by Lynn Howard
Colton’s Kitty
Lynn Howard
Colton’s Kitty
Lynn Howard
@2019
Published by Twisted Heart Press, LLC
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Disclaimer: This book may contain explicit sexual content, graphic, adult language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable. This e-book is for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Lynn Howard will not be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses, and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual places, people, or events is purely coincidental. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.
Chapter One
“Man, you sure about this?” Noah asked as Colton checked his reflection again.
“Never been surer in my life,” Colton lied.
He was picking up his mate today. A mate who’d, more or less, agreed to pair with him. He’d been searching for his soul mate for the last ten years to no avail. He was tired of watching all of his friends find the loves of their lives while he had to live vicariously through them. No. It was his turn to dote on a woman. He wanted his home filled with a woman’s laughter and, someday, cubs. Lots of them. He’d always wanted a big family.
The only problem with the fantasy he’d built in his head was there was a good chance he’d father lion cubs instead of bear cubs. Because the woman he was bringing home today was a freaking lioness.
He’d hoped to meet a beautiful woman, sweep her off her feet, make her fall madly in love with him, then live happily ever after. Instead, he was mating with a woman he barely knew who wanted the same thing he did – a family.
“Want us to go with you?” Carter asked from the bedroom doorway. Unlike his wolf friends, the bears all had rather large log cabins nestled in the woods. The bears were also quite a bit bigger than the wolves and required more space, especially if they decided to slumber in their bear form during heavy snow or ice.
Colton turned, mouth open to tell Carter no, he could go on his own. But the nerves turning his stomach made him nod instead. A little backup couldn’t hurt. And they could just pretend they wanted to see the people of Big River.
With a deep breath, Colton pushed away from the bathroom sink and flipped the light off. “Am I overdressed?” Colton asked, holding his hands out to his sides.
“A little,” Noah admitted. “Why don’t you wear your usual shit?”
“Because I want to impress my new mate.”
Noah snorted and shook his head. Carter looked sad. Luke hadn’t even come over to wish him luck. He’d been staunchly against this arranged marriage of a type. Warned him he was going against the new laws.
Colton didn’t see it that way. He wanted a mate. She wanted a mate. They were in agreement. He didn’t just meet a woman and put a claim on her. Everyone knew what he’d been looking for and her name had come up. Simple as that. And if at any point she decided this wasn’t right for her, he’d let her go, no hard feelings.
“You do remember her, right?” Carter said. “She’ll probably expect him to be dressed up.”
“But that’s not him. She knows him. She’s met him. He needs to be honest with himself and her from the get-go,” Noah said in his usual gruff tone.
“You two sound like Nova and Emory right now. Just sayin’,” Colton said, brushing past them both as he sought out his keys.
Nova and Emory were two females from the Big River Pack. They’d all been friends for close to ten years. And even though he’d flirted with every single female who eventually joined the Pack, he’d struck out over and over again.
Until today.
“You comin’?” he called out as he stepped off the porch he’d built himself and headed for his truck.
Two sets of feet thundered through his house, and Carter and Noah fought to get through the door first.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this, dude,” Luke called from his porch. “You still have time to back out!” he yelled louder when Colton climbed into his truck and pulled the door shut.
His brothers had his back no matter what. He just wondered if they’d accept his mate as easily.
As his truck rumbled down the dirt road leading to the highway, his nerves grew to the point he thought he might need to pull over and puke. Carter sat in the back while Noah rode shotgun; they were both watching him like they were waiting for him to whip a U-turn in the middle of the road and run back home.
Not happening.
He’d waited for this moment for too long. He was ready to share his life with someone. He wanted to cook for her, make love to her, make babies with her, and grow old with her. He wanted to play with his grandkids right there in his front yard.
Oh! Maybe he could get his mate pregnant right away and their baby could be friends with the pups down in Big River.
“You look like a weirdo right now,” Noah said with a grimace.
Colton glanced at himself in the rear-view mirror. “No I don’t.”
“Dude, you’re pale as a ghost and smiling like a fool. You look insane.”
Shit. He didn’t need his new mate to think she’d agreed to pair with a crazy person. He was sane, dammit. Just desperate.
“Shit!” he said, looking beside him and then in the backseat.
“What now?” Carter asked from behind him.
“I forgot my hat.”
“Well. Guess we’ll just have to go back and get it. This is probably a sign of how your future’s going to look.” Carter nudged Noah’s shoulder and grinned.
“Should’ve left you at home,” Colton said to Carter. “And don’t you have a bar to run?” he said, turning on Noah.
“Not today. Sunday. The fuckers sin enough through the week. They can take a day off.”
“You’re going to have some pissed off Shifters,” Carter said.
“They can piss off somewhere else,” Noah said.
