Read Falke’s Captive for Free Online

passed the cage, keeping to the far wall as if afraid Kelan would attack through the bars.
    Kelan obliged him with a hiss.
    “For a pet, he doesn’t seem too friendly.”
    The scent of grilled meat wafted to Kelan, and his stomach growled.
    “He’s ticked off about being caged,” she said, “but wouldn’t you be?”
    “Guess so.”
    “He seems fine now that the drugs wore off, and he’s healthy. He drank his water too. Did you find something for him to eat?”
    “Yeah, and us too, though I’d love to take you to dinner. This town is really neat. I found the perfect—”
    “Thanks, Tim,” she said, cutting him off and taking the bags from him. She pushed her keyboard to the side and opened one of the bags, then the other, and pulled out a butcher paper wrapped package.
    “I’m serious. Since we’re here, we should get to know the community, don’t you think?”
    The schmuck sounded so hopeful, Kelan chuckled. A sound more like a cross between a sniffle and a sneeze, but enough to gain the man’s attention.
    Tim turned and stared, his eyes wide.
    Directed toward Beth so only she could hear him, Kelan whispered, He doesn’t know a brush-off when he hears one, does he?
    The woman stopped and studied Kelan, who dipped his head to lap at what remained in the water bowl. After a moment, she shook her head and finished unwrapping the package in her hand. When she approached his prison, he saw she held a chunk of raw roast. Oh, great.
    “Here ya go,” she murmured as she opened the door at the bottom of the cage again and poked the meat through, taking a big chance by putting her hand almost all the way inside to deposit it. If he were a wild animal, he could have gone for her.
    Why don’t you come in here and join me? There’s room for two. You said you like cages…
    Beth closed the feeding door and tilted her head, meeting his eyes. Damn, she was gorgeous. He purred and held her gaze. She smiled and shook her head.
    “They have a little playhouse, and there’s a show starting in about forty-five minutes,” Tim said, taking a seat in the second chair and flipping open the lid on one of the Styrofoam boxes. “You want to head over after we eat?”
    “Tim,” she said with a sigh as she plopped back down in her chair. “I’ve got work to do.”
    “All work and no play…”
    “This isn’t a vacation. We’re not here to study the human population, and I don’t have time for some community theatre production.”
    The show started in less than an hour. That meant it was only about seven o’clock, maybe a little after. He hadn’t been gone that long after all. If Tim and Beth left, he could get home without anyone the wiser. If Axel or any of his brothers found out he’d been captured, he’d never hear the end of it.
    “Lizzy, come on. The professor’s not even here, yet. Our research doesn’t begin without him.”
    “Beth. I prefer Beth,” she grumped under her breath.
    Tim continued with persistence. “It’s only day one, and you already got a cat to study. You can’t work all of the time. Besides, we’ve got the next two months. It doesn’t have to be wrapped up with one cat in one day. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t make sure my workaholic buddy didn’t take time off every once in a while, hmm?”
    She chuckled. “I’ll think about it. Okay?”
    Tim sighed and pulled plastic utensils from the bottom of the bag. “Okay, but think fast. It’s not far, but we’ve got less than an hour before the show starts.”
    I wouldn’t take no for an answer , Kelan told her telepathically. If I wanted you, I’d have you, and you’d be begging for more .
    Beth lifted her chin and looked around. Then her gaze settled on Kelan. He yawned and pawed at his meal as if unaware of her regard, but he peeked to watch her reaction. Again she shook her head as if she thought she was losing it, but her lips curled into a slight grin.
    He glanced at the hunk of raw meat next to the water