Shifting Crossroads 8 - Ocelot of Trouble (6 page)

The idea had merit, and Mina smiled happily at the thought. She did so love to be warm.

“So, what do foxes do for fun?” She murmured it with sleepy satisfaction.

“We run together, play together, race around in the fields.” He spoke slowly while his hands moved on the silk that covered her.

“Sounds nice.”

“It is. Now, which home shall we go to first, yours or mine?”

“Yours. I can send my people a message.”

“Brave as well as beautiful. I am a lucky man.” His lips moved against her neck.

“You have no idea, and I am not brave, I merely want to get the hard part over with. After meeting your people, everything else will be easy.”

Robar sighed and squeezed her gently. “The women of my family will not be easy, but they will respect your spirit. I will make sure of it.”

It was the last thing spoken between them as they drifted off on dreams of meadows and sunbeams.

Her bags were packed and in the room when she woke. The room itself had changed again into what Mina guessed was Robar’s original guestroom.

“Are you awake, kitten?” His voice was husky with sleep.

“I am. When did my bags arrive?”

He rolled her to her back and pressed kisses on her jaw and lips until she responded, holding his head and clinging to him with intensity.

He broke their kiss. “About an hour ago. That is when we were switched to this room.”

She leaned up and pressed her lips to his again. The freedom to indulge her inclinations without worrying about his wellbeing was a heady sensation.

He groaned and pulled away. “I think this is Teebie’s way of telling us that our time at the Crossroads is complete.”

Mina wanted to yowl with frustration. “Dang, I wanted to hide here for a while longer.”

Robar stroked her cheek. “I believe that is the point. No more hiding. You have dealt with your curse, found your mate, now it is time to rejoin the human world.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I am not a fan of reality right now. This is so much better.”

“And that is why she wants us out. This is your reality. You need to get used to it.”

Mina looked up at the earnest expression on his face, and she sighed. “I suppose so. It still seems very surreal.”

“That will be the removal of a curse you have lived with your entire adult life. It sounds too good to be true.”

“Not really. You are too good to be true. I am fairly sure that I have a concussion and am in a hospital somewhere.”

He grinned. “Then, I will be your devoted nurse. When you are ready to accept this as your reality, I will be here.” He kissed the tip of her nose and got to his feet. “Come along. I am sure that my grandmother will be delighted to meet you.”

“We are going straight to your gran?”

“Of course. She is the one who has insisted that the last two generations use the Crossroads. Our family lives fairly firmly in the human world and marriage is a very fluid term. Mating in the Crossroads links us in a far more fundamental way. It bonds us from the soul outward and that gives us a better basis for our lives together.”

“Oh? Your parents were a Crossroads mating?”

“Yes, my grandmother insisted. My grandfather was a bit of a philanderer, and she wanted better for her daughter.”

The concept of infidelity made Mina blink. “Oh. I see.”

“Yes, she lived a life that was filled with human entertainments, and her inner beast longed for a proper mate. She wanted better for her child and grandchild.”

Mina smiled. “I think I will like her.”

“I believe you will, too. Now, get dressed, and we will see Teal and Tony, getting our registry and a trip home.”

She made a face but got to her feet, her legs aching and her skin tingling. A sundress was called for. She couldn’t stand anything tight pressed against the juncture of her thighs right now.

After she put the dress on, she tidied her hair and slipped on some high-heeled sandals. Robar’s expression was appreciative, and she felt simply pretty for the first time in a long time. Normally, men in her community looked at her with a combination of attraction and fear.

“I am ready when you are.” She smiled shyly.

He grinned, took her bag and his own, holding his free hand out to her. “Time to start the rest of your life. Are you ready?”

Mina laughed. “No, but I am going to do it anyway.”

“Good girl.” He kissed her hand and tugged her out of the safety of his room.

Teebie spoke to her quickly at the base of the stairs, wishing her luck and telling her that the curse masters would be in touch with her for final removal of the last remains of the magic that still clung to her but now wrapped Robar as well.

