The Runaway Cat (Book 2 Cloverleah Pack Series) (12 page)

That wasn’t going to happen now he had resigned.  But Diablo wasn’t sorry about that decision.  If Griff didn’t want him then he would build a new life for himself somewhere close and maybe over time Griff would look past what he had done and want to be with him
.  He was done with the FBI.  They could pay out all they wanted, he didn’t care.  It wasn’t as though Diablo needed the money.  But wait a minute, no. If he was a whore then he could be bloody paid out, otherwise he was just a slut in an FBI suit. And Diablo definitely wasn’t a slut.

Chuffing to himself
at his twisted logic, Diablo almost missed the sound of another animal approaching.  Griff in his wolf form.  Diablo could tell by the delicious scent that filled the air.  Not sure what his cat would do when faced with the man in wolf form, Diablo just stayed where he was listening to Griff coming forward.  Griff wasn’t trying to hide his presence, probably recognizing that Diablo might attack him if he crept up on him. 

A few minutes later a very large grey and black wolf
loped into view.  It stopped when it saw Diablo and Diablo could feel the wolf sizing him up.  Diablo took after his tiger father in size standing just over three and a half feet at the shoulder and weighing close to 400 pounds of pure muscle.  His body was long and his paws and head were huge.  Because Griff was a shifter wolf he was bigger than a typical grey but even so Diablo had a good 150 pounds on the wolf although he knew that in a fight the wolf could give him a run for his money.  Diablo considered shifting because he didn’t want Griff to feel at a disadvantage, but he didn’t want to actually talk right now.  So he lay there and waited to see what the wolf would do.

Griff hadn’t had any trouble finding Diablo.  It wasn’t as though the cat was trying to hide his scent, although Griff was a little worried that he might have climbed a tree which would have made getting close to him a bit awkward.  But when he actually saw him close up and in detail Griff was stunned.  This cat was huge.  Far bigger than Griff had anticipated. Rather than be scared, which he probably should have been, Griff was seriously impressed.

Padding forward slowly Griff put his nose to the ground until he came up to Diablo.  Apart from a low rumble of warning from the cat, Diablo didn’t move. Griff sniffed at him, drinking in his mate’s scent.  The panther truly was magnificent in every way and for some perverse reason the fact that Griff knew that Diablo could kill him in his cat form was actually a turn on for him.  Yeah he must be barmy especially given Griff’s own Alpha tendencies, but shit who couldn’t be blown away by the power in this cat.

This close Griff could see that
said cat had been crying and as he scanned over the cat’s form again he could see the dejected slump of the panther’s powerful shoulders.  He quickly shifted to his human form and kneeling down by the cat he rested his hand on Diablo’s big black head stroking the cat between the ears.  Diablo stopped rumbling and after a few minutes he pushed his head into Griff’s hand actively seeking his touch.  Griff bought up his other hand and stroked and petted Diablo’s head finding the spots that Diablo seemed to like to be touched.  Between his ears, across his cheeks and under his chin seemed to be favorites.  Given how big Diablo was it was unlikely that anybody had touched him in his animal form before, but just like a house cat, he really seemed to enjoy it.

On his part
Griff absolutely loved how soft Diablo’s fur was.  A wolf’s hair was long and coass which wasn’t nearly as sensual to touch as the cats’.  Not that Griff had touched a lot of wolves either.  But Diablo was a perfect contradiction.  Too big and powerful for most to get close to, but soft and delicious if you could get close enough.  A bit like the man himself. Griff hoped Diablo would shift, but when the big cat put his head on Griff’s naked knee and seemed quite happy there, Griff knew he would have to convince his mate to trust him enough to shift first.  He knew that Diablo was hurting and was effectively protecting himself by staying in his animal form.

“You know,” Griff began haltingly, “I don’t think I have had the chance yet to tell you how bloody honored I am that you are my mate.”  Diablo lifted his big yellow eyes to look at Griff’s face but he didn’t move his head from the man’s knee.

“I mean you look at it.  For all intents and purposes I am just a mechanic in small town USA.  An ordinary man and an ordinary enough shifter wolf.” Diablo shook his head but Griff continued.  “Yes, I could be an Alpha wolf, but I didn’t want to be. Yet I have been blessed with not only an amazing man, but an amazing shifter.  The Fates were really looking out for me.”  Diablo was still looking at Griff’s face but his head nudged Griff’s hand.  Griff went back to stroking him, his big hands running down Diablo’s muscled shoulders.

“You, Diablo, are an amazing man because you are loyal, and decent and you do your best despite insurmountable odds.  And you have done it all alone, without anyone to help you or support you.  When I see the size of your cat and the power in your shifted body I am totally awed by the fact that you took so much abuse as a human when you could have easily killed anyone with just one swipe of your big paws.  That tells me you have more strength and more sense of what is right and wrong than just about anyone I have ever met.”

Griff cupped his hands around Diablo’s big head and leaned his face in so close he could almost kiss him.  “I thank the Fates that you are my mate and I will thank them every single day of my life.  I want you more than I want to eat, drink or breathe.  I never want to spend another day without you near me and I want to spend my whole life showing you how much you are loved.  Because I do love you Diablo and I always will. There is nothing on this earth that can change that.”

