My Cat Burglar

by Shelley Munro

  “My parents died in a fire last year. My father got Ramsay and me out before going back for my mother. They died,” she whispered, her eyes haunted and much too old for a feline of her age. “We were in foster care. It…” She trailed off, her attention centered on her clasped hands.

  Emily patted her arm. “A foster home can’t have been easy for you and Ramsay.”

  “Did they hurt you?” Gavin asked, his meaning clear from the tone.

  Bright color flushed Terry’s face before receding to leave it ghostly pale. “No! No, nothing like that. They were kind but never understood our need to be outside. We couldn’t shift. We couldn’t talk to them—well, it’s not a good idea to tell people. Confinement made us miserable, so we ran away.”

  “So you’re telling me you people are like that kid,” Charlie said.

  Jonno couldn’t restrain his grin. He’d wondered if the cop would get over his shock and ask questions.

  “You knew?” Charlie demanded, turning his attention to Laura.

  Laura frowned, raking a piece of hair off her face in impatience. “Yes. Does it matter? They’re decent people who contribute more to our community than most ever will. Is it such a hardship to work with them? By all accounts they’ve lived here for a long time with no serious crimes. Do you need to tell people what you’ve learned?”

  Jonno knew the exact moment Charlie realized his vulnerability. His face paled. To his credit, the cop held his ground, remaining in his seat next to him.

  “I want to know what’s going on so I can do my job. Both Laura and I need to do our jobs to protect the citizens of Middlemarch. I guess it doesn’t matter what…um…race you belong to,” Charlie said, straightening his shoulders.

  Emily clapped. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled. I need to get Terry into bed before she falls asleep at the table. You’ll be in the bedroom right next to Ramsay so if he needs you during the night you’ll be handy. We’ll check on him before you go to bed.” She stood, ready to usher Terry from the kitchen.

  “No, just a sec,” Laura said. “Terry, where is the rest of the gang? I want to know where they are now.”

  Terry’s gaze darted left and right, then hit the floor. “Dunno.”

  Laura stood and approached the girl. “You must know where they are.”

  “I don’t. They left us,” the girl snapped tearfully.

  “I don’t believe you. It’s not too late to lock you up,” Laura threatened.

  “They left us, I tell you. They didn’t tell me where they were going. They left.”

  “Ramsey’s friends left him, left you?”

  “Yes!”

  Laura frowned at Charlie, and he shrugged. Emily directed a sobbing Terry from the kitchen.

  Jonno frowned after them. “Our cue to leave.”

  “No wait.” Saber halted their departure. “You don’t believe her.”

  “I’m not sure,” Laura said. “Her body language says lie.”

  “I agree,” Saber said. “If it’s not a lie, she’s bending the truth. We have to decide if we’re going ahead with the plan.”

  “There are other people involved in the thefts. We found footprints.” Laura glanced at Charlie. “She must know where they’ve gone. Can we question the boy?”

  Saber’s brow furrowed. “Not tonight. Maybe in the morning. I’d like to keep to the plan.”

  Charlie glanced around the table. “If the kids are here and get word to the gang, telling them they can get the thieves inside the house without difficulty, I think we’d have the perfect trap.”

  “I hate using the kids in that manner,” Saber said.

  “They are, or were, hanging out with thieves,” Laura pointed out.

  “The boy will take a few days to recover,” Gavin said. “It’s not a bad wound, but he’s undernourished. He’ll need rest and good food. He’s not in any shape to climb through windows.”

  “He’ll get rest here,” Saber promised.

  “What do you think about continuing with the plan?” Laura asked, directing her question to Saber.

  “It might be the one opportunity we have to nab this gang before they move on to another area,” Charlie commented. “Our research says they’ve been on quite a crime spree. We have to hope we haven’t spooked them by catching these two kids.”

  Saber issued a heavy sigh. “I think we should continue with the plan.”

  Jonno thought over their plan and saw one possible hitch. “And Mr. Fitzroy? He was pissed, and I’d say he’ll want to press charges.”

