As they grew older, he had made it very clear that he had no objection to Cass joining his family. He heartily approved of her and her family, who had closed ranks around both men so that they wouldn’t feel lonely with most of their family being so far away.
Actually, he was as subtle as a brick to the head about it.
They turned to go into the kitchen and froze.
Dar stood in the doorway glaring at her in accusation. He held a large knife in one hand. “Who’s your friend, Cass?” he said from behind clenched teeth.
“Uh.”
Jonathon slid her a sideways look.
“This is my friend, Jonathon. Jonathon, this is Dar. We work together,” she finished lamely. It was fairly obvious Dar had seen the kiss and heard Jonathon relay his grandfather’s thoughts. Great, she thought glumly, this is gonna be fun.
Jonathon eyed Dar like a cat with a shiny new toy. A gleam of evil mischief lightened his normally solemn face. The knife didn’t seem to faze him a bit. He whipped around and stared at Cass in shock. “Are you cheating on me again, you dirty little slut?” he asked in an aggrieved tone.
He turned back to Dar and sighed melodramatically. “She just can’t keep her pants on. You know how it is with the quiet ones.” He flipped back to Cass. “I’d spank your ass, except you’d like it!”
Cass stared at him in mute horror.
Dar blinked owlishly. “Spank?”
“Yeah, and she does this thing with her tongue… I taught her that.” He beamed proudly and with no small amount of evil glee.
Dar fixed Cass with another accusing glare. “That twisty roll thing?” he ground out.
Jonathon froze. “Uh…”
Cass growled and stomped past both of them, pausing to take the knife out of Dar’s clenched fist. “Oh, shut up, both of you.”
Dar turned on his heel and stomped after her.
She ignored him as she opened the backpack and started stuffing packages into the freezer.
“You didn’t tell me you have a boyfriend,” Dar said quietly behind her.
Cass shut the freezer and turned to glare at Jonathon, who was slinking into the kitchen like a whipped dog. “I don’t. I have a smartass best friend with a big mouth,” she spat out.
Dar pondered her soberly. “He didn’t kiss you like a friend.”
Cass met his eyes. “I’m not a cheater, Dar,”
He relaxed marginally and turned to Jonathon.
Jonathon smiled weakly. “We’ve been friends since grade school,” he offered.
Dar eyed him for a full minute before he finally smiled. “Staying for dinner?” He seemed willing to drop the subject.
Jonathon grinned and dropped into a chair with lazy animal grace. “I never turn down a free meal,” he replied.
Cass snorted.
Dar watched Cass pull a bottle of mineral water out of the fridge and set it next Jonathon without asking what he wanted. Jonathon absently patted her hip in wordless thanks.
He clenched his teeth. Friends, my ass! He turned back to the counter and his fish without saying anything.
They talked about their jobs and Jonathon’s grandfather behind him. He ignored their attempts to include him in the conversation. He was more interested in watching them interact with each other when he didn’t think they were looking.
Dar’s hand tightened around the knife’s handle as he felt his hopes draining away behind him. Cass already had someone in her life and by the ease with which they touched each other, they had been lovers at some point.
And it was very rare for lovers to stay friends after a breakup. Unless there was something still there.
A hand brushed his shoulder and he turned to smile wanly at Cass. “Hey,” he said softly.
“You okay?” she asked, concern creasing her brow.
He shrugged.
A cell phone jingled a soft summons behind them. He turned and watched Jonathon answer it. The man’s face became wreathed in smiles as he spoke quietly to the other person on the line.
He cut a glance at Cass, who was watching the Jonathon with an expectant smile. “Well?” she demanded when Jonathon flipped the phone closed and grinned.
“Anna is free this evening and would like to go to dinner.” His black eyes were bright with excitement.
Cass whooped and pumped her fist in the air. “Time to dust off the ol’ Pachu’a charm, babe,” she said with a grin.
