Cat Scratch Fever

by Jodi Redford

  Shane continued to give him that shrewd look that seemed to drill right into Dante’s brain. “You haven’t mate-bonded with her yet.”

  “Doesn’t mean I’m not planning to.” His thoughts veered to the unexpected mating knot he’d experienced earlier in the truck. Hell, it was plenty obvious his body was five steps ahead of the game in that regard. But the damnable part was while a mating bite was merely a symbolic mark amongst his species, a mating knot was the true hallmark of an emotional bond.

  Which made no sense, considering he had no intention of letting his heart fall victim to the deception he and Lilly were perpetrating.

  Shane’s chuckle jogged Dante from his silent musings. “Somehow I can’t picture Lilly letting you be on top long enough to mark her.”

  Dante mentally rewound to yesterday’s wild ride in her bed. His silence must have clued Shane in on his train of thought because his cousin shook his head and laughed. “Well shit. Guess I’m wrong again.” Just as quickly as it’d surfaced, Shane’s humor vanished and was replaced by a solemn look. “I’ll support you no matter what, you know that.”

  “But?” Dante prompted, filling in the tangible blank suspended at the end of Shane’s declaration.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  Dante took another fortifying swig from his bottle. “Don’t worry. I can handle my old man.”

  “I wasn’t referring to him.” Shane’s focus drifted toward the living-room entrance. “Marriage isn’t something to play at or enter into to get out of a bad situation. You might end up in even deeper water, with no way to save yourself from sinking.”

  Dante’s beer went down bitter as he stared at Shane’s profile. He didn’t know what was more disturbing—the fact his cousin had possibly seen through the charade…

  Or that Shane might be right.

  Chapter Eleven

  The second the last of Dante’s cousins said their goodbyes and disappeared out the door, Lilly breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed into the couch cushions. Dante shot the deadbolt home. Leaning his broad shoulder against the doorframe, he offered her a wry look. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”

  She snorted. “Clearly you’ve imbibed a little too much werewolf moonshine this evening.”

  His incisors flashed with his grin. He strode toward her and plunked his beer bottle on the coffee table, his eyebrows cocking in challenge.

  “Hmm, did your still run dry?” She bit her lip to keep her smile from slipping free.

  He chuckled. “Sassy pussy. I’ll get even for that later.”

  Her clit tingled at the smoky promise in his gaze. Ignoring his deliberate bait with the word pussy, she crossed her legs to ease the ache. “So do you think your cousins bought our act?”

  Dante gave a negligent shrug. “For the most part. Bottom line, they’d rather you be at my side than Anna. That’s all that matters.”

  Nibbling on her bottom lip, she considered his words. “You’re sacrificing a lot for them. You could have always said no to getting married and mate-bonded, period.”

  “Not an option.” His tone held no trace of regret or doubt.

  “It’s that important for you to be their alpha?”

  “Not because I get off on a power trip, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  She scooched onto her side and tucked her knees beneath her. “Then what is it?”

  Dante was quiet for a long moment. Dragging a hand through the shaggy ends of his hair, he studied the rug beneath his boots. “They need someone they can trust. Someone who will look out for the best interests of the whole pack.”

  “And that can only be you?”

  “It falls under the jurisdiction of my father’s bloodline. If I don’t do what’s necessary to keep the title, he has the power to overturn my rights and reassign another as my replacement.”

  “Judging from your guys’ conversation earlier, I assume that by necessary, you mean you getting married and mate-bonded.”

  Dante nodded. “The only reason he hasn’t revoked my title sooner is because he’s been using it as leverage to get me to wed Anna so he can get his damn merger.”

  “You mentioned before that the merger wouldn’t be a good thing. Why, exactly?”

  Lines of tension bracketing his mouth, Dante made a fist and dropped his hand to his side. “You know those two werewolves who got physical with you earlier? They’re Anna’s brothers. Trust me, despite being wealthier than God, the rest of the Giffords and their pack are no more enlightened or civilized than those pair of yokels.”

