A Kitty in the Lion's Den Read online

  “All right, well I’m heading out. I’ve got a date with puma tonight.” Liam grinned, and Maverick cocked a brow. “All right, not a date, but she is due at my place in an hour, and she isn’t a cock-tease.”

  Yeah, Liam was more of a fuck ‘em and leave ‘em type, but the females were willing and okay with only sleeping with him once. One would think a small town wouldn’t have so many willing females ready to spread their legs, but Maverick had learned a long time ago Sweet Water wasn’t the typical small town. Besides, Maverick really didn’t have any room to talk. He had never had a relationship that was more than a few hours and ended with him and the female he was with getting off. It was too dangerous, too risky, and he wasn’t the type of male that was good for a female in any way, shape, or form.

  “Sounds good.”

  Liam tilted his chin and turned to leave. Maverick stared down at the papers on his desk, and sighed. This new life was mundane and boring, but that was how he fucking liked it. He was always on alert though, always holstering his Para-Ordnance P-14 at his lower back. That would never change, and he would always be on alert, always expect an enemy to be right behind him ready to take his ass out. Maverick may have been known as a silent killer back in the day, and in fact could still take someone out without regret or making a single sound, making sure his identity stayed hidden was imperative.

  He looked out the window in front of him, which showed the small garage. He had a hefty amount of money in his account when he had left the profession, but that was blood money, and he didn’t want a trail, even if they did think he was dead. If they noticed the money gone they would have known he was alive. So, he had started fresh, worked his way up, and now made good money doing honest work. What he needed right now was a good, hard fuck, preferably with a female that wasn’t from Sweet Water. He could always go to Sugar Rush, a small town with about five thousand residents, and with a ratio that had humans outnumbering shifters. It was only about two hours away from Sweet Water, and that was just enough distance that he wouldn’t have to worry about the female he fucked being a clinger and tracking him down. It wasn’t that he preferred a human female to fuck over a shifter, but he did like the fact a human wasn’t as keen with their senses like a shifter was. Although Maverick was the master of hiding what he thought and felt, there was a spilt moment, right when the pleasure of release took over, that a part of every person was bared open. And a shifter could pick up on that, so he tended to stay away from fucking shifters.

  He finished up his paperwork, which took him a little over an hour, and closed up shop. His Harley sat right inside the garage, all gleaming and looking fucking good. The sun was starting to set, but instead of going over to his bike he climbed into his truck, cranked the engine, and headed toward Sugar Rush for a good fuck with a random female.

  ****

  Kettah was jarred awake when the sound of brakes squealing sounded all around her. She looked around, noticed the only ones left on the bus were herself and a man who had boarded at the same time she had back in Tandale. The interior of the bus was dark and smelled faintly of human sweat, but what she sensed even more strongly was the stare of the man a few seats across from her. Suddenly the interior lights flared to life, and the crackle of the speakers turning on broke up the silence.

  “Last stop. Please exit the bus.”

  Kettah’s heart started to pound, and she tried to look out the window, but since it was dark outside and so bright inside, that made visibility next to impossible. The other guy on the bus stood and cast one more glance her way. He was a bigger human, looked somewhat in shape, and had a ball cap on his head, which made trying to gauge his reaction difficult. He turned and made his way off the bus, and she swallowed the lump that was lodged in her throat. She checked her watch and checked the time. It was ten at night. Since ditching her cell because she knew it had a tracer on it, she was living on the few hundred dollars in her purse, and the clothes on her back. Grabbing her purse, the only thing she had been able to take with her when she decided she was going to run, she stood on shaky legs, and made her way toward the front. The bus driver stared at her through the massive mirror right above his head.

  “Excuse me, but where are we?”

  “Sugar Rush, Miss.”

  She looked out the front door, saw a town up ahead, and turned back to the driver.

  “Are there any other stops? Maybe a bigger city?” She wanted to blend in, and a small town didn’t seem like it would help her out with that. “I bought a ticket for Columbine.” And this certainly wasn’t the larger city that was still nearly a half day of travel away from Sugar Rush. As it was, she had only been traveling for ten hours, and that wasn’t nearly enough distance to separate herself from Tandale.

