Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
P iper felt like she was floating on clouds as she and Talon made their way back to her house. They had spent the entire night and some of the morning in her special place, which was now their special place, talking, laughing, and learning about each other between the most mind-blowing sex she had ever experienced. Her small hand nestled in his large one made her feel safe and wanted. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to her.
“I still haven’t met your wolf,” she said as they stepped out of the woods.
“You will,” Talon smiled, giving her a playful wink.
“Where in the hell have you two been?” Bruce appeared from around the front of the house, prancing toward them.
“What are you doing here?” Talon slowed, eyeing the cat suspiciously.
“Well, for starters, I was busy running off bad actors spray painting shit on Piper’s house.” Bruce puffed out his chest proudly.
“What?” Piper’s face fell as she quickly scanned her house.
“Yeah, me and Fat Bastard showed up just in time.” Bruce boasted. “Heard a commotion and saw that damn turkey chasing two guys around the yard.”
“Oh, God, is Pecker okay?” Piper gasped, panicking as she looked around the yard for the turkey.
Bruce frowned, looking down between his legs. “My pecker is fine.” He snorted. “That’s one thing no one gets close to unless it’s my lady.”
“Okay, ew,” Piper grimaced. “I’m talking about my turkey, Pecker. Is he okay?” As if on cue, Pecker walked around the side of the house with another cat.
“Yeah, he’s fine. Other than being named Pecker. Who the hell thought of that?” Bruce shot her a sideways glance. “Poor guy.”
Piper almost retorted about someone naming a cat Fat Bastard but stopped short when she realized it suited him perfectly, especially since he was eyeing Pecker like a snack. “Don’t even think about eating my turkey, cat,” she warned, pointing a finger at him.
Bruce looked toward Fat Bastard and burst out laughing. “That turkey could kick his ass. He’s a pussy...cat.” He snickered at his own joke.
“Fuck you, Bruce,” Fat Bastard spat, then looked at Piper. “You gonna introduce me or what?”
“Oh, my God, there’s another one of you?” She blinked between Fat Bastard and Bruce.
“Oh, girl. There’s only one of me.” Bruce shook his head in mock exasperation before he introduced them. “Fat Bastard. Piper. Piper. Fat Bastard.”
“Uh, nice to meet—” She stopped mid-sentence, noticing Fat Bastard giving her an odd, almost suggestive look. She leaned over to Talon and whispered, “Why is he looking at me like that?”
Bruce overheard, then smacked Fat Bastard on the back of the head with his paw before answering. “Fat Bastard’s got a thing for the ladies.”
“Fat Bastard is about to be turkey food if he doesn’t knock it off,” Talon growled, bearing his teeth as he guided Piper toward the front of the house.
“Okay, that just happened.” She said to herself, but Talon heard her.
“Second thoughts about being part of my world?” He asked with a grin.
“No,” she replied, glancing over her shoulder at Fat Bastard, who was trailing them along with Bruce. “I’ve just never had a cat check me out like that. It’s....weird.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Talon chuckled as they reached the front of the house.
“Dammit!” Piper cursed seeing the red spray paint on the front of her house that read, ‘ Sell Bitch .’ “Chuck did this. I know it.”
“If he’s a big blonde guy who runs like a sissy, then yes, that’s him,” Bruce said, also looking at the crude wording. “You gonna kick his ass, Talon?”
“Likely,” Talon growled with a sneer.
“Which means yes,” Bruce looked excited at that prospect.
“I’ll be a witness, and as soon as Thorne gets here, he can witness it also,” Bruce said with a devilish cat grin. “Maybe Thorne can take the other guy that was with dipshit blondie.”
“I’ve got them both,” Talon said, then looked at Bruce. “Why is Thorne coming here.”
“Oh, yeah,” Bruce said, then looked at his paw. “Dammit, I think I stepped in turkey shit. Pecker, watch where you crap, buddy.”
Pecker gobbled as if he knew exactly what Bruce was saying. Piper started to ask but then shook her head. She’d save that conversation for another day. Two talking cats were enough for the moment. She didn’t need to add a cat who could communicate with her turkey.
“Bruce,” Talon hissed, then rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Focus. Why is Thorne coming here?”
“Zelda did her witchy thing and found out the developer's name. Also, just a FYI, the mayor is not one of the good guys. Thorne has been trying to reach you since last night, which is why Fat Bastard and I ventured here this morning.”
“Witchy thing?” Piper frowned. “This Zelda is a witch? A real witch?”
“Ding. Ding. Ding.” Bruce said, then rolled his eyes. “Give the human a biscuit.”
Piper’s eyes narrowed at Bruce. “Talon, did I tell you I’m considering getting a dog? A big dog.”
“Ha, don’t threaten me human.” Bruce snorted. “I live with a panther, and you already got a dog.” He nodded toward Talon, who stepped toward Bruce but stopped when Thorne spoke.
“Bruce, I didn’t come here to save your ass from Talon,” Thorne said, then glanced at Piper. “Hello, Piper. It’s finally nice to meet you. Wicked would have been here with me, but she and Zelda are preparing for the Halloween party.”
Before Piper could say anything, another man joined them.
“Which is going to kill me one of these years. Zelda’s parties are getting bigger and more elaborate each year.” He sighed and then also looked at Piper. “Piper, I’m Mac. It’s nice to meet you.”
Holy crap, were all these men handsome? However, Talon had them beat with his wild, untamed looks. “It’s nice to meet you both, but I believe I’ve waved to you before coming out of the tattoo shop.”
Thorne smiled with a nod. “Yes, you have. I didn’t know if you’d remember.”
“What’s going on?” Talon asked before Piper could respond.
“Well, you'd know if you would have answered the phone.” Thorne narrowed his gaze at him.
“I was...busy,” Talon responded with only that, but Bruce, being the smartass that Bruce was, spoke up.
“I’m sure you were.” He snickered and then sang. “Bow-Chicka-Wow-Wow.”
“How attached is Wicked to her Familiar?” Talon growled at Bruce, who smirked back at him.
“Believe me, I would have killed him years ago if I could have.” Thorne sneered at Bruce.
“You all love me, and you know it.” Bruce shot back, not looking concerned that one of his nine lives hung in the balance.
“I’m here for two reasons, one being Zelda. My mate would like you to join us for the Halloween party,” Mac said, ignoring Bruce.
“I don’t know,” Piper said, then glared at Bruce. “Is the porn cat going to be there?”
All three men burst out laughing, even Fat Bastard.
“Porn cat,” Fat Bastard wheezed. “That’s a good one.”
“You better watch it, bud. I’m the reason you got porn on your computer.” Bruce snapped. “What Bruce giveth...Bruce can taketh away.”
“Yeah, that’s disturbing, but yes, I would love to come. Thank you,” Piper said, looking away from Bruce and back at Mac.
Piper glanced at Talon, who was looking at her, then reached out, taking her hand. She knew he was thinking that with all this craziness, she was going to run, but he was wrong. Dead wrong. Piper didn’t run, and if she did, it would be straight into his arms. Giving his hand a tight squeeze as well as stepping closer to him indicated she wasn’t going anywhere.