On the Road: Sometimes, learning to get past your
own problems, means focusing on someone else.

As an orphan, Chip had never really had a home
or even much to call his own. After being adopted,
he’d hoped he’d found acceptance. Unfortunately,
a year later, he shifted into his bobcat for the first
time and his new parents had thought him
possessed. Forced to run, Chip lived mostly as an
animal for decades. Having grown up alone in
foster care, it hadn’t been much different and he
hadn’t thought it too bad…until the day he’d been
captured and tortured by scientists. Rescued by
Kontra and his gang, Chip finally sees the light at
the end of the long, lonely tunnel of his life.
Scarred, malnourished, and suffering from panic
attacks, Chip struggles to get his body and mind
back under control. When the gang visits a pride
of lion shifters, Chip meets Grimes, who claims
they are mates. Can he manage to get past his
hang-ups and grab onto the happiness Grimes
offers him?

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fine of $250,000.

Please purchase only authorized electronic editions,
and do not participate in or encourage the electronic
piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the
author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, and incidents either are products of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual events or locales or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Catting Around

ISBN: 978-1-77111-794-4

Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the
reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or
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Catting Around

Kontra’s Menagerie, Book Sixteen

Charlie Richards

Dedication

To the person who suggested a shifter teaching his mate

to dance. It was a cute idea. I hope you enjoy the result.

Chapter One

eople moved outside Chip’s room. He
shivered as he listened to the stomping of

booted feet and rumbles of masculine voices. He
knew all the activity meant the men consisting of
Kontra’s gang packed up their stuff so they could
head east. Never in a million years did Chip think
he’d be part of a shifter biker gang, but here he
was.

Hell, six months before, Chip hadn’t even

known so many shifters were out there, let alone
that there were wolves and bears and…well, so
many more than just cats. Now, he was on his way
to meet a whole pride of cats. Lions! Lions were a
hell of a lot bigger than Chip’s bobcat, and they
were both nervous.

A soft tap on the door drew Chip’s attention.
He lifted his head from where he’d rested it on

his crossed arms, which were wrapped around his
knees. From where he sat, curled up on the room’s
window seat, he all but whispered, “Come.”

Still, it was loud enough. He’d learned so much

from Kontra and his new friends…like shifters

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had better hearing than humans, as well as
increased strength, speed, and healing abilities.
That’s also why the human scientists had
kidnapped him—to run experiments so he could
integrate Chip’s abilities into humans.

He shivered at the memory of his time there.

More than once, he’d wished for death. Now, he
had a new chance at life.

The door swung open and a big, broad-

shouldered man with pale blond hair and warm,
chocolate eyes slipped into the room. Another
man followed the first, this one several inches
shorter, leanly muscled, with sparkling blue eyes
and messy auburn hair.

Chip smiled at them both. “Hey, Emmett,

Caleb,” he greeted quietly. “Are we all about set?”

Although he figured he should be out with the

rest of them, offering to help, Chip couldn’t seem
to manage being around all those big, dominant
shifters all at once. After several weeks, it still
intimidated him and his bobcat. He trusted them,
really he did, and if there were only two or three,
he was fine. If there were more than that, Chip
struggled against waves of debilitating fear.

Emmett swept a worried gaze over him. “Yeah,

how are you holding up? You ready?”

Chip pointed at the small duffle bag on the bed.

“Yep.”

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He didn’t have much, but what he did have,

he’d gotten from the other shifters’ generosity.
Kontra, the group’s alpha—a massive, grizzly bear
shifter—appeared as intimidating as hell with his
towering stature, shaggy brown and silver hair,
goatee, tattoos, and thickly filled out black biker’s
leathers. However, the man genuinely seemed to
care for those under his protection and quickly
included Chip into those numbers.

Over the last couple of weeks, Emmett and

Caleb had spent hours explaining how their
motorcycle gang was actually a pack of shifters.
He’d been shocked to learn that Caleb turned into
a chameleon, but had nearly fallen out of his chair
when he’d learned they were headed to visit a
pride of lion shifters.

Chip had seriously considered not going, but

after much assurance and encouragement from his
friends, plus Kontra and his mate, Tim, he’d
agreed to stay with the pack. What had truly
swayed his decision, though, was the craving of
his cat to remain with those that could keep him
safe from not only scientists, but also others who’d
attempt to abuse him. Hell, he’d been held and
abused by the humans for almost two years. Chip
sure as shootin’ didn’t want to be among them
anytime soon. Chip found that even being in the
same room as the humans mated to his fellow

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shifters remained difficult, and he often found an
excuse to slip away.

Thinking on his behavior, Chip remembered his

conversation with Kontra the evening before. His
alpha had sat him down and warned him of the
danger of his behavior. He’d wanted to know if
Chip would be able to hold it together in a
restaurant or if they’d need to leave him at a
motel.

Chip hadn’t been certain how he’d react, but he

remembered occasionally going to restaurants
when he could scrape up enough money.
Sometimes, even he craved interaction with
others. For decades, he’d lived in the mountains as
a bobcat. It was just easier. Unfortunately, that had
all ended when the scientists caught him.

Not wanting to disappoint Kontra or his new

friends—they’d done so much for him already—
Chip had assured his alpha that he’d be okay.
Somehow, he had to make certain that happened,
too. Besides, it wasn’t as if they could drop him off
on the side of the highway before going into town
to get gas. Chip knew he needed to suck it up and
grow a set.

“You okay?” Caleb asked this time, right before

the chameleon shifter lightly touched his shoulder.

After sucking in a deep breath, Chip smiled up

at his friends. “Yeah. I’m, uh, this is an adjustment
for me, but I appreciate everything you all are

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doing for me. I won’t let you down,” he tacked on,
pushing to his feet.

Emmett settled a big hand on his shoulder and

squeezed lightly. “We don’t think you’ll let us
down,” the large man rumbled. “We know you’ve
been through a lot.” A grimace crossed his face,
then he added, “More than you’re willing to tell
us, yet, I wager, but we just want you to be
happy.”

Caleb took up the speech, adding with a grin,

“And safe. Maybe comfortable with your pack
mates, too. That’s always a nice thing to be.”

Chip couldn’t help but chuckle. He nodded.

“I’m working on it, Caleb. Really.”

“By hiding in your room?” Emmett pointed out,

his tone kind.

Sighing, Chip crossed to the bed and scooped

up his backpack. “I played chess with Dorian last
night while everyone was at the going away party.
Ben and Mutegi were even in the room the whole
time.” He’d been proud of himself. Sure, it had
only been the four of them, but Ben was a human.
After talking with Kontra, he felt so pleased by the
small progress.

“Wow. Dorian didn’t shift last night? I woulda

thought he’d have taken this last evening to hunt,”
Emmett commented. “Especially since, now, he’s
going to be stuck as a human for at least three
days.”

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Caleb nodded, although a smile toyed at the

corner of his lips. When he spoke, Chip
understood why. “Unless he wants to flap around
his hotel room,” he said with a snicker.

Chip chuckled, unable to help himself. He

knew what his buddies were talking about. Dorian
was a California condor. He hadn’t told them how
long the scientists held him, but for the first week
with Kontra and the gang, he’d refused to shift.
The talk of the evening certainly was when a
strange, whipcord-lean, dark-haired male had
appeared at the top of the stairs.

Kontra, and Eli, their pack doctor, had

immediately risen and crossed to the man and led
him into the dining room. After a few minutes of
hushed whispers, they’d returned, introduced the
shifter as Dorian. Then, they’d all refocused on the
movie. Dorian had settled on a chair near the fire,
watched for maybe an hour, before heading back
upstairs.

Slowly, over the course of the next few weeks,

he’d come out more and more. The condor shifter
said little about himself, but he was always polite.
For the most part, any true interaction between
Dorian and others involved chess. The man loved
it, and his ability at the game of strategy quickly
proved unparalleled. Chip appreciated that the
other man had been willing to teach him.

Charlie Richards

In fact, now that Chip thought about it, last

night when Dorian had won three chess games in
a row, it’d been the first time he could remember
seeing the other shifter smile. Evidently, Chip
wasn’t the only one who needed to learn to loosen
up.

“All right,” Chip murmured, getting back on

track. “Let’s go. Maybe there’s still something I
can do to help.”

Emmett nodded, then headed toward the

doorway.

Caleb wrapped an arm around Chip’s

shoulders, and—tucked safely between his two
friends—he found himself guided out of his room
and down the stairs. After they all pulled on
sweatshirts, leather jackets, and heavy boots, Chip
followed them outside.

The brisk air almost instantly chilled Chip’s

clean-shaven face. He quickly yanked from his
pocket a black neoprene ski mask and pulled it
over his head, covering his sandy-colored hair. He
liked it covered anyway, hiding the black hairs
that swirled with no particular pattern through
the lighter locks. The odd characteristic happened
from time to time with shifters—like Kontra’s
silver tipped hair.

Except, while the alpha was a big, biker, bad-

ass who’d had parents who loved him and had
given him a confident sense of self, Chip hadn’t

Catting Around

had that. Instead, he’d grown up in an orphanage.
He’d been so excited to be adopted just before his
twelfth birthday. For nearly a year and a half, he’d
really thought his new parents loved him. The
second he’d shifted, that had all changed.

Banishing those thoughts, those memories,

Chip took in the nearly a dozen motorcycles, some
Harley’s, some not. Hell, Payson—an exuberant
hyena shifter—zipped around on a bullet bike.
The shifter’s mate, Land, stood by Payson’s side.
The human rolled his eyes at something Payson
said, and waved a hand, keeping the grinning
male from pulling him into an embrace.

Chip bit back a smirk. Yeah, he’d slipped out of

more than one room when the pair started going
at it. They normally didn’t care who was around
when they started groping each other. Evidently,
Land found the chilly morning air a deterrent.

Of course, just then, Kontra appeared on the

steps behind him and roared, “We’re out of here
in twenty. Be ready!” Then, without missing a
beat, the alpha strode over to Chip and stated,
“You ride with Luc. That work for you?”

Although disappointment flooded Chip, he

nodded anyway. “Yes, Alpha.”

Luc, evidently having heard his name,

appeared at his side. He rested his hand on the
small of Chip’s back and leaned close to say,
“Don’t worry, mon ami. You are safe with me.”

Charlie Richards

“Thanks,” Chip replied, dutifully allowing

himself to be guided to the big, dark green Honda
Goldwing that Luc drove.

Once at the bike, Luc opened the left side

saddlebag, then turned to Chip. The man’s hazel
eyes softened as he peered at him. “I know I’m not
your first choice to ride with. We haven’t had a
chance to get to know each other. I will do what I
can to make our travels comfortable.”

“I didn’t mean any offense,” Chip murmured,

uncertainty flooding him. He hadn’t had a shifter
parent to help guide him in understanding the
emotions he could often scent. It was like being
given a map without a compass.

Luc took Chip’s bag and slid it into the

saddlebag. He carefully tucked the shoulder straps
inside, then latched the lid into place.
Straightening, Luc reached out and cupped Chip’s
jaw in one hand. Knowing the other man wouldn’t
hurt him—well, at least not right in front of the
others—Chip didn’t fight the eagle owl shifter.

“You don’t understand what my scent means,

do you?”

The blunt question took Chip by surprise, but

he couldn’t lie to the more dominant—even if only
by a little—shifter. “No,” he admitted.

“Your parents didn’t teach you?”
With Luc holding his jaw, Chip couldn’t

manage to turn away. He had nowhere to hide.

Catting Around

Swallowing hard, he whispered, “I didn’t have
parents.”

“Ah, Chip.” Luc’s voice lowered to a soothing

croon. “Did you know Tim is my son?”

Chip did know that. His buddies had given him

general information about the shifters in their
pack, letting him know who shifted into what,
who was mated to who, and even a bit about some
of their friends they’d left behind.

That was how Chip knew that the big bleach-

blond man he saw just on the peripheral of his
vision was Adam, a white tiger shifter. The shifter
hugged his long-time friend Yuma, a penguin
shifter. Neither man bothered to hide the tears in
their eyes as they said good-bye. Adam was
staying behind, having opened a mechanic’s shop
so he could stay near his mate’s family. Yuma, on
the other hand, had chosen to continue to travel
with the biker pack. Fortunately, both men had
mates that would be able to soothe the sadness
caused by the change in their friend’s lives.

“Yeah,” Chip replied, refocusing on Luc. “I

know who you are.”

Luc grinned, his hazel eyes twinkling. “Then

you must know that I taught my son to
differentiate scents. That means I can do the same
for you.”

Charlie Richards

Chip’s brows crinkled in confusion. “Why

would you do that?” No one ever did something
for nothing. “What do you want in return?”

Sliding one hand down to the back of his neck,

Luc used the other to tug Chip into a hug. “Come
here,” he urged.

As Chip returned Luc’s loose embrace, he

suddenly feared what the other shifter would
want in return. He’d chosen to live as an animal
rather than become a street rat. Would Luc want
the one thing he’d never given anyone?

“Shhh, Chip,” Luc crooned, stroking up and

down his spine in a soothing caress. “Whatever
popped into that head of yours was wrong. All I
want is to help you. You getting better will be all
the reward I need.”

Chip realized his body shook. Deciding he had

to start trusting somewhere, he sank into Luc’s
embrace, taking the offered comfort. When he
finally got himself under control—and didn’t
think his voice would come out an unmanly
squeak—he finally lifted his head and asked,
“Why would you do that?”

Luc smiled down at him, a softness around his

mouth that Chip didn’t understand. “Once a
father, always a father.” After those cryptic words,
he shrugged and eased away. “As we drive, I’ll
have plenty of time to simulate different
emotions.” He winked. “Don’t worry. I have

Catting Around

enough memories from the last couple of centuries
that I can get close to most of them. You’ll be able
to understand in no time.”

Finding himself—for the first time—actually

looking forward to the trip, Chip smiled shyly.
“Thank you.”