Diablo looked at Griff’s sincere face with his big yellow eyes and knew that every word that Griff had said was true.  This man loved him no matter what and it was their future that was important not Diablo’s past.  He felt a purr rumble up from his chest and then he quickly shifted, his head still in Griff’s hand
s.  Griff immediately leant in that last little distance and kissed Diablo soundly. Diablo rolled his body so he was lying on his back and pulled Griff down off his knees to lay on top of him, their lips locked together.  When they finally came up for air, Griff laughed.

“I am so glad you shifted sweetie.  I wanted to kiss you so badly and I wasn’t sure I wanted to kiss a cat even one as gorgeous as yours.”

Diablo smiled but his eyes were serious as he spoke. “You are anything but ordinary Griff.  Believe me you are truly amazing both as a man and a wolf.  If anybody should be thanking the Fates then it should be me.  You compliment me in every way.  My cat might be bigger than your wolf, but you are bigger and stronger than me in our human form.  You are calm and laid back where I can tend to be a bit volatile. You have been open and honest with me, even to the point of telling Tony that I was to be in your phone calls for your jobs.  That is a huge deal to me.  I know you are wickedly intelligent even though you try to hide it and you have created a life full of love and good friends.  That is not an easy thing to do.”

He reached up and kissed Griff again before pulling back
and saying softly.  “I can’t tell you that I love you yet because my head is still a bit of a mess and I want to be free of the FBI before that happens.  But believe me when I tell you that I believe in your love for me and that means more to me than you will ever know.  I am totally committed to us and our life together and I don’t ever want to leave your side.”

If Griff was disappointed in what Diablo had said
about loving him he didn’t let it show.  He twined his hands in Diablo’s silky blond hair and kissed him hard, pushing his tongue into Diablo’s mouth as soon as it opened beneath him.  The kiss went on and on and Diablo felt his arousal grow.  By the time Griff pulled his lips from his mate’s both men were breathless and panting hard.  Foreheads pressed together they tried to pull themselves together.

Fuck Griff I need you so badly.

I know, lover, believe me I know, but…

I know, no lube

The joys of shifting lover.

They both laughed. Griff pulled himself to his feet and pulled Diablo up with him. 

“Come on let’s shift and head home.  We’re expected at Kane and Shawn’s for dinner but I am sure we can do something before then.”

Diablo’s eyes gleamed as he shifted into his cat and once Griff was in his wolf form, Diablo nudged his shoulder pushing him to lead them home.
They both took off at a run.

Chapter Thirteen

It wasn’t until they were dressing to go out that Griff bought up the fact that he had promised to phone Tony back the following day.  Diablo was quiet for a moment and seemed to be concentrating hard on smoothing his muscle shirt over his chest.  Looking at Griff who was lounging on the door frame watching him he simply shrugged and said, “Do you know what he wants?”

“Hmmm, yes.  He mentioned something about us going back in to get Corbin.”  When he saw the look of horror on Diablo’s face Griff quickly added, “I didn’t say anything to him except that I had to go and find you.  You are the priority for me, nothing else.”

“Fuck, what day is it?”

“Monday.” 

“Christ I can’t wait until Friday when my bloody resignation is final.”

Griff pushed himself up off the door frame and grabbed Diablo in his arms. He loved the fact that Diablo wrapped his own arms around Griff’s waist and held him close.

“Neither one of us is going to do anything that we are not comfortable with, okay.
  We will hear Tony out and then we will tell him no.  It’s as simple as that.”

Diablo nodded and Griff held him for a minute more before turning around and heading out the door with Diablo tucked under his arm.

“Now let’s go meet the pack.”

“Oh God I think that is making me even more nervous.”  But Diablo was laughing as he said it.

“They will love you, you’ll see.”  Griff was quietly confident that they would as they walked out the door.

Because Diablo hadn’t got his bike back yet the two men did the five minute journey in Griff’s SUV. 
Diablo was quiet but his hand rested in Griff’s all the way.  Griff took a look at his lover, dressed in his customary black with his blond hair free and hanging down his back.  Griff realized that Diablo had told him that he didn’t have much in the way of friends at all and with being a cat shifter he probably had no idea about how important the pack was to Griff.  Yet Diablo had also said that he wanted Griff to be able to stay with the pack, so maybe he did understand that much.  Griff trusted his friends and he just hoped that no-one would make Diablo feel uncomfortable.  As they pulled up in front of Kane and Shawn’s huge house he saw Diablo look at it and then at the woods beyond with a sense of longing on his face.

“No running Diablo, please.”

“I know Griff, but I have no idea how to act with a pack.  Solitary animals and all that.”  Diablo tried to smile but he was really nervous.  He knew if Griff’s pack didn’t like him then that would make life really hard for Griff.

Griff opened his door and stepped out pulling Diablo out with him.

“Don’t think of them as pack.  Think of them as my annoying family, my best friends.  We don’t do the pack dynamic here.  We are all just guys that happen to be gay wolf shifters who all work together at Custom Rides.”

“They don’t know about your work with Tony right?”

