Cat of a Different Color

by Dana Marie Bell

  “Maybe if you stare hard enough her clothes will fall off by themselves.” Simon stepped into view and stared at the two women.

  Adrian rolled his eyes. “She’s my mate.”

  Simon grinned. “And if anyone is going to use their amazing cloth-ripping stare powers on her it’s going to be you?”

  “Asshole.”

  Simon flipped him off, and Adrian grinned.

  “She seems to be settling right in,” Simon said, leaning against the brick wall of the diner.

  “Yup.”

  “Becky trusts Belinda.”

  “And you don’t?” Adrian kept his eyes on the two women but his attention was on Simon.

  “To a point, yes.”

  “Do you trust Becky and Emma?”

  Simon sighed. “Yes, damn it.” It sounded like he’d had, and lost, this argument already. Probably Becky had gotten to him and given him an earful. He decided to help reassure Simon. There were things he knew about Belinda that would shock Simon to his core.

  Adrian nodded. “Have you ever been in Kelly’s when Belle’s in there?”

  Simon looked at Adrian, one brow raised. “Belle?”

  Adrian nodded. “That’s what they call Belinda in there. Belle.”

  “No, I haven’t been in there when Belle’s been in there. Why?”

  “She might surprise you.”

  Simon snorted. “I dated the woman off and on for years; nothing she does would surprise me, unless it was to grow a second brain cell.”

  “Really? Let’s go in.”

  Adrian opened the door and pushed Simon in. Simon, surprisingly, allowed it.

  “Hey, Belle!”

  Simon’s eyebrows rose into his hair as Frank Kelly called Belinda’s name. Adrian grinned and waited. He already knew what was coming.

  “Yes, Frank?”

  “What do you do when a blonde throws a pin at you?”

  “Run like hell, she’s got a grenade in her mouth.”

  The entire diner laughed. “Hey, Belle,” one of the patrons called out. “He ever throw one at you that you didn’t know the punch line to?”

  “Nope,” Belle replied proudly.

  “I’ll get you one day, Belle!” Frank laughed.

  “And my little dog, too?”

  More laughter. Adrian could see Simon’s shock as he pushed the man back out the door. “See?”

  “The only time I ever saw her was with her upper-crust friends,” Simon said. “She didn’t act like that around them.”

  “Of course not, they would have kicked her out of the country club,” Adrian replied. He set up against the wall again and stared into the diner, watching Sheri and Belle eat. “Besides, everyone knew why you went out with Belinda, and it wasn’t for her conversation.”

  Simon winced. “She didn’t act that way around me, either.”

  Adrian nodded. “She gave you what she thought you wanted.”

  “A blonde bimbo,” Simon said thoughtfully.

  “I hate to make you feel even worse, but as far as I can tell she never dated anyone but you.”

  Simon winced again. “Gee, thanks.”

  Adrian shrugged. “I don’t know if she thought you were her mate or what, but when she finds him she’ll know. Until then, I think Sheri’s safe with Belle.”

  “Okay,” Simon agreed with a sigh. “I’ll trust her.”

  ***

  “Spill.” Adrian stared hard at his friend and partner, crossing his arms as he blocked the way out of the office. They’d just finished closing for the day and were the only ones left in the practice.

  “Excuse me?” Max’s blue eyes glittered gold for a moment, sensing Adrian’s challenge.

  Adrian sighed. “She’s my mate, Max. How would you feel if Emma was threatened?” Max’s low growl answered that question. “So tell me. What am I facing here?”

  Max sighed and pushed his hand through his hair. “Rudy Parker is a sick fuck. He tried to mount her as a wolf. When that didn’t work, he bit her. If she hadn’t torn free she’d be Pack now instead of Pride.”

  “That kind of thing happens pretty fast, I thought. How did she get away before he managed it?”

  Max shrugged. “I have no idea. All I remember is her shoulder was torn all to hell and gone, and a chunk was missing.”

