Silles, Mynxe L. - CatNip [CatTales] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by CatNip (lit)

  “Hey, will you two excuse me for five minutes while I go make a few quick phone calls?”

  “Sure, Craig, use the deck outside if you’d like some privacy,” Leo offered, gesturing towards the large, but plant-secluded, patio.

  ~ When Cat’s Away ~

  The deck was replete with luxurious seating. Lush plants and vegetation overlooked a beautifully delineated landscape. What else didn’t he know about Leo? Craig couldn’t help but wonder. Leo had never mentioned an interest in gardening. Smiling, he shook his head at the unusual thought. Craig dialed Captain Slater’s number and waited for the familiar, terse voice to pick up. Damn, it was going to be a bitch explaining things this time. Slater did tolerate excuses well.

  “Captain Slater, Marozi checking in, sir. Just wanted to let you know that Lynx is no longer missing. She’s staying with Leo Lascaux.” Craig listened as Slater answered, his voice rising in decibel with every word. Slater’s speeches were known to alternate between reaming and lecturing.

  Slater didn’t disappoint. “Glad to hear Lynx is good, but how the hell did she wind up with one of our former operatives? And why the hell didn’t you check in an hour ago?” Slater bit out an expletive.

  “Well, sir,” Craig began, “I’m still trying to ascertain the full story from Leo, but I should’ve checked in. You’re right, of course, sir.”

  “You’re damn right you should have called sooner, Marozi. Don’t make it a bad habit. Call in tomorrow, and let me know what you find out.”

  A few nerve-testing moments later, Craig ended the first call on his list to make the second one. This shouldn’t be as bad,. Daniel will just be over the moon to find out that Lynx is fine and safe and unharmed, like Leo promised.

  Pacing, Craig turned and looked in through the patio’s glass doors. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of Leo kissing Lynx. That was clearly more than just a friendly kiss, one Lynx seemed to be enjoying. Shock rooted him to the spot.

  Chapter 7

  Craig’s throat constricted into a tight knot, and his hands started sweating. The phone was all but forgotten in his vise-tight grip. His eyes were glued to the scene on the other side of the glass until he heard Daniel’s voice. Daniel’s words finally cut through the haze and fog that had abruptly swallowed him.

  “Uh, sorry, Daniel.” Craig quickly gulped in some air and forced it back into his windpipe. “I was just distracted. Didn’t mean to leave you hanging.”

  “What is going on? Are you there yet?” Daniel was obviously getting a tad worried by the uneven conversation. But Craig was still trying to download the input in front of his eyes. He found concentrating downright difficult. Watching Leo give Lynx mouth to mouth had certainly dried out his.

  Scowling, Craig swiveled around. He went to the edge of the deck and leaned over the railing, mostly so he would have something to hold onto. He needed to block himself from the sight behind him.

  Craig tried to collect his thoughts. There was no use worrying Daniel. “Umm, yeah, I just got off the phone with Captain Slater. Daniel, you should know I’m here with Lynx now. She’s safe and seems healthy, just like Leo said.”

  “How long do you think you’ll be staying there, Craig? Javier and I could meet up with you and escort Lynx back home safely.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ve got a handle on everything. Lynx seems fine. She seems to be enjoying her stay.” A touch of sarcasm leaked into Craig’s voice.

  He could hear the tense expectancy in Daniel’s voice when he asked, “So, what exactly went down? How did Lynx wind up with Leo, Craig? Leo didn’t exactly get into detail before.” The silence was almost palpable.

  “Leo says he’d been looking for the child or children of some old family friends who’d been adopted after his friend’s tragic accident. That’s how he came across Lynx. The timing just worked out to her benefit when he rescued her from whoever was out for her.” Craig paused before continuing. “I know Leo’s been on standby with the team for years now. I thought he’d checked out for good, to tell you the truth.”

  He continued tersely, “When Leo showed up just in the nick of time, he saved Lynx from the would-be abductors. According to Leo, he scooped a barely conscious Lynx up and kept her from harm’s way by bringing her to his ranch. He didn’t know then that she was your sister or that Lynx was involved with COBRA in any way.” Craig swiveled back around to scowl again at the obviously happy couple behind him.

