My Cat Nap Page 8

  Fury, lying idle while he’d spoken to his brother, sprang to life. David stormed down the passage to find his other brothers.

  He found them in the courtyard, lolling on loungers by the pool. A servant delivered food and drinks as he arrived.

  David didn’t even wait for the servant to depart. “Where is my slave?” he demanded in an icy voice.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Suman said.

  Isa and Jay laughed, and David caught the sly looks between them.

  “What?” he snarled.

  “Why do you care? He’s a slave. There are others.”

  David took a slow breath and let it ease out, knowing he had to hold it together. He couldn’t afford to show weakness. “He is trained. I have limited time to train replacements.”

  Suman snickered and muttered something to the brother next to him.

  “I’m in charge here,” David snarled, not bothering to temper his fury this time. “The slaves are my responsibility.”

  “He’s dead. A virus. Things seem to be under control now. We haven’t had any more deaths since we disposed of the bodies.”

  “What were the symptoms of this virus?”

  Isa sniggered. “Spots on the chest.”

  David narrowed his eyes and his brother became silent. “Spots of blood, perchance? Yeah, not laughing now are you? Don’t touch the slaves again without my permission.”

  “How are you going to stop us?”

  “Try me and find out.” David’s voice was hard and mean and their faces paled. He turned and stalked away, heading to the slave quarters. He’d question them, the overseer and take things from there. If his slave was really dead there would be hell to pay.

  “What happened?” he demanded of the overseer when he found him in his quarters.

  “Your brothers requested several slaves for private use. They told me to send all twelve so I did. Only eight returned. The male slave you favor was one of those missing.”

  An ache started in David’s chest. “Could he have escaped?”

  “No, the alarms were set. The security guards would have noticed.”

  David nodded. “Let me talk to them.”

  Half an hour later, David was none the wiser. He made his way to the master bedroom and cast aside his robe. Slipping into the tepid water of the prepared bath, he sank back and closed his eyes. Fatigue made his mind sluggish. Despite the luxury of the first-class seat, he hadn’t managed much sleep on the flight from Heathrow to India. Damn, he missed his slave. The man had looks and an innate sexiness despite his poor upbringing. He was intelligent and, thanks to David, well-educated. David’s cock lengthened at the thought of tunneling into the slave’s ass, the tight heat and the pulsating grip on his shaft.

  “The tracker. Hell.” He sat up abruptly, the fog of fatigue dropping away. He washed himself rapidly and stood, the water cascading off his body. After grabbing a towel and roughly drying his body, David opened his briefcase and set up his laptop. When he attained new slaves, he arranged a physical and had the doctor implant a tracker in the slave’s neck. He’d never needed to follow any of the trackers before.

  David tapped several computer keys and anxiously watched the screen. Nothing. His shoulders slumped until a thought occurred. If his slave was dead, the tracker would show in the place where the family usually disposed of bodies. It didn’t show on the screen at all, which meant the slave wasn’t in range. David doubted the slave had found and removed the tracker because it was so minute. Which meant it was possible his slave was alive. An outside chance, yes, but he wouldn’t give up yet.

  Of course he could train other slaves, but he’d become attached to this one.

  His bottom lip curled in self-mockery. Yeah, he was rather afraid his feelings were stronger and edging close to love. A weakness for others to exploit. Now that could make things interesting…

  * * * * *

  Kiran slipped into sleep and the nightmare started straightaway. Blood. It poured from his bottom lip.

  The master held his head still, his dark eyes sparkling with lust. “Beautiful,” he murmured, his white teeth covered with Kiran’s blood. His cock speared into Kiran’s hip, palpable excitement clutching the man’s body.

  He loved pushing boundaries and bringing the edge of violence to sex.

  Kiran shivered inside with fear and fought to keep his breathing even. He’d ended up in the master’s clutches, plucked from the streets after his mother’s death. The master had taken him in, educating and training him as a sexual slave.

  The master nuzzled his neck, using the sharp edge of his teeth.

  Kiran concentrated on the one spot of sunshine in his life, a fellow slave Rajah, who shared a bed with him. Friend.

