Secrets

by Lynn Crandall

  Michelle sent quakes rumbling through him with her sapphire blue eyes glistening up into his.

  “Can we kiss?” she asked. “I should have trusted you. I know I’ve hurt you but—”

  Casey picked her up in his arms, bringing her lips to his. His heart beat so hard he felt certain she could feel it. He pressed a hard, hungry kiss to her soft and welcoming lips. He kissed her, releasing all the longing and fear and loss into the air around them. He kissed her deeply, wanting to dispel any misunderstandings. Liquid joy brimmed his eyes, blurring his vision when he pulled back. He set her back down, too raw to take her scrutiny.

  “You don’t have to ask. You’ve already got it.” She placed a soft, sweet kiss to his lips. Joy exploded like Fourth of July fireworks inside him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up close to match her kiss with hard, pounding passion. He would never let her go.

  “I love you, Michelle. I’ve waited so long for you. I thought I would always be alone because I’m a were-cat and you’re not. There’s never been a woman in my life I wanted to engage with, trust, be wholly together. From as young as I can remember, I was told privacy and solitude were the things that kept our species around for centuries and that I was expected to follow in those ways.”

  “They were wrong in our case,” she said. “You’ve helped me come back into the world. I’m your people, if you want me.”

  In his gut he knew without question that it was right. They belonged together. He caressed her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lips.

  Fire lit her eyes. It spurred his breathing to come fast and furious. She lifted his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor, then began unbuckling his belt and removing his pants. His pulse racing, he kicked off his boxers, then pulled her T-shirt over her head, slipped one bra strap over her left shoulder, then the other one over her right shoulder. He drew his hands down her slim shoulders and reached around to unhook her bra. She let it fall and stood before him, all pink and pale and beautiful.

  Her breasts heaving, she took off her yoga pants and underwear. She took his hand and pulled him toward her as she lowered to the carpet.

  Urgency swept through him. This wasn’t their first time together but this stood out to him as a signpost in their relationship. He wouldn’t hold back.

  When he crushed her in his embrace, he found she wouldn’t be holding back either.

  Desire fed every kiss, every caress, every lick and nibble. His nostrils flared, gasping for more air, faster breaths to fuel his efforts to take her in completely.

  Atop him, she wriggled and arched her back, unleashed passion clearly rippling through her. She leaned into his face to drive him further with her darting tongue and devouring lips. His hardness smashed against her leg, her soft folds, demanding all of her.

  Casey rolled her off and laid eyes on her. “You’re so beautiful.” His voice sounded guttural to his ears, but he didn’t try to rein in his emotions.

  She brushed her hands across his chest and nuzzled inside the crook of his neck. “I love your skin. The feel of it, the scent of it.”

  She looked up at him with glazed eyes. He struggled with his body’s demands, wanting to make these moments last. He kissed her nipples, driving them to harden, then brushed kisses across her stomach and down to her femininity. She writhed beneath him, moaning and kneading his back muscles. “Condoms are in my bedroom nightstand,” she muttered.

  He picked her up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. Protection in place, he climbed in bed, enjoying the look of passion on her: tousled blond hair, steamy eyes, and glistening skin. Back atop her, he savored the touch of her skin, from head to toe, against his. Instantly, she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him up to kiss his lips, hard and full of want. He stroked her folds, slowly and deliberately. But she would have none of that. She reached for his hardness and he obliged her with a thrust into her. She moaned and arched to him, her legs still wrapping him in close.

  “Please, lie against me,” she asked in a soft, raspy voice.

  He obliged her again, resting chest to chest on her, while they matched thrust for acceptance, melting together over and over until her heated interior rippled around him.

  “Oh, Michelle, you feel so good,” he ground out. His own climax came, too, just then, muscles tensing and releasing, over and over, until finally she lay spent beneath him as he collapsed against her.

