Cat and Mouse

by Shelley Munro

  He thrust again but felt his cock softening, and no wonder considering the force with which he’d come.

  Lana licked her lips and he watched the move avidly, fascinated by the need and desire reflected in her face. Her beautiful eyes glowed and a soft flush covered her chest. As he watched, she slipped a hand between their bodies.

  “I need more,” she said.

  Duncan bit back a laugh at her tactfulness and pulled away. “Let’s do it this way,” he said, pushing two fingers inside her wet pussy. Knocking her finger aside, he dipped his head and licked around her swollen clit. Her body bucked and her cunt squeezed his fingers.

  “Yes,” she said, half moaning the word. “Again.”

  Duncan smiled against her flesh, amused at her bossiness. At least she didn’t seem angry that he’d come and she hadn’t. He settled in to push her into pleasure, hopefully as great as he’d experienced.

  Lana melted into the mattress, feeling relaxed and mellow even though she had a man lapping and licking her private parts. For a while she watched him, scanning his hair and profile, the flash of his tongue. Her decision to have a weekend of sex and to spend one more night with Duncan had been the best male-related resolve she’d made for a long time. Letting her eyes fall closed, she concentrated on the sensations. The man had a very talented tongue. It dragged across her flesh, rough and slightly abrasive—a luscious tug that pulled at her clit and sent a tingle of pleasure running through her abdomen and down her legs. With each lick the feelings intensified and she lifted up into his face, silently urging him to give her more pressure, more drag. Just more.

  Duncan’s fingers curved slightly with each thrust and he began a direct assault on her clit. Instead of licking around, his tongue started to move across every second or third lick. He varied his strokes so she never knew what he’d do next. Not that it mattered. This man knew his way around a woman’s body. It should have bothered her—heck, it might bother her later—but right now she was busy enjoying the hell out of his experience. A gasp escaped, sounding so much like a purr, she bit her bottom lip to halt the sounds.

  Duncan stopped and lifted his head. “I already know you’re a feline. You don’t have to hold back for me. I love your sexy purrs.”

  Tensing, Lana gave a jerky nod. “Don’t stop.” Heck, if the man didn’t start up again, she might commit murder. Either that or lock herself in the bathroom and take care of things herself.

  “No way, babe. I’m enjoying myself.”

  Thankfully he went straight back to the task at hand. After a couple of tense seconds she relaxed again, the feel-good sensations creeping back into her body. Duncan pushed her harder and she did purr, the pleasure streaking from her clit and down her legs in a fireball. She groaned, riding out the climax, feeling her pussy contract on his fingers. An earthquake. That’s what it was. Duncan gave her clit another soft lick and a second, almost painful series of spasms sped through her.

  Slowly he moved, dragging his fingers from her body and moving up on the bed until they were face-to-face.

  “You are so beautiful.” The husky rumble of his voice held intimacy and a hint of satisfaction. Normally she would have told him he had a big head and chopped him down to size. In this case, she felt so relaxed and replete it was difficult to summon the energy.

  “You taste good.” Duncan watched her while he licked her juices from his fingers. He held her gaze, his eyes dark and almost stormy with passion. Just as well she intended to head back to Queenstown tomorrow and wouldn’t see Duncan for months or longer. In two short days she’d become addicted to his lovemaking. Greedily she craved more, even though that couldn’t happen. Tomorrow she returned to work and he’d be nothing more than a good memory. Her lips lifted in a grin. A very good memory.

  “Something funny?” He smoothed the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

  “No, not at all,” she said, sobering. “I’m tired. Maybe you should go back to the campground.”

  “I’m tired as well and I’d like to stay.”

  Lana opened her mouth to object when he climbed from the bed and turned out the light. The mattress depressed with his weight when he returned. Sighing because she didn’t really want him to go, she turned on her side. He moved behind her, tugging her against his chest, a possessive hand curving around her waist. The nonsexual comfort made her sigh again. Really, she should protest and kick him out. But she remained silent telling herself tomorrow would be soon enough to part. She’d had some great sex and felt better than she had for months. No need to end the weekend on an argument when they could part ways on good terms tomorrow.

