A Game of Cat & Mouse

by Astrid Cielo

  sandwich on the end table beside her and drank the milk. It was cool and slid down her throat in a soothing manner. She tasted a hint of something in there that had her smacking her lips together.

  “It’s the vanilla and honey,” Essence said. “Your brother is very sweet,” Aspen commented, confused by the sad look that crossed Essence’s face. Deciding not to delve, considering her own luck and current position, she turned back to Miranda and Caleb. “What is the plan?”

  Having someone else’s problems to deal with would help her to forget her own predicament – at least she hoped so.

  Miranda worried her bottom lip as she sat in the chair with Gunner. Caleb’s eyes glowed in the dim lighting of his living room, and Aspen knew he barely

  maintained control over his feline side.

  Someone had threatened his mate, and his cougar was itching to dispose of such a threat. Only this time he couldn’t, and Aspen was sure that made this even worse for him.

  “We don’t really have one yet,” Caleb said.

  “I thought we were taking notes from this,” Zackary said, pointing at the cartoon.

  “You can’t be serious!” Aspen couldn’t help the tone of incredulity that saturated every word. Zackary looked taken aback.

  He was serious. “How is watching this cartoon going to help?”

  “Well, can you think of something better for her to see before she practices against some real life cougars? I mean the little mouse on there has some serious skills at tricking the big kitty. Come on, at least give it a try.”

  Aspen sat back and let her head rest on the back of the couch. Zackary was right.

  What did they have to lose?

  Aspen opened her eyes and watched

  Miranda place Gunner on the floor, the kitten emitting a distressed chirping sound, and walk to her mate. She hugged the tense Caleb around the waist, and he enveloped her in his arms.

  “I don’t want to lose you. I won’t survive it,” Caleb said, kissing her forehead.

  Aspen sighed as she envisioned her own mate doing the same but ruthlessly pushed the image away. She discreetly wiped a tear from her eye and made an excuse about using the restroom. She tugged the IV pole with her.

  Aspen collapsed on the toilet and held her hand over her mouth to silence her sobs. She jumped at the knock on the door. It opened before she could compose herself, and she found concerned hazel eyes regarding her.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Essence’s voice was quiet, her eyes full of understanding. Did she want to talk about it? She wasn’t sure she was ready to face it yet.

  “I see. I’ll be here when you need me. I promise, though, that when the baby is here, nothing else will matter but that little one’s safety.”

  Shadows passed across Essence’s face as if she remembered her past, and it wasn’t something pleasant. Essence squeezed the IV bag then looked at her.

  “You need to compose yourself. The bag is almost empty, and Saul will need to change it.”

  Aspen nodded at Essence and splashed cool water on her face. She had to be strong. In a matter of months, she would be responsible for not only herself but also for her child – mate or no mate.

  Aspen rejoined everyone in the living room and was startled to find little Gunner chasing Miranda in mouse form.

  “Gunner, the object is to catch her, but not to hurt her. Don’t hurt Miranda, okay?” Gunner meowed and nodded at his mother before readying for a pounce.

  Saul startled Aspen when he grasped her arm. “It’s okay. I’m going to take your IV

  out. Are you still nauseated? If so, I can probably ask Teresa if we can give you something for it.” Aspen shook her head.

  The nausea had passed leaving an

  overwhelming sense of loss in its place.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Saul opened his mouth, but then shook his head. Aspen knew it was stupid to hold on to the lie that everything was just peachy, but the healthy thing seemed too hard to do.

  Saul pulled out a bottle of pills and a card handing them to her. “All right.

  Teresa wants you to take these daily and to make an appointment with an OB/GYN.

  If you have any questions, then you know where to find us. Oh, and she

  recommends this OB/GYN because she’s a shifter also. I hope you feel better, Aspen.”

  “Thanks, Saul. Please tell Teresa that I appreciate this.”

  Saul smiled and said his farewells to Caleb and Miranda before leaving. Aspen felt better physically. Now if only there were a bag of fluids to heal her broken heart and soul.

