Finally, we arrived at the big, albeit cosy house we called home this month.
“I’m gonna take a hot shower,” I announced when I kicked my boots off. “My ass cheeks are snow globes, I swear.”
Spiro chuckled on the way to his room. “I’ll wash the city smell off me as well.”
Once the water was the same temperature demons in hell use for torture, my body began warming up. Analyzing the day, a sense of unease entered my system. Spiro had been taking in stride everything that made other people angry in my behavior, like not wearing appropriate clothes for the weather, slipping, picking a restaurant based on whether they served food I couldeat, and so much more I lost count. He only had three weeks to survive with me, but if he wasn’t getting furious with me now, he might lose it later.
My hands shook as I lathered my chest and realized it had turned furry. So had my thighs and arms. I touched my face and stifled a gasp. Taking deep breaths, I willed the fur away, but my distress remained. What if Spiro saw me?
Maybe he should. I could give him more reasons to test his patience. Would he find me unattractive and kick me out? The sooner, the better. If he broke my heart now, I’d have more time to recover before I went back home. Because, holy fuck, he was taking up so much space in my heart. Filling it fully.
Oh no.
Barely towelled off, I pulled on a fresh hoodie and marched into the kitchen where Spiro was super-glueing another mug I broke the day before.
“Why are you fixing it? It was my fault. You should be mad at me.” I put my hands on my hips.
Spiro traced his fingertip over the crack, wiping excess glue, then put it aside. “Because it was an accident. And it’s no problem. Worst case, we buy a set of new mugs at the end of our stay.” He said it with such stoicism that panic filled me. What if he was holding it all in so hard that, once he burst, he’d hurt me? No, not Spiro. But I’d been wrong before.
I eyed the mug on the edge of the counter and pushed it off with my finger. It shattered on the floor, splashing the remnants of water on Spiro’s bare feet.
“This time it wasn’t.” I wrapped my tail around my right leg and flattened my ears, waiting for him to explode. My heart thudded as I held my breath.
Spiro narrowed his eyes and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “If you’re trying to rage-bait me, it’s not working.”
“What the hell? You’re supposed to be mad at me!” My hands shook and I balled them into fists.
Spiro let his tentacles out and put them gently over my shoulders. “What do you need, my kitten?”
My bottom lip trembled, and I hated it. I despised myself for being so weak, so weird. What the fuck was wrong with me? “I don’t know. It was such a perfect day, and now it’s not.” I stomped my feet, not caring about the shards.
Kaos moved me to the left, sidestepping the broken mug and cupping my face in his big warm hands.
“Did you have a good day today?” His calm voice annoyed me.
“Yes.” I grumbled. Even to my own ears, I sounded like a brat. “So why am I sad and angry now?”
Spiro chewed his bottom lip. “You may be having an endorphin drop.”
“You made me too happy and safe, and now I’m paying for it? Figures. Is that why I feel so unstable?” I poked him in the chest with a finger. “It’s all your fault.”
He caught my hand in his tentacle and cradled it to his pec. “It might be that. Let’s figure out how to make it better. Did it happen to you before?”
I pursed my lips. “Maybe not so hard, but yeah.”
“What do you usually do?”
I flicked a piece of mug with my toe. “I pick a fight.”
“Right.” Spiro hoisted me up under my arms like I was a stray cat and carried me away from the shards. “Come with me. Do you want to try something?”
“My feet are dangling a foot off the ground, but sure, I’m on my way.” I deadpanned.
His tiny smile was not hiding his amusement as he set me on the rug and sat on the couch.
“Strip and lay over my lap.” He turned the electric fireplace on and tossed the remote on the table.
I stood in front of him, pouting, and processed what he’d said. I’d trusted people way too quickly before and it had backfired on me, but Spiro had proven over and over again that he’d protect me from everything, even myself.