  “Charlie and I will do a deal with him,” Laura said. “We’re within our rights to press charges for use of a firearm. We’ll offer to drop them if he’ll waive the breaking and entering charges. I wouldn’t tell the kids though. We might be able to still pressure them into telling us where the rest of the gang are hiding out.”

  “The two kids can do farm work for Mr. Fitzroy once Ramsay is healed,” Jonno said. “I’ll be happy to supervise them.”

  Charlie nodded approval. “That might work, although police supervision might work better. I don’t mind supervising them if Mr. Fitzroy takes up the offer.”

  “Good food and exercise should see the kids right in no time,” Gavin said. “I’m heading back to my bed. It’s been a long day.” He stood and offered his hand to Laura. “I’m Gavin Finley, vet and feline doctor.”

  “Laura Adams,” Laura said.

  Gavin turned to Charlie, and Jonno noticed the spark of interest on the vet’s face. It piqued his curiosity, and he watched both men.

  “Charlie McKenzie,” Charlie said. “Pleased to meet you. I guess we’ll see more of you during the coming days.”

  Gavin grinned and with a wave left the room.

  “We’ll leave you to it,” Jonno said.

  Saber regarded them with quiet confidence. “How about you work out the plan with Laura and Charlie and let us know what we need to do? We’ll have to stay clear of the police so the thing doesn’t reek of a setup.”

  Jonno rose, his chair squeaking across the floor tiles. He hesitated then spoke his mind, knowing it’d eat at him all night if he didn’t speak with Saber. He respected the man that much. “Did I do the right thing bringing the kids here?” He glanced at Charlie and Laura. “It was too late to hide their existence when Charlie and Laura arrived.”

  Saber squeezed Jonno’s shoulder. “You did the right thing.” He smirked. “If Charlie tells everyone about the existence of cats, we can spread rumors of his drinking problem.”

  “I don’t have a drinking problem,” Charlie said, puffing up with indignation.

  “Exactly,” Saber said with a trace of smugness. “We had a similar circumstance with Tomasine, Felix’s mate. Since she worked as a reporter, no one trusted her. She found it difficult. We take care of our own.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Charlie laughed, and Jonno was glad to see the human taking everything in his stride. Not everyone had such an open mind.

  “Thanks,” Jonno said. “I’ll contact you tomorrow once we finalize the plan. I take it Felix and Leo will be available to help keep watch?”

  “Yeah, you’ll have a full complement of Mitchells,” Saber said. “Count on it.”

  * * * * *

  When they arrived back at the police house, they were all tired.

  “Stay here for the rest of the night,” Laura said.

  “Are you sure? What about the gossip?” Jonno asked, knowing how circumspect both Charlie and Laura needed to be.

  “Charlie won’t tell. Besides, as long as we keep things low-key, it shouldn’t matter.”

  “Laura’s right. Just because we’re cops doesn’t mean we can’t have a private life,” Charlie said. “Stay the night. Just don’t make too much noise,” he said with a suggestive rise of brows. “I’m an early riser, and I will take revenge if I’m kept awake.” With a wave of his hand, he disappeared into the house.

  “Jonno?”

  “Yeah, okay.” He followed Laura into
the house and to a bedroom at the far end of the passage. She pushed open a door and stepped inside, closing it after he’d entered.

  “The room smells of you,” Jonno said, inhaling deep.

  “Better than smelly socks, huh?”

  “Much better.” Suddenly his fatigue dropped away. His cock jolted to life, desire firing through his body. “Take off your clothes,” he whispered, the sound intimate in the dark room. He heard Laura fumble for the light and stayed her with an arm on her shoulder. “No light. I want to feel. Let our other senses take over.”

  “Are you trying to seduce me?”

  “I must be off my game if you have to ask,” Jonno said. “Is seduction working?”

  “Yes.” Her reply sounded a trifle snappish and made him smirk.

  “Clothes off. Now.” To his great satisfaction he heard the sound of rustling clothing seconds after her harsh intake of breath. Jonno bent to untie his boots and toed them off, jerking off the rest of his clothing and leaving garments where they fell.