  Chapter 18

  Miranda groaned as she fell face first onto the bed. Every muscle screamed in protest from her practice drills with various members of the pride. Day one down and two more to go, she thought miserably.

  Somehow, Zackary had worked his magic and negotiated another day, giving

  Miranda three full days of practice before she had to face Brenna.

  The challenge would be held on Sunday, and if she survived, she began teaching the next day. Miranda wasn’t actually sure which part scared her more, the fight or teaching.

  Meanwhile, Caleb was working her

  hard. She understood his dilemma. Torn between protecting her and being the alpha, he struggled with allowing this challenge to happen. However, laws were laws. Aspen was convinced that Brenna was up to something. That might have been the case, but there was no evidence supporting that fact. Whatever Brenna’s endgame, the fact remained that Miranda would be forced to fight her.

  Hands removed her shoes and socks

  before they massaged her insteps one foot at a time. Miranda groaned at the mix of pain and pleasure as the strong hands coaxed her tired muscles into relaxing.

  She was turned gently to her back, and her mate’s golden brown gaze took her breath away.

  “Come on and we’ll take a quick

  shower.”

  Caleb turned, and she stared at his already naked body retreating, giving her the perfect glimpse of his muscular buttocks. Miranda licked her dry lips and attempted to sit up, the idea of showering with Caleb too tempting to resist. She groaned and lay back on the bed at the protesting of her muscles. Just a little rest then she would join her mate.

  Miranda jumped when hands began to

  undress her, easing her pants from her hips.

  “Shh, sweetheart, it’s just me,” Caleb soothed.

  Miranda lifted her hips to help him remove her pants and accepted his hands to pull her in a sitting position to remove her shirt. She could feel her folds moisten as she inhaled his scent deep, and judging by the erection he sported, he wanted her also.

  Caleb picked Miranda up, carried her into the bathroom, and placed her in the shower stall. Miranda looked longingly at the big claw tub sitting in the center of the bathroom, and Caleb chuckled.

  “I’ve got plans Miranda, and they involve a very brief shower.”

  Within minutes, he had her clean. She watched the soapsuds coat his defined musculature and wished it were her

  dancing over each of them. Miranda reached out to touch him, and he grabbed her hand to stop her. She whimpered, her body begging to touch his. She looked up into his golden brown eyes, and he bent down to place a chaste kiss on her lips.

  She ached for him to take her mouth, his tongue dueling with hers. She longed to run her hands over his back, her nails scoring his shoulders as he thrust in and out of her swollen core.

  Caleb turned off the shower and dried her off. Miranda thought she would burst into flames to have his hands so close to her skin yet have a barrier between them.

  Caleb picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom where he deposited her

  gently on the mattress. She watched as he went back into the bathroom, only to emerge with a bottle.

  “What’s that?”

  “You’ll see. Turn over onto your

  stomach.”

  Miranda licked he
r lips and looked down at his straining erection, her tongue wishing for a taste of the arousal leaking from its tip. Instead she turned over as he demanded, presenting her naked back and buttocks.

  Miranda moaned at the feel of the warm liquid he poured over her back. Oil, her mind supplied as the sweet fragrance of flowers hit her nose.

  “Hmmm, that smells nice. What is it?”

  “Catnip and patchouli oil. It’s one of Evelyn’s creations. Winston sells it in his store.” Caleb’s hands smoothed over her back, rubbing in the oil and massaging her overworked muscles. He climbed onto the bed and sat straddling her legs, his hard cock bumping into her ass cheeks with each upward sweep of his hands. Miranda arched her buttocks into his shaft and yelped when his hand came down with a loud pop echoing through the room.

  Miranda gasped, a part of her outraged that he would spank her like a child and the other aroused at the avenues this opened to them.

  “Behave, Miranda. I’m trying to rub out your muscles, sweetheart. I can’t

  concentrate with you rubbing your perfect ass all over my dick.”

  He resumed rubbing oil over her back and sides. Her body screamed for him to take her. All she had to do was lift her ass high in the air, and he could sink deep.

