Chapter Seven: Heat
Mateo Kenzo is a man who is used to getting everything he wants when he wants it.
He used to have a family, a mother and father and two younger brothers. But they were all werecats and they were caught in their cat when it was rigged to explode by a Shifter Hate group. People who not only went unpunished but were heralded for what they had done because it was during a different lifetime where Shifters were treated as something less than human. Less than animals.
Afterwards, he thought he was alone. He thought he was the only Cat Shifter left.
It seemed impossible when he picked up the whiff of familiarity in his office a few weeks ago. And then again and again. Something that smelled like home and perfection. It is a fleeting sort of aroma, one that doesn't linger long enough for him to be able to find her and definitely doesn't stay long enough for him to be able to track her.
It is through sheer luck that he decided to go down to the basement that day. Tom is very good at getting things done but he knows people like Mike. Kids who are so used to having their way that it is safer to have him along. And he had been rearing for a fight.
He hadn't expected her to literally run into him, smelling soft and perfect. His instinct demands he keep her close, hold onto her like she is his possession.
He sees Mike rushing them and his instinct to protect is kicked into high alert, swallowing all of his other senses until the only thing he knows is that he needs to keep his mate safe from the attacker. He has the man down before he can even blink and then when he turns back, she's gone too.
Her name is April Snow and she has been working in their company for the past several months. He waits for her the next day with strict instructions for his men not to let her escape this time.
And then he has her in his grasp. She's soft and small, afraid even though there's nothing to be afraid of. He is struck again by how gorgeous she would be when she's not hiding so much. Her features are soft and sweet, the gold in her eyes hidden by black contact lenses that he vows to get rid of the moment he can. There's an angelic sort of air about her that he wants to shelter and protect.
When he finally has her in his lap, he is filled with the need to possess, to breed and mate her, make sure she is his, that everybody knows it.
But she's afraid. He catches her chewing her tail and he pushes down the instinct to pin her over the table and breed her because it's clear she's not ready for something like that.
She reminds him of his youngest sibling. He was a Cat Shifter like her too, incapable of hiding his ears or tail. His parents told him that Daniel is 'special' and that he needs extra care. He used to cry a lot and they never quite figured out what sets off his crying fits. He's afraid of his own shadow and when he's anxious, he would chew on his tail until the fur there is tacky and pulled out in places. He never did grow out of that habit and he never had a chance. Most shifters with outward characteristics like her had been killed. It's a miracle she survived.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he promises the little thing and watches the gold in her eyes flash through the dark contacts.
When it's clear that she's not going to bolt, he loosens his grip on her waist and tries to get some work done. He normally goes to his own office for this but he has a feeling the open space would make her feel less trapped.
She's tucked in his chest, looking perfectly adorable as she's grooming her tail. The tip isn't as bad as his brother's had been, but the fur there is matted and thinner than the rest of her fluffy tail. Poor thing. She's a beautiful little thing, firm large breasts that seems a little too heavy on her small waist without her tail wound so tightly around herself and lovely round hips perfect for childbearing.
Her eyes are his favorite features on her, wide and trusting even though she knows nothing about him. She has angel-like features, soft cheeks tinted pink and lovely lush lips that he longs to kiss and bite. He wants her so much it aches like a physical pain in his core.
He manages to retrieve her sandwich from her bag without having to untangle from her. She has a few slices of lettuce tucked between two pieces of bread and a generous helping of what smells like canned tuna. He'll have to work on her diet, feed her something more nutritious. But when he tries to feed her a bite from his own lunch, a freshly baked salmon, she refuses to even open her mouth.
"Have some," he gently instructs, bouncing her on his lap the same way he remembers doing to his younger brother.
"No," she replies meekly, looking unsure as she watches the fork hover at her lips.
"I insist," he presses calmly, used to handing out orders that are obeyed immediately. "You can have another bite of your tuna sandwich after," he offers.
She eyes the sandwich on the plate hungrily and licks her lips. "Promise?"
"Of course," he answers lightly and she nods, flushing and nervous. She's going to be the death of him. She looks so sinfully tempting like this, pliant and sweet in his lap. He wants more than a taste of her on his lips. He wants all of her. He watches her carefully as she takes a small bite, closing her lips around his fork like she's ingesting something vile instead of the finest fresh fish money can buy.
She makes a face at the taste and texture but chews and politely swallows all the same. Then, she reaches for her sandwich immediately and looks like she's trying her best to mask the taste of the salmon.
He can't help but smile a little at the behavior. She trusts him enough to feed her. That's a good thing. That means she will be his by the end of the evening. He would see that done to secure himself a pretty little mate.
She will be able to bear his children, his kits. They're both Cat Shifters so their children would be Shifters as well. He truly doesn't care if their children take after her or him more.
The more he feeds her, the more he sees how she's growing uncomfortable. She shifts in her spot, unknowing rubbing against his erection. Pearls of sweat gathers on her brow as her eyes dilate subtly. It's subtle, but he's been looking for it since he caught her that morning.
She barely notices when his men come in to delivery his work or when he tells them to leave and make sure he is not disturbed for the rest of the day.
Keeping her close, covering her in his scent, feeding her... all these are his efforts to push her into heat and it's working.
"How're you feeling?" he asks, feigning concern as he gives her another sip of his water. He rests his palm on her forehead, noting how her temperature has increased. Her eyes are a beautiful golden shade now that he's managed to convince her to take the contacts out.