, Nugent laughed. “I knew this would happen. She sold your puss ass out.”

“Hay, I’ve got to change.” Joel released her hand and closed his eyes. His bones popped and fur sprouted on his back. His teeth elongated and his ears pointed. He jumped into Hayden’s arms. Goddess, he hoped making love to her had done the trick. He’d lost his heart to her from the start. He stared at her, knowing full well she’d never understand his meows and cries.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I don’t like him either. The cops should be here any minute. I called them after I changed.”

Maybe she did understand.

The door creaked, then slapped the wall with a thunderous thump. Nugent glared at Joel. “There you are, you rotten ball of maggot fur.”

“Maggot fur?” Hayden clutched Joel to her chest. “You don’t scare me. You won’t get shit from us.”

“Oh, I will.” Nugent held something in his hand. The object flashed.

Joel’s heart hammered. The bastard had a gun. Before he could react, stars exploded behind his eyes. He slumped in her arms. Nugent had used tranquilizer darts. The world faded into nothing and Joel fought to keep conscious.

Oh, fuck.

* * *

“What did you do?” Hayden clutched her cat. “You killed my cat.”

“I’m taking a problem off your hands.” Nugent aimed the gun at her. “Now drop him or I’ll do the same to you.”

“Not a chance.” Hayden glanced around the room. Running wasn’t an option. Another shadow darkened the doorway. “Now who?” she murmured.
Please let the cops be outside
.

“Let her go.” The figure stepped into the light. The man snarled. His hair hung in damp hanks around his gaunt face. His eyes didn’t sparkle or shine. No, his eyes reminded her of dead space. Nothing. Flat. Haunted.

The man stalked towards her. “Your kitty is very important to me.” Branker’s lip curled in a sneer and he flexed his fingers. “Let me take him off your hands. He’ll be more trouble to you than he’s worth.”

She loved Joel, more than she’d realized, but that love wasn’t going to be enough. No matter how much she wanted to argue and how much she planned to fight Branker, he’d overpower her. The two of them would tackle her in a heartbeat.

Branker lunged forward and grabbed her. Joel dug his claws into her arms, then sprang from her grasp. Her heart squeezed and her head slapped the floor. She bit her tongue and the coppery taste of blood flooded her mouth. Her vision blurred for a moment and she blinked to focus on her cat. Joel only made it to the door before Nugent tossed him in a sack. Lights flashed and she blinked again.

“Got him,” Nugent shouted. Joel hissed and snarled in the bag, twisting the burlap in Nugent’s hand.

“Good.” Branker shoved her and kicked her hip. “Never fuck with a doctor.”

More lights flashed beyond Nugent’s shoulder. Red and blue. The cops. Hayden’s stomach lurched. She covered her mouth with both hands and bit back bile. Branker had her cat, sure, but he hadn’t won. She gathered her courage. No one fucked with her house or her cat, and they sure as hell didn’t have the right to lay a hand on her.

Shit, shit, shit. Hayden scurried to her knees. The bag twisted and Joel’s growls sounded from behind the burlap. The fucktards had caught him. Granted, she hadn’t come up with the best plan for escape, but he’d shifted back to his cat form. He said he’d shift into the cat body if she wasn’t his mate, and he’d morphed before her eyes. She gasped for air and rose to her feet.

“Now, you ungrateful pussy.” Branker shook the bag. “Time for a sample.” He pulled a capped syringe from his breast pocket. The shiny tip caught the light when he tossed the cap onto the floor.

“No,” Hayden screamed.

Branker cackled, then jabbed the bag. No matter how much Joel scrambled, they’d stab him. She surged forward, only to have Branker whip his free arm out and slam into her chest. She ignored her pain and focused on Joel. Fucking fool didn’t even look for a vein. She knew damn well stabbing a cat in the ribs wasn’t going to yield much blood. Fury and frustration flooded her. She noted the flashing lights from the front window. The cops were there and probably waiting for someone to come out.

“Did I come into
your
house and break down
your
door?” Hayden grabbed Branker’s arm. She kicked with all her might. She connected with his balls, then recoiled and kicked again. “I didn’t take your stuff, you fucked with mine.” Her anger boiled with every kick, but the bag wobbled and not from Nugent shaking it.

“The cops will shoot you,” she screamed and punched Branker in the chest. “They’re waiting on you.”

“Bullshit,” Branker snarled and shoved her to the floor. The bag shook again. “Where’s my sample?” He whipped the needle from the burlap. “It’s green. What the fuck?”

Green? She stared at the liquid in the syringe. Not the standard red blood she’d expected. What the hell was wrong with Joel?

“Hands up.” Two police officers strode through the open front door and aimed at Branker. “Drop the bag and the syringe.”

Hayden put her hands in the air and shivered from her position on the floor. One wrong move and she’d get hurt.

“He’s worthless.” Branker threw the needle at the bulkier cop. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Both officers lunged forward. A tangle of bodies crashed on her floor. The bag flew through the air and landed on the far end of her couch.

Although every cell in her body cried out for her to snatch the bag, she remained still. Another police officer strode into the room. “Get these two out of here. I want them in separate cars.” He knelt next to Hayden, then offered his hand. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Bruised, but okay, but my cat -- he’s a shifter. I know you won’t believe me, but he can change into a human. I barely believe it myself.” She grasped his hand and stood. His blond hair curled out from under his hat and his green eyes shimmered like Joel’s did. “Please help me. I can’t lose him.”