A Matter of Pride Read online

  A low groan rumbled from his chest, and he was helpless to stop the purr that grew. Damn, he wanted to lick her up. From her toes to her lips, centering on her breasts crushed to his chest, and lower, to that sweet spot between her legs that tempted him to drop to his knees and go to town.

  She gripped his arms, her fingers not meeting around his biceps. Though tall and toned, she didn’t have the bulk to back up her attitude. Feminine and curvy in all the right places, she fit him perfectly. An image of her smiling up at him, her blue eyes wide and welcoming, hit him hard. And in her arms, she’d hold a little girl with his smile, a miniature Stacey he’d love and cherish forev—

  He shoved her away in horror. “Holy Christ.”

  She blinked and frowned up at him. “Excuse me?”

  She would have sounded more annoying if she hadn’t been so out of breath. A glance down showed hard nipples straining at her blouse. The urge to rip her shirt open and suck on those tight nipples until she came hit him right between his legs.

  He groaned and prayed he wouldn’t come in his pants. Thinking about sex with Stacey was one thing. She looked like the poster girl for condoms. But a baby? Since when did Dean Chastell need to settle down with one woman? Panicked, because his cat seemed to love the idea of Stacey and forever, Dean backed away.

  “What the hell is your problem?”

  “I—” He took a deep breath and calmed himself. “Just thought that might shut you up.” He thought he’d done a good job of appearing blasé until she smiled.

  “Really? Because it seemed to me like you were well on your way to getting off.” She shot a significant glance at his erection.

  “Hell, Stacey. You’re a sexy blonde. I’m a guy. Do the math.”

  A flash of hurt appeared in her eyes before it vanished, making him wonder if it had been there to begin with. “Oh, so any woman will do so long as her hair is the right color?”

  “Not what I said.” He didn’t like the thought he might have hurt her feelings. “But why the hell did you kiss me back?” He sounded accusing, but damn if he could help himself. It was bad enough he lusted after the shrew. She didn’t need to encourage him.

  “I was curious about what all the women in town have experienced.”

  “Not all the women,” he snapped. “I date, okay? I’m not a man-whore, and I’m not some dog in heat.”

  “Cat in heat,” she murmured.

  He took a step closer, right in her face, and keeping true to form, she didn’t back away an inch. “I like women. I love women,” he snarled, wishing he wasn’t so hot for this particular female. “It’s not my fault they talk about me. I like to have fun. What the hell is so wrong with having a good time?” Frustrated because the topic had been one he’d been dealing with for years, he couldn’t help himself. “Just because I don’t want to settle down, knock some woman up and mate for life, I’m a jerk? A whore? A— What did you call me last week? A backwoods gigolo with dirt for brains?”

  She had the grace to flush.

  “Gimme a break, Stacey. You might be too good for everyone around you, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t want a little companionship every now and then.”

  He knew he had no right to take out his frustration on her, despite how grating she might be. So he took a step back, ignored his urge to kiss her once more and stalked toward the exit. “Don’t leave unless Monty or Joel is hot on your ass.” Then he slammed his way out the door, wishing he’d had the good sense not to touch her in the first place. Because now that he knew what she tasted and felt like, it would be hell staying away.

  Stacey watched him leave, annoyed with herself for goading him. That kiss had nearly melted her into a puddle of warm yes. And then she’d gone and ruined things, the way she always did. Lashing out usually worked in her favor, because the guys she tended to date ended up being jerks. They liked her as arm candy, to brag about or to satisfy an itch.

  For once, she’d enjoyed a kiss because she knew the man couldn’t help himself, that he didn’t want to want her. That was a new one.

  But mama, could that man kiss. No wonder the women of Cougar Falls were in lust with the golden playboy of the Catamount Ranch. Dean was lethal with those lips, that tongue… He’d kept his hands on her hips, respectful yet keeping her close enough to work his magic. But he hadn’t been able to hide the sexual heat bleeding from his body into hers.