  She shuddered at the reminder of her encounter at the Bowl ’N’ Brew. “Why in the world would your father want to invite them into your pack then?”

  Dante’s mouth twisted into a travesty of a smile. “Remember me mentioning the wealthier-than-God part? It’d be a nice payday for good ole Foster.”

  “That’s despicable.” She couldn’t imagine a parent using their offspring for their own selfish advancement. Dysfunctional as her upbringing had been, at least her mom and dad hadn’t tried bartering her off to the highest bidder. No, if anything, Rob and Chloe had given her every reason to back away from the sanctity of marriage like a vampire avoiding garlic. Still, she’d rather take that than what had been shoved down Dante’s throat. “Man, it must have felt pretty satisfying to deck Foster.”

  “Yeah, it did,” Dante offered reluctantly.

  Sympathy and compassion welled inside her. Unable to resist, she jumped to her feet and stood on tiptoe so she could kiss Dante’s cheek. “You’re a good man. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

  He pulled back and their gazes locked. “Some would say what I’m doing is dishonest. Not exactly honorable or decent of me.”

  “You’re doing what you think is best. That isn’t anything to beat yourself up over.”

  “Maybe.”

  “No maybe about it.” She offered him a cheeky grin. “If I say it’s so, it must be right.”

  That earned his chuckle. Wrapping his hand behind her head, he pulled her flush against him. “I’m probably gonna regret admitting this, but your sassiness turns me on like crazy.”

  “Really?” She wiggled. “And here I thought that was just a spare beer bottle in your pocket.”

  Gusting a laugh, he hauled her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rubbed suggestively against his erection. Groaning, he cupped her buttocks and massaged her flesh through the thick wool of her slacks. “I’ve been fantasizing about this ass for the past hour and a half.”

  “You don’t mind that I’ve got some junk in the trunk?”

  “Shit no. I love it. In fact—”

  “So help me, if you quantify that with ‘more pushin’ for the cushion’, I will refuse to have sex with you.”

  “Not what I was gonna say at all.”

  “Yeah? Then what?”

  His eyes sparkled. “It’s slipped my mind.”

  “Likely story.”

  “Hell, I’m no idiot.” His lips brushed hers lightly before his tongue coaxed its way inside her mouth. He teased the edges of her teeth in a slow, exploratory glide. A moment later, he gifted her tongue with the same lush treatment until she was gasping and writhing in his arms. Without warning, he broke the kiss and set her back on her feet. “I forgot to grab something from my truck.”

  She gaped at him as he pivoted and strode toward the door. “What the hell could be so important to leave me hanging like this, wolfman?”

  “You won’t be hanging for long, pussycat.” With that intriguing promise floating in the air, he escaped outside. Less than thirty seconds later he returned and paused just long enough to stomp the snow from his boots before moseying toward her.

  She eyed the paper bag he carried. “What’s that?”

  “An experiment.” Saying nothing more beyond his cryptic statement, he snatched her hand and led her toward the hallway.

  Before now, she’d never made it past his living room or kitchen. He didn’t allo
w her much time to sightsee though, instead striding with purpose to what she assumed was the master bedroom. Dante flicked on the overhead light, and they stepped inside the large, masculine space. He placed the mysterious bag on top of the moss-green quilt covering the enormous log bed. Once he had his hands freed, he reached for her sweater and tugged it over her head. A second later, her pants, bra and panties joined it on the floor. Despite the heat beginning to purl through her bloodstream, she shivered.

  Dante stroked her arms. “Do you want to take a shower to warm up before I warm you up?”

  “You’ve already succeeded there, but a shower does sound nice.”

  He took her hand again and walked toward a doorway that presumably opened into the attached bathroom. Her suspicions became confirmed when she crossed the threshold and spotted the commode and granite-topped sink. Dante pulled back the fabric curtain fronting the large shower stall and cranked on the faucet. Soon a comforting cloud of steam enveloped the cozy space. He unbuttoned his shirt, putting to rest her silent curiosity over whether he’d join her for some bath-time fun.

