Accidentally Catty

by Dakota Cassidy

  Shaw chuckled, following her up the stairs. “It’s the senior thing, right? A real turn-on, huh?”

  “If Teeny only knew, she’d be so jealous,” she said on a soft laugh, pulling him into her bedroom and closing the door with a flirty smile. She leaned back against the door and cocked her head. “So, Shaw Eaton. How are we feeling this evening?”

  His eyebrows wiggled when he sat at the edge of her bed and placed his hands on his thighs. “Oh, I dunno. It’s been a long day, and there’s always the chance I may have dislocated something.You know, being seventy has its brittle-bone disease issues.”

  Katie stripped off her jacket and began peeling the rest of her clothes off on her way to the bathroom. “I have a cure for those aching old bones,” she said over her naked shoulder.

  Shaw came up behind her, stealthy and soundless. He was naked, too, and pressing against her back, warm, solid, good. “You don’t want to talk anymore? Who are you? My Katie wants an explanation for everything.”

  She let her head fall back against his wide chest, her eyes sliding closed. His Katie . . . “What’s a four-letter word for quiet?”

  “Hush?”

  “Do that.” Right now, she just wanted to forget all her fears and leave all constraints for the security of his arms.

  Shaw spun her around and shook his head. “Not until we clear some things up.”

  She sighed, fighting to focus on his need to vent versus her nipples scraping against his delicious chest. “Okay. Clear away.”

  He planted a kiss on her nose, pressing her hips to his. “First, there is no other woman. I’ve avoided serious involvement most of my life with anyone due to my shifting. That’s not to say there haven’t been women, just no one serious. And in truth, for all this time, no one interested me enough to make me want to get serious.”

  So no sultry redhead that looked like Kate Winslet in his lakeside cottage making Yorkshire pudding for dinner? The gods had finally decided she was worthy. “I feel much better knowing I’ve not only not corrupted a child but that I’m not whoring around with someone else’s husband.” Relief was so swift, it made her knees weak. Shaw didn’t belong to anyone.

  “Second, I’m retired. Which means I can devote all of my time to you and the baby.” He placed a possessive hand over her belly, now sporting a small bump.

  “Retired?” Technically, that made sense. He was seventy. “What did you do for a living?”

  Shaw pursed lips she wanted to kiss, creating dimples she wanted to touch. “You’ll never believe it.”

  “A stripper? Oh, wait—Calvin Klein model. It’s those abs. They say it all.” She let her hand roam over them to prove it.

  “First half of my life, you know, back in the days of yore, I did burlesque. Sometimes a rousing cancan. I had great legs,” he teased, cupping her ass. “Second half, a veterinarian.”

  She gave him a playful slap on his shoulder. “Still with the funny.”

  “Nope. I’m not being funny. You remember that whole communicating-with-the-animals thing, right?”

  “Like I could forget. It was like stepping into a Stephen King book.”

  “Goes a long way toward a lucrative practice when you can actually ask the animal what’s ailing them. I love animals. I was a stray gatherer, too, much to Dad’s dismay.”

  “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

  “You were too busy telling me how much more qualified you were to talk to Daniel and trying to convince me you wanted to help me because it helps you.”

  She had waved the doctor stick at him. Her heart warmed again. She liked Shaw with his memory more and more. “And you retired? Why?” If not for George’s dirty dealing, she’d practice until her fingers fell off.

  “People tend to get suspicious when you’ve been around as long as I have and you look like you’re twenty when you’re really forty. You can only use the forty is the new twenty for so long. I obtained not one, but two degrees in veterinary medicine in my lifetime and created two different practices on opposite ends of the globe to keep practicing. I was in the process of considering school in Germany and opening a third practice there just after my father died. Until this happened, anyway.”

  “So we can talk shop?”

  “Do you want me to give you the first five steps to neutering as proof?”

  It explained why he’d been so distracted by the medicine cabinet in her examining room, though. “Not right now. We have other pressing matters,” she said on a flirty giggle, enveloping his thick shaft in her hands and running the length of it.