  Chapter Seven

  Lana walked through her gutted restaurant and tried not to panic. The builders had assured her everything would be ready for the opening on Monday the following week. It was only two weeks late. She inhaled deep and immediately wished she hadn’t. A sneeze erupted, and Lana started to breathe through her mouth. The scent of fresh plaster, varnish and paint swirled through the air, smells that hadn’t been present the previous day. Queasiness lurched through her stomach, just thinking about the consequences of remaining closed for another extra week. Thank goodness the work seemed to be progressing, even if her feline side hated the stench.

  A knock on the door dragged her attention from her remodeling problems.

  “Richard, have you come to see the mess?” Lana greeted the lawyer from next door.

  “I thought they were meant to be further along than this,” he said, coming to stand beside her.

  “A problem with staff. You know the flu bug going around? Well, it decimated the builder’s team. I wanted to shout and fire his ass until I realized he’d dragged himself out of bed to try to work on my renovations. He looked so sick I sent him home.”

  “You’re too soft,” Richard murmured. “Let me take care of it for you. I’ll get them to finish the work and sue them for loss of income.”

  Lana hid her irritation behind a quick frown. No wonder things hadn’t worked between them from her prospective. Take-charge men who thought they knew better really pissed her off. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer. I’ve dealt with it.”

  “Really, let me sue him on your behalf.”

  “We’ve worked out a deal between us already. Yes, he’s inconvenienced me. It couldn’t be helped. Business has been light anyway since so many people were struck with this stupid flu.” Lana held up a hand when Richard would have spoken again. She’d been right to keep their relationship on a business footing. Her thoughts drifted to Duncan, as they often did, even though she’d tried to stomp on the bad habit. What would he advise her to do? Or would he try to take over as well? “No, Richard. Everything is fine. I have several private parties booked. Once I reopen everything will revert back to normal.”

  “I came by to take you out for a drink. Are you ready to go?”

  Once again his pure disregard for her feelings—on any subject—grated. Perhaps she’d like him to ask rather than tell. The man didn’t have a clue. “No, I have things to do here. The Goods and Services return has to go out in the mail tonight.” She’d tried to attack it yesterday but had felt so ill she’d dragged herself upstairs to her apartment above the restaurant. This morning she’d felt better, at least until she entered the restaurant, so obviously the paint rather than the flu had caused her queasiness.

  “Are you brushing me off?”

  Surprised, Lana turned to him. “What are you talking about? Of course I’m not. I really have to do the bookwork tonight.”

  “I’ll ask Marjorie from the dress shop out for a drink.”

  Lana rolled her eyes. What did he expect her to do? Beg him not to take Marjorie? Lana went for nonconfrontational despite wanting to flay him with blunt words of censure. “I’m sure she’d enjoy a drink with you.” Maybe Richard’s strange behavior was due to impending flu. She caught him staring at her lips and the lustful look jolted her right to her stomach. It wasn’t a pleasurable sensation, especially when she
compared him to Duncan. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Richard.”

  With a curt nod he left, the door clanging shut after him. Talk about weird. Shaking her head, Lana did a final walk-through, checking the progress of the day while trying to ignore the unsettled lurching of her stomach. The builder had promised his crew would be here at six in the morning. Her sleep might suffer, but it would be a small price if they finished the alterations. The sooner she could get rid of the paint and varnish smell, the quicker her feline would like it. Sometimes, the feline’s excellent scent receptors didn’t merge well with city life.

  Someone tapped on the door and she grouchily whirled to face her visitor, ready to tell them to go away. The urge faded abruptly. Duncan. Her heart slammed against her ribs as she gestured for him to come inside. What was he doing here? And worst of all, why did she feel so happy to see him? That was the kicker.

