Phantom Warriors Volume 2 Read online

  “Of course you’re not.” She shook her head at her own foolishness. Katy aimed the dart gun and fired. A bellow rang out in her head before quickly tapering as the cat drifted off to sleep.

  Katy trembled all over as she loaded the saber-toothed cat, with the help of the backup she’d called earlier, into the cage. She shut the tailgate, threw the tarp over the cage and hopped into the truck to head to the compound. The company Katy worked for, Bio Tech, temporarily housed the animals she trapped. They would notify the owners after their on-staff vets thoroughly checked the animal out and collected whatever reward had been offered. If the animal went unclaimed by its owners, the company would use the creature for genetic research.

  She went out of her way to make sure all animals she brought in were claimed, even if it took her weeks to hunt down the owners. Unfortunately, the discovery of a saber-tooth fell into a different category completely. There was no way Bio Tech would hand over the cat to anyone without a fight.

  “I need you guys to draw some of the media attention away, while I take the cat to the lab. Throw the tarps over the cages in the back of your trucks, so they don’t know which one of us has the animal.”

  “We were told to stay by your side,” the one guard said. “And that’s what we intend to do.”

  Katy knew she shouldn’t be surprised that they’d been ordered to escort her, but she was. Since when had she become so untrustworthy? She faced the men. “Do you really want to bring reporters down on top of Roger Sylvan and Bio Tech?”

  As expected, their eyes rounded at the mention of her boss, then they shook their heads. Katy felt no guilt over using Roger as an excuse. His name might as well be good for something. The man certainly wasn’t. Her ‘escorts’ were well aware of the value of her find and were clearly torn about what they should do. In the end, they decided not to endanger their positions at Bio Tech.

  “Let’s get going before another wave of press shows up,” she said.

  The security team threw the tarps over the cages in their trucks, then jumped into their vehicles and sped away, fishtailing out of the parking lot. Katy saw several press vehicles follow. With any luck, the rest would join them.

  She started the engine and reversed out of the parking lot into the main thoroughfare. Katy glanced into the back of the truck, catching glimpses of the sleeping cat under the tarp as the wind lifted the material. He really was the find of the century. Suddenly, taking him to the compound didn’t seem like such a good idea. If she did that, there was a good chance Roger would take all the credit for the discovery. The news choppers circled above, filming her departure, instead of following the decoys. It wasn’t like the cat would remain a secret for long.

  Katy wanted credit for this discovery. Receiving credit would be the only way she could leave Bio Tech and land another job. Yet even with that knowledge, for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to share him right away. The connection she felt with the big cat burned in her mind. Logically, Katy knew it was crazy to think the cat had been talking to her, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t seem to get the masculine voice out of her head. She needed to get her thoughts straight and there was only one place to do it.

  She threw the truck in gear and made a U-turn, heading for her home. There she’d examine him further to ensure he wasn’t a hoax. Katy didn’t really have a place for a large cat, but it wasn’t like she’d take him out of the cage. That cage was the only thing keeping him from ripping her arm off. Well, the cage and the dart in his muscled flank. The tension in her neck eased a fraction. With the drugs in the animal’s system, he was no danger to anyone—at least for a little while.

  She drove, trying to ignore the choppers following her down the freeway. So much for distracting them. The last thing Katy wanted was for people to camp out on her lawn in hopes of catching a glimpse of the cat. She took as many side streets as she could. She’d just about given up trying to shake the pesky reporters, when a broadcast concerning a high-speed police chase on the 405 freeway interrupted the music. A second later, the choppers veered off in search of the next hot story. Katy’s shoulders slumped and she let out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  She glanced into the back of the truck, unable to see the animal. Maybe he’d slid to the side when she made the U-turn. The rest of the tarp was still secured, so she continued home.

  Katy pulled into her driveway thirty minutes later and went straight into her garage. She pressed a button on her visor and watched the door slowly lower, before killing the engine. She leaned down and rested her head on the steering wheel for a few moments as the ramifications of what she’d done finally hit her.