  “Just keep in mind who has two degrees in veterinary medicine. Know your place, woman.” He groaned against her lips.

  “You know,” she mused, her lips on fire from his nibbling, “this explains why the mob took to you right away. They’re a difficult trio to inspire so much love so quickly.”

  “It also explains why you took to me, too. We have medicallike things in common,” he said confidently, grinning down at her while he ran his knuckles along the underside of her breasts.

  Katie reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “So a veterinarian with no girlfriend and nothing but animals to talk to must make for a lonely Shaw.”

  “Oh, lonely seems a small word in comparison to my deeply wounded soul.” He chuckled, pressing his lips to hers. “Surely you can find something much bigger to explain the depth of my pain in your crossword arsenal.”

  “I’m all about healing wounded souls,” she said, pulling away from him to flip the shower fixtures on, letting the bathroom fill with steam. She stepped into the bathtub, feeling his dark presence behind her, and it lit a fire, wild and free, in her. Katie turned to him, allowing the water to cascade over her. “Any thoughts on what would help the healing process along? You know, specifics?”

  Shaw’s raven eyebrow rose, his smile deliciously naughty. He grabbed a bottle of her favorite lavender-and-thistle body gel, squirting it into his hands and soaping them up. “I can name a few,” he murmured, placing his hands on her hips and running them along her sides.

  Katie shivered at his darkly intense gaze and his hot hands, roaming over her skin but avoiding anything more intimate. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she stared back at him, her eyes held a challenge. “Name them,” she whispered, husky and thick.

  Shaw dragged her to him, scraping his soapy hands against the swell of her hips, pressing his hard shaft against her thigh. “Kneel,” he demanded, rough and hoarse.

  Katie slid down his body, letting her lips glide over his hard planes, nipping at each ridge of his abs, caressing his thick thighs with her mouth.

  Shaw adjusted the showerhead so the water fell behind her and reached for her shoulders. “Put me in your mouth, Katie. Do it now.”

  His forceful demand left her wet with desire. Her nipples beaded to tight nubs when she put her arms to his legs and pulled him to her mouth. Her first taste was light, exploratory, savoring the silky skin of his cock with her tongue.

  Shaw’s groan bounced off the walls, ringing in her ears and sending a shot of sharp pleasure up her spine.

  Her tongue whispered over his length, licking him in short stabs until he groaned again. She cupped his balls, using gentle fingers to knead them before taking his length fully into her mouth.

  His hiss was hot in reaction, thick and sweet to her ears.

  Katie drew on him deeply, pulling him into her mouth with a hard suction, then dragging her tongue over him again and again. He bucked his hips, gyrating against her, digging his hands into her slick hair, driving into her mouth until he gasped with a grating breath and hauled her upward.

  Shaw’s mouth met hers, hard, demanding, his tongue driving between her lips, parting them and stealing her breath.

  Katie clung to his shoulders, needy, the flesh of her most intimate parts swollen and aching. With powerful arms, he hoisted her up around his waist and climbed back out of the tub.

  Wet feet slapped against the tile floor and made th
eir way to the bedroom, where he dropped her to the bed and followed her, soaking wet.

  He had the ability to make her forget everything, soggy sheets be damned. Katie wanted nothing more than his hard cock ramming into her with thick molten-hot strokes.

  Yet Shaw drew back. “The baby,” he muttered, with thick words of concern, letting his fingers trail a path of flaming heat between her legs. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

  She lifted her hips in invitation, relishing the sweet feel of cool air when he spread her lips apart, caressing her clit. “The hell we shouldn’t.” She groaned.

  He took a nipple in his mouth, scraping his tongue over it. “I don’t want to hurt you or the baby.”

  Katie’s lower torso didn’t agree. “Couples make love all the time, even as late as a few days before delivery,” she gritted between clenched teeth, her heart full with his sweet, considerate words. “I promise you won’t hurt me, Shaw.” Her words came out as a plea for him to take her—now.

  Rolling her to her stomach, Shaw let his lips slide over her skin, celebrating each inch of her.

