Cat and Mouse

by Shelley Munro

  Duncan calculated the hours until she left and knew it wasn’t enough. He needed a plan because from what he’d seen and heard from both Emily and Saber, wooing Lana wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought. He started his vehicle and backed from the parking space, turning toward the road that led to the Mitchell homestead.

  A glance at Lana told him her eyes were closed. Assuming she didn’t want to talk, he took the time to put together a plan to win Lana over. His brow crinkled while he thought about and discarded possibilities. He kept coming back to the one idea that made his feline bristle and silently snarl with disapproval. Romance. Knowing Jamie, she probably hadn’t experienced simple romance. Tonight he’d make love to her instead of enjoying simple sex. He’d show her with his body how much he cared for her and how much he wanted her. Once she returned to Queenstown he’d drop by her restaurant and ask her for a date, maybe send flowers for her reopening. If he asked, Emily would give him some ideas. From what he knew of Emily she seemed to like helping others and gave good advice.

  Yeah. Sounded like a plan to him. The length of time it took to win her over might start to chafe a bit. If what she said were true, she didn’t date and worked all the time. The lack of any competition would work in his favor.

  Smiling, he pulled up outside the Mitchell homestead and switched off the ignition.

  “Lana, are you awake? We’re back,” he said, stroking a finger across her soft cheek. Her eyes slowly opened and heat bloomed in them, fiery green heat full of desire and need. Her pupils contracted to a black slit and a sultry purr escaped her.

  “I’ve been dreaming about you, about sex.”

  In that moment Duncan knew his plan to romance her was the right way to go. A purist might suggest that having sex equated to putting sex first. Not so. Lust between a man and woman came in different packages. Duncan eagerly anticipated making love instead of going all out for simple pleasure.

  “Good to know,” he said. “Was it hot sex?”

  Even in the dim light of his vehicle interior he caught the slow flush of her cheeks and grinned.

  “It was good,” she croaked, lifting a hand to wave in front of her face.

  The transformation from purring kitten to flustered, responsible woman intrigued him and made him want to peel away the layers, get to know her on all the different levels. He drew in a slow breath when he realized this last thought settled everything for him. In the past a woman had never fascinated him enough to make him want to get to know her, not after he’d walked away from Lana the first time. Yeah, it was strange the things a man learned about himself with a little thought.

  “How’s the head?”

  “Still a bit achy, but not too bad. I’ll be fine in the morning.”

  “I certainly hope so.”

  Lana grinned and her face lit up in a way he hadn’t seen since the first time he’d noticed her with Jamie. He shoved aside thoughts of his cousin and climbed out of his SUV. They met at the start of the path leading to the front door and linking hands they ambled hand in hand to the door.

  An idea bloomed and Duncan came to a halt. “I left my gear bag in the SUV. Wait for me in the bedroom. I’ll be right back.” Leaving Lana, he loped back to his vehicle and grabbed out a small daypack filled with a change of clothes. He hunted for the bottles of massage oil a physio had given him when he’d hurt his leg in a fall. Good. They were still there in the side pocket. A massage could be romantic because there wasn’t much he liked more than touching Lana. Aside from fucking her, and that went without saying.

  Triumphant, Duncan headed back to the house taking both daypack and oils with him. He prowled down the dark passage to the bedroom Emily had allocated to Lana. She’d turned on a bedside lamp and light spilled from the bedroom into the passageway.

  Lana’s dress slithered down her body, catching on her hips momentarily before dropping to the floor. She stepped out of the circle of red silk, turning to face him when she heard his footsteps.

  Duncan paused at the doorway. “God, you’re stunning.”

  “And you’re overdressed,” she countered, sitting on the bed to unfasten her shoes. Seconds later she kicked them aside and stood again, sauntering over until she stopped in front of him.

  His gaze dropped to her breasts and immediately he wanted to touch. Stick to the plan, he told himself. “Go and lie on the bed,” he said in a firm voice.

  She obeyed instantly, surprising the hell out of him.

  “Facedown,” he instructed.