“Kane and Shawn do, as I told you before but it is not something we ever talk about especially in front of the others.”  Griff was leading Diablo up the path to the porch.

“So you see my problem.”  Diablo stopped Griff and looked at him in the eye.  “The first question people ask about you is ‘what do you do’?  I have been an undercover agent for seven years.  I can hardly talk about that and I don’t want to be lying to people who are your friends.”  While Diablo’s voice appeared calm Griff could sense the underlying panic.

“You can tell them you are an undercover agent but that you can’t talk about anything specific. They will understand that. You can also tell them that you are soon to be retired and that you are looking at starting your own security business.” Griff leaned in for a quick kiss.  “See no lying involved. You should be more worried about the fact that you claimed me while I was drunk because I am sure they are going to be more interested in that aspect than anything else.”

“Way to make me feel better Griff,” Diablo laughed.  He could see Kane at the door waiting for them. 
It was time to meet Griff’s pack.

/~/~/~/

The evening started off easily enough.  As soon as Griff and Diablo got inside the house Kane introduced Diablo to Scott, Troy and Dean and then went to get them drinks.  Shawn had them all go sit at a huge dining room table that easily fitted all seven men. The food was good and the conversation seemed general enough to keep Diablo’s nerves at bay.

Diablo learned a lot through listening to others.  He guessed it was habit more than anything else, but as the others spoke he also saw how the pack related to each other as a group.  Kane and Shawn were undoubtedly the Alpha’s and just as obviously were deeply committed to each other.  Kane in particular seemed obsessed with continually touching Shawn in one way or another.  Nothing sexual but as if he needed the continual reassurance that the other man was there.

Shawn on the other hand was like the power behind the throne.  He was as quiet as Diablo and he watched everything that went on around him.  Diablo had inadvertently caught his eye a couple of times and Shawn just gave a shy smile and looked away. Shawn’s devotion to Kane was harder to pick and only showed in stark honesty when Shawn looked directly at Kane.  Then his eyes gave away just how much in love he was with his mate. Diablo knew that Kane and Shawn had only been together about two to three months and he felt quietly happy in himself that he and Griff would reach that same level of intimacy just as quickly.

The twins were so totally different it was hard to pick that they were even brothers except for the fact that they were identical, in
every physical way.  Scott was the brighter of the two in terms of how he dressed, styled his hair and his personality. He injected a lot of sexual innuendo into his comments but Diablo wondered how much of that was a ruse to stop the others from learning too much about him. Troy on the other hand was dressed more conservatively, his hair left to fall where it may and he didn’t offer a lot in terms of conversation although when he did respond to others in the group he seemed to be intelligent and he had a wicked sense of humor.  Both men were about six foot tall with a wealth of muscles combined with shaggy blond hair and clear handsome faces.  Diablo knew that as Beta wolves these two men would be good fighters and as he watched them interact with each other with such familiarity he could see they would make a powerful duo in a fight.

The Omega of the pack, Dean could easily be overlooked.  He was the smallest of everyone present and he too kept quiet a lot of the time.  Dean was interesting with his thin features, pale complexion and deep auburn hair and Diablo guessed that within a couple of years he would be a real stunner to look at.  As it was he was slim and obviously worked hard at being inconspicuous.
But Diablo could see that Dean too possessed a lot of intelligence and he seemed to be a genuinely caring guy. It wouldn’t do for anyone to underestimate the smallest man at the table.

Diablo knew it was a really bad habit to size people up when he was with them, but it was just the way he was. Working for the FBI often meant that if he didn’t make the right judgments first time, then his life could be on the line.  From what Diablo could work out Dean had accepted him on face value for who he was, as had Troy and Scott.  It was difficult to know what Shawn was thinking but it was Kane that was going to be a problem for Diablo. 

It wasn’t so much in the things Kane said. It wasn’t even in the way he said anything. On the surface of it Kane was friendly and charming.  Diablo assumed this was a typical Alpha thing.  But Diablo had caught Kane looking at him with narrowed eyes a couple of times and he had a horrible feeling in his gut that this evening was not going to end well. Being Griff’s best friend, his Alpha, his cousin and his boss meant that Kane had a lifetime of caring for Griff and Diablo could tell that Kane was not happy with Griff’s choice of mate for some reason. For now Diablo just ate his meal, kept a pleasant expression on his face and kept learning as much as he could about the men he was eating with.

On the plus side what was really
great to see was just how relaxed Griff was with his pack.  He laughed and joked and took their ribbing, giving a lot in return and Diablo could see he was really in his element. Griff was handsome at any time but when he was happy his green eyes sparkled and his whole face lit up.  Diablo thought he looked truly beautiful.

Griff didn’t make Diablo feel excluded either.  He would explain some of the comments the others made about stories in their past and
like Kane with Shawn, Griff touched him a lot.  Little things like brushing shoulders, holding his arm or running his finger down Diablo’s leg.  It made Diablo feel warm inside and while he wasn’t sure why, he sure as hell liked it.  As the men slowly came to the end of the meal Diablo started to hope that he and Griff could make a hasty exit before anything went wrong.  Diablo seriously wanted to go home and fuck his mate senseless.