by CatNip (lit)
The art. Daniel’s throat tightened. He couldn’t turn away from the beautifully carved eagle that appeared to float on the antique dresser. It was classic in its beauty, a study of true freedom.
Framed behind the bed, another eagle floated silently against the current. Daniel studied the familiar artist’s signature. He had known it would be Cameron Blakely, a former COBRA agent, and his ex-lover. Daniel drew in a sharp breath. It echoed with forgotten pain and pleasure. Leo had been in contact with Cameron. How interesting.
Daniel began to undress. He had reminisced enough and had dallied almost too long. If he wanted to join the others for their night on the town, and he did, he’d better shower some of the long, hot trip off him. He only wished he’d had time to get his Camaro’s air conditioner fixed before he’d hauled ass here. But who wanted to wait around for that? He was anxious to see his sister again. He needed to see for himself that Lynx was really okay. Lynx was what was left of his personal world. She was the only family he had left aside from COBRA.
Already stripped to his jeans, Daniel quickly shed the rest of his clothes. The heat of the day had been brutal, especially the last half of his trip. He adjusted the shower towards the cooler side and stepped under the refreshing water. This was exactly what he needed. His mind shamelessly wandered back as he quickly soaped up. The cooler water didn’t deter his dick from stirring to life.
Absently, Daniel stroked it, resurrecting memories he’d shelved under “best forgotten.” Rock hard now, his dick pulsed under his fingers, on fire as his best forgotten old flame stirred desires he couldn’t deny this time. Not now, when he was pumping through the fist he’d made of his hand. Not when pre-cum beaded his cock, and water sluiced over him. Memories rolled forward like a movie-reel’s release.
Under the solace of the spray, Daniel’s salty tears mixed with the deluge of his orgasm as his whole body shook in cleansing release. It cleansed him. The back-roads of past memories emerged, slippery and salient again.
Even then, fingers coated with his own seed, Daniel could still hear haunting strains of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” in his head. He hadn’t forgotten. He knew he never would. It was a relief to cry, but his son was gone. Blakely was gone now, too. The grief had just been too much for either of them.
Daniel watched as the water washed away. It left only a fragile memory and perhaps a ghostly lover forever ensconced in his heart. But he hadn’t forgotten.
Humming the remembered strains softly, Daniel finished washing and rinsed away the suds that flowed down the soft pelt of fine hair to his navel. He watched as the suds spiraled quickly down the drain. He grabbed the large, thick towel by the shower door and rubbed briskly until the dark chestnut hair on his head was the only thing left damp.
Looking in the mirror, Daniel frowned at the light curls that sprang up at his neck. He’d deal with those later. If he didn’t want to hold everyone else up, he had better finish up, dress, and get his butt downstairs. Lynx had missed him. Daniel knew it to be true, but his little sister would still fuss at him if he kept her waiting too long. He grinned. Stepping into the kitchen, Daniel was glad he hadn’t dawdled very long.
Craig and Leo had already assembled, clearly ready, too.
“You look good, bro,” Craig remarked, slapping him on the back.
Leo chimed in, clearly teasing him. “Yeah, you look good enough to hunt down a fine-looking babe.”
Daniel laughed, and then had to ask, “So, who are we waiting on?” At least, Daniel surmised, he wasn’t the one they were waiting on now.
Roberto, who’d up until now silently watched their joking byplay, shrugged expressively, and rolled his eyes. “Felice said she was almost ready when I headed over. Women.”
Lynx drummed long fingers on the granite countertop to an unseen rhythm. She smiled when Felice finally walked through the doorway.
Lynx narrowed her eyes. Daniel could almost see her mind working. He wasn’t the least surprised when his sister blurted.
“Felice, later you’ll have to show me how you did that to your hair.”
Felice made a feminine gesture, touching her hair as if puzzled.
Felice’s answer must have surprised Lynx. “What I did to my hair?”
“You colored your hair, didn’t you?” Now, Lynx looked puzzled.
“Oh, no, no,” Felice replied, running her fingers through the layered fringes. “I just stopped trying to color it. This cut just shows my hair’s natural variations better. But just look at you, Lynx, you look good enough to dance with.”
