Protected Mate (Catamount Lion Shifters #1) Read online

  He lifted his head, stroking the wet strands of her hair away from her face. She met his eyes, that blue-gray gaze so intense, solely focused on her. Holding her eyes, he shifted back and brought the head of his cock to her entrance, slowing dragging it through her wet folds. She moaned, biting her lip to keep from shattering too soon. In a swift surge, he filled her to the hilt, settling against her, his hard muscled chest flush against her breasts. The contrast of his heated body with the cool tiles on her back ratcheted up her desire. He held still for a long moment, lifting a hand and stroking it down her cheek. It came to rest in the curve of her neck, his thumb at the beat of her pulse.

  He began a cycle of slow, deep strokes, holding her firmly against him, the strength of his hold never wavering. She came in a noisy burst, flying apart in his arms. He followed her, convulsing within her. His forehead fell to hers. Their breath mingled with the steam and water falling around them.

  They toweled off and fell into bed, no words passing between them. Dane tucked her against his body, the quilt cocooning them.

  Chloe woke the next morning, curled against Dane’s warmth. He lay on his back, his head resting on one elbow, his other hand moving in slow circles on her back.

  “It snowed last night.” His voice was gravelly from sleep.

  He turned his head to meet her eyes. She leaned up and landed a soft kiss on his lips before resting her head on his chest to look out the window. A large picture window in his bedroom faced a field with woods behind it. Everything was dusted in the lightest coat of snow, as if fairy dust had been sprinkled during the night.

  Chapter 14

  Dane leaned his hips against Jake’s desk, his arms crossed, and listened. Jake and Hank Anderson, the police chief for Catamount, were discussing Jake’s online investigation of Callen.

  Hank shook his head. “Damn, this is a hell of a mess. Callen put us at some serious risk. Seth and Randall aren’t talking. If you ask me, Randall is in way over his head. I’m with Jake on Callen, though. Wouldn’t put it past him. I know it’s devastating for his family, and Shana,” he said, pausing with a glance at Dane.

  Dane shook his head, his jaw tight. Shana was holed up at Phoebe’s. When he stopped by this morning, her eyes were so puffy from crying, he didn’t have the heart to try to talk further about it. He hugged her and left her in Phoebe’s comforting presence.

  Hank continued. “So let me see if I have this right: Callen’s been in contact with someone out West who’s back and forth between Montana and South Dakota. Callen proposed his plan to offer up shifters to smuggle drugs for major money. We have no names, but we managed to trace Seth’s computer fingerprints back to Montana. Obviously, whomever Callen was in touch with traced him back to Catamount. Randall’s in on it, but I get the sense he doesn’t know everything behind the scenes. Randall was always dogging Callen’s footsteps, trying to prove himself. Callen knew he had an easy sell with Randall. Seth has more knowledge. I can sense it. The only good thing to come out of Chloe’s kidnapping is I have solid felony charges to hold them.”

  Dane felt the lion within him prickle and rise, his fury at Chloe’s kidnapping was alive and well. He was keeping a lid on it, but what he wanted was to set his lion loose and tear Seth and Randall to pieces. But the human in him knew that wouldn’t get them any answers, nor would it guarantee Chloe’s safety. He forced himself to focus on the discussion at hand. With the layers of risks Catamount shifters were facing because of Callen, Dane was relieved to have Hank working on the investigation. Hank was another shifter, so he knew how to navigate the legal waters without drawing attention to shifter rumors.

  “So will you be able to use what Jake found?” Dane asked.

  Hank chuckled. “Hell yeah!” He turned and caught Jake’s eyes. “Good thing is you’re not bound by stuff like warrants. You can find whatever you want and turn it over to me.”

  Jake nodded. “So what now?”

  “Now we wait and let the wheels start moving in slow motion in the legal system. On the one hand, that’ll buy us some time. But on the other, I don’t know who else might be sent our way after this,” Hank replied, his gaze somber. “I’m damn glad both of you are stronger and faster than they were. If we come up against some shifters that are much bigger, it might not work out so well. I’ve got my guys developing plans for how to monitor around town. I’m hoping once they get word their plan didn’t work out, that whoever else is behind this will avoid making any more moves.”