“Could you both shut the fuck up,” Colton said.
He was used to flirting with any female in the area. Now he had a real chance at forever and he had no idea how to act. Did he do his usual smile and wink? No. She’d expect more from her mate.
As he pulled up the driveway with a new layer of gravel, he bounced and jostled in his seat. He crested the hill and bit back a groan. It wasn’t just his new mate and her Pride. Every single member of the Big River Pack was there waiting for him.
“There he is!” Reed yelled, waving like a lunatic. Lola, Reed’s pink-haired mate, jabbed an elbow into his ribs. The smile on her face told Colton it was for his benefit rather than to shut her mate up.
“Congratulations,” Nova said when he finally climbed down from the truck. Colton waited for a witty comment or a tease, but she just smiled half-heartedly. In fa
ct, everyone had the same forced smile on their faces.
Did they not approve of him taking one of the lionesses as a mate? They had to know he’d treat her with nothing but respect and one day - hopefully sooner rather than later - love.
Colton scanned the group of people waiting with varying emotions on their faces. Where was she? Where was his mate? Oh no. Had she changed her mind and made a run for it? He’d feel like a total idiot if he’d gotten a haircut just for today and was stood up.
And then a head of bright red hair, curled in perfect waves, appeared in the crowd. She was there. His mate was there.
“Hi,” she said when she made her way to stand right in front of him.
Colton looked her over from head to toe; he’d never seen a woman dress quite like her. While Nova liked her furry boots in the winter and those really frilly dresses in the summer, Shawnee took it to a whole new level. Everything she wore looked like something off one of those fancy magazines. He could tell she was wearing makeup, yet it looked like she was wearing nothing more than lip stuff.
And was she seriously wearing high heels in the gravel? How had she not twisted her ankle walking across the makeshift parking area?
“Hi,” he said back. “You ready? Do you need me to help you pack anything else?”
A soft pink colored her cheeks as she clenched a trash bag at her side. “This is all I have,” she said softly, her eyes anywhere but on him.
One bag of belongings. He knew she’d been mated to Rhett before his death. And now Colton wanted to kill him all over again for how he’d treated Shawnee and the other females.
“Okay. Uh…I guess we’ll go then,” Colton said, kicking a rock at his feet.
“Smooth, man,” Carter teased from behind.
“You guys could hang out for a while. Get to know each other here,” Emory offered with raised brows.
“I’m ready to go,” Shawnee said without sparing a glance for Emory. She just marched right past Colton and waited by the passenger side door. He assumed she was waiting for him to open it and help her in.
“See you later, Fancy Pants,” Nova called after her.
“Shotgun,” Carter called out.
Colton snagged him by the collar. “My mate sits up front with me, jackass.”
Reed chuckled. “I thought I was the dumb—ow!” His words were cut off when Gray cuffed him upside the back of his head.
There was no hiding the smile at the Pack’s antics as he neared Shawnee. She, apparently, thought he was smiling at her. She gave him a closed-lipped smile, but it was a start. She was probably just as nervous as he was.
All hopes of consummating their pairing tonight were dashed. Not that he couldn’t perform, but he wouldn’t push her past her comfort zone. He’d wine and dine her and make her want him.
The closer he got, the more he realized how very pretty she was. She had a pert nose, kissable lips, and pretty gold eyes with little flecks of green in them. He bet her animal was a stunner.
He felt his smile grow wider when she lowered her head a little as another hint of pink appeared on her cheeks. His mate was a little shy, huh? She’d have to get over that quick with his rowdy bunch of Clan brothers.
Shawnee’s hand was thin and cool as she slipped it into his and let him help her into his big Ram 2500. Her ass was in his face long enough for him to need to adjust himself the second he was away from her. She wasn’t rail thin like the girls on TV. She had curves in all the right places, an ass that would fill both hands, and hips perfect for carrying cubs.
When she sat back and reached for her seat belt, her full breasts swayed. He imagined himself spending hours worshipping every peak and valley of her soft flesh.
“Dude,” Carter said from the backseat, snapping him out of his fantasy. Carter frowned with a smile and shook his head, as if warning him about ogling Shawnee in front of everyone.
Heat rushed up Colton’s neck, so he closed the door and rounded the hood to keep his Clan brothers from seeing him blush.
Big River and Hope Pride were all standing around watching. Not one smile was present on any of their faces. They weren’t even trying to pretend to be happy for him anymore.
That was their problem. It didn’t matter to Colton that he and Shawnee didn’t know each other. He knew himself. He knew he’d be a great mate and, someday, an even better dad.
Carter and Noah were silent in the backseat. Shawnee was silent beside him. Colton reached forward and turned the radio up a little.