  “Well, how’s that for an amazing and lucky coincidence, or should I say accidental blessing?” Daniel said, sounding relieved. “He probably didn’t realize. I don’t recall that Leo ever met Lynx. If they did meet in passing, it would’ve been when she was much younger, too. I’m just glad it was Leo who found her when he did.”

  Craig, however, was still slightly irritated to discover his Lynx was under Leo’s protective custody and loving every minute of it, apparently. Craig cringed momentarily, but then reflected. Lynx was safe. Leo had been the one who’d, inadvertently or not, interrupted the thugs about to kidnap Lynx.

  One of the thugs, according to Leo’s description, had been huge. Leo and Roberto had surprised Lynx’s attackers before they had a chance to abduct the barely conscious Lynx. Lynx’s attackers had heard Leo and Roberto pull up and had taken off out the back door. But, at least now COBRA had a profile on the thugs, however slight.

  What if Lynx’s would-be abductors had succeeded? For a second, Craig felt nauseous. The thought of any harm coming to Lynx was enough to cause him heart palpitations, even now. Leo finding Lynx when he had was a good thing.

  Even so, the sight of Lynx tangled on Leo’s lap with Leo’s tongue down her throat sure wasn’t doing his ego any good right at the moment. He had only recently succumbed to the idea of his Lynx, Daniel’s little sister. She was supposed to be his little hellcat. Just watching her like that, all sweet and snuggled up on his friend’s lap, was making him harder than hell. It was damn frustrating, that’s what it was.

  It took some effort for Craig to turn back to the conversation with Daniel. “Well, they seem to be getting to know one another quite well now,” Craig murmured.

  “What was that?” Daniel asked.

  “Oh, nothing, Daniel, don’t worry. Lynx seems to be recovering well enough. She’s already making new friends,” Craig said, trying to keep any sarcasm in his voice from being too apparent. No use upsetting Daniel. Lynx was, after all, a grown woman, even if she seemed to have developed quite the knack for worrying her brother and the people who cared for her. Like him.

  “Daniel, I’m going to stay here, for now. I’ve got some time off anyway, now that Lynx has been found. No need to worry. I’ll keep an eye out for Lynx until you can get here.” He sighed. An eyeful would’ve been more apt.

  “Thanks, Craig. You know I will get there as soon as I’m able. Take care of Lynx, and hey, tell Leo I’ll be seeing him soon to give him my thanks. Later, gator.” Craig snapped his phone shut as Daniel signed off.

  Well, that was more like the Daniel that Craig knew. Daniel had used their old familiar, happy sign-off. He was relieved that Daniel was feeling better. The news of his sister being found safe and relatively unharmed was enough, Craig supposed. Daniel knew better than most what a handful Lynx could be.

  Craig had to smile. It hadn’t been easy for either of them trying to keep Lynx out of trouble growing up. She always had what seemed to be an instinctive knack for finding it. Either that, or trouble just naturally found her.

  Craig slipped the phone into his pants pocket, ruefully considering the conversation. He had reassured Daniel he wouldn’t let Lynx out of his sight. He’d promised to stay on top of Lynx. Easier said than done, huh? But then, it might just be the only way.

  Craig understood how Daniel must feel. It couldn’t be an easy job being Lynx’s brother. Hell, he could relate. Despite his and Lynx’s smart-ass bickering at times, he had never once doubted that they would always be the best of friends. He would protect her with
his life.

  Heading back in, the half-smile slid off of Craig’s face as he turned towards the sliding glass doors.

  Now, where exactly did those two get to? he wondered.

  If they knew what was good for them, not far, not far at all.

  Puzzled, Craig strode back into the sunken living room in search of Lynx and Leo. He was unsure what to expect. His ears led him to the ranch’s oversized kitchen. He hoped that the voice he heard seductively purring, “Ooh, please, one more bite,” wasn’t Lynx. Craig hoped the little minx wasn’t asking for what he thought she was.

  To his relief, Craig found Lynx and Leo at the large wrap-around bar. It was still a much more friendly setting than the suitably sizable table and chairs that dominated the adjoining dining room. The bar’s lighting was much more subtle, too. The lighting here was subdued, more intimate when compared to that of the impressive chandelier’s hanging over the stately dining room.

