Claiming Their Cat (9 page)

Cat
shook her head furiously. Surely three minutes had passed.

“I think you like being naughty just so I can spank you.”

Her “No” sounded guttural even to her.

“But I can smell your arousal. I don’t even have to touch you to know that. I bet it’s dripping hot and sweet, begging for my cock.”

Yes, it was, but no, she would not give in.
The pressure was removed from her hole only to be replaced by more lube.
Then the plug slipped in. Pain and pleasure swirled. Then another smack.

He must have felt the shudder roll through her. “And we haven’t even got to the good part.”

“You asshole.”

He laughed, a deep teasing one.
Surely, four minutes were gone.
Note to self—negotiate stopwatch
. She smiled. She was going to win.

“Are you ready, my sweet?”

Huh? Ready for what?

Rio
leaned forward, covered her back with his chest. He reached around and fondled one breast. It was swollen from hormones, sensitive to his hot hand. A vibrating sound accompanied the ripple that started inside her as he pinched her nipple to the point of pain. Oh
,
my God. The butt plug was vibrating.

One hand snaked below her belly and grasped his erection.
His hips banged against hers, jarring her in an animal way.
Rio
’s
hand pumped his cock, and the butt plug vibrated.
Her pussy clenched, missing something, wanting, no needing to be filled. His cock didn’t touch her clit—damn it. All reason left her; she
spread her legs wider to
dip down
and
press against his member. His cock slid so wonderfully against her clit.
Oh, yes.

It all was too much. With a hoarse cry, her orgasm erupted in a swirling vortex. Wave after wave ripped through her, shattering her body and her mind. Pure ecstasy consumed her, threatening to render her unconscious. His growl startled her as he bucked harder. Warm cum spurted on the bottom of her belly.
He collapsed against her back, his breathing ragged, her breathing ragged.

“My
seductive
Cat, you almost killed me. I’ll have to collect my winnings at a later date.”

Her arms gave out, and she rolled to her side.

Note to self—negotiate a time
limit
to claim
the prize
.

When they pulled past an eerie gate with several men standing around sporting big nasty- looking guns and up to a creepy, dark mansion, she marveled
at
how things had gone from bad to worse. After buying some clothes and other things from Wal-Mart, she’d slept most of the day in the gently rolling truck, so she had no clue where they were. Several unsavory people milled around on the steps
with
rows of motorcycles parked out front.

Forget about asking for help from these people. Rio was frightening in his own way and may want to turn her in for the money, but she had a feeling th
is rough-looking gang
would put her on the fast
track back to Alvarez.

Fear swamped her when he killed the engine, removed his glasses, and turned to her with concern etched on his face. “Listen. Stay close to me in here. These people can be a little overbearing. Don’t let them intimidate you. They thrive on that. Use
that
smart mouth and quick wit of yours, and you’ll be fine.”

If the house and
men
out front hadn’t scared her, Rio’s warning just did.

She waited for him to help her from the vehicle, because there was no way in hell she was venturing out without with him. After he closed the door and hit the lock button, she found herself pulled into an embrace with a long, slow kiss. He pulled back and winked at her. “Just staking my claim.”

No one had ever
staked a claim
on her, and he having to do it only heightened her fear. He escorted her up the stone steps, his hand pressing gently into her back. There was no doubt that he could feel her shaking in her flip-flops. One of the biggest, ugliest guys stepped in front of them, blocking the door. Rio quickly pulled her behind him.

“You know we don’t allow visitors, especially without a taste,” the man dressed as a biker said.
When was the last time this man had bathed?

“She’s with me, and I don’t answer to you, asshole. I came to see Draco. Now move your carcass out of the way before I send you to hell.” Rio’s voice scared the shit out of her, too. It was cold and hard and a little wild.

“I don’t think so,” the
man
said. “She smells like a hot little snack.”

Cat blinked at the absurdness of the man. Didn’t he know this was Rabid Rio? What did a snack have to do with anything? Maybe this was an insane asylum. In the next blink, Rio’s hand held a lethal gun that looked like a short shotgun at the two men on the right. They reached for their pistols tucked in front of their pants, but decided to hold their hands up instead.