  “They didn’t tell you at the ticket counter that this is the last stop for the night? You have to wait until the morning pickup at eight, and they will take you the rest of the way per your ticket.”

  Shit. The ticket agent probably had told her all of that and more, but Kettah had been frantic to get away, looking over her shoulder expecting one of her father’s men to be right there, ready to take her back and make her regret ever trying this, so she hadn’t been concentrating on much else.

  “Miss? Miss, are you okay?”

  Kettah snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the driver.

  “Yes, I’m fine. You said the next bus will pick up at eight. Right here?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” She swallowed, nodded, and turned to step off the bus, but the driver’s voice stopped her. “I’m not that familiar with Sugar Rush, but I know enough that there is a motel just a ways up.”

  She smiled and nodded. She needed to get her shit together, because if the bus driver could see her wariness, then she was going to get caught, and she’d rather be dead than face whatever her father and his men had planned for her. She felt the driver’s stare as she moved away from the bus, and a few seconds later the doors closed behind her and the bus pulled away from the curb. The dead of silence surrounded her, and she wrapped her thin jacket more tightly around her, and fixed her purse so it was now crossed over one shoulder and her chest. There was no sign of the man that had been on the bus with her, and she knew that her nerves were on the verge of breaking. She was paranoid, seeing things that weren’t there, and worrying that everyone was an enemy. But she also knew that a part of her paranoia was justified and that she couldn’t let her guard down for one moment. The town of Sugar Rush appeared quaint, with antique looking streetlamps lining either side of the narrow road, and cobblestone sidewalks. She looked around once more and forced herself to take that first step. She would definitely need to get a room for the night, but every building she passed was closed. Tandale was a big city, and it seemed one that never slept, so it was a bit strange to see everything shut down for the night when it wasn’t even midnight. Her stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and she placed her hand over her belly. Kettah walked for about ten minutes before the sound of loud, but muted, music came to her, and she took a right, following the sound. The small bar that came into view was attached to a motel that looked as old as the town itself. The muted light from the few parking lot lights showed the peeling paint, the roof that was in desperate need of new shingles, and the flickering “OPEN” sign in the front office window.

  She walked quickly toward the front door of the bar, gripped the scarred handle, and pulled it open. The sounds of “Sweet Home Alabama” and raucous laughter slammed into her, along with the scent of spilled beer and sweat. Kettah stepped inside, and the door behind her slammed shut. It seemed everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at her. Then just as quickly as everything had stopped it started back up. Kettah looked around the small bar, one with what appeared to be red velvet walls, black studded chairs, and a neon lit bar. She walked up to the bar and set her purse on the counter in front of her. Taking a seat and looking around, Kettah felt very uncomfortable and very out of place. A bartender leaned her elb
ows on the counter and grinned at her.

  “Hey there, little cat. Haven’t seen your breed before.” The platinum blonde rabbit shifter eyed her up and down. She was a tiny thing, with light blue eyes, but with tattoos covering both of her arms. “What can I get for you?” She slapped a napkin on the counter in front of Kettah and stared at her in question.

  “Uh.” Kettah looked around for a menu, but apparently they didn’t have them. “You serve food here?” The rabbit grinned wider and nodded. Kettah was hungry enough that she would have eaten just about anything right now.

  “Honey, we got the best ribs in three counties. You wait right here, and I’ll set you up.”

  “Wait.” The rabbit shifter lifted an equally light eyebrow at her. “I actually need a room, too. I saw the bar was connected to the motel. You wouldn’t happen to know if they have any vacancies, would you?”

