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Catching the Thief Ch. 01

By: kitten101



The elegantly lit royal gardens were decorated to within an inch of their lives, as the young royal family and their high society friends celebrated yet another year of easy living. After a long wet winter spent abroad the Princesses Beatrice and Candice had returned to the family home for the New Year celebrations with their parents.

The band had been playing for hours, and showed no signs of stopping as it neared midnight. The people were now whirling about, as the dancing grew wilder in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed by the rich young people.

Young unattached men and women were now pairing off under the watchful eyes of the body guards and gossip hounds. Max sat breathlessly still as another couple slunk just below her giggling softly and groping each other.

Her calves were beginning to cramp, but she paid no attention, as she crouched on the shoulder of an old statue beside the main entrance to the palace grounds. She had crept into place hours ago,as the grounds had dimmed in the twilight, and was not planning on moving anytime soon. The cat was still coiled inside her, and Max was hunting.

Max Seris was 24, and a shape shifter. She had been born with the ability to change into a black leopard. Her mother had died protecting the pack she had been commandeered into, when Max was 16. Alone and unwanted by the warring pack Max had been cast out to her own defenses.

Fortunately her shifter abilities allowed her to make a fairly decent life for herself as a thief. Her natural affinity with finding hidden information and her cats curiosity and lean supple body worked strongly in her favor.

Her features were delicate, and she would have been simply cute if not for her stubbornly set mouth, and arresting green eyes which transformed her into stunning. With her golden tanned skin, inky black hair and long lithe body, she was the feature of many men's illicit daydreams.

Her long thick hair had been twisted back out of her face, but that was many hours ago and the tendrils of her somewhat unruly mane were beginning to slip into her eyes. Her nipples were hard and sensitive, as they had been rubbing against her bra with every breath for some time now.

Max was aroused. She had been ever since that morning when she had caught a males scent while cutting through a construction zone to avoid the crowds around parade route for the crown princesses. This in itself was not strange. Her sense of smell, while not quite as developed as a canines, was still extremely sensitive. But this scent was different, it was sexy, and wild. The scent of this male made her nipples stand to attention and her centre ache.

It was a new and confusing state for Max as she had never felt the urge to lay with a man. She had simply assumed that she would not develop the primal urges that others seemed to have. True, when she changed into her cat form the stretch of her muscles and feeling of taunt readiness was almost orgasmic, but then she felt the same rush of endorphins after stealing a particularly challenging prize.

At the first scent she had been lost and scared, but achingly hot. She had moved to the shadows and changed immediately into a sleek midnight black large cat and inched closer to the source of the scent. 

A big part of her had simply wanted to charge across the building site, bursting through the men and women lining the streets to twine herself around his legs and crouch down, offering herself to him. 

Luckily her hunters instinct had won out and she had taken the safer approach.

Positioning herself on a small ledge in a large apartment construction zone she had waited as the parade swung around the bend in the road. In front walked a large dangerous man bristling with weapons, his mere presence enough to hold the crowds back. 

Behind him came the limo containing the Kings two bored daughters, who Max dismissed immediately. Another golden headed man walked to the right of the limo, ready to defend the girls from any over-adoring fans. Both were watching the faces and buildings around them alertly. Last to come around the bend was him walking to the left of the vehicle.

He had dark hair pulled back out of his face with a leather thong. His body was clothed in black, strong, and toned. From the way he carried himself Max was willing to bet a good part of that muscle tone came from fighting. He didn't have the weapons the other two had, carrying just a holstered gun strapped to his belt and a small dagger at the small of his back, but he looked just as deadly to Max's cat eyes.

The pit of her stomach dropped as she realised that these were not human males. These were infinitely more dangerous. The hair on the ruff of her neck and spine rose, as her ears pinned back against her skull. They were her own species, and from her limited experience with other shifters, she knew she did not want to be caught by these.

Holding her breath as the males passed beneath her she wished that she had chosen a less precarious position to hide herself in. If any of them took it into their heads to shoot at her she would not be able to move fast enough to avoid it.

She needn't have bothered as the men passed beneath the building, too intent on the crowds to notice her. Relaxing Max released her breath and quickly froze again as the dark haired man turned and looked directly up at her hiding place.

For one of the longest seconds of her life Max waited for him to alert the others, or worse draw his gun. He left her even more confused and - annoyingly - still aroused as he did neither. He simply grinned baring his sharp teeth in more of a warning than good humour, and turned away to rejoin the group.

Back on the statue Max blinked once, hard, to clear her head, and sighed at her bodies reaction.

It was dangerous to be here in plain sight as the security guards would not hesitate to put a bullet in her if she was found. Unfortunately this was the only way she was going to be able to retrieve tonight's prize. 

Having the other shifters on the premises complicated things, but she was hoping they would be too busy with the princesses to interfere in her business tonight.

The band went quiet as midnight approached. The King stood to make his annual ego stroking declaration. In the moment when everyone's attention was firmly focused on him she dropped fluidly from the statue, streaking towards the palace. Laughter from the guests accompanied Max as she scaled the wall, and covered the sound of the window being wrenched open by her.

After slipping into the room it took a matter of moments to locate the small safe and dial the code obtained through the assassination of a fairly large player in the business world. To be fair he had been thoroughly crooked, and had died fairly satisfied, having been in the middle of a rather energetic round of sex with a busty prostitute when Max's dagger had found his throat.

As the countdown to the new year began Max triumphantly slipped the CD's she had come for into the specially designed compartment in her black body suit. Theft was no longer about gold and glittering jewels, information was much more prized these days. As Max turned her eyes picked up a faint glitter from the back of the safe. 

'Well most theft isn't about jewels any more...' She thought as she dropped the diamond encrusted necklace in with the CD's. She was always a sucker for accessorising...

Max turned towards the windows with a triumphant grin as the people shouted 'Happy New Year!' at each other. Instead of the bad striking up again however the alarm wailed through the building. 

"Shit" was the only thing Max had time to say before the door burst open revealing the golden haired man from this morning. 

"Double Shit" she managed before he was ordering her to put her hands above her head.

Moving slowly she did as he said, stepping back towards the window as she raised her arms. His face slackened as her scent reached him, and he paused as the realisation of what she was hit him. Max used that moment of stunned indecision to twist herself around and throw herself through the window shattering the glass outwards. As she fell she did a quick inventory of her wounds, thankfully just a few cuts and scrapes due to her thicker skin.

Max landed in a crouch at the feet of a somewhat stunned caterer. He stumbled back to reveal the black haired man from that morning pacing dangerously towards them. Her heart, racing from the adrenaline of the fall some how still managed to kick into over drive as he fixed her to the spot with his smoldering dark eyes.

Gabriel drew his gun the second the alarm went off, trusting Michael to watch Beatrice and Candice. Moments later the glass on the third floor study window exploded as a woman leapt though it, she executed a quick flip and landed neatly on the grass below. The woman's green eyes locked onto him as she crouched looking up. Then Grey shot her.

She was contemplating whether to submit to being arrested when a shot rang out, the bullet lodging itself in her side. Dimly she realised that the man from the room above had shot her, her body however shifted into survival mode.

Max shot to her feet using the momentum to get a head start on the male cat. She sprinted through the stunned party gores and slipped into the dark streets of the city in moments, the male hard on her heels. Though sheer gut determination she managed not to shift into her leopard form and draw even more attention to herself.

***

After running for what seemed like hours she managed to finally lose the black haired man. Her side was burning and she could feel the blood oozing down her hip as she limped towards home. The cold wind froze her exposed hands and face.

The gunshot wound had been bleeding steadily for an hour now, and Max was feeling the effects. Her body was ready to give out, and her mind was woozy from lack of blood. It took a supreme effort to move herself up the stairs, and to to door of her apartment.

Leaning there as she fumbled for her keys she realised she was going to have to get help as her fast healing body was not going to be able to fix the damage on its own this time. The room spun as she let herself in and she barely made to to her bathroom before her legs gave out and she slid to the floor against the bathtub whimpering.

***

"Easy kitten that's got to hurt." Gabriel murmured as he let himself into the bathroom. 

He had followed her to the apartment, deciding to let her wear herself out before attempting to arrest her. Max started partially upright before wincing and being forced to sit back down by the knifing pain in her side and her spinning head.

Seeing her there like that felt like a solid blow to his chest. Instead of cuffing her and moving her back to the palace like he should have, he found himself gently examining the shot in her side. Max, now too weak to protest, found herself being gently stripped of her body suit, and lowered into the shower by a suddenly protective Gabriel.

Max sat silently as Gabriel removed his shoes and shirt revealing toned smooth skin. He then supported her body against his chest, circling his arm around her to direct the moveable shower head onto her. Gabriel's body tightened at the sight of the water rivering over her breasts, sliding over her stomach and disappearing seductively into the neat triangle of dark hair at the juncture of her thighs.

His pants became wet with the water dripping against them, and the wet material slid across his cock every time he readjusted Max against himself. This coupled with the scent of her coppery sweet blood had him wanting to rub his achingly hard shaft against her.

"What's your name, kitten?" he rumbled softly against her ear. 

"Max" she managed, hating the quaver in her voice. 

"Max," he murmured, sending a spear of adrenaline through her pliant body, the vibration of his deep voice seeming to resonate in the warm crevasse between her thighs 

"I'm Gabriel."