  Her appreciative stare roved over the sculpted planes of his chest before her hands followed suit. “I missed getting to feel all this yummy wolf meat when we were in your truck earlier.”

  His lips twitched. “Wolf meat?”

  “Hey, I let you get away with the pussy crack. Deal with it.”

  “Fair enough, but I think you’re neglecting the meatiest part of me.”

  She coasted her palm down his chiseled abdomen, following the happy trail to the waistband of his jeans. “Hmm, how absentminded of me.”

  “Not to mention cruel.”

  “Can’t have that.” Dropping to her knees, she inched his zipper down and freed his cock. Its fat, rosy head bobbed enticingly. Taking advantage of the invitation, she swirled her tongue over the satiny gland, leisurely licking him as if he were a tasty ice-cream cone. Dante tunneled his fingers through her hair and moaned. Encouraged by the husky sound, she sucked more of him into her mouth, reveling in the way he thickened and lengthened even more. Gliding her fingers down the column of his shaft, she traced every ridge and vein before cupping his balls. She increased her suction as she drew back toward the crown of his cock.

  A shudder trembled through Dante, and his grip in her hair reflexively clenched. Glancing upward, she watched the strain tightening his features. There was something immensely sexy about bringing an alpha like Dante to the edge of control. She bobbed her head faster, giving him no quarter. Desperate grunts and groans shook from him as his knees wobbled. “Christ. Lilly, I’m gonna come if you keep that up.”

  Grinning inside, she took a slow, deep swallow that had him cursing and sweating. Her free hand traveled to his backside and traced the crease of his tensed buttocks. Unable to resist, she rubbed his puckered hole. He came with a startled shout, his hips jerking.

  Once his cock finished spurting down her throat, she gently disengaged and gave him a saucy wink. “Like that, did you?”

  “You have a world of payback coming your way, pussycat.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  Growling, he swept her into his arms and climbed into the shower. She squealed in outrage when he dunked her directly beneath the spray. Sputtering, she slicked her sopping hair away from her eyes. “Mean, wolfman.”

  “What? I like getting you wet.” An evil chuckle accompanied his double entendre. Placing her on her feet, he reached for the bar of woodsy-scented soap resting on the caddy and lathered up his palms. The first area he began washing was her breasts, of course. He took considerably longer than necessary to suds and rinse her nipples before offering the same methodical devotion to her pussy.

  She was slightly surprised—and disappointed—that instead of bending her against the shower wall and filling her with his cock, he dialed off the faucet and grabbed one of the large fluffy towels from the nearby hook. He took care of drying her off before seeing to his own dripping frame. She snorted when he scooped her into his arms again. “You know, I do have a pair of functioning legs.”

  “Yeah, but this way I get to cop some cheap feels.” He carried her into the bedroom and stopped abruptly. She tracked his gaze to the bed and spotted his Great Dane sprawled in the middle of the mattress rooting through the bag Dante had brought in from his truck.

  “Chevy!”

  Dante’s thunderous growl must have spooked the dog because a startled, muffled woof came from inside the bag before Chevy leapt from the bed and skidded across the floor, streaking blindly for the exit. Somehow he managed to make it into the hallway without crashing into anything.

  Grumbling, Dante lowered her to her feet again and stalked after the dog. Bemused and fighting back a giggle, she crossed to the bed and parked her butt on its edge. After a moment, Dante’s pounding footsteps and curses stopped. She strained to hear any further noise but was cut short by Dante’s sudden appearance in the doorway. He gave her a chagrined look. “I put him in the cage. Hopefully that’ll be the last interruption we’ll have tonight.”

  Her focus dipped to the strange wand gripped in his hand. It took her a moment to recognize what it was. Once she did, she crossed her arms over her chest and snorted. “You’ve got to be kidding. That’s your experiment?”

  “Yep. Gonna test the theory on how many ways I can make you purr.”

  “I had no idea you were such a kinky bastard. Anything else in the bag I should be aware of? Catnip? Tender Vittles?”

