Cat's Lair

by Christine Feehan

  "The idea of more children, or Emma at risk?" Eli watched him closely. He wanted children. A lot of them. He'd always wanted a family, and he wanted that family with Catarina. It hadn't really occurred to him that a man might lose his wife in childbirth. Clearly Jake had faced that nightmare already with Emma.

  "I love the idea of more children, but I wanted to use a surrogate. Emma wanted to carry them herself. Emma won, but I don't sleep so good at night right now. Sometimes I just lay there next to her and listen to her breathe." While Jake spoke, he was looking through the sliding glass door to his woman.

  There was raw, naked love there for the world to see. Eli wondered if he got that same expression on his face when he looked at Catarina. He certainly felt it. He felt stripped bare, his soul exposed, naked and vulnerable and it wasn't a comfortable state of mind for a man like him. He realized that was when he felt the most aggressive. The most dominant toward Catarina.

  Already he didn't like being too far from her, but he enjoyed watching as she bent to check something in the oven and the two women immediately went into a discussion about how the moisture from the mushroom roast flavored the potatoes as they were grilling in the natural juices. It was all Greek to him, but he loved the way Catarina's voice was soft and excited and happy.

  Andraya, Jake's little girl, came running into the kitchen, clutching a little stuffed leopard. Both women immediately turned toward her, Catarina automatically closing the oven door and blocking it with her body as she crouched down to be face-to-face with the child. Eli found himself smiling. She didn't think she was good with children, but she'd instinctively protected the child and crouched low to greet her. Yeah, his woman was going to be great with their children.

  "Drake told me that the shifters in the rain forest talk to their girls about their leopards and how it all works. They don't want them to be afraid, and they don't hide the men shifting from them. We've decided to do the same with our children. Andraya has already seen both of us shift and she shows no fear when either of our leopards enter a room with her. She knows not to ever talk about it with anyone else. So does Kyle."

  "I think I have to agree with you on that," Eli said. "Not knowing what was going to happen to her and thinking her leopard would be a killer like Cordeau's made Cat fearful." He took another drink of his beer, still watching Catarina smiling and accepting the little stuffed leopard, her face animated as she conversed with the child. "She was so courageous. Made me proud of her."

  Jake laughed. "Eli, seriously. You didn't have to tell me that. I can see it on your face. I know you think you need to thank me for the invite to dinner, but I owe you one. I'm watching Emma and she's really happy. She needs a friend, especially now. I'm worried the doctor will put her on bed rest. She doesn't like anyone else taking care of us. With your ranch right next to ours, the two of them can go back and forth and it will be especially good to have Catarina occupying her time."

  "Cat loves books. You have an entire library. I've ordered a number of books to surprise her along with a desk and laptop. Joshua and Trey are setting it up for me while we're here," Eli said, knowing Jake would know exactly what his crew was doing. Still, he liked the idea of saying it aloud--his secret surprise for Catarina. "She'll love it, but when she sees your library, I figure I'll be adding on to my house in a big way."

  Jake laughed. "I'll make it clear she can use it anytime she'd like. Emma paints. She's really good. The first time she did anything it was for my birthday present. She had the boys help her put together a studio in the barn and she painted there in secret. I was a bit of a jealous ass when I found out." He grinned at the memory. "That woman of mine has a temper. She doesn't let it fly often but when she does, she's unpredictable."

  Eli accepted the cold beer Jake held out to him. "Mine's got one too. Didn't know that, but I have to say, I like it. She's got attitude, and it comes unexpectedly."

  "I intimidate powerful men and other shifters," Jake lamented. "But not my wife. She rolls her eyes at me."

  Eli smiled. "Catarina's not there yet. She's still finding out she doesn't have to hide who she is, but it's coming." He took a long pull on the beer, his eyes still on his woman, on the child and the way the two laughed together.

  Catarina straightened abruptly and indicated that the child should move away from the stove. She picked up the heavier bowls and took them to the table, preventing Emma from lifting them. She did it smoothly, so Emma wouldn't notice. He glanced at Jake. Jake noticed.

