A Seacat's Love (Oceanan Trilogy Book 1) (13 page)

Rick sensed she was unwilling to continue talking about her troubles, so he relented. He did not want to be pushy. She had
gone through so much already. He did not want to add to her stress. Besides, he could always bring it up later.

“Not anything fancy, I’m afraid. I only found a small country diner, and the selections weren’t that many. Hopefully it’ll be edible.”

“Hopefully,” replied Tigif from the darkness.

Leonora sat straighter. Rick stood upright. Tigif walked into the soft yellow glow that flowed down from the overhead can light. Rick sneered, and Leonora abruptly stood.

“I am going to eat,” she clipped. She hopped off the steps and brushed past Tigif without a glance.

Tigif’s stare remained on Rick. He had to think of something, or his plans would be ruined. “So, did she explain what happened?”

“You already know the answer to that.”

“I am sure she kept to her story.”

“What story?”

Tigif intently watched and listened to Rick’s response to his next words. “The story of how I am to marry her sister. And how we are no longer lovers. You do realize why she is saying that. You are aware of what is going on here, right?”

Rick’s eyes narrowed. “What are you trying to get at?”

“The truth. I do not like you,
human,”
he said honestly. “But I will not lie to a fellow male. Nora and I
are
mates—when it suits her. Each time she sets her eyes on another male, she pushes me out of the picture. But once she has had her taste of him, she always comes back to me. We are never apart for too long.” He paused to allow his words to take effect.

“However, this time it is different. This time she has set her eyes on a
human
. Our species has never approved of your kind. Do not fall prey to her whims,” Tigif advised. “I am not engaged to marry anyone, least of all
her sister.”
Tigif stifflly laughed. “Nora only has one other sibling, and that is Challen, her older brother. She never had, or ever will have, a sister. Her parents are dead. They were killed when she was two tides old.”

“Two tides old?”

“Our tides are the equivalent to your months.”

“I see.” Rick’s gaze dropped to the cement floor. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I have seen the way you look at her. I have also seen how Nora works her ploy over males. They fall to her charms and beauty. I have always protested, but I never left because I love her. Another one of her many victims, I suppose. Something about her ensnares a male completely. Sadly, I never had the power to resist it.”

“You could say that again,” grumbled Rick under his breath. His finger traced the line of his scar.

Tigif’s pointy, striped ears did not miss the remark. He knew he had successfully planted the seed of doubt by how McCall’s face fell. All he had to do was water it from time to time and watch it grow.

“Even though I have never liked sharing her with other males, I least of all like the idea of sharing her with a
human.”

“And why should I believe you? I trust you less than I trust her.”

Tigif shrugged his shoulders indifferently. “You do not have to believe me.” He turned to leave. “Just think about it. She is a female. Have you ever come across a female who has not played the field or lied to her lovers about being faithful? Secondly, she is a cat, or have you forgotten? Since when have felines been in a monogamous relationship? We are not that different from the cats found on this planet, you know—at least when it comes to our mating patterns.” He disappeared into the darkness.

He’s right about that. But is he telling me the truth, or is he trying to throw me off track?
Rick scowled.
Problem is, I don’t know either of them well enough to determine which one I can trust
. He smoothed his palms over his head.
What am I doing? They’re aliens. Why am I even trying to decide which one I can trust, when I should be figuring out how to get them home before anyone else gets killed
.

Shaking his head in frustration, he grumbled, “Rick, you are a sentimental fool.” He dragged his feet back to his hotel room. “A sentimental idiot is more like it.” He was disgusted with himself, and his face showed it.

Unsure of how it happened, Rick grumbled while he prepared his bed on the floor. Somehow, he was assigned the space in between the two full-sized beds. Leonora had taken the one nearest to the bathroom. Before he could blink, Tigif grabbed the one closest to the front door.

Rick had no problems with Leonora sleeping on a bed. But Tigif. It irked him each time he glanced at the feline stretching in what seemed like a very comfortable bed.

He had stressed to Tigif that as their protector he should sleep on a bed, so he could be well rested and prepared to defend them in case of a confrontation. Tigif outright refused. Rick opened his mouth to protest further but spotted Leonora’s agitated look. Therefore, he chose to let it go.

The last thing he overheard before he dozed off was the beginning of the Oceanans’ discussion about who would take a shower first.

Rick awoke from a stormy dream. He felt a heavy pain at his chest and moisture on his cheeks. He opened his eyes. The room was dark and quiet. He took in a ragged breath and wiped the tears from his face.

The dream had involved Leonora instead of his wife. Unhappy with the dream, he had tried to wake up to end it. He failed. After they met, Mary had become his world. Rick had never been unfaithful to her, not even his dreams were of other women. On this night, however, Mary was nowhere to be found. In her place was a dark-haired woman with pale eyes and a full belly.

