Part 2 (2/2)

”I doubt it, we stick out like two black and white characters in a color movie, do you think these fortune-tellers will recognize us for the frauds we are and attack us with Technicolor,” Dee asked.

”Don't worry, I'll protect you,” Angel returned comically in a rare role reversal soliloquy. Dee lived and breathed self-defense and protection, to the point of forcing martial arts lessons on both her friends until they could beat Jean-Claude if they had to. She made them train with weapons, as well. The three were formidable.

”I never pegged you as a comedian, Angel, have you spotted Cat yet?”

”Behind you.” Cat surprised both of them. ”I don't have time to talk, meet me at Grumpy's in an hour. This is serious. No is not an option,” she reiterated and disappeared.

Sitting at Grumpy's, Cat had no idea how much, or even what, to tell her friends and, further more, didn't know when her cat man would come to reclaim her. A surprised Todd swiftly concocted a frozen Margarita as he greeted her. He made it a double, surmising correctly that she needed it. He engineered two more when the remaining threesome entered.

”Don't say a word, just let me talk.” She scanned the room, as if looking for someone she wasn't sure she wanted to see. ”Thursday evening on my way to the car, I met this cat person I mistook for a pooka. He was beautiful and blocking my car, and well, he kidnapped me. As it turns out, he wasn't a pooka at all, but a Gattonian from a planet called Ganz, outside our solar system, somewhere, and they asked for my help in finding women to return with them to their planet to make babies. Their women are sterile because of some sort of virus.” She scanned the room again. ”Anyway, we're going to use the Sci-fi Convention as our hunting ground for prospects, so I don't think it would be wise for you guys to be in the vicinity...just in case. I plan to slip away during the function. Got all that?”

Even knowing her for over eighteen years, Dee struggled to grasp what her friend relayed. Angel recovered first. Cat had a disorienting effect on people, at times, and dull moments proved amply rare. ”Slow down and make sense,” Angel directed, looking around for some kind of boogey man to appear. ”I know we've watched Harvey at least a dozen times, but surely you know there are no such things as pookas.”

”Well, I know that now but tell the truth; which makes more sense: Pookas in the form of cats or cat people from outer s.p.a.ce? If you saw a cat guy, what would you conclude? I mean he's standing there in front of you, a foot from your rear b.u.mper and doing an outstanding impression of an inert object, you go up and touch him...to verify he's real, of course, then you look around for the Candid Camera people and well, what would you think?”

Over the years, Catarina had rendered them speechless with maddening consistency; now provided no exception.

Dee took a turn. ”Are you sure that's who they are, what proof do you have?”

”Uh, gee Dee, they take me to their s.p.a.ce s.h.i.+p via beam-me-up-Scotty technology, then tell me about their problem and ask for my help. I've counted at least twenty-five of them, I just don't see how much clearer it could get,” Cat burst out, unable to contain her agitation.

Dee and Angel looked at each other then back at Cat. As impossible as it seemed, it had to be the truth. They'd known each other too long and been through too much not to trust each other implicitly. Dee shook her head to clear it before stating, ”You can't go alone, that's out. We stick together and for G.o.d's sake, do not agree to go with them. I know you, if you agree you'll follow through. They haven't asked, have they,” Dee demanded.

”Uh, it's been mentioned but I don't think it'll come to that.” She fidgeted slightly. ”I mean I can't see them actually forcing someone against their will.”

Angel emitted a non-angelic snort while Dee's eyes rolled back in her head. ”Alright,” Dee finally responded, ”let's put our heads together and come up with a plan.”

”What do you read from her, is she committed to the path you have set for her?” asked Prolinc, reaching for another double taco with extra cheese, sour cream, hot salsa and jalapenos. ”If they talk much longer, we will need another platter of tacos.” The unusual food proved better than catnip to the Gattonians. Zorroc along with Prolinc, Sycor and Carpov lounged companionably at the mall taco stand across from Grumpy's, garbed in appropriate earth attire and sungla.s.ses-and inhaling, none too fastidiously, platter after platter of extra large tacos.

Zorroc shrugged like he had not just taken a major ego hit. ”She will co-operate, but she does not plan to make the voyage with us. Her friends intend to help her avoid us when departure approaches. Dee is doubtful we intend to recruit the females, she believes we may just take them.”

”Not so mind-blasted as your mate...what is their plan?” Carpov asked, reaching for his sixth helping.