Felice grabbed Lynx and twirled her around in a small circle. “That is, if I can pry you away from all the cowboys who’ll be looking to dance with you tonight.”
Daniel saw Leo give Felice a sharp look. Felice just smirked back at him. Daniel recognized a mischievous twinkle when he saw one. Leo didn’t appear too thrilled about it, though.
“So, is everyone ready?” Leo asked. “Let’s get the show on the road. I talked to Demar just a few minutes ago. He’s going to keep an extra-sharp eye out for trouble here. He knows to call us if anything the least bit suspicious should happen while we are gone. Oh, and we’ll take the ranch’s Hummer. It’s the largest and safest vehicle.
“We all should still stick close together tonight, after we get there. We still don’t know what Adonis Cervantes is doing in the area, and we have every reason to believe he could be close by. There is a certain safety in numbers. Okay, let’s head out and go raise some hell in Dodge.” Leo grinned and tucked Lynx’s hand in his as he headed for the door.
“Right behind you,” Craig remarked. Daniel could see him eyeing his sister’s ass as she sashayed out the door with Leo. Craig added, “Trust me, I’m right behind you.”
Leo snidely shot back over his shoulder, “So, does my ass look too fat or just right in these pants, Craig?”
Daniel let out a whoop of laugher. Even Roberto cracked up.
Craig laughed along and then, Daniel noted, placidly returned fire. “It’ll do. But if your ass is as hirsute as your legs, Leo, the shape it’s in is not going to matter much to me. I much prefer the hairless, female backside right beside you myself.” Craig let out a long low whistle.
This time it was Roberto that whooped.
By the time they made it to the busy club, everyone’s mood was jovial. Leo parked adroitly in one of the few small spaces left at the club, and they all headed inside.
~ Of Cats & Clubs ~
The Country Club boasted a large central dance floor. There were two walls of nothing but bar and a stage in the far corner. This was where local bands took their turn entertaining crowds. Then there was the narrow hall along the far wall where the back exit and bathrooms were grouped.
A good crowd had already gathered. The bar was lined with people. The band tonight must be pretty decent. After finding the perfect large table where it was convenient to watch the band and get to the dance area, Leo motioned to Daniel to follow him.
Even now, when their main goal was to have fun, it was integral to their training to stay alert and aware of their surroundings at all times. Leo knew that as open as this place was, it would be more difficult for anyone to make any unseen moves. Only the bathrooms and rear exit would be dicey with the narrow curving hallway.
Just to be on the safe side, Leo and Daniel quickly scanned the bathrooms and hallway for anything or anyone suspicious. Then they returned to their table. “Everything looks good with the club so far, but, ladies, I don’t want anyone splitting up, so grab each other if you need to visit the ladies’ room.” Felice and Lynx both nodded in agreement.
Daniel laughed, then remarked, “You wouldn’t honestly expect a woman to go to the ladies’ room alone, would you, Leo? That unlikely feat would defy some natural law or something.” He continued as the laughter died down. “I’d bet the ladies’ room is a vastly different universe than the men’s room.”
“Why’s that?” Felice asked with a puzzled expression.
<
br /> “Well,” Daniel said, laughing, “it must be. Else what the hell do women do in there all day?”
She laughed, but Lynx just playfully punched her brother’s arm.
“Primp it,” Leo said, grinning ear to ear. This time, Lynx punched him.
Craig just grinned. Leo could see Craig was wisely keeping his trap shut for the moment.
“Ouch,” Leo faked a groan, rubbing his shoulder. He hadn’t been able to resist teasing Lynx. It was nice to see her enjoying herself.
Roberto and Craig went to see about getting a waitress for their table. The place was already hopping. In a few minutes, Roberto and Craig reappeared, along with a chesty blonde wearing itty-bitty short shorts and a tight shirt that barely skimmed her navel. Only a slip of an apron, from which she pulled an order pad and pen, betrayed that she worked for the club. Chewing gum between taking their order and answering their questions, their blonde waitress scribbled, while alternately blowing bubbles.