She responded to Rick’s thrusts in a breathtaking manner. She reached behind her to grasp his head. Rick spotted a wedding band on her left ring finger. He smoothed back her hair, so he could have a better look at her and saw his matching band. His heart raced with the thought of her being his wife.

Rick refused to close his eyes. He observed her features, her pointy ears, her lusty expressions. His feelings of betrayal gradually gave way to lust. He touched her growing belly and thought of the child within. His child. Hope began to seep into his heart,
and his speed increased. It was a second chance at love, at having a family, at going home.

Rick had forgotten it was a dream until her image began to fade with her cries for more. Fear gripped Rick’s heart then. Tears sprung in his eyes. Anger and bitterness filled his soul.

He turned onto his belly, punched his pillow, and whispered several curses.
It was just a dream
. He placed his forehead on the pillow.
It will never come true
.

If he had chosen a different career path, perhaps his dreams would have been a reality. Mary and his daughter would still be alive. He would be happy and not full of loneliness and sorrow.

But, would he have been satisfied with his job? Rick thought of Lance and the Shadow Team. He did not think so. He would have been miserable, and his unhappiness would have eventually affected his marriage. Being a spy was in his blood. There was no other career for him. He would have to live with his choices.

Rick bunched up the pillow. He lowered his head and glanced over to where Leonora slept. He could see the faint outline of her body in the darkness. The total sadness that flooded his being did not surprise him. His entire life flashed before his eyes. Reality set in. All hope had indeed departed with Mary’s last breath.

It took a few minutes for his erection to subside. The sound of running water began to work on his bladder. Without making a sound, he stood from his makeshift bed. Since it was Tigif bathing he saw no reason to wait, unless the cat closed the door. But Rick knew the lock was broken, so he entered, not caring if he offended the tiger.

The bright lights blinded him. Rick rubbed both eyes, lifted the lid, and unzipped his pants. He exhaled with relief as he emptied his bladder. By the time he flushed and moved over to the sink to wash his hands, his eyes had adjusted. There was movement to the right of him. Naturally, he glanced over. His breath caught in his lungs. The cat behind the transparent curtain was not Tigif.

Two minutes passed before Rick realized he was not breathing. Rooted in place, he gaped at the lioness. Her naked form was visible with only minor distortions due to the plastic curtain. He knew he was being ungrateful and greedy, but he wanted to get a better look at her body.

He watched Leonora sensually lather her arms. She placed her left leg on the edge of the tub. Her soapy hands traveled up and down the length of that shapely leg. Rick stifled a groan. The spark of desire ignited by his dream burned brighter.

Leonora turned around, giving him a view of her long slender back and derriere. Rick caught his breath, and his heart tried to escape its captivity. Her hands moved over her flat tummy, up her left arm, and down her right. She faced him. Rick watched her erotically massage two full breasts. The room began to sway. Leonora’s right hand reached down to sneak between her thighs. Rick snatched a hold of the sink to stabilize himself.

The effects of watching Leonora shower astounded him. He had watched and helped Mary bathe numerous times. Never once did she have a mind-boggling effect on him. Why now? Why like this? Why with Leonora? He desperately wanted answers.

His grip on the sink’s edge tightened. His focus lifted to her face. The hunger in his loins pounded. He wanted her. Painful as it was to admit, he wanted Leonora more than he had desired his wife.

Sadly, Rick was not one to break a promise. Therefore, he resisted. Still, his body demanded to be soothed. He could take the sweet torture no more. He feared either he would break his oath or faint, so he bolted from the bathroom.

At his bed, he dropped onto his belly. His fingers encircled his swollen member. Groaning into his pillow, his hand rose and lowered until his seed spilled over his fingers. Riding the final spasms, Rick cursed Leonora. His appetite for her was now greater than before.

Sunday, the 21st of July

The following morning, Leonora exited the crowded service station. She saw Rick scratching his head. He was clearly frustrated. “What is wrong?”

“I overheard several couples speaking about the army. They’ve set up roadblocks on all the highways. They’re checking all vehicles in search of…you know who.”

“What are we going to do?”

He stared straight ahead.

Straggling behind as usual, Tigif asked with a mouth full of his egg-and-sausage sandwich. “What is wrong?”

Leonora and Rick eyed the aggravating tiger. “I have an idea,” Rick answered. “But first stay here.” He went back inside the service station.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get some aspirin.”

Leonora understood his meaning. Pursing her lips, she glared at the cause.

“What did
I
do?" said Tigif before stuffing his mouth.