Page 3 of Stray Cat

Lindsay screamed. Because she was in wildcat form, it came out a growling screech as she launched herself downward at the man with the gun.

She landed right on him. At her yowl, the leader and his friends scanned the dark arena in startled confusion but never pinpointed Lindsay until she was on the man’s head, claws sinking deep into his flesh.

His gun went off, again and again, but the man’s aim was wild, bullets pinging against steel rafters. His guys and Xav hit the dirt.

Lindsay lunged down the man’s arm and wrapped her mouth around his wrist. One chomp, and the pistol clattered to the floor, blood streaming after it.

The leader screamed and cursed, spinning in place as he tried to pry Lindsay off him, but Lindsay had dug in and wasn’t letting go.

Xav, on his feet again, busily relieved the other three gang members of weapons they’d drawn to shoot at Lindsay. Lindsay couldn’t see exactly what Xav did, but there were many kicks and punches, swearing and shouts.

Diego and several other guys in black fatigues and police uniforms joined the fray. The arms dealers were on the ground, cuffs clicking into place.

The leader continued to struggle against Lindsay, pleading for someone to get this fucking cat off him.

Hands landed on Lindsay’s back. Her fur was thick, but she instantly recognized Xav’s touch.

“Let him go, Linds.”

Xav’s rumbling voice, even tinged with anger, sparked rippling heat deep inside Lindsay. Maybe she’d let Xav pry her off the scumbag. He’d cuddle her against him, trying to calm her down. Though Shifter lynxes were twice the size of wild ones, Lindsay was still small enough to lie against Xav while he stroked her …

“Now,”Xav commanded.

Damn it. Lindsay opened her mouth, releasing the guy’s wrist. She’d barely broken the skin—the supposedly dangerous gang leader was such a baby.

She peeled her large claws from the man’s arm and shoulder, one talon at a time. Lynxes had lots of fur on their paws to cushion them against snow, ice, and thorny brush, so the man’s hard arms hadn’t hurt her one bit.

Plus, her aim had been spectacular. Had Xav noticed that?

Lindsay unhooked the last of her claws and bounded to the ground. She sat down on her haunches next to Xav and calmly started washing her face.

Diego cuffed the leader’s wrists behind him, a look of satisfaction on his face.

“This is why I hate Shifters,” the leader declared. He spat at Lindsay.

Lindsay easily evaded him and returned to Xav’s side, watching complacently as Diego and the other DX Security men led the bad guys away. She made sure her ear tufts stood straight up, indicating she was focused on the leader, watching him. Also, they were cute.

Xav threw back the hood of his jacket, revealing rumpled dark hair Lindsay loved to run her hands through when they danced. Even more whenever they kissed.

His eyes were dark like a moonless night, liquid and warm, but right now, they were filled with incandescent fury.

“Want to tell me what the hell you’re doing here?” Xav demanded. “And why you thought it was a great idea to interrupt a multi-month sting? There are a dozen cops outside who will arrest you in a heartbeat if that loser complains about you. What the fuck were you thinking?”

CHAPTERTWO

Iwas thinking I just saved your life,Lindsay growled.

She couldn’t answer in a way Xav would understand while she was still a lynx, so she gave him an angry cat stare before she stomped off to the backpack she’d left hidden under the first row of bleacher seats.

Fortunately, Xav gave her some privacy to go through the annoying contortions it took to morph back into her human form. Some Shifters could flow easily into their animal and back again, but Lindsay’s shift required time and energy.

Once she rose on human legs, which were sore from hanging onto the rafters, she pulled clothes out of her backpack. On went undies, jeans, and a thin T-shirt, leaving off the heavier shirt and jacket she’d worn earlier. It was cold outside, but Lindsay was always hot after shifting.

Xav didn’t look any less angry by the time Lindsay returned to him. The fact that he’d waited for her gave her hope—he could have stormed off and left her on her own.

They’d settle this and then go out, she decided. Xav would cool down, and they’d have a night of fun.

Xav apparently wasn’t interested in fun. “Those guys meant business, Linds. They’d have shot you dead without a second thought if they’d known you were here. Where were you, anyway?”

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