The Shifter and the Dreamer Read online

  They took seats in the formal living room and Cameron didn’t waste any time.

  “Mr. Lambert. You were driving a private road on your property when you found the body?” he asked.

  Clint smiled as he scratched his chin. “Yeah, that’s right. I often visit the creek when I’m in town. I decided after dinner to wander up there.” He looked over at Katy. “Remember when we stole my dad’s truck and beer and drove up there?”

  Katy narrowed her eyes. She knew what Clint was doing. Adding a strong accent and flirting with her. Playing the dim-witted redneck. If she got him alone anytime soon, she was going to skin him alive. “Answer the question, Clint.”

  He laughed, full and rich. “Guess you do.” Then he looked back at Cameron. “Got grounded for a month for that.”

  Katy growled. “Clint, this is a murder investigation. Answer the agents’ questions.” She narrowed her eyes. “And only their questions.”

  He smiled and pulled out a cigarette. “Sure thing. Yes, Special Agent, I was driving down the road and that’s when I saw it…her.”

  By the time they left, Katy was seeing red and she was pretty sure Cameron wasn’t any happier. Clint had made a point of imparting every memory they might have shared as he answered questions. Cameron had also been tougher on him than he would have been with a normal witness.

  As she made her way to her vehicle, she felt Cameron at her back. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop before she reached the driver’s door.

  “I didn’t realise he was such a dear ole friend,” he whispered angrily.

  Katy pulled her arm from his grasp. “I told you we went to high school together.”

  He looked at her for a long time. Katy held herself perfectly still. Cameron had always read her better than anyone else. It had been hard to keep herself from him. When their relationship had got more personal, it had been even harder. That was one reason she’d left.

  Finally Cameron nodded, going around to his side of the vehicle. She actually started to reach out for him before she caught herself. It wouldn’t do any good. If he were still angry with her for leaving, then it would be easier when it came time for him to leave.

  No, she hadn’t told him everything, but he’d kept his own secrets. She knew deep down in her bones that there was more to Cameron than he’d let her see. There were times when he’d been almost a different person.

  She’d tried not to ask too many questions, not wanting them back at her, but she just knew Cameron hid himself, as well.

  Ryan didn’t say anything as they both got in. Katy’s stomach turned. She was caught in a web of secrets and hidden fears she would never be able to part from. Cameron didn’t deserve to be embroiled in her life. No one did.

  The car ride back into town was awkward and strained. Cameron knew there had been more between Katy and Clint Lambert than just high school friends. Clint had made that perfectly clear. It had been all Cameron could do not to step over and knock the other man down and pound on him.

  He tried to tell himself it was a long time ago, but it was just another reminder that he hadn’t known Katy as well as he’d thought. She had a past he knew nothing about.

  The thirty-minute drive only fuelled his anger, and by the time they’d reached the station he was fuming. They walked in without speaking.

  “Another minute, Sheriff,” he said as he grabbed her elbow.

  “I need to catch up with…” she protested but he pushed her towards her office. He noticed Ryan hanging back and was grateful to his partner.

  He didn’t slam the door after he pushed her through, but he came damn close.

  “Cameron, you can’t just manhandle me through my own…” she trailed off, looking up at him.

  Cameron knew she saw the anger in his eyes.

  “Cameron…”

  He shook his head. He didn’t want to hear excuses.

  “Nine months, Katy,” he said, his tone dangerously low.

  “I…”

  “Nine months ago you walked away from me.” He laughed bitterly. “Walked…hell, you ran.” He started to pace.

  “I know how long it’s been, Cameron.”

  He span to face her. “I never knew you!”

  Katy shook her head to deny it, but deep down they both knew it was true.

  “Oh, I knew your body. I knew you were good at your job, and you cared…” Cameron grabbed her arms and pulled her to him. “You’re good. I accepted whatever you said and whenever you changed the subject when we talked about your past…” He shook her a couple of times gently. “I didn’t know you.”

  Katy stepped away from him when he released her. “No, you didn’t, Cameron,” she confirmed. “You knew what I wanted you to and that’s all. That’s all you’ll ever know.”

  He smiled. “A challenge, then?” He was up for a challenge.

  “No. The truth,” she responded.

  “I would almost believe you,” he said, walking towards her again. Katy backed away with each step he took forwards. Once her back hit the wall, she raised her hands to stop him. His chest pressed against them. “Almost could convince me if it wasn’t for the catch in your breath when I’m close.”

  Katy swallowed and looked away from him.

  “Or the way you quiver when I touch you,” he continued as one hand brushed over the pulse in her neck. “The way your eyes go unfocussed when my lips brush yours.” He mimicked what he described to her.

  “You want to keep your secrets, sweetheart, you’ll have to try harder,” he whispered close to her ear. “I let you walk away once. I won’t do it again.”

  “I don’t have to walk away,” she told him breathlessly. “You don’t have me anymore.”

  He laughed again. Then crushed his lips against hers.

  He took, consumed, demanded, and she responded. Katy’s mouth opened, accepting his tongue thrusting inside her mouth, making them both groan.

