The Wolf and the Bobcat: (3 page)

Her tone grated on him, and when she moved to pull the shirt over her head, he snapped at her to stop. “Keep it. I don’t want it back. By the way, your tit’s hanging out.”

Jimmy growled in disapproval as Casey left, and hurriedly stepped out into the cool winter breeze. Stripping out of his pants, he added them to the bag and tied the handles in a knot. Breathing deeply, he shifted to his wolf, moaning at the pleasurable sensation the shift caused. He took a moment to revel in his heightened senses before stretching out his limbs, grabbing the bag in his mouth and trotting home.

His thoughts were dominated by the sexy bobcat, and once again he cursed himself for letting her get away. He had to find her. He had to come up with a plan.
Right after he took another shower… or two.

Chapter Three

6
th
January

“Hey, pretty kitty!”

“Deputy Hardison to you Carl.”

Deanna was attempting to give Carl Parker a warning. Not an easy thing to do. Somehow Carl had a marijuana prescription, when asked, he mumbled something about an ongoing medical issue but wouldn’t be drawn on it.
It meant that Carl spent nearly every second of the day stoned
.

Carl had been arrested numerous times for driving under the influence of a drug, blasting death metal music at uncongenial hours and defacing public property. Regarding the property damage, he just went around town spray-painting smiley faces everywhere,
he said the town looked sad
.

Today, Deanna was trying to tackle the loud music problem. Carl lived on a fairly sedate road, mostly filled with older couples and families. They didn’t appreciate the music at 2am in the morning. Carl always apologized, but he said that sometimes it was the only way he could get to sleep.

Carl was lounging on his porch swing petting a bunny. Despite the cool weather, he was in board shorts and flip-flops.

“Carl, I’m here to give you another warning about the music. You can’t play it that loud at any time of day but especially not at night.”

Carl smiled placidly. “It’s the only way I can get to sleep.”

“But see Carl, if you play the music, no one else can get to sleep. Which is why I brought you these.” Deanna brought a pair of heavy-duty earphones out from behind her back. She’d found them at the Sheriff’s station in a storage closet when she was searching for a megaphone. They looked like they were from the ‘70’s, but they still worked, and they gave her an idea.

“I know you said you didn’t like those ear buds…”

Carl nodded fervently. “Yeah, they hurt my ears. They make me think of that bit in the Star Trek film, where something is crawling in that guy’s ear…

“So, I thought these might be the answer.”

Carl picked up the bunny and bounded over to her. He passed her the bunny while he inspected the earphones. A smile lit up his face. As Deanna stroked the bunny, she reflected that if weren’t for the vacant look in his eyes and his shaggy hair, he’d actually be pretty cute.
Not cute like her mystery, one-night-stand wolf, but still.

“They’re great, thanks.”

She passed him the bunny, and he perched it on his shoulder. “No worries, just make sure that you only play the music through these okay?”

He saluted her. “You got it Deputy pretty kitty.”

“Ugh, close enough. Take care, Carl.”

As she got in the patrol car, her phone chirruped. Excitement bubbled. Maybe it was the wolf from New Year’s Eve! No, how could it be? He had no idea who she was, and probably didn’t care. Her bobcat yowled.
The silly cat had been pining for the wolf for the last six days.

She answered and found her friend Risty on the other end. In spite of herself, she was actually a little disappointed.

“Where’ve you been?” asked Deanna peevishly. She hadn’t seen or heard from Risty since New Year’s Day, and Deanna’s memory of that was pretty fuzzy.

“I’ve been a little busy,” said Risty coyly.

Deanna tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “With what?”

“I found my mate!” Risty blurted out.

“What?!”

Risty started gushing. “It’s the jackal I met at O’Neill’s on New Year’s Eve - the one that drove you home. Afterwards, we realized we were mates, so we bonded, we’ve barely set foot outside of the bedroom in the last week!”

Deanna was stunned. Her friend Risty, who usually had a couple of men on the go, was actually settling down. “Wow! That’s… umm… wonderful. Right?”

“Sooooo wonderful! We’re having a party at O’Neill’s to celebrate on Friday. You’ll come right?”

“Ummm, I’ll need to check with my brother that he can watch the kids…” She wasn’t sure she wanted to return to O’Neill’s so soon, last time she got a little drunk… But her bobcat yipped.

“You have to come; you just have to!”

Deanna could imagine the pretty jackal pouting. She sighed. “I’m sure it will be fine; I’ll see you on Friday.”

Risty squealed gleefully and said goodbye.

Deanna looked at her phone thoughtfully. She couldn’t imagine the bouncy jackal being mated and settling down. Just a month ago she’d been railing about her asshole ex-boyfriend, whilst secretly hoping they were going to get back together. Deanna hadn’t met the ex, but she knew he was a member of the Grey wolf pack.