  She grinned. “You’re looking at the owner.” That had Kettah lifting her own eyebrows. “Don’t worry, love, I’ll get you squared away with a room, too. Just the one night?” Kettah nodded, and the little pixie of a female headed back behind a door. It didn’t take long for the shifter to come back and set a steaming plate of ribs and fries and a big glass of ice water in front of her. “If you need anything else just let me know. Enjoy.” She gave her one more big grin and turned to help other customers. The food smelled so good it made Kettah’s stomach cramp, but then again she hadn’t eaten all day, especially when she’d felt like her stomach was in knots and not about to loosen anytime soon. All she could keep thinking about was that they would surely come looking for her, and the more distance she put between her father and everything that had to do with her family, the better.

  Chapter Three

  “God, you’re so big.” Maverick looked down at the female currently sucking on his cock. She had pretty small tits, big, teased red hair, and was pretty decent looking. But the most important thing about her was that she was a human. He had come to Sugar Rush about an hour ago, gone into Bunny’s, the bar attached to the small rundown motel, and had gotten a drink. He didn’t have to wait long for the desperate female to approach him, but that was the norm in these rundown country bars where the females came looking for some cock. That was the reason he came to Sugar Rush, because it took no effort to get his rocks off, well, one of the reasons.

  She continued to bob her head up and down, took his dick all the way to the back of her throat until she gagged, and he felt the empty pleasure escalate. Taking hold of a chunk of her hair, which had way too much product in it, Maverick lifted his hips and slammed his cock into her mouth, loved the fact the tip hit the back of her throat and she gagged again, and did it over and over until she was groaning against him. He was close, really fucking close to getting off, and all he wanted to do now was come, clean up, and get the fuck back home. He closed his eyes, just focused on the fact a warm and semi tight suction surrounded his shaft, and came seconds later. Maverick didn’t think about who was giving him pleasure, just that it felt good. When he was finished he gently pushed her away and stood. He had rented the room for the whole night, but used it for a grand total of twenty minutes. He had to give the redhead credit. She was a champ and hadn’t stopped giving him head the whole time. Once in the bathroom he turned on the light, peeled the condom off and tossed it in the trash, and braced his hands on the chipped and rusted sink. His reflection showed the same thing he saw whenever he looked at himself: short, dark hair, black bottomless eyes, and the face of a killer. Maverick quickly washed up, and when he stepped back into the room it was to see that the female was already gone. Good. That saved him the hassle of trying to get her the fuck out. Sometimes they were clingers after they fucked or sucked him off. And to say that was a pain in the ass was an understatement. Maverick knew the type of breed he was, the kind of male that used women and didn’t give a fuck. But he also didn’t fuck with the females that didn’t want to be used.

  ****

  Kettah knew she was being followed the moment she stepped out of the bar, but it wasn’t the body numbing fear of knowing her father had found her. No, this was that creepy prickling on the back of her neck, the kind that told her some asshole was about to try something on her. But Kettah wasn’t going to be anyone else’s victim. She may only be a Pallas’s cat shifter, and really no match for males of her kind, or any shifter for that matter, but when it came to a human trying some shit on her, she could hold her own. At least she was about to see if she could. She was only about ten feet from the motel, and so she quickened her pace. Some of the streetlights flickered, reminding her of some freaky ass horror movie.

  “Hey, pretty little thing.” She straightened her shoulders at the male voice a few feet behind her. The scent that he was human had her Pallas’s cat rising up at the threat, but Kettah didn’t dare slow her pace. The sound of his footsteps picking up speed had a tingle of fear moving through her, but then again she reminded herself that she was a shifter, he was a human and far weaker than she was, and that she had a lot of hatred and anger churning inside of her. She might be on the run and scared, but this asshole had nothing on what she was up against. “Hey, why don’t you and I slip into my room and enjoy each other’s company?” He gripped her arm in a hard grasp and turned her around. “I was watching you on the bus, and couldn’t take my eyes off you. You’re one very pretty girl.”

  Kettah didn’t pause to react. She let her nails grow into claws, let her inner animal out, and lifted her hand to bring her claws down his cheek. He hissed out in pain, let go of her, and cupped his wound. “You fucking bitch.” He lowered his hand and looked at the streaks of blood covering his palm. “I’m going to take that out on your ass.” She took a step back, ready to attack him again if he came any closer.