  Time passed, he was sure of it. But lying on top of her nearly asleep with her soft breathing in his ear, Casey would have believed time had stood still. He carefully rolled off her, tucking the sheets close around them both.

  “Don’t go.” Michelle’s eyes remained closed as she snuggled close to him.

  “You mean stay for the night?” He shoved locks of her disheveled hair from her face and kissed her nose.

  She opened sleepy eyes and smiled at him. “Stay forever. I love you, Casey Mitchell.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Michelle wanted to let Casey sleep, but she needed to get started on morning feeding. She crept out from under the blankets, smiling at his sleepy face, took a quick shower, and dressed.

  The stacks of carriers with cats were coming alive throughout her house. They’d rescued thirty cats, more than they’d expected. The sedatives the cats had been given at the research facility along with the gas they’d taken in during the rescue had made moving them easier. But that was hours ago and they were no longer sedated. Some of them remained calm. Those were most likely the roamers, cats who had homes but were allowed to go outside and roam. The ferals were another story. So feeding time was a chore. Most difficult were the deformed and angry cats. For those, she extended all her love and patience.

  Michelle was eager to release the ferals and bring the roamers back home, but each cat needed a thorough exam before that could happen. Until then, they had to be kept separated, too, including separated from Jojo, Izabell, Munchie, and Tiger.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” Casey’s hands on her shoulders startled her, but it passed quickly.

  She turned and looked up into his serene eyes. “Good morning.” She didn’t need anything more than that look from him. He kissed her, one soft, brief touch of his lips, his hands resting on her waist. She stood there with him, his hands on her and her arms around his neck, and simply savored the moment. They were together, hugging and holding, sharing a space of silent awareness of the immense trauma of William Carter and at the same time the powerful joy of their mutual love. It filled her heart completely.

  Meows grew louder and Michelle stepped back from Casey. “Hungry cats call. I’ve fed more than half of them. Once they’re all fed I’m going to start shuttling them to Lara’s clinic. It will be temporary so she can observe them for negative consequences. Some with the most severe deformities may have to be euthanized. Some will have to be homed as special needs.”

  “You sound pretty happy. This is a lot of work.” Casey crossed his arms over his chest, thinking.

  “I’m happy the cats are out of that hellhole. Some of them are going home, and that makes me very happy.”

  “How can I help?” He surveyed the stacks of carriers and furrowed his brow.

  “You already have done so much. I know you have work to do. I can manage.” She smiled at him. Yes, she was happy about the cats, but more than that, the change of things with Casey flitted through her like shimmering bubbles. She’d told him last night of her love for him, simply put it out there, no holding back. And so far she’d survived. This was a feeling she could get used to enjoying, one of freedom and spontaneous expression.

  “I’ll help you load the cats and drive my share to Lara’s.” He tweaked her nose and grinned. “There is still so much heavy stuff to deal with, but all I want to think about is you.”

  “I feel the same way, Casey. But we can’t stay sequestered here alone. The world and serious issues would pull us back into the mishegoss eventually.” Michelle’s spirits couldn�
�t be dampened this morning.

  “Uh huh.” He nuzzled her neck just under her chin.

  His warm breath on her skin sent her senses spiraling. “Casey, as marvelous as that feels, work, hungry cats, evil group of people, remember?”

  “Fine. It’s hard to ignore a good glow.” With that he helped finish feeding the remaining cats. Casey by her side, Michelle loaded all thirty carriers into her Jeep and his Prius and delivered them to Lara for inspection and any care that was needed.

  Thirty minutes later, Casey drove up the driveway at his parents’ house. Michelle reached across the console and put her hand on his. Her nerves jangled, as though ringing a warning bell. Casey’s serious demeanor pushed her thoughts into a whirl.

  She didn’t comment on the beautiful, secluded home sitting amongst large trees and manicured bushes. She knew Casey had thoughts only for confronting his father.

  Michelle pulled his hand to her lips and brushed a kiss to his fingers. The scent of his skin soothed her. Would it ever become commonplace?