Once the waitress headed back to the bar, Daniel looked at Leo and widened his eyes mischievously. It was a gesture almost everyone at the table understood. Daniel’s predilection for chesty blondes with a streak of either ditz or glitz was well known by Leo and Craig. Daniel looked to be more than satisfied with the club’s eye candy. Although, Leo mused, as he eyed the waitress’s exit, that one acted almost too dizzy to be true.
Shortly the waitress drifted back with their drinks, but Leo’s attention was diverted as some scruffy-looking boys wearing cowboy hats set down to their left. One brave young punk even went as far as to eye Lynx up and down, like it was nothing. Leo glared over at him, baring his teeth ever so slightly. Leo had to resist a sudden overwhelming urge to upend the punk’s table and forcibly evict them.
~ CatCountry ~
Craig was resisting the urge to do the same. It helped that the punk in question had already concentrated his attentions elsewhere. He was now eying a striking blonde with a pair of double-Ds that had just walked in.
In the far corner by the stage, the band for the night had begun drifting in and out. They carried in all sorts of various instruments and assorted musical equipment to set up. Craig drained his glass, watching them, and narrowed his eyes. Apparently, this band wouldn’t be starting up at the promised hour unless they were damn near miracle workers.
Craig had played guitar briefly with a band during his high school years. He knew how long setting up for a gig could take. Evidently, the loud music that was being piped out of the speakers would have to suffice for a bit. Craig wanted to dance. He wanted to move on the floor with Lynx, and the slower and dirtier, the better.
Hell, Leo might have something to say about that. Craig just shook his head and the thought away. Craig pushed back from the table and said, “Hey, does anyone need another beer? I think I’ll go look up our waitress and remind her we’re here. I bet she’s already forgotten.”
Daniel smiled and smirked, then drolly replied, “Sure, Craig, bring her back. I could use another cold one, too. Just don’t be denigrating the object of my serial affections that way.”
Craig pushed his chair in. He stood up then leaned back. His legs apart, he rocked slightly on his heels in an easily recognized stance, glanced over at Lynx, then back to Daniel again. His eyes met Leo’s as he softly snickered. “At your rate of speed on trying to pick her up, Daniel, any tortoise, snail, or tree sloth moving at the speed of dark could leave you in the dust.”
Leo let out a whoop of amusement. “He got ya there, bro.” By that time, everyone at the table was laughing, even Daniel.
In COBRA, true camaraderie, respect, and humor had always been a strong and binding component between them. Hell, they ribbed and dogged each other to death, but let anyone else mess with one of them, and an outside offender would pay the dire consequences.
Leo pushed out of his chair and said, “I’m going to go find our waitress.”
Craig watched as Leo strode to the bar.
Lynx’s gaze followed Leo as he maneuvered his way through the growing crowd.
Craig managed to catch her gaze. He unobtrusively sent her a knowing look. That quick, he could see the flush that rose to her cheeks. She quickly looked away.
“Kitty want some cream?” he mentally teased.
Lynx squirmed in her seat.
“I’ll make kitty cream.”
“Craig!” Lynx shot him a look. It wasn’t exactly censure, despite the tone of her voice. It was a look shuttered with sensual awareness and heat. It made him ache with need.
To his disappointment, Lynx nudged Felice. Felice was still engrossed in a conversation with Roberto. Their talk concerned some tests they’d run at the ranch earlier. Lynx nudged Felice again to get her attention.
Lynx, he noted, finally employed the old feminine standby. “Come to the ladies’ room with me, Felice. The beer’s already working its questionable charm.”
She shot him a nervous but telling look. Craig smirked back at her as she grabbed her small clutch before exiting the table. “Little scaredy cat,” he pointed out helpfully. Lynx ignored his parting shot.
A few seconds later, as both ladies disappeared into the restroom, Leo returned to the table. Leo explained the unfair situation. “The manager says our blonde is busy with table number seven over there. But he did say he would send out one of the other girls momentarily.”
“Shucks,” Daniel groaned. “Had my hopes up, too.”