  “Just turn around, and go back under the hole you crawled out of, and leave me alone.” He laughed, but it didn’t sound at all humorous.

  “Sweet thing, I have no intentions of leaving you alone. What I have in mind is a lot more fun.” Before she could say anything the sound of one of the motel doors opening stilled both of them.

  ****

  Maverick grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and walked over to the door. As soon as he pulled it open his lion rose up violently. A male stood in the parking lot, shrouded partially by the shadows. There was a set of nasty looking claw marks that had been raked down the human’s face, and the scent of vile arousal came from him like a punch to Maverick’s fucking gut. But it wasn’t because the wind blew the disgusting aroma Maverick’s way. He had seen enough of the same kind of intent during his lifetime, and could have sensed it with his fucking eyes closed. The female that stood between him and the human was also covered in shadows, and with her back toward him he couldn’t get a clear view of her. The wind also blew away from him so Maverick wasn’t able to pick up on her scent.

  “Man, just turn around and close the door. This isn’t your business, and I saw her first.” The little fucking cocksucker talked like he had the biggest set of balls around, and he must for starting shit with a lion shifter. But obviously this asshole didn’t know a shifter when he saw one, but he would soon find out what a big fucking mistake it was to mess with someone who was as unstable as Maverick was. The human wore a ball cap that was pulled down low, but his snarl was clear as fucking day. The human also couldn’t hide the nasty looking claw marks on his cheek. Damn, the female was a fierce little thing. She moved backward, and was smart to keep her focus on her immediate threat. He couldn’t see her face, but for some inexplicable reason there was a tightening in his gut, a tingle in his fingers and toes, and a feeling that had his lion moving to the surface at a violent rate, as if the fucker was stalking his prey. Before she ran right into Maverick the human went to grab her. No fucking way was he about to let this shit happen. Maverick might be a scary, twisted bastard, but he wasn’t about to let a female get hurt.

  “It looks like you just made it my business.” Maverick had to give the human credit. He
was a ballsy bastard, but clearly too dumb to realize that he had two shifters in front of him, and shit was about to get ugly. Maverick moved swiftly past the female, pushed away everything that had to do with her and this strange sensation moving through him, and focused on the asshole. He reached out, wrapped his hand around the human’s throat, and slowly tightened his hold while lifting him off the ground. The male clawed at Maverick’s hand, and a surge of adrenaline poured through his veins. Maverick was a sick asshole for liking this shit, that was for sure, but was he going to stop? Fuck no. “I should kill you right now, just snap your weak little fucking neck like a wishbone.” He twisted his wrist gently, just enough to show the male he wasn’t kidding, and a satisfying grunt left the human. Maverick grinned, flashed his elongated canines, and chuckled when the male’s eyes widened. “When a female doesn’t show any interest in you that usually means to back the fuck up. Now, I want you to nod because you understand what the fuck I’m saying.” The human nodded frantically, and Maverick grinned again. With one more squeeze, he tossed the male aside. His body landed on the pavement with a sickening crunch. He picked himself off the ground and got the fuck out of there. Maverick turned, saw the female standing under the awning with her head lowered, and felt that unfamiliar ache in his chest. His lion roared out unexpectedly, clawing to be released. Her head was downcast, but the need to see her face, to really get a good fucking look pounded inside of him and wouldn’t let up until he was satisfied. He moved forward until he stood right in front of her. He shouldn’t do what he was about to do, but fuck it. His lion was a demanding asshole, and the need to feel this female was too strong to ignore. He reached out, gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and a powerful jolt went through his veins at the feel of her. He had to do everything in his power to rein in his motherfucking animal. His heart pounded double-time as he looked down at the mop of messy honey colored hair that was slightly windblown. The feel of her, the smell of hyacinth that cracked his flesh like the sting of a whip, and the fact he was currently standing in front of her made everything inside of him shift. He grew rock-hard instantly despite the fact he had just gotten off.