Charlie Richards

Chapter Two

hey’re here.”
Grimes lifted his head and blinked at his

alpha. Perrin—a tall, brawny, six-foot five African
American black lion shifter—stood on the porch in
human form and peered down the driveway.
Turning to follow his alpha’s gaze, Grimes
realized that the soft buzz that had nudged him
from his doze had been the approaching rumble of
motorcycle engines.

If they hadn’t already expected Kontra and his

biker gang, Grimes would have shifted and put on
the sweats and t-shirt folded on one of the nearby
rocking chairs. Instead, he remained in lion form,
but did rise and move to sit beside his alpha.

Terence, Perrin’s mate, stood on the alpha’s

opposite side, with their beta, Patrick, on his far
side. Carlton—the pride’s other enforcer—stood a
bit further away, leaning against the railing with
his arms crossed.

“T

Catting Around

Soon, the roar of the motorcycles drew several

other shifters from the house. A glance over
Grimes’ shoulder showed him one of them was
Samson Crumb, a young lion shifter who’d gone
and gotten his mate, Helena, pregnant first thing
right after mating. Evidently, Helena loved the
idea of a whole passel of cubs, and Samson loved
Helena, so he’d do whatever made her happy.
Unfortunately, their pride’s midwife had passed
away a couple of years before, which brought
them back to asking Terence’s old alpha, Kontra,
for help. The grizzly bear shifter not only had a
doctor, Eli, but Eli’s wolf shifter mate, Sam, was a
nurse.

Lucky pack.
Samson had one thick arm wrapped around

Helena, holding her tucked close against his side.

Helena peered over Grimes’ head where he sat

in front of her.

At his peripheral vision, Grimes noted the

appearance of a number of motorcycles, ranging
from large highway cruising models to a bullet
bike, which he knew the hyena shifter Payson
rode. He mentally smiled at the memory of
meeting the guy.

Payson wasn’t shy by any means. When Perrin

had innocently asked what a Jacob’s Ladder was,
the hyena shifter had whipped open his pants and
showed off his pierced dick. While Perrin had

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paled at the sight of the metal balls embedded up
the underside of Payson’s penis, Grimes’ own cock
had thickened and he’d really wanted to explore.

Too bad Grimes had never gotten the chance,

and he sure as hell wouldn’t now. He’d heard
through Terence that Payson had found his mate.
Grimes was happy for the shifter…sort of. He
really wished he’d run across his own mate.

Maybe I need to be more proactive. Go out and find

him, as Kontra’s pack does. Maybe it’s time for a

change.

The sudden quiet yanked Grimes back to his

current surroundings. Over a dozen men—a few
he recognized, most he didn’t—were lowering
kick stands and swinging off their bikes.

Grimes watched Kontra cross to stand at the

bottom of the stairs. The big, goateed man grinned
up at them. “Greetings, Alpha Perrin. You’re
looking well. Pride life suits you.”

“Greetings, Alpha Kontra,” Perrin responded

formally. Then, the huge African American
grinned. “Thank you. You’re looking well
yourself. Mated life must agree with you.” He
winked, then added, “Make yourself at home.”

“My thanks,” Kontra replied, then bounded up

the steps and wrapped Terence in a hug, which he
wisely kept extremely brief. Stepping back, he
grinned at the alpha-mate. “How are you,
Terence? Keeping this big lug in line?” He jerked a

Catting Around

thumb toward Perrin while winking back at the
lion alpha, showing he teased.

Terence chuckled, even as he wrapped his arm

around Perrin, who stopped the low rumbling
he’d been emitting. “I hardly have to do anything.
This guy keeps himself in line better than anyone
ever could.” He smiled fondly at his lover.

Kontra nodded. He turned and held out a hand

to a slender, sandy-haired man. “This is Tim
Laurent, my mate.”

Greetings were exchanged, then Kontra waved

at a tall, bronzed, dark-haired man and a shorter
African American male. “And this is Doctor Eli
Raetz and his mate, Sam Bailey. He’s a nurse.”

Turning toward Helena, Kontra smiled at the

woman. “Congratulations.”

Helena blushed even as she grinned. She

glanced up at Samson, then stated, “Thanks.”

The door behind them opened and Grimes

scented Raven—an altered human soldier—and
his arctic fox shifter mate, Liam, step out onto the
porch.

“Ah, so this is where everyone wandered to,”

Raven commented idly. “Dinner’s ready.”

The pair had been living with them for months

now, and they cooked once every other
week…which constituted to Liam cooking and
Raven taking instruction from the cute shifter. For
the most part, meals and the occasional game of

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pool were the only interaction Raven had with the
group. He’d lurk in the corner of whatever room
Liam was in, since the little shifter loved playing
board games with several others. Raven paid
room and board for himself and his mate, doting
on the fox.

“Raven!” called a guy Grimes hadn’t been

introduced to, yet. “I didn’t know you were here.”

The dirty, blond haired stranger—who’d been

standing with several others of Kontra’s biker
gang—strode toward the gathering on the porch.
A tall, broad, dark-haired man followed.

“Ryan, fancy meeting you here,” Raven

responded, smiling wryly. “Roped in with them,
too, are you?”

Ryan chuckled, even as he wrapped his arm

around the bigger man following him. “Yep,” he
stated, looking extremely happy about it. “This is
Sam Abbott. He’s my mate.”

“Congratulations,” Raven murmured. Slowly,

he turned his head and focused on Eli. “Hello,
again, Eli.” His smile turned almost creepy. “Not
happy to see me?”

Grimes followed Raven’s gaze and if he’d been

in human form, he knew his jaw would have
sagged open.

Eli had positioned himself in front of not only

Sam, but also Helena.

Catting Around

Samson glanced between them in confusion,

keeping his arm around her.

Eli gave a low rumble, then snarled, “You!

What the fuck are you doing here?”

Raven wrapped his arm around Liam’s

shoulder, who snuggled against him while
glancing between his lover and Eli uncertainly.
“Same as you, really,” Raven commented dryly.
“Living and loving. Pleasing my mate.”

“Your mate?” Eli sounded completely thrown.
“Eli, Sam, meet my mate, Liam,” Raven replied

smugly. He tightened his arm a bit before
releasing. Cocking his head to the side, Raven
focused on Sam. “I wouldn’t have hurt you. I was
bored and really just wanted to talk to Miach.”

Grimes wasn’t certain of what Raven spoke, but

he could guess it had something to do with his
time working for the scientists. He knew Raven
had been one of their men before teaming up with
a wolf pack in Colorado and bringing down most
of the organization.

Terence held his hands and stepped toward Eli.

“Raven is here under our protection, Eli,” he told
him, his voice quiet, soothing. “Please. I’m asking
you to let the past go.”

While Terence spoke, Perrin followed, placing

himself between the two antagonists.

Eli’s jaw clenched as he drew in a slow deep

breath. Sam wrapped his arms around Eli, rubbing

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his hands over his chest. Finally, Eli nodded once,
then he turned in his mate’s embrace and buried
his face against the smaller man’s neck.

Grimes imagined the shifter needed to reassure

himself that his mate was safe.

Just then, the wind kicked up, and a citrusy

sweet scent made his senses sing. Arousal warmed
him, similar to the effect of good whiskey. He
initiated his shift, unmindful of all those around
them. He needed to talk to his alpha, then find the
source of that delicious smell.

By the time Grimes finished returning to

human form, his dick had hardened to half-mast
and he found several of the shifters around him
smirking. He shrugged, unabashed, and took the
two steps to the chair where he’d left his clothes.
Looking at his alpha, he saw Perrin and Terence
exchanging an amused glance.

While pulling on the sweats, Grimes revealed,

“I just caught scent of something delicious.” No
sense beating around the bush. “Permission to leave
you and find the source?”

Perrin’s black brows shot up. He glanced

around at the shifters crowding the deck.
Returning his focus to Grimes, he smirked. “I
think we can manage for a bit.”

Grimes didn’t wait around. Ignoring the

chuckles from several men, he jogged down the
stairs, pausing at the bottom. He inhaled,

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searching for that scent again. Humming with
appreciation, he started moving.

A niggle of suspicion formed as his steps took

Grimes toward the group of men milling around
the motorcycles. Most of Kontra’s gang had stayed
back, waiting and watching the proceedings.

Sweeping his gaze over the men, Grimes

recognized Payson. He gave the hyena shifter a
smile. “Hey, Payson, good to see you again.”

The wiry, red-haired shifter grinned largely,

even as he wrapped an arm around a slender
black-haired human. “Hey, Grimes. Is it your job
to show us to our rooms?”

“I can certainly do that,” he replied. “I just need

to know who’s with whom?”

Payson nodded. “This is my mate, Land

Zimmerman.”

After Grimes greeted the man, Payson started

pointing at the others. “That’s Yuma and his mate,
Hunter. Lamar and his mate, Rueben. That’s Vail
and Draven. There’s Caleb and Emmett. And
there’s Mutegi and Ben.” Then he turned and
waved at a group of four others. “Over there is
Luc, Chip, Dorian, and Diego. They’re not mated,
so they can decide who they want to pair up with
or if you have enough rooms, I’m sure they’d
appreciate their own space.”

“You don’t need to give me a room,” Dorian

stated. “I’ll sleep on the roof.”

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That threw him. Grimes brow lifted. “The

roof?”

“Or in a tree.” Dorian smirked, then started

stripping, revealing a darkly tanned body without
a hint of tan lines. “I’m tired of being human.
Gonna shift for a few days.”

Diego snickered. “I’ll toss your bags in my

room.”

“Thanks.” Without another word, Dorian

shifted.

Grimes’ second brow shot up to join the first as

he watched the maybe six foot, whipcord lean
man’s body contort and change. Less than a
minute later, a huge bird—some kind of raptor,
perhaps—spread foot-and-a-half-long wings and
soared into the air. Seconds later, Dorian was out
of sight.

Realizing the sight of the shifter’s body didn’t

interest him in the least, Grimes turned back to the
remaining unmated men. As he stepped forward,
getting closer so he could scent the strangers, he
stated, “I’m Grimes Medina.”

The man in the middle, Chip, who actually

stood a few feet back, gasped.

Grimes instantly focused on him. He swept his

gaze over the guy, admiring the lean legs under
black chaps. The black leather jacket seemed to
hang a bit on his slight frame. As Grimes watched,
a flush turned the man’s pale cheeks to a lovely

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shade of pink, accentuating the odd black swirls in
the man’s sandy colored hair.

Does Chip dye his hair? Or is that natural?
Wanting to find out, Grimes held Chip’s gaze as

he drew several steps closer. His six foot two inch
height seemed to tower over the smaller shifter’s
approximately five foot ten frame. The cock-
flooding scent intensified, telling Grimes that he
was on the right track.

“You’re Chip, right?” Grimes crooned, his voice

lowering a bit with lust.

Chip’s big blue eyes widened even more and

even while he nodded, he stumbled back a step.
That put his butt against the side of a motorcycle,
making him stop.

Recognizing the scent of uncertainty and

confusion, even on top of the arousal, Grimes
lifted his hands, palms out. As he slowly moved
closer, he soothed, “Easy there, cutie. I got a funny
feeling you’re my mate, and I just want to scent
you.”

Grimes tried to school his expression into a

reassuring smile, but it was tough. So close to the
shifter he knew was his mate, Grimes struggled
against his urge to pounce. He wanted to sweep
the man into his arms, ravish him. Nothing would
make him happier than laying the smaller man
down, stripping him naked, and exploring every
inch of his lean body. Was he pale all over? Was

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he a vocal lover? How would it feel to slide his
cock into the man and drive them both out of their
minds?

“N-Never smelled anyone like you.”
The admission, whispered in a breathy tenor,

nearly ripped a moan from Grimes’ throat. He
forced it back, and instead, smiled at Chip. “That’s
because I’m your mate, Chip,” he murmured.
“Shifters know mates on scent.”

Sweeping his gaze over the man again,

something clicked. He’d learned from Terence that
Kontra and his group had recently raided a facility
and saved several shifters. From the lean frame
and loose-fitting jacket, Grimes suspected Chip
might be one of them.

Grimes pushed back the anger he felt at

whatever mistreatment had befallen his mate,
realizing Chip might need some gentle handling.
He lifted his hands again, then softly asked, “May
I touch you, Chip? Just at your waist. That way
it’ll be easier for me to lean down and scent you.”

Chip licked his lips, his pink tongue flicking

out. Grimes wanted nothing more than to suck
that appendage. Holding himself barely in check,
he waited.

Finally, Chip nodded. “Okay.”
“Thank you,” he responded. Never had he

meant his words more.

Catting Around

Keeping a sharp eye on Chip’s wide eyes and

tense figure, Grimes lowered his hands and settled
them on the shifter’s sides. The sharp jut of hip
bones surprised him, but that didn’t stop him
from slowly lowering his head. Grimes nuzzled
first Chip’s shoulder, waiting, waiting. Finally, the
other shifter tilted his head.

Grimes took that as acceptance, submission,

and it made his blood race in his veins. His cock
jerked in his sweats. Fucking hell, he wanted to
take a bite. Sink his canines in and taste the other
shifter’s blood, bond them, so they could spend
the next several centuries pleasuring each other.

His canines tingled at the idea.
“Well, shit, Chip.”
Payson’s exuberant voice cut through Grimes’

lust-fogged brain.

“Congratulations, guys!” Payson crowed. “Hey,

guys! Grimes is Chip’s mate!”

Suddenly, Chip stiffened in his arms. Grimes

lifted his head and found himself surrounded by
Kontra’s shifters. Several hands patted not only
him on the back, but Chip as well. Except, instead
of smelling happy, the sharp, acrid scent of panic
flooded the area…originating from his mate!