He leaned forward curving over her, once more rubbing his damp covered bulge against her long back, to retrieve her milky body wash. Drizzling a small amount onto his cupped hands, he began to smooth it over her shoulders, gently probing the cuts and scrapes with his long fingers to remove the dirt.

Max sighed as he moved his hands slowly down her body. A haze fell over her eyes as he brushed the sides of her rib cage. She froze, desperately wanting his hands on her breasts but unable to voice her need to him. She made a small sound in the back of her throat as his big hands finally moved to cup her chest.

Within a matter of seconds he was massaging her breasts, and sliding his soapy fingers along her engorged nipples. Max was in heaven as he stroked down her stomach before gently trailing his fingers along the creases at the tops of her thighs.

"Do you want this?" he whispered as he laved her neck and exposed shoulder with his rough tongue. 

"Mmm" was all she could manage, her body tight and humming. 

Her eyes closed and her hands balled against the shower floor as his fingers combed through her pubic hair, and spread her open to his hungry gaze.

Gabriel reached for the body wash again and encouraged her to spay her legs against his thighs in his wickedly suggestive voice. She did so barely noticing the wanton whimpers she occasionally let out. Gabriel dripped the body wash over her stomach, and through her pubic hair. When he finally reached her spread pussy she hissed as the cold soap dripped against her hot flesh and down along he crack of her arse.

His long fingers moved in to stroke her overheated pussy, lathering the soap against her clit. He dipped his index finger into her tight pussy, moving slowly as she whimpered. "Just relax and trust me, kitten" Gabriel murmured, slowly grinding his cloth covered cock against the small of her back. He paused as his invading digit found the evidence of her virginity and froze remembering her injuries.

Mentally berating himself he eased his finger from her, directing the water between her thighs to remove the soap and the evidence of her arousal. Max was limp in his arms when he wrapped her in a towel and carried her to her kitchen table, placing her on her stomach, and attaching his handcuffs around one of the legs and to her wrists.

Max watched him return to the bathroom, slowly becoming more concerned about her position. She was not a submissive woman, and being handcuffed across her own table with her arse in the air for a dangerous male cat was not a comfortable position for her. And now free from the sexual haze of the shower her side was beginning to ache powerfully.

***

Gabriel returned from the bathroom clad only in a towel and carrying her much used first aid kit. Max swallowed as the large tent in the towel became obvious to her now panic stricken eyes. 

"No!" she whimpered as he opened her towel leaving her exposed to him.

"Relax kitten. I like my women willing." He growled at her. 

"I'm just going to patch you up so that when I drag your arse into the police station you're not going to bleed all over me."

"You didn't seem to mind that so much in the shower." She spat back at him, her panic dimming as her temper flared.

"Well darlin, if you think about it, neither did you." He murmured into her ear, suckling her neck, and sliding his hand down the curve of her back. 

She made a sound like and angry house cat and kicked out, missing him,and aggravating the pain in her side.

Gabriel laughed mockingly and secured her legs with a couple of towels to separate table legs. He then investigated the first aid kit. Raising his eyebrows he noted the large amount of supplies he had to work with. Sparing a glance for her back and shoulders he noted the scars from previous fights. 

"Had reason to use this in the past I see." he said tracing one of the larger scars curving over her shoulder.

"Its not like a cat to be so clumsy."

Max turned her face away from him scowling. She was tempted to retort, but with her legs now separated she was uncomfortably aware of just how open to his investigation she was.

Gabriel applied antiseptic to her cuts, pausing at one point to remove glass from a larger one on her arm. Max noticed that despite his anger he handled her gently, and did a through job of treating her. When he was done he took a pair of long nosed tweezers and moved out of her eyesight.

"This is going to hurt a bit." He murmured smoothing his hand down her back. 

Max pressed her face to her arm as Gabriel removed to bullet as gently as he could. He then applied antiseptic and bandaged her up. Relived to see her body already beginning to close the smaller wounds he cleaned up and stood behind her.

Almost absently he trailed his hands along her thighs and rested them on her arse. 

"Now kitten, I'm tired. I've been up since dawn, and after the last two hours running around the city on your behalf I need some sleep." 

Max was angry as hell she was also tired, and more than ready to fall asleep herself.

"I'm not going to make you sleep here, but I am going to handcuff you to your bed." explained Gabriel as he released her from the table and slipped his shirt over her body.

"How very generous of you." Snipped Max, although her heart wasn't in it. 

She was already struggling to keep her eyes open. Gabriel led her to the bedroom, and placed her into her bed. True to his word he attached one of her wrists to the bed, and looked down into her sleepy eyes.

Gabriel discarded his towel and still watching her closely, he changed into a big black cat. Max reached her uncuffed hand out and stroked the velvety smooth hair on the cats nose before closing her eyes and allowing herself to relax into sleep. The last thing she was aware of was Gabriel curling up behind her on the bed, his warm fur brushing against the exposed skin on her legs.

***

Max woke to sun pouring in her window, and Gabriel moving down the bed. He was still in cat form and his black coat looked so touchable she almost wanted to pet him. Much to her alarm Gabriel moved to lay in between her legs.

He fixed her with his dark eyes and dropped a heavy paw over her thigh to prevent her from moving away from him. Then he nudged up the shirt he had put her to bed in the night before, breathing hot air on her exposed lower belly.

Max bit her lip as he licked the crease where her thigh met her body, she could feel herself becoming wet. Then Gabriel slipped his soft sandpaper tongue between her lips, rasping her clit gently.

His whiskers tickled her thighs and Max gasped and balled the sheets in her fists. Waves of heat were washing over her body. Gabriel moved from her clit, lapping at her entrance. Max's world narrowed to his tongue entering her, rasping at her sensitive walls. His velvety nose, brushing her clitoris teasing it from under its pouting hood.

Gabriel wriggled his tongue inside her, tasting her salty sweet juices, and pushing his nose firmly against her. She writhed on his tongue and gasped in pain as his wide tongue tore her hymen. Gabriel purred as he lapped at the mix of blood and her juices, the vibrations proving too much for Max. She exploded into a pulsing orgasm, her tight walls milking at his tongue.

The big cat continued to lick at her sensitive flesh, clearing the evidence of her orgasm from her thighs and pouting lips. When he was finally satisfied she was squirming under him again. He looked up to her face, and found her watching him, Eyes drowsy with pleasure, lips open and gleaming. Her cheeks were flushed and she whimpered as he pulled away from her wet pussy.

Barely able to control himself Gabriel changed to his human form and moved up her body blanketing her, his hot aching shaft twitching on her open thighs. He looked deep into her eyes noticing the shadow of fear before lowering his mouth to hers, and cupping her face in his big hands. 


Catching the Thief Ch. 01



Gabriel taught her to kiss him patiently. He soon had her sucking him gently her lips and tongue parrying with his as he plundered her mouth with his tongue. His cock ached for attention and he arched against her, slowly rubbing his shaft against her thigh, His precum making a slippery trail.

He couldn't hold back any longer. Gabriel reached over to his wallet, and grabbed a condom. Slipping it on and discarding the packet he moved the head of his cock to her centre, sliding it between her lips, and coating himself in her slippery juices. 

"Kitten, Max." He paused holding himself at her entrance. 

"Look at me Max." Her wide green eyes met his.

"Relax and trust me."

Max took a shaky breath and Gabriel eased into her. She whimpered as her tight walls were stretched around him for the first time. Gabriel eased one hand between their bodies, sliding against her damp heat to massage her clit.

Her body strained against his and her handcuffed wrist chaffed as she moved beneath him. Max made small noises and tossed her head on her pillow, the sensations felt good, and she didn't want it to stop. 

"Gabriel" she gasped as he pumped inside her slick heat.

Gabriel paused to break the chain on the handcuffs, setting her free, before surging into her once more. He grunted in ecstasy as she moved her arms around his neck, nails scoring red lines in his back.

He hooked her leg over his back and slid his hand smoothly around her thigh to rest on her delicate arse hole. The sensation of him pressing a thick finger into her sent Max crashing over the edge into an intense orgasm. 

Gabriel felt Max spasm around his finger, and the pressure of her walls grew too strong against his cock to hold out any longer. With an agonised roar Gabriel came hard inside her.

***

Much later Max found herself cradled in Gabriel's arms, his legs twined with hers. She rubbed her nose against his chest and let his heat warm her cooling body. She stiffened remembering the break-in and stolen information, then looked up to find him watching her closely.

He chuckled seeing her freeze in his arms "You can stay as still as you want kitten. Its not going to fix anything though." 

He moved to play with the hair waving down her back. 

"I need to get back, Max. I'm not going to drag you back with me, but you owe me, and I'm not going to forget that. I will be calling in your debt."

Briefly Max pondered exactly what he would be wanting in return for her freedom. Her imagination raced flashing several graphic possibilities, causing her to flush with embarrassment. 

"Thank you... I think." She said dryly receiving a beaming grin from him as a reward.

"See how nice using your manners can be kitten..." 

Gabriel grinned avoiding her angry swipe as he gracefully slipped out of bed. Max pulled the covers over her shoulders and curled back into a ball, her body needing more sleep before she would be able to do much else today.