  She knew she could be fired over this incident and in all likelihood would be. It didn’t matter that she was the best tracker this side of the Rockies or that she’d dated Roger for a time. The latter would only hurt her chances of keeping her job. She had inadvertently given Roger the excuse he needed to fire her. Or maybe, just maybe, she’d done it on purpose. Why did she feel so compelled to see this through? It made no sense. Yet, Katy couldn’t ignore the little voice inside her head, driving her on, telling her that her time was almost up.

  Katy straightened. It was too late now. She thought about the animal in the cage. People from all over would come to study this cat and take blood, along with sperm samples. They’d want to know where he came from and if there were any more cats out there like him.

  The last question brought Katy up short. Where had he come from? It’s not like they’d been living in the Hollywood Hills and no one had noticed them until now. Did someone dump him off? That made no sense either. How would you transport a cat that size without being seen? It wasn’t possible, was it? And if someone had, why hadn’t they come forward with their discovery? It would be worldwide news. These were all good questions, with no easy or obvious answers. Nothing made sense. One thing she did know for certain was that the find of the century hadn’t just dropped out of the sky.

  Everyone knew that saber-toothed cats had disappeared thousands of years ago…at least all scientific data had pointed to that conclusion. Until today that is. This discovery would put zoological study on its ear. The history books would need to be rewritten. The big cat’s discovery also opened the possibility that other creatures the world considered extinct were still around. Katy smiled. This was too good to be true. With that thought, the nerves at the back of her neck prickled with unease. Katy looked around her garage to ensure she was alone.

  “You’re being ridiculous,” she chided.

  She plucked the keys out of the ignition and gathered her tote, before sliding out of the truck cab. Walking to the door leading to her kitchen, she slipped the lock and dropped her bag inside. She shouldn’t need it. Katy had given the cat enough tranq to keep him out for at least five more hours. That should be ample time to examine and photograph him in the cage, before turning him over to Roger Sylvan and Bio Tech.

  Katy strode toward the back of the truck and opened the tailgate. The hatch groaned in protest, before she dropped it with a loud bang. She cringed. It was a good thing the cat was in a deep sleep. She smiled, then carefully loosened the ropes to remove the tarp. She pulled the tarp free and dropped it onto the floor. Her mind froze as her gaze swept the steel cage. It wasn't possible. Refusing to believe her eyes, Katy pinched the bridge of her nose and looked again.

  Where in the hell was her cat?

  A naked man lay inside the cage, sleeping soundly, with a tranquilizer dart sticking out of his juicy rump. Make that a gorgeous naked man. His closed lids displayed his deceptively long brown lashes. Chiseled cheekbones accented his near-perfect face. Her gaze slid to his mouth. He had lips that were made for… Katy didn’t want to think what those lips could do to a woman's commonsense. For a second, she forgot all about the saber-tooth.

  Heart pounding, she drank him in, unable to tear her gaze away. A fine pelt of hair swirled around the flat discs of his nipples before traili
ng down his chest to his… Her eyes rounded and she gulped as awareness spread through her body. Parts that hadn’t seen any action in months began to tingle and throb.

  She quickly glanced back at his face, her cheeks flaming in embarrassment. He took steady breaths in and out, his muscled chest rising and falling evenly. Lucky for Katy, he remained blissfully unaware of her ogling. She’d be mortified otherwise.

  She shook her head, reining in her wayward thoughts. It didn’t matter if she had Adonis himself in that cage and from the looks of him it could very well be the legendary Greek god. Right now, her only concern was finding out what had happened to her saber-tooth.

  She’d watched the Bio Tech team load the cat into her truck. Heck, she’d even helped them and secured the cage afterwards. Katy hadn’t imagined the weight beneath her palms or the snuffles the animal made from its drug-induced sleep. It had only taken seconds to get into her truck and pull out of the lot. There was no way anyone had time to remove the cat or switch the cages. Yet, that’s exactly what had happened.

