Page 15 of Stray Cat

Xav didn’t kiss Lindsay often, but when he did it, he did it well.

His mouth commanded, compelling her to open to him, to kiss him as powerfully in return. The world melted as Lindsay’s frustration dissolved on a wave of need.

She tasted the coffee he’d drunk at DX to stay awake, as well as his anger, and his lingering apprehension. Xav might have died tonight if things had gone differently, and he knew it.

Lindsay clutched at his jacket, wanting him closer. His body came against hers, the need tearing through both of them making itself known as a hard ridge against her abdomen.

The SUV behind Lindsay held her upright, its cold surface a stark contrast to Xav’s warm strength. He pressed her against its door, hands on her shoulders, fingers biting.

She couldn’t stop the yearning sound that escaped her throat. The SUV was waiting, and it had wide back seats …

Abruptly, Xav broke the kiss. Lindsay gasped as he pulled away, she the agile cat struggling to retain her balance.

Xav gazed down at her with his starlit eyes, his breath coming fast. She couldn’t read what he was thinking, couldn’t scent it through the pounding in her head.

He stared at her for an interminable moment, then he turned on his heel, walked around the SUV, and climbed in without a word.

Lindsay stepped back, bereft, as Xav pulled away from the curb without acknowledging her. The SUV glided down the street, taillights flashing as he slowed for the corner.

Xav took the turn and was lost to sight, leaving Lindsay with her heart aching and her mouth tingling from that spectacular kiss.

* * *

Xav couldn’t avoidShiftertown if he wanted to. The very next day, after he’d tossed and turned all night, he was obligated to go back.

While he’d lain awake, his restless mind had spun pictures of Lindsay gazing at him with her sultry green eyes while he growled at her for being brave enough to rescue him—twice.

When he hadn’t been buried in thoughts of her, he’d had unnerving flashbacks to the hours he’d spent as a captive, not knowing if he’d ever see Lindsay or his family again. He’d been certain Diego would come for him, but there’d always been a good chance Diego wouldn’t make it before his captors grew impatient and shot him.

Diego and Lindsayhadmade it, he kept reminding himself. Xav had come out of the adventure with only a few scrapes and bruises.

Xav’s conflicted emotions had propelled him from the SUV last night when Lindsay had climbed out in front of her house, because he hadn’t wanted her to walk away. Instead of playing it cool and letting her go, he’d kissed her.

That kiss had been dangerous. Lindsay had softened to him, making Xav believe she’d surrender. They could spend a night enjoying each other, her returning kiss had promised, and behave sensibly again in the morning.

But no, Lindsay would always,alwaysdo exactly as she pleased. It didn’t matter that she put herself into terrifying danger and made Xav sick with worry. She was a Shifter, and while Xav admired Shifters, they truly believed themselves invincible and were surprised when humans expressed concern for them.

That kiss had to be their last. Xav was done fighting with her.

After hours of sleeplessness, Xav had finally crashed, his body taking over and forcing him into recovery mode. Being knocked out, tied up in the back of a truck, and then threatened in a remote, aging bank vault took its toll.

The next morning was Sunday, and also the birthday of Callum, Eric and Iona’s cub. Xav had been ostensibly invited by his three-year-old Trek-loving niece, Amanda, to attend Callum’s party. Uncle Xav could never say no to Amanda, and so early afternoon saw him driving back to Shiftertown, this time in his silver Mustang, no work vehicle today.

Xav walked into Eric’s house to find it packed. Cubs ran everywhere, in both human and animal forms, moving too rapidly to distinguish who was who. Xav heard Diego and Cassidy in the kitchen, as usual, because Diego was pretty much the cook for the entire family. Iona, a lovely woman with dark hair and ice-blue eyes, lithely ran after the cubs.

Eric Warden lounged on the sofa like the king cat he was, surveying his domain. Xav had come to know that the laid-back Eric was in fact very astute, knew who was doing what at all times, and could leap into action in a heartbeat.

The bears from next door were there, filling out the small room and spilling into the backyard. It was a mild day, in the high sixties, perfect for cooking out. Shane, Brody’s brother, beamed his large grin on everyone. He was smug, now that he’d mated with Freya, a wolf-Shifter, and they were expecting a cub.

With them was Keira, a Lupine who’d until recently been feral. She still regarded everyone warily, though she relaxed when she was around the cubs.

Stuart Reid greeted Xav as he entered. Reid worked for DX Security, but he wasn’t Shifter. He wasdokk alfar, he’d quickly correct anyone who called him a Fae, but other humans didn’t realize he wasn’t human. Reid had the handy skill of being able to teleport himself, and if things had gone worse last night, Diego might have deployed him.

Xav was just as glad he’d ridden out of the desert the conventional way. Teleporting with Reid was a stomach-churning experience.

The only person Xav didn’t see in the crowded house was Lindsay. He thought he heard her voice mingling with Cassidy’s, but by the time he made his way through the hordes in the living room and into the kitchen, she was gone.

Diego, in a long blue-and-green striped apron, threw a handful of chopped chiles into a pan sizzling on the stove. A Dutch oven on a back burner emitted the unmistakable savory odor of carnitas. Diego had learned his carnitas recipe from their mom, Juanita, and the result would be melt-in-the-mouth pork that was perfect rolled into a fresh tortilla, no need of any other seasoning or sauce.

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