Gabriel returned to the bedroom after slipping back into his clothes from the night before. He removed the CD's from Max's ruined body suit and slipped them into his pocket before regarding the necklace. Max was cured onto her side almost asleep.

"I look forward to working with you in future kitten" Gabriel murmured in her ear before pressing a warm kiss to the corner of her mouth.

By the time Max opened her eyes he was gone, rolling over she discovered the necklace resting on her pillow.

"Just great." Max mused sleepily.

"I already owe him for saving my arse, and now the necklace. I'm way over my credit limit." 



Catching the Thief Ch. 02



Max was bored. She had been gingerly pacing her small apartment since she had been shot the week before. She was no stranger to injuring herself, and was always edgy when cooped up for too long. Fortunately for her fraying patience this was the last morning of her self enforced incarceration.

Another big issue was food. Max was not a big cook, in fact she didn't. Ever. As a Changer she ate more than the usual human, but there were only so many microwave meals you could enjoy in one day. 

Currently she was onto the last of her fruit and vegetables. Not her usual pick, but she took comfort in the thought that she would be back to her usual junk food diet within a day or two.

Max selected one of her sharp knives (one of the only instruments in her kitchen that she used regularly) and began quickly chopping carrot slices. She was lost in her own thoughts when she felt rather than heard movement behind her. 

Spinning on the ball of one foot she registered a big male and threw her knife, aiming powerfully for the centre of the man's chest. Half a breath later she realised her mistake as Gabriel Hunter snatched the knife and growled at her "You're lucky I'm in a good mood kitten."

She flushed as memories of his big hands sliding down her wet body intruded on her anger. "Well kitten are you going to apologise to me?" Determined not to let him get a rise out of her she raised an eyebrow in a way she hoped made her look sassy "Well sneak into my apartment and you can expect me to throw something at you." 

Instead of taking the bait Gabriel just grinned and moved to the bench, taking over slicing the carrots. "So are you in the mood for a little breaking and entering?" he asked. 

"Depends entirely on what your expedition would be in aid of." Max was thrown by the subject change. How could he be so relaxed here, was he not thinking of the night she was shot? She was. But then she'd been thinking about it a lot. 

She wasn't sure if she was entirely comfortable with the fact she had had sex with Gabriel. Sex itself was an idea that she was still trying to grasp, how did the rest of her kind approach it? Was she now the Changer version of easy? That coupled with her healthy fear of other Changers left her on territory she was not familiar with. She studied his back as he replied, "Someone has taken something of the Council's, and they want it back. 

Max's eyes widened. The Council ruled Changers and other non human beings. They made the rules, and punished those caught breaking them. To have something stolen from them was a big thing, as Humans did not officially acknowledge the existence of the other beings on the earth, however if a Council-produced document ended up in their hands that could change in a microsecond. And they all knew how well Humans would react to finding they were not at the top of the food chain anymore... It would be war. 

Are you up for it?" He turned glancing down at her side meaningfully. "Well..." Max arched her torso and prodded the scar experimentally, "I think it's pretty much healed, as long as I'm not doing too much heavy lifting I should be fine." Of course for a Changer 'heavy lifting' meant something the size of a small pony, so she wasn't in much danger of that. "Does this go towards reducing my debt?" 

Gabriel snickered, "No kitten, this is just for fun..." He munched on a carrot slice grinning suggestively. Max hadn't really thought it would be that easy. If she was going to be honest with herself she really didn't want it to be that easy. He even makes vegetables look sexy she mused. 

"Hungry?" Gabriel grinned seeing the longing look in her eyes. Max nodded then watched, a little concerned, as Gabriel stalked towards her with a predatory gleam in his eye, and a carrot in his right hand. 

Max's eyes grew in astonishment, he wouldn't would he? She didn't know, and that revelation was enough to send her vaulting over the bench, and through the apartment. Now that she thought about it, she really didn't know that much about Gabriel. 

He caught her as she tried to get past him to the front door. "Listen Gabriel I've changed my mind i'm really not, er, hungry at all." She wriggled with all her cat like agility as he moved into the bedroom, and lay her stomach down on the bed. "Kitten, would you calm down and get this though your head." Gabriel pinned her to the bed with a large hand on the small of her back "I'm not going to hurt you. You can tell me no, and I will stop, but you're going to be denying yourself an awful lot of fun."

Max paused, her blood was boiling. She would be uncomfortably aroused for the rest of the day if he left. And he was true to his word, she had enjoyed everything at his hands so far. With a sigh she relaxed, and nodded her head. 

Gabriel released his breath, they were over the first hurdle, she trusted him. With a sexy grin he slipped her jeans over her legs and removed her tee-shirt, using it to secure her hands behind her back. 

Max was then moved down the bed so her knees rested on the floor an her belly was supported, still on the bed. Gabriel's cock twitched, and he decided he quite like her like this, bound and presenting herself for him. He positioned himself behind her, and spread her legs wider, reaching for the carrot, lying almost forgotten on the bed. 

Max's breath huffed out of her at the first touch of the cold vegetable against the crack of her arse and Gabriel trailed it downwards. Max held herself rigid, still unsure of his intentions as he gently wriggled the end of the carrot in her entrance.

Max could feel herself growing wetter by the instant. Gabriel leaned over her body, pinning her more solidly with his weight, and gently biting her neck as he began drawing the carrot along her slit, rubbing her clit with every movement. 

Max whimpered, she could feel every bump and ridge. "Please, Gabriel, I need..." she started, and before she could finnish Gabriel eased the carrot into her body. 

She grunted and tried to move under him as he worked the vegetable into her tight passage. She was overwhelmed by the feeling of cold hard flesh sliding in and out of her repetitively. Gabriel could feel himself pulsing, trapped in between their bodies. He was determined to have his fun first though. 

Max was desperately trying to get herself free of the tee-shirt, She waned to grab something, or touch herself, or claw her bed in delicious agony. Her stomach was tightening, and she was totally focused on the movements of the carrot in her vagina. Gabriel continued to move it frustratingly slowly into her, and easing it out with a slight twist. He nerve endings were sizzling, and her entire world contracted, and then shattered. Max came in a pulsing white-hot orgasm, gasping for air, and writhing her body under his. Her juices were seeping down the carrot onto his hand, and it was becoming easier to thrust into her. Max was still grunting and trying to move under Gabriel, She was causing quite a bit of friction and he desperately needed relief. He removed the carrot grinning at her moan of disappointment. 

Being careful to avoid her healing side, he flipped her over to her back and propped her back onto the pillows at the head of her bed. Max's cheeks were stained red, and she had squeezed her eyes shut. Her legs however were still spayed open. Gabriel was alarmed when he felt a surge of warm feelings for her, it really wasn't a good idea to become too attached to this woman.

Unable to restrain himself any longer he slipped out of his clothes, and turned to throw them against the bedroom wall. When he turned back Max had opened her eyes and was watching him, her eyes were clouded with lust and if he was right, a bit of uncertainty she had seen his alarm.

He grinned reassuringly at her "Still hungry?" Max arched her back and felt the air cooling her body, "You have no idea..." Gabriel reached beneath her to release her hands again and then slid himself over her body, noticing the way she shivered at the feel of his skin against hers. 

Max felt him nudging at her entrance, and let her breath out slowly, trying to relax. Although the carrot had been large, Gabriel was still bigger than what her body was used to. Max looked up to find his face inches away, his dark eyes boring into her. He held himself above her like that as he entered her. 

To Max's relief there was no pain this time, just a feeling of being stretched around him. She looked down their bodies to the place they were joined, watching his shaft dipping into her. Meeting his eyes again she dragged his lips down to hers, and lost herself in the primal pleasure of his rhythm. Gabriel slid his hands over her body lost in the feeling of her below him. He sank deeply into her warmth, and roared over her as he came. No there was nothing wrong with this at all she thought as Gabriel's strong caresses sent her over the edge.

Gabriel had her cradled against him when she became aware of her surroundings again. "You're back then." he smiled drowsily. She didn't answer him, now that it was over she was a little worried about the implications. She wasn't quite sure she liked the idea of casual sex with a Changer, and she was equally unsure of an actual relationship with Gabriel. Is that even when he was offering? 

Gabriel studied her as she lay lost in thought. He was feeling more and more uneasy by the minute. She rolled away from him, looking seriously up into his eyes. "What are you doing with me Gabriel?"

"I thought that was obvious Kitten." Gabriel's heart was sinking.

"I mean, what is this? are you looking for a relationship, or is this just sex? Is this your payment, or just...?" She didn't ask if this was normal for their species, no more meaningful to him than food, sleep or Changing, even though she wanted to.

"Kitten... " Gabriel wanted to just avoid this altogether. He really wasn't all that sure what he was doing. Her stony eyes forced him to answer. "I'm not looking for a life-mate. I'm not really in a position where that would be a practical thing for me to do. This isn't about your debt. I wish I could offer you more Max" This last sentence was murmured into her ear. 

Max relaxed slightly. She watched him slide out of bed and clothe himself. Her questions weren't really all answered but she sensed that this was the best she was going to get for now. Was it what she wanted?

After he had left the building she showered and spent an unusually long time on her hair. after her fourth try at a simple ponytail she arched her eyebrows at herself in the mirror "Yeah you don't care..." She would leave her hair free, it was only shoulder length and probably wouldn't be too much of a hassle anyway. 

