“Oh, like I care how much protein you consume in a day,” Fiona LaSalle mumbled, glancing up from her clipboard through the fencing that kept the lion on his side of the cage. What was she doing here? She didn’t belong in a job that required her to take care of animals. The only pet she’d ever had was a goldfish when she was five. The poor thing only lasted a week before she found it floating at the top of the fishbowl. It was only later that she learned goldfish didn’t eat pancakes and powdered sugar.
Fiona sighed, unenthusiastically checking boxes on her sheet. The bright sun shone overhead, beating down on her until she could feel rivulets of sweat working their way down her spine. She’d give anything for a cooling breeze. The polyester uniform of the Jameson Wild Life Rescue and Preserve was chafing her delicate skin and the sunshine was really starting to take its toll on her creamy white complexion. So much so, she’d found freckles starting on the bridge of her nose that very morning. Fiona hated freckles, but they were the curse of the redhead and both she and her sister had it. Just like their mother, the two LaSalle sisters had dark auburn locks. Their green eyes were from their father.
A long concrete clearing made up most of the lion’s den and it was populated with only two cats. Mia, the lioness, didn’t move. In fact, the female cat always ignored her. The virile male lion was a different story. Almost as if he could understand her disgruntled comments, the lion lifted his head and made a grumbling sound. His bushy hairdo shifted as he kept his eerie yellow eyes on her. Fiona shivered. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he understood every word she said to him. Every time she came near his cage, he looked at her like that and every time she spoke, he stared at her--studying her so intensely she wondered if he was getting ready to pounce.
Making a few notations on the clipboard, she continued, “They need a ‘lazy’ check-box and a ‘smells funny’ one too. And no offense King, not that you would really care anyway, but you’ve got this so ugly you’re cute thing going on. I think it’s the hair. Care to tell me how the hell you get it to look that good?”
King lifted his head and shook it slightly, sending his bushy locks rippling. Fiona made a face at the lion. “Show off.”
The lion seemed to be smirking at her, its yellow eyes shining. Either that or he was still hungry.
“Great, the sun’s starting to get to me,” she mumbled, half heartedly looking over the den. The fact she thought a lion could smirk was not a good sign. Seeing King still eyeing her like she was the next piece of meat on the menu, she grumbled, “I know how you get your hair so shiny. It’s from basking in the sun all day licking your balls. Guess I’ll just have to stick with deep conditioning, won’t I?”
Well, she thought, shrugging. It isn’t like he’s going to tell anyone I’m being mean to him and it’s not like the preserve has security cameras installed. No one will see me teasing the lion.
Not that it mattered about the cameras, even she wouldn’t strike an animal. Verbally goading an obnoxious one was an entirely different story. Besides, King started it--always growling and acting weird whenever she did her rounds.
Okay, she wasn’t being completely fair. Her bad mood had nothing to do with the lion staring at her, or the fact that she was wearing polyester, or the fact that she had to work out in the sun. She was mad at herself. However, since berating herself on a daily basis for being a trusting fool had gotten old, she’d taken to venting toward the lion. The way she looked at it, it was good therapy. She got the aggravation out by grumbling at him and no one got hurt by her comments. Besides, there was just something in the way he looked at her, all cocky and knowing.
Fiona took a deep breath. Life really was depressing. Her ex, James, had cleaned her out--bank accounts, trust fund, jewels, cash, furniture, even some of her clothes. What did the man need with her high school prom dress? She didn’t even really like the awful pink thing.
He’d even thrown her vibrator in the trash! What kind of man got rid of a woman’s vibrator when he was dumping her? Hell, when he was robbing her blind? His lazy ass had spent three months on her couch whining about backaches and all the time he was scheming to take her to the cleaners.
“I’m such a fool,” Fiona whispered. She knew she was in a funk, but she couldn’t help it. Life really sucked right now. She’d had to go crawling back to her father for help after James left. As if the ‘I told you so’ wasn’t bad enough, she had to get a job of his choosing before he’d even think about helping her get out of the credit card debt James had run up under her name. Apparently, her ex had applied for every card that came in the mail without telling her. Her credit score was in the toilet along with her life. “I am such a fucking idiot.”