  “Hey, Lana. Whoa!” He paused, his nose wrinkling. “That smell is horrendous. Can I coerce you into coming out for dinner or a drink?”

  “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be at a rodeo somewhere.” Anxiously, she scanned him from head to foot checking for injuries. There were none that she could see. His strong, muscular body looked as sexy as usual and did the normal number on her hormones. A bit of a worry for sure.

  “That’s part of what I wanted to talk about. Please, I hate this smell. Isn’t there a pub on the corner?”

  Lana laughed. “The smell isn’t the best. Okay, a quick drink. I have some office work I need to finish so I can’t be away for long.” She grabbed her wallet and hurried to join him, pausing to lock up and pocket the keys.

  “Where’s the best place for a drink?” Duncan asked.

  “The pub you saw on the corner will work. I quite often have a drink there with friends.” Lana wanted to kiss him. Badly. The need to touch simmered through her like a compulsion. She inhaled deep, pulling his seductive scent into her lungs. He beat the smell of the paint by a wide mile.

  “Let’s go.” Duncan took her hand and her breath exited with a whoosh. She’d spent exactly two nights with him, and seeing him now, she realized how much she’d missed him, how there were a million little details about her days she’d stored up to tell him. The thought shocked her because that’s exactly what she’d done with Jamie, or at least until he’d started to resent her restaurant because he wanted her to stay home and have babies.

  “Why are you here?” she repeated.

  “I’ve retired.”

  Her mouth dropped open in shock. “Why? You love the rodeo and you’re good at it.”

  “I wanted to try something else. Despite healing well, even a feline can take only so many falls.” Duncan pushed the door to the pub open and ushered her inside. “What would you like to drink? A glass of wine?”

  “Please. I’ll grab a table.” Lana saw Richard standing at the bar with Marjorie and grimaced. Great. That was all she needed. He’d think she lied to him. Coming to a quick decision, she crossed the tiled floor to say hello instead of following her initial impulse to hide. “A friend dropped by after you left, Richard, and twisted my arm. Hi, Marjorie. How’s business?”

  “Slow,” the brunette said. “I’m hoping it will improve. This flu seems to have hit the tourists as well. When are you reopening?”

  “Next week, all going well.”

  “Good. Your coffee is so much better and I’ve been dying to have a piece of that coffee slice you make.”

  “I’ll make some on opening day. See you later,” Lana said to both of them.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce your friend?” Richard’s jaw stuck out in a pugnacious manner.

  Lana kept her smile intact despite his snide tone. “Sure. We’re only here for a quick drink because I still have that GST return to do before tomorrow.” Lana sensed rather than saw Duncan behind her. “Richard, Marjorie, this is my husband’s cousin Duncan.”

  Duncan set the drinks on the bar and stepped forward to offer his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  “Oh, a cousin,” Richard said, his shoulders visibly relaxing.

  Lana wanted to hit him. His behavior seemed so strange, almost as if he thought she belonged to him. Never. Not in this lifetime.

  “Actually, we’re not related,” Duncan said.

  Richard’s smile faded, and Lana had to work extra hard to maintain hers while Marjorie and Duncan chatted.

  Finally Lana decided she’d suffered enough torture. Besides, Duncan had roused her curiosity. “I’ll see you at the opening next week,” she said.

  “If not before,” Richard said.

  Not if she saw him first. With a curt nod, Lana walked away at Duncan’s side. They took possession of a secluded corner table out of sight of Richard and Marjorie.

  “Boyfriend?” Duncan asked.

  “We’ve been out to dinner a few times.” Lana hated the defensive note in her voice. It was none of Duncan’s business.

  “He wants more.”

  “And I’m not interested. I have more important things to do.” So there! She’d told him. Lana reached for her wine, disturbed to find her hand trembling. “Tell me about you. What are you going to do now?”