Before she'd even taken two steps from the mirror she changed her mind. After putting her hair up, and securing it with too much hairspray to discourage herself from changing it again she searched under her bed for the last emergency packet of junk food in the house. Carrot sticks were not going to help her at this point, she needed the artificial goodness of marshmallow and biscuit covered in chocolate.

Later that night Gabriel collected Max who had slipped into a tight black body suit. She wore them when involved in something of this nature, mostly because they were easy to move in. She had thankfully resisted the urge to play with her hair again.

When she exited the building she was greeted by the sight of two men grinding against each other against the door of a black van. They separated as Gabriel explained to her "This is Grey and Michael... They're a little over-sexed. Grey is a Cheetah and Michael is a Tiger" 

Michael straightened up, revelling himself to be the man she had seen walking at the front of the limo the first day. He was big and tightly packed, and even with his size he managed to move with a certain amount of grace. He had dark auburn hair, and interesting gold flecked eyes. 

Grey was the blonde who had been with them at the parade. He was short and lean, with warm brown eyes that made him look approachable and friendly next to the others... He was also the man who had shot her. "Guys this is Max..." 

She wasn't sure who was more surprised when she cuffed Grey across the chin and slammed him back against the van with an angry growl. She had even shocked herself a bit there, and true to form, she hadn't really thought it though all that clearly. Gabriel had moved to her right, and Michael looked like he was about to intervene on Grey's behalf on her left when Grey began to snort with laughter. "She's going to fit right in. Nice to meet you Max, sorry for shooting you and all that."

Max released Grey and after a few moments of silence Michael motioned her into the back of the van saying "Hi, I don't think we've met." She shook his offered hand, and after a few moments of easy small talk he moved on to briefing her for the upcoming job.

It seemed that Max would be doing the actual break in, with Michael and Gabriel on surveillance, and Grey working from the van to talk her through finding the information she needed to retrieve and clearing the way for her to get into the building though the computerised security system.

Max would be finding the locations of several historical books for Changers. Michael explained that one of Gabriel's agents had stolen them a while ago, and he had been charged with retrieving them for the Council as it was one of his men that had betrayed them. There was a reasonable amount of haste involved in getting to the books, as it was possible the books were on their way to the hands of a human, and that would be disastrous for all concerned. 

Max was given an earpiece and dropped on the side of the road almost a kilometre from the property she needed to gain entrance to. Barely waiting for the van to depart to drop Gabriel and Michael to their vantage points Max leapt joyfully into the woods surrounding the back perimeter of the office.

It felt good to be running again, and after only a dull ache in her side Max allowed herself to really stretch out, sprinting silently through the forest. She regretted not being able to change into her cat and really enjoy the run, however she had a job to do, and was soon slipping over the fence into a large garden. 

Crouching behind a small stone structure she waited for confirmation that the guards were all safely tranquillised and hidden in various points around the building. When she received the signal, she slipped through the shadows, to the back door and picked the lock, trusting that Grey had done his job and disengaged the alarm. 

Inside the building she was able to slip into the main office within a matter of minutes. There was only one man in the office, and all it took was a small tranquilliser dart to subdue him. Grey was waiting in the van with instructions for Max, so all she had to do was slip the CD into one of the computers and follow directions as he extracted the needed information then turned several thousand dollars worth of computers into expensive paperweights. When he was done she removed the CD and slipped out of the room leaving the man still sleeping, with his hands bound in front of his workstation.

Max was nearly out of the building when an urgent Gabriel hissed in her ear "We've lost a guard." Hearing footsteps Max slipped into a nearby doorway, and held her breath as the missing guard passed. She sprinted down the last corridor and out of the building, moving quickly through the shadows and over the back fence. 

Max was almost back at the meeting point when the guard finished his coffee break and poked his head around the office door. When he got no response form the night technician there was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, this only intensified when he entered the room to find the mans hands taped together and every computer in the building dead. "Where the hell did they all go!" he could be heard yelling frantically as he exited the building. Some one was going to be skinned alive for this, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be him.

In a matter of minutes Max was back in the van. Grey and Michael had curled up against each other in the back seat amongst Grey's computer gear, Max had taken the front while Gabriel opted to drive again. "Well that went smoothly" remarked Max spinning the CD between her fingers thoughtfully. 

They drove back to the city in silence. Max was acutely aware of Gabriel sitting across from her. She watched him from the corner of her eye as the streetlights illuminated him. The job had gone more smoothly than most of her own, the increase in numbers allowing her to concentrate on the matter at hand. 

Gabriel turned the van into a parking space front of her apartment block, the movement enough to wake Grey and Michael. Max was about to open her door when Gabriel dropped an ID badge in her lap. A closer inspection revealed that it was for her, complete with a photo she hadn't posed for and her birth date. "Hunter Enterprises, Protection and Retrieval Agency... You want me to work for you?"

"Yes, you will be more centred on the retrieval side of things, in keeping with your abilities." Gabriel eyed her speculative face. "I will pay you a competitive salary, in return for which you will keep yourself in top working condition, and your services available exclusively for Hunter Enterprises. You have the right to refuse a job, you will have to give me good reason for it as you will not be asked to do anything I see as beyond ethical boundaries. Often our work does put us slightly to the left of the law, but I assume that will not be an issue for you." Max's mind raced as she processed the information. 

"What he means is, we want you to join our club." snickered Grey. 

"Let me get this straight. In exchange for me working within your team, you will call it even, and even pay me for the privilege of it." Max stated incredulously. 

"Yes, although, it will be working on the basis that you are not free to end your employment with me unless I agree to it, or unless you are fired by me." said Gabriel. 

After a pause Max shrugged "Count me in." Not that she suspected she had a choice. Gabriel rewarded her with a grin. "Sleep well kitten." Gabriel said in a voice that made her knees weak. "Don't call me that in front of the guys, they'll think I'm not tough" Max said glancing into the back seat at Grey, now playing with Michael's long hair. 

She heard Gabriel laughing as she exited the car. Grey stuck his tongue out good-naturedly as she passed his window, Michael was still watching Gabriel in interest - it was not often he heard his leader laughing. Still grinning Max moved up the stairs, and let herself into her apartment. She stripped and slid into bed naked, asleep almost before her head hit the pillow. 

Max woke with a start. Something wasn't right, confused she glanced at the red numbers on her bedside clock 3.05 am. The clink of metal against metal galvanised her into action. Max threw herself to the ground beside her bed, as the masked man shot a volley of bullets through her bed. 

In the confusion of the noise, smoke and bullets Max managed to change into her jaguar form, and slide to the side of the bed. The man paused and Max leaped at him, knocking the gun from his hands with her body, and grappling with her claws for a moment before dropping herself, allowing her weight to break his neck. 

She Changed back to her human form, and scooped up the mans abandoned gun. At the rate he had gone through bullets there would be next to nothing left, but it was better than nothing. She did not naturally use a gun and preferred to use her body over the somewhat questionable engineering of a human made weapon.

Max charged through her bedroom door, firing madly as she ran for the cover of her kitchen bench. Two men returned fire briefly before she managed to hit them. Her gun was now out of bullets, so she dropped it in disgust and changed back into her cat form. 




Catching the Thief Ch. 02



She caught a glimpse at a blinking black box on her bench at the same time two more men came through the front door, and her only means of escape 01:08. Max dropped low to the ground and flew at the first, arcing her extended claws around the man's calf 01:07. She then jumped past him to the second man He managed to thump her hard in the ribs before she tore out his throat and he collapsed to the ground 01:05.

Max circled around creeping behind the couch as the first man recovered his balance, and began to circle the room watching for her. She waited until his attention was back at the kitchen before launching herself at him, reaching around and slashing at his throat 01:00. 

Max then raced from her apartment, using her claws to give her extra grip against the polished floors. She Changed briefly to hit a fire alarm in the hall, and then back in cat form raced for the stairwell 00:51. The stairwell seemed to stretch for an eternity before she was finally in view of the exit 00:02. Max streaked from the main doors, and paused once to see her windows explode in a ball of fire and smoke before running into the night.

She headed towards an abandoned warehouse she had hidden at on past occasions. Her heart sunk as the thought of her wallet and clothes still in the burning apartment. She had no idea what her next step would be, she really had no one to go to for help. As much as it chaffed her to admit it, she would have gone to Gabriel in a second had she known she would be welcome and where to find him.

Hours later that afternoon she slunk into the alleyway behind her now smouldering building. Most of the residents had moved on to friends and families houses, and the firemen were dampening down the last of the hotspots. 

Concealing herself under a few sheets of aluminium surrounded by boxes and rubbish, she dropped her head onto her paws and closed her eyes. Being closer to her apartment gave her a small amount of comfort, finally allowing her to doze. 

Max woke in the evening to the sounds of familiar voices. Her ears pricked as Gabriel, Grey and Michael came into view wanting to bound up to them like an excited puppy. Something unfamiliar and cold in the pit of her stomach kept her frozen to the spot.  

Michael and Grey were tired and worried. Their leader had had them awake since word had reached him of the explosion at Max's apartment. He had been unusually snappy and extremely short of temper, something neither of the cats were used to. Grey stuck close to Michael touching him frequently for comfort as Gabriel had strode up and down the city blocks trying to catch Max's scent. The smoke and crowds of people were causing him difficulty.

