Catch the Cougar: A Halloween Novella Read online

  She left the bed to help him remove his boots, laughing, when it was such a struggle to pull the first one off. “You know, the captain of the ship doesn’t help the shipmate pull off his boots.”

  “I’ll make it worth your while, Captain.” He saluted her and she smiled, then pulled the other one free and tossed it.

  She removed his socks and before he could leave the bed to remove her skirt and panties, she tackled him to the mattress and began kissing him all over again, sliding her body over his hard one, his erection a steel rod between them.

  He grazed his hands over her breasts in front of him and smiled up at her. “Worth the wait.”

  She had wanted to wait to have sex with him because of the last two disastrous almost marriages. She had been afraid to commit again to a relationship. And she hadn’t wanted to get too heavy into the business with him unless she intended for him to be her one and only because of the positions they were both in. She could imagine what her clients and his patients would say if they were bed hopping with each other, and then moved on to others without making any real commitment.

  But with him, she found she couldn’t delay the inevitable beyond this and didn’t want to. He was the only one for her and she was glad her other fiancés hadn’t worked out, that being with William was meant to be.

  She kissed William eagerly on the mouth, their tongues exploring, their musky arousal turning them on even more.

  She hadn’t even thought of Thanksgiving or Christmas, or anything else other than just moving in together, and loving each other every spare moment they could share.

  She knew she couldn’t get away for a honeymoon any time soon, but they would have to carve out the time anytime they could. And that meant him coming home for lunches when he could and doing more of this. Talk about afternoon delight. She would be walking in the heavens with a quick picker-upper halfway through the day.

  He ran his hands over her buttocks still covered in her long, pirate skirt.

  Her love for him went deep. He was so attuned to her, knowing just how to make her feel needed and desirable, like she was the only person in the world who mattered to him. She was the center of his world, just as he was hers. She couldn’t be happier to be kissing him back, rubbing her body against his, making his blood heat as he was firing hers up, and preparing for imminent penetration, a union she knew that would last forever.

  She couldn’t get enough of him and moved around to get hold of his belt and unfasten it. Then she was sliding his trousers down and tossing them on the floor.

  He took charge of her skirt before she could remove his boxer briefs, his erection straining for release. He unfastened her skirt and slid it off her, then smiled at her sheer panties. It was a matching set. What could she say? She had bought it especially for tonight to get him all worked up. Though he really hadn’t needed the sexy underwear for her to have that effect on him.

  He rubbed between her legs, smiling as she spread them for him. Oh, she was so ready for him to penetrate her. “I like these panties too.” His whispered breath tickled her cheek. Then he was kissing her again. But he was still running his hand between her legs, making her wet and needy for him.

  She ran her hand over his erection, then began to slide her hand down his boxer briefs and squeezed his buttock, his flesh warm and his muscle flexing. He was a beautiful specimen of a cougar and she was glad she wasn’t waiting to have him any longer.

  Then he was pulling her panties off and she slid his boxer briefs off. He moved her so that her head was lying against the pillow, her blond hair light against the dark blue sheets. This was more like it, both of them naked, his gaze sweeping appreciatively over her. Her gaze raking his nakedness with as much intrigue.

  Then he was kissing her again on the mouth, and she parted her lips for him, willing him to plunder her. Heat radiated from their bodies, their hearts pounding furiously. He reached between her legs and found the dewy spot that begged for his touch. She already ached for him with a desperate need that couldn’t be quenched. Not until he began to stroke her and she was arching against his exquisite touch.

  Hard, soft, fast and furious, slow and deliberate, every stroke raising the stakes higher. She had imagined this between them. Dreamed about it. But nothing she could envision was so real—the scent of him, their pheromones sending out signals that said this was right, they were meant to be together, the heat and feel of his muscles against her, the touch of his kisses—passionate and sweet, his lusty whispered words, and his admiring, lust-filled gaze. This was real.

  She was running her hands over his hair when she tensed, her concentration on the impending climax. He watched her like a big cat, saw the end coming for her, smelled her tension, her happiness and joy, and he was ready to pounce, to cover her with his body, and push his arousal deep inside her.

  She cried out with pleasure, the climax enveloping her in warmth and love. And then he was moving like a cat would, readying himself, pushing between her legs, allowing her to adjust to his size, and thrusting.

  She wrapped her legs around him, glad for the intimacy between them and the oneness that made her feel more fulfilled. She couldn’t be more thrilled they were doing this now.

  He was kissing her, mesmerizing her with his powerful thrusts, his body gloriously rubbing against hers. This was a Halloween to remember. She would always want to be a pirate if her treasure was bringing home a pirate mate. She felt aglow as he continued to move into her, deeper, and she lifted her legs higher on his body so he could go even deeper still. It was also a way of saying he was hers, she was claiming her booty and he looked like he was all for it.

  He slowed his thrusts and kissed her again, his mouth like velvet against her lips, hot velvet. His tongue found his way inside her mouth and he began tasting the sweet vampire punch on her lips and her tongue, just like she tasted his.

