The Runaway Cat (Book 2 Cloverleah Pack Series) Read online

  The Runaway Cat

  (Book 2 Cloverleah Pack Series)

  By

  Lisa Oliver

  The Runaway Cat (Book Two Cloverleah Pack Series)

  Copyright © Lisa Oliver, 2014

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Cover Design by Paul Oliver

  First Edition February 2014

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Lisa Oliver. [email protected]

  No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Lisa Oliver. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

  The Runaway Cat is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning:

  This book contains material that maybe offensive to some people including graphic language, cursing, explicit sex between males, male-male sex, anal intercourse, oral, rimming and a few BDSM elements.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following trademarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

  Department of Motor Vehicles

  Ducati SportTouring ST4, 2005

  Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI

  Glenfiddich Whiskey - Glenfiddich Distillery

  Harley Davidson

  Rhianna - Diamonds

  St. Regis Hotel

  Dedication

  For the readers who loved book one in the series and who were kind enough to let me know - thank you.

  Chapter One

  As Griff Matthews strode back into the dance bar after Kane and Shawn had left to go upstairs, he was just really thankful that Shawn was in their pack. Although he and Kane had been together virtually their whole lives with the exception of Griff’s time in the military he knew they both would have had problems taking on a bloody bear shifter. But man, the anger in Shawn and the way it manifested itself was just unbelievable. The look in his eyes as Shawn had watched the bear on the floor writhing in pain left Griff in no doubt that Shawn would have blasted the man into a million atoms without a second thought. Yep Kane had a good man at his back and in a way Griff felt slightly relieved. He really didn’t have to watch out for Kane as much anymore and although Kane would always be his cousin, his Alpha, and his very best friend it would be nice to spend a bit of time building a life for himself too.

  So now was a good a time as any to get drunk, watch the dancing and maybe, just maybe find someone who wasn’t that intimidated by him that he could get laid. Griff snorted. Not likely to happen anytime soon but still the drinks would help dull any hopes he might have in that direction. The drinks would keep his wolf quiet which wasn’t a bad thing either given he hadn’t gone for a run in weeks.

  Griff was under no illusions he looked like trouble. It wasn’t intentional; it was just the way he was. Not just the tattoos and the long hair. At 6’5” he had a big well-muscled chest that tapered down to a surprisingly trim waist and ass. His long legs were strong and supple and in his head designed to wrap around the waist of the man of his dreams. Okay well if that was the way his thoughts were running maybe he would settle for a decent pair of lips around his cock so he could get off on the idea of being screwed even if it wasn’t going to happen in actuality.

  His green eyes scanned the bar. Most guys in the club were dancing, their bodies a frenzied mass of bump and grind as they desperately tried to find some kind of release. There were a few guys just leaning on the bar, one of them he recognized. Saul, hmmm what was that little pup doing here. Up to his same old tricks as usual Griff presumed. He grinned to himself as he wondered what the little guy would do if he knew Kane and Shawn were in the club. He remembered how Shawn had handled the little man the last time the pup had the audacity to put his hands all over Kane. The boy had been given a firm lecture on behaving himself but looking at the way Saul was dressed in his tight leather pants and bright green skintight top Griff reckoned the lecture hadn’t been strong enough.

  He went back to scanning the rest of the men at the bar, Griff’s sharp gaze picked out a new face and body. Long blond hair, hmmm couldn’t see much else of the face as the man was standing facing the bar, but that gave Griff the perfect opportunity to scope out the body and man what a body. Dressed entirely in black the man stood out not so much by what he was wearing but the way he was standing. Leaning over the bar his back muscles flexed as the man raised his drink and chucked it back in one swallow before indicating to the barman for another round. Griff’s eyes ran down the man’s back to an incredible ass well displayed in black jeans and long legs. This guy had to be almost as tall as Griff, maybe 6’3” or 6’4”, just slimmer. A cat shifter, almost definitely. Griff’s mouth started to water. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a total write off after all.

  Without thinking much about it, Griff strode over to the bar to stand next to his wet dream and raised his hand at the barman.

  “The usual, Griff?” The barman waited for his nod and started setting out six glasses, filling each one with a double shot of Glenfiddich. Then he reached behind him and pulled out a bottle of Claude’s own beer brew. Setting them all on a tray he carried them over and put them in front of Griff with a smirk.

  “Thanks Clive, will let you know when I am ready for round two.”

  Griff took each glass and set them in a row in front of him. Then taking the one from the left first he picked them up swallowed them in one gulp, slamming down the glass and picking up the next one. All six glasses were gone in less than a minute. Griff could feel the burn down his throat and the buzz starting to run through his body. It would take a lot more than twelve shots of whiskey to get him drunk but it was a good start. He put the glasses back on the tray and picked up the beer for a long swallow.