Gabriel was aware of the affects of his panic on his team, but couldn't seem to calm down enough to master himself. He was confident that she had escaped the fire, but earlier he had overheard one of the fire crew mention the bodies on her floor. If he had hurt Max he would not forgive himself. 

Max watched from her shelter as a pretty blonde woman stalked around the corner. Her eyes were cold and grey, and she wore a black jacket trimmed with grey rabbit fur. Her Skin was porcelain white, and her nails gleamed metallic silver. Max was willing to bet the woman was a Snow Leopard when changed. 

Her hackles rose as the woman went to Gabriel and lay her hand on his arm. "Gabe, there's no sign of her. I've looked all over, and I think you may have to consider she did not make it. She may not have woken up in time, the men they sent might have overpowered her." She looked up at his face with doe eyes, stroking the skin under her hand seductively. 

Gabriel turned looking at her for the first time and growled. "Its your damn fault this happened, so this is your mess Christina. Go back and look again." Christina spun on her heel and stormed back in the direction she came from, curling her lip in distaste as soon as her back was turned. 

Michael and Grey tensed as Gabriel turned back to them "You two separate, Michael head East, and Grey check Mercer Street again." Gabriel waited until both had left the alley before closing his eyes and concentrating on his nose again. 

Max stayed silent, breathing shallowly and watching Gabriel. She still couldn't convince herself to move. It felt like her muscles had locked themselves into place. Gabriel turned heading towards the alley exit. Some of the tension left her body, then he spun, locking his eyes on her hiding place. 

Moving quickly he strode back to her, lifting the scrap metal away from her. "Max, thank God." She panicked backing up against the wall and tensing her shoulders ready to pounce. "Easy kitten, I've come to help" Gabriel soothed, noticing for the first time her ears pinned back against her head.

At the sound of the familiar words, and his familiar voice she dropped her head to her paws. Everything ached, and she just wanted to curl up someplace warm and safe to sleep. Gabriel reached down scooping up the big cat by the scruff of her neck with an arm under her torso, lifting her out of the debris. 

He crouched over her, letting her bury her face in his open soft leather jacket as he called Christina, Michael and Grey. "I'm glad we found you, you gave me one hell of a fright kitten. We're going back to my place." Max didn't respond. "You're welcome to stay there as long as needed, most of my other employees live with me. It doubles as the office." Max sighed and nodded her head awkwardly in her cat body. It wasn't like she had many other options at the moment. When the van arrived Gabriel wrapped Max in a blanket, and lifted her into the back seat putting Michael and Grey on either side of her.

Christina left, presumably for her own car after giving Max a cold glance and a low growl. Max Changed, wrapping the blanket around herself for warmth and coverage as she was still naked from the previous nights events. "She's just pissed off because she was meant to be watching you, and she fucked up." Grey said. Max didn't ask why Christina was supposed to be watching her; she had a feeling she wanted to be wide awake for that conversation. Instead she leaned against Michael's offered shoulder and dozed for the hour long drive from the city.



Catching the Thief Ch. 03



Early the next morning Max was up and cautiously peering out of her room on the third floor. She was wearing a pair of loose fitting jeans and a guys tee shirt, which she had found in one of the drawers. She was a little disoriented and couldn't remember the way Grey had led her to the room. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the night before.

They had driven up to a set of huge gates that opened automatically. There was a long drive, a parking lot, and a big house - no a huge house. The forest stretched for miles around them. Max did not feel at ease knowing that they were incredibly secluded. 

The front door had cameras (thanks to her profession she remembered the locations of all the cameras) and once past it there was a huge room, with three separate staircases heading to different parts of the house. To the right was a office set up, and she thought that each set of stairs might lead to a separate wing. 

Grey escorted her up the middle one. Gabriel had watched, looking a little like he wanted to stop them, before heading to the office with Michael. 

Once on the third floor he had lead her right... Or maybe left... To her room. 

"The bathroom's on the right, the stairs are on the left." An amused voice broke into her train of thought. 

Max opened her eyes to find a short woman with plenty of attitude looking back at her from the room across the hall. Her hair was streaked black and stunning red and she was dressed in overalls covered in grease. The woman's eyes looked almost black to her.

"Hi, I'm Max Seris, thanks.. this place is... unusually big." 

Max said a little unsure of whether the woman was happy to see her or not. Her eyes were unnerving. 

"I'm Jess Thomson. And I know exactly what you mean. I work a lot down in the basement with the weapons and stuff, and coming back up here to all the space can be a bit disorienting. But then I'm a fox, so I'm more of a 'little space' person anyway." Jess grinned and extended her hand to shake.

"I'll take you on a tour in a second, I just want to grab some non-dirt encrusted clothes."

Max grinned in return and nodded her hand. "Thanks."

***

Jess showed her downstairs to the rec room which was full of beanbags and movies. She also showed her around the giant kitchen, and they had breakfast together while Jess explained the rest of the house. There was a big pool out the back, gardens, and trails leading into the woods and a gym. 

Grey and Michael lived in the eastern wing on the first floor which led out into the pool area. Jess lived on the third floor opposite her with a view of the gardens. Christina lived on the second floor of the western wing, and Gabriel lived on the top floor with his own rooftop garden. 

"Grey's our computer guy, a technical genius... He's not all that happy with me because I accidentally threw one of his computers out a second story window the other day." Jess grimaced. 

Max stared at her "seriously? Why?"

"Freaking Microsoft. There was a fatal error, and I wanted to make sure the damn thing was dead. I'm going Mac next time, I don't care how much Grey whines about interlopers. I'll get Michael to talk to him about discrimination. 

"Michael is the muscle here. He does quite a few body-guarding type jobs... He's not so great at the light on his feet thing - he's too big - that seems to be the norm for tigers I think, graceful as cats, but clumsy as heck as people, you know?"

"Erm not really" said Max.

"I've never really spent that much time with other shape shifters. I've been on my own since is was 16, and never really thought it was a good idea to mix with others." 

As evidenced by last nights' catastrophe which destroyed everything she owned. 

Jess saw the hard edge beginning to creep into Max's eyes and hurried on with her explanation. 

"Christina is a snow leopard, she does a bit of thieving. She's not really great at that though, what she is good at is getting information out of people, and infiltrating hard to reach places... Mostly through sex I think. It's surprising how far a vindictive bitch can get on a smile and the promise of some ass."

Jess and Max both giggled at that - Max remembering Gabriel's blunt treatment of Christina the night before. 

"Are they together? Gabriel and Christina I mean.." Max asked, more nervous than she really had right to be.

"She wishes... Gabriel's smart enough not to get involved with her - although not smart enough to throw her trouble making ass out of the house. Speaking of our illustrious leader I'm guessing you're wanting to find him and take a piece outta him for last night huh?" Jess asked stacking their plates away in the dishwasher. 

"You knew about that huh? Yes please. It's about time I had some answers from him." Max sighed

Jess pointed Max in the direction of the office and disappeared into the basement.

***

Max loitered in the big entrance hall for a moment or two getting her game face on. She strolled in circles pretending to be looking at the plants while mapping the angles of the cameras. From where she stood she could see two possible ways to enter the main house without being caught on the cameras. 

She should probably mention that to someone - the problem would be easily fixed by installing a big mirror on one of the walls, and it would brighten up the room a bit. 

Gabriel was working on his computer when she finally made her way to him. He was dressed in black and had his hair out of its usual confines. 

He wasn't having much luck trying to find the information he was looking for, and for a moment was happy to see her. Until he took in her expression, his eyes lingered on her stubborn mouth for a second, imagining kissing her into submission. She looked tired, and angry - bound to be a fun combination.

Last night when he had been looking for her he was using his mind as much as his eyes ears and nose. Some shape shifters had some small mental abilities to go with their natural talents. Gabriel's was a natural affinity with finding things. Sometimes it just meant that he got hunches that turned out to be correct, or picked up a scent that no one else did, or sometimes he would get a flash of the person and their location like a bundle of feelings, and smells, and images in his head. 

Last night when he had found Max he felt her mistrust of them all. It hurt him to know that she didn't trust him, but at the same time he knew damn well she had no reason to. He decided to tell her the truth - it was going to come out eventually and if he had any hope of gaining her trust sooner was better.

"Kitten. Have a seat." He leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair. 

She watched speculatively for a second before taking the seat offered. Gabriel looked as tired as she felt... His eyes were still intense and that hair. She just wanted to play with it. She didn't bother correcting his choice of nickname - kitten was probably there to stay - she thought, annoyed.

"What the fuck happened last night. What did I actually steal, why, and who from. How much trouble am I in?" She asked in a clipped voice. 

She was angry but there was no need to shout yet.

"You stole a list of names and addresses for threatened shape shifters. They're being watched by the Council who suspect them to be working against them and the Royal family. My cousin and some people I care about were on that list, and I want to make sure they have enough time to get to a safe place. 

"You stole the list from the council, and they think they got you last night." Gabriel met her eyes levelly over the table.

"Why me?" 

"I was pretty sure they didn't know you. From what I've found out you were good enough to get in and out quickly and do the job. And there's something about you that just sticks in my head - you're a memorable cat. I posted watch on you that night to be sure the council didn't come calling. The watch failed.."