  "Your woman is observant," Jake mused.

  "Yeah. She pays attention to detail."

  "Do you think she paid attention to detail in Cordeau's house while she was growing up?"

  "That's the crazy thing. As intelligent as I know she is, as resourceful, it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago when we ran into your crew at the fence line and we were talking with Elijah that I realized she probably knows everything about his business and the people he does business with. Before, under Cordeau's roof, she was off limits, and they all thought she was just an uneducated mouse. Now, they're most likely thinking she's a threat to them."

  "She is a threat to them if she can name names and pinpoint who's dealing what. There's a trail, Eli. She might just be the key to that trail."

  "I'm not using her to get Cordeau. I quit my job over that shit and it isn't happening again." There was a hard edge to his voice. He liked Jake, but he wasn't going to back down. He didn't have that in him. He'd protect Catarina even at the risk of his friendship with Jake and the other shifters.

  Jake laughed. "You're too much like me. That's not what I meant. You're still thinking like a DEA agent. You have to think like a shifter."

  "I'll kill Cordeau when he comes after Catarina. Won't lose any sleep over it and won't hesitate."

  "I get that. Any of my boys or me would do the same. He's rogue. He's got to go. Probably have a couple of lieutenants that are rogue as well. We'll have to find out which ones. I'm a businessman. I go after wealth and businesses and take my enemies down that way. If your woman knows bank accounts and partners, if she knows the kinds of deals going down, Elijah, you and I can take Cordeau's empire apart bit by bit. The men he's in bed with won't see it coming and won't know what hit them until it's too late. They'll turn on one another. They always do when suddenly irrefutable evidence of their guilt is all over the papers and agents are on their doorsteps."

  Jake leaned toward Eli, his eyes suddenly intent. Serious. Burning. "We hunt, Eli, just as you've done, but we do it our way. Join us. Let's start with Cordeau and his partners. You can sound Catarina out, see if she's comfortable helping. If she isn't, we'll still take them down. It will take a little longer, but we'll do it. You aren't going to sit on your ass in that ranch house, it will make you crazy."

  "You offering me a job?"

  Jake grinned and settled back. "As such. It's really Drake's operation. I'm the information man."

  Eli knew Jake Bannaconni was far more than an information man. He was a wheeler and dealer. He was well known in business circles, and grown men cried when he turned his sights on them.

  "I'll talk to Cat, but I'm not pressuring her. She has to make up her own mind. I promised her I'd never put her in that position and I intend to keep that promise."

  Jake nodded and both men put down their beers when Emma opened the sliding glass door. Jake's gaze was on her face immediately.

  She went right to him, leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across his mouth. "Dinner's ready. Cat fixed a couple of surprises. We exchanged recipes. I had so much fun." Her tone was honest and clearly she was conveying something to Jake.

  Eli had the feeling she wanted him to take extra care with their guest. Jake was right when he said Emma was very astute. She had sensed how uncomfortable Catarina was and set about putting her at ease.

  Eli rose and went straight to Catarina. Her gaze jumped to his as he stalked across the room to her, moving in close. Possessively. He hadn't been away from her for so long since
he'd brought her to his ranch. His hand cupped her face, thumb sliding over her warm, satin skin.

  "Missed you. Got used to having you right next to me."

  She smiled at him and leaned into him. Giving him her closeness. Her fingers curled in the hair at the back of his neck and he was suddenly very glad that leopard's hair grew so much that most of the time his was a little too long. He liked feeling her fingers there.

  "I'm having fun, Eli. Thank you for convincing me to come. Emma's . . . great."

  "I want your mouth."

  "We're not alone," she reminded softly, her gaze going from amazing blue to more blue violet.

  "I want your mouth, and I don't give a damn who's around," he growled, just as softly.

  Her mouth curved and she turned her face up to his. He was gentle, his lips brushing hers tenderly, his tongue teasing for just a moment before he pulled back, pleased with her. She gave him what he needed, in public or not. She let others know he was her man and that meant everything to him, although he was convinced he'd almost gotten the eye roll from her.

