Here Kitty, Kitty! by Shelly Laurenston Page A

Can’t believe no woman’s killed you yet.”  She glanced back at the partially opened door.  “Kisa’s coming.  Now say somethin’ nice,” she whispered fiercely.
    Reena stepped back from the door as Kisa stepped in.  He’d never seen his sister so elegant before in a full-length gown that swept the floor as she moved.  “Aw, darlin’.  Look at you.”
    “Do I look okay?”  She unnecessarily smoothed the dress down in front.  “I feel kinda silly.”
    Nik stood up.  “You look amazin’.  Both of you do.”
    The two women smiled in delight and the five of them stared at each other.  For the first time in a long time, they weren’t yelling, mocking, or fighting each other.  Just a nice, quiet, adult moment between shapeshifters.
    “Well,” Angie strutted into the room.  “Let’s go people.  It’s time to get this party started.”
    “Now, Sugar, I…”  Nik stopped.  Stopped and stared.  How could he not?  She wore her long hair swept up off her shoulders, curly tendrils teasingly touching her shoulders and neck.  The dress, an expensive number he remembered rolling his eyes at when informed of the price, slid over her curves like someone designed it specifically for her frame.  Yup.  Definitely the best fifteen hundred dollars he’d ever spent.
    She walked over to him.  Already a good five-ten, she still had the nerve to wear four-inch heels.  He liked that.  Her cool fingers brushed against his jaw.  Then, gently, she closed his mouth.  “Catching flies, Sugar?”
    They stared at each other, everyone silent until Reena cleared her throat.  “Um… why don’t we wait out in the car for you.”
    Reena grabbed Ban’s arm, yanking him out of the room.  A firm hand in his back by Kisa, propelled Aleksei out the door as well.
    Angie smiled, “Get that look off your face, Hillbilly.”
    “What look?”
    “The one that says I’m suddenly Ned Beatty in
Deliverance
.”  She took a step back.  “And the food at this thing better be good.  I’m starving.  The cheese and crackers wore off.”
    She effortlessly turned on those impossible heels and Nik almost dropped to his knees.  The dress, completely backless, revealed her tattoo.  A Celtic-Mayan design that radiated power and protection magick clearly showed a cat.  A big one, his claws tearing across her flesh.  The artist even added some red to show blood.  One of the nicest pieces he’d seen in a very long time, but on her…
    Add in the way her hips moved, and he was seconds from coming in his pants like a thirteen year old.
    “Well, come on, Hillbilly.  I don’t have all goddamn night.”
    Of course, she really had to stop calling him hillbilly.
    ***
    Angie leaned against the bar.  Her eyes on her lemon martini, but her ears completely tuned to the older couple next to her.  In their mid-fifties, they’d been arguing since they came up to the bar.
    She felt bad for the man.  The woman wasn’t giving him an inch.  In a way, she reminded her of Miki.  Blunt, brutal, and to the point.
    “Go away.”
    “Why?  You know we look wonderful together.”
    “
We do not
…”  The woman took a breath.  She towered over the man, her black hair streaked with grey, white, and red swept up off her shoulders and held by a platinum hair clip.  “Stay away from me or I’ll make you regret that no one’s killed you yet.”
    She turned to walk away and he slapped her on the ass.  The tigress—and really what else could you call this particular female?—stopped, growled, then stomped off.
    “She hates when I do that.”
    Angie didn’t answer him, since she really wasn’t supposed to be listening.
    “I know you’re listening.”
    Damn. 
She glanced at him.  “Sorry.”
    He shook his head and moved closer to her.  “Not a problem.  We’re quite a fascinatin’ pair.”
    Angie realized if she took off her shoes, they’d be the same height.  Compared to all the men in the room, he was damn-near