  It was either that or…

  Had she somehow been drugged? Had they all been given a mass hallucinogen? One that made them believe they’d captured an extinct cat, when in fact, it had been a man the whole time. The thought horrified Katy, but how else could she explain the loss? Why would someone go to so much trouble?

  Even as the questions crossed her mind, she realized Roger would never believe her. Had her boss wanted her gone so badly that he actually planned this whole thing? Katy wouldn’t put it past Roger, but she didn’t think he had the brains to pull it off. There was only one way to find out for sure. She had to wake up sleeping beauty and find out who’d hired him.

  She hoisted herself into the back of her pickup and pulled the key to the cage out of her pocket. Katy slipped the key into the lock, watching the man carefully, even though she knew he’d be out for close to twenty-four hours given the dosage of the tranquilizer dart sticking in his flesh. Whoever was behind this elaborate hoax or theft had thought of everything.

  Katy licked her lips as she admired the rounded fullness of the naked man’s bare behind. Her fingers quivered as she pulled the latch that opened the cage door. It made a loud creak, shattering her nerves and the silence in the garage.

  “You’re being silly. It’s not possible.” She shook her head. “This is someone’s idea of a sick joke and this guy’s in on it, even if he’s out cold.” Katy scolded herself for hesitating as she threw the door wide, slamming it against the outside of the cage. Pistol in hand, she dropped to her knees and slowly crawled forward, straining to reach the dart. She needed to do this quick, so she could wake the guy and find out his part in this charade. Without the saber-tooth, there would be no scientific journals, accolades or job offers. She’d be just another out-of-work tracker on a job hunt.

  Just what job do you think you’re going to get without references? Katy’s heart sank. In all likelihood her next job would require her to ask, ‘would you like fries with your shake’.

  Damn it, she wasn’t going down without a fight. This guy was going to help her whether he wanted to or not. He may not know it, but he owed her.

  Her fingers closed around the dart and began to pull. He didn’t move. She tugged harder and the dart slipped out. The naked man’s hands were on her so fast, removing the pistol from her grip, that Katy didn’t have a chance to blink much less pull the trigger. He came to life like the dart was a mere mosquito bite, not something designed to take down a thousand pound cat. He pushed her out of the cage and onto her back across the tailgate, keeping his hand firmly locked on her wrists the entire time. His warm muscled body blanketed her before she could even take a breath.

  Shocked by riot of sensations taking place inside her, Katy forgot to struggle. Her sole focus remained locked on the feel of the man above her…then her adrenaline kicked in. “Let go.” She began to squirm and scratch, her hips bucking against his solid weight. He didn’t seem to notice. She kicked out again and he took the opportunity to settle himself between her thighs, effectively pinning her to the tailgate. Warmth spread through her body. Katy fought harder. “I mean it. Get off me.”

  Be silent!

  The command pummeled her mind, knocking the breath from her lungs. Katy gasped. She was losing it. She had to be losing it. People didn’t talk to each other using their minds. It just wasn’t done outside of the movies and sci-fi-fantasy novels. Didn’t he know that? If not, somebody should tell him.

  She wheezed, drawing in a shuddering breath. “What do you want?” she asked, wiggling her hips until she came into contact with his erection. Katy froze, her eyes rounding as she felt his flesh begin to grow impossibly thicker. She remembered the size of the cat, then unconsciously glanced down, before meeting his gaze once more.

  Feral green eyes locked with hers and Katy felt herself falling into their emerald depths. His breath came in pants, but she doubted it had anything to do with trying to keep her pinned. The man’s jaw clenched and his muscles tightened as his hips moved of their own volition, making a small thrust forward.

  “Who are you?” She whimpered, as his cock slid over her clit, leaving an ache behind. For a moment, Katy couldn’t move or breathe as her body responded to his heat, then she panicked. “Get the hell off me!” She shoved against his hands and he actually had the audacity to grin at her. It was then that she noticed the sharp points of his incisors. They weren’t fangs exactly, but they were close.

