Cassidy burst out laughing. Shane was a shit and never changed. “You only like to do it as a bear. My wildcat’s not letting a bear on her back. No way.”

“I’d make an exception for you, Cass.”

“Sure, for me. And for Lindsay. And Sadie, and Michelle…”

“Hey, I’m a bear in his prime.”

“You’re a bear whose mom is looking for him.”

Shane jerked around. “She is? Where?”

Cassidy laughed harder. “Goddess, you’re easy. Your mom’s the sweetest woman alive.”

“Shit, Cass, don’t do that to me.” Shane blew out his breath. “She might be sweet to you, but Mama can be one mean grizzly.”

Cassidy laughed. She’d been baiting Shane for years, and he’d been teasing her back.

Lindsay came whirling in between Xavier, who looked like he was having a fine time, and Kyle, Eric’s Lupine tracker. “Great party!” Lindsay shouted. She whooped as she let both men lift her and carry her back under the lights.

Cassidy looked back to where Eric stood, and she stopped. Diego was no longer with him. Where was he?

She scanned the crowd but nowhere saw the tall human with midnight hair. His brother was still dancing with Lindsay, his body moving with rhythmic grace, but no Diego.

Shane bumped into her. “What’s up, Cass?”

Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t feel like dancing anymore.”

“Fine by me. My room’s empty. Brody will be out all night, and that’s good, because you know how he snores…”

“Sorry, Shane. I can’t.”

“I get it.” Shane embraced her from behind, the gigantic man giving a gigantic hug. “Donovan was a great guy, Cass. We all miss him.”

Cassidy’s heartache came back. She wiped her eyes as Shane released her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Good night, Shane,” she said.

“See ya, Cass.” Shane sounded downhearted, but let her go.

Cassidy walked away from him, unsteady after all the beer she’d had, and sought the house. She was drunk, she was sad, and she’d do nothing but make a fool of herself if she stayed outside and kept obviously searching for Diego.

She blundered into the lightless house, the music blasting away on the porch. It was pitch-black inside, but Shifters could see in the dark, right?

Cassidy ran smack into the tall, hard body of a man walking through their kitchen. His scent was all over her in an instant.

“Diego,” she said, her breath gone.

Her emotions, her need, and way too much beer rocked through her. Staying pressed against Diego’s chest, Cassidy twined her arms around him, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed him on his hot, smooth lips.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Diego found his arms full of luscious, beautiful Shifter. Cassidy’s mouth opened his, and she swayed against him, arms tight around his neck.

The taste of her… He had to have more. He had to have more, now.

Diego cupped her head in his hands and pressed her up to him. God help him.

Her mouth was on fire. He devoured her, licking, tasting, sliding lips on hers. Her tongue met his in a rapid dance, her mouth strong.

He was hard, and Cass wriggling against his front wasn’t helping. She smelled like beer and musk and Cassidy. And damn, he loved what she was wearing.

The dress under his hands hugged every inch of her. He felt her ass, her back, the curve of her waist, and he wasn’t finding a line of any bra. When she’d walked out of the house in that, he’d forgotten how to breathe.

Cassidy kissed him hard, harder. Diego wrapped one arm around her bu**ocks, pulling her up against him, his hand finding bare thigh. Her skin was satin soft and hot, so hot.

Cassidy’s fingers furrowed his hair, while Diego moved his hand upward…

“Whoa.” The male voice boomed through the living room—not Eric, not Jace, not Xavier. “What the hell?”

Diego eased his mouth from Cassidy’s. She made a little sound of protest and sought his kiss again.

Shane the bear stood in the doorway to the kitchen, empty beer bottle in hand. The man was nearly seven feet tall and radiated menace with a capital M. Grizzlies could be placid when content, but get them mad, and it was a different story.

“Listen, human cop,” Shane said, a growl in his voice. “I get that you let Cassidy go when you didn’t have to, but that don’t give you the right to touch her. If you don’t stop touching her, I’ll pull your arms off. Understand?”

“If I let go of her, she’s going to fall,” Diego said. Cassidy was sagging in his arms, her eyes half closed. “She’s drunk off her ass.”

“Am not,” Cassidy said in an indignant slur. “Shifters don’t get drunk.”

“This Shifter is.” Diego scooped her into his arms. Cassidy smiled up at him, still holding on. She was so beautiful when she smiled. “Where’s her bedroom?” Diego asked Shane.

“Aw, Diego,” Cassidy purred. “I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”

Shane gestured, still looking unfriendly. “This way.” He led Diego down a short hallway to a door at the end.

Diego carried Cassidy into a room that was painfully bare. A four-poster bed covered with quilts stood against one wall. A nightstand with a lamp and a pile of paperbacks reposed next to the bed, and a rocking chair with a cushion stood in the corner. Nothing more, no pictures, knickknacks, or electronics.