”They intend to walk away,” he responded dryly. ”Just disappear in the midst of hundreds of humans. They believe they all look alike to us. They will travel to Angel's cottage, or actually her mother's cottage, that she never inhabits. They believe, in that way, to avoid discovery. I see no reason to disillusion them until departure time arrives. Everything is well in place. We are ready. And now if you will excuse me, I will go retrieve my mate.” Sycor and Prolinc looked crestfallen at the empty plate in front of them before exuding a last belch and requesting the check.

He showed himself to all three; they had bought into his existence, after all, why not confirm it. ”These are your friends are they not, my Cat,” Zorroc suggested most charmingly. ”I am Zorroc, Cat's future mate, she has spoken of you.”

”I have not!” she sputtered vehemently and jumped up to face him.

”Did he say 'mate'?” Angel whispered to Dee.

”No?” Zorroc replied with a lethal gleam in his eyes. ”Then maybe I read your mind,” he challenged, facing her down. She had pushed him too far. ”We will take all three, Prolinc, trans.h.i.+ft,” Zorroc messaged, and they vanished.

Cat awoke in their quarters lying beside Zorroc, who was settled on his side with a hand resting possessively on her stomach. She studied him for a minute wondering what would happen next. ”Did you take Dee and Angel too?” she asked tentatively, wondering at his remoteness. His eyes appeared shuttered and an eerie stillness surrounded him.

”Yes,” he replied simply, and continued to observe her.

The one time she would have preferred hearing a ”no”. She blinked and licked her lips. His eyes focused on her mouth and followed the movement of her tongue. The blame for the entire situation lay directly with her; she should have never spoken with her friends, never gotten them involved. Now she had to extricate them somehow, although at present she hadn't a clue as to how to go about it. She wondered where they'd been taken. Had they been separated or been allowed to remain together, were they scared or even worse-had they tried to employ self-defense tactics after their disorienting experience? Would the Gattonians hurt them? She'd only known them for a couple of days and had no way of knowing what they might be capable of, if provoked. Would she see her friends again? ”You don't intend to keep them here, do you?” she croaked softly, fighting back a sob.

”That will depend solely on you, for the present,” he coolly informed her.

She began to unravel. Her cat man had disappeared and been replaced by a stranger with all the warmth of a frigid mannequin. Even when she'd first seen him in the parking lot he'd been approachable, touchable and solicitous toward her and had made her feel linked to him in a way that no one had before. Polar opposites from this current remote-controlled Prolinc clone. He had effectively locked himself away from her and his abandonment left her feeling lost and exposed. Deserted. Again. How could she explain and make things right. He'd obviously overheard the conversation at Grumpy's. How had things s...o...b..lled so quickly into this avalanche of longing? What spell had he cast that suddenly made her loath a life without him? She s.h.i.+vered, no doubt because of all that snow. His gaze grew warm and softened, almost as if he had read her thoughts and took pity on her. Her eyes filled with tears and her floodgates burst. He eased onto his back, placing her on top of him as his hands moved up and down her body in a slow hypnotic rhythm. He began to whisper into her hair that all would be well, to trust him to take care of everything. Slowly, she regained control of her emotions and relaxed.

His Catarina had had a rough few days, he mused with a slight smile. He must not forget all that had been thrust on her in such a short time. He would need to make allowances for her occasional rebellious spurts. She had panicked at his withdrawal. He found that decidedly promising. He would use her insecurities and need for affection to bind her to him, and control her through s.e.xual play. Finally, he would break her gently but thoroughly to his will.

Satisfied he had the situation well in hand, he began to issue his encompa.s.sing ultimatums.

Chapter Four.

”Your friends will be released after I have some a.s.surances from you. I want your word you will come with me to Ganz and will no longer fight me at every turn.” And then, lowering his voice to a honey seductive whisper added, ”You will admit to me, sweet one, that you are mine and will remain mine.”

He'd returned to the overbearing male now familiar to her; she squirmed, cornered. Out of the frying pan and into the inferno. Now what? Silently she reviewed her options; lie and run if necessary to her sanity; go quietly, relax and enjoy the s.e.x education cla.s.ses; or go kicking and screaming all the way. She wondered if she could get him to compromise on some of the finer points of his wishes but one look told her he expected that tact. The birdcage had been sealed, barricaded, and the key chip incinerated. Yep, she'd been plucked, cooked and readied for feasting; and he looked as though he'd devoured a flock of canaries with a chaser of cream. She hoped he had indigestion for a month and lowered her lashes, pleased with the image. As she shot him a sideways glance, he looked a little less satisfied. Fine, let him wonder what went on in her active little imagination.