Plenty of hugs later, they were on their way to the meditation centre as the rest of the visitors to the Crossroads were making their way to dinner.

Teal was grinning like a fool as they signed their registration of their mating.

Mina didn’t have to decide on her last name right now. That would be something for the human world.

She signed document after document to pledge her life and offspring to Robar, and he did the same to her. One copy for the ocelot registry, one for the Crossroads archive, one for the fox registry and one for each of them for their families.

When all the documents were signed, Mina and Robar removed their charms and were ready to leave the Crossroads.

More hugs, farewells to be passed to Ivy, Chuck, Lee and Jim, and a promise to write later, Teal and Tony opened a portal and sent Mina and Robar to his grandmother.

“Loreada Alenfleur, this is my mate, Mina Lancaster. Mina, this is my grandmother.” Robar kept his hand on her lower back, and Mina could feel that he was keeping her from running.

Mina looked at the woman and easily identified the features that had made her a beauty and had been transferred to her grandson in masculine form. “Pleased to meet you, madam.”

Loreada looked her up and down. “Are you one of my grandson’s tramps?”

Mina wrinkled her nose. “Hardly. I don’t get around much…well, until now.”

“How many lovers have you had, child?”

Mina blinked and stretched her neck a little. “Just the one, madam.”

Robar wrapped his arm completely around her and pulled her in front of him, holding her back against his body. “That would be me, Nana.”

The matron reared back. “Truly? How could a woman like you get through life without a string of lovers?”

Mina wrinkled her nose. “It is complicated, but there was a little magical interference if that makes any sense.”

Loreada got to her feet and smiled. “Are you going to be a good mate to my grandson?”

“As good as he is a mate to me, madam. I will only give what I get. I was not cut out to be a martyr.”

She felt a squeeze from Robar. That had been the right answer.

His grandmother suddenly grinned. “Good answer. Now, give me a hug and tell me what you are. You are not a fox but that is probably for the best. I have had my fill of vixens flicking their tails around here.”

Robar released her, and she went to give Loreada a careful hug. The older woman was having none of it and squeezed her tight. “Welcome to the family, Mina.”

“Thank you, madam. I am an ocelot. Robar and I are about the same size when shifted.”

“Call me Nana. Yes, I get the feeling that you are rather evenly matched. Now, dear, would you care for a run in the estate forest?”

Mina sighed in relief. “Yes please, mad—Nana.”

“Good. I want to see what you look like.”

Robar led her to the pool house to change and out through the animal flap in the door before he streaked across the meadow, his tail flying in the breeze.

Mina was after him in an instant, while a silver-tinged fox watched them.

They ran, played and pounced on each other for hours. She caught his fluffy tail, and he bit the back of her neck.

Once they were reduced to flopping in the sun, tangled together in a furry pile, nana came by and sniffed them both, nodding in approval. She gave them an hour together before she yipped in command, and they had to follow her back to the pool house.

It was time for dinner.

“Mina, you need a full wardrobe. We will be having rounds of parties to introduce you to our social set, and you can’t wear the same thing twice.”

Mina wrinkled her nose at the waste. “Why not?”

“Because the same people will be at the events, and they need a way to tell that it is a new night and not just a continuation of the evening before. These folk tend to drink a bit.” Nana winked. “I know it is stupid, but it is societal rules. I will have Arduna’s designer come in.”

Mina looked at Robar. “Arduna?”

“My mother. My father is Johann.” He smiled and continued to eat his dinner.

“Are you throwing me to the wolves here, Robar?”

He grinned and winked at her. “No, just to my grandmother. After she brings you up to speed, you will be able to face down any of my family or the exes that will show up to the endless parties she is about to throw.”

Mina looked to Loreada, and the woman grinned beatifically.

“So, that was your plan in bringing me here?” She discreetly kicked him under the table.

“Yes. Nana told me to stop fucking sluts, so I had to go to the Crossroads.”

Nana laughed, “I just meant for him to find a woman whose vag had more tread on it than a bald tire. I never intended for him to locate a virgin.”