The man in his arms vibrated and shuddered.
Grimes lifted his head. His jaw sagged open as

he realized Chip was shifting. And, fuck! Chip’s
shift didn’t take long. Within half a minute, a

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large, skinny bobcat crouched at his feet. The cat
swung his head this way and that, obviously
looking for escape.

Realizing—for whatever reason—Chip felt

cornered, Grimes yelled, “Back up!” Although he
wanted to hold the guy close, soothe him,
something—maybe the mating instinct—told him
Chip wouldn’t take well to that right then.

Holy hell! What has he gone through to react like

this?

“Easy, Chip,” Grimes crooned. “You’re okay.”
Chip peered around the group. For an instant,

he looked straight at Grimes, then the shifter
turned and fled.

“Chip?” Grimes whispered, unable to imagine

what had caused his cute bobcat to flee.

A hand landed on his shoulder as a strange

voice stated, “He doesn’t do well with crowds. He
panicked.”

Grimes looked over his shoulder to see the

shifter introduced as Caleb had spoken.

Another man grabbed his shoulder and yanked

him around. He found Luc scowling at him. “Is he
really your mate?”

Growling low in warning, Grimes jerked away

from the shifter. “Fuck, yes, he’s my mate. What
the hell happened to him?”

Catting Around

“None of us know for sure,” Emmett

responded, his deep voice gruff. “But you better
go after him. Calm him down.”

“Yeah, good idea.” Caleb gave him a

sympathetic smile. “We can find our own rooms.
Just be patient with Chip. I’ve got a feeling he’s
seen a hell of a lot more pain in his life than
anyone ever deserved.”

Glancing around the group, all Grimes saw was

sympathy and understanding. Nodding, his heart
in his throat, Grimes kicked off his sweats and
shifted. Seconds later, Grimes bounded after his
mate.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Three

anic flooded Chip and he could think of only
one thing…getting away from all those

people. He knew it was irrational—hell, this was
his pack—but he couldn’t seem to help himself.
Between the confusion from his response to
Grimes—namely wanting to cuddle up to the
huge man—and having his buddies converge had
just been too much.

Chip’s paws pounded the ground, digging in,

propelling him forward. He ran hard, weaving
between trees. Still recovering from years of abuse
in captivity, he found himself tiring quickly.
Slowly, rational thought returned, and Chip
slowed.

Peering around, Chip took in the large trees.

They weren’t the pines of his old mountain home.
Still, the gentle breeze that caressed his heated
flesh felt nice. Chip took a minute just to sit and
enjoy, closing his eyes and tilting his head back.

Catting Around

A scent tickled his senses. Instantly recognizing

Grimes’ earthy feline scent, Chip snapped his
eyelids back open. Ten feet in front of him sat a
large, dark-maned lion. The shifter’s dark eyes
peered steadily at him, and Chip found himself
pinned.

Ever so slowly, Grimes rose and prowled

toward him. Chip tensed, uncertain. Grimes
rumbled softly, the sound deep in his throat. To
Chip, it didn’t sound threatening, but he knew the
lion was larger and far more dominant. Chip
knew, even if he’d been at full health, if Grimes
wanted to hurt him, he could. Only Grimes’ scent,
coupled with his admission that they might be
mates, kept Chip from attempting to flee again.

Chip mewled and hunkered down, trying to

figure out protocol. He hadn’t been with a pack
very long, and Caleb had admitted that their
hierarchy was pretty informal. Memories of
running with Kontra and Diego popped into his
head. Chip had watched, Diego—an ex-alpha wolf
shifter—bow his head in submission to the bear.
Chip wondered how cats did that. He rolled to his
back and showed the bigger cat his throat,
attempting to express submission.

Grimes whined. Then, instead of wrapping his

jaws around Chip as he’d seen Kontra do to Diego,
Grimes nuzzled his throat. Next, he swiped his big
tongue over Chip’s furred cheek. Settling next to

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him, Grimes placed one big paw on Chip’s
shoulder and started grooming his head.

Reveling in the other cat’s touch, Chip

remained still. After a minute, he couldn’t help but
purr with appreciation. Between the male dousing
him in his scent and the tender affection, he felt
his blood heat. He’d never been aroused in cat
form before, but he felt his cock thicken, sliding
from his sheath.

Evidently, Grimes scented it, too, for he stepped

away. At first, Chip worried he’d offended the
other shifter, but then the big cat shuddered. His
skin rippled as his fur receded and his body
reshaped. Soon, a human Grimes knelt before him.

Grimes reached out and threaded his fingers

through Chip’s fur, massaging behind his ears.
Running his fingers up Chip’s ears, he even
tugged lightly on the slight tufts at their tips. Chip
would have been offended at the petting, except
he couldn’t seem to get enough of the man’s
touch.

It felt so nice to be touched like that, almost

reverently, as if he mattered.

“You’re a beautiful cat, Chip,” Grimes crooned.

“But, I’d like to talk to you. Will you shift for me,
my pretty?”

Chip hesitated. He’d never been naked with

another for any length of time. Before and after
shifting didn’t really count, since it was only for a

Catting Around

few seconds. He’d never considered himself vain,
but…his time with the scientists hadn’t been kind
to his body.

“Please, pretty?”
Sighing, Chip rolled to his belly. May as well get

this over with. It wasn’t like he could hide in animal
form forever. If Grimes really was his mate, he’d
eventually see his scars. If having a pretty mate
were a deal breaker, it’d be better to discover that
now.

Chip initiated his shift. He shivered as his limbs

cracked, his tendons popped, and his skin rippled.
It didn’t take long for Chip to regain his human
form. Staring at the ground, his legs tucked under
him, he tried to gather enough courage to glance
up at the other man.

Grimes’ hissed breath didn’t surprise Chip. He

knew what his back looked like. He’d been too
malnourished to heal properly and ended up with
quite the criss-cross of scarring along his back
from several beatings with a whip. There’d been a
guard at one of the facilities who’d been especially
fond of that form of discipline.

What he didn’t expect was the light caress of

Grimes’ calloused fingertips along the skin of his
back. He shivered and bowed his head, waiting
for the man to say something. Grimes worked his
way up Chip’s back, gently tracing line after line,
before he finally reached Chip’s neck. Resting one

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hand flat over Chip’s bony shoulders, Grimes
finally leaned close and murmured, “I can’t
imagine what you’ve been through, my pretty, but
I hope you’ll allow me to help you heal.”

Chip’s eyes widened and he peered over his

shoulder, stunned. Meeting Grimes’ gaze, he
whispered, “I’m not pretty.”

Grimes’ gaze softened. He lifted a hand and

traced a couple fingertips along his jaw line. “You
are pretty.” He reached up and threaded his
fingers through Chip’s hair, probably fondling the
black strands interspersed through his sandy
locks. “These scars don’t change that,” Grimes
continued. “They just show your inner strength.”

Tightening his hold, Grimes urged, “Roll over

for me, Chip. Let me love you. Let me show you
how much pleasure being with your mate can
bring.”

After licking his lips, Chip swallowed hard.

“There are more on my front.”

Grimes used the way he cupped Chip’s head to

massage, gently, his temple with his thumb.
“Then, I’ll just have to kiss all those, too.”

“Never been kissed before,” Chip blurted out.
For an instant, Grimes’ fingers tightened in his

hair. The next second, a low moan rumbled from
the man as he shivered. The scent of arousal
thickened the air, igniting Chip’s own desire. His
erection thickened, bobbing beneath him.

Catting Around

Grimes closed his eyes and muttered, “So

fucking sexy, pretty.”

Although pheromones flooded the small

clearing, Chip couldn’t help but asked, “What?
Why?” That made no sense. How was he
supposed to know how to please his lover if he
had no experience?

Tucking his face against the crook of Chip’s

neck, Grimes gently nipped his neck. The bite,
although light, still caused Chip to shudder. Then,
the other shifter lifted his head and crooned, “It
means we’ll be able to share in exploring your
every desire...together.”

Grimes rubbed his lips up and down the

tendon of Chip’s neck, then mumbled against his
skin, “We’re driving each other crazy with need,
Chip. Let me please you.”

Said like that, not asking for anything but to

give him pleasure, Chip lost the fight—one he
wasn’t certain why he fought to begin with.
Giving in to desire, Chip rolled to his back,
sprawling on his back and exposing his aching
prick. His hard flesh slapped against his abs, the
tip leaking pre-cum.

Growling his pleasure, Grimes rolled forward

and half covered him. To Chip’s surprise, Grimes
didn’t move in to ravish him. Instead, he once
again cupped his jaw in a gentle hold. He leaned

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down and lightly pressed his lips against the
corner of Chip’s mouth.

“Do you admit, then, that I am your mate?”
Chip almost missed the softly spoken question.

“I never knew such a thing existed until being
rescued by Kontra and his men,” he admitted.

Grimes’ dark eyes rounded, expressing his

disbelief.

Scoffing faintly, Chip hurried to add, “There’s a

lot I didn’t know, Grimes, but I can tell you that
I’ve never reacted to another how I react to you.”
His brows drew together at that acknowledgment
and he struggled to put his feelings into words.
“I’ve never kissed anyone or lain with them as we
are now. I’ve rarely even wanted to, and never
with the intensity I feel right now. I can’t seem to
deny it. I don’t want to deny it. I feel like I need to
hold you tight and never let go.” Chip swallowed
hard. No longer able to meet the other man’s
intense gaze, his turbulent emotions too close to
the surface. “I don’t know if that means I think
you’re my mate or not.”

Sighing, Grimes lowered his head and pressed

his forehead against Chip’s. Their breaths mingled
as he told him, “You just summed it up pretty
damn well, my pretty.” He kissed the opposite
corner of Chip’s mouth again, then warned, “We
do this, I’m not gonna let you go, Chip. I’ve
waited too long to find you.” He lifted his head

Catting Around

and leveled a solemn gaze on Chip. “I get the
feeling there will be plenty of things to explain,
and that time will come.”

Grimes’ eyes lit up, his smile turning feral. “Just

not right now.”

As he relayed that last sentence, Grimes levered

up on his elbow. The promise of pleasure glittered
in his eyes. “Right now, I’m going to make your
body sing.”

Chip’s breathing hitched. His pulse spiked in

his veins. “A-Are you going to kiss me?”

“And more,” Grimes’ murmured.
His fingers trembling, Chip reached out with

one hand. Sliding them along first Grimes’ tense
forearm, then up his shoulder. He peered through
his lashes at Grimes, judging his responses as he
traced up the man’s arm and over his shoulder.
He almost drooled at the feel of the hard muscle
beneath smooth, silky skin.

Chip trembled. “Oh.”
A smile slowly curved Grimes’ lips. “Is that a

yes?”

Knowing this decision would change his life

didn’t change the fact that Chip knew there was
only one answer. “Yes.”

“Oh, Chip,” Grimes growled. “You won’t be

disappointed.”

Swallowing again, Chip forced a smile that he

knew must appear tremulous. “I know.”

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Grimes didn’t waste any more time. He

lowered his head and pressed his lips to Chip’s,
this time fully. He licked along Chip’s lower lip,
then wedged his tongue inside and thrust in deep.
Chip moaned at the taste of his lover’s tongue,
heavily earthy, and opened wider, wanting more.

The other shifter didn’t disappoint.
Grimes took control, using his hold to urge

Chip to tilt his head. Doing so gladly, he
welcomed Grimes’ tongue as he thrust deeper into
his mouth. Sweeping it around, Grimes teased his
taste buds, traced along his gum-line and tickled
his palate.

Chip whimpered, his blood heating his veins.

He wriggled his body, sidling closer, as he opened
wider. He wanted…needed more of this man’s
taste, his touches, his hot, hard body pressed close.

Grimes seemed to know all of that. Growling

low, the vibration rumbling through his chest, the
big shifter pressed a knee between Chip’s knees.
Chip spread his legs, welcoming the pressure
against his aching balls. Grimes didn’t stop there.
With practiced finesse, he slid his body between
Chip’s thighs. He spread his own legs a bit,
pushing Chip’s legs wider as he positioned their
cocks against each other’s.

Moaning at his first feel of another man’s hard

cock against his own, Chip shuddered and his
balls drew tight. The fact that this was his mate—

Catting Around

someone who’d always be there for him—only
made it that much better. Within seconds, Chip
felt the tell-tale tingle at the base of his spine. He
wanted to protest, to beg for a second to compose
himself, to make this moment last, but with
Grimes’ tongue down his throat, that was
impossible. Instead, all Chip could do was moan
wantonly, the sound swallowed by the other man.

Grimes sucked his tongue, and the pulls

transferred straight to his aching cock. His balls
rolled in their sacks. Chip couldn’t stop himself
from rocking against Grimes, rubbing his sensitive
shaft against the other man’s, desperate for
friction on his throbbing penis. He reveled in the
knowledge that his soon-to-be lover was just as
hard as he was.

That knowledge fired through his veins, giving

him that last push. Chip yanked his mouth away
from Grimes. He arched his neck. His back bowed.
His testicles throbbed and his cock spurted. Chip
yowled as cum shot up his dick and coated both
their stomachs. Heady endorphins pinged through
his system, wave upon wave of bliss, with each
spurt.

Lifting his head just a bit, Grimes’ peered down

at him, watching him through heavily lidded, lust-
glazed eyes. “So fucking sexy,” he rumbled. Chip
saw Grimes’ canines lengthen just before he
lowered his head again.

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Pain spiked through Chip’s shoulder, causing

him to gasp. Then, the pain morphed into tingles
of pleasure and goose-bumps spread down his
arms. He gripped Grimes’ upper arms even
tighter as a second orgasm bowled through him.

Grimes bucked against him, grunting. More

warm seed oozed between them. Floating in
afterglow, Chip peeled his hands off Grimes’
biceps and swept his hands over his lover’s back.
When the other shifter pulled his teeth free of his
shoulder, he shivered at the odd sensation.