  The master bit down on his shoulder like a vampire, dragging Kiran from his happy spot into reality. He groaned, felt the trickle of blood down his shoulder. As if his groan was a sign, the master pulled on a condom, roughly spread his legs and guided his cock to Kiran’s hole. He pushed steadily while Kiran struggled to relax and take him. At least the master had used lube on his cock and repeated penetration over the last year had made it easier for Kiran. He kept his eyes fixed on the master’s face—an attractive face if one ignored the flashes of cruelty and the implacable will beneath the urbanity.

  The master liked obedience, and that’s what Kiran gave him.

  The master stroked into his body, his eyes squeezed shut, his face full of open pleasure. He used slow, even thrusts, angling slightly to hit Kiran’s gland. The master liked to bring Kiran pleasure and gave as well as took. Kiran didn’t understand it, hated the way his body reacted, the way his cock enlarged and his scrotum tightened.

  The master liked his reaction. It made the man’s cock swell, his breath come faster.

  “Come for me, Kiran. Come for me.” The master quivered and grasped Kiran’s cock. He withdrew and slammed home, the extra stimulation of cock pushing him into climax. Trembles and shakes took him, the hard spurts of semen bringing a shout of delight from the master. He increased the speed of his pumps and stilled, a loud moan coming from deep in his chest. Heedless of the sticky mess of Kiran’s chest, he collapsed against his body, his breath labored and hoarse.

  “No one makes me come like you,” the master said. “Thank you.”

  The master was a big man, Kiran’s equal in size, his body heavy. Kiran fought to breathe but didn’t move or protest. He knew better. The master had killed one of the slaves a few months ago for voicing a protest.

  Thankfully the master moved, pulling from his body. “Prepare a bath for me,” he said, removing the condom and handing it to Kiran. “Wash yourself and come back when you’re clean.” The master moved to a dry spot, sprawling out with easy grace.

  Kiran nodded respectfully and hastened to complete the master’s orders. In the luxurious bathroom he dreamed of escape, of freedom. He dreamed of a day when he could do whatever he wanted when he wanted. The master called.

  Kiran padded into bedroom and halted by the bed. “Yes, master.”

  “Clean me then suck me off.”

  Obediently, Kiran went for a cloth and cleansed his cock then knelt by the side of the bed and grasped his master’s erection. One day he would walk in freedom. One day…

  Chapter Five

  “When we were at the Mitchells last night I asked about somewhere to run,” Ambar said. “Saber said we could run on their property and told me exactly how to get to a safe place. All we need to do is ring first to let them know we intend to run. Would you both like to go tonight after dinner? It’s been so long,” she added.

  Rohan grinned at Kiran, raising his brows in a silent question.

  Kiran couldn’t remember running in feline form, not even the faint sense of having done it before. “I’m not even sure I can shift.” What if he couldn’t change to his feline and Rohan rejected him? The negative thought popped into his head before he could stop it. He couldn’t seem to halt the self-destructive
thoughts, the fear of losing Rohan. Every time he saw Rohan, the feline drew him. He wanted to touch and rub against Rohan until they both purred.

  “You shifted after escaping from the zoo, or at least we think you did. You won’t have any problems.” Rohan sounded confident, and Kiran wished he shared the sentiment. He sidled closer to Rohan, craving physical reassurance, relief easing out in a sigh when Rohan swung an arm around his shoulders in a loose embrace.

  “This is an ideal opportunity to find out,” Ambar said with an encouraging smile. “And if there are problems we’ll be able to let Gavin know.”

  “Okay,” Kiran said, forcing a calm nod in return. Inside he felt anything but composed with nerves battering his confidence. The disappearance of his memory left him uncertain about day-to-day things. The only time he felt safe was when he was with Rohan.

  “Great, that’s decided.” Ambar checked her watch and strode across the sparkling terracotta tiles to open the front door of the store. “I’ll square it with Saber. Oh for goodness sake,” she muttered.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There are three males out there all glaring at each other. It looks as if punches will fly any second. What is wrong with the men around here?” She sniffed, her mouth pursing in disdain. “Feline. I should have guessed. That’s it. I refuse to date a feline male. They’re just…stupid. What I need is a human.”

