Page 28 of Stray Cat

Instead, Xav kept kissing her, drawing her up to him as his mouth commanded hers. Lindsay surrendered, the Shifter in her purring in satisfaction.

When Xav at last eased the kiss to a close, he held her with eyes dark as the night. His breath came fast, as did hers.

“Still want me to come in?” he whispered.

Come in. Yes, into me. To have me in the way the Goddess meant for us to be.

“No,” Lindsay whispered back.

“Want me to go?”

Lindsay closed her hands more tightly on his thick jacket. “No.”

Xav’s grin was feral. He gently disentangled her from his coat, started the SUV, and pulled away from the curb.

Lindsay felt, rather than saw, her mom and dad at the front window, watching them go.

* * *

There was onlyone place Xav could take Lindsay where they could be completely alone. He drove out of Shiftertown and headed the short distance to his own house.

He’d moved into the place near Sunrise Mountain not long ago, wanting something larger and more permanent than the apartment he’d been living in. DX Security was doing well, and Xav had decided the time was right for his own home.

He was glad he’d made the choice, because now he had someplace private, far from the prying eyes of Shifters and too-close neighbors.

Xav pulled the SUV into the garage beside his Mustang and turned off the vehicle. Lindsay didn’t move. She hadn’t spoken at all since they’d left Shiftertown.

When Xav clicked the switch to lower the garage door, Lindsay finally looked at him. “Are Shifters allowed in this neighborhood?”

Xav forced a smile. “Of course they are. It’s why I bought the house. Besides, I really don’t care what my neighbors think of my houseguests.”

“You should. Shifter Bureau can be relentless.”

“I’m Latino,” Xav returned. “My neighbors didn’t faint from horror about that, and most of them have been pretty friendly. Anyway, when did you become so concerned about what Shifters are or aren’t allowed to do?”

“Since you brought me to yourhouse.It’s different.”

Xav wasn’t certain how it was different, but he didn’t argue. He didn’t want her jumping out and racing off to grab a cab home because he decided to quibble.

“I like showing off the place.” Xav popped open his door and slid out. “Come on.”

They hadn’t mentioned the kiss, and now Xav felt awkward about it. Which was weird, because they’d kissed plenty before. They’d kissed, they’d danced, they’d played—they’d done everything but talk about important things.

This last seemed to be against Lindsay’s rulebook, and Xav hadn’t pushed her, pretending he didn’t care one way or another. He simply sat back and enjoyed being with her.

Lately he’d started wanting something more than their back and forth, but maybe that was something Lindsay wasn’t ready to give to him.

To Xav’s relief, Lindsay hopped out of the SUV and followed him to the back door. He unlocked it and pushed it open, ushering Lindsay inside. He knew Shifter men entered houses first, in case danger awaited, buthisrules of courtesy, drilled into him by his mother since he could talk, took over. Lindsay only stepped inside, as though she didn’t mind, and waited for him to shut the door.

Xav led her into the kitchen, which boasted the latest fancy appliances, where he could cook and bake when stress got too much for him. He wasn’t as good a cook as Diego or Mamita, but Xav could hold his own.

“Want coffee?” Xav offered. “Or wine? Beer? Milk?”

Lindsay, who’d been wandering through the kitchen, swung around, her brows climbing. “Milk? Because I’m a cat?”

“No, because it’s all I have in my refrigerator.” Xav gestured to the door he’d opened. “Milk, water, beer, chilled wine. What will it be?”

Lindsay softened into a faint smile. “Wine, please. Doesn’t have to be cold.”

---