A Game of Cat & Mouse

by Astrid Cielo

  scratched his shoulders, and his thrusts became more and more forceful. Miranda could feel her pleasure start to climb again, but it was elusive, standing on the sidelines as if waiting.

  “Caleb!”

  Unable to stand it any longer, Miranda lifted her head and bit down on her reserved spot, the coppery taste of blood coating her tongue. Caleb released his hold on her shoulder to release a long feline hiss. Miranda could feel her soul reach for his, begging him to become part of her.

  Caleb didn’t let her wait long as his teeth sank deep. Miranda screamed as the white-hot pain became searing pleasure.

  Caleb’s hips began to piston, each

  movement more forceful than the last.

  The culmination that had once stood out of her reach broke through as their souls melded, becoming one. It was just as her mother had told her it would be. One second it’s like nothing is missing and then the next a feeling of completeness so sublime washed over her, making her wonder how she’d ever lived before.

  Miranda cried out in fulfillment and could feel Caleb bathing her channel in his seed as he too reached climax.

  Caleb released her shoulder and licked at the mark he’d created. She moaned as each lick sent shards of pleasure through her core. Caleb searched her eyes, a mix of worry and happiness shining in their golden brown depths. “What’s wrong, Caleb?” She could not fathom anything being wrong, but something was bothering him.

  “Was I too rough?”

  Miranda giggled and kissed his lips.

  Caleb still looked worried. Miranda sighed.

  “I believe I’ll be sore tomorrow, but the good kind of sore.” Caleb eased himself from her thighs, and Miranda hissed at the feel of him sliding over her sensitive flesh.

  Caleb went to the bathroom and

  returned with a washcloth he used to wash her gently before climbing into the bed with the strawberries and whipped cream.

  He lay beside her and decorated one strawberry with whipped cream before offering it to her. Miranda ate the offered fruit and giggled when he lapped at the juice that ran down her chin.

  Later, after Caleb cleaned up the

  strawberries and whipped cream, Miranda snuggled deep into his embrace and

  couldn’t think of a happier time.

  “I love you,” Miranda whispered as she traced the mark she’d made on his

  shoulder.

  Caleb kissed her forehead and said, “I love you, too.”

  ***

  Aspen lay in bed, her thoughts jumbled with the need to be with her mate and hurt over him denying her. Anger sparked when she thought of the way he’d made love to her. No, that hadn’t been making love; it’d been just fucking. How could he deny the pull that she knew he felt?

  A tear slipped down her cheek. She didn’t care that he was a wolf; her cougar begged for him. Aspen couldn’t stand living in the same town with him, having him so close but so out of reach. So, she’d packed up, left, and hoped her old pride would welcome her back.

  Seeing the love that Caleb and Miranda shared only made Aspen lonelier and she wished for the same thing they shared.

  Aspen curled into a ball and allowed herself to cry. She always found slumber after crying herself to sleep. Not that it was comforting since she dreamed only of him.

  ***

  Brenna couldn’t believe she’d not read the Governing Laws of the Pride sooner. If she had, then she could have saved herself a lot of headache.

  When Zackary delivered the message

  that Caleb wanted a pride meeting, Brenna knew that he would be officially introducing that bitch Miranda as his mate. However, equipped with knowledge such as this, Brenna was sure that Miranda wouldn’t walk away in one piece, let alone be alpha female.

  Brenna poured herself another drink to celebrate her impending alpha status.

  Because, not only would she be alpha female, she would eradicate Caleb and become the pride alpha. Nothing would stand in her way, especially not one tiny little mouse.

  Chapter 14

  Caleb woke with Miranda’s buttocks

  pressed against his hard shaft. He traced the bite mark that marred her otherwise perfect skin, declaring to the world that she belonged to him. She moaned in her sleep and arched her back, rubbing her glorious backside against his hardened shaft.