  Craig walked in on their murmured conversation. The happy pair sat, sharing what looked to be a rather large bowl of ice cream. His thoughts immediately went from cool to hot as he saw Lynx accept yet another spoonful of the treat from Leo. Maybe it was the way she lapped that ice cream from the proffered spoon with her tiny pointed tongue. That was quite enough to reroute all the blood in his body straight to his dick. Worse, Lynx uttered a little breathy moan of pleasure when Leo leaned over to kiss the ice cream residue from her lips. The sound was damn near enough to undo any man.

  Craig made a coughing sound in his throat, as if trying to clear it, to get their attention before things got any worse, for him. Not that his hard-on was going away anytime soon. Hell, how much was a man supposed to witness before he went over the edge and just jumped right in?

  Lynx’s eyes looked a little glazed when Leo broke off the kiss. Leo, on the other hand, looked downright pleased with himself. He looked entirely too confident, too fucking primed, and too damn happy.

  Meanwhile, here he was with his heart thudding out an erratic beat. His cock throbbed with unfulfilled desire over his little minx enjoying her ice cream with Leo, his ex-partner.

  Craig couldn’t think about the kisses. No, he wouldn’t. It was bad enough thinking about the ice cream that had dribbled down Lynx’s lips like, well, like other things he could too easily think of.

  “So, are guests allowed dessert?” Craig drawled out before either of them could break the silence. His eyes drank in Lynx’s swollen lips. They matched her cheeks. She’d flushed bright pink at the suggestive tone of his question.

  “Umm,” she licked her lips again.

  His cock jerked. Craig suppressed a groan.

  “I’ll get some for you if you like. I hope you like Bear Tracks. I sure do.” At the last part, Lynx’s blush deepened slightly, and her voice went slightly fluttery. Her nipples had gone hard, damn her.

  Leo was obviously getting a kick out of Lynx’s, um, blushing, too, though.

  Smiling, Craig gave the affirmative to Bear Tracks. He watched Lynx scramble up to go get the prerequisite bowl, utensils, and ice cream. Craig accepted the stool Leo had pulled out for him at the bar.

  Leo lowered his voice as Craig sat down beside him. “So, how have you really been, since…?” From the look in Leo’s eyes, Craig didn’t have to ask what Leo was referring to. He knew Leo was asking him how things were with him emotionally.

  Leo had known better than most how Kelly’s death had damn near shattered him. When Leo had left COBRA, he had still been grappling with the aftermath of Kelly’s death. Craig thought carefully before answering the question.

  Kelly almost seemed like a lifetime ago, but being here with Leo and Lynx now, it seemed oddly relevant. Seeing Lynx with Leo did remind him of Kelly and him, strangely enough.

  But, it was a situation Craig never would’ve visualized in reverse. Lynx had been under his skin forever, one way or another. Hell, even when they were children, Lynx always managed to provoke him. As a teen, she had been a tomboy turned temptress. But Craig had only recently considered Lynx as a full grown woman. She would always be one of his closest friends. But, Lynx was not just Daniel’s little sister anymore. She wasn’t just the little brat he helped Daniel protect any longer. At least, not according to his dick.

  No, now Lynx was his want-to-got-to-have-her woman. Seeing her here with Leo reminded Craig, more than he cared to admit, of his time with Kelly. Hell, Leo had been part of that, too. It had been fun at the time, but not serious. Kelly’s accident had hit him harder because deep down he’d felt a little bit of relief. And the guilt had nearly killed him.

  But this was his Lynx, and this was now. Lynx was the woman he’d waited for, even then, without realizing it. This was different than before.

  Downplaying his response to Leo’s question crossed his mind, but Craig knew Leo wouldn’t be easily fooled. After all, they’d been through hell and heaven together more than once. All the way from the very real jungles of Columbia to the urban jungle that constituted Miami. He and Leo had fought together, survived together, and even once held the same woman together. All were things not so easily forgotten. He could see in Leo’s eyes. Leo hadn’t forgotten either.

  “I’ve been better, but I’ve definitely been worse,” Craig replied as honestly as he knew how. “Until I got here and found Lynx safe and sound, my mind was going pretty crazy. When she turned up missing, I was petrified something terrible had happened to her. We didn’t have any really hopeful leads. It was hard not to imagine worst case scenarios. Hell, you know what I’m talking about. We’ve both seen abductions that lead to horrific endings. So, we know what can happen, and all too easily.”