The two female shifters met when Risty came into the station to report her neighbors spying on her. Turns out, it was a couple of 13-year-old twin bear shifters; they’d just undergone their first shift, and their hormones were running wild.

After a stern talking-to from Deanna, they promised not to spy on Risty again. Instead, they were now enamored with Deanna;
it was something about the air of authority and the uniform, they were a winning combination for a lot of men and teenage boys too apparently.

The twins had taken to hanging around outside the Sheriff’s station to catch a glimpse of her. Deanna didn’t mind; they were harmless.

Risty had been thrilled with Deanna and asked her to hang out. Deanna never had much time to make friends, and was taken with the bubbliness of the jackal, so she accepted. They were firm friends after that. Usually Deanna constantly worried about her job and her family, but in Risty’s company, she was able just to relax and actually enjoy being young. Deanna was only 22, but Darcy often told her she acted more like she was middle-aged, perhaps due to years of having to be a mother to her younger siblings.

Not that she begrudged looking after her brothers and sisters, but it was nice just to cut loose once in a while. Her mind immediately wandered back to the handsome wolf. It did that more than she cared to think about.
Slowly, he was dominating all her thoughts.

Deanna almost jumped as the voice of her fellow Deputy, Mac, squawked over the radio, asking her where she was. Deanna replied that she was on her way back to the station.

She shook her head, trying to banish her sexy thoughts. Trying to banish his lopsided smile, the feel of his muscled arms, his soft, tanned skin, his devastating manhood, and the way he made her feel more alive than any other man ever had…
So far, not so good.

*

7
th
January

Casey scratched at the table. He was depressed. He’d come back to O’Neills, night after night, in the hopes of seeing his bobcat again and nothing. She hadn’t been back once.

The door opened, and Casey looked up hopefully. He groaned unhappily when a massive bear shifter and a pretty blonde entered. Pretty in a trying-too-hard kind of way, all make-up and push up bra. Not naturally pretty like his bobcat. No woman was as pretty as her.
God, he was depressed.

Jimmy kicked him. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve had a face like a gorilla shifter’s ass for the past week.”

Hunter motioned to the opposite end of the bar. “That blonde puma’s here. She’s been looking at you all night.”

Casey knew Lisa/Laura was there; he just didn’t care. “Not interested.”

Jimmy raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you’re miserable? Can’t get it up?”

“Fuck you, asshat.”

Hunter cleared his throat. “Uhhh, Risty’s on her way over here.”

“Shit!” Casey disappeared under the table.
He was feeling a little depressed, not suicidal
.

Risty beamed at them. “Hey guys!”

Hunter and Jimmy bid her hello.

“You want to tell the idiot on the floor to get up?”

Casey climbed out. “You knew I was here?”

Risty folded her arms. “Yes, idiot, I can scent you. And yeah, I knew you were here on New Year’s Eve too. It was just funny watching you sneaking around.”

Casey gave himself a mental slap. He’d made an ass of himself for no reason.
But then if he hadn’t been acting like a dope, he might not have met his bobcat…

“Anyway, as much as I like watching you squirm, I wanted to tell you that my mate and I are having a private party here on Friday night to celebrate our bonding. You’re all welcome to join us.”

Hunter and Jimmy congratulated her and looked pleased. Free drinks. Casey was dumbfounded.
Well, good luck to the poor guy.

“Can I bring a date?” asked Casey. He hadn’t given up total hope at finding his pretty kitten.

Risty arched an eyebrow. “If you can find some poor girl, who is okay with being given less regard than your car, then yes, by all means bring her along. Goodnight boys.” She gave them a fake smile, and then flounced away into the open arms of a lean jackal shifter.

Jimmy smirked. “Not that she’s bitter or anything.”

Casey sunk his head down to the table. His wolf howled. Alright so he wasn’t exactly a perfect gentleman… or a gentleman at all, but it’s not like he ever promised women anything. Is this why he couldn’t find his bobcat? Karma was punishing him for treating women badly, by not allowing him to find the one woman he wanted.

Ugh, fucking karma.

Chapter Four

10
th
January

Casey arrived with Hunter and Jimmy, to find the party in full swing. There were a number of people from Rose, but most of the partygoers were jackals from Darlington. Casey saw Risty clinging to her mate, and decided to avoid her as much as possible.
She’d just insult him or lord it over him that she’d found her mate.

He hadn’t been overly keen to come out tonight. He’d seen more than enough of this bar during the last week and a half, and still had no clue as to the identity of his mystery woman. His wolf had been insufferable in wanting to know what was taking so long in finding her.
Not to mention how hard it was to deal with a constant erection.