  Had she ever felt so much the center of someone else’s world? In his arms, she’d felt every inch the focus of his attention. He’d made love with his mouth. Not just a kiss—the joining of mouths and tongues had been an exploration of so much more. Her cat wanted another taste, to lap him up and find out what other fun things Dean liked to do. God, that promise in his pants had made her itch to hike up her skirt and wrap her legs around him. She’d wanted nothing more than to hitch her groin against his and ease that hungry spot between her legs.

  Her panties were wet. Not a surprise after that kiss, but how embarrassing to know he would have smelled her arousal had he not been so impatient to get away from her. And that hurt.

  Finally, a man she wanted to know better, and he couldn’t leave her fast enough. Just reinforcement to the idea that she didn’t have all that much going for her besides her looks. And her wealth, she reminded herself. She had money too.

  With a sigh, she moved into the back and stepped into the bathroom. There, she removed her panties—no hope for it—and tucked them into her bag. Then she straightened her appearance. A new coat of lipstick, a touch of blush and a brush through her hair. She washed her hands and dried them, then stepped away from the sink and exited the small bathroom…only to run into the broad chest of an Ac-taw who didn’t belong in Cougar Falls. At all.

  Quince stared down at the arrogant feline his boss wanted back yesterday. He understood the attraction, even if he didn’t share it. His tastes ran toward feisty lions with spiky hair and spitting eyes. The resemblance was there in the eye shape and the general feminine features, but Stacey had a more classical beauty than her sister. And those blue eyes were just odd. Cold, assessing and almost wolf-like in their predatory gleam.

  She took a step back and opened her mouth.

  He lifted the knife he’d been holding, the one he’d used to break into her store late last night, while the town slept. The Hunter’s mist he’d used had camouflaged his scent, and he’d been quiet so as not to arouse suspicion. He hoped his knife would keep the drama queen from making a fuss.

  Upon seeing the weapon, she closed her mouth. Smart girl.

  “Hey there, Stacey. You’re looking good.” Quince leaned against the doorway and waited for a caustic comeback.

  “Wish I could say the same,” she said with a sneer. “Shouldn’t you be rolling some kid for his lunch money? Or maybe abusing some hapless kitten so you can look big and strong?”

  He had to hand it to her. She did disdainful princess like nobody’s business. It had to be that untouchable aura that had Lex’s dick in a knot. The prick couldn’t get his hands on her fast enough.

  When he didn’t respond, she at least had the sense to feel nervous, though she hid it well. Only the sound of her racing heartbeat and the subtle scent of fear alerted him to her tension. Though she deserved to be scared for being so stupid, she was his future mate’s sister. No need to start off on the wrong foot with that cat—well, any more than he had already.

  “Look, sweetness, you being here all by yourself is foolish. Lex hasn’t forgotten you. And he never will, not until you’re either naked and spread out beneath him or your head’s mounted to his wall,” he said bluntly, hoping to scare some sense into her.

  “That’s not news, Quince. If that’s all you came out here to tell me, you can go to—”

  “Shit. You’ve got balls, I’ll grant you that.” He shook his head, impressed despite himself. “I’m here with you, all alone. I outweigh you by a hundred pounds at least, and my knife is way bigger than the teeth or claws you might shift into if I d
idn’t gut you before you sprouted fur.”

  Her fear blossomed and tasted ripe on the air. Finally.

  “But I’m not here to hurt you,” he said quietly.

  She blinked, and those bright blue eyes sparked with curiosity. Okay, yeah, she was hot. But still, not the right cat. Not for him.

  “Lex wants you, and only you. He’ll do whatever he has to to get you back, and that includes killing your sisters. Oh, and Miles. He wants to skin Miles publicly, as a warning to everyone at home to obey.” Quince snorted. “Over-the-top and dramatic as all get-out if you asked me, but that’s Lex.”

  “So I’ll leave.”

  “And that’s exactly what he wants, for you to separate yourself from the safety here and be all by yourself, ripe for the plucking.”

  “But you just said he wants me. If I’m gone, he’ll leave them alone.”