  He made love to her mouth like he had done before to her body. She was moaning and shaking when he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I’ll always have you,” he promised and kissed her again. She pulled at his shirt, the buttons giving and the material opening. Her cool fingers against his heated flesh drew a long moan from him that she swallowed.

  She tore her lips from his. “You’re always so hot,” she commented, leaning forwards and running her tongue over his chest.

  He could tell her why, explain about his powers, about him and his people, but not now. Soon, but not right at this moment.

  His fingers didn’t fumble, but easily unsnapped her work shirt. The fabric parted, revealing her creamy soft skin. The front clasp of her bra was no trouble as he flicked it open, then she was bare to him.

  Katy’s head fell back as he covered her nipples each in turn with his mouth and palmed her breasts. He flicked his tongue a few times before he bit down gently on a little nub.

  She gasped, so he repeated it with the other one.

  She wrapped a leg around his thigh and started to ride his body. He knew she needed release—she was desperate for it. He would give it to her, but first she would give him something.

  “Tell me,” he demanded, his hands at her belt. “Tell me how much you want me. How many times you thought about us doing this again.”

  She whimpered. A small sound that he barely heard over their heavy breathing.

  He pulled her belt loose and unsnapped and unzipped her pants. She dropped her leg and allowed him to hold her tight against the wall. She trembled as he rubbed her through her panties. She was already wet and he could feel the heat from her pussy. He wanted to taste her again. To lap up her juices as they flowed from her body.

  He would the next time. When he would hear her beg for him to take her.

  He slipped his digits between the cotton of her panties and her weeping cunt. “Tell me,” he repeated, fingering her folds. “Tell me you want this.”

  “Yes,” she sobbed.

  “Mine,
” he told her and plunged two fingers deep inside.

  She cried out but his mouth was there to cover the sound. He pumped his digits inside powerfully, wanting her to lose control quickly.

  She rode his hand, her teeth biting down on his tongue as she bucked against him.

  His cock was so hard it hurt. But he wouldn’t be taking care of that right now. This was to show Katy that she was his. That she had always been, and would forever belong to him. He was marking his territory so every other man would know she was taken.

  He ripped his mouth from hers and fixed his teeth against her shoulder. He bit down, not hard enough to pierce the skin, but it would still leave a mark.

  “Oh God!” she panted before she climaxed.

  Cameron let her ride it out, holding onto her neck with his teeth and urging her hips with one hand.

  When she stilled, she buried her head against his chest.

  “You’re mine, Katy. Have been since the first day I met you and you insulted my shoes.” He looked deep into her eyes. “You might want to remember that.”

  Then he moved off her, away from her and turned his back. He fixed his shirt and straightened the rest of his clothes. He didn’t turn back around as he opened the door just enough to slide through but not let anyone see inside.

  He heard her curse and something being hit before he walked away.

  Chapter Four

  Katy knew she’d dream. The day had been hard and her night never got any better. After Cameron left her office, they set up a table and board in one of the small interview rooms. They needed somewhere to work and Davis had got them set up.

  She had needed to catch up on town business before going home, catch up with Davis and the other deputies, and sign papers Mae had left on her desk.

  She’d finally left a little after nine, thankful Cameron and Ryan left before her to go to their rooms at the local bed and breakfast. Carrie—the owner and Katy’s best school friend—had called to notify her earlier in the morning when the reservations had been made.

  Katy was glad to know where they were, even if it did mean she was tempted to stop and see Cameron. Not to see him, but to correct what he’d said earlier. She wasn’t his. She belonged to herself. But deep down, she knew that wasn’t true. Hell, she had been his since the first time they met.

  The kiss was everything she remembered. Hot and wonderful, his hands as sure and demanding as they’d ever been. She’d reacted as if no time had passed, as if they were still a couple. Disgusted with herself, she headed towards her own house on the other side of town.

  She couldn’t let it happen again. It was just one moment of weakness. It didn’t mean anything.

  She didn’t call herself a liar. Although she should have.

  She wasn’t hungry, but Allysa had left her a plate in the oven so she nuked it in the microwave and ate standing up. Her shower did nothing to erase the fatigue of the day or the memory of Cameron in her office.

  When she finally calmed enough to climb into bed sometime after eleven, she tossed and turned before drifting off.

  Amanda looked behind her as she tried to gauge the distance to her car. There was someone out there. Someone was following her. She could feel it.

  The library parking lot was empty of any other cars. Just her old Jeep sitting in the middle as if calling to her. She picked up her speed, almost running now. A sound to her left. She didn’t look. Another sound—this time closer. She ran full speed. She dug in her bag as she ran to her car. Her keys! Where were her keys? Her fingers closed around the cold metal just as someone grabbed her from behind.

  She screamed but a hand was already over her mouth. She was lifted off her feet…then everything went black.

  Katy woke up sobbing and shaking. She threw the covers back and barely made it into the bathroom before she vomited. She collapsed on the floor next to the toilet, retching until she had nothing left in her. Afterwards, Katy stayed where she was, drawing in big gulps of air.

  She always reacted this way after a dream. Not really a dream, though…

  More of a memory.