Feeling feisty and definitely needing to vent today after receiving another bill for nearly six thousand dollars at twenty seven percent interest, Fiona looked at the lion and added, “You’re as bad as my ex-boyfriend, you know it? He also had a thing for lying around and pretending to be the boss. From what I remember being said about male lions in elementary school, you’re the laziest of the cat breeds.” She dropped her voice into a condescending tone as if she were talking to a child. “Aren’t you? Yes, you are. You’re a lazy little bastard, aren’t you? Just like James always bitching about how his back hurt. Oh, oh, poor me, my back hurts.”
The lion lowered his head and snorted. He didn’t look too amused. Fiona chuckled at him, unable to stay mad. She was taking her bad mood out on a cat, but she couldn’t help it. Whatever she said to King wouldn’t hurt his feelings.
“Ah, I’m sorry, boy,” she mumbled, eyeing the lion. The creature tilted his head and slowly stood. He took a step forward and she lightened her tone. It was the first time he’d ever approached her. “That’s not fair to you, is it? I didn’t mean it, honest. You are so much better than James. Snakes are better than he is. Horse dung is better than he is. And you’re much prettier. You really will have to tell me how you get your hair so silky. I’d make a fortune selling whatever it is to women. Maybe then I’ll get out of debt.”
When she said ‘prettier’ the lion snarled as if offended by the girly word, but continued to make his way forward. Fiona clutched the clipboard to her chest and kneeled down to his eye level.
“All I wanted was to be appreciated, you know? And James really seemed to do that.” Fiona shook her head, thinking more about the past than looking at the wild beast coming toward her. “He said he believed in me. No one had ever said that to me before but my mother. I just thought if I gave him time and believed in him that he would change, you know, get better.” She snorted. “Stupid, huh?”
It had been two months since he left and even some time before that since they’d had sex. Only afterward, did Fiona’s very attractive female neighbor confess to the cops that James had been fucking her as well--apparently with no back problems holding him back. By that point, Fiona could believe just about anything. James was definitely not the man she thought he was. Or maybe he just wasn’t the man she’d hoped he was.
“I’m tired of being alone. My problem is that I give people the benefit of the doubt--trusting them blindly first only to get hurt in the end.” She continued, looking deep into the creature’s yellow eyes. They were so calm, almost understanding as they looked at her. She felt herself melt a little. “You know what I think my deal is? I need to get laid. I need to go out tonight after work and screw the first man I come across.”
The lion stiffened at her words and she giggled.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you, King?” she asked, grinning. “Man, it’s been so long and I hate to admit it, but that’s one of the things I actually miss about being in a relationship. James was far from being a saint, but he was definitely good in bed. You know what I mean?” The lion growled low in the back of his throat. She took the sound as an answer and continued. “The sex was great, not phenomenal, but really good. It was the only time he didn’t seem to be complaining about his back and his fake illness did give me the advantage of always being on top.”
All of a sudden, the lion roared viciously. The sound sent chills of dread down her spine, startling her. There was something in the beast’s eyes. He was angry. No, not just angry. He was outraged, pissed to the point that he wanted blood. Lunging at her, the lion crashed into the cage. Fiona screamed as the chain link swayed under his great weight. The clipboard dropped from her hands as she struggled to get to her feet. The lion continued to attack the fencing as if he wanted desperately to get at her. She screamed again, loud and long as she ran from the lion’s den as fast as her feet would carry her.
* * * *
Fiona looked at the floor in shame before staring desperately at Dr. Eve Matthews from the woman’s office door. “I’m really sorry, Dr. Matthews. I didn’t mean to scare the kids by running and screaming through the preserve. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Eve was the veterinarian who ran the preserve with her Russian-born husband, Viktor. They were newly married and in the process of building their dream home on the preserve. Viktor was dark and mysterious and so tragically cute. He was also very much in love with his wife.
The doctor was moving her stuff into her new office--a room cluttered with piles of books and stacks of boxes. It was part of the newer complexes just built by the preserve’s new owner, Finn O’Conner. Finn was a friend of her father and it was because of that relationship that she was even considered for this job. Her father wanted her to learn the value of manual labor—or so he said. Fiona knew he just wanted to punish her for striking out on her own against his wishes.