Humming, Grimes licked Chip’s shoulder. He

lifted his head and smiled down at him. “Wow,
Chip,” he murmured. “I haven’t come that hard in
decades.” Keeping his weight on one arm, he
threaded the fingers of his other hand through
Chip’s hair. “Can’t wait to get you to a bed and
love you properly.”

When Grimes winked, Chip grinned back. “You

mean it gets better?” He couldn’t imagine
anything feeling better than the pleasant buzz
pinging through his system.

“Oh, my pretty bobcat. It does,” Grimes

crooned. He pressed a soft, all-too-brief butterfly
kiss to Chip’s lips. Then, his mouth twisted wryly
as he stated, “Although, at the moment, we have
an interesting problem.”

Chip cocked his head. “We do?”

Catting Around

Grimes lifted his body a bit and peered between

them. “Yep. We’re a mess and have nothing to
clean up with except leaves.”

“Oh.”
“Although,”

Grimes

added,

his

voice

deepening. “I do love having you covered in my
scent.”

Not knowing how to respond to that, Chip

nibbled his bottom lip. As Grimes drew back,
Chip pushed to a sitting position. He focused on
the trees around them, wondering if there was a
stream nearby.

Grimes growled, redrawing Chip’s attention.

Meeting the man’s gaze, it took him a second to
realize what the other shifter focused on.
Instinctively, Chip covered his groin with one
hand as he used the other to shove backward,
putting space between him and Grimes. Shame
flooded him. How could he have been so stupid?
He should have told the other shifter that the
scarring extended to his genitals. The ache in his
shoulder—reminding him that Grimes had started
the bonding process—mocked him.

Growling again, Grimes grabbed his ankle and

hauled him close.

Chip froze, his shoulders tensed, and waited,

all the while praying that Grimes wasn’t a violent
man.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Four

rimes gritted his teeth, forcing back a snarl of
frustration. Fear and panic practically rolled off

Chip in waves…again. After what they’d just
shared, it blew Grimes away that his lover, his
mate, would fear him.

Reining in his frustration, Grimes reminded

himself that he had no idea what Chip had been
through. He eased his grip on the other man’s
ankle. Leaning over, he reached for the smaller
shifter’s hand, pulling it away from Chip’s groin.
He lifted the hand and gently kissed his lover’s
fingers.

“Please calm down, Chip,” he urged. “I’m not

certain what I did to freak you out. Please talk to
me.”

Grimes just managed to keep his focus on

Chip’s eyes when all he wanted to do was lean
over and kiss the silver balls—and the scars—
lining his mate’s cock. He’d always loved

Catting Around

piercings, but easily admitted his fear of needles
kept him from getting any of his own.

“I’m sorry my body isn’t, um, pretty,” Chip

mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

Shit, I made a mistake with that endearment.
Ignoring the drying, itching cum on his

stomach, Grimes sprawled onto his back. He
crooked his finger and urged, “Come here, Chip.”

Although Chip still didn’t meet his gaze—

instead, it seemed he focused on Grimes’
collarbone—at least he moved toward him.
Grimes guided the smaller man onto his lap,
leaning him against his raised knees.

“Look at me,” Grimes demanded softly. When

Chip didn’t immediately obey, he raised one hand,
cupped his lover’s jaw, and urged him to lift his
gaze. Finally, once he peered into Chip’s shuttered
blue eyes, he stated, “We can’t get to know each
other if we don’t talk. How did I upset you?”

Chip opened and closed his mouth. His brows

drew together. Finally, he whispered, “I thought
you were mad that I—” He paused and nibbled
his lip. Grimes waited, trying to be patient as Chip
worked through whatever he was thinking. “You
growled,” Chip pointed out, rushing through his
next few words. “I thought you were upset that
my dick is all scarred.”

Grimes watched a pink hue flush over Chip’s

face, neck, and chest. It reminded him of Chip’s

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inexperience in bed and it occurred to him that his
behavior proved he was also inexperienced—or
perhaps just out of practice—in interacting with
others.

Squeezing the bony hip he held once, Grimes

finally lowered his gaze to Chip’s cock. He
released his lover’s jaw and moved his hand to the
man’s flaccid dick. He slid his fingers over the soft
flesh, lifting it to reveal the three balls. He rubbed
his finger over first one, then another, then he
reached an impressive scar that indicated where
another ball had been—mostly likely—ripped out.

He shuddered, which caused Chip to tense. He

shook his head. “Awe, Chip. I growled because I
love piercings. I find your’s sexy as fuck and I
can’t wait to play with them.” As he spoke, he
moved his thumb up further to the ball embedded
in the sensitive wrinkled flesh just below the head
of Chip’s dick.

Grimes watched, feeling smug, as Chip’s penis

plumped. Chip shifted restlessly on his lap,
rubbing his ass over Grimes’ own stiffening prick.
Grunting, he shifted his own hips a bit, enjoying
the friction.

“I-I’m new at understanding scents,” Chip

mumbled. His eyelids lowered to half-mast as his
Adam’s apple bobbed. “But I’m pretty sure you
were angry.”

Catting Around

Grimes’ brows shot up, surprised by the

admission. He lowered his thumb back to the scar.
“Of course, I was angry,” he replied gruffly.
“Someone hurt you. I hate that you were hurt.”

“Oh.”
Grimes liked how breathy Chip already

sounded, especially after coming just a few
moments before. Then, the other part of what his
mate said hit him. “You’re new to understanding
scents? How is that possible?”

Chip turned scarlet again, but this time for a

different reason. Grimes could scent his unease.
Damn, had he been raised in captivity like Grimes’
alpha? Perrin had managed to escape their
clutches, then ran across their pride’s ex-alpha
attempting to kill Terence. Perrin had saved
Terence, then the alpha’s mate had taught him
about the world of humans and shifters so Perrin
could take over the pride.

“I was an orphan,” Chip admitted softly. “I

don’t remember my real parents, and when I
shifted for the first time, the people that adopted
me freaked out. They thought I was possessed.”

Chip wrapped his arms around his torso and

his erection flagged. Grimes felt bad for asking,
but he knew he’d probably need to know to
understand the other male. Evidently, Chip hadn’t
had it too good, even before the scientists got a
hold of him.

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To Grimes’ surprise, Chip kept talking, “They

locked me in my bedroom and went to get a
priest. I climbed out the window.” He shrugged
and stared vacantly at Grimes’ chest. “It was just
easier to live as a bobcat after that.”

Running his hands over Chip’s torso, Grimes

attempted to soothe his mate. At least, that
explained his bobcat’s inability to be around so
many others. He’d lived as a recluse for who knew
how long. After a few minutes, the tension
drained from Chip’s body and—in response to
Grimes’ urging—he draped over him.

Enjoying the moment, Grimes reveled in just

being able to hold the man.

After a while, a scent tickled his senses. He

recognized the smell of Amy Crumb, Samson’s
mother, and her friend Gina. The women took
catty to a whole new level. Grimes knew Samson’s
mother hadn’t liked her son mating a human and
they often found ways to remind Helena that she
was just human.

Bitches.
Evidently, Chip smelled the approaching

shifters, too, for he stiffened in Grimes’ arms and
peered in their general direction. Grimes pressed a
quick kiss to his lover’s temple. Having no desire
to run into the female shifters—and mindful that
his lover had just completed a long journey—he

Catting Around

murmured, “Let’s shift and head in. I’m sure
you’re tired. You’ve been through a lot recently.”

Chip lifted his head and scowled at him. “I’m

not weak.”

“I didn’t say that, Chip,” Grimes scolded

gently. He rubbed his hands over his lover’s
prominent ribs. “You’re recovering.”

Nodding, Chip eased away from him. “Yeah,

okay.”

“Besides,” Grimes teased, bumping shoulders

with his mate. “I’m ready for a shower and I can’t
wait to get you wet and soapy.”

That had Chip flushing again and Grimes

fought back a moan as the heady perfume of
arousal filled the air. “Damn, sexy,” Grimes
muttered. “Let’s get moving.” Without waiting for
a response, he shifted. Once in cat form, he arched
and stretched, then sat down and waited for his
lover.

Chip only took a few seconds longer,

impressing Grimes with his speed. As an enforcer,
he’d worked hard to have a swift, seamless shift,
so that the bobcat was almost as quick surprised—
and pleased—him.

Once Chip shook out his fur, Grimes stood and

began padding back toward the house. He’d
begun to skirt a wide path around the two female
shifters when Amy’s shrieked words of, “Of
course, I’m serious. Dead is better than being

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mated to a human. How could Fate do this to
me?”

Grimes froze and cocked his head. After a

glance at Chip, he padded closer, just in time to
hear Gina’s conciliatory, “You’re right, of course.”
Then, she tacked on, “How are you gonna do it?”

“I don’t know,” Amy grumbled. “But mark my

words. I’ll find a way.”

Exchanging a look with Chip, Grimes noted his

bobcat’s wide, shocked eyes. He bumped his
lover’s head with his own, then turned and
bounded toward the manor. A glance over his
shoulder told him Chip followed.

Grimes bypassed the front and rounded the

structure to the back porch. He spotted Kontra
and Perrin seated at a table, their mates next to
them. Several other shifters—from both prides—
lounged on lawn chairs.

Kontra spotted them first, since they were

directly in his line of sight. His gaze moved from
Grimes to Chip, back again, then lifted one dark
brow.

Grimes padded between the shifters, heading

toward the alpha’s table. He was halfway across
the deck when he realized Chip no longer
followed. Pausing, Grimes peered over his
shoulder. He discovered Chip crouched at the
edge of the deck. The much smaller cat’s stumpy
tail jerked back and forth and his claws dug into

Catting Around

the earth underneath him. They were ten feet
apart, and Grimes could still scent the anxiety
rolling off the bobcat.

Turning back, Grimes returned to Chip and

nuzzled his head and neck. A shadow fell over
them, and he looked up to find Caleb and Emmett
standing nearby. Seconds later, they were joined
by Perrin, Kontra, and their mates.

After shifting, Grimes noted that Chip didn’t do

the same. It pleased him, because until he claimed
the little shifter, he knew he was going to be a
possessive asshole. He wasn’t too proud to say he
didn’t want anyone else to see his little shifter
naked until he’d completed their bond.

He rested his hand on Chip’s neck and—giving

him a quick massage to get his focus—he gave
him an appreciative smile. Chip turned his head
and licked his hand. Grimes chuckled lightly.

Focusing on his alpha, Grimes stated, “I have

good news and bad news…and I need a private
audience to relay the bad news.”

Perrin exchanged a glance with Terence, then

smirked. “Let me guess. The good news is that
you’ve found your mate.” The big lion shifter
smiled

understanding

Chip.

“Congratulations. After the ordeal you went
through, you deserve to find a measure of
happiness.” At that, Perrin gave Terence a loving
smile, as if sharing something intimate. Then, he

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returned his focus to Grimes and stated, “And
now you want to beg my forgiveness while asking
Kontra if you can join Chip and travel the country
with him.”

Grimes’ brows shot up and he glanced at Chip,

who appeared and smelled equally stunned, to
Kontra, then back to Perrin. Quickly, he lowered
his head and peered at his alpha through his
lashes. “Although, it may not be such a bad idea,
that isn’t what I need to discuss with you.”

Looking down, Grimes smiled at Chip.

“Traveling is something I’d considered even
before I realized you were my mate.” He winked.
“Some of Terence’s tales of his old gang’s
adventures had me a bit jealous.”

Kontra gripped the back of Grimes’ neck,

drawing his attention. He didn’t lift his gaze, but
he straightened, letting the other shifter know he
paid attention to him. “We’ll discuss that later.”

After nodding his thanks, Grimes returned his

focus to his current alpha. “Please, Alpha Perrin, if
I may have a moment of your time?”

“Of course,” the big African American

answered. He crooked a finger and motioned
toward the sliding glass doors at the back of the
house. Then, he sniffed the air and grinned,
showing off even, white teeth. “My study in
fifteen minutes.”

Catting Around

Grimes fought back his grin and nodded.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

Chip bumped his head into Grimes’ hip. He

looked down at his bobcat and laid his hand on
top of the cat’s head. He glanced toward the door.
The route would take them between several lion
shifters as well as a few of Kontra’s people.

Returning his focus to Chip, Grimes urged,

“Just focus on me. Okay?” He started walking
backward as he crooked his finger. He focused on
his mate’s wide blue eyes and held his breath,
wondering if Chip would obey. After a quick
glance around, Chip tucked his tail and butt,
focused on him, and started creeping forward.

“That’s the way, my sexy bobcat,” Grimes

crooned. “Just follow me.”

Grimes knew it really didn’t take long, but it

still felt like it did. Twice, Chip froze mid-step and
shivered. Through it all, though, his bobcat never
took his gaze off of him. Finally, Grimes crossed
over the threshold and backed into a massive
dining hall. Grinning, he winked at Chip. “That’s
the way, sexy. Follow me to my suite and we’ll get
cleaned up.”

Chip pressed close, glancing around warily, as

Grimes led the way through the large house. They
didn’t run into anyone, for which Grimes felt
grateful. Upon reaching his suite of rooms, Grimes
headed into the bathroom.

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Grabbing a washcloth, Grimes ran it under

warm water, all the while watching Chip shift.
Once his mate returned to human form, he
reached for him. Chip came willingly, pressing
close and angling his head. Grimes didn’t
disappoint the man and settled his lips over his
lover’s. He dipped his tongue into the smaller
shifter’s mouth, sweeping deep for several
seconds, tasting the citrusy sweet flavor that
seemed to be all Chip’s own. His cock instantly
took interest, and Grimes groaned as he pulled
away.

Chip whimpered and tried to press closer.
It took every ounce of self-control Grimes

possessed to grip his lover’s hips and keep their
groins apart. His already hard cock wanted
nothing more than to tug Chip close and rut to
completion.

“Wait, please, lover,” Grimes grunted. “I wanna

love you right, but I gotta talk to my alpha first.”

