Chapter 19
Cat
As I stepped into Sliver’s car after work, I noticed that he was alone. “Riding solo tonight?”
“Yeah, with everyone preparing for the party over at the clubhouse, we’re kind of shorthanded,” he explained.
I felt bad to be such a burden. “You didn’t have to come and get me. I could have driven myself.”
Sliver grinned big. “Nah, I’m grateful I’m driving you. Ringo drew the short straw and had to clean toilets.”
I erupted into laughter. “That stinks.”
“Literally!” He teased. “He sent me a few pics earlier, and let’s just say some of the guys need to see a doctor ASAP!”
As soon as we got back to my apartment, I spotted an orange stray lovingly named Butter Bean by the people who lived in the complex. The fat tom cat was sitting on the top stoop and cleaning his front paws like he owned the place.
Butter Bean was a friendly, albeit streetwise, orange tiger that had been part of a catch and release program that neutered strays. Once they’d been given a clean bill of health, the volunteers freed them back onto the streets where they were most comfortable.
Everyone in our complex fed the sassy tom cat and his plump physique attested to a life well lived. Whenever Butter Bean needed to go to the vet, the lady in 5B, who had three cats of her own, volunteered to catch him and bring him to hers.
As I approached the oversized orange menace, he stopped cleaning himself and hurriedly got to his feet.
“Hey there, handsome,” I cooed, as I usually did. Unlike usual, the hair on his back rose, taking on the distinct appearance of a mohawk.
Pausing in midstride, I tried to figure out why he was so spooked. “What’s wrong, boy?” I asked in a soft, reassuring voice. “You know me.”
Butter Bean sniffed the air and crouched. Then, he did something I’d never seen him do. He hissed, yowled, and began to creep backward like he didn’t want to take his eyes off of me.
Sliver was standing beside me now, though I hadn’t even heard him approach.
“I think something’s wrong with him,” I said with concern. “He’s never acted like this before. He’s usually so friendly.”
Sliver shrugged. “It might be me. My buddy just got a rottweiler puppy and I was tossing a ball to him earlier today. I’m sure I still smell like the pup, and it’s making the old man nervous.”
My apartment building was dog friendly. I’d seen Butter Bean continue to snooze while the neighbor’s German Shepard stepped directly over him while going on his morning walk.
This aggression was really out of character for him.
I wondered if I should let Ms. Bitman in Five B know about this so she could take him to the vet and get him checked out.
Butter Bean didn’t hang around long after his hissy fit. As though he were trying to be stealthy, he stole away, his body low to the ground as he disappeared into the shrubbery that ringed the building.
Because I had so much to do, I promptly forgot about the cat and let us into my apartment. When Sliver had deemed the place safe, I jumped directly into the shower to get ready for the party. After I was done, I put on a robe and headed to my closet to pick out my outfit.
I’d seen what the other women wore the last time I’d visited the club.
The words tight, skimpy, and revealing, all came to mind.
Since Ace told me about this party, I’d been giving my wardrobe a lot of thought.
Wanting to look sexy for the handsome biker, I riffled through my options as I bit my lower lip.
When I landed on a slinky, pink Lycra, body shaping dress that I’d purchased on a whim at the mall the other day with Anna, I wondered if I was brave enough to wear it.
The flattering garment displayed all my curves perfectly, especially my chest. Extracting the dress from my closet, I slipped out of my robe and stood in front of the mirror, holding the soft material against the length of my body.
Since I was having “the talk” with Ace about exclusivity tonight, I wanted to look my best. I thought this dress, given how well it hugged my body, certainly would be able to help me accomplish that.
“Be brave, Cat,” I coached myself, because it wasn’t typically in my nature.
A small smile crept across my lips then.
I’m not sure what had gotten into me tonight—maybe Ace later, if I was lucky—but I decided to go for it.
Picking out a very skimpy pair of matching panties, I stepped into them, then slipped the buttery soft fabric over my head.
The dress had a built-in bra and slithered into place down my frame like a dream.
Situating the material into place, I ran back into the bathroom to do my makeup and style my hair, which I’d decided to let air dry after scrunching with some soft-set moose.
When I came back out, I began to admire my reflection in the mirror, imagining what it would feel like for Ace to run his hands up and down my body.
Just as I was getting to the good part, my phone rang, interrupting my fantasy.
Jogging over to my bed, I checked the number. I didn’t recognize it, though it was local. Breaking my typical habit of letting it go to voicemail, I made the mistake of answering out of sheer curiosity.
A smooth, deep male voice spoke, sending shivers down my spine. Not the good kind, either. The kind that nightmares and police reports were made of.
“Hey Kitty Cat,” Kane purred into the receiver. “You miss me, babe? I’ve sure missed you.”
My throat constricted and I couldn’t breathe. It took me several seconds to be able to reclaim the ability to talk. “Where did you get this number?” Not that it mattered, I was changing it as soon as we hung up.
Kane made a clicking sound with his tongue to showcase his disapproval.
“You’ve been a very bad girl, Kitty Cat.
Hiding from me. Using that pathetic MC like a shield between us.
But they can’t hide you forever. I can be patient.
I can bide my time. As soon as they slip up, and they will slip up, I’m going to find you and make you mine.
Just the thought of slamming my knot into that sweet smelling cunt of yours keeps me up at night stroking my cock, envisioning how I’m going to dump so much cum into that tight hole of yours, it’ll be dripping out for days. ”
The graphic nature of his statement was enough to make me want to throw up. “What the hell does that even mean?” I rasped, after a moment.
Kane was silent for a few seconds. “He still hasn’t told you, has he?”
I should have just hung up after his disgusting rant, but I couldn’t.
Kane might be insane, but he sounded sincere.
A small part of me, the part that suspected something was off about this whole situation, no matter how I might try to deny it, just had to get down to the bottom of what he was talking about.
“Tell me what?” I angrily demanded.
“Oh, babe, I wish I could see your face as I tell you this. I remember when I first learned who I was, what I could do. There’s no greater gift than being one of us, I promise you that. I’ll teach you everything. I’ll show you all the things you’re capable of, if you’ll just let me.”
My skin began to crawl at how excited and lust filled his tone was. “Start with what the hell you’re even talking about. Enough skirting around the topic. Who do you think I am?”
“Not who, but what. I’ll tell you exactly what you are, Cat. But first, some ground rules. You’ve got to ask nicely. And use my name when you do it,” he baited, like the sicko he truly was.
Too anxious to hear what he had to say, I caved. “Fine, Kane, please be so kind as to tell me what you think I am?”
It was ridiculous, and dangerous, to give in to this man’s delusions, but I had to know. That small voice in the back of my head was shouting to be heard and I had to indulge it, no matter how crazy it sounded.
“You’re a shifter, Cat. A ware shifter, to be exact. And you’re going to be my mate,” Kane said in one, confident, unhinged breath.