  “Thank you for coming with me, Michelle. You ground me.” A frown creased his brow, but his voice implied he was solid and ready to face his father falling off his pedestal.

  • • •

  Casey gripped Michelle’s hand as though she might drift away. He didn’t normally knock on the massive wooden front door, but things were not what they’d normally been between him and his parents. The knocking stood as a demarcation between what had been and what was now.

  Moments later the door opened and his father stood in the doorway.

  “Casey, come in, son.”

  He led them to the living room and Michelle couldn’t help herself. “This is an amazing room, Dr. Mitchell. You have a lovely home.”

  Casey’s mother entered the room, sorrow in her eyes. “Casey.” She walked up to him and hugged him close, then stepped back to stand with her husband.

  “Father, Mother, this is Michelle, but of course you already know who she is.” His sarcasm dripped, thick and sour, but he didn’t care, couldn’t care. His heart was bleeding, had been since he discovered his dad’s involvement in The Nexus Group.

  Michelle nodded to Camille and extended her hand and Larry took it, shaking it firmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell.”

  “Please, call me Larry, my wife Camille.” He gestured her to have a seat on the couch and Casey sat close beside her.

  “I was hoping you and your mother and I could have a private meeting.” His father gave Casey a stern glare.

  “I can wait in the car, Casey,” Michelle offered.

  He put a hand to her knee as she started to rise. A floral scent wafted to him, and he breathed it in, drawing strength from Michelle. “No, there is nothing to hide from her.”

  His father shifted in the upholstered chair he sat in, and shifted again, clearly ill at ease. “I feel sorry for Jackson, losing his father. I assume you’ve heard about William Carter’s death. Terrible accident.”

  “Accident?” Casey fisted his hands.

  “Yes, Carter Enterprises was conducting research using a new digital diary and insulin pump. Some of the studies were still in phase one, working with animals. One escaped and attacked him. I guess a lab worker is responsible for leaving a cage open. He’s been taken into custody pending charges of negligence.”

  Casey’s composure strained under the weight of so much bullshit. “That’s the official story? From Carter Enterprises?”

  “I suppose. I just read it in this morning’s Laurelwood Gazette.” His eyes shifted, but he never dropped his gaze from Casey’s.

  “Hmm.” Michelle’s muscles tightened against him. He exchanged a look with her and could see fireworks blasting off inside the deep blue of her eyes. He rubbed her arm, soothingly, determined to keep her calm. So much stood between her and the workings of Carter Enterprises and anyone significant associated with the company. He wouldn’t blame her if she gave his father a piece of her mind, but it might put her at risk with The Nexus Group.

  Casey rubbed his thumb across his chin, contemplating. Several minutes passed and his father sighed a lot. His mother’s face was impassive, except for the tears collecting in her eyes.

  “Well, anyway, I told you on the phone I had some things to straighten out with you.” He cleared his throat. His dispassionate attitude took some doing, but it was the only way he could address his parents right now.

  “Yeah, what’s on your mind, son?” His father’s dark brown eyes, the eyes he’d always trusted in, were blanketed, emotionless. It tore at his gut.

  “To the point, how could you, Dad?” Guess he wasn’t going to be able to fake apathy. His words came out raw and wounded. “I know you’re an associate of William Carter. The man whose idea of good business has created a climate of crime and destruction in this town that is escalating.”

  His father tilted his head. “What do you mean? I work independently, always have, son.”

  “There’s that word again: son. Dad, does it mean anything to you? I’ve spent my lifetime admiring you for the man I believed you to be. Honest, loving, kind, intelligent. But those words are dead to me regarding my father.”

  “Casey, you mean everything to me. Everything I’ve done has been to provide for you and for your future.” Anger and sorrow warred on his face.

  “Stop. Stop right there. Do you know how much it hurts to learn you’ve worked with Carter? You’ve hurt people. You’ve killed. You’ve stolen jobs and made people homeless. You didn’t do that for me, Dad. You did it out of greed and ego. You did it to create power and wealth for yourself.”