“What kind of music do you like?” he asked, shooting her what he hoped was a disarming smile.
“This is fine,” she said, not bothering to return the smile.
Was she trembling? He couldn’t be sure, but it sure as shit looked like her fingers were trembling around the bag on her lap. He should’ve offered to put the bag in the back for her. Then again, if that bag contained her only possessions, she’d probably want them near her.
Colton inventoried the house in his mind. He loved his house. He’d built it with his own damn hands. Well, with help from the other three Clan members. It was a man’s house, though. What would she think of it? And what could he do to make sure she was comfortable and felt at home?
“Do you want to go shopping before you see your new home?” he asked. He glanced in the rearview mirror to see Carter shaking his head. He should’ve left the guys at home. This was precious time he needed with his mate.
“No. I’m fine.”
“Is there anything you need?” He glanced at her as he rolled to a stop light.
She was chewing on the inside of her cheek. When she caught him watching her, she immediately stopped, straightened her back, and shook her head. “I’m fine. I have what I need.”
Was she angry with him, or was she scared? He had to think of something to put her at ease. At least he’d have a little more privacy than his friends in Big River. The bears’ homes were well insulated. Any and every noise Shawnee made in the house – and the bedroom - wouldn’t be heard by his Clan brothers.
Luke was on his front porch as Colton pulled the truck onto the gravel driveway leading to the semi-circle of homes. He slowly unfolded from his chair and watched as Colton helped Shawnee down from the front seat.
When she stood in front of him, the top of her head fit under his chin, even in those ridiculous heels. How short would she be when she peeled them from her feet? And he really hoped she did soon because they looked painful.
Shawnee stood in place and scoured the area, her eyes landing on each house. “Which one is yours?”
“Ours. That one,” he said, pointing at the second house. He’d attached green shutters to the windows and even made a window planter and planted flowers just for her arrival.
She nodded and almost looked pleased. “Who else lives there?” she asked, finally tilting her head back to look at him.
“Just us. The guys have their own houses,” he said, a slight frown on his face. Had she never lived alone or with just one person?
Of course, she hadn’t. She’d been one of how many mates to Rhett? And then the thought of that son of bitch touching her made him sick. He didn’t care that he didn’t really know Shawnee. Any woman deserved better than being part of a harem. Shawnee deserved love and affection and a caring mate.
“Just us?” she asked, a little confusion in her pretty gold eyes.
“Yep. Just us.” He reached for her bag to carry it inside, but she hugged it tightly and shook her head just a tad.
“I’ve got it. Thank you,” she said, and then stood there awkwardly.
“Oh. Right.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and led her to their house, and up the stairs. “You already met Carter and Noah. That’s Luke,” Colton said, pointing to where Luke was watching.
She glanced in his direction. “I remember him,” she said. There wasn’t a whole lot of affection in her voice when she, more or less, turned her nose up at Luke.
She must have been there when Emory ha
d been attacked. Luke still blamed himself for not getting to Emory in time. There was no reason for Shawnee to blame him, too.
Hackles raised a bit, Colton tried to push that crap aside for now and introduce Shawnee to her new home.
“This is obviously the living room,” he said as they stepped through the front door.
The kitchen was visible from the living room, as was the small dining area. He liked the open style floor plan. It made him feel less claustrophobic, especially when he Shifted and slumbered.
“Down here is the bathroom,” he said, flipping the light on so she could look inside. “Feel free to put your toiletries wherever.” He turned the light off and continued down the hall. “This is a guest bedroom for when Shifters come into town. And this,” he said, pushing open the door, “is our bedroom. I’ve already cleared out some drawers, and half the closet is yours.”
She stood in the middle of the bedroom and did a small circle, her face unreadable. Then her eyes settled on the California king-sized bed.
“I’m a big guy,” he said, giving her the same grin he gave women when he was trying to win them over.
Her lips quirked at the corners, but she didn’t smile. This woman was going to be a hard egg to crack.
Everything in his house from the bed to the couch was big. They had to be. At six-foot-eight, his legs hung off the end of regular beds. And he always ended up squished on a regular sofa. So, he’d bought one of those wrap-around deals with a chaise at the end so he could get comfortable.
Actually, the reason he’d bought that specific couch was so there’d be room for him and a mate. Just about everything he’d done in his adult life had been with a future mate in mind. And now, she was standing in his bedroom.
“Your house is nice,” she said, turning those gold eyes on him. Her lashes were long. But they were coated in makeup. He wanted to see her bare faced so bad. He wanted to see her fresh from the shower, her lips swollen from his kiss, her face flushed from making love with Colton.
Uh oh.
The thought of Shawnee naked in his bed made his dick stand up at attention, and he was trying to make her feel at home, not make her worry he was going to paw at her the first chance he had.