  “Ambar!” Rohan said.

  A bark of laughter forced its way up Kiran’s throat. He couldn’t help it. He loved the interactions between brother and sister. A wave of anxiety flickered through him, replacing his good humor. If he and Rohan chose to pursue a relationship, Ambar would need to accept him without reservation. His past might make a difference.

  “Don’t encourage her,” Rohan said. “Ambar doesn’t have any idea how difficult life would be dating a human.”

  “It couldn’t be any more difficult than dating a feline,” Ambar said, turning the lock and switching the sign to open. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you two circle each other, so don’t try to give me advice.”

  The bell tinkled on the door and the three males pushed their way inside in a mini stampede.

  “Morning, gentlemen,” Rohan said. “Ambar, did you want to make that phone call now?”

  “Good idea,” she said, not looking at any of the three. “Call me if you need me.”

  “I wanted to ask you something,” one of the feline men called.

  “I’m sorry,” Ambar said sweetly. “I promised my boyfriend I’d call him this morning. He gets a bit edgy if he doesn’t hear from me.”

  “You’re mated?”

  Kiran watched the entire scene with amazement. He knew Ambar wasn’t mated, but instead of answering or lying any more than she had already, she merely sniffed and walked away. If she’d been in tiger form, her tail would have twitched.

  “My sister is independent,” Rohan said. “She makes her own choices and doesn’t appreciate males crowding her.” His voice held a thread of warning, and Kiran stepped up beside him to present a united front. Together they stared at the males until they gave way. Two left and the third grabbed a shopping basket and stomped down the toiletry aisle.

  Rohan grabbed his arm and winked at him. “I can’t wait to run with you tonight. It will be fine. You’ll see. Don’t worry about your dreams either. They might be pure fiction. Besides, you said you didn’t dream last night. That’s good, right?”

  “Yes.” A pang of guilt ran through Kiran. He should have told Rohan the truth but didn’t like to worry him. The one consistent thread in his dreams was the master and the fact Kiran was his sexual slave. “I’ll start restocking the shelves,” he said, turning away to hide his unease.

  “You don’t have to,” Rohan said.

  Kiran turned back. “I know I don’t. I like to keep busy, and you and Ambar have been so good to me. If I can do something to help in return, I will. I’m doing this because I want to.”

  “We both like having you around,” Rohan said, sincerity ringing in his voice.

  “Thanks.”

  A customer walked over to the checkout area, claiming Rohan’s attention, and Kiran scanned the nearby shelves, checking to see what needed restocking. Kiran worked steadily throughout the morning until Ambar tapped him on the shoulder.

  “I have a craving for a latte. Do you want to walk to Storm in a Teacup with me?”

  Kiran glanced at Rohan, who was serving a customer. “What about Rohan?”

  Ambar smirked in her brother’s direction. “I’m going to steal his man for a half an hour. Let him be curious.” She grabbed her purse, slipped the strap over one shoulder and linked arms with Kiran. “Rohan, Kiran and I are going for a coffee. Do you want us to bring one back for you?”

  “Do you have to drag Kiran off with you?”

  Ambar giggled. “I need an escort in case some of Middlemarch’s pesky males try to grab me. Consider Kiran protection.”

  “Huh, you’re quite capable of taking care of yourself,” Rohan said.

  “Bye!” Ambar dragged Kiran from the store, laughing. “Come on.”

  “Why do you and Rohan trust me? I could be anyone.” The words burst from him and Ambar glanced at him in surprise.

  “You make Rohan happy. What more do I need to know? Stop worrying so much, Kiran. Just accept you’re with friends who want you, and live for the moment. Life’s too short to stress.”

  “Thanks.” Her words humbled Kiran and raised guilt again.

  Up ahead he saw Gavin and Charlie walk into the café. Maybe he should talk to Gavin about the dreams. Still mulling the idea over, he allowed Ambar to steer him across the road and into the café.

