Cravings (Fierce Hearts) (6 page)

Suddenly, she veered to her left and sped past him. Asher gathered scents and tastes and sounds and let her race ahead, knowing nothing and no one threatened to intrude on their revelry.

He started to speed up to catch her, but she pivoted in front of him abruptly and spread her legs wide to brace herself.

Oh, you want to play, huh?
Her presentation didn’t need words. He leaned to the left, then to the right, faking her out. She chuffed and offered up a low rumble in her chest.

He growled back, pleasure spreading in his chest. He’d never tell her, but her skills impressed him. She matched twist and turn to his. She chased him around the meadow they’d ended up in, and he obliged her by zigzagging a path through the grasses.

Tiny snowflakes began drifting down around them. Kennedy stuck out her tongue to catch them. Asher stretched his legs out in front of him and sat down to watch, delighted. She stretched out beside him, rolling over onto her back. He mirrored her and stared with her up into the falling snow. In the quiet with only the sounds of breezes drifting around them, no obstructions to closeness stood between them. Peacefulness and ease filled his soul.

Snow collected on his fur, so he stood and shook from head to toe. Kennedy watched, and he chuffed, motioning with his head in the direction of Casey’s house.

Refreshed and drained of pent-up emotions and energy, Asher strolled comfortably beside Kennedy through the meadow and back through the forest until they emerged at the edge of Casey’s lawn. A light layer of snow covered the grass, tempting Asher to linger. This relaxation and awareness of Kennedy in a different way thrummed through him like a warm tonic. It persuaded him that he could have it all the time. All he had to do was accept. Lower his defenses. Believe he wouldn’t hurt her.

That’s all. Sort of like changing the direction of the Mississippi River.
What he’d done to his brother was always there, reminding him to keep his distance from everyone, especially those he cared about.

Casey stepped out his back door and motioned toward them to come inside. First they walked to the truck and shimmered. The revelry was over. Time to dress and have his talk with Casey.

The exuberance of the run with Asher still racing through her body, Kennedy pulled on her clothes beside Asher’s truck, pushing down the awareness rippling through her of his naked body on the other side of the truck, and walked inside Casey’s house.

Warmth from the fire crackling in the large stone fireplace in his living room brushed her skin like a warm summer breeze. She stood immobilized by the welcoming ambiance of his home. From the cushy couch and chairs, to the plush carpeting in the living room and the large oak table surrounded by wooden chairs in the adjacent dining room, to the spacious kitchen, the home bathed her in a kind of acceptance she’d never felt before.

“Hi, guys,” Casey called from the connected kitchen. “Come in and make yourself at home, Kennedy.”

Asher pushed past her and stretched out on the couch. “Ahh, this is where I want to be.” He shot Kennedy one of his lopsided grins.

“Asher, go ahead, make yourself at home,” Casey quipped.

The lighthearted interaction took place in front of her, not with her included. Standing separated and detached came naturally to her, she knew that, but she’d not been aware of its pervasiveness. It just happened. She’d viewed it as necessary, a form of protection she’d gotten expert at using over the years of living with the Novaks. Now, in this warm moment, it felt intrusive. It kept her isolated even when she didn’t need to be.

A blond-haired young woman walked into the kitchen from another hall. Her long ponytail swished across her shoulders as she walked to Kennedy. Without missing a beat, she pulled Kennedy into a light embrace. “I’m Michelle. I bet you don’t remember me. I haven’t been around since your rescue. Come in the kitchen, I could use your help.”

She laid out some fruit and handed Kennedy a knife. “Would you mind cutting these up for a fruit salad? Dinner is about ready.”

Kennedy let her gaze slip over Michelle’s face as she took the knife. “Sure.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been missing these two weeks. I keep a pretty hectic schedule.” She pulled out of the oven a pan of baked chicken and a dish of rice. By the scent that wafted to Kennedy’s nose in delicious puffs, she guessed it was saffron rice. “I work for Aegar Investigations and run a cat rescue, Cats Alive. Keeps me pretty busy.”

Still amazed at Michelle’s easy manner, Kennedy prepared the fruit, all the while her brain caught up in the brief hug Michelle had given her. Michelle had seemed so sure it wouldn’t repel her. How did Michelle know a hug was the exact thing Kennedy longed for?
Was she perceiving my emotions
?