Max interrupted "clearly... Although don't you think I would have had a better chance if I knew all the facts? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't tell you because I didn't trust you. Not many people will go up against the council willingly. I needed your help, and I really did think I could protect you..." Gabriel sighed.

Max decided it was time to shout. 

"PROTECT me! You didn't even warn me. I was doing an alright job of protecting myself until some arrogant idiot set the council on me. And on that I trust myself to look after myself - what right do you have to decide that you can do a better job?! BECAUSE CLEARLY YOU CAN'T. You used me for sex and you used me to get your information, and you know what? I don't trust you, you've given me no reason to." 

Max took a deep breath and stared her best death stare at him before going on with a little less volume.

"There is a damn good reason why people don't go up against the council. I brought everything in that apartment from my own pocket. All those scars Those were from every job that went wrong while I was trying to get enough money to make myself a good life. There's no way I would have jeopardized any of that with the council.

"From now on I want FULL information on every job you ask me to do. If I find out you've held anything back - even if its just the security guard's middle name - I'm out." Max said.

Gabriel blinked at her tirade. "You're absolutely right. I'm sorry kitten."

Instead of placating her his apology made her angrier. Max didn't get angry very often, but when she did it took a lot more than an apology to calm her down. 

... Which was her only real reason for throwing the stapler on the edge of the desk at Gabriel's head. 

Gabriel's eyes widened and he ducked as the heavy office supply went flying to make a dent in his wall. Standing up, Max took a step around the edge of the desk, as if she was going to follow the stapler and attack the bigger male. He decided to halt this in its tracks. 

Vaulting over the desk he spun her around, lifting her and pinning her back onto his desk. He held her wrists firmly and leaned over her, pressing his groin into hers to keep her in place. 

"I'm not your freaking kitten, and I want more than sorry. You destroyed everything I owned, and my first and only home." Max raged, squirming under him.

"I know I did kitten. If you want me to I'll buy you a new apartment, but home is more than just a place Max. Its a feeling." 

He dropped his head to her neck and gently lipped the delicate skin there. She whimpered as heat began to grow in her stomach.

"I was your first, and you are my kitten... that's not me trying to make you feel like you need my protection, or like I don't think you can look after yourself. I know you can. I didn't use you for sex. We both wanted that, and for the record, sex with you feels like coming home to me." He moved a little further up her neck, scraping his teeth across her pulse and giving her chills. 

"I can't help wanting to protect you. And I want you here, in my house, as my mate. But I'll wait and replace the apartment, if you want, and what I lost. Please don't throw anymore stuff at me." 

Max finally cracked a smile - a very small one. "No more throwing stuff. But I think you're out of your mind if you think you want me as a mate. You want me to do stuff for you, and you want sex. That's it."

Gabriel chuckled against her neck "Yes I do, but I want more than that."

He trailed his lips a little higher, meeting her mouth. Max groaned as he flicked his tongue against the join of her lips. She turned her head aside determined not to let him have his way. Undeterred Gabriel shifted his focus downwards, towards her breasts.

She wasn't wearing a bra, so when he nuzzled the side of her breast all there was between them was her tee shirt. Gasping Max tried again to free herself. She was almost at the end of her limits of resistance when she remembered his words to her. 

"Stop. Stop! You said all I had to do was tell you to stop and you would." Max gasped, not at all sure she did want to stop. 

Gabriel groaned against her breast. "You're going against what your body wants kitten. I can smell you, you're more turned on than you're admitting."

Max moved as if to knee him in the groin, and Gabriel slid off her quickly, taking a step away and raking her possessively with his eyes. 

"Yeah but my body doesn't rule the show here. I do, and I don't want this." She said sitting up slowly. 

Gabriel tilted his head on the side and grinned a little at her. 

"Keep telling yourself that Max. You can't keep yourself alone all your life and I'll be waiting if you change your mind."

Max slipped off the desk and headed for the door mentally berating herself. All she wanted to do was have that man thrusting on top of her - trust her stubborn streak to get in the way of it. Also, working with Gabriel was going to suck. She was so turned on that everyone in the house was going to be able to smell her reaction every time she got near the man.

"Dignified..." she rolled her eyes at herself. 

Two steps out of the office door she came face to face with Christina. 

"You must be Max... And just finished fucking the boss for a little extra in the paycheck - although it looks like you'll need it." Christina swept her icy blue eyes down Max's makeshift outfit. 

Max raised an eyebrow at her and snorted at the woman's attempt to rattle her. "Yup, that was an extra 10K a year. He's in a generous mood sweetie so go for it, he's all yours."

Christina curled her lip at Max. "You're right kitten he is all mine."

Max shook her head at the other woman's possessiveness and went in search of Jess. She needed clothes, and a way to charge them to Gabriel. She also remembered that she hadn't actually told Gabriel that she wanted out of the house, and made a mental note to do so. ASAP.



Catching the Thief Ch. 04



Max stood disheveled and dusted in rosemary, contemplating some of the worst spaghetti bolognese in the world. She was wondering whether it would affect her pay if anyone actually died from her cooking. It had been sprung on her that everyone took a night to cook, with no exceptions. Despite her assurances that there would be food poisoning, she had not been able to get out of it. Grey had found her a recipe for spag bol and had told her it was 'the easiest thing in the world to cook' and that 'no one could get it wrong'. He was about to eat his words. 

In the week following her arrival at the house she had gone to Jess for help finding clothes and been emphatically turned away - Jess did not enjoy shopping although Grey had leapt at the chance to spend a little of Gabriel's money. She'd brought more clothes than she'd ever owned before, along with some fun new toys including a new set of her beloved lock picks. Max had fallen into a routine in the house, mostly avoiding Gabriel, and spending vast amounts of time in the forest. 

Being a city slicker her whole life meant that she had missed out on the whole outdoors experience, and was now making up for lost time. She climbed trees, explored tunnels, hunted animals (although she had yet to kill anything), and ran like a crazy thing through all the trees. She was pretty sure she looked like a big dope, but she really didn't care. She fully intended to be back in the city before the end of the month - although for some reason she had not told Gabriel to go ahead on replacing her apartment. 

"Cheese makes everything taste better." She decided. 

She would cover everything in cheese, it would cover up the overcooked pasta, and the odd burnt minty taste in the sauce. She wasn't entirely sure how the mint got in there but had decided it was somewhere between dropping the entire box of dried rosemary onto her head, and realizing there shouldn't have been any eggs involved in the pasta sauce (everything was a bit fuzzy in-between those points.)

Serving it up on the table she noticed everyone looked as perplexed as she felt by the meal. Except for Gabriel. He was looking at her like he wanted to lick her clean and then eat her. At that thought she felt her knees go a little weak. She distracted herself by passing out plates. 

"Why does it smell minty?" Michael asked uneasily.

Max sighed. "I really don't know. I did warn you..."

She probably didn't help matters by only grabbing a tiny portion of pasta and mince, and covering the entire concoction in cheese. The others followed her lead, Grey and Gabriel optimistically opting for a slightly larger portion. The meal was as bad as it smelt, and no one ate much - Christina only took a small mouthful of the minty sauce before excusing herself to 'find something edible'.

Looking around the faces at the table (most were trying valiantly to suppress their amusement) she grinned. 

"Please don't eat it.. Its awful. How about banana splits? I'm good at those... No mint..."

"Ok!" Jess exclaimed immediately clearing her plate. 

Gabriel, Michael, and Grey looked relieved, and they all followed her to the kitchen, dumping the plates of uneaten food in the bucket for the compost heap. 

"Kitten I really didn't think you were serious about how terrible you are at cooking. I'm more than happy to give you a few lessons." Gabriel grinned suggestively at her. 

"Ah, no. How about we don't. What if I just didn't cook? I can do the dishes every night - I don't mind." Max reasoned - there was no need to spend more time with Gabriel than she needed to.

"Nope we have a system... Everyone cooks." Grey piped up looking pleased with himself. 

Max privately thought the system sucked, and was likely to get someone killed. She kept that to herself as she made desert for everyone. 

Jess, Grey and Michael took a seat at the breakfast bar, and she sat up on the bench facing them to eat her ice cream. To her annoyance Gabriel leaned against the counter next to her, his hip resting against her leg. She stubbornly refused to move, or even acknowledge the heat seeping from his body into her leg. 

As they ate Gabriel informed them about his cousin Rider and the woman under his protection - Alexia Devon. Alexia was a member of the royal family, but was declared illegitimate when her mother was found out having an affair with a Theris. The Theris family had lead and almost won an uprising against the council and Devon's, and now Alexia was at risk of being culled with the rest of them. Rider and Alexia would be coming to stay at the house in an attempt to keep her away from the council - although no one was sure if she was actually a target yet. 

One by one the others left the kitchen, but for some perverse reason Max stuck around. She told herself that she was just going to finish her ice cream, but even she didn't believe that. 

"What do you mean by the fact she's under Rider's protection?" Max asked, intrigued by the phrase and wanting to know what Rider and Alexia's relationship was. If nothing else she was nosy. 

Gabriel dropped his plate into the dishwasher and did the same for hers. "He was acting in a sort of a bodyguard/ older brother role with her I think. Although they never really got along and her main bodyguard was looking after them both. It sounds like Jeremy has had to return to the court in Aruba to try keep her hidden on that end, and Rider has taken over main bodyguard duties here in Dartmouth.

