Uncaged Read Free Page B

another cat, whether it be a shiftie like himself or his brother.
                  Ye gods! He’d never thought of that. My brother could be next!
                  “Back to work!” the captain hollered.
                  No one noticed Bruce. His half naked body blended in with the other men who had been rushed out of bed. He would lay low all day, even work as a shipmate if he had to and tonight he would look for the woman. He would ask her how long until they reached land and learn all he could about the expedition.
    ~*~
                  Bruce fell asleep, hidden between two hefty crates near the northern deck, where the shadows grew longer and blacker. He even managed to steal a loaf of bread and some ale. The first time in ages since he had eaten something other than raw meat. The alcohol quickly took effect, lulling him into a deep sleep, but something roused him, something delicate and enticing.
                  He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with thick thumbs. The black night sky was scattered with millions of twinkling stars. He sniffed and then smiled. The woman was near. Her scent wafted through the sea air like honeysuckle dancing on the wind. She stood overlooking the bow of the ship. Her skirt whipped around her dainty ankles. She was barefoot. Never had Bruce known a naked pair of feet to look so erotic. A deep throated growl emanated from within. He shook his head in an effort to yield the wild creature within. Luckily the wind masked the noise. Rising and stretching, he made his way to her side, stomping across deck to alert her of his coming. He didn’t want to startle her and cause her to cry out. She turned when she heard him approach, greeting him with a half smile, her lips curved on one side.
                  “Good evening, sir,” she said, turning to face him fully.   
                  His eye caught the gleam of a topaz pendant, nestled between her full breasts. His cock stiffened at the sight, pushing against his newly acquired breeches. Breeches that suited his size perfectly, until now. He took her hand and kissed it. The scent of her burnished skin drove him mad with desire. He shut his eyes.
                  “Out for another smoke, sir?”
                  “Aye. I couldn’t sleep. Are you feeling better today, miss?”
                  “A bit. Thanks to you for inquiring,” she said, barely above a whisper. “Father is in a tizzy. All the fuss about the caged beast never setting sail with us.”
                  Bruce smiled. A sweaty lock of his long, blond hair fluttered ag ainst his sun burnt forehead. He worked on deck all day, pretending to be a crewmate. He even helped repair a torn sail. No one had been the wiser.
                  Bruce grunted. “Don’t see how a beast that size could be carried off without notice. Sounds an oddity for certain.”
                  “Father says the slaves must have taken him back off the ship the night before we set sail.”
                  “Does he really think they went to all that trouble and then carried an empty cage back on board?”
                  “Aye, sir. A lion will fetch a pretty price. He’d make a fine attraction at the fair, bringing in loads of money. The slaves most likely took him back to their master while the cat was still full of sleeping potion. There was never no need to carry back an empty cage. Now the master can sell him for whatever price he wants. According to Father, they tracked that particular beast for weeks before catching him.”
                  Bruce doubted that. He’d have sensed the men or at least caught a whiff of their scent. He’d been taken totally by surprise. “Seems particularly cruel to me,” he added.
                  “Aye. To me too, sir. Reminds me of my mother. She’s no