  Three tourists left the café as they entered, taking their bikes and pedaling toward the start of the cycle track. Kiran and Ambar stepped inside, the scent of coffee and fresh bread drifting through the air to welcome them. Several of the indoor tables were full, and Kiran could see three small boys running around outside, in hot pursuit of each other while their parents looked on and drank coffee at the outdoor tables.

  “Hey,” Charlie said, lifting his hand in a wave. “Gavin and I came for a quick coffee before Gavin goes on rounds. Do you want to join us?”

  “Sure thing,” Ambar said. “Kiran, a latte okay with you?”

  He nodded, although he had no idea if he liked latte or not.

  “How are you doing?” Gavin asked.

  A frown slipped onto Kiran’s face. He glanced at Charlie.

  “I’ll go and help Ambar with the coffee,” Charlie said. “I promised Leticia a chocolate brownie anyway.”

  Kiran waited until Charlie left. “I wondered if I could come and talk to you.”

  “I have to go out on calls for the rest of the day. Animals,” Gavin said.

  “It doesn’t matter. It can wait.”

  Gavin leaned back in his chair. “Why don’t you come with me? We can talk between my jobs, and I’ll give you a tour at the same time.”

  “Are you sure that’s okay? What about your mates?”

  “What about his mates?” Charlie asked, pulling out his chair and joining them again.

  “I don’t want to step on any toes,” Kiran said.

  “Hold that thought right there,” Gavin said. “Charlie and Leticia won’t mind you doing rounds with me.”

  “Unless you intend to go crazy and attack him,” Charlie said. “He’s a pain in the butt at times, but we love him.”

  “Thanks,” Gavin said, his tone dry. “Kiran is going to be my assistant this afternoon.”

  Charlie’s brows shot up toward his hairline. “Does he know what he’s letting himself in for? The last time I helped Gavin he was sticking his hands up the rear ends of cows.”

  “I’m doing inoculations mostly,” Gavin said, grinning at the horror etched into Charlie’s face.

  “I think it’s a good idea. Rohan won’t mind,” Ambar said, sliding into the fourth seat at the table. “You can give us all
the local gossip tonight.”

  A bark of laughter escaped Charlie. “Gavin doesn’t gossip. Leticia and I are always the last to hear everything.”

  Charlie’s words reassured Kiran and made him decide to trust Gavin. He needed to talk to someone, and since Gavin had medical expertise, it made sense for Kiran to talk to him. He hated to worry either Rohan or Ambar when they’d been so good to him and risked exposure to rescue him from the hospital.

  Kiran stressed increasingly about his past because the dreams had to mean something. He loathed what he saw, the man he was and the life he’d lived. After his talk with Gavin, he’d decide whether to stay or walk away. The last thing he wanted was to bring danger into Rohan and Ambar’s lives, yet his gut screamed he was doing exactly that by staying with them.

  To his surprise Rohan encouraged him to go out with Gavin, showing not the slightest amount of jealousy.

  “Make sure you keep an eye out for eligible males for Ambar,” he murmured in a low voice.

  “I heard that,” Ambar shouted from the far end of the store. “Don’t even think of reporting back to my brother. You report directly to me if you see any possible candidates. You hear?”

  “I should think they can hear in Auckland,” Rohan said.

  “While you’re listening, I’d like to add I’m perfectly capable of choosing a mate. I’m not flighty or a stupid giggly high school girl. I know what I want in a mate, and I don’t need you to replace our parents as morality police. Did you hear that?” Ambar sauntered down the aisle to join them at the counter.

  “Heard and digested.” Rohan winked at Kiran. “But that won’t stop me from offering my ten cents of opinion every time a male comes within spitting distance.”

  “Which gives me equal rights,” Ambar said sweetly. “Have a good time. I’m looking forward to our run. Maybe Gavin and his mates will come with us. It would be good to have a female along.”

  Kiran glanced at Rohan. “Do you want me to ask?”

  “Yeah, although isn’t Charlie a human?” Rohan asked.

  Ambar tossed her French braid over her shoulder. “You still have to issue the invitation to all of them.”