  Caleb wanted to take Miranda with

  every fiber of his being, but a part of him knew that she would be sore today,

  especially after his rough treatment last night. But when she’d bitten him to stake her claim, he’d lost control. For a man who almost never lost control, it was a heady experience to be a slave to his desire for her. She didn’t shirk away, though. No, his little mouse had scratched and begged for more.

  Caleb trailed the hand that curled

  around her waist down to the apex of her thighs and tunneled through the curls guarding her femininity. Caleb parted folds, delighted to find her already wet.

  Dipping his fingers into her core, he teased her sensitive tissues with his fingers before pulling them free to suck her juices.

  Delicious.

  Easing from behind her, he rolled

  Miranda to her back and parted her thighs.

  Her curls glistened in arousal and still she slept, the occasional sigh escaping her lips. He settled himself comfortably between her thighs and took in her pale pink flesh, flushed from arousal. Whatever she was dreaming, the images were

  making Miranda hot and bothered. Her core clenched as if asking to be filled.

  Over the next few months, they would need to make love often to reaffirm the bond that they’d formed last night. It was common for a newly mated couple to feel the need for frequent lovemaking for the first few years. At this moment, Caleb couldn’t think of a time when he would decline a chance to make love to this woman.

  Caleb nipped the insides of both thighs before taking a quick swipe from core to her tiny nubbin of pleasure. Miranda mewled in her sleep and lifted her hips.

  Caleb sucked on her nether lips before turning his attention to her clit. He let his tongue take small jabs at her clit before circling it gently. Hands tunneled into his hair, and her hips moved more insistently.

  Miranda’s folds glistened with the arousal that leaked from her core. Caleb gathered more of her juices with his tongue.

  “Oh, Caleb.”

  Miranda cried out as he sucked the little nubbin between his lips before releasing it completely to look up into the passion-filled eyes he loved. Miranda regarded him with half-masted eyes, her face carrying a flush similar to her aroused feminine flesh.

  Caleb returned to his morning torment, stiffening his tongue and fucking her like he wanted to with his hard-as-steel cock.

  Going in and out of her sheath, his tongue took teasing forays into her depths.

  Miranda’s breath came in quick pants, her back arching off the mattress.

  “Caleb, I need you inside me, now!”

  Miranda’s desperate screech echoed

  throughout the bedroom, and Caleb

  paused his ministrations.

  “Baby, you’re too sore.”

  “Please, Caleb! Please, I’m not!”

  Caleb petted her stomach in an attempt to soothe her. “Shh, sweetheart.”

  Caleb moved up her body, resting

  himself between her thighs. She

  immediately used her legs to trap him against her, her mound rubbing against his steely erection. Caleb clenched his teeth as he fought for control to keep from slamming home. Her nearly mindless litany of please echoed through his mind, her urge to validate the mating bond riding her hard.

  Caleb cupped her cheek and placed

  gentle kisses along her jaw, neck, and cheeks. Slowly she calmed, her pleading dying away and her passion-clouded mind clearing enough that she released her steely hold on his hips.

  “That’s right, baby. I’ll take care of you, but I won’t hurt you.”

  Caleb took her mout
h, striving for slow and gentle. His tongue took lazy forays into her mouth, and his hands petted her flesh gently. Miranda’s hands gentled and smoothed over the skin of his back and ass. She was with him now, her touch whisper soft over his flesh. Caleb rained kisses down her jaw to her neck, paying special attention to her mating mark.

  Miranda gasped and released a small mewling sound as his teeth scraped over the mark before he switched his attention to her breasts. Caleb carefully laved each nipple since they were still reddened from last night’s lovemaking. She still hissed from his gentle lapping. Leaving her nipples, he sucked on the tops of her breasts, pleased when he left small love bites that further proclaimed his

  ownership.

  Miranda’s hips undulated in time with each of his suctioned pulls, and her arousal coated his shaft. Praying for control, Caleb pulled back and aligned himself with her dripping sheath. Her heat bathed him in pleasure so intense it was nearly over before it started. Caleb slowly sank into her core, delighting in the feel of her inner muscles clenching and releasing

  rhythmically, announcing her impending orgasm. She was close, and it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge.

