Free Cat Style (Stray Cats) by Megan Slayer Page B

fur.”
    “No.” She shook her head. “No, no.” The man knew too much about her cat. What a lunatic! She grabbed her purse and rummaged for the bottle of mace -- all without moving her attention from his face.
    “You wondered why I hadn’t been nabbed yet.”
    Shit. Those were just about her words exactly.
    “Hildegard said I’d be exactly what you needed. I can be, but you have to believe me and trust me.” He finally moved toward her. “Please?”
    “I’m supposed to believe a naked man in my house is my cat? Not on your life.” And yet, somewhere in her brain his story made sense.
    “I’ll show you.” He closed his eyes. The joints in his body shrunk and popped. Hair sprouted from his shoulders and back. His ears elongated along with his teeth. When he opened his eyes, he’d morphed into a cat -- her cat.
    “Oh, my God.” She sat rooted to the spot. “How? Why?”
    The cat stood and flicked his tail, then climbed onto the couch with her. He closed his eyes, and his form changed again. His limbs grew and the hair evaporated. Muscles defined under his human skin and black hair flopped over his brow. He folded his hands over his crotch, then opened his eyes.
    “Holy shit.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. She knew what she’d seen, but she still didn’t believe.
    “I’m a black cat shifter. I know -- you figured that out.” He snatched the pillow from the floor and covered some of his nudity. “I’m from a litter of four kittens. When you adopted me, my brother Godzilla had already gone. I’ve got two other brothers. As far as I know, they haven’t shifted, but since I can change at will maybe they can, too.”
    She slumped in her seat. “I don’t… I… I never realized…” She couldn’t think. “This isn’t fair. My best friend was my cat. Now I find out my cat is really a guy. What’s next? I’ll find out I can change into something, too?”
    “I doubt you can shift, but I’m sure you’re my mate.”

Chapter One
     
    Down to his very soul he knew she belonged to him. Ascher longed to touch her and not just butt his head against her shin. He’d watched her so many times, waiting for this moment. Now that he’d told her his secret, the weight lifted from his shoulders. He liked the larger form. Liked being able to walk on two legs and not have hair all over. Most of all, he wanted to explore his feelings for Penelope. Watching her laugh, cry, cuddle with other men and fumble her way through life -- he wouldn’t have traded a moment, but he also wished he’d been the guy she cared for.
    “I’m still your best friend, but I’ve got new benefits.” He reached for her. Not being able to touch her had been agony. “I know this is crazy, but try being me. I thought I’d never be able to shift.” He laced his fingers with hers. “I promise you, sweetheart, I will never hurt you.”
    She sighed again. Her shoulders slumped a bit when she did. “I shouldn’t believe you. This can’t be real.” She tipped her head to the side. “But… it kind of makes sense. I always had the feeling you knew more than you let on.”
    “I did.”
    “It makes so much more sense why you insisted on watching me get undressed, too.” A tiny smile formed on her lips, then vanished. “Look. It’s more or less still Halloween, and black cats aren’t safe on these streets tonight. I’ve got the guest room. Stay there.” She rolled her eyes. “What am I saying? If you’re my cat, you’d know all about the guest room.”
    “My room.” He grinned. When she didn’t pull her hand away, he stroked the backs of her knuckles with his thumb. “Thank you.”
    “But if you come into my room tonight -- even as a cat -- I’ll whop you with the golf club.” She stood and tugged her hand from his grasp. “I’m still not sure of you.”
    “Understood. But I don’t suppose you have something I can wear?” The very idea of clothing himself in any of her hot pink garments churned his