  “I’ve bought some land not far from Cromwell. I’m going to breed bulls for the South Island rodeo circuit, and after talking to Saber, I intend to dabble in grapes. They need more land for planting and I have it. Later on I might start a school to help train younger bull riders.”

  “Oh.” It was all she could say. Inside, emotions rioted through her. Excitement. Alarm. And sex—she thought about that too. One weekend hadn’t been enough to sate her desire for sex. Lana glanced at Duncan and blushed when she saw he watched her intently. Desire spread, tugging at her breasts and tingles surged through in her lower belly. A need for sex after a long drought. That’s all it was. Nothing to worry about.

  “Is that all you can say?”

  “Wow. I’m…it’s unexpected. That’s all. Of course I’m really excited for you. Have you already taken possession of the land? When did this happen? When did you decide to change directions?”

  “I moved in last weekend.”

  “And? Is that all? Are you living there?” She’d be able to see Duncan again. Maybe he’d be willing to sleep with her occasionally? The thought pulled her up abruptly. They didn’t have a future. Thoughts of a future had placed her firmly in trouble last time. Despite loving Jamie, the knowledge they had been starting to grow apart gnawed at her. They would have ended up hating each other if they’d continued on the path they’d traveled.

  “There’s a house on the property and I’ve moved in. Nothing flash, but I intend to work on improvements when I have time. You should see the land.” His eyes sparkled with both pleasure and enthusiasm. “There are acres of rolling hills and a stream runs through for water. Even at the height of summer there’s plenty of water for cattle.”

  “A man with a dream.” The tight bands of anxiety loosened around Lana’s chest. She recognized the signs of ambition and determination since she bore the traits herself. And if he intended to work on the farm, he wouldn’t have time to bother her. “You didn’t say when you decided to go into farming.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Duncan said, picking up his handle of beer to take a sip. “I waited for the sale to go through before I told anyone.”

  Lana nodded, starting to relax for the first time in the last two weeks. She leaned back into the squishy leather chair and drank her wine, comfortable with the silence that had fallen between them.

  “Would you like to come back to my place with me tonight?”

  Lana jolted, sending splashes of her wine flying before she could set her glass down on the wooden-topped table between them. Yes, she’d love to. “Oh no! I don’t think so.” Good grief! What was she thinking? The paint fumes must have damaged a few brain cells.

  “Why not? If your quarters are above the restaurant, won’t they smell of paint and varnish?”

&nbs
p; “Yes, except I need to complete my GST return tonight.” It wasn’t an excuse, dammit. She really did need to do her return.

  “You could bring it with you.”

  “You wouldn’t mind if I did office work instead of paying attention to you?”

  Duncan shrugged. “Why would I? You have responsibilities. I understand that. Besides, it won’t take you all night to do the return. You could do it while I cook dinner.”

  Lana’s mouth opened and closed a few times while she tried to decide what to say. Actually, shock tinged her thoughts. Duncan was offering to cook for her? Offering to give her time alone to do her bookwork? “As long as you’re sure,” she said finally. Jamie had hated her doing anything to take her away from him while he had time at home. It had become a bone of contention between them and in the end she’d found it easier to go along with his wishes to save an argument and days of uncomfortable silence.

  “I’m sure. Do you want another drink or are you ready to leave?”

  “I’m ready to go now,” Lana said. “It won’t take long to grab my laptop and the folders of paperwork.”

  “What time do you need to be back in the morning?”

  “The builders are coming around six. I’ve already talked to the foreman and they have a key.”

  “I can have you back about ten. Would that work?”

  “Perfect. I could drive out to save you coming back.”

  “I have to come back into town tomorrow anyway to pick up some stuff I’ve ordered for the farm. There’s no point taking your vehicle as well.”

  Lana shrugged, her pulse racing faster at the idea of spending time with Duncan even though her brain told her it was dangerous. Suddenly her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m not interested in a relationship.”

  “Who said anything about a relationship? I want to spend some time with a friend. The farm is going to keep me busy. I figured if we were both free at the same moment we could spend time together.”