The
idiot
who’d spoke whimpered. Of course, she had to look now that Rio wasn’t holding her back. She peeked around him and couldn’t decide if she should smile or grimace for the
biker
. Rio had
him
by the balls
,
practically standing on his tiptoes.

The
massive front
door opened, and another scary man stepped out. He wore a black robe open, and
nothing
else. She ducked behind Rio as her face flushed.

“Rio,
my friend,
what brings you here?” The deep voice was so seductive, she was unable to resist and peaked around Rio.

“Draco, you’d better call your dog off unless you want him gelded.”

“Really? I thought maybe you had something else in mind for him.” The
naked
one
nodded, and the
bikers
to her right slinked away. Rio let go of the one
he had by the balls
, and
the brute
sank to his knees
, gripping his privates
. The one called Draco stepped over the
cringing
man and held his hand out to her. “Come, my dear. I apologize for the poor reception. I will
personally handle h
is punish
ment
.” Warning bells screamed in her brain. His eyes, an unusual purple color, held hers captive.
As if in a trance,
her hand extended toward his.

Rio clasped her hand and pulled it to his chest. Using his finger, he turned her head towards his and whispered. “Don’t ever look into his eyes.”

She blinked. Okay. Right. No eyes. What in the hell just happened to her?

Rio tucked her under his arm and led her into the house. She kept her eyes focused on this Draco’s robe swirling at his feet.
Creepy. Just creepy.

When they stopped walking, Rio dragged her down on a couch beside him. She stole a glance at
Draco
. He
sat
in an ornate gold
throne
and did nothing to cover his naked…thing. T
wo nude, but extremely beautiful women
, stood beside him
. Her eyes zeroed in on the bites on their necks and their breasts.

Okay, change
insane
asylum to weird-kinky asylum.

“Is there anything that I can get you? Some red wine, perhaps?”

“No,” replied Rio a little too quickly. “We’re good.”

“Then what can I do for you, because you’ve never stepped into my abode unless you want something.”

“You’re so right. I need to ask you a favor, but in private.”

“Private or,” Draco wagged his eyebrows. “Private, private?”

Rio hated for
Draco to put Cat into a trance, but there was no way he
’d
leav
e
her alone in this vampire den
to have a private conversation
. Draco ruled with an iron fist, but rogues
existed
in every species. He wouldn’t risk one of these bloodsuckers tapping her vein. Yeah, Rio would kill anyone who touched her, and only Draco could wipe the incident from her mind, but he didn’t want to go to that extreme. “Freeze-frame.”

Draco arched a dark eyebrow and nodded. In an instant, all the people in the entire room paused. Rio looked at Cat, her eyes fixed on Draco. He waved his hand in front of her face just to be sure. Trusting Draco was something he wouldn’t do, but he needed one of Draco’s skills.

“Now that I have your pretty lady in a trance, I can’t wait for you to tell me what this is all about.”

“As I said before, I need a favor.”

“And you do know I get something in return?”
Draco smiled
showing
his white fangs
.

“I do, but it’s not going to be her.” It was true that if Draco wanted Cat, Rio couldn’t kill them all, but he’d sure put a hurting on
as many as he could
. Coming here was a risk he hoped he wouldn’t regret.

“She’s your mate?”

“Yes, but even if she weren’t, I would never bring you a sacrifice.”

“Ah, that’s right. You’re one of the righteous ones. You think vampires are the stink of the devil.”

That was a fairly accurate picture. “No. I just can’t wrap my head around humans being food.”

“They are food, and we can’t survive without them. But we always leave the humans either sexually satisfied or with a feeling of euphoria.”

“Not all of you
are so gracious.” Vampires had a cleanup crew just like werewolves did.

“No. There are rogues, even
wer
ewolves
ones. Is she carrying your baby?”

Rio wasn’t surprised that Draco got around to that question. He shook his head. “I don’t know whose baby it is, but
it
doesn’t matter to me.”

“That’s right. You werewolves welcome all children.”

“Yes.”
That must be why vamps can’t have them.

Draco seemed to ponder the answer. Women and children, were
wolves
or not, were cherished. It was the pack mentality; something vamps didn’t have.

“Enough about our differences, what can I do for you?”

