Freakn' Shifters Bundle (3-in-1) (70 page)

Damn. Stupid cat got it right. He was her mate. She could deny it and fight it all she wanted. In the end, the fever would consume her and she’d crawl to him begging for his mark.

Screw that. Gina Greco didn’t get on her knees for anybody. Okay, unless she was giving head. But that was different! So how to solve this dilemma? She knew enough of the mating fever to know once it struck, the clock began ticking, faster and faster until they gave each other the mark in a mindless frenzy. There was only one acceptable solution.

Bite her pussycat first and claim him on her terms. And if he pulled any of his macho bullshit, she’d chase his feline ass up as tree.

Sitting hunched, she must have dozed off because she woke to a rude, “Still awake, bitch?” Her captor sidled up to her cage.

Oh if she could have one shot, just one, perfectly timed punch to the face, she’d erase the smirk Kaleb regarded her with. “You’ll regret doing this, human.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking in my boots.”

“You should because if I ever get out of this cage, I’m going to find you. Handcuff you to a chair –”

“Sounds kinky, no wonder my little Chinaman likes you,” he interrupted with a leer.

“– strip you.”

“This is getting better and better.”

“Then I’m going to wrap dental floss around your balls, and pull it so freakn’ tight, those babies will turn black and fall off.”

“And then?” Kaleb smirked, not at all bothered by her threat.

“I’ll make you eat them.”

“Lay one finger on me and I’ll show you how many ways there are to torture a person and keep them alive.

It seemed Sheng didn’t nap after all because he said, “I don’t think so. You want to use me as a stud, then you’ll leave my woman alone.”

Kaleb whirled from Gina to her pussycat. “Oh ho. So the cat finally admits she’s his. Should I punish you for your earlier lie?”

“Not if you want me to cooperate.”

“If I agree to leave her untouched, you’ll breed her?”

“Yes.” Sheng didn’t look too happy, but he agreed to Kaleb’s terms.

“Prove it. Take her, right here, right now. I’ll have my men toss her into your cage.”

Okay this took voyeurism to a level Gina didn’t like. “Excuse me, but I don’t do live sex shows. And I don’t care what video some people say they saw on Youtube. It wasn’t me.”

“What’s she’s trying to say, in her usual delicate fashion, is no,” Sheng added. “I won’t be watched like an animal. Any breeding we do, we’ll do in private.”

“Only? That kind of sucks. Public sex can be so much fun.” Gina pouted.

“Would you shut up?”” Sheng hissed.

“A lover’s quarrel, what fun. While I’d love to watch, you’re distracting me from my work. How about you decide on the whole public sex thing after a nap.”

Gina would have said she wasn’t tired, but something pricked her in the side. She peeked down to see a feathered tuft sticking from her skin.

“Drugs don’t wor–” she couldn’t finish the thought, darkness grabbed her so quickly.

*

Mouth tasting like a toilet – a fact Gina unfortunately knew due to party years (still ongoing) – Gina raised her head and peered blearily around her. Blink. Stare. Blink. Stare.

Nope, still definitely the weirdest place she’d ever woken up in. It looked like a cross between a dungeon, and a cage. A big cage, but still a freakn’ cage.

What the hell?

Up she sprang, swaying a little as her sluggish body fought to catch up. Gina whipped her head from side to side, checking out the joint. Then flicked her gaze back left. Yup, a much too relaxed Sheng – if you ignored his semi erect cock that twitched higher the more she stared – lay on the floor, naked, rumpled haired, bristly jawed, and looking like the most luscious piece of ass ever. She couldn’t help the heat between her legs. Her naked legs. Shit, who undressed her?

Clarity returned quick as the possible answers narrowed themselves into equally distasteful options. Nothing sore. Sniff. No strange smells on her skin. It looked like someone stripped her but left the goods alone. “Where are we?”

“Kaleb’s compound in the mountains. Welcome to the lowermost level of Castle Hell, or at least that’s what we called it when I lived here with my family. These are not his best accommodations though. Say hello to the training model. If we behave ourselves while here and follow the rules, we get to move on up to something a little less rustic with an actual bed.”

“This is seriously insane.” She fought down panic. Gina Greco didn’t do girly wimp. “This place is awesome. I am so going to suggest it for next year’s Big Brother Have-Not Room.” Ignoring his shocked expression, she peeked around.

The floor, if you could call it that, since it consisted of concrete covered in itchy, scratchy hay, was about ten by ten, enough for some movement, but small enough to drive her crazy real quick. Stone blocks comprised the back and side walls. The only source of light proved a window high up and covered in thinly spaced – bet you they were silver – bars. The three cement block walls appeared unwashed and scarred with scratches and splotches she preferred not to dwell on. The fourth edge, at her back, comprised floor to ceiling bars. She could feel the tingle of silver in them from two feet away. Shudder.

Furnishings were a one star hotel, hole in the ground replete with a stack of paper, a blanket, and an annoyed looking Asian man.

“Have you gone into shock?” Sheng asked.

“No. I’m just assessing the situation. Looking for a way out, and something to use as a weapon.”

“Shhh.” He slapped his hand over her mouth and dragged her close. “Be careful what you say. They are listening.”

Shit, she’d not even thought of that. Bad cop. Hmmm, now there was an idea for role play later. But for now, while warming quickly at the slight brush of his skin against hers, she instead opted to slant her head until she whispered back in his ear. “Well duh, but if I don’t act in character, a.k.a. new prisoner looking for escape, then they’ll think I’m up to something.”

“Are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Up to something,” he snapped, only to clamp his lips when he realized he practically shouted.

“Of course I am.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to let my family have all the fun when they come to the rescue.”

“They are not coming to the rescue.”