Huffing a breath, Chip grimaced. “Do you have

to?” he asked, the hands he rested on Grimes’
upper arms clutching tightly. “I want you.”

Grimes smiled with understanding, his own

desire to complete their bond nearly undeniable.
“I’m an enforcer, Chip,” he stated. “That means
the pack’s safety comes before pleasure. I’m
sorry.”

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Chip smiled, although it appeared a bit

strained. “I understand. I don’t mean to get in the
way of your duties.”

“You’ll never be in the way.” Grimes leaned

down and pecked Chip’s lips before drawing back
and winking. “Just a bit distracting at the
moment.” After a second, he added, “I’ll make it
worth the wait,” before he pointed at the shower.
“Get cleaned up and comfortable. Feel free to raid
my dresser or stay naked.” He winked. “I’ll be
back as soon as I can.”

“Okay.”
Grimes cupped Chip’s jaw and gave him a

quick, hard kiss before releasing him and stepping
back. “I’ll be back soon,” he said again, even
knowing he was repeating himself.

After swiping the cloth he still clutched—now

cold—across his groin, chest, and abs one more
time, Grimes hustled from the bathroom. He
grabbed a pair of sweats from his dresser, yanked
them on, then headed out of his room.

Just as the door shut, Grimes heard the shower

start. He groaned, anticipation rolling through
him at the knowledge that his mate would be
waiting for him upon his return.

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Chapter Five

tanding in the middle of the room, a towel
wrapped around his hips, Chip peered around

the bedroom. He knew from following Grimes
through the space that there was a large sitting
area out front, complete with a fireplace and large
screen TV. The bedroom sported a massive
California king bed, but that was understandable
considering Grimes’ broad-shouldered, six foot
two inch frame.

Everywhere Chip looked, he saw comfort and

extravagance. This shifter pride had money. When
Grimes had commented that he’d thought of
asking Kontra to join the gang, Chip had been so
hopeful. Now, though, now Chip wondered how
the guy would give up all this for a life on the
road.

Chip slowly crossed to the bed and settled on

the mattress. Fear flooded him as he thought
about trying to fit in here. He’d found trying to
walk across the back porch impossible until

Catting Around

Grimes had been next to him, forcing him to focus.
With the man working as an enforcer, there was
no way in hell his mate would be able to hold his
hand like that all the time.

Grabbing the throw blanket off the foot of the

bed with one hand, Chip tossed aside his towel
with the other. Then, he wrapped the blanket
around his shoulders. He instantly felt himself
settle as Grimes’ scent surrounded him.

He curled up on the nearby window seat and,

instead of dwelling on his own problems, thought
about how nice it’d felt to be held, to be touched.
He couldn’t wait for Grimes to come back. Would
the other shifter want to finish the bonding
process? His cock—which had begun to plump
when he’d wrapped the blanket around him—
thickened to half-mast. His asshole clenched. He’d
never had anything but his own finger in his
chute, but for some reason, he couldn’t wait to feel
his lover slide into him, possessing him,
completing him.

Chip moaned in frustration and leaned his head

on the window. He felt tempted to jack off, but
since he didn’t know how long it’d be until
Grimes returned, he held off. Although he didn’t
consider himself a prude—hell, he’d walked in on
Payson and Land going at it more than once—but
that didn’t mean he was ready to be watched,
even by his mate.

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Sitting on the window seat, curled up warm

and comfortable, the long ride, the run in the
woods, and the great orgasm finally caught up
with him. His eyelids slid closed and he drifted off
to sleep.

A jostle to Chip’s body roused him. Feeling

something slide around his legs and body—his
eyes still closed—panic set in and Chip started to
struggle. His movements restricted by something,
he whimpered and flung his arms, trying to get
free.

“Hey, easy, easy, Chip.”
Grimes’ soft croon snapped Chip out of his

panicked haze. Finally, he remembered the events
of the last few hours as well as where he was.
Plus, Grimes’ scent hit him. His heart rate calmed
and he heaved a relieved sigh.

Chagrined, Chip met his lover’s gaze. “Sorry,”

he whispered. Now that he could think, he
untangled

his

arms

from

the

blanket.

Embarrassment flooded him. “I, uh, the scientists
used to tie me up and—”

“No need to explain,” Grimes quickly stated.

Gently tracing the lines of Chip’s jaw, Grimes
smiled apologetically. “I’m the one who should
apologize. I should have known better than to
grab you like that. You looked uncomfortable, so I
was gonna move you to the bed.” He leaned

Catting Around

forward and pressed a soft butterfly kiss to Chip’s
lips. “We’ll learn each other’s quirks eventually,
right?”

“Yeah,” Chip replied, more than relieved by

how understanding his lover seemed. “I look
forward to that.”

Returning the smile, Grimes straightened and

held out his hand. “Sorry it took me a bit longer
than planned. Samson came in while I was talking
with Perrin and Terence.” His lips curved into a
wry smile. “It seems Helena’s birthday is
tomorrow and he wants the party a bit bigger than
planned. He wants to dance with her, so wanted
to discuss the logistics of hiring a band.”

Chip took Grimes’ hand and allowed his mate

to help him stand, letting the blanket drop as he
moved. The scent of Grimes’ arousal filled the air
and his own dick responded eagerly, quickly
thickening. In the past, when he’d thought about
his first time having sex, Chip always assumed
he’d feel self-conscious. Now, though, all he felt
was lust and desire, and a burning need to couple
with the bigger man.

Evidently, with all his blood in his dick,

nothing was left in his brain, for he mumbled
absently, “That’s nice of him. I don’t know how to
dance.”

Grimes grinned. “Oh, then I think I should

teach you.” He stepped away and stripped off his

Charlie Richards

sweats, then turned and pulled Chip back into his
arms.

Chips brows shot up as Grimes grabbed his left

hand with his right, then guided Chip’s right hand
to his shoulder before gripping his waist with his
left hand. “Now?” Chip squeaked. How the hell
was he supposed to concentrate when all he could
think about was getting the other man’s hard
bobbing cock into his ass.

“Of course,” Grimes stated, as if it were the

most natural thing in the world. Gently, he urged
Chip to move, using his hold to guide his
movements.

While struggling to follow Grimes’ gentle

prodding, Chip tried another tactic. “I don’t know
why I need to learn. I won’t be able to dance
around a bunch of other couples anyway,” he
admitted. That fact saddened him, since he had to
acknowledge that his mate was a good dancer.
“I’ll panic.” As he said the words, he felt his
erection begin to flag with his encroaching
disappointment.

“No, you won’t,” Grimes instantly denied

softly.

Chip’s brows shot up and he snapped his gaze

to Grimes’ face. He spotted the heat in the man’s
dark eyes, and just that quickly his erection began
to renew. “Why?”

Catting Around

Grimes’ grin turned feral. His eyes glittered.

“Because you’re going to be focused on me,” he
crooned. “You’re going to be thinking about this
moment, right now. While we’re dancing in a
crowd of shifters, you’re going to remember
learning to dance with me. Naked. You’re going to
glance down at my covered groin and wish you
were seeing what you can see now.”

As if drawn by Grimes’ words, Chip glanced

down. His throat felt suddenly dry as a desert, his
gaze riveted to Grimes’ cock. Standing thick and
long, Grimes’ erection jutted from a thatch of dark
curls to point at Chip’s belly button. Pre-cum
oozed from the tip.

Licking his lips, Chip fought the urge to drop to

his knees and lick the bead of moisture from
Grimes’ cock head. The need to taste his mate rode
him hard.

Grimes tightened his grip and kept them

moving. Chip stumbled a few steps, before
regaining the rhythm. He couldn’t seem to tear his
gaze from the bobbing, swinging dick only inches
from his own suddenly hard and aching shaft. As
he watched, Grimes stepped closer and the other
man’s dick slid along his own.

Groaning, Chip’s hips bucked of their own

accord, his body searching for more stimulation.
His lover didn’t disappoint. As Grimes continued
to lead them in a slow waltz, he rocked and rolled

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his hips. Every few steps, their cocks would tap or
slide against each other, appearing like two
dueling, gleaming-tipped rapiers, colliding over
and over.

Sparks danced up Chip’s spine at the delicious

ache the dick-sparring created on his sensitive
erection. He wanted to grab both their cocks and
yank them to completion. On the other hand, he
enjoyed watching Grimes’ hard bronze penis
move along his own much paler flesh.

“Grimes,” Chip whimpered. “T-That’s…oh!”
He gasped when Grimes stepped closer,

removing the distance between them. He slid the
hand on Chip’s hip around his waist. Twisting the
hold he had on Chip’s fingers, Grimes adjusted
their clasped hands so they were tucked between
their chests.

His eyes gleaming, he began a slow grind as he

all but growled, “So, when we’re dancing at the
party, all you’re gonna be able to think about is
this. Our bodies touching, rubbing together.” He
lowered his head, so he could whisper into Chip’s
ear. “Soon, I’m gonna lay you down on my bed.
I’m gonna suck your cock, play with those sexy
balls imbedded in your dick until you scream.
Would you like that?”

Every word out of Grimes’ mouth caused

Chip’s blood to pound harder through his veins,
driving his need higher. “P-Please,” he hissed,

Catting Around

barely able to get his mouth to work, his
anticipation so great.

Chip found himself guided backward. With his

cock aching, it was all he could do just to follow
his lover’s prodding. When Chip felt the bed
against the back of his thighs, he almost tumbled
backward.

Instead, Grimes held him steady. He smiled

down at him. “Last chance to stop if you need
more time. Otherwise, I’m gonna claim you,
Chip.”

While he appreciated the man’s willingness to

give him an out, Chip wanted nothing more than
to belong to this man. He slid the hand that had
been resting on Grimes’ shoulder up his neck and
over his jaw. Chip used a couple of fingertips to
trace Grimes’ lips, rubbing over the thin upper lip.

“I woke up in the middle of the night once and

went to the kitchen to make a cup of cocoa,” Chip
told him.

Chip knew from the slight cocking of Grimes’

head, his mate wondered at the comment. Smiling,
he continued. “I heard a noise from the living
room. I got curious.” He fought a flush as he said,
“The TV was on, playing some porn movie. Land
was tied to a chair and Payson was feeding him
his dick.”

Charlie Richards

Swallowing hard, Chip whispered, “I don’t

want to tie you up, but I desperately want to feel
your lips wrapped around my cock head.”

A large smile curved Grimes’ lips. He opened

his mouth and nipped the pad of Chip’s fingers.
Tingles vibrated over his skin at the contact,
making him shudder in his lover’s arms.

“I’d love to do that for you, sexy,” Grimes

rumbled.

Wasting no time, Grimes lowered his hand and

palmed Chip’s ass. He used his hold to lift Chip,
then inserted a knee between his thighs. Chip
lifted his leg, hitching it over Grimes’ hip, giving
him more room. Grimes’ hairy thigh rubbed
across the sensitive skin of his balls, drawing a
moan from Chip’s throat.

“Mmm, I do love that sound,” Grimes rumbled.
Pressing forward, Grimes lifted Chip and

moved him backward. Grimes settled him on the
bed, positioning him in the middle. Laying one
broad hand on Chip’s thigh, Grimes urged him to
spread them.

Chip obeyed the unspoken command. He

watched as Grimes knelt on the bed between his
legs, pinning him with a feral gaze. Without
looking away, Grimes leaned over, pulled the
nightstand drawer open and fished around for
something.

Catting Around

Seconds later, Grimes lifted out a tube of lube.

With practiced ease, he popped the cap and
drizzled some on his fingers. After he tossed the
tube aside, Grimes rested his clean hand on the
comforter by Chip’s hip, leaning over his groin.
His smile seemed to contain so much wickedness.
He lowered his head and—while watching for
Chip’s reaction through his lashes—Grimes
swiped his tongue ever-so-slowly up the
underside of his dick.

Then, Chip discovered—it wasn’t Grimes’ smile

that was wicked, but his tongue. The warm
moisture left behind by his mate’s mobile
appendage interacted with the cooler air of the
room. That sensation coupled with the way
Grimes’ tickled and massaged the bead embedded
in the wrinkled flesh just under his cap. Chip’s
dick jerked, almost dislodging that wonderful
tormentor.

Grimes somehow managed to appear to smirk,

even around his tongue. Then, he slid his tongue
up and over Chip’s cock head, swirling it around
his glans, and scooping up his pre-cum. This time,
when his dick twitched, Grimes responded by
lowering his head and sucking the cap into his
mouth.

Warm, moist heat surrounded his head. Tingles

travelled straight down his stalk and his back
bowed. He tangled his fingers in the comforter,

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holding on tight. He would have bucked up, but
just then, Grimes rubbed one blunt finger over his
muscled entrance, causing him to freeze.

Sucking just the cap like a lollipop, Grimes

distracted Chip from his finger. With his lover
working the bead under his dick’s head, Chip
barely felt it when Grimes breached his opening
and slid his finger in deep.

Chip felt the walls of his channel stretch to

accommodate his lover’s fingers, first one, then a
second. Instead of hurting, all he could focus on
was the hot pressure on his dick and the tingle-
pleasure of his lover’s tongue massaging first one
bead, then another. Grimes lowered his head
further, taking him all the way in until his head
lodged in Grimes’ throat. Then, his lover
swallowed, squeezing him. At the same time, Chip
felt the man’s talented tongue move up and down
his dick, working the Jacob’s Ladder in earnest.

“G-Grimes, oh!”
He hissed through his teeth. Sparks shot

through his rectum as Grimes rubbed his prostate.
He’d heard about how much pleasure touching
there caused, but had never successfully found it.
Now, though, he realized he’d been completely
missing out.

Sparks teased at the base of Chip’s spine and

his thighs trembled, heralding his impending
orgasm. His balls pulled tight. His entire groin

Catting Around

warmed as he lost himself in anticipation of the
impending bliss.