  “I thought you were smarter than that.” He shook his head. “He sees them as leverage. You might tell him to kiss your ass, but if he has his hands on your sisters or brother, you’ll do whatever he wants to keep them safe. Won’t you?”

  She didn’t respond, but the pinch to her lips answered for her. She might be spoiled, but she was loyal. And God knew he could use some loyalty right about now. Unfortunately, fidelity to the pride had been pretty rare of late.

  “Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to work with me on this.”

  “You? But—”

  “Me.” He stood straight and glared at her, pleased when she didn’t argue. “There are some things set in motion that need to play out. You’re going to take that pretty little ass out of town for a few days—under my watchful eye—and distract Lex. While he’s focused on you, I’m going to cut his legs out from under him.”

  “My brother can—”

  “You’re not going to tell anyone about this.”

  “That’s stupid. The pride can help.”

  The Chastells didn’t buckle under pressure or threats…and were unconventional enough to give him pause. They could definitely muck up the works. Quince didn’t even want to think about Miles Bermin added to the equation. The cat had a huge bug up his ass about Quince in particular. “We think Lex might be using a few Ac-taw in town to keep tabs on you.”

  “Not from the pride,” she said quickly.

  “We don’t think so. But word has come back about you all, and it’s detailed enough that we’re being ultra careful.”

  “We who?”

  “I ask the questions and I give the orders. Do as you’re told and this will go down without a hitch. No more Lex, no more problems.”

  She bristled.

  “Look, Stacey, I know it’s tough keeping that mouth shut and doing what you’re told, but you didn’t seem to have a problem with Chastell a few minutes ago. Just pretend I’m him.”

  Clearly the wrong thing to say, but he’d been dying to one-up the haughty female for months.

  “You son of a bitch!” She poked him in the chest with a long, sharp, manicured nail. “Look, Quince, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I won’t let you—”

  He gripped her hand in his and she froze mid-sentence. “Okay, that was out of line. But you two did look kind of chummy.” Which relieved him. Dean Chastell couldn’t have designs on Joy, not if he kissed her sister like that.

  Then again, if he was stupid enough to tangle with the Bermin sisters, once they finished tearing him a new one, Quince would gut the fucker. He’d waited long enough to take what was his. He frowned down at Stacey. “You want to protect your family, you get away for the weekend. You’re bait, plain and simple.”

  “Bait?” She worried her lower lip while glaring daggers at him. “Let me get this straight. You want me to set myself up for Lex, your best friend and pride leader, and trust that you’ll protect my brother and sisters while I’m gone? Are you insane?”

  “You’ll do it.”

  “I should just tell Miles you’re here. He can handle this.”

  “If you do, I’m going to hurt him, and it’ll be your fault.” She paled, and he continued. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about you Bermins. Far as I’m concerned, you can stay out here forever. I want Lex, and he wants you. You’re the only chink in his armor, and I’m going to exploit it. Whether you’re willing or not.” He growled low.

  She growled back. “You touch one hair on my brother’s head, I’ll kill you myself.” The scent of anger and fear grew thick.

  “Dream on, princess.” Female cats were lethal, and Quince had learned early on never to underestimate the prettier sex. But nothing stepped in his way unless he allowed it. He’d be damned if he’d let even Joy’s sister stop him from making things right. “You refuse to play along and I’ll have no choice but to deal with Miles. If he knows I’m involved, he won’t stop until we tangle. He’s a hothead, and I don’t have time to play with him. I’ll put him out of commission, step over his broken body and finish with Lex. Now wouldn’t it be easier to keep Miles out of this until I’m done and gone?”

  She fumed but had to know he was right. “Oh, fine. Miles can’t know. But the pride can—”

  “Fuck up everything. Burke Chastell has a hard-on for injustice.”

  “Somebody should.”

  He wanted to smile at her refusal to back down but kept his face expressionless. “No way he’ll let me hang around your little town while I deal with Lex.”

  “So Lex really is here?” She sounded uneasy, as well she should. “Why the hell should I believe any of this? Why would you go against Lex anyway? You and he are thick as thieves.”