  Adrian’s growl slipped out. “He took a chunk of her shoulder?”

  Max nodded. “It’s why the scarring is pretty bad there. Even the Magic Puma Potion couldn’t heal it.”

  Adrian snorted a laugh, his eyes returning to their normal dark brown. “Magic Puma Potion?”

  “Becky’s words, not mine.”

  “She would know.” Adrian started to pace. “Okay, he tried to rape her, she managed to get away before he changed her, and he’s been chasing her ever since. That about sum it up?”

  Max nodded slowly.

  “What are you leaving out?”

  “She got away intact because she left before the abuse got too bad. She knows how dangerous he is now, though, and if he finds out the two of you are mates he’ll do everything he can to take you down.”

  “I can handle him.”

  Max shook his head. “He won’t come at you alone. He’ll use his Pack, and Puma versus a Wolf Pack...”

  “Puma loses.” Adrian stopped pacing and stared blankly at the wall, his mind racing. “We need to keep the Pride around us, then.”

  “Sheri won’t be alone; Simon’s been detailed to watch over her when she’s out and about. Belinda, Becky and Emma will stick with her whenever possible.”

  “And I’ll be with her at night.”

  “If you can convince her of that.”

  “You doubt me?” Adrian grinned at Max, confident in his ability to seduce his mate.

  “She’ll try to push you away in order to protect you. To be honest, I was surprised when she finally contacted us again and asked to join our Pride. The invitation’s been open since I bit her.”

  “Which means things are probably worse than she’s telling,” Adrian muttered, every protective instinct flaring to life. The urge to go to her, pick her pretty ass up and cart her home to his den where she’d be safe was nearly overwhelming.

  “Yup.”

  “You okay with Emma doing guard duty?”

  Max’s grin was feral, and his eyes flashed to gold. “That son of a bitch touches my mate—hell, breathes on her wrong—I’ll force-feed him his balls.”

  Adrian nodded, muscles tensed as Max’s power rolled through the room. The need to protect was even stronger in the face of his Alpha’s unconscious call. “If Emma doesn’t do it first?”

  Max’s grin relaxed, and Adrian relaxed with him. “She broke a man’s nose once.”

  “I know.”

  “You know?”

  “Yeah, the whole town knew.”

  Max blinked. “So why didn’t I know?”

  Adrian shrugged. “Why would you? You weren’t in town when it happened, and no one knew she’d turn out to be your mate.”

  Max blew out a breath. “The argument I had with that woman to get the story out of her... Okay. Never mind,” he snarled as Adrian grinned. “You see if you can get Sheri to spill the rest of the story.”

  “No problem.” Adrian turned to leave the office and saw one of the wedding gown pictures Emma had pinned to the bulletin board. He stopped with a grin. “By the way, can you pass on a message to Emma?”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  The curiosity in Max’s voice nearly caused him to laugh. “Can you tell her that there aren’t enough swimsuit pictures in here? If you guys are going to the Caribbean for your honeymoon, she’ll need to pick out a bikini.”

  “Are you trying to get me maimed?”

  “Can you get pictures of her modeling them? That would be cool.”

  “Out! Asshole.”

  Adrian left the office with a laugh. It was time to go claim his mate.

  Chapter Four

  Sheri very carefully lifted the
sun-catcher out of the box Simon had packed it in. The big artist stood over her, watching her every move like a hawk. She made sure she was extra careful with the delicate piece.

  She’d been working at Wallflowers for two days now, and she hadn’t been left alone for a moment. If Becky and Emma were absent, some other member of the Pride “just stopped by to do some shopping”. As if even a woman like Marie Howard could shop in one store for three hours. Thank God for Belinda. At least she made no pretense of why she was there, and the two women had become fast friends. And maybe if Rudy was gone from her life she’d be able to help Belinda get her dream off the ground.

  “Please don’t break it.”

  “I’m being careful,” she replied, starting to get pissed off.

  “No offense, but you’re taking forever to do that.”

  “Would you like to do this?”