“But please take a moment to listen to my side, doc. I’m telling you, there’s something wrong with King. I go by to do my checks every day and every day he watches me with those... those intense eyes of his and then today he actually charged the fence. I think he wanted to kill me. I saw death in his eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gotten loose. We should send out a search party for him. There are kids still on the grounds.” Fiona took a deep breath, well aware that she sounded like a madwoman. She couldn’t help it. Picturing the look on the lion’s face gave her chills.
“Actually, the kids have all been taken home. They were too shaken by your performance to stay and finish the tour.” Eve took a deep breath. “And I’ve sent Fletcher out to check on King. He assures me the lion is in his cage, sleeping peacefully.”
“Dr. Matthews, please, if you had security cameras installed, you’d know that I—”
“I have no doubt the lion got a little...” Eve paused as if struggling for the right word. “Ah, rowdy, but I can assure you he wasn’t trying to kill you. I’ve had King here for five years. Trust me when I say I know him well. His diet’s been changed and he’s probably just temperamental because of it. I’m sure that’s what you’ve been noticing.”
“I want to change assignments again, please.”
Eve studied her, her gaze calm.
“Please, Dr. Matthews, I know I’ve asked for several changes in assignment, but I swear this time it’s...” Fiona paused. Eve quirked a brow. “Please. King’s got it out for me. I know it. And didn’t you say you didn’t want to stress the animals out? If he doesn’t like me, doesn’t that count as me stressing him out by going by there?”
“Fiona,” Eve said, taking another long, deep breath. It was clear the woman was put off by her, but Fiona couldn’t help that. They were just different people with very different personalities. This place was Eve’s life. To Fiona it was just a job she was forced to endure until her father picked a new one with which to torture her. “You know, working with animals isn’t for everyone. There’s nothing wrong with that. Now, when I hired you, you said that you didn’t scare easily and that you were up to the challenges we face here every day. I gave you a chance, but—”
“No, please,” Fiona interjected. She knew what was coming. Eve had the ‘I’m so sorry, but I have to fire you’ look on her face. Unfortunately, Fiona couldn’t blame the woman. “I need this job, Dr. Matthews. I can’t lose it. If I lose another job my father will disown me. I’m not complaining. I promise I’m not.” She took another deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. “I just want to put in for a transfer to a different section of the preserve. But only if one happens to come up.”
“Everyone helps everyone here,” Eve said. “You go where you’re needed. Now, I already excused you from dealing with tour groups—”
“They asked too many questions I couldn’t answer,” Fiona interrupted. “I thought it might look bad for the preserve.”
And I was tired of looking stupid—being shown up by second graders when it came to big cat knowledge.
“And I excused you from working in the lab,” Eve said.
“I already said I’m sorry for fainting. I had no idea there would be that much blood involved.”
“It was a surgery,” Eve said dryly.
“You know what? Can we just forget I was here? Please.” Fiona slowly backed out of the office. She cursed silently to herself, knowing she couldn’t lose another job—not after the strings her father had pulled to get it for her. Was it her fault she hadn’t found her calling yet? “I’ll stay where I’m needed and you won’t hear another peep out of me on the subject, okay? And I’ll never, ever, ever scream again in the preserve. Even if I’m being eaten alive by one of the tigers. Promise.”
Eve sighed and opened her mouth.
“I promise.” Fiona drew an X over her heart in the childhood gesture of really promising, and said, “Cross my heart.”
“Fine,” Eve said, though she sounded reluctant. “One more chance. Just... don’t get eaten, all right.”
Fiona nodded eagerly and hurried out of the office before the woman could change her mind. To herself, she mumbled, “Good going, Fiona. You being a fraidy-cat almost got you fired.”
* * * *
“Okay, Cade, what’s up?” Eve asked, looking in at the lion. Her husband Viktor was by her side, paying more attention to the way the setting sun reflected off her shoulder length blonde hair than what she was saying. Viktor was a cat shifter—half man, half black panther. Eve was his human turned immortal wife who ran the preserve. The woman had a kind heart and was loved by all the shifters and non-shifting big cats under her care.