  And then he was ramping up the thrusts as if he couldn’t hold the climax back any longer. He tensed, held on, and began thrusting again, and shouted out her name in a way that said he loved her. He continued to press deep inside her until he was done, and he rolled off her and cradled her in his arms, kissing her soundly.

  For the longest time, they just cuddled. Then he kissed her forehead and pulled the sheets and comforter over them. “I love you.”

  She smiled sleepily up at him. “I love you too.”

  She realized she hadn’t brought a bag with her to use overnight! Not that she would need anything to sleep in. Still, she needed some other items. Maybe William had a spare toothbrush. When he had run into the wolf with his car and she had to drive out to help him crate the injured wolf, she had forgotten all about her bag.

  And then her phone rang, and she groaned. She reached over to get it off the bedside table and saw the call was from Riley.

  “Yeah, Riley?”

  “I’m sorry, Dr. Vanderbilt, but we have a sick dog that was just brought in. Part Labrador and part Newfoundland dog. He ate a chicken bone and has been throwing it up.”

  “Tell the owner to feed the dog a slice of grain bread, or half a cup of brown rice, and then bring him in for an x-ray. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “See you then. And sorry.”

  “No problem. I’m just worried about the dog.”

  Then they ended the call and Vanessa hurried out of bed. William began throwing on his pirate costume. Vanessa had to wear hers. He went into the bathroom while she was pulling on her boots and returned with his shaving kit and from his closet, a small bag with a few articles of clothing.

  “I’m ready to assist.”

  She smiled. “Well, hopefully, the dog will be fine, but I’m so glad we’re mated—before that happened.”

  They picked up Buddy and his crate, dishes, and food and loaded them into the car too and dropped him off at the house. Once they arrived at the clinic, she took x-rays of the Lab-Newfoundland mix, and she found that the dog must have thrown everything up.

  “He looks good.
If he’s still throwing up, won’t eat, is lethargic, can’t defecate, let me know. But it looks like he got rid of the bones.” She was thinking she might have to do an endoscopy, rather than surgery, if she could catch it soon enough, but it looked like he had gotten rid of all of them, or had chewed the rest of the bones enough that they hadn’t caused any trouble.

  “Oh, I’m so glad. That gave me a real scare.”

  “We’re glad it all worked out fine,” Vanessa said.

  Riley took care of the bill and when the man left, Riley said, “I’m off to bed.”

  “Us too.”

  Before Vanessa and William could leave out the back door of the clinic to walk to her house, Riley cleared his throat. “Are you—”

  “Mated?” William asked. “You bet.”

  Riley shouted, “Yes!”

  They laughed and headed home and Vanessa couldn’t wait to move William over to her place the rest of the way—and for good.

  Now, they had to discuss the wedding plans. No matter how much she loved him, and knew he wasn’t like the other men in her life, the idea of making a lot of wedding plans made her believe she was cursed when actually trying to go through with a wedding.

  She vowed it would be different this time.

  Chapter 9

  A month later, it was the big wedding day and Vanessa was feeling anxious about William being a no-show. Deep down, she knew he would be at Hal and Tracey’s ranch for the wedding without fail.

  Like her, William had a medical emergency call this morning to take care of. And Roger, the wolf, had returned to Yuma Town after having left the town two days after getting his cast on to stay with the wolf friend in Green Valley. Now he was here to have William remove his cast and was doing well and was grateful they had taken care of him after the injury and was on his way home.

  William still hadn’t put his townhouse up for sale either, though he’d moved in with Vanessa. She had tried not to say anything about it, but she kept feeling like that was his chance of last resort. While he still had the townhouse, if they called it quits, he would be able to move right back in.

  Still, she figured the cougars of Yuma Town would chase him out of town if he even thought of not showing up for the wedding. He had made too many friends here and enjoyed working at the medical clinic so she didn’t believe he would run off like her other fiancés. Still, it was just a case of the memories of the grooms at her previous weddings not showing up that was giving her chill bumps.

  Now she had another emergency appointment, this one with a client whose dog had ripped open a package in her car and eaten a pound of chocolate and several lavender-scented soap bars while she was driving through Yuma Town on the way to visit family in Loveland. Suddenly, the owner realized her dog wasn’t jumping at the windows to see the sights, pulled over, saw the wrappers, and about had a heart attack.

  “She’s always bad about getting into things, but I forgot all about the package of chocolates in the bags in the back seat. I never thought she’d eat soap too.”

  “Oh, I know. It’s amazing what they will get into when you least expect it.”

  Hoping to have no other emergencies before Vanessa went to the ranch, she was busy giving the dog an emetic drug to make it vomit. Which it did, all over the room. The clinic smelled like perfume and mint—at least.

  “She should be fine. Since you’re going to Loveland, just be sure and check in to the animal clinic there if she becomes lethargic, won’t eat or drink, and they can check her out.”

  “I’ll clean up this and take care of the bill,” Riley said, who was supposed to be at the wedding too. “You go. I can be late to your wedding. You can’t.”

  She sighed. “Okay.” But just as she was getting ready to head home and dress in her gown—because now there was no time to have the ladies help her to dress—a pickup truck tore into her parking lot, the driver slammed on his brakes, and cut the engine.

  She texted William: I’ll be there. I have another emergency. Sorry, honey.