  When he lifted his head, her eyes sparkled with happiness at him. "Can you believe this kitchen, Eli? The stove is like the best, although it's a commercial one. That convection oven is perfect. And a double oven? Love that." Her hand swept around the room. "Emma let me do some of the cooking and we sort of compared sauces and breads. Her breads are killer, but she'd never made beignets before. She has a killer fryer." The words tumbled out, nearly running into one another.

  He found it interesting that she spoke in a low tone, as if sharing a secret with him. There was joy in her voice, and he knew Emma and Catarina had connected and bonded almost immediately. Both were lonely. Both took care of their men. Both were chained to dominant shifters. They understood one another. But she was still being careful, not wanting to be too loud about making a new friend.

  "Emma cooks too?" he asked, inviting conversation. He wanted her to talk to him about Emma without being afraid.

  He allowed his gaze to sweep the kitchen, noting the stove in particular and the pots and pans he'd overheard her saying she'd always wanted. He didn't really understand or give a damn why one skillet or pot would be better to cook in than another and he really didn't care, except that Catarina did--and that made it important. He didn't ever want to pass up anything important to her.

  "She's a really good cook. And she bakes too. A lot of people love to do one or the other, but like me, she enjoys both. She has some great recipes. We cook different things, because I'm from New Orleans and she's from the west, but the more we talked recipes, the more we realized we liked the same things. We've decided to swap recipes."

  He circled the nape of her neck with his palm. "I think that's great, Kitten."

  Catarina glanced over her shoulder at Jake and Emma, who were laughing together as they walked inside hand in hand. "I'm hoping if she has to go on bed rest that she won't mind me bringing a few meals over to help out. She's adamant she doesn't want anyone else taking care of Jake and the children." She raised her eyes to his. "I understand. I wouldn't like someone else taking care of you."

  His heart stuttered. Her admission was under her breath, almost as if she was afraid it would upset him. He bent his head to hers. "I wouldn't want anyone else taking care of me. I'm fond of the way you do it."

  That got a smile.

  "You two ready?" Emma asked, as Jake called Kyle and Andraya back into the room. She indicated the two chairs facing the sliding glass door so they'd have the view.

  Jake swung both children into booster seats and secured them, dropping kisses on their heads before seating himself beside Andraya. Emma sat next to Kyle.

  "Mommy's going to have another baby," Kyle announced solemnly.

  Catarina smiled at him. "Really? That's wonderful. What do you want, a brother or sister?"

  "A sister," Kyle said firmly. "Sisters are really good, but you gotta take care of them, right, Dad?"

  "That's right, son," Jake agreed, putting roast and potatoes on Andraya's plate and then his own.

  Andraya scowled. "No, brothers are better," she announced. "Don't like sisters. Brothers are the best."

  "That's nice that you think so, Draya," Emma said gently, "but no matter if we have a boy or a girl, all of us are going to love it and take good care of it, right? We talked about it together. The baby will be all of ours to protect and treasure."

  Kyle's brows drew together. He turned his eyes on Eli. Eli could see the leopard was already strong in the little boy. The eyes were definitely Jake's.

  "Do you like kissin' girls?" he asked.

  "Kyle," Emma admonished.

  Jake grinned and coughed when Emma looked at him.

  "I like kissing Catarina," Eli confessed. "I like kissing her a lot. But I don't kiss any other girls."

  "Daddy only kisses mommy," Andraya announced knowledgably. "And us."

  "Your daddy is a very wise man," Eli said.

  "I think so as well," Emma said, her voice full of laughter.

  Catarina seemed to be concentrating on the roast. She glanced up at Emma. "I don't think I could ever get the gravy like this. It's wonderful."

  Jake patted his flat belly. "I have to do a lot of . . . um . . . exercise to keep in shape with Emma's cooking."

  Emma rolled her eyes, a faint blush stealing up her neck into her cheeks at the obvious implication.