  Her mind worked overtime, and each swipe of his hand gave her an erotic vision of him taking her. Erotic images of Caleb’s cock sinking deep into her aching core while she was bent over the table in the kitchen or him lapping at her clit while she lay spread on the bed floated through her mind. Her sucking his cock deep within her mouth and swallowing as his semen shot down her throat, her hair gripped in his hands.

  Him pounding into her dripping wet pussy while he held her against the shower wall, the warm water beating at his back. It was too much.

  Miranda whimpered and rolled her hips, seeking pressure on her clit. Caleb’s hand smacked down on her buttocks before smoothing oil into her ass cheeks.

  “Caleb!”

  She needed him to take her, to fuck her. Miranda stilled. This wasn’t like her.

  Was it? She’d never been mated before, but over the past few days, she’d never been this needy, this wanton. Except for the first night when the mating heat had gripped her. It couldn’t be. Miranda gasped.

  “I’m in heat!”

  Not the mating heat that hit all shifters upon meeting their mate, which was

  probably designed as a way to ensure they mated quickly, but she was now fertile.

  Caleb’s ministrations did not stop as he reached her feet to coat them with the oil.

  When he finished with her back, he rolled her over, granting him access to her front.

  He poured the oil in a line from the small indention at the base of her throat to the top of her mound. Miranda’s nipples beaded at the thought of his hands rubbing the oil over her breasts. He didn’t start there though. He massaged her feet again, digging into the arch and making her groan aloud in pleasure. He slowly massaged his way up her calves and thighs before bypassing the place begging for his touch.

  She watched as he dipped his head

  toward her mound, and her womb clenched in anticipation. She spread her legs farther apart, enticing him with a glimpse of her soaking-wet folds. She smiled at his growl. He leaned closer, and his warm breath fanned over her sensitive tissues.

  She moaned and lifted her hips toward his mouth. She wanted his mouth on her, wanted his tongue to ease her ache.

  Miranda groaned in frustration as Caleb left her mound to rub the oil along her abdomen, teasing the undersides of her breasts.

  “Have I told you how beautiful you are, Miranda?”

  Miranda nodded as Caleb bypassed her breasts to rub the fragrant oil along her shoulders and arms, her mind more on the demands of her body than his words.

  Caleb cupped her cheek and brought her eyes to his. He placed his forehead on hers and stared into her eyes.

  “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m the luckiest man to have you as my mate. I love you, Miranda. I don’t want to lose you.”

  The strength of those words, though whispered, resonated through Miranda’s soul. It brought her back to her beloved mate from the haze of lust that gripped her. Though she still wanted him with every fiber of her being, knew that she loved him, his words had made this that much sweeter.

  Miranda traced Caleb’s lips, her eyes never leaving his piercing golden brown gaze.

  “I love you, Caleb, with everything that I am. You won’t lose me, love. I promise.”

  She would have to train twice as hard to keep her promise. He smiled, but it did not completely reach his eyes. He was worried. She knew he’d been upset since the challenge had been made yesterday, but how could she reassure him that everything would work out just fine? She wasn’t sure that it would.

  Caleb leaned back and resumed his

  massage, this time focusing on her

  breasts. Miranda remembered their

  mating night when he’d brought her to completion just by touching her breasts.

  His thumbs rubbed over her pebbled

  nipples, and she bit her lip as pleasure streaked through her. He massaged her entire breast, taking turns blowing hot breath over each nipple. She fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him closer to her breasts, begging wordlessly for him to suckle. He finally covered one nipple with his mouth and sucked deep. Miranda cried out as she arched off the mattress. His wicked mouth moved back and forth,

  sucking her hard nipples into his sinful mouth.

  “Caleb, please fuck me!” Caleb’s head popped up, and his eyes widened in

  surprise. Miranda could feel her cheeks heating from her unusual outburst. “I’m in heat.”