"I'll bet he's having loads of fun too. Alexia doesn't listen to anybody except Jeremy, and she's got one hell of a temper... She could give me a run for my money in a fight - she's not as strong but she's crafty. And Rider's just as stroppy when it comes to her." 

Gabriel frowned for a second remembering his phone call with Rider. "Actually he's always had a bit of a thing for her, but I don't think..."

He shrugged "Nah. Would you like to come for a run with me?" 

Max paused in the middle of sliding off the bench. Being alone with the big bad and sexy cat wasn't the best idea. Probably. 

Gabriel raised an eyebrow at her and slid his tee shirt over his head. "The forest is beautiful this time of night..."

That decided it for her, it hadn't occurred to her to play in the forest at night... Living in the city had had its effect on her obviously. She followed Gabriel to the main back door and dropped her clothes in a pile on the deck, changing quickly before he could turn to see her nakedness. For some reason she was feeling a little shy about her body with him. 

She waited while he slipped out of his pants and shifted to his cat form in front of her. He was bigger, with those same intense eyes, graceful strong body, and inky hair. Instead of setting off immediately, he explored her in her cat form, crowding her, circling her, taking in her scent, even lapping at her face, and rubbing his large side down hers - absorbing the feel of her and taking on her scent. She tried to evade him, but in the end gave in to the insistent large cat. 

Once Gabriel had memorized her he led her into the woods. She was gorgeous as a cat. He'd seen her on that first day crouched above the street and playing in the woods from a distance but had given her her space - despite his curiosity. 

He ran fast, leading her to his favorite spot, a big gnarled tree, with giant dinner-table wide branches and soft mossy carpeting that draped into a small pond. Max smelt the air around them, enjoying the heavily scented blossoms from the ancient looking tree.

Gabriel also lifted his nose to the air, and catching the scent of a rabbit he bounded off to the left to retrieve it. Max watched as he brought the frantic rabbit out of the bushes by the scruff of its neck. Gabriel pinned it with a massive paw and was about to bite down when she interrupt him with a panicked noise. Dancing from foot to foot, unsure of whether to intervene she shook her head at him. 

Gabriel looked at her for a second before slowly releasing the rabbit. He watched longingly as it bounded away, back into the bush. Max was relieved, and gave him a quick brush with her nose against his cheek before going to play with the water in the pond. 

Gabriel changed back into his human form, ignoring the cold, and sprawled on the moss. "I hope you're planning on replacing that bunny with something. Dinner wasn't all that filling and I was hoping for something more nutritious than ice cream this evening."

Max looked up quickly from where she was sitting, trailing her front paws in the pool. Her eyes widened and he saw her pupils dilate before she dropped her muzzle back down to the pool. He could swear she was blushing. 

"Feeling shy kitten?" Gabriel chuckled before turning his attention to the stars.

Max narrowed her eyes at him. She rose from the pool's edge and went to sit beside him, dropping her head down to rest on her paws. Despite all the sugar she'd eaten for tea she was feeling tired. Probably an aftershock of her disastrous attempt at cooking. Her ears dropped a little as she contemplated what her next effort was going to be. Hopefully nothing too dangerous. No chicken. She should probably stay away from meat entirely. 

Gabriel took advantage of her nearness and gently stroked her forehead. He ran his fingers through the fur behind her ears and then down across her muscled shoulders and smooth back. She stiffened the first few times he did it, and then relaxed into his fingers working all kinds of goodness against her itchy spots. It became a little harder to hold her leopard form. She slipped back into her human one, luxuriating in the feel of her muscles stretching out until she lay on her stomach next to him, her head on her folded arms in front of her. 

Gabriel didn't stop touching her. He ran his fingers over her scalp and played with the hair that rested on her back, tickling her bare shoulders with the ends of it. He ran the pad of his finger down he centre of her back and over the swell of her arse.

Max's eyes sprung open and she tensed beside him again. "Taking advantage are we?"

"It depends, do you want to be taken advantage of?" Gabriel enquired lazily. 

Thoughts of her next attempt at cooking abandoned her. Suddenly she was burning hot and aroused. 

She twisted to her side to look up at Gabriel. His eyes bored down into hers and his fingers lazily drew patterns across her hip drawing closer to the apex of her thighs. She drew in a stuttering breath. Gabriel slipped his fingers lower, toying with her inside thigh. 

She caught sight of his straining cock. How could I say no to that? She wondered licking her lips, and rolling over to her back and exposing herself to Gabriel's interested gaze. 

"I'm giving you the advantage." She moaned as Gabriel's index finger gave up on her thigh and plunged unto her pussy. 

Gabriel moaned as her walls gripped his finger. "I'm not going to be gentle kitten. Last chance to pull out."

In answer Max twisted herself to reach his lap. Her fingers inched around the base of his cock and she slowly lowered her mouth onto him, scraping her teeth a little over his head. She didn't want him to be gentle. 

Gabriel thrust upwards into the warmth of her mouth a few times before hauling Max off him. He set her on her hands and knees before him and roughly thrust three fingers into her. Max squealed and arched her back trying to ease off his hand as her vagina spasmed around him. 

"No you don't" Gabriel wrapped his free arm around her stomach and hips, roughly thrusting his fingers back in as far as they could go. She spasmed around him again and her breath came faster. She was close. 

Withdrawing his fingers Gabriel teased her entrance with the head of his cock. When they could both stand it no longer he took a firm grip on her hips and haled her back onto himself, growling as her juices wet is balls. 

Their coupling was rough and painful, Gabriel took revenge on her for the fear she had made him feel and the desire he felt for her. Max was lost in her own world as he hauled her again and again back onto his cock, she was close to coming but couldn't go over the edge. She wanted more. 

"Gabriel, please, more..." 

He shifted above her, and released her hips. One hand snaked under her and began painfully slapping and pinching her clit. All the muscles in Max's body tensed as she held herself still underneath him. Gabriel's hips moved frantically against her, his cock slammed deeper than it had been before causing a ripple of pain. He pulsed as he came inside her, and he twisted her clit cruelly. Her orgasm ripped painfully out of her, and she screamed with how good it felt. 

***

They laid sprawled across the mossy carpet side by side and talked about random things that came to mind. Max avoided talking about the real world and Gabriel followed her lead. 

"What do you think flying is like?" Gabriel asked drowsily running his fingers over her palm. 

"Probably a bit like swimming. But less work. I don't think birds have the sense of smell or hearing we have.. and I don't think I'd give that up. What use is being able to fly if you can't smell how clean the air is?" Max asked. 

"I met a hawk changer once. She said that she could taste the air running across her body. Apparently its the most amazing feeling. You're right though. I don't think I'd give up any of this just to see the stars closer." 

Later they made love slow and gentle. Gabriel whispered that he loved her as she shattered around him and Max tried her hardest to believe him. 

The next morning Max slipped out from under his arm and headed back into the house. Gabriel watched her go wistfully, but didn't chase after her like he wanted to.

***

Max spent a few hours in Greys office talking about depressing things and generally getting in the way. He put up with her moping around on his sofa until mid morning, when he sent her off on errands for him. First up was tracking down Christina - much harder than Max had anticipated.

"Hey Jess, Grey is looking for Christina, have you seen her at all?" Max asked popping her head around the door of the garage.

Jess looked up from underneath the bonnet of the car, a bit annoyed to be disturbed. "She usually stays pretty close to her room in the mornings."

Turning back to the house Max gave a low grumble. It wasn't like she wanted to have another encounter with the house's resident ice bitch anyway.

Outside Christina's door she took a breath to centre herself. She was willing to bet the other cat was not a morning person. Raising her hand to knock she realised the door was partially open, so she tapped it the rest of the way with her elbow. 

Max froze in the doorway, not quite believing what she was seeing.

Gabriel was draped over Christina, his eyes glassy. They were both still wearing clothes - thank god - but it looked like it wouldn't be long before that changed given the way Christina was pawing at him. Gabriel began to lower his head to meet Christina's lips when he caught sight of the figure in the doorway. He froze, then levered himself off the bed and off Christina.

Max turned and fled, ignoring Gabriel's roar as he realised what she had seen. She raced through the house pausing for a second at the stairway. Did she want to go to her room or the forest? If anything she was a creature of habit, and the forest seemed too big for her today. She went to her room.

Once curled up in her armchair she allowed herself to think. She wanted Gabriel. And not just for sex. Well. Fuck. When the hell had that happened? And what the hell had happened to Gabriel's whole 'I'll wait for you' thing? Max decided that her first instincts were right. Gabriel wanted sex. That's what he'd wait for, and having got what he wanted he clearly felt free in moving on to the next piece of ass.

"Even if the next piece of ass happens to be a major ice princess bitch."

Max pictured the two of them together - they did make a pretty couple. She resisted the urge to shred the arm of the chair. Destroying Gabriel's property would only make her feel a little better. Telling him she was moving out and he needed to make good on his promise to buy her an apartment however would make her feel much better.

And he needed to buy he an apartment because he got her old one blown up. That was what she should probably be focusing on here. Mooning over Gabriel nearly got her killed last time.