  She rolled over and his gaze drifted across the sexy line of her spine and the curve of her buttocks. Beautiful, and all his as long as he played this game right.

  “Should I close my eyes?”

  “Good idea, but don’t go to sleep.”

  “Will you spank me if I disobey and nod off?”

  Duncan considered it and couldn’t restrain a smirk. “Did you like me spanking you?”

  “Yes.”

  A simple and straightforward answer, her honesty brought a trace of pride and a smile. “I’m taking off my clothes. Won’t be long.” One boot clomped on the floor as he told her what he intended to do. “I’m saving spanking for special occasions,” he said, seconds before his second boot hit the ground.

  “Oh.” She sounded disappointed and he made a mental note of it. Despite the fact she’d fought his assertive tendencies she seemed to want them now. He’d have to think on the matter. Sex was one topic he didn’t intend to discuss with Emily.

  Duncan dragged off his clothes and rifled through the side pocket until his hand closed around a brown glass bottle of massage oil. Naked, he prowled over to the bed and straddled her hips.

  “Are you awake, babe?”

  “Barely.”

  The physio he’d visited had given him two different bottles of oil. One smelled like lavender and the other reminded him of Oriental spices. Although the lavender one smelled more flowery and girly, he thought Lana would like the Oriental. He hoped he’d grabbed the right one.

  “What are you going to do to me?”

  His brows rose at the hint of uncertainty in her voice. “Scared?”

  “No!”

  “Liar. I’m going to give you a massage and hopefully that will help the headache on its way.”

  “A massage?”

  Duncan laughed at the sheer doubt and disbelief in her voice this time. Her tone said she wanted more and it made the tension residing in the pit of his stomach disperse. Despite his impatience, his decision to give her time and romance seemed the right one. It might even be kinda fun. Sex had always come easy for him while Lana was making him work. All part of the cat-and-mouse game. Knowing Jamie, his cousin had rushed her into mating without a shred of romance. Not that he blamed Jamie since survival through mating was hardwired into all the males—the need to have offspring and keep the species alive.

  “Relax, babe. You’ll see. I’m good at this.” He unscrewed the top and tipped a little oil on his hands before setting the bottle on the bedside cabinet to avoid spills. The scent of spices tinged with a hint of exotic flowers rose up to meet him and he gave a silent grunt of satisfaction. After dispersing the oil across his palms, he glided his hands over her back, varying the firmness and speed of the strokes just as his physio had instructed him. A silent laugh filled him when he remembered his complaints about having a massage and how the other cowboys gave him a hard time. He’d quickly come to appreciate the benefits and cajoled the physio into giving him some hints so he could incorporate massage into his sex life. Maybe it was a feline thing with all the stroking. Duncan didn’t think anything felt better than being touched and caressed, unless good sex followed. His cock filled and lengthened at the thought of plunging into Lana’s snug cunt. Yeah. Good times ahead.

  First the massage. Duncan alternated firm strokes with finger-light ones where he traced patterns on her back. Her soft groan of pleasure resounded right through him as he carefully worked down her body. He kneaded the curves of her ass,
using deeper pressure and felt the tension seep from her before working up again to rub her back, neck and shoulders.

  “Your skin is so soft.”

  Her incoherent mumble made him smile. “I’ll do the talking. It’s not often we males can get a word in.”

  She snorted, not moving, and he grinned, enjoying himself. Touching and spending time with Lana felt just as good as the sex. It seemed the idea of romance worked for him too.

  “Hmm, what should we talk about? I’d like to know more about your restaurant. We’ll leave that to another time when it’s easier for you to talk. What about if I tell you about Hawaii? I had a holiday there before I headed home. I loved it all. The water is this bright blue color. It’s not like the water here. Our water always looks moody while the tropical waters sparkle with happiness. Sounds corny, I know, yet it’s true.”

  Although Lana didn’t comment, he sensed her interest and continued talking while he rubbed and fondled her body, his hands gliding easily with the oil.

  “There’s white sand and coconut palms right on the beach at Waikiki. When you travel inland the land is green and mountainous. Some of the islands are dry on one side with verdant green on the other and steep, towering cliffs that meet the sea. One day I’ll take you there if you want. Turn over for me, babe, and I’ll do your front.” He moved so she could roll over.

