“I’m sorr—What?” Kaos blushed, squeezing my tentacle under the table.
Was that too far?“You’re an accidental brat. You don’t want to misbehave, but it just happens.”
“Would the spanking hurt?” He glanced up at me with eyes full of wonder, his beautiful face taking my breath away.
I swallowed hard. “Enough to make you think about what you’ve done for a few hours. I’d never do it out of anger, and I’d never hurt you.”
He bit his bottom lip and wiggled his tail. “I’d like to try that. My safeword would be strawberry.” He smirked. “But don’t ask next time. Just do it. Or it loses its charm.”
I shook my head. He was impossibly adorable. “Only you’d call spanking ‘charming’.”
He scooted closer to me and wrapped my tentacle around his waist. “You’re taking care of me. It would be one more thing. You’re such a people-pleaser. So pleasure domming suits you.”
I frowned, tightening my grip on him. “Why would you say that?”
“You spoke about cooking for others and how you liked it when they were happy. You’re doing the same with me, but sexier.”
I snorted a laugh. “Very observant of you. I guess you’re right. I never thought of it that way.”
His wicked little smile showed that he wasn’t a newbie to BDSM and was not afraid to show it. “So I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine for a month?”
“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate.
“At least I know it will be over on my terms, and I won’t hope for something I can’t have. No expectations means no heartbreak.” Kaos nodded once and extended his hand.
Who had hurt this sweet man before? The very thought filled me with an urge to tighten my tentacles around some necks. For now, he was mine, and I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him on my watch. Not again. I took his hand and shook it.
“That’s the deal.” Did I really believe that? I’d never had a big meltdown after a partner had broken up with me, so if I went into a short-term housemates-with-benefits arrangement it shouldn’t be too hard to say goodbye when it was over. “We found our way to spend the month, so let’s make the best of it.”
He tapped his chin with the tip of my tentacle. “I like my orgasms often. Just throwing it out there.”
“For now, you need to prove to me you’re okay and will live. My hearts will never be the same after today.”
“Hearts?”
“I have three.”
His hands over his cheeks. “Can I listen to your heartbeats?”
“Sure.”
Like a jack in the box, he sprang up, climbed on my lap, and put his ear against my chest.
I ran my fingers through his hair in delicate strokes. It was so soft under my fingers, and its scent was rich with notes of blueberries and oranges.
“I can hear them!” He wiggled excitedly, swinging his tail around so hard that he sent the puzzles we put together hurling to the floor.
I gasped. “Kaos!”
Chapter Ten
Spiro
Three days passed, filled with cooking, puzzles, TV, and cuddles. The last one usually ended with mutual orgasms, and neither of us complained about that. We did it on the couch, on the rug in front of the fireplace, and in the kitchen, but we hadn’t yet made it to the bedroom. As much as I wanted to cuddle my kitten, I wasn’t sure if sleeping together would be a good idea. I was reluctant to create new habits that might be hard to break at the end of the month. Who was I kidding? This little ball of energy was making his way under my skin, and I had to protect my heart at all costs.
I looked through my food supplies in the kitchen and was happy to find that I could make a special dish for Kaos thatwouldn’t irritate his stomach or cause him to break out in hives. Thankfully, now I had a full list of his allergies.
His room was empty, and the house was eerily quiet.Did he eat something he shouldn’t have and collapsed?