A raspberry on his chest told him what she thought of his reply. “Don’t be silly. Of course they’re coming. It’s my family. Like they’d pass up a chance for some fun.”

“Fun?” he choked out.

“Yeah, I guess this is a little more serious than a party. How about they couldn’t pass up a chance to hit something? There are a lot of boys in my family. The testosterone can get a little heavy. People to hit, outside of family members, are encouraged.”

“So in other words, at Christmas dinner I should wear a jock?”

“And a helmet. My mom’s coming. It should be better than UFC 271.”

“That good, huh?”

“Better. But back to my family getting ready to rescue me, since I don’t want to have to listen for the rest of my life how they had to rescue my fat ass –”

“Absolutely tempting ass,” he corrected.

“– and my cuddly little pussycat from the bad guys. We can’t let that happen. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Excuse me? You did not just call my leopard cuddly.”

“Leopard? How interesting. And here I thought you might be a Siamese.”

“A domestic hairball?” he sputtered.

“Well you are rather snobbish, and I’ll bet you’re high maintenance. But between the baton and my cuffs, I think we can cure those habits.”

“Cuffs?” His gaze took on a smoldering intensity that sucked her breath away. Never had a man ever looked at her with such hunger. And need.

She wanted to feed both. She wanted him.

Gina could see now the whole picture – the rigid man, no more than a boy when he started his hard life, protecting the only thing left to him, a sister. She could see the lover who struggled with his needs, looking for someone he could trust and finally relax with. And finally Sheng, lost and hurt, who needed to learn how to regain his identity, his life, and smile again –
right after I hurt him for being such a dumbass.

“Oh pussycat, we are going to have so much fun when we get out of here. However, if you’re going to be my mate, you’ll have to understand a few things.”

“Mate? What happened to
hell no
?”

“I’m not stupid. I know you belong to me. But just so we’re clear. I don’t share.”

“Me either.”

Yeah, Sheng looked the possessive – borderline stalker – type, which worked, because she had trust issues too. “Oh, I wasn’t talking about you. Although, that goes without saying. I meant I don’t share my steak, or my ice cream, or my chips. Actually, if you want to earn sexual brownie points, bring me home some chips, with dip if you want me to lick it off you.”

“Fair enough. I don’t share the remote.”

“Typical,” she muttered. “Now for the ground rules. One, I am a cop, not a very important one I’ll admit, I mostly patrol parks, the downtown strip and hand out tickets, but still, one day, I might make it to the one of the cool squads, and if I do, I expect you to respect that even if it’s dangerous.”

“Or I could keep you barefoot and pregnant.” Surely he feigned that level of nonchalance?

She gaped at him. “You did not just say that.”

He grinned, mischief dancing – a huge cucaracha with flamboyant can-can dancers – in his eyes. “We’ll get a big house that you need to clean too. Maybe a tiny yappy dog we can name Skittles.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but then got it. “You’re joking with me?”

He snickered. “Of course I am. I might be a little rigid, but even I have kept up with woman’s rights. And besides, can you see me owning a dog? I’m much more a cat person.”

“If you’re Mr. Joe Cool, then what was all that crap about women not able to protect themselves?”

“Best pickup line ever when I was in the circus. Don’t forget I was a teenage boy while cooped up. There weren’t many girls close to my age, but there were some. Challenge a girl to prove she’s tough and you get to cop a feel. From there…”

“You used a pickup move on me?” Gina breathed the question, not daring to believe his nerve.

*
 

Sheng wondered if he should duck, because there were two answers to that question. One got him killed, the other yeah, it probably got him killed too. “Yes, I did.”

“Why? You acted like you didn’t even like me.”

“I hated what you made me feel, but that was because I liked you too much. I don’t get close to people.”

“Understatement of the year,” she muttered.

“I wanted to be with you.”

“Aw, nice line. Is this the part where I say that is so beautiful and swoon in your arms?”

“Not a line. The truth.”

“So what if I say I want to claim you right now? And to hell with who might be watching?”

Sheng winced. Straw left the itchiest marks on the skin. “Can’t we wait for somewhere a little more comfortable?”

Gina approached him, hips swaying, gaze taunting. “Why don’t I just claim you without the sex? After all, it’s the mark that counts.”

Not acceptable, because, dammit, he wanted his cock sunk deep inside her when he finally gave in to his need. Preferably while climaxing.

Stupid camera. He wanted Gina, but not enough to give anyone a show.

Whirling, he took a few short running steps, jumped and twirled in the air, his foot arcing and hitting the lens of the camera nestled in the corner of the wall. A sharp crack made him smile as he landed on his feet in a partial crouch, facing his woman.

“What was that?”

“I call that move the we-have-about-five-to-ten-minutes so get over here.”

Her breathing hitched and the scent of her desire made his mouth water. “We should be looking for a way out.”

“Come here,” he growled. He needed to keep her distracted until he heard a sign. With only his body at hand and no other verbal bombshells…he sacrificed himself.

“Or?”

“There is no or.” He yanked her to him, slanting his mouth over hers.

“Still. No. Bed.” She managed to gasp between caresses.

“The back wall is cold, but smooth.”

She grasped his intent, when he lifted and carried her across the room.

“This is insane,” she hissed as he pressed her against the stone.

“Totally. Feels great!” He hoisted her until her legs clasped his waist while her arms looped around his shoulders. One arm anchored around her torso, he ran his free fingers down her soft skin until he reached the spot between her thighs. Thank freakn’ God she already wanted him. Slick digits slid easily into her heat. He stroked her. Shuddered against her as she moaned and her body tightened.

The distant pop, pop, pop, didn’t stop him. Not now. Just a few more minutes. Screw the signal the assault commenced. He wouldn’t take long to come but he’d have to hurry her along.