  “Nah, looks like you’ve got it covered.” He began to pace, moving restlessly around the delicate furniture like a caged...well, mountain lion. “Becky’s officially moving in with me this week.”

  “I know. I’m helping her pack.” She gently laid the sun-catcher in the white gift box bearing the store’s name and logo printed in gold lettering. “She said I should be able to move in by the end of the week since she’s not taking any of the furniture.” Which was pretty fast work considering it was only Tuesday.

  “So she’s already taken you up and shown you around?”

  “Yeah, I know the layout and everything.”

  “Cool. Not that you’ll live there for very long if Adrian has anything to say about it.”

  “Simon?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Tell me about Adrian.” She could have bitten off her tongue for letting the words slip out, but curiosity was eating away at her like mad.

  “He’s the same age as me, so a year younger than Max. He went to school locally, his parents still live here and have been happily mated for nearly thirty years. He’s born, not made. He has a sister and a brother, both younger, both still in college, both out of town. He owns his own home and car, shares a practice with Max, and has never been in trouble with the law.”

  “Women?”

  “None serious.”

  “As bad as you?”

  Simon growled. “I wasn’t that bad.”

  “No, of course not. Revolving doors belong in everyone’s bedroom.”

  “Pain in my ass,” he grumbled.

  Sheri grinned. “So he’s a player?”

  “Not so much. He didn’t date very seriously, but Sheri? He told me you’re his mate, which means now he doesn’t date at all.”

  “He’s mistaken,” she lied.

  “So when he approaches you about it, you treat him right, okay? He’s one of my best friends.”

  “I’ll bang him on the head with a baseball bat if he tries,” she replied calmly.

  “He’s a good man, and he’ll take good care of you.”

  “I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”

  “His mother’s going to love you.”

  “She’s never going to meet me.”

  “She’s Pride, she already has, and knock it the hell off.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sniffed as she finished tying a pretty gold bow to the box.

  Her hands were lifted away from the bow. She looked up into Simon’s dark eyes. “You’re mates. Trust me, there’s no denying it. I fought my pull towards Becky for six months...hell, if I’m honest it was probably longer than that, and it was pure agony.”

  “So?”

  “So if you fight it, the dreams will start. Hot, sweaty dreams. The kind that leave you aching. And it gets worse. You’ll feel no desire for anyone else, because if your body can’t have the real thing it’ll take the dreams. There is no denying your mate.”

  She pulled her dark glasses down and tried not to squint in the light. She allowed her eyes to flash red. “Rudy will kill him. If my denying him protects him—”

  “Bullshit.”

  Sheri winced; she hadn’t noticed the bell over the door jingling. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and pulled back into herself. “Hello, Dr. Giordano.”

  “Call Becky,” Adrian said to Simon.

  “Why?” Simon asked.

  For an answer, Adrian vaulted over the glass countertop and slung Sheri over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. He ignored her squeak of protest, picked up Jerry’s harness. Jerry, the traitor, immediately obeyed as Adrian carted them calmly out of the building. “Bye, Simon!”

  Simon’s laughter boomed out behind her. “Bye, guys.”

  “Put me down,” Sheri growled.

  “Nope.”

  “Put me down now, doofus!”

  He huffed out a laugh. “You’re not the first person to call me that.”

  She stilled, an unreasonable jealousy causing her to see red. “Who?”

  “Simon and Max.”

  She relaxed. “Oh.”

  “You bite me and I’ll paddle you. Just so you know.”

  His cheerful tone of voice was really beginning to grate on her nerves. That and her upside down position was beginning to give her a headache. “You and what army, bud?”

  “You think I need help handling you, princess?”

  She grunted as he put her in his car with a loud smacking kiss on the top of her head. She felt three years old. “You know, they have some pretty good drugs for people with your condition. Have you considered taking some?”