  “Well that’s impressive.” Griff almost choked on his beer. The Man in Black, ha ha, had spoken beside him and that voice damn it went right through him. Soft, low and gravelly it reminded Griff of every sinfully decadent thing he could think of. He looked over to see just for himself if the face matched the voice and holy shit, it did. Angled, strong face, deep black eyes with amazing eyebrows, a straight nose and full pale lips that were quirked in a half grin as the man was waiting to see if Griff had a response. Yup it was official Griff was screwed, hopefully. As his cock sprang to attention he knew he really wanted this guy and now would be good.

  Griff looked down at the empty glasses before looking back up at the stranger in front of him.

  “Impressed about what exactly? The fact that I can put down 6 doubles in less than a minute, or the fact that I am still standing upright?” Griff was teasing and he let it show on his face. He took another swallow of his beer and stood quiet as the stranger now openly checked him out.

  Special Agent Derrick ‘Diablo’ Franklin had originally plan
ned to just pop into Claude’s get a drink, a fast hook up and pop out again. He was coming to the end of a long and hard undercover job and he was stressed, tense and in desperate need for some type of release. His case was wearing on him more than it should for more reasons than he cared to examine. His cat had been snarky and hard to control for weeks. Or it had been. As Diablo looked closely at the man beside him, he honestly felt his cat purr and he wondered where the hell that had come from.

  The drinker was definitely worth looking at. Tall and well built the man held himself with confidence and grace despite his large size. His chiseled face was topped with bright green eyes, his chin and full mouth framed by a tightly groomed goatee. The man was drop dead gorgeous. Diablo wondered what his wolf form would look like. Big, rugged and mean he reckoned. Hmmm he had two days before he had to get back and this tantalizing man in front of him could go a long way to easing some of his tension.

  “Both actually. I’m Diablo.” Decision made Diablo held out his hand for a shake.

  “Griff.” The larger man took his hand with a gentleness that belied its strength and as he shook it Diablo felt the electricity between them. He had to force himself to drop the hand after he had held it longer than considered decent.

  “I don’t drink very often,” Griff went on to explain, “but I felt the need for a buzz. It has been a long couple of months and I learned a long time ago the best way to feel the alcohol at all is to slam it in, hard and fast and then let the high flow for a while. Plus,” he said as he indicated to Clive he was ready for another round, “it saves Clive here a whole stack of running around keeping me happy.”

  Diablo had been distracted by the ‘slam it in, hard and fast’ statement and took a moment to reply. He never bottomed but hell he would give it up for this wolf in a heartbeat although he wasn’t sure why. Fascinated he watched as Griff slammed down another 6 doubles and then indicated to Clive he was finished. The barman obviously knew the routine because he just took the tray away leaving Griff with his bottle of beer. Two rounds were clearly Griff’s limit. Diablo ordered another drink for himself, planning to sit on it for a while, simply so he could spend more time learning about the man beside him.

  Griff was watching the dancing again, letting the pleasure of the alcohol flow through him. His wolf was quiet, his body relaxed and he realized he felt really good. He saw Kane and Shawn come in and immediately come together on the dance floor, Kane wrapped around Shawn as if he would never let him go and Griff figured he probably never would. Boy he would love to have that one day. He looked over to see Diablo watching him closely.

  “What’s got your face looking all dreamy?” Diablo asked. Griff indicated to Kane and Shawn with his beer bottle.

  “That’s my Alpha, Kane and his mate Shawn. They have only been together a few months, but man they move well together.”

  Diablo turned to look at the two men on the dance floor. Unlike the other couples and groups who were rutting, bumping and grinding with desperation, these two stood out with the sensuality of their movements. Slow and unhurried the two were totally fixated on each other. Diablo watched as the taller man, Kane he presumed, took his head out of his mate’s hair to say something. In one quick moment he saw both of the men’s faces and the love that flowed between them was precious. It was more than the fact that both men looked like sex on a stick, it was the feelings they obviously shared that made the scene so sensuous. Diablo felt his own heart thump hard as he came to the stunning realization that he wanted something like that in his own life.

  As Diablo watched he saw the smaller man’s hand run down his mate’s behind to grab a foreign hand that was groping Kane’s ass. Without breaking a step and staying totally focused on Kane, Shawn grabbed the intruder’s fingers and snapped them. The intruder scurried back clasping his broken fingers in his good hand. Diablo looked at Griff in amazement.

  “Did he just…?”

  Grinning Griff said, “Yep, Shawn doesn’t like anyone touching his mate. Kane had a bit of a past before he met Shawn, well quite a bit of one and some people haven’t got the message yet that Kane is definitely off the market. Word is getting around though.” He laughed, the chuckle coming from deep in his chest and while Diablo warmed to the sound, his cat appeared to want to wallow in it.

  “And Kane doesn’t mind?” Diablo knew that was a dumb question before he opened his mouth, but well, the words were out now. Griff didn’t seem put out by it though.