  He prowled toward Laura, scooping her off her feet and tossing her on the bed. A single bed, he noted with a curl of lips. Cozy but rather inhibiting for a big man. Tomorrow they were spending the night at his place. Before she moved, he covered her body with his. No preliminaries or slow loving tonight. He craved hard and fast, just as soon as she was ready for him. Luckily Laura was right with him. The sleek thrust of her tongue into his mouth shot urgency straight to his cock. Tension clawed at his gut as he took over the kiss, nuzzling and sucking at her lips then stroking into her mouth with quick flicks.

  “I want you,” he murmured, ripping his mouth off hers to stare down at her, able to see perfectly with his night vision. With her ruffled hair and kiss-swollen lips, she called him like no other. “Can’t look at you without wanting to fuck you.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t know what you’ve done to me. When you’re out of my sight I can’t stop thinking about you. I worried when we were at the Fitzroys, with Mr. Fitzroy waving around his rifle. Damn, I left the weapon in the car.”

  Jonno dragged his tongue along her neck, nipping her hard enough for her to start. “The car’s locked. It should be okay until morning.” He soothed the small pain with the rasp of his tongue.

  A pulse throbbed at her neck and he dragged his tongue back and forth over it until she moaned. His hands turned greedy, and he slid his hands over her breasts, the dip of her waist and lower to delve between her legs. Unable to resist, he dragged his tongue the length of her cleft, stimulating her clit with a careful stroke.

  “No more,” she whispered.

  Aw, hell. She wanted him to stop. He didn’t know if he could. Chest heaving, he lifted his head.

  “No,” she said in dismay. “What are you doing?”

  “You told me to stop.”

  “No, I meant I wanted you inside me.”

  Jonno chuckled, dismay dispersing with her words. “That can be arranged.” He spread her legs and slid into her heat. Taking his time, he worked his cock into her, pushing through her clinging flesh. “Damn, that feels good.”

  “Hmm.” She arched against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and clutching his shoulders. Together they moved, rocking against each other. He feasted on her mouth, a rough growl of pleasure vibrating in his chest. His cock swelled, and he increased the rate of his strokes. In and out. The liquid sound of arousal filled the air along with the spicy scent of sex. She cried out, her pussy rippling around his cock. His hips jerked, and he pounded into her wet sex, taking what he needed while she shuddered in pleasure, milking him dry.

  When the frantic jerks of his cock subsided, he rolled, arranging her over his chest like a blanket. His eyes closed, and he held her, content in the arms of his mate.

  Chapter Eleven

  The phone woke them. Laura groaned, slapping a hand in the general direction of her bedside table before she realized the sound came from her phone. She pushed herself up and half climbed across Jonno’s body before he seized her by the hips.

  “I’ll get it,” he said. “Before you unman me with your flailing limbs.”

  “It might be business.”

  “Don’t worry. If it’s official business I’ll pretend I’m Charlie.”

  Laura considered his suggestion and nodded. She leaned back against the pillows, a smile twitching at her lips.

  Jonno winked. “Middlemarch Police.” The good humor wiped from his face. “If you ring Laura again, I will make an official complaint.” He stabbed the phone with a forefinger, ending the call. “You need to put a stop to this.”

  Laura swallowed, tiredness taking a toll. “How? No one believed I was the innocent party before. It was me who suffered and lost all chances of promotion.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. That sucks, but he’s persistent. An official complaint is the best way to stop him. Think about it, okay? On the plus side, it threw us together. My mother always searched for silver linings in everything. Is there something else you’ve contemplated doing?” He moved closer and rubbed his finger over her lips, his hazel eyes full of caring.

  She swallowed again, his sympathy flooring her. If anything, it made her want to cry. They hadn’t known each other for long, yet Jonno understood her more than her friends and family did. Her gaze drifted around her bedroom. Four cardboard boxes sat in a stack in the corner, the sum total of her possessions. Books—mysteries and detective stories. She’d always wondered if she had a book in her, not that she’d mention the dream to anyone else. Perhaps Jonno was right and she should think of this as an opportunity.