Grimes’ calloused hand cupped his balls, gently

gripping them and pulling them away from his
body. At the same time, he lifted up off Chip’s
cock.

“N-No! Please!” he begged. “N-Need!”
“I know you do, my mate,” Grimes crooned.

“Hold on just a little longer. Gonna make you fly,
sweet Chip. You’ll feel so good.”

Just then, Grimes slid a third finger into Chip’s

channel, and he finally felt the stretch and burn
work through his chute. Grunting, Chip shifted
restlessly.

“Easy, sexy,” Grimes murmured, easing his

fingers out, then back in.

This time, Grimes pegged Chip’s gland just as

he released his hold on Chip’s testicles, rolling the
orbs in their sacks, instead. Once again, he
lowered his head and sucked on the head of
Chip’s dick, hard.

Chip’s released balls immediately pulled flush

to his body. His cock throbbed, then pulsed, and
he screamed. Cum spurted up his dick, filling his
lover’s mouth. Grimes swallowed it down, all the
while peering at Chip from beneath his lashes.

Gasping, Chip met his lover’s gaze, unable to

look away from his groin. Never had he seen
anything so erotic, or felt anything so amazing.

Charlie Richards

Grimes continued to suckle his dick’s head. His
lips moved just a bit over Chip’s skin as he felt his
lover swipe his tongue around and around the
glans.

The man now rested his weight on one arm as

he peered down at him. His other arm moved
rhythmically, and Chip felt Grimes’ fingers still
massaging his interior lining, loosening him.

With what was probably a goofy smile on his

face, Chip slurred, “Your mouth is fucking
fantastic.”

Grimes gently released his suckling of Chip’s

penis, allowing the softening head to slip from
between his lips. He lifted his head and grinned
ferally at him. “I’m glad you agree, sexy. You
ready for me?”

That’s when Chip noticed the lines of tension

around his lover’s eyes and mouth. The self-
control the guy exhibited warmed Chip. Grimes
had to be on the edge. His heart swelled with
gratitude and…something else, something too
early to put a name on.

Chip offered the other shifter a wide smile, then

rolled over. He fought back a hiss when Grimes’
fingers pulled free of his chute. Getting his knees
under him, Chip peered over his shoulder at his
mate. “Make me yours.”

Catting Around

Chapter Six

rimes’ lion roared in his mind, urging him to do
just that. He moved behind his mate and

guided his dick to Chip’s well-stretched hole.
Digging deep for the last traces of his self-control,
he resisted the need to ram into the man. Instead,
Grimes pressed firmly until his cap breached his
lover’s guardian muscle, then froze.

Lying over Chip’s back, Grimes shuddered. He

rested his weight on one hand while using the
other to lightly stroke over the tense muscles of
Chip’s chest and abs. He gently tweaked first one
nipple, then the other, before tracing the side of
his hip. Moving his hand down, he threaded his
fingers through Chip’s pubic hairs, gently
massaging the sensitive skin underneath.

Feeling the intense pressure on his cock head

and the tension vibrating through his lover,
Grimes crooned, “Easy, sexy.” He’d heard Chip
gasp and, knowing the pain of the first time, he

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wanted, needed to do everything in his power to
transform the experience into bliss.

“Just relax, my sweet mate,” Grimes

murmured. “Take deep breaths for me, okay? The
pain will ease.”

Grimes nipped and nibbled his way up and

down Chip’s neck. His teeth ached, his canines
extending in preparation for biting the man,
tasting—claiming—him again. He scraped the
elongated teeth over the flesh of his lover’s
shoulder.

A shudder worked through the slight body

beneath Grimes as he heard Chip whimper softly.
Slowly, the intense pressure on Grimes’ dick
eased. That was the signal he’d been waiting for,
and he started moving his hips, thrusting forward
and back in tiny increments.

Sweat beaded on Grimes’ temples, neck, and

back. He felt like it took forever, but finally he
bottomed out. His balls nestled against his lover’s,
hot pressure encasing his length. Once again, he
managed to pause.

“My mate,” Grimes muttered. “You feel so

good, Chip. Love being buried inside you.”

Chip grunted, then—to Grimes’ surprise—

glared at him over his shoulder. “Then fuck me
like you mean it,” he demanded.

First, Grimes’ brows shot up, then a grin slowly

stretched his lips. Chip’s gaze flickered over his

Catting Around

mouth and Grimes realized he stared at his
canines. “Oh, don’t you worry, sexy,” Grimes
stated, before sliding his tongue over his teeth
provocatively. He liked the way Chip’s breathing
hitched and his mouth opened on a gasp.

“When we’re dancing tomorrow, this is what

you’re gonna be thinking about,” he stated gruffly
as he slowly eased his cock nearly all the way out
of Chip’s clenching channel. Once his head
stretched the ring, he reversed directions and
pressed back in.

Continuing to slowly saw in and out of Chip’s

chute, Grimes growled low in his throat at the
massage to his stalk. The hot, slicked channel
encasing him felt better than anything he’d ever
felt before. He reveled in his mate’s heady citrusy-
sweet scent.

Grimes moved his hand from playing with

Chip’s pubes to cradling his balls. He rolled his
lover’s sensitive orbs in their sacks with his palm
while massaging the base of Chip’s erection with
his thumb, tracing as much of the thick vein as he
could.

Nipping Chip’s shoulder, Grimes started to

pick up his pace as he rumbled, “You’ll remember
this, me sliding in and out of you, possessing you.
I’ll be holding you on that dance floor and you’ll
be too busy craving my cock to panic. You’ll be
begging with those pretty blue eyes for me to take

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you back to our room and mount you again.”
Snapping his hips forcefully, Grimes adjusted his
angle and began pegging his lover’s prostate in
earnest.

“G-Grimes!” Chip moaned. His body bucked.

His back arched. Lowering his shoulders, Chip
started rocking back into Grimes’ thrusts. “M-
More. Oh, God. More.”

Chip’s begging cries caused Grimes’ blood to

surge through his veins. Feral need sparked
through his veins. “You’re mine, Chip. All mine!”

“O-Oh, yes,” Chip whined, shuddering and

twitching beneath him. “Yours.”

Releasing his lover’s balls, Grimes gripped

Chip’s shaft. He stroked once, twice and his
bobcat yowled wildly, screaming his pleasure as
his body jerked. Chip’s chute clamped on Grimes’
dick, encasing him in a stranglehold of pleasure-
pain.

Grimes’ balls drew flush to his body as his

orgasm bowled through him. Acting on instinct,
he snapped his head forward and sank his teeth
into the flesh of Chip’s shoulder. Blood flowed
over his tongue and he moaned at the exquisite
flavor bursting across his taste-buds. Contented
bliss rolled through him as he drank his lover’s
life-blood down, completing their bond. Knowing
that he held his mate, had connected with the one

Catting Around

Fate meant for him, almost felt better than the
endorphins pinging blissfully through his system.

Humming, Grimes carefully extracted his teeth,

then laved his tongue over Chip’s bitten flesh,
sealing the mark. He released his hold on Chip’s
softening prick and—ignoring the cum covering
his hand—gently traced his fingertips over his
lover’s ribs, caressing his lover’s flesh.

Grimes thought just holding Chip, his softening

satisfied cock still encased in his lover’s warmth,
was almost as good as the sex itself. Keeping them
connected, Grimes rolled sideways, spooning
Chip’s back to his chest. He nuzzled his shifter’s
neck.

“Wow,” Chip mumbled, his words slightly

slurred. “N-Never felt—”

When his lover didn’t finish his thought,

Grimes grinned against Chip’s flesh. “Exactly,” he
whispered.

Holding Chip tightly, Grimes sighed. “Want

you to be happy, sexy mate.”

Chip tilted his head and peered back at him.

His brows were drawn down and concern
reflected in the man’s blue eyes. “Want you
happy, too.”

Grimes tightened his arms in a gentle squeeze

for a second, then asked, “I know you never had a
home…not like a normal one.” He felt Chip tense,
which wasn’t really what he wanted, especially

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after such pleasure, but he needed to know what
plans he’d need to make.

What will make my sweet bobcat happier?
Nuzzling Chip’s neck with his nose and

rubbing his fingers over Chip’s lean torso, Grimes
asked, “I want you to know I’ll be happy
wherever you are, Chip.”

Turning his head a bit, Chip peered back at

him. “Since you know I’ve never had a normal
home life, I hope I don’t offend you when I tell
you that if you’re trying to ask me something
subtly, I’m not getting it.”

Just then, Grimes’ softened prick finally slipped

from Chip’s channel. His mate’s brows creased
and he let out a hiss. “Geez, that feels weird.”

“Let me get something to clean us up, then I’ll

answer your question,” Grimes stated, easing
away from Chip. He leaned down and pecked a
quick kiss to his lover’s lips before pushing off the
bed and heading to the bathroom.

Grimes quickly wiped himself down, then

rinsed the cloth and headed back to his lover.
Seeing the pale, lean shifter curled up on his dark
blue comforter, a wave of affection rolled through
him. That little slip of a shifter was his destiny,
and he’d do anything to please him.

Knowing Chip wasn’t raised by shifters, so

didn’t understand mating urges, Grimes prayed
he could find the right words. He hadn’t ever been

Catting Around

pegged as particularly eloquent. Still, he had to try
to explain his desire to care for his mate without
coming off as him thinking Chip needed a keeper.

As Grimes approached the bed, Chip’s smile

faltered a bit. That was when Grimes realized he
scowled at his thoughts. Quickly, Grimes eased his
expression, suffusing as much warmth into his
eyes as he could.

“Sorry, got lost in thought for a sec there,”

Grimes explained. He held up the cloth. “Can I
clean you, my mate?”

Chip didn’t look too keen on the idea, but at

least he rolled to his back. As gently as he could,
Grimes wiped down Chip’s stomach, abs, groin,
and hole. When Grimes rubbed the warm, damp
cloth over Chip’s balls, he liked the way his lover
grunted, shifted his hips almost restlessly, and
spread his legs wider. Meeting his lover’s gaze,
Grimes smiled smugly and did it again, a bit more
slowly.

The scent of renewed arousal floated to his

nostrils. Like a heady perfume, Grimes felt his
own body respond, his cock plumping at his
groin. “Oh, fuck, Chip,” he mumbled, tossing the
washcloth aside and climbing onto the bed. “You
smell so damn good.”

An appreciative gleam entered Chip’s eyes as

he watched Grimes crawl up the bed. He spread
his legs and held out his arms. Grimes—powerless

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to resist his mate’s obvious invitation—settled
over Chip and aligned their groins. He rested his
arms on either side of his lover’s head, holding his
torso’s weight off of the other man. Although
Grimes knew his lover was a shifter, Chip still
remained on the road to recovery and he didn’t
want to do anything to jeopardize that.

“Hello, mate,” Grimes whispered. With his

elbows by his shifter’s head, Grimes lifted a
forearm and traced Chip’s lips with his fingertips.

Chip smiled up at him, looking way too shy for

what they’d just done together. “Hi, mate.”

Moving his other hand’s fingertips to Chip’s

eyebrows, Grimes traced the sandy-colored hairs.
After a second of admiration, he murmured,
“When Kontra’s people rescued you, did they
explain shifter dynamics to you?”

“Mostly,” Chip replied, his voice just as soft. He

kissed the fingertip tracing his lips. “I know it’s
considered a gift, the other half of your soul, and
that some people wait centuries to find that special
someone.” His brows lifted. “How old are you?”

Grimes lifted one brow at the unexpected

question, but answered anyway. “I’m two
hundred and seventeen.”

Chip’s eyes widened. His jaw sagged open.

“Wow!”

“Shifters live upwards of five centuries, Chip,”

Grimes told him, wondering if that little tidbit had

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been omitted somehow. “I’m only middle aged.”
He cupped Chip’s jaw. “What about you? How
old are you?”

After nibbling his bottom lip for a moment,

Chip admitted, “Thirty-nine.”

Gods above. To shifters, that was practically a

cub. Still, Chip had seen and experienced more
than anyone should ever have to in the short
number of years he’d lived on this earth.

Leaning down, Grimes sipped gently at Chip’s

lips. He ended by suckling his lover’s plump
bottom lip for just a second, worrying the
succulent bit of flesh. Lifting his head, Grimes
murmured, “I’ve waited a long time to find you,
Chip. I don’t want you to think that I think you’re
weak because I want to take care of you.” He
grimaced at how convoluted that sounded, but
forced himself to continue. “Mates want to take
care of each other. That’s how we’re wired. I want
you happy, so I need to know how to make you
happy.”

“Uh…”
Not really the answer Grimes was looking for,

but with such a broad statement, he’d left it a bit
open-ended. Sighing, he lowered his head and
pressed his forehead to Chip’s and stared him in
the eye.

“Chip,” he began. “I saw you standing out with

the rest of the shifters that arrived today.” Gods

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above, had that really only been a few hours
before? It felt like forever. “You might not have
been standing among them, but you appeared
comfortable with them. You couldn’t even walk
on our deck.” He shrugged before finishing. “I
want—” He paused and shook his head sharply.
“I need you happy and comfortable. If you want to
live here, with this pride, I’ll support you and try
to help in any way to make you comfortable. If
you want to stay with Kontra’s people, I’ll petition
to join his pack.” He moved his hands from his
lover’s face, wiggling his arms a bit so he could
sink his finger into Chip’s hair. He already loved
the feel of his mate’s soft multicolored strands
beneath his fingers. “Whatever you want will
make me happy.”

Chip’s brows furrowed. He licked his lips and

swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Finally, he
asked, “W-Well, which would make you happy?”

Grimes couldn’t help but grin at that. Although

Chip might not understand his instinctual urge to
make him happy, he still went along with it.
Grimes knew that was why the small bobcat had
followed him across the deck and through the
house. His mate had wanted to please him.