  His father crossed his arms over his chest and his right knee over his left knee. “I just don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh my God!” Casey’s mind raced. “You’re not going to admit anything, are you? Dad, I know what you’ve been involved in. I know you’re lying to me right now.”

  “Casey.” His dad stood tall, innocent eyes shining down on him. “Keep this focused on just us. No matter what, I love you and I’d do everything to protect our relationship.”

  Casey stood, his muscles aching to run away and deny the truth of his father, his idol, one of his best friends in a world where he’d had few. “If you can’t be straight with me, there is no longer any us.”

  A sob escaped his mother’s throat. “Casey, we love you. When you called and said you had some issues to discuss, you sounded so detached. It hurt. Please, sit down.” She turned to her husband. “Tell him.”

  His father rubbed the top of his head and stared at the floor. Suddenly, his shoulders drooped and his face crumpled. “You deserve to know the truth. To know everything.” He shook his head.

  Casey stiffened on the couch. Was there any hope he could stomach his dad’s confession?

  “I was telling you the truth when I said everything I’ve done has been to protect you and take care of you.”

  “I heard you. That’s about money. Do you think that matters more to me than integrity and compassion?” His heart hammered in his chest, indignant.

  His father held up his hand. “No, that’s not what I’m talking about.”

  Michelle squeezed his leg and gave him a pointed look.

  “Let him speak, Casey.” His mother’s voice was firm, but gentle. “You asked for the truth, listen.”

  He settled back into the couch, tension slithering inside his gut.

  “When your mother and I first married, times were very tough for us. My parents initially ousted me from the family and the colony. I’d broken a primary rule by marrying your mother. Your mother had finished her degree but I was still in grad school.” His father shifted on the couch.

  “So, hard times. Everyone has them.”

  “It’s not an excuse. I’m just telling you what you asked to know.” His father cleared his throat and looked down again. “Carter approached me. He told me a tiny investment into a group that was going to help Laurelwood prosper would yield n
ot only good things for the community but boost my income.”

  Casey’s mother broke down into sobs. It plucked at his heart but he knew he hadn’t heard the whole story yet.

  “What I learned later was that Carter was power hungry and he was delving into research projects that would endanger humans and were-cats. I learned that as I got deeper involved with him.”

  “And the money?” Casey was losing patience.

  His father’s eyes flashed lividly. “Yes, there was money coming in. But Carter knew about the existence of were-cats. His limited knowledge of were-cats scared me. He’d heard stories about were-cats and went in search to find one. He worked with doctors who belonged to him to get access to medical records. He learned that your mother and I had were-lynx genes. He assumed you had them, too, but I lied to him, telling him you didn’t have the genes.”

  Casey dropped his head into his hands. “Oh my God.”

  Michelle sniffed. Casey looked down at her to see tears in her eyes, but she gave him a soft smile that assured him.

  “So the investment you made paid off? You’ve lived a good life. I’ve been safe. End of story? I don’t think so.”

  “No. I didn’t invest money. Carter told me my investment would come later, when it was needed.” He choked on his words, but struggled to continue. “I could see the effects of Carter’s actions and the development of The Nexus Group. When your mother got pregnant, we decided it was time to separate from Carter.”

  “Let me guess. He wouldn’t let you. Threatened you. Is that about it?”

  “Casey, he did that and more. But we were determined to start over.” He put his arm around his wife and Casey had the feeling they hadn’t talked about their life with Carter much. “He told us our baby would be our investment and he had plans to raise the child as a protégé in his company and eventually involve the child in The Nexus Group.”

  “That’s crazy. Why your child?”

  “Carter had an idea that the child would surely be a were-cat. Nothing I said penetrated his insane intentions. But your mother went into preterm labor. The doctor told us the baby hadn’t survived. It was a terrible time for us. But we had each other and we had you.”