  “Shit no. Kane loves that Shawn is possessive. He feels the same way.” Griff looked at Diablo intently. “They are true mates, see. What the Fates have bought together. Sure they have claimed each other and they even had an Alpha Mating ceremony, but there is so much more to them than that. They connect in every way and that’s special. There could never be another person for either one of them and they are perfectly happy with that. Why, don’t you cats have the same thing?”

  “I don’t personally know any cats that have had mates to be honest. I suppose you could call me a black panther although I had a cougar mother and a tiger for a father, but I never knew him. They weren’t true mates. I know we can have them,” Diablo had heard enough stories from his mother to know that at least, “and I guess given how cats are really territorial and possessive it would make sense that if they did mate they would feel the same way.” He looked over to where Kane and Shawn were still dancing. “I would sure love to have what they have in my life.” His voice quiet, Diablo seemed to be deep inside his head. Griff looked at him for a moment and then indicated to Colin to get Diablo another drink.

  Handing it to Diablo, Griff went back to watching the dancers until he heard a muffled, “What the fuck…” Turning his head he saw Diablo fighting off a younger blond wolf. Without thinking Griff grabbed the wolf by the back of the neck and pulled him off Diablo. Saul, of course, who else would it be. Diablo was trying to wipe the drink off his shirt and he looked pissed off.

  Griff held the struggling Saul until he finally stopped trying to get away and then he put the small wolf’s feet on the ground.

  “Hey Saul, whatcha think you’re doing?” Griff’s drawl was always more pronounced when he was angry although he did a good job of hiding it most times. But now he was starting to get pissed. He wanted the man beside him for himself and although he wasn’t sure how he was going to make that happen right this minute he didn’t want Saul interfering.

  “What does it look like you big oaf?” Saul’s voice was shrill and strong and it made Diablo’s cat wince especially when Saul turned his attention back to Diablo. “Wanna come out the back with me and play?” He batted his eyes at Diablo who just reacted with disgust.

  “No thanks. I am hoping to get something going with the man beside me.” Griff grinned at Diablo’s words. Nice to know the attraction wasn’t all one-sided.

  Saul looked at Griff and Diablo for a minute and then laughed. “Hell no, you are kidding me, it would be like the clash of the titans or something.” He watched as Griff and Diablo shared a smirk. Yep under certain circumstances it probably could be, but Griff didn’t think so.

  “And…and…you guys would be so busy fighting to see who tops you would never get anywhere.” Diablo looked at Griff who shrugged. Griff wasn’t about to tell Saul that he was perfectly happy to bottom for the right man, and Diablo wasn’t going to tell anyone about his own errant thoughts about Griff. They shared a long look, questions asked and answered without words. Yep they were on the same page.

  Griff bent down and said quietly to Saul. “Did you happen to notice who was on the dance floor?”

  Saul glared at Griff and then looked over. Kane and Shawn stood out simply because they were so different from any other couple on the floor. Their movements might have gotten a little more heated but it was more a hint of what they wanted to do rather than an overdone hump.

  “Oh shit.” Saul wriggled out of Griff’s grasp and took off. Griff ordered Diablo another drink and a beer for himself.

  �
�Well he took off fast enough.”

  “Yeah, well he was one of Kane’s many conquests, a one nighter, like they all were. Saul made the mistake of rutting all over Kane at a car show we went to and Shawn got a little bit upset.”

  “He’s still walking so it couldn’t have been that bad.”

  “Oh, bad enough. Shawn threatened to tear his limbs off one by one and turn him into a human footstool for him to fuck his mate on. I think the graphics of that idea was enough to put the fright into Saul for life.”

  “Really?” Diablo was grinning.

  “Oh yes and he could do it too.” Griff was laughing now at the memory as the two men under discussion came over. As per normal Kane had his arm over Shawn’s shoulder, while Shawn had his arm snug around Kane’s waist. Diablo could see how well they fit together and for a brief moment he dreamt of the big man beside him holding him the same way. He imagined it would feel pretty good.

  “Hey guys, was that Saul I saw heading out of here like the hounds of hell were after him.” Kane’s voice was deep and low and tinged with laughter.

  “Yep, seeing Shawn here seems to have that effect on him.” Griff had stopped laughing but his grin lit his face. “Oh Kane, Shawn, this is Diablo.” The men all shook hands.

  “Shawn and I are heading off, Shawn style. Are you okay to take the truck home?” Kane was looking at Griff the question in his eyes. Not so much was Griff okay to take the truck home, was he okay with a sexy looking cat shifter named Diablo.

  Griff nodded firmly. “Yep, no problem boss. See you in the morning at work, okay?”

  Kane fished around in his back pocket and pulled out Claude’s key. He passed it over to Griff. “Can you get this back to Claude before you leave? I er…can’t be bothered looking for him.” He was looking at Shawn and the lust was evident in his eyes.

  Griff put it on the bar and grinned at Kane and Shawn. “Yep, I will take care of it. You guys take it easy going home now.” Laughing, Kane waved at Griff and Diablo as he pulled Shawn with him and they disappeared out the door of the club.