Page 27 of Stray Cat

“Not tonight. I’m tired. It’s a cup-of-hot-chocolate-and-a-good-book night. Though I might pop in to see Cassidy, tell her what happened. She must be itching to know.”

“I think she’ll grill Diego just fine,” Xav said with a touch of humor.

“I can soften things for Diego if she’s prepped.” Lindsay shared a smile with him.

It felt good to connect over their mutual understanding of Cassidy and Diego, but would it last? Or were they destined to be just friends from now on, maybe downgrading in time to mere acquaintances?

Xav grew quiet again, and Lindsay stared out the window, watching the starlit hills roll by.

She was intrigued about how Xav thought he’d track a helicopter, but she felt awkward asking—or saying anything at all. Of course, Xav could find things on a computer like no one else. Even Neal stood in awe of Xav’s cyber skills. Guardians were among the world’s greatest hackers, so Neal’s praise was huge.

Not long later, Xav pulled down the side road that took them to Shiftertown. He braked outside the gates but only to drive over the bump in the pavement that demarcated Shiftertown’s entrance before he continued inside.

Lindsay gazed at him in surprise. “I said you could drop me off.”

Xav didn’t stop. “A gentleman doesn’t let his lady walk home alone in the dark.”

“I’m a Shifter.” Lindsay let out a laugh, even as her heart pounded.His lady?

“Doesn’t matter.”

Xav slowly navigated the narrow streets in silence. Callum’s birthday party was long over, but since many Shifters were nocturnal, cubs and their parents were still out prowling in wildcat or wolf form. Only the bears liked to turn in early.

Shifters they passed recognized Xav’s SUV and either waved or let out growls of greeting. Xav politely returned the waves with a lift of his hand, then he pulled to a halt outside Lindsay’s house and turned off the engine.

“Want to come in?” Lindsay asked, though not as enthusiastically as she usually would. She wasn’t certain she could sit through polite chatter between Xav and her parents while she tried to decide her relationship status with him.

“No.” Xav stared straight through the front window. “I think I should go home.”

Lindsay fought disappointment. Having him converse with her parents while she stewed was better than not having him there at all.

“Okay, then.” Her statement was soft. “I guess I’ll say good night.”

She touched the door handle.

“Lindsay.”

Lindsay let go of the handle so fast it burned her fingers. “What?”

Xav turned in his seat to face her. “Just …”

Lindsay expected him to start in again about her taking AC’s offer, or for running off into the wilderness when her frustration wouldn’t let her stand still, or for … whatever he could think of.

Instead, he sat mutely, while Lindsay’s heart raced.

“Good night, Xav,” she said with more finality after a few moments had gone by.

Xav’s jacket rustled as he moved to her. Before Lindsay could reach for the door handle again, Xav seized her face between his strong hands, stilling her, and kissed her firmly on the mouth.

CHAPTERNINE

The kiss was demanding, Xav’s hands on her face unyielding. Lindsay rose to return it with a vigorous one of her own, while emotions tore through her and made her shake.

Xav had never kissed her like this before. Possessive, searing, holding her as though he feared she’d yank herself away and flee, never to seek him again.

Lindsay hooked her fingers around the lapels of his jacket and pulled him closer.

She was hot all the way through, her mating need flaring with a vengeance. Xav had to let her go, shove her out of the car, drive away. Or else Lindsay would be all over him, not caring what Shifters wandered by to peer through the quickly fogging windows.

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