Cade let his body begin to shift from lion form so he could stand before Eve and talk with his human voice. He preferred to spend his days lazing around in the sun at the preserve. Human life was much too complicated for his liking.
Besides, he thought, glancing back at the lioness with whom he shared the cage. Mia needs me. I can’t abandon her now.
Tan fur rippled into waist length blond hair, automatically blowing forward over his naked chest. Eve averted her eyes. He thought it funny, the way she got embarrassed by their nakedness. After centuries of changing form, all the cat shifters had gotten used to walking around naked. Besides, being half cat kept them trim and lean and most looked damned good in the buff. They had absolutely nothing to hide.
“Howdy, doc,” Cade drawled, grinning widely as he crossed over to her. He put his hands on his hips, standing proudly, his cock nestled between his thighs.
“Uh, Cade, do you mind, buddy?” Viktor asked, pointedly. “You’re embarrassing my wife.”
“Can’t help it,” Cade laughed. “She’s so cute when she’s red.”
“Cade, get dressed,” Eve said, her face turning a darker shade. “Or so help me I’ll shave you in cat form just to see if those pretty locks of yours fall off.”
Viktor looked down at Eve’s blushing face. The pheromones he was emitting were potent enough for the whole preserve to smell. His voice dipped and his voice became husky. “Yeah, she is cute, isn’t she?”
“Eh, come on,” Cade grumbled, waving his hand in the air in a feeble attempt to get rid of the pheromones. “Give us bachelors a break, would you?”
“One of the girls who works for us says that King’s been intimidating her,” Eve interrupted their teasing. Viktor chuckled lightly, but kept quiet. “Care to tell me why you’re harassing the help?”
“Oh, her.” Cade frowned and crossed over to the small cave. He was still angry when he thought about the woman telling him how she’d slept with another man. Pushing on a fabricated rock, he waited for a secret compartment to open. The preserve was closed and he felt like getting out of the cage. Taking the clothes he found inside the compartment, he pulled on a T-shirt. Tight blue jeans were soon to follow.
“Yeah, her,” Eve said, tapping her foot. “Care to explain?”
“I hope you fired her.” He shook his head. That woman was annoying as hell, putting him down one minute as if she actually knew him and then talking about fucking another guy the next. It didn’t help that just seeing her walk near his cage made his body tight with desire. Everything about her was a distraction. His cock twitched, wanting to rise to full length. He was glad he’d dressed, not wanting Viktor to mistake the reaction for Eve. Eve was beautiful, but she was also very much taken. Catshifters respected each other’s territory.
“Well, no, I didn’t,” Eve said. Cade wondered at the relief he felt at her statement. “I know Fiona is a handful, but Finn’s been insistent that we keep her on. He says it’s a matter of great importance and the truth is I have nowhere else to put her. I’ve tried everything. She can’t cook so the small café’s out, she’s useless in the lab and all the other cats aren’t as patient as I know you can be. I put her in this section because I thought you’d be nice to her.”
“Vik, tell your wife to turn off the flattery and batting eyelashes,” Cade said, even as he felt himself softening to Eve’s dilemma. She really was a good person and he hated to see her so upset—especially in her so recently delicate condition. “You should talk to Finn and tell him her attitude is all wrong for this place.”
“I will,” Eve promised, “just as soon as he gets back from Europe. So, can you do me a favor and put up with her until then? Please? For me, Cade?”
“Well…” He hesitated, his resolve crumbling. Damn, but he was weak when it came to his female friends. “Okay, I’ll stop harassing her.” He paused, giving a meaningful look down to her flat belly. “But only if you name the baby you’re carrying after me.”
Eve looked confused and Cade knew Viktor hadn’t told her yet. She turned to her husband in surprise. Viktor shot him a look of slight annoyance, but Cade didn’t care as he gave an insolent grin. With a light jump, he hopped over the tall fence with ease and strolled down the path. As he walked away, he heard Viktor say, “I was going to tell you, my love, but there wasn’t time. It just happened this morning.”