  Caleb released his pent-up breath as he bottomed out within her channel.

  Miranda’s legs wrapped around his waist, and she lifted her hips, impaling herself farther. Her nails scored his shoulders, and she moaned long and low. Caleb captured her lips, using his mouth to set the pace –soft and slow. He pulled back slowly and entered just as slowly and gently. Miranda calmed to his pace, dueling with his tongue at his set pace.

  He made slow, sweet love to her,

  basking in the feel of her clasped around him, their melded scents, and the flushed state of her normally pale skin. Miranda cried out as her vaginal muscles strangled his cock, and he joined her in bliss. His teeth broke through her skin at the same moment he felt her teeth clamp on his own mating mark. Their souls twined more securely as they shared their intimate moment.

  Caleb released Miranda and whispered, “I love you.”

  Miranda licked at his mark before she returned her love to him. Caleb was humbled that he’d claimed such a woman.

  He felt that fate truly had blessed him with Miranda.

  ***

  Miranda placed the biscuits in the oven, squealing when a familiar set of hands pinched her ass. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the course of a few days. It amazed her at how she’d become a slave to the mating call. Almost a week ago, she’d stood in her rental home stirring oatmeal in her small kitchen. Now she stood in a new kitchen with the man of her dreams feeling her up. Life was good!

  The knock on the door intruded on their groping session, and soon her mother’s voice floated to Miranda’s ears. Miranda turned off the stove and dished plates for everyone. Miranda’s mother nearly

  knocked her over when she tackled her in a hug. Caleb clasped them both before Miranda hit the ground.

  “Don’t injure the girl, Emma,” her father said.

  “My baby’s mated!” Emma released

  Miranda and caught Caleb in a mouse’s imitation of a bear hug. Caleb looked at Miranda as if imploring her for help. Blake and Miranda laughed in unison at Emma’s antics.

  “I have a new son! Now when is the wedding? I’ve been itching to plan a wedding since Cassie was born, and then she decided against a wedding.” Emma’s voice changed to a near-perfect imitation of Cassie’s when she continued with her tirade, “Who needs a wedding, Mom?

  We’re already mated.”

  Miranda looked to her father, and he just shrugged. Miranda mentally shrugged as she accepted the fact she would have a wedding planned by Emma Sullivan,

  whether or not she planned to do so in the first place.

  “Come on, Mom. Let’s eat before my hard work gets cold,” Miranda stated, drawing her excited mother away from her new mate. Miranda smiled at the thought of her mate. The way he touched her and the way he made love to her.

  “Miranda, I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night, but today I’m presenting you to the pride as my mate and alpha female. I believe Zackary said he planned for it to begin around noon.” Caleb pulled Miranda from her naughty thoughts of last night. She could feel her face heat from embarrassment.

  “Zackary does a lot of stuff for the pride. What exactly is his position in the pride?” Miranda was truly curious. So far, Zackary had directed her parents to Caleb’s house, organized a meeting, and organized the search party for Gunner. Certainly, he had a position within the pride.

  “Actually, he doesn’t have a particular position. Our governing doctrine doesn’t set aside any certain member of the pride except for alpha and alpha female.”

  “Okay, but don’t the wolves have other positions within their pack? It would only make sense that the pride did the same, especially since Zackary is already doing the job.”

  “Well, we can always address that at the meeting today. I also have another task to see to while we are at the meeting. You know what Gunner said yesterday. The only people who could possibly have taken him and hid him within the mine would be pride members. At least that’s what I am assuming. I was wondering if you think you can sniff out the supposed culprit.

  Something hasn’t felt right since you were adamant of Gunner’s innocence. I’d hate for it to be true, but something’s going on, and I intend to stop it.”