  Katie shivered at the wet trail he made with his mouth, gasping in anticipation when he lifted her hips and slid between her legs, letting his cock caress her clit. She reached between them, sliding her hands along his thick shaft, reveling in his hot moans.

  He placed a hand between her shoulder blades, rocking between her legs, heightening her need until she begged him to enter her.

  His entry was smooth and easy, making them both huff a harsh breath. Katie welcomed the invasion by spreading her legs wider, inviting him to drive more deeply. Scintillating slaps of flesh brought goose bumps to her flesh, rippling in waves of desire.

  Her arms stretched upward, her fingers clenching the wet sheets. She panted, luxuriating in the stretch of her flesh, Shaw filling her until she almost couldn’t bear to wait for climax.

  Yet he took her to a new level when his strokes eased, and his hands kneaded her ass. His thrusts were rhythmic and hot, his hands big and forceful when they moved to her hips and ground against her.

  The sharply sweet glide of his cock, the tightening of her belly could be denied no longer. Release was all she could think of, a driving force of need that wouldn’t be ignored.

  Shaw’s grunt bounced in her ears, a familiar sign his release was near.

  Katie strained upward, pushing against him until her knees ground into the bed, searching, needy for climax.

  Her orgasm clawed at her, slamming into her with such force, she lost her breath. The combination of Shaw’s sweet mutterings and his hot shaft in her drove her to madness. She thrashed upward, taking as much of him as she could, wanting him to consume every inch of her.

  Shaw’s breathing was rough and choppy when he fell forward on her, pressing her into the bed.

  Katie smiled through her efforts to take air into her lungs, reaching for Shaw’s hand and curling her fingers into it. She snuggled against him, a deep contentment, new and intoxicating, settling in her heart.

  Shaw stroked her hair and chuckled. “Not bad for seventy, eh? I must be diligent about taking my calcium pills.”

  Katie rolled to her side with a giggle.

  This.

  This was the time she most treasured with Shaw, when they were alone in the dark, talking about nothing, and basking in the glow of their lovemaking.

  If he went back to England, back to his life, she would miss this the most.

  Her heart began that strange longing for him, and he wasn’t even gone.

  But for tonight, she wouldn’t allow her dark thoughts to invade the utter bliss Shaw was bringing her in this moment.

  Not tonight.

  She gave him a playful poke. “Hey, Mr. All Caught Up in the Moment. Look what we did to the sheets.”

  He pulled her close, wet, cold sheets and all, barking a laugh. “Yeah, what kind of housekeeper are you, anyway? You’d better get on that.”

  Her grin against his chest was easy and unhindered by anything but the joy of being in his arms.

  If only they could stay just like this.

  If only.

  “MORNING, ladies,” Katie chirped to Wanda and Nina when she entered the kitchen. The warm smells of eggs frying made her stomach rumble. “Where is everyone?”

  Wanda turned from the stove with a welcome plate of hash and eggs. “Sit—I know you need to eat after all that, ahem, activity well into the wee hours of the morning last night.”

  Katie flushed a hot red.

  Nina cackled, her eyes on her BlackBerry. “Now don’t be embarrassed, Doc. We approve of you gettin’ yours. It’s empowering. Makes us proud of our little girl, right, Wanda?”

  Wanda swatted at her with the towel she had draped over her shoulder. “Shush.” She directed her gaze toward Katie. “Teeny’s still with Ingrid. They’re having a long breakfast in the next town over and might take in a movie. Kaih’s with them. Where’s our favorite kitty?”

  Katie flushed again. Last she’d taken a long savor-filled glance at him, he was spread-eagle on the bed, a slight snore lifting his chest. “Still sleeping,” she fairly cooed, fighting a stupid grin.

  Nina snorted. “Color me all sorts of surprised. Poor man must be delirious from all that wonking.”

  Wanda flicked Nina in the head. “Do I always have to play the role of your parent? Shut. Up. You’re embarrassing her.” And then she paused, narrowing her eyes. She peered at Nina’s phone. “What exactly are you doing?”

  Nina grinned. “Tweeting, tard.You said open an OOPS account to advertise. So I did.”