Michelle turned a direct gaze on her and pursed her lips. “Listen, Kennedy. I need to tell you that I’m not a were-lynx. But I do have special abilities, you could say. I’ve always had visions of possibilities to come. And along with that, I’m very sensitive to environmental input. I can pick up emotions that are floating around. We can talk about it later, but I wanted you to know I could feel you reaching out, very subtly, for acceptance. I took a chance that hugging you would be accepted, appreciated.”

“Oh, well, you were right.” Her voice was low and sounded telling to her own ears. Her vulnerability chittered in her heart, slyly slipping into the open in her voice and mannerisms. And the more she acknowledged it, the more intense her craving grew for genuine, one-on-one relationships. “Thank you.”

Casey’s booming voice called from across the room. “I smell something delicious. Dinner ready yet?” A rumbling growl rose from his throat. “I know I’m ready to eat.”

They each took a seat at the table and helped themselves to food as it was passed around. The four of them conversed about the run she and Asher had taken, how Cats Alive was doing, and more lighthearted topics. But Kennedy didn’t add much to the conversation. Instead, she took in the easy camaraderie they shared, Michelle’s kindness, and Casey’s intellect. But mostly, she kept shifting her attention to Asher. His presence beside her incited her senses. She’d know his spicy scent as all his own from across the room, but coming from beside her, it filled her head with sensual ideas.

While she took bites of the chicken, her awareness of his presence blossomed inside her, opening her heart like a flower. The warmth emanating from his body sent her pulse racing. Her breaths came in shallow pulls.

Kennedy wiggled in her seat, refocusing her thoughts. The sensations gliding throughout her body made her shake her head. No. This wasn’t real. She turned to steal a glance at Asher, expecting to catch his gaze and confirm that his ability to nudge her was at the bottom of her swirling feelings. In which case she’d punch his face.

But Asher was leaning forward, engaged in an earnest conversation about the growing population of big cats in the Midwest.

“Humans decimated their numbers in the Midwest, and now that a few cougars have been seen in parts of that area, you can bet hunters will eliminate the strides that have been made.” Asher shook his head. “Or habitat intrusion will leave these animals with nowhere to go and nowhere to hunt. It makes me sick.”

He turned to Kennedy, flashing agitation and sorrow in his crystal yellow eyes. No steam, no guilt. She was wrong. And her attraction to him in this moment was all hers. A response to Asher.

The concept played in her mind, confusing her. While the idea of being intimate with him should scare her—letting down her guard to be with him so intimately would make her very vulnerable to getting hurt—it mostly tweaked at her lips, lifting the corners into a smile.

“You’ve hardly eaten a thing.” Asher pointed at Kennedy’s full plate. “Are you okay?”

His attention startled her, bringing her back into the conversation. “I’m fine. I’m not very hungry.” She was loath to let the arousal in her body drift away. Her body tingled with life, more alive than she could remember ever feeling. She pulled in a deep breath and let it out. “But the food was delicious, Michelle. Thank you to both of you for the meal and the chance to be a part of this conversation.”

Asher casually fingered a lock of her hair. The gesture sent electric sparks tripping in her chest. “Thank you for the run. It felt good to stretch my legs and have some fun.” His smile lit up his face, and she knew they shared the excitement of the run as only were-cats could. If there were more to it than that … well, she was sure there wasn’t for him.

“It was good. Especially since it was the first snow of the season.” She didn’t dare look at Asher. Her heart beat raw and erratic. Geez, she’d almost said the run was magical.

While each of them helped clear the table, Casey walked up behind Michelle and pulled her in close. “Delicious meal, honey. Asher and I have some things to discuss in the den. I’ll help you with this cleanup after we talk.”

“No problem. Kennedy and I can catch up.”

As Casey led Asher out of the kitchen, he tossed a wink at Kennedy. He’d given her a simple gesture, but it lit up her heart at the same time it assured her everything would be all right. Exactly what, she didn’t know, but the general promise was a gift. It meant he knew her needs and he cared. With a wink, he’d touched her deeply. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she stood in the kitchen helpless to stop them.