  “Keep a record of each time he calls,” Jonno said. “Just in case. Has he rung when I haven’t been around?”

  “No…once,” Laura said, wrinkling her brow while she tried to remember. “That’s not counting the messages he left with Charlie. What’s the time?”

  “Just after seven.”

  “I need to move.”

  Jonno leapt from the bed. “So do I. I’m driving into Dunedin to pick up supplies. Normally I’d stay the night with Joe and Sly. Today I’ll head back here, I think.”

  “I’d appreciate having you here. Saber is great, but I find this feline shifter stuff easier when you’re around. Besides, I figure Charlie will ask a few questions. I could do with your help in answering them.”

  “No problem. I loathe spending time away from you. Emily and Saber will need to leave the house for the plan. You’ll need the rest of us to help with the sting.”

  Laura climbed out of bed, raising her arms above her head in a huge stretch. The play of muscles felt good.

  “If you want to be late to work, that’s a great way of doing it,” Jonno said, coming up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her back against his chest.

  “Someone is pleased to see me,” Laura said with a laugh.

  “Getting it up for you isn’t a problem.” Jonno dipped his head and nibbled on the cords of her neck. The teasing scrape of his teeth pushed her heartbeat from calm to excited, each breath coming with a hoarse rasp. His hand slipped between her legs and thought of work drifted from her head. She needed him with an intensity she’d never felt for Mike. Resolutely she shoved her ex-lover from her mind to concentrate on the present.

  He pushed a finger inside her moist pussy. She moaned, enjoying his attentions especially when he massaged across a sweet spot.

  “I need you, Laura.”

  “Yes.” Laura pulled away, turning in his arms at the same time.

  Their lips met. Jonno lifted her, lowering her to the bed. Almost in the same move, he parted her legs and pushed his cock inside, impaling her.

  Laura sighed, her body aroused, willing. His lips crushed hers as he filled the empty ache inside. With tormenting strokes, he pushed deep, his cock massaging her clit each time with unbearable friction. Gradually he increased the speed, flexing the muscles of his buttocks with each erotic caress. Warm, wet suction at her breast, the bite of pain and the building pleasure curle
d arousal through her body. Higher and higher he took her until Laura exploded in a starburst of pleasure.

  Jonno caught her scream with his mouth. A hint of laughter trembled through his limbs before pleasure caught him too, his harsh sound of enjoyment echoing through the small bedroom.

  A strident thump on their bedroom door made them both jump.

  “That’s enough of that,” Charlie called. “I’m making coffee and toast now.”

  “We’re coming,” Laura said.

  “I told you last night I don’t want to hear your sex life details,” Charlie muttered. “Especially since I don’t have one of my own.”

  Jonno chuckled on hearing Charlie’s retreating footsteps. “We’d better move.” He sat, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. “Did you notice Gavin and Charlie checking each other out last night?”

  “Gavin and Charlie?” Laura said, moving off the bed even though it was the last thing she wanted at the moment. “Charlie isn’t gay.”

  “I didn’t say he was gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, sweet cheeks.” Jonno slapped his hand over her bare arse, making her yelp.

  “Don’t call me sweet cheeks.” The rebuke came automatically. “Do you want a quick shower?”

  “Yeah. We’ll share. It will save time.”

  Laura laughed, feeling comfortable and relaxed. The differences between this relationship and what she’d had with Mike…with Mike each loving had been furtive and fast, something shoved out of sight. Secretive. She hadn’t realized how much she’d craved acknowledgement and open affection. Something normal and average. She pulled clean underwear from a drawer before scuttling along the passage to the bathroom naked. At the other end of the house a current hit played and Charlie sang along.

  “I hope you don’t wander around naked in front of Charlie.”

  Laura reached into the shower to turn on the taps. The pipes clanked, and the water ran cold before turning warm. “Of course I don’t. He’s in the kitchen. Can’t you hear him singing?”