  Katie winced. If Nina’s customer care was anything like the care she’d received, Twitter was going to ban her in the time it took to press the spam button.

  Wanda snatched the phone from her and let out a sharp yelp while she scrolled upward. “For the love of sensitivity, Nina! You know, I’ve often wondered if maybe you don’t have ADHD. Why do you struggle so with the basic lessons of courtesy? Lessons I’ve all but beaten into your thick skull.”

  “Fuck you, Wanda. Dude was asking for it.”

  “Would you look at this?” Katie took a hesitant glance at the phone Wanda thrust in her face. She began to read the exchange and winced.

  livesbythesea @OOPS is your ad for realz? R u people serious?

  OOPS @livesbythesea as a fucking heart attack.

  livesbythesea @OOPS WTF does OOPS mean?

  OOPS @livesbythesea Out in the Open Paranormal Support.

  livesbythesea @OOPS ?

  OOPS @livesbythesea Can u read, tard?

  livesbythesea @OOPS Hoo shit. U mean like True Blood and vampires and shit?

  OOPS @livesbythesea WTF is True Blood and yeah. I’m a vampire.

  livesbythesea @OOPS Do you sparkle like the vampires in Twilight?

  OOPS @livesbythesea I only sparkle when I’m getting ready to kill an asshole.

  livesbythesea @OOPS Sr’sly? u really think u r a vampire and can help other vampires?

  OOPS @livesbythesea I don’t think. I KNOW.

  livesbythesea RT the crazy! @OOPS thinks she’s a vampire. LOLLOL!

  Ingridbelieves @livesbythesea Shut up, stupidhead! You wish you knew!

  OOPS @Ingridbelieves Back off, Braveheart. I got this.

  OOPS RT you’re fucking ball removal @ livesbythesea, you tard. Bet you should be @ liveswithhismotherinherbasement.

  TonylovesChachi @OOPS why so testy w/@livesbythesea? U have 2 admit telling people u r a vampire is whacked.

  OOPS @TonylovesChachi U have to admit, hanging out on Twitter on a Friday night is whacked. Bet Chachi has a date tonight, douche.

  “Nina!” Wanda slapped at her hands, shoving the BlackBerry into the pocket of her skirt with a scolding frown. “What have I told you about Twitter, Neanderzilla? We’re professionals. If someone is harassing you, block them, and stop involving Ingrid. The poor child’s a neurotic mess because of you. How can we possibly expect to be taken seriously if you allow them to rile you? Ignore
them, Mouthy McMouth! You are officially retired from the OOPS Twitter account, and that means Facebook, too!”

  Nina rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’m going back to bed. After all that screeching from the two of you last night and my hours all fucked up, I need sleep.” She stomped off toward the staircase and disappeared in a flash.

  Katie was grateful when her cell phone rang. She made a dash to her purse to dig it out, cocking her head when she saw it was Ingrid.

  “Ingrid?”

  “Heeeey, Doc! How’s it going?”

  “Okay. How’s everything with you?”

  “Little problem.”

  “Has Teeny beaten someone up? Lost her teeth?” Again. There was nothing like digging for Teeny’s teeth in the Dumpster in the back of the Curl Up and Dye where she regularly found what she liked to call her “treasures.”

  Ingrid’s laugh was shaky, which struck Katie as odd. “No. Teeny’s fine. We broke down on the side of the road on the way back from the movies. My stupid car, you know. I should have never listened to Earl Hornsby when he said she was as good as new.”

  Ah. That explained the shaky in her tone. Ingrid and even a small crisis didn’t go hand in hand. “I’ll come get you. Where are you?”

  “Over in Wainsburg—way out in the middle of noooowhere. Do you remember where the old train tracks are?You know, by the abandoned warehouse?”

  Katie nodded to herself with a fond smile. When she’d learned to drive, that location had once been her favorite place to find strays. For some reason, it was a dropping off point to anyone who no longer wanted their animals. “I do. I’m on my way. Hang tight. I’m about thirty-five minutes out, okay?”