  “Don’t even think of getting out of the car.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. You have my dog,” she muttered and folded her arms over her chest as he shut the car door with a laugh. At least her sunglasses hadn’t fallen off. Of course, Dr. Doofus hadn’t bothered to grab her jacket, so she was sitting there freezing her ass off in her thin black blouse and pants. The dork.

  He grinned, opened the driver’s side door and put Jerry in the back. The traitor settled in happily, waving his tail as Adrian petted him. Then Adrian got in behind the wheel and started the car.

  “Where are we going?”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. “My place.”

  “No.”

  “No what?”

  “No, I’m not going to your place.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Good. Take me back.”

  “Nope.”

  “Then what are you sorry for?”

  “For disappointing you. You are going to my place.”

  “Dr. Giordano,” she started to say.

  He put his hand over her mouth. “My name is Adrian.”

  “Mph rr hmph.”

  “What?” Adrian took his hand off her mouth.

  “Thank you.”

  “Uh, you’re welcome?”

  “Now take me back to the store.” She folded her arms across her chest again and glared at him, trying desperately not to shiver with cold. He noticed it anyway and put the heater on.

  “No.”

  “Now.”

  “No.”

  “I mean it!”

  “No.”

  She growled. She freaking growled at him. “Adrian.”

  “Sorry, mate, not happening, stop asking.” They pulled into a driveway. Just as he hit the garage door remote she opened her car door and got out, intent on walking back to Wallflowers. She’d only gotten about ten steps before he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

  He patted her butt soothingly as she growled at him.

  “Oh, no you don’t. I have your dog, remember?” The laughter in his voice merely caused her to snarl. She could feel her eyes turning red with aggravation.

  “Good morning, Dr. Giordano.”

  “Good morning, Mrs. Anderson.” She felt him lift a hand off her butt to wave at someone.

  “Isn’t that the newest Pride member?” the elderly lady asked in a scandalized whisper.

  “Yes, and she’s my mate,” Adrian whispered back with wicked humor.
>
  Sheri snarled again.

  “Oh, good for you! Welcome to the neighborhood, young lady!”

  “I’m being kidnapped against my will,” she called out calmly. One of them needed to remain sane.

  “That’s nice, dear. Have a good day.”

  She could feel him chuckling under her stomach and punched his ass as hard as she could. Double dork.

  “Ow.” The slap he landed on her butt stung like hell. “Stop that.”

  “Put me down!”

  “Just let me get the dog...there you go,” he said as Jerry got out of his car and fell into step beside him. He slammed the car door shut with his foot and carried her into the garage.

  She glared at her dog and considered making him cat chow. “I want to go back.”

  “Sorry, darlin’. No can do. Welcome home,” he purred as the garage door shut.

  “Your car is still outside,” she pointed out, her teeth chattering a little in the cold air.

  “But my mate is inside.” He ran his hand over her bottom. “Hmm, a thong? I love thongs.” He sighed happily.

  “Pig,” she muttered, amused despite herself.

  “Where you’re concerned? Oink oink.”

  She choked back an outraged laugh as he carried her into the house. He didn’t put her down until they reached the living room. She could see dark brown hardwood floors, the burnt sienna walls and the beige furniture with chocolate and burnt sienna patterned cushions on it. The coffee table was a carved piece of dark wood, but she couldn’t bring the carvings into focus. It looked so rich she longed to run her fingers over it and examine it more closely. She’d be able to see it if she got close enough, but she didn’t want him to know she was interested in anything in his house. His furniture was modern and comfortable. She found out how comfortable when he unceremoniously dumped her on the sofa. The fabric had the soft feel of velvet under her fingertips, which meant it was probably microfiber. She damn near purred as her hand stroked over it once, then twice before she remembered she was pissed. She decided to go on the attack.

  “You’re not my mate.”

  “Yes I am. Soda or juice?”

  She opened her mouth to reply juice, then shook her head in disgust. “I’m leaving now.”

  “Take one step towards that front door and you won’t sit down for a week,” he called back in the same cheerful tone of voice he’d used to ask her drink preferences.