Jimmy and Hunter started talking to some women, and motioned him over. Casey shook his head.
He really wasn’t in the mood.

But, given that he was out at a bar, he figured he might as well get drunk and drown his sorrows. He was moving toward the bar when someone bumped into his back and he felt liquid spill over him. He spun around furiously.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” said a silken voice.

Casey stilled, but his wolf howled in pleasure.
It was his bobcat!
His wolf pranced around gleefully. She was wearing a short, green, figure hugging dress and flat shoes, making her look even tinier than before. Her violet eyes shone brightly, and her cheeks were flushed pink.

“Hey, kitten.”

Deanna blinked uncertainly for a few seconds before it dawned on her who he was, and her cheeks turned bright red. “Oh… hey.” Her cat danced around excitedly.

Casey put a meaty hand on her shoulder and rubbed his thumb over her collarbone. She shivered as his light touch made her body hum. Her bobcat was purring in satisfaction. The persistent bulge he sported in his pants got even bigger at feeling her soft skin.

He leaned down to her, his lips only an inch from her face. “You look pretty.”

“Ummm thanks.” She bit her lip, and the urge to swoop in and bite it for her was almost overwhelming. “We should probably wash out your shirt. I spilt coke all over it.”

Casey nodded and was thrilled as she took his hand and led him through the crowd to the bathroom. His cock grew rock hard as she took him into the handicapped bathroom.
Maybe he was in for a repeat of New Year’s Eve!

She turned the faucet on and started wetting paper towels. “Take off your shirt.”

Casey grinned. “Yes ma’am.”

He stripped, and her breath hitched in her throat as she surveyed the acres of golden, muscled chest.
Yep, he’d look right at home on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel.
He smirked as he caught her looking.

In annoyance, Deanna snatched the shirt and began rubbing the stain with the towels. He stood behind and leaned over, ostensibly to see what she was doing. He pressed his magnificent chest against her, and she felt his warmth seep right through to her bones.

She slowed her movements until she was just holding the shirt. Casey put his hands on her shoulders and gently rubbed her muscles. She relaxed into his touch, and her bobcat mewled. He planted feathery kisses along her neck, and she jerked her shoulders.

“I’m really ticklish!”

“Oh…”

With a wicked smile on his face, he enfolded her in his arms and planted kiss after kiss on her creamy neck. She squirmed and giggled hysterically.

Deanna tensed as the door was flung open by a couple of jackals, in much the same pose she and her wolf were in on New Year’s Eve. The couple stopped and glowered at them.

“Oh, we thought it was free…” said the female jackal, acidly.

“It is; we’re just leaving,” replied Deanna quickly.

She pushed Casey’s shirt at him and hustled out. Before she could get far a pair of strong arms snaked round her waist, and pulled her back against his bare chest.

He nuzzled his face into her shoulder, as his erection poked her in the back. “What’s the hurry?”

“No hurry, I just…” Was totally embarrassed at being caught about to have sex with a stranger in the bathroom?

Casey nipped her shoulder with blunt teeth. “My car’s right outside.”

“Oooohhh…” An iddy biddy part of her told her she shouldn’t, but that was overpowered by her quivering sex and her frisky cat. “Alright.”

Casey slipped his shirt on and turned her round for a blissful kiss. Whereas before she had dominated their actions, this time he was in charge. Taking her hand he yanked her through the bar at warp speed, not slowing until they reached his car.

Before she could catch her breath he hauled her up against the jeep, and plundered her mouth again. She raked her fingers through his hair and squealed as his hand slithered up her thigh and glided into her panties. His other hand cupped one of her small firm breasts and kneaded it through her dress.

Deanna started as she heard laughter. She broke away from the wolf and looked around. It was a couple of jackals smoking and talking; they weren’t looking her way.

“In the car…” she panted.

He nodded and removing his hand, scrambled to find his car keys. His eyes were dark with desire;
she found the intensity of his look both arousing and frightening.

‘Click.' The car unlocked, and Casey almost ripped the door off its hinges and ushered her into the backseat. She kneeled on all fours and squeaked excitedly as Casey pushed her dress up over her hips, and once again tore her panties away. He massaged her peachy round cheeks before returning his fingers to her wet core. He kneeled on one leg with his body hunching over hers, and steadied himself by planting the other on the floor.

Deanna wriggled her hips against his exploring fingers and gasped as he pulled one out of her channel and slowly worked it into her tiny rosette. She grunted and bucked her ass back against him taking his finger all the way to the knuckle. It was a strange yet oddly pleasurable feeling of fullness.