Dar had to grin when Jonathon’s cheeks turned deep red with embarrassment and he swiped a hand at Cass’s head.
She giggled and danced out of the way.
Jonathon turned his attention to Dar, pointedly ignoring his cackling friend. “Hey, can I take a rain check on dinner? Anna has been turning me down for a month and I might not get another shot.” He smiled bashfully.
“Sure, man,” Dar felt something relax in him. Maybe Cass wasn’t sleeping with him, after all.
That thought was squashed by the casual kiss Jonathon laid on Cass’s lips before he strolled out of the kitchen like a man without a care in the world.
Dar ground his teeth.
Cass followed Jonathon to the kitchen door and waved good-bye. A few moments passed and he heard the front door open and then close quietly.
He turned back to the counter and finished filleting his fish.
She hopped up on the counter beside him again. He suspected it was her favorite perch, since he’d never seen her sit in a chair at home.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
She was frowning at him thoughtfully. Their dinner sizzled in the pan. Another minute passed in silence until Cass hopped off of the counter and started setting the table.
“Why were you at work so early this morning?” he asked casually.
Cass shrugged. “Someone broke in last night, so I slept in my chair and woke up early.”
Dar stared at her. She’d said that so casually! “Someone broke in,” he parroted.
Cass finished laying silverware beside the plates. “Yeah, I wanted to make sure he didn’t come back.” She plunked a stack of paper napkins on the table.
He continued to stare, visions of raping and pillaging dancing through his head. “Did you call the police?” he finally wheezed out.
“No,” was the blasé reply. “They would just make a mess.”
“I’m spending the night,” he announced.
She goggled at him. “Excuse me?”
He folded his arms over his chest belligerently. “I’m spending the night. No way are you sleeping here alone. What if he came back?”
She rolled her eyes. “I can take care of myself, Dar.” She glowered. “And, you could just ask if you want to spend the night, ya know.”
He flushed and turned back to the stove, removing the food from the burner.
Cass watched him carefully. Her poor lover had gotten several shocks tonight; she had no clue how she was going to explain her relationship with Jonathon to him. It’s not something that had come up before. None of the other men she had dated had questioned it.
Not that many of them had met Jonathon. She just hadn’t cared about them enough to worry if they could get along with her best friend. Mostly, they hadn’t been around long enough. Her beast hadn’t been interested in keeping them around. They were okay for a frolic in bed, but not nearly good enough to father her children.
Dar set the skillet on the table with a thump.
She watched him move around her kitchen like he owned it and knew exactly where everything was stored.
It would be very easy to fall in love with him, she decided idly. There was something very lovable about him. An air of innocence that most men didn’t have by his age; it was completely at odds with his self-confidence. Sometimes, it threw her off-stride.
So did his single-mindedness. When he decided that he wanted something, he bulldozed a straight path to it and woes betide anyone caught in his wake.
And, right now he wanted her.
She did
n’t know how long he would want her, though. Just thinking about it made her anxious because he had been with so many women in the time she had known him. Although, to be fair, they had sounded really bitchy when he had talked about them. She knew that she was different, but would that be a good thing or a bad thing?
Thinking about his exes brought something else to mind, and she paused what she was doing to eye him speculatively.
He caught her look and smiled sensually. “What?” he asked in a husky voice.
She returned his sexy little smile with one of her own. “Why are you a pervert?” she asked teasingly, but with real curiosity.
To her surprise his cheeks turned deep red. He mumbled something unintelligible and dropped a bowl of rice onto the table.
Her casual curiosity deepened at his obvious embarrassment. Now she had to know. “C’mon, what is it?” She hooked a finger in his pants pocket when he tried to dart around her again. “Whips? Handcuffs?” She cuddled her breasts against his back when he stilled and slid her hand around his hip to cup his cock through the heavy material of his jeans. She nipped the side of his neck. “Kinky toys?” she breathed into his ear, darting her tongue out to lap it.