Craig patted him on the back and grinned. “Don’t worry, partner. Do you see that other waitress over there? I bet you’ll like her even better.”
Daniel looked forlorn for a moment. Craig tried not to grin. But then the other waitress Craig had been pointing to turned towards them, and Daniel got a full frontal view.
Daniel didn’t seem that disappointed after all.
Grinning widely now, Craig slapped Daniel across the back. He couldn’t refrain from wise-cracking. “Looks like you won’t need therapy after all, Daniel, unless it involves full frontal nudity and a couch.”
The hopeful look on Daniel’s face was hilarious.
By the time Lynx and Felice had returned to the table, the men were in full bar-battle humor, retelling old success stories and even some old amusing pickup lines.
Felice rolled her eyes at Lynx, conspiratorially whispering, “And you work with these jokers on missions? Exactly how do you stand it? All that testosterone and macho posturing would drive me nutso, quick-o, and I mean it. Probably within the first week.”
Lynx whispered back. “You would do just fine, Felice. It’s not as bad as all that. They’re really just a bunch of pussy-cats.”
Craig, overhearing, leaned in and batted his eyelashes at Lynx and retorted. “So, did we go from cavemen to pussy-cats in the swing of a bat or the swish of a tail, Lynx?”
Felice grinned widely. Lynx just opened her mouth and snapped it shut. Further discussion was tabled as one of the band’s members finally took a mike in hand and announced that The Country Express Band was about to begin.
“About time,” Craig muttered under his breath as the band started the first riffs of an old Travis Tritt tune and settled in to play. He was glad to hear that at least the singer was decent. The other musicians weren’t half bad, either, which was good considering the band had delayed their appearance well past the scheduled time to start.
“This is more like it, huh?” Leo added. His eyes scanned the growing crowd on the dance floor. “Hey, like to give the dance floor some polish?” Leo asked Lynx. He took her hand and led her out.
“Uh, wanna dance, Craig?” Daniel asked with a grin two shades shy of malicious. “Your ass is looking finer with every beer I have.” The last was uttered with an appreciative wink. But the mischievous twinkle in Daniel’s eyes gave away the joke.
Craig had lost his sense of humor, however.
“Why, yes, I believe I will dance,” Craig answered tensely. He wasn’t looking at Daniel, however. His eyes followed Lynx and Leo as they moved round th
e crowded floor ahead of them. He swallowed the last of his beer and grabbed the hand of the waitress who had just set down another beer in front of him. He’d noticed her eyeing him up and down earlier.
So what if it wasn’t the first or even the second chesty blonde who’d served them? This one was a petite strawberry redhead, smaller breasted, indisputably sexy in her own way. The smile she gave him as he dragged her to the dance floor was definitely worth looking at. Far better in fact, Craig felt, than trying to keep his eyes off of Lynx and Leo slow dancing along the periphery of the big floor. Leo bent to whisper something in Lynx’s ear. She laughed and whispered something back.
She looked over, and her eyes caught Craig’s as he moved onto the dance floor. Lynx’s smile suddenly disappeared and her eyes narrowed. She turned to look back up at Leo.
Craig guided his new dance partner to a spot on the floor. The music ended, and everybody stopped to clap.
The band went into an up-tempo number. Craig watched Lynx covertly as he moved into the dance with his petite partner.
Lynx and Leo moved seductively together. He could see that. Lynx’s undulating form brushed Leo’s often in a sinuous, tempting rhythm. Craig gritted his teeth and tried to smile at the woman in his arms. He wouldn’t mind being the pole, if only Lynx was the dancer. She moved like a very wet dream. Beads of sweat fell to Craig’s lips as his eyes followed her every seductive step. If he were Leo, he’d be hard as a rail by now.
Craig could see Lynx’s taut nipples straining against the simple white tank top she was wearing. She danced smoother than silk, all legs and long hair. He wasn’t even going to think about that tight jean-covered ass. But he’d bet a wad every red-blooded male in the whole fucking bar sported wood by now, just watching his little minx.
Craig shook his head, irrational irritation competing with pure simmering lust.