  Miranda agreed. Something just didn’t feel right. Of course, they had focused on themselves for the past few days, leaving the pride to fend for itself. Was that a quality of a good leader? Was she a good choice for such a position? Miranda had never really led anyone in her life. She didn’t count the times she’d been line leader in kindergarten, although if she did, it would mean she’d preformed in a

  leadership capacity a total of three times.

  “Caleb, do you really think I should be the alpha female? I mean just because I’m your mate doesn’t mean I’m qualified to be a leader.”

  Caleb looked at her as if she’d lost her head. These are valid points!

  “You are my mate. Of course you’ll be a good alpha female.”

  “I believe she’s worried that she isn’t leadership material, Caleb,” her mother said.

  Her usually quiet father added, “It’s a valid worry. Along the same lines as becoming a parent, I think. I’m not sure there is a way to know when one is ready.

  You have to be placed in that position and sink or swim. You can’t determine if you’ll succeed or fail until you try, Miranda.

  “Caleb sighed, and his shoulders slumped.

  “Miranda, I was lost and without purpose after my parents passed. I was raised to take over the pride. My father lectured me daily on how to lead, but when the pride needed me most, I was too wrapped up in my own grief to lead them. They’ve taken care of me for too long. I need you, Miranda. Do you want to know what my father told me?”

  Miranda nodded, her heart breaking at the sadness that saturated his every word.

  Maybe he would finally face his parents’

  deaths, move on, and become the alpha that this pride needed.

  “My father said that leaders are not always the strongest or most intelligent.

  They are the ones who care the most and have the focus to take their followers where they need to go. I’ve let my pride down, but I won’t do that anymore.

  Miranda, you are the most kind,

  compassionate, and caring person I know, and you do all of those things with a passion that I admire and love. So, in the few days you’ve been here, you have exhibited true leadership.”

  Miranda couldn’t stop the tear that rolled down her cheek. His words bolstered her confidence and touched the heart that belonged to him completely. Her father gave Caleb a nod. Her father approved, and while she wouldn’t give Caleb up for anything in the world, it meant a lot that Blake Sullivan approved of him. He didn’t approve of many people.

  The conversation floated around
her as she contemplated her readiness for being the alpha female. Oh, boy! This is going to be interesting.

  Chapter 15

  Essence placed the bowl of cereal in front of Gunner and watched as her hungry kitten ate. She couldn’t believe how much Gunner had grown in three years. She still remembered vividly when she’d discovered her pregnancy. Her first reaction had been horror. How could she possibly bring a child into a home with such a hostile environment? Hell, look at what it’d done to Zackary!

  Despite his six foot two muscular frame, her brother was nothing more than a kitten, when he could be as ferocious as any cougar. She’d seen the way he had allowed those kids to pick on him in school. Despite his outgoing demeanor, people often saw him as a geek due to his intelligence and love of all things computer related. Maybe going to college would do him some good.

  Essence couldn’t help but feel

  responsible for how Zackary turned out.

  She hadn’t expected to fall in love and couldn’t believe it would be with someone other than her true mate. However, she’d been young and stupid. She just hoped that Gunner wouldn’t pay for her mistakes.

  He was such a sweet boy. She couldn’t let him grow up to be like his father.

  Essence still had nightmares about the beatings, and she knew Zackary was

  ashamed he couldn’t defend his sister.

  When she found out she was pregnant, Essence ran and took Zackary with her.

  Their parents were dead, and she was not able to pay for their next meal, let alone support a child. She was grateful for Caleb’s father and mother, who’d taken them in and arranged a home and job for her. They never went hungry with the alpha ensuring they ate.

  Now three years later, things didn’t look so bleak. She had a job, and she hoped Zackary would make something better of himself. He was a smart kid.

  “Mama, wanna go see Miwanda,”

  Gunner said around a mouth full of cereal.

  “Gunner, don’t talk with your mouth full.”

  Essence almost laughed when her little kitten spit his cereal back in the bowl and repeated his earlier statement. She couldn’t scold him for spitting in his bowl when he’d heeded her first admonishment.