Page 33 of Deadly Cravings
“Cat!” I jumped at the shout, straightening in the chair so quickly that it rolled back.
The urging tone told me Leroy was hailing me down, not randomly calling out at a cat. I’d already requested they simply use my full name, but it hadn’t stuck. I followed Leroy’s voice through the door to the end of the hall. He grunted as a Shepard mix jerked between his legs. He swiftly got a hold on him again, but I stayed on edge to catch the dog if he tried making a run for it.
Sweat beaded on Leroy’s forehead.
“Can you switch out his food while I take him on a walk?”
“Sure.” I skirted the edge of the hall, but the pup was too busy barking at nothing. I’d only been asked to man the front desk in case we received calls, but I’d already had to help around a little here and there with the animals.
I swiftly switched out the food as the barking faded. After a swift inspection, I left the cage slightly ajar and made my way back to the front.
The door dividing the office from the holding stalls snicked shut. I propped my fists on my hips to survey the neat desk, there wasn’t any more I could clean up. As a volunteer, I didn’t have much of a say with anything other than organization, so I’d been making the most of twiddling my thumbs up here. A touch on my neck had me whirling, but there was no one in here. I rubbed my neck. The draft in here . . .
“Catalina.” I stumbled back frantically looking side to side.
A palm pressed over my mouth, cutting off my scream. My chest heaved when I saw nothing in front of me. I stumbled back,almost tripping before something that felt an awful lot like a palm, pressed on my spine.
“Hi, Pet.” I could hear the humor in Asher’s tone. My eyes rounded. “Don’t freak out... more than you have.”
Asher was here. Invisible. I backed up until I was up against the wall, searching in front of me but could see absolutely nothing.
“How?” I hissed, still sweeping my gaze around, hoping to see something, anything, a ripple in the air, but no.
“It’s my ability.” I could practically hear his shrug. Hands coasted to my wrists and he pressed them into the wall at my back. I bit back a moan.
“Are you okay, Catalina?” George rushed into the lobby. He was the shift manager and the one to call me in to help . . . he was also a little handsy.
All he could see was me, plastered to the wall, with my arms flat as I panted. I jerked my hands free and flattened them to my side. Stepping forward, I swung my hand, trying to shoo Asher away inconspicuously. My fingers smackedsomethingand the breath from a soft grunt brushed my ear and my face heated.
“Yes, sorry, I just needed a second.” I cleared my throat.
George scratched his neck, nodding quickly.
I yanked on the door to the office, but he cleared his throat.
“Cat.”
A soft hiss near my ear made a tremble coast up my spine and I licked my lips.
“Could you come to my office please?” Seemed like a rhetorical question, because he brushed past me and pulled open the door for me to trail after him. I carefully stepped forward, not wanting to slam into an invisible vampire.
Once inside, I approached George where he leaned on his desk, legs out and affable smile on his lips. I’d put him at a few years older than me. I kept a few feet away from him in case hestarted getting too touchy as he’d been with every interaction I’d had with him, and there hadn’t been many.
“How are you holdin’ up?” He smiled, but somehow it didn’t reach his eyes, or maybe I just couldn’t tell because they’d dropped to my boobs.
“Good,” I said, trying a polite smile. With Asher unseen and hovering near, I was too on edge to be more talkative.
“Good, good. Seeing as you’re new around these parts, I’ll take you out to dinner this weekend to thank you for all the help.” He straightened from his slouch. In that one step he took, I could reach my arm out and touch him with my fingertips.
Whatever I was about to say got stuck in my throat when a firm grip flattened on my belly. Fingers dug into me as if Asher wrapped a hand around my waist. The harsh touch softened as he trailed down to my thigh. It was light and teasing. Another hand lightly cupped one of my breasts.
My teeth clicked together.
I worked on keeping my attention on George.
“I...” Asher caressed my mound, the tip of his fingers dragging across the front of my pussy. The slow rub against my clit shot electricity through my body.
I sucked in my cheeks and crossed my arms over my chest, dislodging the teasing nipple touches.