  Will you cease your struggles?

  “Fuck you!”

  His grin spread wider, flashing more of his unusually white teeth. If that is an invitation to enter your body, then I accept.

  Katy’s eyes bugged. “It is not! Damn it, get off me or I’ll scream.”

  Please don’t do that. I’d hate for you to accidentally harm yourself.

  “The only one about to get hurt here, buddy, is you.”

  His brows shot to his hairline and his lips quirked. She got the distinct impression he was trying not to laugh. He tightened his one-handed grip on her wrists. With his free hand, he brushed the strands of hair away from her face that had come loose in the struggle. Such an unusual color. He fingered the strawberry blonde tresses for a second, before burying his nose in the side of her head and inhaling. Your scent is unfamiliar, but I like it.

  “Thank you. I think.” What in the hell was she saying? She was not having a conversation with this…this…man. Katy refused to think of him as anything more. “Are you a mind reader? Is that how you’re sending me your thoughts? I’m not psychic, but I’ve always been a little sensitive.” She left off the fact that her sensitivity only extended to animals. Was this really any different? Katy waited for him to respond, but he never did.

  He continued to play with her hair, twirling it around his thick fingers. So soft, he murmured in her mind.

  Any other time, Katy would kill to have this kind of attention from a man who looked like him, but under the circumstances…“Are you going to let me up?”

  No, he answered softly.

  She growled in frustration. “You can’t keep me here.”

  He glanced down at her body and rotated his hips. Her head dropped back and she bit her lip to hold back a whimper. Damned, if that didn’t feel good.

  I prefer your current position and it appears you do, too.

  * * * * *

  Kegar felt her soften beneath him and nearly groaned. Her arms remained tense, but the rest of her accepted his weight as if they’d been joining for centuries. His hips rested between her firm thighs, his shaft cradled by her softly rounded stomach. He loved the fact that she wasn’t small and brittle. Strength was prized by him and his people. A weak mate was useless. He needed someone who’d fight by his side and bear strong babes. Someone who’d stand up to him, despite his great size.

  This woman seemed more than up for the task. Sure, it would take some convincing, but he had a little time. Kegar wished he had more, but unfortunately he’d l
eft the ship without permission, which meant he had to work fast. His people were already orbiting this planet. As soon as they located his identi-chip, they’d retrieve him, whether he was ready to go or not. Kegar knew he could always contact them, but what fun would that be?

  A smile flittered over his mouth as the woman pushed against his hands. She reminded him of the ancient stories he’d heard about a pack of female feral cats that had lived on Zaron long before his people had settled the planet. When the Phantom warriors had arrived, several of the women had trapped and captured the males for breeding purposes. Not that the males complained for the feral women were rumored to be beautiful beyond compare. Their offspring were said to be the start of the Claw Clan. Kegar knew it was only a story, but part of him hoped that this woman would want to claim him as much as he longed to claim her.

  “Well, what if I don’t prefer this position?” she retorted, unable to hide the sudden rasp in her voice. He leaned down mashing his chest into hers. Her nipples pebbled on contact.

  Kegar’s gaze locked onto the front of her shirt and his mouth watered at the thought of tasting her. Your body tells me otherwise.

  “My body is lying.”

  Your lips are lying, not your body. I can smell your feminine heat. It beats at me. Right now your entrance creams in anticipation of my cock. He rocked his hips for emphasis. I have traveled far to find you. I will not have you deny our connection however swift. Not now. Not ever.

  “What connection? We do not have a connection. I don’t even know you.” It didn’t matter if they were generating enough heat to melt the remaining polar ice caps. Katy was not about to do anything stupid with a complete stranger. This was L.A. after all.

  She stared into his green eyes. The desire she saw sizzling in those emerald depths made her ache. The connection she felt was instantaneous. Katy wasn’t one of those New Age Californians who believed in destinies and karma, but there was no denying that something weird was happening between them. Something cosmic she couldn’t explain. Something she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to at this moment.