“To be honest, I’d love to travel and see the

country,” Grimes told him, wanting honesty
between them. “I’ve been with this pride for the
last eighty plus years. I went through a stretch

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where I couldn’t go into town, and I kinda like
Kontra’s idea of always traveling. True, no one
really knows you but your gang-members, but on
the other hand, you don’t have to pretend you
died or moved away. You don’t have to lie to
humans you might come to care for, either.”

Chip’s eyes widened at that. “Oh, that’s…” He

swallowed hard. “Horrible. I’m sorry.”

Shaking his head once, Grimes smile down at

Chip. “I didn’t tell you that to upset you. I just
wanted to explain why I liked Kontra’s lifestyle.”
He lowered his head and pecked a kiss to Chip’s
lips. “However, I’ll understand if you want to stay
here.” He shrugged. “You’ve never had a home
before, and if that’s something you want, I’ll do
my best to give it to you.”

To Grimes’ surprise, Chip actually chuckled

and rolled his eyes. “Uh, I don’t even know what a
family is. I lived alone as a bobcat for years. I don’t
give a shit about that kind of thing.” He smiled
wryly. “I’d much rather be traveling with you and
my friends than stuck worrying about who might
recognize me in thirty years.”

Grimes actually felt relief at Chip’s admittance.

He nodded and smiled. “Okay. I’ll petition Kontra
to join his pack and we’ll explore together. How’s
that sound?”

“Perfect,” Chip whispered.

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Chip stroked his hands down Grimes’ back,

down to his ass, and gripped his cheeks and
squeezed. He humped his hips, rubbing his
thickening prick against Grimes’ own hardening
cock.

Grimes rumbled his pleasure and rocked his

groin, grinning at his mate.

“So,” Chip murmured, his eyelids lowering to

half-mast. “What do I gotta do to get your cock
back in my ass?”

Growling low in his throat, Grimes stated, “Just

ask, sexy. Just ask.”

Next, Grimes captured Chip’s lips, thrusting his

tongue deep, mapping his mate’s mouth. Then,
after sucking his lover’s tongue lightly, he released
Chip’s appendage and proceeded to use his mouth
to explore and map Chip’s body, too.

Catting Around

Chapter Seven

hip sat curled up in a large chair situated
against the wall. Emmett sat to his left, Caleb

on his lap. The chameleon shifter leaned toward
Chip, grinning widely. He sniffed exaggeratedly,
then winked. “So, how you liking mated life?”

Feeling heat suffuse his cheeks and neck, Chip

knew he blushed. “Mmm-hmm,” he muttered,
peering at the gathering of shifters and humans
milling about the room.

“Stop teasing him, baby,” Emmett scolded

gently.

Chip pushed back his embarrassment and

smiled. “It’s okay.” Glancing toward his friends,
he stated, “Grimes is super sweet and loves my—”
He paused, flushing harder as he thought about
the sweet and thorough loving he’d received—
multiple times—yesterday. Grimes had kissed,
licked, and touched just about every inch of him.
At his friend’s expectant looks, Chip grinned—
probably goofily, if the looks exchanged by his

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friends were any judge. “Well, let’s just say my
scars aren’t a deterrent to the man.”

“Well, of course they’re not,” Caleb replied

swiftly. “Scars mean you’ve lived through
hardship.” He reached out and laid his hand on
Chip’s forearm, giving it a squeeze. “They’re proof
of your inner strength.”

Nodding—remembering that Grimes had said

something similar—Chip found his gaze drawn to
his mate. He watched the lion shifter chat with the
people he passed as he moved through the
throngs of partiers. He carried several plates of
food in one hand and a couple cups in the other.
Grimes laughed and joked, grinning and nodding,
amicably accepting the pats to his back. A few
others, however, peered over at Chip with obvious
disdain in their expressions.

“Ignore them,” Luc stated, his accented words

announcing his presence.

Chip looked toward the man, finding him

leaning against the wall on the other side of Caleb
and Emmett. “Huh?”

The French European eagle owl shifter smiled

wryly at him. “I saw that frown. I saw who you
were looking at. Ignore them,” he repeated the
order.

Taking Luc’s advice was easier said than done.

Grimacing, Chip mumbled, “They know I’m not
good enough for him.”

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“That’s enough of that talk,” Emmett snapped,

his deep voice rumbling with obvious displeasure.
“You’re a better man than most of these lions.”

Chip didn’t know about that, but he smiled at

his friend’s pep talk. Before he could respond,
three women parted from the crowd and stalked
toward them. All were lithe, toned women in the
five eight range—give or take an inch. They
directed all their attention on Chip and none of
them looked happy. They stopped in front of him,
their arms crossed over their ample bosoms, their
eyes narrowed.

The tallest, a willowy brunette, scowled down

at him. “So you’re the little bitch Grimes is leaving
us for. What a waste,” she sneered.

His jaw sagging open in shock at her cruel

words, Chip struggled to formulate a response.

Caleb had no such trouble. He flicked his

fingers toward the trio, glanced between Chip and
Emmett and stated, “I am so glad I’m gay. Can you
imagine having to deal with catty comments like
that on a regular basis?” He smirked and lowered
his voice to a sultry tone while blatantly palming
his crotch. “Besides, jealous much? We’ve been
able to practice on the equipment for years, so we
know how to please our men better than any of
you could.”

The smaller shifter’s taunts were met with a trio

of hisses. The brunette curled her lip and looked

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him up and down. “As if we’d touch you with a
ten foot pole, cocksucker.”

Snorting, Caleb rolled his eyes. “Honey, I

wouldn’t let you touch me if you got a sex change
and were the last man on earth.”

“Why you little—”
“Something wrong here?” Grimes announced

his arrival with the gruff question.

Chip couldn’t even begin to express how

grateful he felt upon seeing his big lion. Smiling
with relief, he tilted his head up to see Grimes
glaring at the three women. Still, he took a second
to turn toward Chip, lean down, and plant a quick
peck to his lips. Chip’s smile widened at the little
display of affection.

“Grimes,” the brunette greeted, although her

eyes were hard. “Nothing’s wrong. We’re just
saying hello to your mate.”

Another woman, this one a blonde, stepped

close to Grimes and laid a hand on his chest.
“Won’t you introduce us?”

Growling low in his throat, Chip jumped to his

feet and shoved the woman away. “Back off.
Grimes is my mate!” Realizing what he’d done,
Chip flushed and glanced uncertainly at Grimes.

Surprise flooded him when he found Grimes

grinning at him, an expression that resembled
pride on his face. Wrapping his arm around Chip,

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Grimes confirmed Chip’s claim, saying, “That I
am, my sexy little mate.”

Chip found himself flushing, again, at the

compliment and endearment. Still, he leaned into
the other shifter, loving the contact.

Once again, the blonde stepped close.

Although, this time, she didn’t attempt to touch
Grimes. Instead, she focused a megawatt smile on
Chip and said in a tone probably meant to be
provocative, “I understand you’re mated now, but
how about a threesome?”

“Hussy,” Caleb mumbled just loud enough to

hear.

The blonde shrugged and smirked over her

shoulder at the chameleon shifter. “What can I
say? Cats are sluts.”

Chip frowned, shocked at her blunt, direct

approach. She’d be willing to sleep with him just
to get Grimes’ cock in her? Oh, hell no!

“Not happening,” Chip snarled, glaring at the

woman. “I don’t share!”

Then, it suddenly occurred to him that maybe

Grimes would have liked to accept the woman’s
invitation.

Fortunately, Grimes quickly put that fear to rest

by growling, “Damn it, Donna. You wanna get
yourself hurt?”

Chip looked up to see Grimes curling his lip at

the woman. His body vibrated with tension and

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Chip realized the scent rolling off his mate was
rage. The arm around him tightened as Grimes
held him close.

“You know mates don’t share. No one touches

Chip but me!” Grimes practically roared.

Relieved his lover felt the same way, Chip

rubbed the man’s chest. “It’s okay,” he murmured.
“Calm down, Grimes.”

Heaving a sigh, Grimes peered down at Chip.

“The idea that anyone would touch you makes me
see red,” he admitted. He brought his free hand
up and cupped Chip’s jaw. “Can’t wait to get you
upstairs again.”

Chip grinned up at his lover. “That would be

rude.”

“I know,” Grimes stated.
That didn’t stop him from leaning down and

capturing Chip’s mouth. He opened to his lover,
enjoying the man’s deep masculine taste with just
the hint of beer. Grimes swept his tongue into his
mouth, thrusting deep. Chip sagged against his
lover, enjoying the attention.

“All right, all right,” Luc stated from beside

them. “Stop making us single guys jealous.”

Grimes took his time ending the kiss, cradling

Chip’s head so he couldn’t pull away—not that he
was inclined to do that anyway. Finally, after
sucking Chip’s bottom lip for a few seconds,
Grimes released him.

Catting Around

Smirking, he stated, “Mmm, I do love how you

taste, Chip.”

“I think you’ve made that quite apparent,”

Chip softly replied. He glanced around furtively,
saw Luc smirking and Caleb and Emmett
grinning. At some point, the women had slinked
away, although the scent of disappointment hung
in the air. “To everyone,” Chip added.

Chuckling, Grimes stated, “Good.”
Grimes released his hold on Chip’s face as his

arm around his waist loosened. “You ready for a
burger? I added bacon to it.”

Chip’s stomach growled right on cue and both

he and Grimes laughed. After releasing his hold,
Grimes turned toward the side table where he
must have left the plates before announcing his
presence, for several were laying upon it. Two
each held heaping burgers. The third plate was
piled high with some kind of potato casserole dish
with a couple carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes
scattered around the edges.

After picking up his burger and chewing a bite,

Chip gave into curiosity and asked, “What is
that?” He pointed at the potato casserole thing.
The shredded potato slices were swimming in
some kind of cream sauce and something that
appeared to be corn flake bits scattered in there.

Grimes grinned and winked. He picked up one

of the forks and scooped some of the concoction

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onto it. He held it to Chip’s lips, saying, “This is
Rochelle and Delila’s funeral potatoes. Everyone
loves them, so there are never any leftovers.” His
lips took on a rueful twist. “Even once when they
made a quadruple batch.”

Chip felt his brows shoot up. “You’re lions and

you love potatoes?”

“Don’t knock it ’til you try it,” Grimes replied,

smirking. He wiggled the fork in front of Chip’s
mouth. “Come on, sexy. Open up.”

After releasing a put upon sigh, which made

Grimes chuckle, Chip did as he was told and
accepted the mouthful of warm casserole. Creamy,
cheesy flavors burst over Chip’s tongue, mixing
wonderfully with the natural starchiness of the
potatoes, their insides warm and soft. For some
reason, the slight crunch from the corn flakes—
wow, there really is cereal mixed in here—just seemed
to tie it all together.

Chip hummed in appreciation as he chewed

and swallowed. “Wow, I’m a believer,” he
muttered. Quickly, he picked up the second fork
and scooped up another bite.

Grimes laughed, then took a forkful for himself.

After he’d swallowed, he stated, “Told ya.”

Grabbing one of the red cups, Chip swigged the

beverage. He wrinkled his nose at the beer, but
swallowed anyway. Once again, Grimes chuckled.
“Not a fan? I got it from the keg.”

Catting Around

“Guess not,” Chip replied. “Must not be my

brand.”

He grabbed his burger and took a big bite of the

bacon and cheese laden patty, attempting to get
the taste out of his mouth. Luc leaned over him
and picked up his cup of beer. “I don’t mind the
keg,” he quipped, winking. “And I better go get
some of those potatoes before they are gone.”

“You’d better,” Grimes returned grinning.
Luc chuckled, then looked at Chip, adding, “I’ll

bring you back a new drink, oui?”

After swallowing his food, Chip answered, “I’d

appreciate that.” After three days traveling as
Luc’s motorcycle companion, Chip had faith the
other man would bring him something he’d like.
They’d done a hell of a lot of talking on their trip.
While he’d shared with the Frenchman that he
was a virgin, Chip had learned that while Luc
traveled with Kontra’s gay motorcycle gang, he
enjoyed bedding women just as much as men.
There were even rumors in the pack that he’d been
with Diego’s daughter, Adriana. For the sake of
keeping the peace, Luc and Diego didn’t speak of
it.

“Sorry about the beer, Chip.”
Grimes’ softly spoken apology drew Chip’s

attention. His brows shot up as he took in Grimes’
chagrined expression. Realizing he frowned at his
burger, Chip eased his expression. He set down

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his food and reached out to his mate. Touching the
creases of Grimes’ brows, he soothed their tension
with a touch.

“Don’t worry about it,” Chip told him. “We just

met yesterday. How could you know I’m a little
picky about my beer?”

That earned him a smile. “There is that.”
Chip leaned forward and tilted his head.

Grimes didn’t leave him hanging. He leaned down
and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Chip stepped
back, keeping it brief, not willing to make another
spectacle.

When Grimes stepped forward, a feral gleam in

his dark eyes, telling Chip what his mate planned
without words. Chip held up his hands, one
holding the fork and one holding his half eaten
burger. “Can I finish my supper first?” he teased.
“Gotta keep my strength up for what you probably
have planned.”

Grimes laughed and backed off. “You’re right

about that.” After waggling his brows, he returned
his attention to his own food.

They stood together next to the small side table,

eating in companionable silence. From time to
time people stopped by and chatted a few minutes
with Grimes. They’d congratulate them both, then
move on. Chip enjoyed watching the people
interact, but felt no real desire to join them. He
looked toward Grimes, wondering what he

Catting Around

thought of standing off to the side instead of
moving amongst the shifters.

“Look there,” Grimes murmured, leaning close

and pointing to the right. “They’re setting up for
the entertainment. Gonna get to dance soon.”

Just the mention of dancing caused Chip’s heart

to pick up speed and his cock to plump as
memories of yesterday’s foreplay instantly came
to mind. Grimes chuckled, husky and low. He
leaned close and crooned, “And I wonder what
just popped into your head, sweet sexy mate.”