“I need you to persuade, gently of course, someone to give you access to something.”

Draco grinned. “Can you be more specific?”

“You need to get something from a good friend of mine, and I don’t want you to snack on her.”

“What? Take all the risk and not enjoy the spoils
?
You’d think I’d do that for you and keep my word?”

“I can only hope.” An uneasy feeling settled over Rio. He should have known he couldn’t negotiate with a vamp.

“What does she have that you need?”

“A letter written by Cat. I need to know who it’s addressed to.”

“And you couldn’t ask your
special
friend for it.”

“I did, but she sided with Cat.”

Draco grinned. “So you want me to help you betray your Cat and your friend?”

The word betrayal churned in his gut
. Was saving someone’s family
because she’s too stubborn for her own good
a betrayal? If it w
as
, it was a risk he was going to take.
He didn’t want Cat to lose her family
when he was more than capable for protecting them. And he didn’t want to argue with her about it either.
“Yes. I think she addressed this letter to family. I need to know where they live so I can protect them.”

“Protect them from whom?”

“Jose Alvarez.”

Draco bared his fangs. “The slimy little cartel leader.”

Rio was
surprised
Draco
knew of Alvarez. Vamps didn’t get into other’s business, so Draco must have had a run in with him. “He’s into more than drugs. Human trafficking.”

“So he preys on his own race.”

Hope bloomed in Rio. Maybe Draco had a sliver of humanity in
him
after all.

“Why haven’t you killed him?”

“I have to get Cat safe first.”

Draco nodded. “I will help your Cat,” he gestured toward her still form, “but it will cost you.”

“Name your price.” Rio held his breath as dread filled his soul, knowing Draco could take whatever he wanted.

“Since she’s your mate, I suppose fucking her is out of the question.”

Rio’s fangs extended along with his claws. “That is definitely out.”

“Pity. I bet it’s sweet and tight.”

Rio snapped his teeth together and forced himself not to rise to the bait. His wolf paced, snarled at the insult. It was true, but coming from Draco’s lips made her sound cheap.

Draco grinned. “Tell you what
.
I’ll get the info on this letter from your lady friend, and I won’t taste her.”

“Or fuck her?”

“Damn, you know me too well. Or fuck her. And you’ll just owe me one.”

Rio couldn’t believe it. Where was the shrewd Draco he once knew? The man that ruled with only his selfishness in mind? “Now, you’re scaring me.”

Draco threw his head back and laughed. “It
is
out of character for me, but I respect your mate and if her family is in trouble, I want to help.”

Since when?

Rio’s nostrils flared. Draco’s scent said he was telling the truth, but he wouldn’t put it past this vamp to have somehow mastered the smell of a lie. Of course, owing somebody didn’t sit well with Rio, but his mate may have family. If Alvarez found out, it would be a massacre.

“Okay. Whenever you need me, whatever you need, all you need is to ask.”

“Well, you can always hope I won’t ever need you.”

Rio grinned. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

Draco laughed again. Apparently, Rio was amusing to the vamp. “Now, who is this lady friend of yours and where can I find her?

“Her name is Lucy, and she’s one of my best friends.” Rio told him where her clinic was and where she lived.

“Not to worry, I will find her and this precious letter and not lay a fang on her.”

Rio gave him his cell number and then Draco released them from the trance. Cat move
d
as Draco’s two feeders blinked.

Rio stood and pulled Cat to her feet. “Thanks for your help, Draco.”

“No problem.”

Rio wasted no time in hauling a protesting Cat out the door and back into the truck.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“Yes. Your condition makes you extremely tired.’

“I’m never so tired that I’d fall asleep in front of strangers.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was boring man talk.”

“Man talk? That usually comes with spitting and scratching your balls.”

He smiled. “We did neither. You hungry?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“And it’s not working.”

“Who was that creepy guy? That place was scary. Those people were scary. The
re’s no way I’d fall asleep in S
caryville.”

“Those people are different, that’s all.”

“Yeah, scary is different.”

“Let’s grab a steak and then get some sleep.”

Food yes, sex no. She blushed recalling last night’s tryst. She feigned a yawn hoping he’d take the hint. “Yeah, sleep sounds wonderful.” She couldn’t let things get out of hand tonight.