He shuddered and his penis stirred under her rubbing caresses.
Her nipples hardened when he leaned back against her and tilted his head to the side in an open invitation to more nibbling. His hips twitched against her hand in small thrusts.
She sighed happily as she set her mouth on his skin and sucked strongly, wanting to leave her mark on him for the sniping wenches at work to see. It was a petty thought, but she still got a thrill of evil glee from it.
Dar reluctantly pulled away. “Dinner’s ready,” he murmured, turning to steal a light kiss.
Cass smiled lopsidedly. He had dodged her question, but she wasn’t worried about it; she’d pry it out of him later. She sat down, prepared to enjoy a meal she hadn’t cooked.
* * * * *
Two pink noses pressed against the wire bars of their prison. Beady black eyes assessed the activity in the kitchen for several more minutes.
Chichi and Deb regarded each other thoughtfully for a moment and, by silent accord, turned and scampered into the half-chewed wooden hut in their cage to confer.
“I want him,” Chichi announced, settling her furry bulk into a corner. “When we get out of this damned cage, he’s going with us. Some training and a good shock collar is all it would take to transform him into an excellent slave. Did you see the way he worked her? What an artist! Gods, I hate that woman. She’s getting her brains fucked out and we’re stuck in here, dodging her horny pet!”
“If we get out of here, you fluff-brained moron,” Deb interjected scornfully. “And, the cop was here last night, in case you forgot. It was the sheerest chance that he didn’t arrest us as it is!”
They both froze as the shavings outside their hut rustled.
A moment later El Fuzz appeared at an opening. He dropped the carrot chunk he was dragging and chittered softly at them, his bright eyes hopeful. He nudged it inside with his nose.
Chichi ground her teeth angrily at the amorous rodent, who just blinked vapidly at her.
With a squeal of rage, Deb lunged at him with her teeth bared.
El Fuzz lurched back, looking at them with wounded eyes. He ambled off, casting dejected looks at them over his shoulder. Once he was well out of biting range, he wiggled down into the shavings and watched them sadly.
“And we are going to kill that woman!” Deb snarled, glaring out a hole at Cass, who was laughing happily at something Dar said. “Then, I’m going to make you hurt because it was your half-assed idea that got us into this in the first place!” she added, rounding on Chichi.
Moments later the hut rocked while the growls and squeals of two angry hamsters issued out.
Chapter Seven
Tantrum perched on the back of his couch and inspected the sleeping male taking up residence upon it.
He would call this new invader Bringer Of Fish. His human pet, She Who Opens Cans, could keep him.
He blinked his eyes lazily and contemplated Bringer Of Fish’s offering the previous night. It had been very tasty, he decided after due consideration. White, flaky, and succulent, it had even been placed in his bowl with a dance and chant of goodwill.
At least, that’s what he assumed “hot, hot, hot” meant. The clacking tongue of humans made little sense to him, but the dance had been appropriate.
His attention once again centered on his new pet, who was beginning to awaken.
Bringer Of Fish smacked his lips and stretched with a grace that was so catlike Tantrum had to approve. All humans should emulate the gracious nobility of the feline people. The human’s hand rubbed across his chest for a moment and then disappeared under the blanket draped over his hips.
Tantrum’s ears pricked forward in interest. Was he…? He was! His hand was wiggling back and forth in an enticing manner just out of sight. A clear invitation to play What’s Under The Blanket as Tantrum had ever seen!
He hunkered down and wiggled his butt in preparation of his first maneuver of the game. His ears flickered back and forth as he stared intently at the tempting movement.
Oh! He was good! Long, slow motions; just what Tantrum liked best.
Just another moment… Tantrum tensed.
There!
He pounced; teeth and claws bared and malicious joy in his heart.
* * * * *
Dar felt himself slowly waking up and struggled to hold on to the fading dream. He wanted to see how it ended…
Cass smiled seductively over the fluffy edges of a huge feathered fan. Her curvy body swayed to soft music as she twisted and fluttered the fan teasingly, allowing him tantalizing glimpses of her breasts and pubis before hiding them again.