  Dane’s mind flashed back to the sight of Chloe in the corner of the cabin, alone and frightened. He recalled the report that she’d been dragged into the car. He wasn’t sure if it was better or worse that he hadn’t witnessed it. His imagination had gone wild with pictures of it. Chloe insisted they didn’t physically harm her. His stomach coiled with fury at how they described her as ‘leverage’. With a sharp shake of his head, he brought his focus back to Jake and Hank.

  “Keep me posted and let me know what else I can help with.” Dane glanced out the window. It was early evening and the light had faded. Around the town green, holiday lights sparkled. In another week, it would be Thanksgiving. “I gotta head over to Roxanne’s to pick up Chloe. Catch you guys later.” He gave a quick wave and strode out to his truck.

  Moments later, he pulled up across the street from Roxanne’s store. Chloe had spent the morning at his office. Even though Seth and Randall were sitting in jail, he wasn’t comfortable having her stay alone anywhere right now. He’d quickly discovered she didn’t enjoy being idle. She’d helped his receptionist, Jackie, handle most of the filing. After they had lunch at Roxanne’s, Roxanne promised to keep her busy for the afternoon.

  As he walked toward the store, a bracing gust of wind hit him. Fall leaves swirled in the air, scudding across the street. The light snow from last night had melted during the day, but winter was firmly on its way. He expected a decent amount of snowfall in the next few weeks.

  Stepping inside Roxanne’s, he breathed deeply. Roxanne had a brick oven for baking in the back, which generated a lot of heat, along with filling the entire store with the scent of fresh-baked bread. He threaded his way through the aisles and found Chloe seated at a table with a cup of coffee and her laptop. She met his eyes with a smile, those mossy green eyes of hers pulling at him. He gave her what was meant to be a quick kiss, but morphed into a deep, sensual, breath-stealing kiss. Her tongue coasted across the seam of his lips, immediately tangling with his when he opened his mouth. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing across her pulse.

  The sound of a throat clearing nearby snapped him into focus. He pulled away reluctantly to find Roxanne standing by the table with a cup of coffee in hand for him. “I try to provide fast service, and you’re about to throw her on the table.” Roxanne clucked and shook her head. The pen so often tucked behind her ear slipped out and clattered to the floor.

  Dane bent over and picked it up, handing it to her with a sheepish smile. “Can’t help myself. Thanks for the coffee,” he replied, accepting it from her and sitting down across from Chloe.

  “You can kiss her anytime you want, just don’t make it R-rated in here,” Roxanne said. She glanced to Chloe. “Did you tell him?”

  Dane looked at Chloe. “Tell me what?”

  “I figured out what I can do for work! Roxanne says Catamount could use another accountant. That’s right up my alley since I got my degree in business and accounting. But that’s not all I want to do, but it’ll keep me busy. Once I’ve got enough clients to keep me afloat, I’m going to open my own clothing store. I always wanted to start my own business, but figured it wasn’t a safe decision this early. Between the accounting and the much more affordable rents around here, I’ll be able to get something going.” Chloe’s eyes were glowing.

  Dane was pleased because he knew she wouldn’t be content to stay in Catamount without establishing herself independently. He grinned and lifted his coffee mug in a mock toast. “Perfect! You can start with my acco
unts.”

  Roxanne grinned and walked off. Dane looked over at Chloe, his eyes sobering. “I’ve noticed you don’t like lounging around, so it’s good to hear you’ve already figured something out.”

  Chloe shrugged sheepishly. “I don’t do bored well.” She paused, her eyes narrowing on him. “Did you talk to the police chief?”

  “Yup. He’s got plenty to work with from Jake’s online snooping. In the meantime, he’ll be able to hold Seth and Randall on felony charges for the kidnapping, so you won’t need to worry about that. In the meantime, we wait. I’m sure you’ve noticed most of the town is freaking out. The news about Callen is ugly.”