  The very image he’d striven so hard to project. “You want the truth?”

  “Yes, damn it.” She curled her fists, and he knew he’d started to win her over.

  “Lex has involved Hunters in the takeover of the pride. Now I might like being in charge, sure.” Actually, he hated it. He wanted everything to go back to the way it had been when Michael had been in charge. “But I don’t tolerate Hunters. You can believe that.”

  Hunters—the Capitol H kind—killed Ac-taw. They were humans who knew shapeshifters existed and lived only to hunt and murder what they couldn’t understand.

  Stacey backed away and hit the sink. “I have to tell the others.”

  “You can’t. If word gets out to the wrong people, I’m fucked. And without me, you and your family don’t have a prayer of staying out of Lex’s hands. Think about it. There’s more than just danger to you and yours. There are pregnant females in the Cougar Falls Pride. Wouldn’t Lex just love to send a message using one of them?”

  “Jesus, Quince. You wouldn’t hurt a breeding female.”

  “I wouldn’t, no. But I think we both know Lex will do whatever he feels like. He couldn’t give a shit about the pride here. He wants you, and he wants Miles to suffer. So he’ll use Hunters, rogue Ac-taw, the idiot cats from our pride, whatever he needs to win in the end.” He gauged her silence and let out a deep breath. Finally, she’d come to her senses. “You go ahead and tell the pride I’m here. Before you know it, Lex will know he’s got a problem. He’ll probably find me and beat me down before I can shore up my reserves. And then you’ll be right back in a shit sandwich, never knowing when Lex will attack. And he will.”

  She folded her arms around her middle and hugged herself, yet she never looked away from him. She was as strong and domineering as her stubborn brother.

  He pressed his case. “If I don’t stop Lex now, you’ll always be in danger, never knowing when he’ll attack or who might get hurt. So which way do we do this, Stacey? Alert your brother and lose him? Give Lex the advantage? Or do what I tell you and let me handle it? Your call.”

  She could be a handful, but Stacey Bermin had a brain. He watched her consider her options and wasn’t surprised when she snarled at him.

  “Fuck. Fine.”

  He blinked, not having heard her swear before.

  “But let me tell you something, cat. You hurt my family or the pri
de here at all, just one little bit, and I’ll make you pay. One way or the other. I can promise you that.” The feline slit of her pupil warned of her cat’s need to protect.

  And that fury reminded him so much of Joy that he softened without meaning to.

  “So we good?” he asked gruffly.

  “As if.” She blew out a loud breath and blinked quickly, but she couldn’t quite hide the sheen of tears there. “So I just need to prance around by myself and wait, is that it?”

  Without a word, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief that he handed to her.

  She took it, used it and tossed it back at him. Then she patted her hair and gave him a false smile. “Well, Quince?” She opened her mouth to say something else, but an odd expression crossed her face.

  “What?”

  She surprised him by taking a step closer. The scent of her fear had completely faded. If he wasn’t mistaken, he sensed amusement. “I’m still waiting for my instructions, oh great leader.”

  He didn’t trust her complacence but didn’t want to question his good luck. After giving her instructions, he ended with another warning to keep her mouth shut.

  “Sure thing, boss. I wouldn’t want to make you mad. You might kill my whole family while we sleep.” She took a slow step back, keeping her left foot poised before lowering it again.

  He looked down and swore. He picked up the bracelet that must have fallen out of his pocket when he’d handed her the handkerchief. With a jerky motion, he shoved it back in.

  The sly grin on her face made it worse. Hell, he could feel his cheeks heat. Quince cleared his throat, wishing she didn’t know what that bracelet meant, but by the look of evil delight on her face, he had a bad feeling she knew. “Remember, don’t tell anyone I was here.”

  “Not even Joy?” she asked with wide-eyed innocence.

  He ignored her. Hopefully, she’d forget all about the ugly little bead bracelet Joy had given him years ago, a treasure he’d never been able to let go. Just his luck her sister would recognize it and understand its significance—a mating gift he fully intended to give back, just as soon as he claimed the stubborn cat.