  His eyes widened farther before he

  crushed her lips with his, his tongue taking advantage of her surprised gasp to delve within her mouth. He eased himself within the cradle of her hips and teased her clit with his impressive shaft. Miranda arched her hips into him, craving the delicious pressure his shaft gave as it rubbed against her pussy.

  Caleb pulled away to whisper in her ear, “Hands and knees, baby.”

  His tone was gruff, and when she saw his eyes, they glowed. Miranda nipped his lip before doing as he requested. She looked over her shoulder to watch him stare at her bottom. He caressed the globes of her ass before squeezing them gently and then let his hands travel up her back. He pressed gently on her shoulders, and she lowered her face to the mattress when she understood what he wanted.

  She felt his breath on her mound an instant before his tongue darted out to taste her clit. Then he was like a man lost in the desert thirsting for water as he suckled, lapped, and teased her folds.

  Miranda couldn’t contain her cries of pleasure as they spilled from her lips. She was so close to the edge when he

  stopped. Miranda whimpered, and Caleb smoothed his hands over her body. He aligned his body to hers, ready to plunge deep within her depths, and crouched over her.

  Miranda felt the heat of his breath bathe her neck and tilted her head to the side to give him better access. Caleb teased the mating bite, and Miranda groaned as her vaginal walls clamped the head of his cock.

  “Caleb, please,” she moaned in between her panting breaths.

  Caleb growled low in his throat before clamping his teeth around the mating bite.

  Miranda sighed in contentment at the feeling of completeness such a primitive act caused. His tongue lapped at her skin.

  Miranda screamed out her pleasure as he sank within her depths in one swift stroke, burying himself to the hilt, his balls slapping her clit. He growled again before he began to move, his drives hard and fast. The crescendo was fast in coming, and she opened her mouth to a silent scream as her vaginal walls clamped ruthlessly on his still-pistoning shaft. His bite deepened, and his thrusts became faster and harder.

  Barely over the first orgasm, Miranda stiffened as a second, more powerful climax overwhelmed her senses. She became boneless, and
only his hands kept her hips high enough for him to continue his demanding thrusts. Thinking she was through, Miranda allowed Caleb to hold her as he continued to slam in and out of her flesh, small contractions still causing her to clamp down rhythmically on his dick.

  Miranda’s eyes widened when he pierced her skin and a wave of pleasure overtook her. She stiffened and he plunged deep and held as his seed bathed her vaginal walls during their third powerful climax.

  Then she knew nothing as darkness crept over her.

  ***

  Caleb cried out as Miranda’s vaginal

  muscles continued to squeeze his cock, milking him of his seed. Caleb released his hold on the mating bite and lapped at it with his tongue. He collapsed to the side, pulling her with him. He never wanted to leave her body. Caleb turned her head to look into her beautiful brown eyes and was shocked to find her unconscious. Caleb reluctantly separated himself from her and shook her. She didn’t come around.

  Panicked he called her name and was relieved to see her eyes flutter open.

  “What happened?” Miranda asked with a soft smile.

  “I guess I loved you to the point of unconsciousness.”

  Caleb settled beside her, pillowing her head on his bicep. He bent down and leisurely kissed her lips while inside he preened at his prowess. He’d pleasured his mate enough for her to pass out.

  Making love to his mate calmed his cougar, reminding it that nothing immediate threatened its mate. He was still worried about the upcoming challenge, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think of how to avoid the challenge altogether. He was certain Miranda would be upset if he did.

  He released her lips to pull her close. He let his fingertips caress her arms, captivated by the smoothness of her skin.

  “I’m scared, Caleb.”

  Her voice came out as little more than a whisper, but the desperation he heard broke his heart. What could he say? She needed his comfort and reassurance, but he was scared too. He wasn’t sure what to do.

  “I believe in you, baby.”

  Miranda hugged him closer as if to seek comfort. He held her close, his mind working for a solution. He was caught in a difficult situation, and he wasn’t sure he could find a way out. Looking down at his mate, he made his decision. It wasn’t easy, and he was sure his father would be disappointed. Caleb didn’t care because if something were to happen to his Miranda he wouldn’t survive it.