Max decided to go for a walk - if she was going back to the city then she should use the forest while it was still available to her. She uncurled from the couch and headed out. Jess passed her on the stairs and gave her a quizzical look.

"Everything ok?"

"Well I found my motivation to go back to the city. And I'm going for a walk." Max said continuing down the stairs.

"Whoa there pony. Why are you moving out? We love having you here." Jess grabbed her arm and stopped Max in her tracks.

"I fell for him. I don't know how but I did. And it would be best for everyone - everyone being me - if I get the hell away from him." Max said.

Jess's eyebrows raised as she took in her friends' body language. She unclipped her tool belt and slung it over the banister.

"I'll come for a walk. So why is falling for him a bad thing? You two would go well together. Plus he's hot. Plus he wants you."

Max rolled her eyes and decided to spill the whole story. By the time she was done they were wandering on one of the running tracks Gabriel insisted on maintaining through the forest. Max came to a stop beside a big pine tree looking up into the branches speculatively.

"I can't believe that rat went for the ice bitch." Jess fumed.

"You know I've never tried climbing a tree as a human before." Max said, wanting a change of subject.

Jess snorted. "I've never climbed a tree before. Foxes stay on the ground. Where all the food is."

Max turned to her with wide eyes. "You're kidding?! Well we have to do it now."

10 minutes later they were both sitting a couple of meters off the ground - Max easily leaning back against the main trunk of the tree, and Jess with an uneasy hold on two thick branches either side of her.

"This is not fun. I don't think I like heights. And I scraped my knee. And what do we do now that we're up here?" Jess asked shifting nervously.

"You close your eyes and get comfortable - maybe let go of one of those branches for a start - and smell the air. Its awesome up here - like a map, and it gets clearer the higher you go. Trees are my new favorite place for a nap because no one can sneak up on you without making a heck of a lot of noise." Max explained taking a deep breath in. 

Jess tried it experimentally and admitted it wasn't too bad. "Although I might not take a nap."

Max closed her eyes and drifted into a cat nap/ daydream about Gabriel. He leaned across her and softly trailed his fingertips across her cheek. She watched his slow grin warm his face until it met his dark eyes. Hair draped around his face and she reached up to tug a strand of it.

"You mind if Christina joins us Kitten?"

She stared up at him shocked for a second before yelling. "Yes I mind you arse!"

She opened her eyes and swiped a hand full of claws into the air before realising that she was in a tree. She desperately tried to correct her balance but it was far too late. Max slipped off the branch and had time for one shriek before landing painfully on her back in a pile of pine needles.

Above her Jess nearly fell off her branch she was laughing so hard.

"Well that was elegant." Max grumbled.

She sat up and was instantly on her guard. She could swear she'd heard a noise above Jess's racket. She scanned the area and launched herself onto her feet. Jess had managed to get control of her giggles above and was looking around too.




Catching the Thief Ch. 04



A pair of gold and black leopards stepped out of the bush in front of her. The male looked concerned - or puzzled at her fall and the other looked like it wanted to eat her.

"Erm. I don't suppose there's any hope you didn't see that?" She asked still trying to figure out if the hungry looking female cat was going to attack.

Jess dropped down from the tree above them next to Max. The female obviously hadn't seen her up there, and a line of fur rose along her back. The male took one look at her and changed.

When he was done it was clear that he was Gabriel's cousin. He had the same facial structure the same height, the same long, dark hair. He was younger and had a less muscular frame than the older cat though.

"Hi I'm Rider, and this is Alexis. She's a bit tetchy because long car trips don't agree with her." Alexis growled and swiped at Riders leg.

"Also because I called her my sex slave to Gabriel. I'm not sure she was quite ready to break the news."

Max swallowed a giggle and introduced herself and Jess. Rider cocked his head on the side and looked her over.

"So you're the girl Gabe's all worked up in a frenzy about?" He asked.

"Nope that would be some other girl" Max growled and turned to head back to the house.

"Its a bit of a touchy subject." Jess explained before heading after Max.

"Enjoy your run."

The cat behind Rider grumbled dangerously again. "Oh sure. Its going to be a load of fun."

****

Max lay belly down in a mountain of bean bags in the rec room mulling over her choices. A pretty woman wandered into the room with a bag of popcorn and flopped onto the beanbags to the left of Max. She had long dark brown hair with hints of red and startling green eyes.

"Hi, I'm Alex." she said gesturing at herself with the popcorn.

"Nice to meet you. Well you know. Properly. You seem to be in a better mood than this afternoon." Max grinned at her.

"Ha! We made up." Alex grinned lasciviously and offered the bag of popcorn to Max.

"So want to talk about it?" Alex asked

It was a nice offer but Max hardly knew the girl "Uh no thanks. I'd rather claw all of his furniture to pieces, but it feels a little too 'angry house cat' to me. Plus we don't really have that kind of relationship, so I'm not really sure what I'm all upset about. Well I do know, but its not really his problem. It's mine."

Max looked up to find Alexia looking up past her. "He's behind me isn't he." She signed.

How did a guy that big sneak up on her so often? Gabriel's hands slid around her waist and lifted her up and onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry.

"Is this really necessary?" She asked.

"Would you come otherwise?" Gabriel rumbled.

She didn't answer him. They both knew damn well she wouldn't have gone anywhere with him - and she definitely wouldn't have gone with him to his private quarters.

He set her on her feet in his lounge and gestured towards the couch. She stayed on her feet, pacing in front of the seat he'd offered to her. Gabriel stayed warily standing also.

The room was modern looking, with a wall full of books huge TV she'd bet he never used. There were two doors behind her, on would lead to the bathroom and the other to the bedroom. Neither would help her, and Gabriel was leaning up against the door back into the hallway.

"I think we need to talk." Gabriel started.

"Yes we do. I'm moving out, and I want you to make good on your promise of an apartment. You know. To replace the one that nearly killed me when it was bombed by your enemies." Max snapped, still pacing.

"That's fine but we need to talk first. And you need to stop pacing. Please sit down." Gabriel pleaded.

Max did as he'd asked. He'd never pleaded with her before and it made her nervous. She pulled her knees up to her chest and waited tensely for him to continue.

Gabriel cleared his throat. "First off you are entitled to be upset with me, I'd be raging jealous if i ever caught you in a situation like that with another guy. I want that kind of relationship with you. I'm in love with you."

He hated the insecurity he could hear in his own voice. He still couldn't believe what had happened with Christina and how stupid he'd been. If she said no to him he'd deserve it.

Gabriel was so caught up in berating himself that he almost didn't hear her question.

"What about Christina?"

"She ambushed me, and it turns out she has some special abilities I didn't know about. That's not an excuse though. It shouldn't have happened and I'm sorry." Said Gabriel.

Max was intrigued despite herself. "Special abilities like what? Her boobs are super perky?"

"Some shifters can have secondary abilities to supplement the big ones.. I have an easier time finding things because of mine, and Christina has the ability to confuse anyone who finds her attractive to the point where they don't know their own names. Its the reason she's so good at her job and the reason I think I haven't fired her or kicked her out." Gabriel explained crossing the room to join her on the couch. 

"So you find her attractive." Max stated. 

Gabriel slid onto the couch next to her and hauled her onto his lap. "Yeah I find her attractive. But I love you kitten."

Max ignored the 'L' word. He didn't mean it. "Your ability to find things is how you found me that night my apartment was bombed then?" 

"Yeah you come through a little more vivid than everyone else I've tried to find... I guess that should have been my first clue that you were not an average woman."

"Stop it Gabriel. You can't keep throwing words like that around. You don't love me, and there's nothing here that makes me more special than any other shifter in this town. We both know this is a freaking game for you - what are you going to do if you catch me huh? Trample on my heart and then throw me back out into the city?" She tried to wriggle out of the cage his arms had become. 

"I'm not just throwing these words around kitten. You're the most amazing person I've ever met. You fascinate me - it doesn't matter what you do or say, I could watch you and listen to you for hours." Gabriel paused, to haul Max closer. She wasn't fighting as hard to get free any more. 

"Yeah sex with you is great, but its more than that. You are beautiful. Your smile is amazing. You have a stubborn mouth. You're nosy. You avoided other shifters for all these years because of your past, and you're scared that I'm going to treat you like they did. You use humor to avoid things that scare you. You're not scared to knee me in the balls. You cook terribly. And I love you." Max was still in his arms. 

She sat for a moment stunned into silence. Then he kissed her. Soft slow strokes of his tongue against hers. Her teeth nipping at his lips and her hands sliding over his shoulders. In his arms she felt safe and protected. 

Stiffening slightly she pulled back. "Wait, Christina?"

"Gone. I kicked her out and fired her right after Rider and Alexis showed up. Oh - and I was quite far off the mark with their relationship." Gabriel said with raised eyebrows, moving his mouth back to hers. 

She smiled against him. "I knew that. Being nosy has its advantages. And Gabriel?" 

She leaned closer to him and dropped her voice to a whisper. "I love you too. I have for a while - you're right about me being afraid though - so don't do anything stupid with my heart." 

She moved to straddle his thighs and cupped his beaming face in her hands. "Do me a favor and don't tell the guys. They'll think I'm not tough." 

Gabriel roared with laughter and rolled them both off the couch and onto his rug, smothering her with kisses. 

"I wouldn't dare Kitten." 

 The End 

(for now)