Chip turned his head and smiled, fighting back

a flush—this time not caused by embarrassment.
“I bet you already know.”

“Indeed I do,” Grimes replied smugly.
Turning back, Chip watched several people he

didn’t know set up some drums while another guy
tuned a guitar. A group of others cleared chairs
and folding tables out of the way, making space in
the great room for dancing.

Raised voices caught Chip’s attention and he

turned to see Samson glaring at a blonde woman
with blue eyes similar to the male lion shifter’s.
“Don’t you talk about Helena that way, mama,”
Samson snarled, confirming Chip’s suspicion that
the woman was indeed, Amy, Samson’s mother.

“I’ve allowed this travesty to go on long

enough,” Amy screeched. Suddenly, the woman

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launched herself at Helena, starting to shift as she
went.

Samson roared and leaped after his mother,

tackling her. While they grappled, Helena
screamed as another woman tried to take up
Amy’s crusade. The brunette grabbed Helena’s
arm and yanked her close.

Patrick, the pride’s beta, grabbed the woman

and freed Helena.

“Damn,” Grimes muttered. “It never occurred

to me that she’d try something in so open a
setting.” He tossed his plate to the table and
started across the room.

Chip stared after him, hating that his lover’s

pride position forced him into the fray—even
though, if asked, he knew Grimes would consider
it an honor. Chip was man enough to realize he
just wasn’t that dominant.

About that time, two other women—the bitchy

brunette who’d insulted Chip as well her silent
friend, a black-haired female—began to shift. They
were behind Grimes, so he didn’t see them.
However, Chip saw the hatred burning in their
gaze as they watched Grimes cross the room.
Shifting during a party as they did, their intent
was unmistakable.

The need to help his mate couldn’t be denied.
As he called Grimes’ name, Chip yanked his

shirt over his head and kicked off his shoes. His

Catting Around

lover peered at him over his shoulder, a question
in his eyes. Except, by then, Chip had already
shoved off his jeans and began shifting. His
tendons popped, muscles contorted, and bones
slid beneath his newly growing fur. His ass
tingled as his short tail sprouted and his head felt
the push and pull as his skull turned feline.

Once done, Chip blinked and looked around.

He spotted Grimes, who’d turned around and
started back toward him. He also saw the lioness
leap at his confused and concerned mate.

Yowling, Chip lunged, intercepting the much

larger cat.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Eight

rimes watched in shocked horror as Chip
engaged Theresa, the lioness who’d been

taunting his mate earlier. “Son of a bitch!” he
snarled. As soon as he kicked off his shoes, Grimes
shifted, unmindful of the tearing of his clothes.

About halfway through his change, pain

erupted through Grimes’ back. He flopped
sideway, hoping to dislodge whoever had latched
onto him. Seconds later, the feline—by scent he
recognized as Tory, Theresa’s sister—toppled
from his back. Grateful for the reprieve, his shift
complete, Grimes crouched and peered around the
room.

Grimes snarled at what he saw. Tory swiped at

Chip, her large paw connecting with his haunch,
sending him sprawling. Scratched and bloody,
Chip slid and rolled across the hardwood floor.
While Chip lifted his head and shook it, the bigger
cat went after him again.

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Tuning out the snarls, roars, screams, and

shouts of others, Grimes pounced the short
distance. He focused on taking down the lioness
who’d dared to lay a paw on his bobcat. Grimes
landed on the lioness, wrapped his paws around
Tory’s torso, and used his momentum to flip her.
She hissed in surprise—and probably a little
pain—as Grimes tossed her sideways, scraping his
claws down her body as he released her.

Quickly getting back to his feet, Grimes peered

around for Chip. Instead, all Grimes saw was
chaos. On the far side of the room, Carlton and
Patrick fought with Amy and Gina while Samson
helped a wailing Helena to a chair. Eli and his
mate clustered close to the woman, and a sickly
sweet scent suddenly hit Grimes’ senses.

Helena had gone into premature labor.
A few feet away, a massive grizzly bear that

Grimes

recognized

Kontra

stood

over…something cream, orange, and black. A
lioness—Theresa—circled the bear, her ears
pinned and her canines exposed. Kontra rumbled
in clear warning. Just as she crouched to leap, a
large black lion bounded across the room and
bowled into the smaller cat.

A flash of movement redirected Grimes’

attention. Seeing Chip safe beneath the paws of his
alpha—even though it rankled some that it was

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another who guarded his mate—Grimes turned to
face the cat’s resumed attack.

Tory stretched out a paw, aiming for his face.

To many, it would appear an almost playful move,
batting at his head. However, Grimes knew as a
lioness—the natural hunter of a pride—she
gauged his attitude. Would he attack, defend, or
break? Grimes crouched low and turned his head,
snarling in warning as he waited for her
impatience to get the better of her.

It didn’t take long.
Lunging at him, Tory reached her claws toward

him, probably intending to sink them into Grimes’
shoulders. Grimes rolled to his back and counter-
attacked, kicking out with his powerful hind legs.
He raked his claws across her belly as he used his
front legs to grip her shoulders. Using Tory’s
momentum, he rolled them, finally kicking her
away.

Grimes—instantly back on his feet—pressed his

advantage. Pouncing swiftly, he landed on her
back and wrapped his forelegs around her
shoulders. He sank his teeth into her neck. She
yowled and twisted under him, but he hung on,
using his larger mass and greater weight to keep
her pinned.

Just as Grimes tightened his jaws around the

lioness’s throat, a black human hand settled on his
shoulder and the scent of his alpha wafted over

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his senses. Grimes paused in his actions, waiting
for his alpha to say something.

“If you wish to kill her, by all means, do so,”

Perrin stated gruffly. He lowered to his knee
beside the pair, looking Grimes in the eye, his gaze
hard. “Hell, if someone touched Terence, I
wouldn’t show any mercy.”

Although Grimes knew he had his alpha’s

blessing, now that the heat of the battle had
passed, he couldn’t do it. Instead, his gaze sought
Chip. Relief flooded him upon seeing his mate
rising slowly, aided by a couple of his friends, one
of which whispered in his ear and pushed a pair
of jeans into his hands.

Smart friend.
Wanting only to get to Chip, Grimes eased his

hold on the other shifter’s neck. He loosened his
claws. Slowly, Grimes backed away from the
lioness. He growled low in his throat, warning
her. She lowered her gaze in deference and
mewled.

Although he wanted to question her, he wanted

to hold his lover more. He needed to reassure
himself that Chip was truly well. He’d watched
his lover take quite the tumble. Before long,
Grimes crouched on the floor in human form.

“No, Alpha. I’ll leave her fate in your hands,”

Grimes stated gruffly.

Charlie Richards

Perrin actually sighed. “Just what I need,” he

replied dryly, his lips twitching.

Grimes glared at Tory. “If you ever come near

my mate again, I won’t be nearly as forgiving.”

Turning away, Grimes peered around the room

again. He noted Patrick sitting in lion form next to
Samson’s mother. The lioness lay still and from
the odd angle her neck rested at, she wouldn’t be
getting back up. Next to them, back in human
form, Gina sat with her arms around her naked
knees, her head bowed. With the way her
shoulders shook, Grimes guessed she wept.

Carlton—also in lion form—sat nearby

watching Theresa and Tory. Perrin ordered those
two lionesses to shift. Grimes guessed the three
living lionesses would be banished, but as he was
leaving the pride, too, it was no longer his
concern.

Samson, Helena, Eli, and Sam were nowhere in

sight. He hoped the human and the cub would be
okay, but couldn’t worry about that now.

At that moment, the only thing that mattered to

Grimes was getting to Chip. He needed to hold his
mate, confirm that he was alive and well. Grimes
dismissed everything and strode past Kontra,
murmuring his thanks as he did so. Kontra
grunted in response, but didn’t move from where
he had one arm around his own mate while
glaring at the shifting lionesses.

Catting Around

As soon as Grimes stepped in range of Chip, he

grabbed him. With one hand, he cupped the back
of his bobcat’s head. With the other, he circled his
lover’s waist. Using his hold, Grimes pulled Chip
flush against him and tucked his mate’s head
beneath his chin.

“Damn it, Chip,” Grimes grumbled. “What the

hell were you thinking?”

Chip sank into his embrace, his arms going

around him and clutching at his shoulder blades
tightly. “They were going to attack you. You
didn’t see them.” Chip’s breathing hitched, then
he whispered, “I couldn’t let them hurt you.”

Grimes struggled to control his urge to demand

that Chip never put himself in danger again. He
knew it’d be the mate-pull talking and would only
anger Chip. His little bobcat had been on his own
for decades. Although Grimes knew that,
rationally, it didn’t make it any easier to calm his
racing pulse.

Tucking his face against Chip’s sandy brown

and black locks, Grimes inhaled his lover’s scent.
The faint trace of blood that hung in the air made
slowing his racing pulse difficult. After a few
minutes, Grimes became aware of Chip’s hands
stroking his back, soothing the tense muscles
there. He nuzzled his cheek across Chip’s hair a
few times, then lifted a bit and pressed a kiss to
the top of his head.

Charlie Richards

Finally Grimes felt like he had a bit more

control over his tongue. He raised his head and
used his hold on Chip’s skull to urge him to tilt his
head back. Forcing a slight smile, he told him,
“You scared the shit out of me, Chip.”

A corner of Chip’s mouth twitched up. “I could

say the same about you.” Then, the man scowled
and peered down Grimes’ body. “And you’re
standing naked in a room full of people.”
Frowning up at him, he asked, “Why the hell am I
bothered by this?”

“Because our relationship is new,” Grimes

explained. He slid his hand around Chip’s head to
cup his jaw. “We’ll always be a bit protective of
others seeing each other nude, but once we’re
more secure in our bond, some of that will ease.”

Chip nodded. “Okay. Can you put on some

pants or something, then?”

After everything that had just happened, for his

mate to seem only worried about others seeing his
naked ass, tickled something inside him. Grimes
threw his head back and laughed. Happiness
suffused him and he clutched his lover tight to his
chest. Once more, he became aware of Chip
petting his back.

Grimes grinned down at his shifter, reading the

concern on his face. Leaning down, Grimes
pressed a soft butterfly kiss to Chip’s upturned

Catting Around

lips. He didn’t deepen it, having no desire to
sprout a boner in the middle of his pride.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder and he

turned to see Carlton standing there holding up a
pair of jeans. His friend smirked at him, and
Grimes chuckled as he took the offered clothing
and pulled them on over his legs.

Unable to allow his mate out of sight—or

contact, for that matter—for any length of time,
yet, Grimes swiftly zipped and buttoned the jeans.
Then, he grabbed Chip’s arm and reeled him back
in so he could slide that arm around his lover’s
waist and tuck him against his side.

Chip chuckled as he wrapped his near hand

around Grimes’ back and settled it on the opposite
side of his waist, gripping a belt loop there. Tilting
his head, Chip grinned up at him. “Am I close
enough?”

Grimes grinned down at him. “I guess. You

okay?” He nodded his head toward where Sam
bandaged a few scratches some of the others had
sustained. “Do you need anything patched up?”
He swept his gaze over Chip’s chest, but didn’t see
anything but a bit of red scratches here and there.
No blood.

Shaking his head, Chip replied, “Just a few

scratches on my legs from when I didn’t move
quite fast enough. Nothing a shower won’t cure.”

Charlie Richards

He winked. “Maybe we should go take care of that
now.”

Although extremely tempted, Grimes shook his

head. “I believe I owe you a dance, my sexy
mate.”

Chip’s eyes glowed, suddenly, the citrusy-

sweet scent of arousal flooding the air around
them. His eyelids lowered to half-mast. “You just
had to mention dancing,” he murmured, a rosy
glow flushing up his chest to his neck.

Now that the ruckus was over, the band had

begun, although Grimes noted there were no
dancers yet. He had every intention of changing
that. He turned and eased away from Chip just a
bit, then growled in frustration and pulled him
close again.

Snickering, Chip welcomed his embrace as

Grimes crushed their chests together, mingling
their scents. Next, he rubbed his cheek along first
one side of Chip’s face, then the other. He added a
couple nips and licks along both sides of his
mate’s neck for good measure.

That earned Grimes a soft moan from Chip as

he whined, “You gotta stop if you wanna dance.”

Grimes lifted his head and stared smugly at

Chip. He took in his mate’s slightly opened
mouth, the way his chest rose and fell swiftly in
quick pants, and his half-lidded eyes. The sexy

Catting Around

look was almost enough for him to change his
mind about that dance…almost.

“Mmm,” Grimes hummed appreciatively. He

took Chip’s slight disorientation as the
opportunity he needed to draw his lover onto the
dance floor. As he loosened his arms into the
proper waltz position, he leaned a bit closer and
crooned, “Now that you’re once again covered in
my scent, me and my cat will be able to settle
down.”

Straightening, Grimes grinned at his man.

“Dance with me.”

As he whisked his lover around the dance floor,

Grimes flooded with pride. Chip focused on him
and followed him easily. He even smiled and
blushed, his dilated eyes and the occasional glance
down giving away the direction of his thoughts.
Happiness looked good on Chip, and Grimes
vowed to make it his goal to see that look there as
often as possible.

They’d managed to get through three songs

before Grimes gave in to his need to do more than
hold his man. As he led Chip from the dance floor,
he leaned down and crooned, “And you didn’t
panic once.”

About the Author

Charlie started writing fantasy when she was
eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic
romance at age nineteen, she realized her true
calling. She now focuses on writing gay erotic
romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with
heroes of all kinds. With the help and support of
her husband, Charlie finally fulfilled one of her
life-long goals…move to acreage with her horses.
You can often find her curled up with her laptop
and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next
adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains
of her new Oregon home on horseback, 4-wheeler,
or motorcycle.

She can be reached at ch.richards2010@yahoo.com
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com

Document Outline

Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
About the Author

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