  Eli laughed. He couldn't help himself. Catarina looked so happy he reached out to connect with her. He knew he did it often, but that was who he was, and she never seemed to mind, not even in front of others. His fingers settled around the nape of her neck and stayed there for a moment.

  He liked to slide his fingers around her neck to her throat right over her pulse and feel her heart beating into his hand. Right now, he was content with just her nape. She'd put her hair up in some complicated braid that looked beautiful, but that was coming down the moment they were in the truck and on the way home.

  "Isn't this good?" Catarina asked, her gaze flicking to his the moment his hand settled around her neck.

  He went very still. She knew. She knew he had to touch her. He could see the knowledge in her eyes. It wasn't just a compulsion. It wasn't because he was creating intimacy or ownership. He needed that connection and she knew. She got it.

  Her eyes warmed, turned a deeper shade of violet through all that blue. "Baby? Emma gave me the recipe. Do you like it?"

  Baby. She had never once referred to him as anything but Eli. Not once. An endearment? Even if she was echoing one of his for her. He was grateful for the table to hide the response of his body, but he had to put his other hand in his lap to keep from giving away the sudden tremor in his hands.

  He loved her. Plain and simple and every single day, every hour, she was giving him more reason to love her. He was fairly certain he could spend the rest of his life concentrating on Catarina alone and never find out all of her.

  "I think it's excellent, Kitten. I have no doubt you can reproduce this very good gravy. I've never had a single meal that you've made for me that I didn't want to overeat."

  The corners of her mouth turned up and she shook her head. She glanced at Emma. "He does that a lot. He gives me the best compliments, and I never know quite what to do." She swallowed. "He's sweet."

  Eli groaned. "No, Kitten, I am not sweet. Don't say 'sweet,' especially in front of another man. I'm rough and tough and scary."

  Even the two children laughed. The rest of the evening was spent with a lot of laughter and Eli enjoyed it because most of the time he was watching Catarina have fun. She seemed startled by the fact that she could have fun, and every few minutes her blue gaze would settle on his face and her features would go even softer and warmer than normal.

  Mostly he paid attention to how tired she got. They'd both been working hard on conditioning and self-defense, mostly hand to hand, but she put in time on the gun range as well. He wasn't easy on her, in spite of the long nights of frenzied sex and t
heir leopards being just as crazy, driving them both without mercy. The moment he saw her stifle a yawn, he was up, taking her hand and making their good-byes.

  Catarina lingered, chatting with Emma, promising another visit soon when he caught the second yawn. He tugged her away from their friends, walking her out to the pickup. Before she could protest, he caught Catarina around her waist and lifted her into the cab, reached across her to snap her seat belt, firmly closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. Jake's laughter followed him every step. No doubt the man knew exactly what he was thinking, but Eli didn't care.

  He waved as he drove out, past the guards at the gate and onto the road leading back to their home.

  "That was fun," Catarina said. "I didn't expect it to be. Thank you for introducing me to Emma. She's wonderful. And she knows so much about shifters."

  He glanced at her. "Anything you want to know about shifters, baby, you just have to ask."

  "I know. You always answer my questions, Eli, and I love that about you. I can't tell you how important it is to me that you care enough to answer my questions." She glanced out the window into the night. "You've made my life so different."

  "I want your life to be everything you've ever dreamt about."

  Her head turned toward him. Her eyes were soft. "I never dreamt about anything but getting away from Rafe. I don't think I know what normal is, but I'm happy. Really, really happy, and you've done that."

  He reached out and tugged at her braid, a reminder that he liked her hair down. "I want you to feel safe as well, Cat. I don't like that you were still afraid to meet our neighbors because you thought Cordeau might hurt them."

  There was no hesitation. None at all. Catarina's hands went up to her hair and she began removing pins until the thick braid fell free, snaking down her shoulder to pool on the seat. She began working on the tie, absently, as if she wasn't paying the least attention. "I was afraid. I think it's an automatic reaction, but it's getting less. I wasn't so paranoid that I refused to go."

  "You could have," Eli said. "You know that, right? You don't have to do everything I say."