His Cat had a mean streak; he blinked, surprised to discover the thought did not displease him. A little s.p.u.n.k, he deemed accountably desirable. After all, he wanted to tame her, not curb her natural exuberance. He smiled ruefully, hoping her s.p.u.n.k did not surface to bite him in the a.s.s.

”Okay.”

Immersed in his thoughts, it took a moment to register her answer. Then he experienced such an uncharacteristic surge of satisfaction and relief, it rendered him temporarily speechless. He shook his head to clear it. ”Okay what, Catarina, be specific, I want to be sure of what you are agreeing to,” he grated softly, wanting to hear the words.

Somehow, she had just known he wouldn't accept victory gracefully and drop the subject. Oh, no, he wanted her to grovel and reveal every vulnerable bone in her body. It already hurt. She decided to stall. Maybe she could get him to emit a bead of sweat to signify the teensiest bit of insecurity before her final defeat. Why did he have to lord over everything and everyone, and why did he have to win all the time, didn't he know it was impolite? ”What do you want from me, Zorroc, my blood, my body, my soul? I said okay, you get your way,” again; she silently amended. ”I'll go with you, just let my friends go.” Angel and Dee would kill her.

”Sorry, not good enough, Cat. Continue.” Obviously relis.h.i.+ng his latest win.

She groaned, here it came. ”I will accompany you willingly, you don't need to be concerned that I'l try to avoid you. If you want me, Zorroc, then I am yours,” she ended on a subdued note, then ruined the effect by snapping, ”Satisfied?”

”Immensely,” he confirmed. Cat rolled her eyes. He gave her an electric smile that lit her insides and charged the air around them. Small consolation, but she guessed it might be worth it. She discovered she enjoyed making him smile. His eyes took on a predatory gleam that threatened to ensnare her. She bolted off the mat, trying for a clean getaway. She had two friends to save. She paused at the foot of the mat to straighten her new one-piece suit-dress, purchased for the Tarot a.s.sembly. The emerald green shade exactly matched her eyes, and it hugged her small frame to perfection. It revealed a slight amount of cleavage while showing a lot of leg; emerald spiked heals completed the ensemble. Cat looked up after smoothing down her suit and could tell she was on the menu.

Zorroc decided the time had arrived for her next lesson.

”Uh, Zorroc?” she asked breathlessly, as he stalked her.

”Shh, everything is how it should be, we will begin slowly,” he slurred softly as if too transfixed to annunciate properly.

He put his fingers through her hair and tilted her head to a more accessible angle. She swayed toward him, mesmerized by his husky voice and the determined glint s.h.i.+ning through his slumberous eyes. Her women's liquid seeped languidly, dampening her panties. She colored slightly. Zorroc gave her a half smile like he understood, then took, and took her mouth. His tongue invaded her moist cavity and began a dominant rhythm in tandem with the rocking of his hips against her stomach. His hands first caressed her fragile ribcage, thumbs barely grazing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s then moved down to cup her b.u.t.tocks still grinding into her. Her legs gave way. Cat, beyond stunned, felt as if she resided atop a huge tiger, striving for purchase. She began panting heavily, but so did Zorroc. Keeping one hand under her rear, he let the other roam to sweep her waist, firmly cup her breast, then pinch, and squeeze her nipple. She reached overload and collapsed. She would have landed in a heap at her cat man's feet if he had not caught her at the last moment, swept her up into his arms, and gently laid her on the platmat. After a minute or two, she eased her eyes open and looked dazedly at him. ”I don't understand, Dee and Angel never said anything about pa.s.sing out while kissing. Does it happen often?”

She had short-circuited again, and Zorroc found himself unaccountably pleased that he could affect her so. How could he explain desire and chemistry to her, but even more perplexing, how did he explain it to himself? He had lost control. It had not happened before and with his vast years of s.e.xual expertise, would not have believed he could become so aroused; let alone, by a female virgin who barely knew how to kiss. Waiting silently for his answer, she looked uncertain and vulnerable. He needed to rea.s.sure them both.

He shrugged nonchalantly and tilted his head in his usual manner. ”It happens sometimes when chemistry between two people is unusually strong, as it is with us, sweet one. It is just further proof that you belong to me. It will go very well between us when I put myself inside you and make you mine,” he finished matter-of-factly.

The mental picture that popped into her head galvanized her into action. She felt exposed and decided to address the issue of her friends, instead of her libido. ”Can we send Dee and Angel home now, I can be ready to go in just a few minutes, no time at all really,” she stated, retreating toward the bathroom to regroup.

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