Cillian: I saw the news about the snowstorm! You okay?
Kaos: I’m safe and staying at the house as planned, but the plot has thickened. I’ll call you later and tell you all about it.
Cill: You better. Don’t disappear on me again. WTF.
Kaos: I won’t. My phone is charged now.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask about your dietary needs.” Spiro’s voice brought my head up. “I just assumed, I guess. Since you’re a feline species…”
“I must love milk.”
“Yeah.” He grimaced, running a hand through his lush hair.
The silver bracelet around his wrist gleamed in the morning light from outside, but it was the jewel embedded in it that drew my attention. The red gemstone matched Spiro’s burgundy complexion, and I made a note to ask him about it later.
“I do. But my body doesn’t. It doesn’t tolerate lactose. Or gluten.” I curled my legs under me and shoved my tail under my hoodie.
“I’ll remember that.”
“I don’t expect you to. Or anyone else. It’s my problem, and I should double-check everything before I eat, but then I feel weird if I do that when I go out with my friends or family. I either have to be a big nuisance, or have regular food and suffer the consequences.”
“That’s shit. I’m sorry.” He patted my thigh with a tentacle, then grabbed it with his hand, taking it away. “I have black tea, ginger, and chamomile. Would any of that help now?”
The brief touch on my leg was warm, and I craved its immediate return. Ugh, I was so naïve and needy. “I took some pills, but black tea would be nice. Just let me know where it is. I’d rather make it myself.”
“It’s in the top cupboard in the kitchen.”
Springing to my feet, I pulled my hoodie down to my mid-thigh. “Would you like some?”
“Nah, I’ll grab some orange juice.”
Pleasantly surprised by the presence of an electric kettle, I brewed a bag of Lipton in a mug I found next to the sink.My ancestry was predominantly Icelandic, but the cousins from England had insisted on using a kettle whenever they visited and beat the idea of microwaving water for tea out of me. The glasses took up the top shelf in the cabinet, so I climbed on the counter to reach one.
I slipped, losing my balance. With a squeak, I tumbled to the floor, sending the glass shattering as well as another mug that I knocked off with my tail on the way down.
Spiro was by my side within a split second, lifting me up with his tentacles under my arms. “Are you okay?”
I looked up to see his worried face.
“I’m fine. I’m used to falling over, but be careful.” I pointed to the mess I’d made.
“I will.” He shook his head, looking at the mess. “I have four tentacles out and do less damage than you with one tail in less than three minutes in this kitchen.”
“I’m sorry.” I felt like crying, but I wouldn’t. This guy let me stay with him, and all I was doing was making it more difficult than it needed to be.
“It’s okay. I’m just not used to having anyone in my kitchen. Or people not doing what I told them.”
I blushed.
He scooped me up and sat me on the counter so quickly that I yelped in surprise.
“Shit, sorry.” He patted glass shards off my socked feet. “I didn’t want you getting hurt. I won’t do that again.”
I wiggled my toes. “Oh, I don’t mind. You can carry me around anytime.” I bit my lip and regretted my words instantly.What the fuck, Kaos?I did mean what I said, though.
He met my gaze, his tentacles sliding down my legs like a delicate caress that promised much more than cuddles. The static electricity between us returned, and my skin broke out in goosebumps as my heartbeat quickened. I didn’t really knowSpiro, but I wanted to find out everything about him and how he could touch me.
Spiro stepped back, shaking his head. “Noted.” He licked his lips, then looked away. “Stay here.”