Mina wrinkled her nose again. “And I never intended to find a man-whore. The Crossroads takes away societal preconceptions and leaves us with instinct and fate. Instinct led me to Robar and fate put him in my path.”

“Well said, Mina.” Nana lifted her wineglass.

A foot touched her leg under the table, and Mina fought the urge to jump. She glared at Robar, and the foot slid up the inside of her calf and caressed her inner thigh just above the knee.

He kept an innocent expression on his face from across the table.

“Robar, I have had the master bedroom done up for you two. I am getting the feeling that you haven’t had much time together. You will have two days of room service before the designer will be here. I will set the first party for next weekend. That should allow us plenty of prep time.”

Robar paused as the servant removed his plate. “Is that a hint, Nana?”

“It is an order. You two are putting out so many pheromones that it is getting hard to breathe in here.” Nana flapped her hand in the air and made a face. “I have forgotten what it is like to be that young. Take your enthusiasm elsewhere.”

Robar sat up and squirmed a bit.

Mina stifled a laugh. He was putting his shoe on.

Mina sipped at her wine and asked nana, “How was it when his mother returned with Johann?”

Nana snickered. “I moved out to the dower house whenever they were in the mood. It was easier than trying to pretend my daughter wasn’t noisy during intimate moments.”

Robar groaned. “Nana, please. I don’t want to think of Mother like that.”

“How do you think you got here, junior? There was a stork at your christening, but he didn’t deliver you.” There was an evil gleam in her eye. “Come to think of it, your grandfather used to be quite vocal. I wonder if you inherited that trait, Robar.”

Mina laughed as Robar blushed furiously and got to his feet. He came around the table and pulled Mina’s chair out for her.

Mina snickered. “Aren’t you going to answer your nana?”

He whispered, “You can answer her later.”

Now, it was Mina’s turn to blush.

Nana laughed and a plate with a flaming dessert was set down in front of her. She waved them off, and Robar pulled Mina out of the dining room and up the staircase.

She was wearing the same sundress she had arrived in, and the moment they were in the master bedroom, Robar pressed her up against the closed door and kissed her in a fevered encouragement to arousal.

“Have I mentioned how delighted I am that you like to hide in trees and pounce on unsuspecting foxes?” He nibbled at her lips and nuzzled at her neck.

“No, but I have been able to guess.” She laughed when he lifted one of her legs and wrapped it around his hip.

“Really? I thought I concealed my emotions rather well.”

She rocked her hips against the erection concealed by his trousers. “I wouldn’t call it emotion, but there isn’t any hiding it.”

He nipped sharply at her neck, and the sensation made her groan and lean her head to one side to allow him full access. He took advantage and his hands stroked her from shoulders to waist, taking her dress along in their travels, leaving her in her bra and panties. He lowered her leg and the fabric sighed to the floor.

He paused. “Now, I think I will stand back for a moment and consider my good luck.”

He took her hand and helped her step from the dress.

Robar led her to the bed and turned her to face him. “I was unable to fully appreciate you the first time. You are perfect.”

She was beyond blushing. Her surprise must have been imprinted on her features, because he kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose and her cheeks.

“I am far from perfect. I know that I skip beauty but qualify as cute.” She wasn’t trolling for compliments; she knew what she was.

“You are beautiful. Your inner beast glows for mine and that is all that he sees. It shines through your human form and warms me every time I look at you.” His words were a low whisper, and he reached behind her to unclasp her bra, working between flesh and the hard wood at her back.

He swept away the last bits of protection that her clothing provided and stared at her with admiration in his face. “Beautiful.”

Her inner cat preened and lifted her head to look at him through lowered lashes. It was an invitation of the basest sort, and he must have caught it, because his clothing went flying once again.

“This time, you are going to let me do what I wish, though you can give me suggestions.”

He stepped toward her, and she backed up in reflex, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“Um, sounds good, but are we going to take turns? I don’t know about you always being in charge.”