She was so lost in her thoughts it surprised her when he whipped into a fancy steak house. “I’m not dressed for this place. Wal-Mart doesn’t eat here.” Rio had bought her some comfortable clothes and cotton underwear—thank God—even though Rio scowled at her selections. He also purchased her makeup, shampoo and a wonderful I-can’t-wait brush, which she hadn’t had time to put it to the test.

“Don’t worry. I have a private room reserved. I come here all the time dressed in jeans, and they’ve never thrown me out.”

Yeah, she’d like to see them try. When in the hell did he make the reservation? While she was sleeping in
C
reepyville?

She wasn’t a prude, but this place was fancy enough to have valet
parking
. Her floppy sundress was only one-step above sweats. Rio pulled his dusty truck behind a sleek black sedan and acted as if it belonged there. A valet with pimples who couldn’t be old enough to drive rushed to open her door. She took his hand and slipped none too gracefully from the seat. “Thank you.”

The young man
grinned before trotting around to take the keys from Rio. “Hey, Kevin, take care of my truck for me.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Rio.”

These people knew his real name? Rio met her on the sidewalk, his long coat swirling around him. Inside, the looks some of the well-dressed patrons gave them was one of disbelief. Rio, in his well-worn jeans, black duster, black cowboy hat, and scuffed cowboy boots, didn’t seem to notice. Oh hell, he probably didn’t care. The maître d’ greeted Rio as a long lost friend and quickly led them back to a secluded room. Rio certainly had these people fooled. Did Rio always eat in this room because he was afraid someone might recognize him? Or was this just because he had a prisoner this time?

They were seated at a table with white starched linens, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware. Rio’s dark rugged looks contrasted severely against the uptown things, but he acted as if he’d done this a thousand times. A killer with a taste for the finer things in life? Who knew?

Rio ordered them both sweet teas. The maître d’ raised a bushy brow. Perhaps she should tell him she didn’t care if he drank
something stronger
. Maybe he’d drink so much she could escape. “I don’t care if you have something stronger.”

“No. Tea is fine.”

Well, it was worth a try.

After he requested a pitcher of tea, they both ordered steak, Rio’s rare, hers
well done
. Suddenly
,
her belly was grumbling. What she would give for a glass of wine, but that was out of the question. A different server brought in the tea. She was cute in her little red jacket, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off Rio. But hell, Cat couldn’t blame her. Rio was
eye-candy
.

Too bad, he was a straight
-
up killer, which brought her back to escaping. Maybe she could excuse herself to the ladies
’
room and ask for help. Who wouldn’t bend over backwards and help a pregnant lady? Someone would surely help her get away from such an intimidating man.

After the waiter left, Rio stood and removed his duster. “No one in this place will help you.”

How can he possible know what I’m thinking? Is my face a dead giveaway?

She decided to change the subject. “So, you come here often?”

“Every time I’m passing through.”

“Through to where?”

“My home. We’ll be there when you wake up.”

“Are we driving all night?

“I am. I’ll bet you’ll be asleep when we get there.” His smile said he was teasing. It was true; she did sleep a lot. He was devilishly handsome when he smiled. She wondered if he smiled when he killed his victims. No, he probably snarled.

“We need to talk,” he said.

“I agree. When are you going to let me leave?”

“I can protect you.”

“I don’t want your protection. I don’t
need
your protection. I’m trying to save you a lot of trouble.”
Along with your sorry life.

He shifted his big frame in the chair. “I have a proposition for you.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he forged ahead. “Answer a few questions for me. What is the most important thing to you right now?”

Okay, was this a trick question?
“My baby, of course.”

A new life for an old one.

“And you need Alvarez…out of the picture.”

The whole world need
ed
Alvarez out the picture. She nodded and swallowed hard, doubting she
could
ever forgive herself for using a baby to gain access to Alvarez. In the end, she had nothing left but the child and a whole lot of trouble.

Rio took her hand and engulfed it in both of his. “I promise to keep you and your baby safe. I’d die before letting anything happen to you two.”

“Call me crazy, but I have to ask. Why?”

His thumb swirled over her wrist in a soothing manner. “I’ve always protected the innocent.”