  She was too busy helping the man get in the door with the golden retriever he was carrying to see if William was going to text her back, but she wasn’t late. Yet.

  “He got out of my truck at a pitstop and was hit by a car,” the client said. “He wasn’t hit hard, but I have to make sure he’s going to be okay.”

  Another emergency. She took the dog in for an x-ray, and saw that the dog was good, no broken bones, thankfully. He could be sore and bruised, but good otherwise.

  “He looks all right. I would have him checked over at your regular animal clinic if he stops eating, won’t drink any water, or is lethargic. He doesn’t have any broken bones, so you’re good there.”

  The man looked so relieved and after having the exam, the dog was back on his feet and anxious to leave the vet clinic, pulling at his leash, no limping at all. The owner smiled. “You cheered him right up.”

  “An animal clinic will do that for some dogs. They’ll realize they’re feeling just fine.” She smiled.

  Once the client left with his dog, Vanessa grabbed her purse and said to Riley, “Okay, I’m—”

  “Jinxed,” Riley said, glancing out the window and seeing yet another patient.

  “Who is it this time?” Vanessa had mornings like this. Evenings too. She swore around Halloween, and with the full moon out, it was just inevitable. Thanksgiving and Christmas too. With pooches poaching turkeys sitting out to defrost and packages of chocolate under the Christmas tree—yeah, she’d had a fair number of emergencies to deal with.

  She tossed her purse back in her office and whipped her phone out to text William that she was yet delayed even further. At this rate, she would have to show up at the ranch sans her wedding gown, and just say “I do,” and be ready for the next emergency.

  “No one I know. Everyone we know is probably at Hal’s ranch, excited about the wedding of the year—that’s not happening.”

  Vanessa gave Riley a disgruntled look and he smiled and opened the door to a gray-haired woman carrying a box of meowing kittens. Riley hurried to take the box from her to help her out.

  “I’m so sorry to be doing this to you, but I live way out in the country and some horrible person dropped off a box of kittens on our gravel drive. There was no momma cat. My husband and I looked all over. We are both deathly allergic to cats and I knew there was an animal clinic on the way to Yuma Town. I’ll pay for you to check them over, give them shots, whatever, but I can’t keep them.” Her eyes had that glossed-over look when a person was allergic to cats. Her nose was red from wiping it and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “We’ll take care of them.” She took the box of kittens and Riley went to the reception counter and handled billing the woman so Vanessa could start looking over the kittens and get them out of the woman’s breathing space. That was one thing the cougars didn’t have. Allergies to pets.

  As soon as the woman left, Riley joined Vanessa in the exam room and helped her check over the kittens.

  Vanessa finished giving them their first shots and dewormed them. “They’re about eight weeks old, so they’re weaned. It’s a good thing or you would be bottle-feeding them.”

  His brow arching, Riley glanced at her. “Me?”

  She smiled. “It’s my wedding night, you know.”

  “If you have your wedding.”

  Though she and William were already mated, so this was only a formality.

  She sighed and got on her phone, knowing just who would take the kittens in a heartbeat to foster them until they found homes for them. “Hey, Mae, I hate to be calling you on such short notice but—”

  “You’re supposed to be at Hal’s ranch. What’s wrong?” Mae Sorenson asked. She was known as the cat lady, for good reason.

  “A woman just dropped off a box of kittens. They have their shots and have been dewormed.”

  “I’ll be right over to pick them up. I was late to the wedding because I had to get Muffin out of the tree again.”

&n
bsp; Vanessa smiled. She swore the widow needed attention and was always calling the sheriff’s department for a cat rescue, even though the cats could very well come down on their own if she put their favorite food out for them.

  “Okay, thanks, Mae. We’ll see you in a few minutes then.”

  Riley interrupted her. “I’ll see Mrs. Sorenson in a few minutes. Go. To. Your. Wedding.”

  “All right. Riley will give them to you. I’m out of here.” Vanessa heard cars rolling into the parking lot and she let out her breath in exasperation.

  Riley glanced out the window with the box of kittens in hand and smiled.

  “What now?” Vanessa asked, setting her purse back down in her office.

  “Looks like someone is damned eager to marry you.”

  “What?” Vanessa went to the window and saw William getting out of his car looking dapper in his black tux, and all the others in the wedding party parking and climbing out of their vehicles. She wiped away tears. “Hold down the fort. I’ve got to run to the house and get dressed.”

  She found Shannon, Tracey, Dottie, Kate, Bridget, and Addie all getting out of a van at her house to help her dress. She gave them all hugs for being there for her.

  “William figured he was going to have to help out at the vet clinic so you could have a free moment to marry him,” Shannon said. “No way was he letting you get away.”

  Vanessa laughed, tears still streaking down her cheeks. She was going to be all red-eyed and sniffles if she didn’t quit crying. But she loved him, and she loved her friends in Yuma Town who were all there for her.

  Before long, she was standing next to the groom in her courtyard, overflowing with her wedding party and gathered friends, the flower bouquets set all about the otherwise bare garden, making it look magical as she and William were ready to say their vows. He looked like the happiest cougar in the world.