He worked his fingers in and out of her quickly and firmly. Reaching round with his other hand he tweaked her clit, and she shrieked as an unexpected climax slammed through her. Her claws shot forth and ripped into the seat as her bobcat let out a small roar. He continued stroking in and out of her as her muscles clenched at him.

Finally calming her arms shook slightly, and she leaned down folding them under her head, bobbing her ass higher. Removing his fingers, he slunk down and nipped her right cheek with his blunt teeth.

Casey chuckled as her ass wiggled, and he licked his tongue over her small red mark. “Sorry kitten, couldn’t resist.”

“Stop messing around, wolf, I need you.” Deanna pushed her ass back against him.

His wolf panted like a puppy at her words. To be needed and wanted by this beautiful woman was such an ego boost. Freeing himself he lined up his steely manhood with her honey-drenched entrance. Casey leaned over draping his body over hers. She twisted her head to the right, and he kissed her.

Deanna nipped at his lips. “Please.”

With one hand firmly gripping her hip, he drove inside her. He didn’t stop until his hips were flush against hers, and she gasped as he stretched her almost to the point of pain. He held still enjoying the tight embrace of being inside her, before pulling back and plunging inside again

Casey took her with long hard thrusts, his flesh slapping inexorably against hers. She gasped as she felt the pleasure boiling within her, threatening to bubble over into an even more powerful orgasm than the last.

His wolf howled, enchanted by her little moans and the way she pushed her hips against him. His fangs and claws descended as his eyes glowed amber. Unable to hold back his animal, Casey smoothed his tongue over her shoulder and quickened his movements.

Her breathing hitched, and feeling her near the edge, Casey sunk his teeth into her neck. The prickling of pain sent was too much and she reached a magnificent release. She and her bobcat yowled at the glorious feeling of completion.

Casey removed his fangs and swallowed down her divine blood. He groaned as her inner muscles clamped around him, his thick sex practically dragged in and out of her. Feeling his own release near, he ferociously slammed into her over and over, until he stilled before exploding. He and his beast roared in joy, and he continued forcing himself inside her tightened core until he had nothing more to give.

Deanna trembled from the intensity of their coupling. Casey felt drained.
He’d never come so hard in his life.

Her legs shook slightly. He steadied her with his hands as he eased himself from her, and sitting on the seat he pulled her round, curling her into his shoulder. He twisted and licked the bite mark to seal the wound. She pressed a palm against his heart and felt the pulses of his raging heartbeat.

Casey leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, willing his body to calm.

Deanna giggled. Casey opened one eye and looked at her curiously.

“Sorry, I’m just not the kind of woman who usually has sex in bathrooms... or cars.”

He was thoroughly glad to hear it. The thought of her having sex with anyone was displeasing. “Perhaps we could move this to my house then… I have a nice, big bed.”

“Oh, really? You think you can go another round?”

Casey grinned cockily. “More than one I’d say.”

She bit her tongue between her teeth as her hand travelled down his torso to his half-mast. She ran her fingers up and down his length, and he twitched.

Deanna’s face dropped. “Oh my god… where’s the condom?”

“Uhhh…” Casey hadn’t actually thought he’d need one tonight and hadn’t brought one with him. It didn’t occur to him in the moment.

“You didn’t use one?! Oh my god!” She pushed away from him angrily and held her head in her hands. “How could I be so stupid?!”

Casey sniffed her. “You don’t smell like you’re fertile.”

Deanna gave him a murderous look. “And you’re an expert on the menstrual cycles of bobcats are you?”

“Ummmm…” Casey knew he should be panicking.
Hell, if it was any other woman she probably wouldn’t have seen him for dust
. But the idea of pups with her wasn’t abhorrent, if anything it warmed him. The idea of her belly swollen with his young was a huge turn-on.

Casey reached out for her. “I’m sure it’ll be okay, and if you are pregnant, I’ll stand by you.”

Deanna panicked at those words. She speedily righted her clothes. “I have to go... I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have…” She scrambled out the car.

Casey tucked himself back in his pants and tried to follow her. “Wait! What’s your name? What’s your phone number?”

Deanna rushed back into the bar with Casey hot on her heels. However, when he got inside he was assailed by Lisa/Laura. The puma clamped around him and gave him a big, beer flavored kiss. His wolf snarled at the puma.

“Hey baby, where you been?” she slurred into his ear.

He yanked at her arms to no avail and was distressed to see his bobcat marching out the door with her purse and coat. She cast him a disdainful look before she left.

Casey managed to loosen the puma’s arms and hurled her at Jimmy. He took off after the bobcat, but it was too late. By the time he got outside, she was gone.

Fuck. Double fuck. How could he have let her go again without finding out who she was?