  * * * *

  Katy shouldn’t have been surprised when later that morning there was a knock on her office door and Clint stood smiling at her from the doorway.

  “Sheriff,” he greeted her with amusement.

  “Mr. Lambert.” She was just tired enough to snap at him.

  Unfazed, he sauntered into her office and sat down. His expression grew serious as he took in her pale complexion and the dark circles under her eyes. “You okay?”

  “Peachy,” she replied snidely.

  Hurt flashed in his eyes and she immediately felt guilty. If anyone had been there, who knew what she went through and could be trusted, it was her old friend.

  “I’m sorry, Clint. It’s been a rough couple of days.”

  He nodded but the wicked look was back in his eyes as he leant forwards. “I could take some of the stress off of you.”

  She raised her eyebrows.

  “How about you meet me tonight? We’ll go down to the creek. You can talk to me and I can make you feel all kinds of good.”

  Katy kept her face blank. “I can’t do that.”

  “Because of the Fed?” he asked, always one to get right to the point.

  Katy shook her head but didn’t manage to keep the sigh in. “No.”

  Clint watched her for a minute. “There’s something between you two.”

  “There was,” she agreed, not seeing the point in denying what he already knew. Clint knew her. He’d been around when she had first started to have the dreams. It would be so easy to let her forget herself with him once again. But she knew she couldn’t. He didn’t live here anymore. He was just passing through. He would leave…again.

  “Was or is?” he pushed.

  “While I was in Dallas,” she admitted.

  “But you still came back here,” he stated, as if it was an accusation.

  Katy frowned but nodded. “This is my home.”

  “So it’s over between the two of you?” he continued to press.

  No, it wasn’t. Yesterday proved that, but she had no choice. Katy nodded even though it broke her heart. “It has been for a very long time.”

  “Then have dinner with me tonight.”

  “I can’t.” Katy shook her head. “I just can’t.”

  His eyes softened and Katy remembered what used to be between them. “I’ve changed, Katy. I’m not the same twenty-year-old kid who left. I have something up in Colorado. My own place without the help from my father or his money.”

  “I know, Clint.” She did. She was proud of him.

  “I’ve changed, but I still remember.” He reached over and ran his fingers over her hand. “It was good between us.”

  Katy remembered too. It had been good for a while but then it’d turned bad. Very bad. She pulled her hand away. “That was a long time ago.”

  Clint nodded and leant back. “At least you don’t have to hide who you are with me,” he reminded her, managing to pick up on the one thing she fought against.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she lied.

  “I’d bet my ranch he knows nothing.”

  Katy opened her mouth but quickly closed it.

  “Does he know about your parents?”

  Katy shrugged a shoulder. “Some.”

  “But not what’s important. I know, Katy. How about your sister? The gift?”

  Katy’s eyes narrowed, but he only smiled. “At one time we had no secrets between us.”

  “Clint…” she started but a hard knock came on the door. She looked up to see Cameron with a deep frown on his face.

  “Cameron.”

  “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” he asked, but walked in as if not caring whether he was or not.

  Clint stood but remained looking at Katy. “I’ll talk to you later, darling.” He winked at Cameron before leaving.

  Katy’s head was pounding as she watched him walk ou
t. She didn’t want to mess with Cameron right now. She didn’t want to mess with any of this. She wanted to crawl into her bed and pull the covers over her head. To forget the rest of the world. But she knew that didn’t solve anything. She’d tried it before.

  Steeling herself for a fight, she looked up at Cameron. She expected anger but his eyes showed more concern.

  “You okay?” he asked, running a finger over the circles under her eyes.

  “I’d be fine if people stopped asking me that,” she snapped and stood, immediately realising her mistake because she was now too close to Cameron.

  “People care about you, Katy,” Cameron said in a low voice. “You may not like it but they do. I do.”

  Katy tried to move around him, but he blocked her with his body. She was afraid to touch him. Scared that if she just gave in one time, she’d never be able to pull away again.

  “I’ve only seen you this pale a few times. After our last case.”

  The mention of the case brought back the reminder of the dream. The secret she couldn’t…wouldn’t share. Why they couldn’t be together. “I said I was fine.”

  He moved aside and let her pass. Her shoulder brushed against his chest. “Whatever you say, darling,” he mimicked Clint expertly.

  Katy bit her lip to keep from laughing and walked out of her office and headed to the bathroom to wash her face.

  When Katy walked into the situation room, both men looked up at her. She tried not to stare at Cameron as she realised for the first time he wasn’t wearing a suit, but jeans, a T-shirt, and boots.

  He looked good enough to eat. And he knew it—she’d told him how hot she thought he looked in jeans one night after making love. Then she had indeed almost eaten every bit of him.

  Katy narrowed her eyes as she noticed he was wearing the boots she’d given him for their last Christmas together. “What, no suit?”

  Cameron leant back in his chair and placed his boots on the table, ankles crossed. “When in Rome,” he shrugged. “The suits were making the townsfolk restless.”

  Katy knew he was right. She looked over at Ryan who was wearing tan pants and a polo shirt. “You still don’t fit in,” she told him.