  Chloe nodded soberly. “I know. I wish we knew everything, like who was behind it, who Callen knew and so on. He put all of the shifters here at risk. It scares me we don’t know more yet.”

  Dane’s throat tightened at her words. He hadn’t doubted she planned to stay in Catamount, but to hear her concern meant more than he could say. She’d accepted him and the other shifters—their safety, and by extension, their very future, mattered to her. He met her eyes, bringing his focus to the moment again.

  “You and me both. We’re working on it. In the meantime, we haven’t talked about it, but I’m wondering what your plans are for Thanksgiving? I’m hoping you’ll stay here, but I know you might want to go visit your family.” He reached across the table and grasped her hand, rubbing his thumb across the back of it.

  She smiled softly. “I was planning to ask you. I mean, I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere, but I didn’t know what you usually did at the holidays. I thought maybe we could have Thanksgiving here, and I could take you to meet my family later.”

  Dane’s heart thudded against his ribcage, the lion inside him purring. The idea of having her here with him during a time that represented family and blessings meant so much, his heart clenched. He smiled at her. “Sounds great.”

  When they walked outside a few minutes later, snow was falling softly. Giant flakes fluttered down from the sky, sparkling in the streetlights.

  Epilogue

  Chloe walked across the street to Roxanne’s store. Snow blanketed the ground. A few lingering bright fall leaves swirled in the air, dotting the snow with splashes of color. As she walked up the stairs to the door, it swung open, Roxanne’s smiling face behind it.

  “Hey there, you’re early. Let me get that,” Roxanne said, removing a warm casserole pan from Chloe’s hands.

  Dane had explained that even before his parents passed away, they usually spent Thanksgiving dinner at Roxanne’s store with a few other local families. The tradition had been established before this generation, but it continued without interruption. Dane was meeting her here after a quick stop at his office to set a broken arm for a little boy who thought riding his bike on the icy street was a good idea this morning.

  Chloe followed Roxanne into the store, weaving her way through the aisles. When she reached the deli and coffee shop area, she discovered it had been transformed. The small round tables had been stacked against the wall and two long tables had been pushed together with enough seating for over twenty people. The entire store was scented with delicious food. Roxanne quickly set Chloe to work ladling fresh brewed hard cider and slicing loaves of herbed breads as Roxanne pulled them out of the oven.

  Within the hour, the area was filled with people. Chloe had met most of them. Roxanne made sure she was introduced to anyone she didn’t already know. Chloe thought back over the last month and found it hard to believe she felt so at home in Catamount. She simply did and didn’t care to question it. When she was with Dane, her heart thrummed with joy and desire every moment. As she’d known that evening in the woods when he found her in the cave, the connection between them was so powerful, it spoke for itself. The community had gone from being polite and somewhat reserved to welcoming her with open arms. The aftermath of the kidnapping lingered in town and within her, but the event seemed to have brought the community to rally around her. The shifters knew she accepted them.

  The only blot on her happiness was the undercurrent of fear and sadness around Callen, his death, and what the town had since learned about him. Betrayal and fear ran high when his name came up. Chloe had a few opportunities to spend time with Shana and felt deeply for her. Though she couldn’t say she understood Shana’s experience entirely, she understood what it was like to find out someone you trusted was not the person you believed them to be. She hoped for Shana’s sake that she would find a way past it. As for the shifters, the investigation continued into who else was behind Callen’s planning. Dane kept her up to date and had explained the investigation had tentacles reaching from Maine to South Dakota and Montana. Time would tell what they learned.

  Chloe glanced up when she heard her name. Dane was weaving his way through the room to her side. The faint scent of wood smoke clung to him. She leaned up to kiss him, flushing when he pulled her close and swept his tongue into her mouth. He never did anything halfway, and one kiss took her breath away.

  “How many times do I have to remind you to take it easy?” Roxanne’s question broke through the haze of passion.

  Chloe flushed when Dane pulled away. Dane shrugged with a grin, entirely unrepentant. “I’d say I was sorry, but I’m not.”