  Leo agreed solemnly. “Yes, we certainly do. I apologize if my bringing Lynx here added to your and Daniel’s fears. I never meant to.”

  Craig shook his head. “Leo, I owe you a huge debt for saving Lynx. I don’t know what I would’ve done if anything had happened to her. I don’t know what Daniel would have done, either. He would do anything to protect her, and so would I. Even though she’s an operative too, Daniel and I can’t help but still want to protect her.”

  Craig admitted the last with a smile that became a near grimace. “At least you were there, Leo, when she was in trouble. We damn near failed Lynx.”

  Like he’d failed Kelly, the thought struck Craig again. Leo was the only one who could begin to understand how he felt. Craig had shared with Leo how he and Kelly had fought that day. He hadn’t told anyone else that Kelly had stormed out after an argument. The accident had occurred shortly after she’d left. If only he hadn’t let her leave.

  “You didn’t fail her, Craig,” Leo said, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder.

  Leo didn’t have to say more. The sympathetic expression in Leo’s eyes reassured Craig that Leo understood.

  At that moment, Lynx returned with another large bowl heaped with ice cream. She set it before Craig with a smile tugging her lips. “Here’s dessert, Marozi,” she said teasingly. She returned to her stool between them and reached to ruffle his hair in a playful gesture.

  “Is that all the ice cream I get, kitten?” Craig said with a wink. “Took you long enough. Did you have to milk the cow and churn it, too? Because I think I’m going to want some more,” he teased.

  “You would,” Lynx pouted, but then a silly smile spread across her face, along with another stain of pink. Lynx bent to spoon more of the cold dessert. Craig could see the telltale color staining her cheeks.

  Craig reached over and stroked the side of Lynx’s face, brushing the side of her lips as he did.

  Lynx lifted her head in surprise, “Wh-What?” she stammered.

  Craig feathered the stroke a little wider, making sure to brush Lynx’s lips again before bringing his fingers to his own lips and sucking them with obvious relish.

  He smiled playfully. “You had ice cream on your face there, kitten. I couldn’t just let it go to waste, now could I?”

  Lynx just swallowed and, if possible, blushed more.<
br />
  Craig laughed outright. “I love it when she does that. I’ve never known any woman who blushes so easily, Leo. It’s almost too easy.”

  Lynx turned to glare at him. She turned and swatted Craig’s arm.

  “Owww,” Craig groused. Patting his arm, feigning injury, he looked at Leo. “See how this woman brutalizes me? She only pretends to be sweet. Until you piss her off.” He turned to Lynx with a knowing smirk.

  “Yeah, well, I’ve never known a bigger caveman,” Lynx said. “Do you drag all your women by the hair to your bat car?”

  Craig grinned. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do,” he bantered. “But only you would call a GT500 Shelby Mustang a bat car.”

  “Oo-kay, so, a muscle car for a caveman, how surprising,” Lynx shot back smartly. “Hope your big head fits in there, too.”

  Craig nearly choked, laughing on the bite he had just taken before he wise-cracked back. “Don’t worry your pretty head none now, sweetheart. It will fit. Yours did, remember?”

  Her mouth opened, but Lynx just swatted him again, momentarily speechless. Craig knew it wouldn’t last long. He grinned, waiting.

  Leo, by now, had cracked up, too. Lynx turned to glare at him.

  Craig guffawed and slapped his leg. “Better you than me, pal.”

  Lynx turned to Craig and snorted. “You’re in no way off the hook, wise-ass.”

  ~ Paws & Premonitions ~

  Leo had to admit, Craig and Lynx were very entertaining to watch.

  An unbidden vision of Craig and Lynx wrapped around each other, languidly fucking, flashed suddenly in Leo’s mind’s eye. He tried but couldn’t quite displace the erotic image in his head. Leo shifted in his seat. His normally loose and comfortable jeans chafed at him uncomfortably. He tried to refocus on the conversation.

  He was surprised. Lynx let Craig off easy, he suspected that wasn’t always so. Lynx turned the subject to what had been going on with various team members since she’d been laid up.