“Kennedy, what’s going on?” Michelle turned away from the counter and stepped up close to her. “Here, let’s go into the family room.”

Kennedy followed Michelle and slumped into the deep cushions on the couch. Michelle sat close, resting her arm across Kennedy’s shoulders. Kennedy’s body was rigid for good reason. In her life with her parents, a soft gesture from them typically came teamed with pain and deception. Perform well and get a hug, followed by a lecture about being haughty—a lecture that would bring her to her lowest and provoke tears. She had never known any other way. Without thought, her body would stiffen in an attempt to lessen the hurt. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Her feelings melted, and even a stranglehold on her control couldn’t stop them.

“Kennedy, you have nothing to apologize for and nothing to explain. Not until you’re ready.” Michelle dipped her head to grab Kennedy’s gaze with her own. “If you can be present with what you’re experiencing, you’ll get useful information. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s very brave. And I’ll stay with you in that place.”

Kennedy’s muscles resisted relaxing. Muscle memory kept them tight and vigilant. But weariness heavied her heart. She leaned her head against Michelle’s shoulder and breathed deeply and slowly. She savored Michelle’s scent of lavender. It tempted her with thoughts of home, though no home she’d ever known, only dreamed of. Silence filled the room with a palpable sense of acceptance. The clock on the mantel ticked out the time, but neither of them moved or spoke.

• • •

Casey slipped into the chair behind his desk and motioned Asher to take a seat in front of him. Asher had been in Casey’s study before, but it had been a while. He glanced around, taking it all in before Casey spoke.

Tall shelves of books lined the room, giving a sense of being held by words. Asher admired and respected Casey’s intellect. The décor of his study fit his personality from the somber reference books to the playfulness of a collection of antique toys. Expansive windows on one wall brought nature up close. With his keen, were-cat vision, Asher saw into the darkness outside and savored the way the treetops swayed in the wind and snowflakes fluttered down to rest on dry leaves.

“What’s up, Asher? Out with it.” Casey tapped a pen to the top of his desk and slanted his head.

In the grip of Casey’s gaze, Asher’s reputation as a reckless and inappropriate goofball shone in neon green. He knew that was his reputation, and in the past he’d messed up, but right now he felt misjudged. He pursed his lips, knowing he was not just those things. “I read a small article on the AP wire this morning that made me cringe a bit.”

Casey sat up straight, his back rigid. “What was it about?”

“A small, privately owned company called Phoenix Biosciences has made a large donation to Daren Sage’s campaign fund. The company’s name gave me pause, so I looked it up. It specializes in genome and nanotechnological research, with the stated goal of curing major diseases.”

Casey frowned. “I see why it made you cringe.”

“Right. It could easily be a new angle for The Nexus Group to achieve its goals.”

Casey nodded. “What about this Daren Sage? What’s the connection there?”

“Senator Daren Sage was also backed by William Carter Enterprises.” Asher stood and paced across the carpeted floor. The threat from The Nexus Group crept up his spine, filling him with urgent need to do something. Take action.

Casey stood and strolled in front of Asher’s path. He put a hand to Asher’s shoulder. “This is a good catch, Asher. You’ve got good investigative skills. Do you have time to explore further?”

“I’ll make time. My schedule is always hectic, but I can make time without neglecting my sportswriting.” Determination welled in his chest. “I appreciate your trust, Casey.”

“You’ve earned it, Asher. If you need help, let me know. Asia is a great resource, with her research and writing experience, and of course Sterling and Lacey Aegar are highly skilled investigators.”

Asher nodded, but had little intention of asking anyone for help. This was his opportunity to do something truly meaningful for his colony.”

“Okay, then. You’ll get started right away?”

“I’ll get started tonight.” Energy thrummed within him, urging him to grab onto the flow and use it to learn all he could. And underneath it rumbled the powerful need to make amends for ruining his brother’s life by helping others caught in TNG’s destructive plans.

“I think you should start tomorrow. It’s early. Spend some time with Kennedy, if you want.” Casey gave him a pointed look. “That’s not an order. Just a suggestion.” Casey slanted him a knowing grin.

If ever he’d gotten an approval that counted to court a woman, this was it. It didn’t get any more significant than the leader of his colony. He couldn’t suppress the smile that came from his heart and opened on his face.