  Roxanne swatted him on the shoulder. “Be glad I like her, or I might make it much more awkward for you.”

  The next few hours passed in a blur of food, wine, cider, and an overwhelming sense of belonging. After Thanksgiving dinner had been served and everyone stuffed beyond reason, Chloe rode beside Dane as he drove home through the quiet night. Leaves blew across the road in the path of his headlights. When they walked inside, Dane started a fire in the fireplace in his bedroom. Chloe sat on the small couch by the fire, her legs resting across Dane’s lap.

  He turned to her, his blue-gray eyes intent on her. Holding her gaze, he reached for a small wooden box sitting on the table beside the couch. He held it in his palm, his eyes pinned to hers. “I knew it the night I met you. There is no one for me but you. I considered waiting, but I don’t want there to be any question about my intent. If you tell me you’re not ready, I’ll wait.”

  He handed her the box, warm from his touch. Her heart beat wildly—joy and anticipation laced with uncertainty flashed through her. The box was old, the wood a deep, rich brown. Carvings covered its surface. She held it closer and saw intricate carvings of mountain lions on every face of the box. She lifted the lid and gasped. A gorgeous ring set with emeralds and diamonds was nestled inside.

  Her eyes flew to Dane’s. For the first time ever, she saw the slightest hint of uncertainty in the depths of his gaze. “I chose the emerald because it reminds me of your eyes.”

  “Oh, oh…” Tears sprang to her eyes. Her mind went wild for a split second, the planner in her ready to point out how rash it would be to agree marry Dane so soon. But her heart knew the truth and calmly told her mind to stop worrying unnecessarily.

  “There’s no need to wait,” she said simply.

  Dane’s breath came out in a rush. He tugged her onto his lap. “Even though I’ve known you were meant for me the moment I met you, I didn’t know what to do if you weren’t sure. I’d have waited…”

  Chloe’s heart flew with joy, so full she could barely contain the feeling. She cut his words off with a soft kiss. “But you don’t need to.”

  Dane’s forehead fell to hers, his lips landing on hers in the softest of kisses.

  ~The End~

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  Please enjoy the following excerpt from Chosen Mate, the next book in the Catamount Lion Shifters Series!

  (Excerpt from CHOSEN MATE, CATAMOUNT LION SHIFTERS, BOOK 2 by J.H. Croix; all rights reserved)

  Chapter 1

  Jake North woke with a jump
when the door to his office opened. “Huh?” he said groggily.

  “Seriously, Jake? Did you sleep here last night?”

  Jake rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, looking up to find Phoebe Devine standing beside his desk.

  “I guess so,” he said. He sat up straighter and rolled his neck from one side to the other, a weak effort at easing the tension from sleeping in his desk chair. Glancing at his computer, he saw it was still on. Multiple screens were loaded with the searches he’d been working on last night.

  Phoebe smiled softly and handed him a cup of coffee in the distinctive bright blue takeout cups from Roxanne’s Country Store. He gratefully took it, immediately taking a swallow, the rich flavor welcome.

  “Thank you,” he said. “To what do I owe this morning gift?”

  Phoebe plopped down in the chair on the opposite side of his desk. “I thought I’d check in since your car is covered in about a foot of snow. I figured you’d stayed late and fallen asleep.” She paused, her dark brown eyes concerned. “You’ve been working so hard on this investigation since Callen died. I know how important it is, but I’m worried about you. It wouldn’t hurt to take a break every so often,” she said softly.

  Jake took another sip of coffee and looked across his desk at Phoebe. She was a good friend. One of the few friends he could trust in the aftermath of the bombshell that had dropped in Catamount, Maine, a community along the vein of Maine forest through which the Appalachian Trail traversed. Just over a month ago, a mountain lion had been killed on a highway in Connecticut. Turned out, the mountain lion in question was a shifter from Catamount – Callen, a shifter from an old family of shifters. Jake’s family was as old and storied as Callen’s. Both were founding families of Catamount, one of the oldest and most well-protected shifter strongholds in the East.