He beckoned her closer and she drifted toward him, still toying with her feathered fan. He fisted his cock lazily and offered it to her with a smile.
She fell to her knees and leaned forward, slowly opening her mouth to suck him down. To his horror her teeth suddenly changed into a shark’s maw and she ‑‑
Dar screamed like a girl and lurched upright as one thousand knives dug themselves into his penis with vicious fury.
Tears streamed down his face as he cupped his abused cock. His tormenter leapt away from him and hissed evilly.
He threw back the blanket and patted his cock, whimpering. Tiny beads of blood welled and smeared under his hands as agony throbbed through his whole body.
He was vaguely aware of Cass charging down the stairs and skidding to a stop by him.
“What? What happened? Are you okay?” she demanded frantically. She fell to her knees beside him.
“Your fucking demon-spawned cat attacked my prick!” he screeched shrilly. Dar grabbed the tormented member and shook it at her for emphasis. He blinked back more tears.
Cass made a soft choking sound.
He turned to face her and glared accusingly. “Are you laughing?”
She shook her head franticly, lips tightly compressed but twitching.
“You are too!” he squeaked.
Her face crumpled and she chortled softly before falling back and laughing hysterically. She clutched her stomach and her face turned bright red.
He glared at her with affronted dignity and petted his still bleeding member.
Every time she started to calm down, she’d look at him again and convulse with renewed hilarity. After several minutes, she finally stilled and sprawled on the floor, chuckling weakly.
He did not see the humor in the situation.
Cass sat up, wiping tears off her cheeks. “I’m sorry, babe,” she wheezed out. “But you should see yourself.”
Dar growled. “This is so not funny on so many levels!” he spat out.
She schooled her face into a solemn mask and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He steamed silently.
Cass got to her feet and leaned over to kiss him lightly. “I’m goin
g to take a shower. There’s antibiotic cream in the kitchen. You might want to wash those scratches out really well.” She paused and stroked his hair back from his face. “When I come back down, you can tell me what happened, okay?”
He nodded shortly, feeling slightly mollified.
She looked at his dick and smirked.
He followed her gaze and realized he was still patting his favorite part like it was a scared child. He stopped immediately.
Shaking her head, she straightened and went upstairs. His gaze followed her; only now registering that she was clad in a T-shirt that barely brushed the bottom curve of her sexy ass.
His eyes zeroed in on her cat as she passed him and they traded laser-hot glares for a long moment.
The cat broke first, and with a haughty sniff he turned and followed his mistress up the stairs.
Dar staggered clumsily off the couch and trudged into the kitchen to find the ointment. The bleeding had finally stopped, but blood smeared his member with scarlet trails and angry looking welts. “Fucking cat,” he hissed furiously. This had to be the most horrific thing that had ever happened to him.
One moment he had been waking slowly from a delightful dream that involved Cass and then, in typical guy fashion, he’d checked to make sure that his favorite body part hadn’t been stolen in the night. Then, wham! Excruciating agony had gripped him in teeth like broken glass.
Seriously, what guy didn’t steal a stroke or two first thing in the morning? he asked himself with aggrieved bad temper.
He rubbed a warm, soapy cloth over the tender skin, hissing at the sting as he tried to get it as clean as possible. An infection on his dick wasn’t something he even wanted to contemplate! Just the thought of it was enough to make him cringe in horror. As soon as Cass came down he was going to take a shower and make sure that he had thoroughly cleansed the lacerations.
It was probably a good thing that she was showering first, he decided after a minute. He didn’t think he would be able to stand hot water pouring over the lacerated skin right now. The warm cloth was enough to bring tears to his eyes again.
After he finished medicating his private parts, he returned to the living room and slid into his underwear and jeans.
Over the Wall Page 8