  “I’d like to travel one day. It probably won’t be for a long time until I pay off more of my mortgage.”

  “Shush. Relax,” Duncan said. Instinct told him to bite back on his urge to offer her money. Duncan understood pride and wasn’t about to trample on hers. His parents hadn’t understood his desire to go into rodeo, wanting him to work on the family farm in Northern Canterbury. It had been a point of pride and sheer bloody orneriness that he succeeded on his own and made a decent living without accepting financial help from his parents. Yeah, he understood pride and admired Lana’s determination.

  Duncan reached over for more oil and hoped Emily wouldn’t mind if the duvet cover suffered. Somehow he thought she’d take it in stride. When he moved back over Lana, her eyes were open and she was frowning.

  “You’re meant to be relaxing,” he chided, taking pleasure in looking at her form. Although her breasts tempted him, he moved down the bed to start work on her feet and legs, gliding hands over the contours, feeling the flesh and muscles beneath his fingers.

  The purring sound coming from deep in Lana’s chest brought both a smile and satisfaction. Slowly Duncan worked up her thighs, massaging the soft inner area with deep thumb pressure. Her body gleamed under his ministrations, the oil shining and highlighting her sleek musculature.

  “Do you get a chance to run in feline form very often?”

  “No. Until the other day I hadn’t shifted for months.”

  Duncan glanced at her in concern. “It’s better for your health if you can shift on a regular basis.”

  Lana bit her lip, and after meeting his eyes for an instant, let her lids flutter closed. “I know. It’s not always easy.”

  Another thing to add to his romance plan—the temptation of a run on private land. He worked his way up toward the genital area without touching her intimately. That would come later. He glided his hands over her torso, ignoring her breasts, merely sliding his fingers around them. Her breathing became slower, deeper, and Duncan felt the tension seep from her muscles during the prolonged touching session.

  “I’ve been lucky enough to be able to go for runs on a regular basis. It helps keep me fit and strong. The bulls sense my feline and it makes them harder to ride, although I’ve learned a few things about disguising my scent over the years.”

  “I—”

  “No talking.” Duncan gently massaged her face before removing the combs and clips from her hair and running his fingers across her scalp.

  Her eyes popped open to snare his gaze. “You want me. I can smell your arousal.”

  “Yes,” Duncan said, his eyes crinkling into a smile. “Did my erection give you a few clues?”

  “It helped, and the heat coming off you is incredible. That gave me a hint. Your musk is rising too.”

  All true. He ached for her, although he enjoyed touching her pliant body too much to hurry the process of seduction. “I’m not the only one who’s enjoying all this touching.”

  “I never have time to relax.”

  Duncan nodded, understanding more than what she was telling him. No one had spoiled or indulged her before. Maybe she hadn’t let anyone close enough, despite being married. That would change, and the idea he would make the difference made his heart clench. It seemed he’d learned things about himself tonight. He needed romance as much as she did. Duncan glided a hand over her hip before pausing to pour more oil into the palm of his hand. Eventually, Lana would let him in and trust him enough to tell her about her marriage to Jamie. Soon they would be mates.

  Gradually Duncan moved his attention to her breasts, squeezing the plump curves and moving closer and closer to her nipples. Finally, he grasped each one between fingers and thumbs and tugged while carefully watching Lana’s face.

  The delicate flush of arousal suffused her cheeks, making her eyes darken and the pupils contract to feline slits. He replaced his fingers with his mouth, drawing one nipple inside while he drew aimless shapes on her other breast with his fingers. They glided across her oil-slicked skin, the scent of her arousal combining with the spicy oil. Lana’s soft purrs and the subtle arching of her body into his touch brought satisfaction and pleasure.

  “So responsive,” he murmured after lifting his head. “I like that.” Duncan dipped his head and dragged his tongue down her cleavage, enjoying the rasp against her flesh. The taste of the oil—not so much. “Ugh, next time remind me to choose an oil that tastes better.”

