“I like it because yours is tiny.You’retiny.” At the top step, I pause, lowering my head until it hangs by her ear. “I’m very much looking forward to finding out just how easy it’ll be to pick you up, pin you against a wall, or hold you down.”
Her free hand reaches up to clutch my arm, even as her head shrinks back.Mixed reactions. She’ll touch me even when I’m overwhelming her, which is a good sign. Idefinitelylook forward to finding out how we’ll fit sexually. I’ve had experiences with plenty of girls whosaidthat they were into what I liked, that we shared kinks, but tapped out just as I was starting to have fun. The only time a partner has made it through a punishment is a girl who decided she didn’t want asafe word. Watching her wince with every step she took afterward was immensely satisfying.
I think I’ll likeanythingI do with Mira even more.
Chapter Six
Mira
Ifollow Dorian down into the Basement of Doom. He doesn’t let go of my hand, and weirdly, I don’t mind that so much. The point of contact is warm and ignites a feeling of safety in my belly. I know that’s total bullshit; there’s not a single thing about this situation that’s safe. Dorian happens to be the biggest threat in my life right now, but I appreciate the sense of calm that washes over me, even if I know it’s fake and unreliable. Since I can’t have my music yet, I’ll take what I can get.
I half-expect him to bring me to a place with cement walls stained with old blood, but instead we descend into a TV room. There’s a comfortable-looking red velvet couch, accompanied by several stuffed chairs. Across from the couch is amegaTV that makes the one upstairs look like an old box from the 20thcentury.Thisone spans nearly the entire wall. Underneath it is a console table with a cable box, Xbox, and several remotes lined up neatly.Tooneatly; they’re set at perfect 90 degree angles, three inches away from each other.Someone’s got OCD.
The bad vibes here aren’t as intense as I expected, meaning that whatever place is giving off the horrid energy in this house is hidden somewhere nearby. I don’t bother trying to discern where; I don’t need any more scares tonight. My attention is shortly taken up by a cardboard Amazon box in the corner. Little mewls and tiny meows sound from inside it.
“Credence isn’t very friendly,” Dorian warns me. “The kittens are cuddly and don’t mind being held, but their mom is pretty… what do the animal-enthusiasts call it? Spicy?”
I smile. “Yeah, spicy cats refer to the bitchy, hissy ones. Funny enough, my kindle app is filled up withspicybooks, and none of them have anything to do with a cat’s personality. Isn’t it weird how modern-day adjectives have so many meanings?”
Dorian gives me a strange look filled with vague bemusement.
“Is Credence okay with people going up to her?” I ask him.
He nods. “Usually, so long as they don’t touch—what the fuck?”
A blur of gorgeous black fur leaps out of the box. A beautiful cat with slitted green eyes and a glossy coat regally pads her way across the floor, ears perked up, tail twitching with interest. Her eyes remain fixed on me; I let go of Dorian’s hand and smile, sinking to my knees on the ground. I slowly stretch my hand out as she approaches me, palm up, offering her my scent. Credence sniffs the air, blinks slowly, then promptly butts her head into my hand.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I greet, scratching behind her ear. “Not so spicy, are we? You’regorgeous,has anyone told you that?”
“Sheisspicy,” Dorian says, sounding perplexed. “Connor’s threatened to turn her out or skin her more than once after she’s clawed him. He still has scars from the last time he tried to pick her up by the scruff and toss her outside.”
I nod. “Yeah, well, Connor seems like a prick. Is Credence nice to you? Is she your cat?”
“She was living here when we bought the house, so I took responsibility of her. Credencetoleratesme,” Dorian replies. “A few times a month she’llallowme to pet her, not walk right up to me and demand attention.” I can feel his gaze on me. “Whoareyou?”
“Mira,” I reply, chuckling when Credence braces her front paws on my knees and leans deeper into my pets. I switch my position to cross-legged on the ground. She steps back and circles me, rubbing her body along mine. Scent-marking me, probably.
“Are you human?” Dorian asks.
“As far as I know,” I reply. “It’s a terrible affliction. Humans suck. Most of them ignore their true nature and disregard empathy. I stick to my nature and havewaytoo much empathy, which animals can sense. Ergo, they won’t leave me alone. Not that I’d want them to.” I smile when Credence curls up on my lap, rubbing her cheek over the tear in my jeans. She starts kneading my knee; I wince as her claws sink into my skin.
“Oh no, I think someone needs a nail-trim,” I say.
Dorian squats down beside me, reaching his hand toward Credence. She recoils, yowls, and hisses at him in warning.
“Jesus,” Dorian says. “This isridiculous.”
I blink at him. “I already told you I’ve been adopted by a wolf packandthere’s a fox skulk that’s taken to me. Both species are known for being extremely antisocial with humans.” A frown furrows my eyebrows. “Speaking of, I’m surprised Credence doesn’t mind that I stink of wolf. I should’ve changed before I came down here. Is it really surprising that your mean cat likes me?”
“I guess not,” Dorian says. “Hearing it is one thing, seeing it is another.” He braces his hand on my shoulder. Credence tracks the gesture, then promptly hisses and claws at Dorian, who withdraws his hand just in time.
I grin at Cadence. “Possessive already? Wonderful. Don’t worry, my love, I’m all yours.” I lean down to kiss her head. “God, you’re so pretty. All that healthy black fur and thosegorgeous green eyes. So,sopretty.”
“She’s not pretty, she’s fuckingevil,” Dorian seethes. “Seriously, what the hell is happening right now?”
“Don’t you need to bug my phone or something?” I ask him. “Wait, quick question, what should I tell my dorm roommates about my absence for the next week? They’ll want an explanation.”
“Tell them you’re having an affair with a hot guy,” Dorian deadpans. “Should be believable enough.”