  His gait predatory, Dante prowled toward her. “You’re the only tender vittle I’m interested in, kitten.”

  She eyed the cat toy with disdain. “I mean it, I’m not playing with that damn thing.”

  “I know.” His expression properly wolfish, Dante scooted her farther up the bed and leaned over her. “But I am.” He ducked his head and stroked his tongue across her nipple. Just as she became distracted by the delicious rasps and whorls he was inflicting on the pebbled peak, a teasing flutter grazed her other nipple. She yelped and wiggled, trying to both escape and increase the tormenting tickle provided by the bundle of feathers.

  A wicked laugh rumbled from Dante. “Like that, do you?”

  The bastard would use her own taunt against her. Leaning up on one elbow, he directed the feathers in a lazy crawl down her quivering stomach. The sensation was maddening and arousing as hell. She squirmed, panting. “Dante!”

  “What, precious?” The twitch of his lips belied his innocent expression.

  She’d find a way to make him suffer. He had to sleep some time. Then vengeance would be hers. “Touch me.”

  “I am.” He bobbed the feathers across her bellybutton, making her arch. “See?”

  “You know that isn’t where I meant, you rotten jerk.”

  “No? Can’t imagine what other destination you had in mind.”

  “I’m going to kill you for this.”

  “Before or after I give you a brain-detonating orgasm?”

  She paused to consider her options. “Afterwards. But I better see damn fireworks, or there will be hell to pay.”

  “Don’t get your tail in a twist, baby. I aim to please.” He flicked his wrist, sending the feathers skating across her mound. She whimpered in frustration and glared at Dante. Ignoring her incinerating gaze, he danced the toy along her inner thigh, making her shiver. The feathers floated upward again, a delicate brushstroke caressing her skin. She trembled in need as the toy hovered just out of reach of her clit before ghosting along the sensitive juncture of her groin and hip.

  “Please.” She barely whispered the word, but apparently Dante still heard it.

  His gaze trekked to hers. Holding her stare, he finally let the toy kiss across her clit. The soft, teasing stroke was almost enough to make her succumb to an instantaneous climax. Her fingers dug into the bedcovers, her back bowing. Dante’s thumb grazed a circle around her nipple. The combined sensations were enough to topple her over the precipice. She cried out as the orgasm crested into a m
illion dazzling pinpoints of pleasure exploding throughout every cell in her body.

  “Beautiful.” Dante’s hand moved from her breast and cupped her cheek.

  She wanted to say something, at least thank him for the amazing orgasm, but the breath refused to find purchase in her lungs. Taking pity on her, he leaned down and kissed her sweetly. Murmuring in appreciation, she sifted her fingers through his hair and drew him closer. Their tongues played together nicely for a bit before growing bolder and more demanding. Within seconds, she was writhing against him again, desperately trying to devour him with kisses. Groaning, he broke away from her and flipped her onto her stomach. Her protests about being deprived access to that delicious body of his evaporated as he nudged her legs apart and entered her in one smooth glide. The quilt smothered her ecstatic cry. Bracing himself with a hand on either side of her shoulders, he rocked inside of her, pumping in deep, hard thrusts.

  She’d never felt so ravaged. So…taken.

  Sweet mother of whiskers, it was freaking incredible.

  Without warning, Dante settled back on his haunches, dragging her up with him. His rhythm unfaltering, he arranged her until she was straddling him comfortably. Turning her head, she met his lips in a hungry kiss. His cock thickened inside her, stretching her to the limits like it had this afternoon when they’d made love in his truck. Just like then, the additional fullness increased the pressure on her G-spot, triggering a lush wave of pleasure throughout her body. She rotated her hips and gasped at the decadent friction the movement created.

  It must have produced a similar affect on Dante because he growled and splayed his hand on her breast, cupping it in a way that was both arousing and possessive. His lips left hers and traveled across her cheek before sucking on her earlobe. Shifting slightly, she caught their reflection in the dresser mirror across from the bed. Dante’s gaze was already riveted on them.