  Lana laughed at him. “It might not taste very good but imagine the way our skin will slide together, all slippery and sleek.”

  “Like this?” Duncan rubbed his chest against her breasts and reached up to kiss her. Their lips came together in a soft, barely there caress, gradually deepening into more. A slow and easy kiss with a hint of promise and hunger. The touch sizzled through his bloodstream, coming to a halt in his cock. When he finally lifted his head, he noticed his heart raced. “Damn, that has to be the sexiest kiss I’ve ever had.”

  “Do it again.”

  “Something tells me she liked it.”

  A growl rumbled from Lana and she grabbed him by the ears.

  “Ow.”

  “Kiss me quick.” Lana puckered up expectantly.

  Smirking, Duncan grasped her shoulders and rolled so she ended up on top of him. Their lips met in another gentle encounter, the slide of tongues like a slow waltz into greater pleasure. When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard, the scent of Oriental oil filling the air. Duncan ran his hand over her head, tangling fingers in her dark hair. Each time they came together the desire to mate increased, the mating heat rising within him. He eyed the fleshy part of her shoulder where it met her neck and felt the push of canines in his gums. The words trembled on his lips and he knew he had to bite them back, leaving them unsaid or he’d lose her.

  “Ride me,” he said hastily. He’d intended to make love to her, using every bit of his finesse and experience. Instead a tremble sped through him, his feline riding him hard.

  “My pleasure.” Lana pushed up and straddled his hips. In her scramble for position she flashed her sex and a shot of desire hit him.

  “You want me.” Satisfaction coated his words.

  “I told you earlier I hadn’t had sex since Jamie died.” The hard set of her mouth drew his attention and questions. They remained unasked. It wasn’t the right time. Instead he watched her closely, searching for clues. “I probably won’t have sex again for a while because I’ll be busy. I want you to fuck me so badly right now that I think I’ll start to beg if you tell me to stop.”

  His feline surged to the fore, knowledge that he was the only one
since Jamie pushing past his control. Duncan had her under his body in one swift move, moving between her legs and sliding home before she could blink. Once fully seated, he stilled, each breath coming in a roar. His gaze dropped to the special place on her shoulder and he rasped his tongue across the spot. Back and forth. Back and forth. He felt the jump in her pulse, the quick intake of air. Duncan opened his mouth and scraped his teeth across her skin, teasing her and pushing harder at his control.

  “Don’t,” she whispered.

  Duncan lifted his head. “I’d never mark you without your agreement.” His canine teeth made his husky voice emerge with a slight lisp.

  Lana nodded despite the wariness in her eyes.

  “I would never trap you.” He scowled at her when she didn’t respond, pissed at her for doubting his integrity. “Although we didn’t use protection yesterday. You don’t think I’ll expect close contact if we have a child?”

  “I’m protected. I’m on the Pill.”

  Duncan’s eyes closed for an instant, and until that moment he hadn’t realized how much he’d welcome a child into his life. Lana’s child. “Good,” he said. “Good to know.” Damn. Disappoint clawed at his gut. He shoved it away. Don’t blow your chance. Duncan pulled out and slowly pushed back into her moist flesh. Using controlled movements he built the simmering pleasure higher, relieved when he saw Lana’s eyes flicker closed. The last thing he wanted right now was for her to see his emotions when they were so close to the surface, his control a mere façade.

  “Yes,” she whispered, clutching his shoulders and hanging on tight.

  Gradually he upped the pace until his cock slammed into her with hard, choppy strokes. When her tongue curled out to lick her lips, he kissed her. Although he tried to keep it gentle, she wouldn’t let him. Her cunt flexed and gripped his cock. His balls drew painfully tight and after one more thrust, he lost control. An almost pained groan hissed past his protruding canines and when he stilled, fully embedded in her pussy, the sharp contractions of his cock prolonged the pleasure.

  Lana panted beneath him, making him aware his weight was resting on her. Lifting to his elbows, he pressed kisses to her face, moving again and hoping to give her enough friction to come. “Touch yourself,” he whispered against her ear. “I want to watch your face when you come.”