A few minutes later, Robin was once again a damp, resentful puffball wrapped snugly in a fresh towel, glaring in turn at me, Jesse, and the toilet.
Jesse huffed out a breath, wiping her hands on a towel. “What were we talking about before this untimely interruption?”
I thought for a moment. “Oh, I was asking if you planned to join Candi and me in whatever depraved activities you presumed we were doing.”
She glanced at me, running her tongue over her teeth in that way she did when she was annoyed. “Funny. Actually, I decided to learn from my previous mistake and not give in to assumptions this time. I came here to talk to you, to find out the truth instead of imagining the worst.”
“Well, well.” I arched my eyebrows, genuinely impressed. “Look at you, all mature and communicative. I’m grateful. Really grateful.”
I meant it. She could have stayed away, could have let her assumptions fester, could have written us off completely. Instead, she’d come here, taken the risk, and given us another chance.
Eventually, despite my best efforts, Robin managed to worm his way out of the towel and leaped onto the floor, taking off as though his tail was on fire. He bounced off the walls, sliding on the tile, clearly searching for somewhere to hide and groom himself in peace.
I looked at Jesse. “Should I—?”
She burst into laughter. “Let him be. It’s hot, and he’s dry enough. Once he calms down, we’ll show him where the litter box is.”
“And that’s it?” I was skeptical. “We just show him where it is, and he’ll magically know to use it?”
“Pretty much, yeah. As long as you keep it clean and accessible, he’ll figure it out. Oh, and always keep fresh water available.”
“That sounds manageable.” I leaned over to give her a quick kiss, already addicted to the easy affection between us. “I’ll be a great cat dad.”
“I believe you will be.”
“And you’ll be a great cat mom.” I watched her reaction carefully, saw her eyes widen slightly before she looked away.
She cleared her throat. “We should check on him before we get in the shower. Make sure he hasn’t destroyed anything or gotten stuck somewhere.”
We found Robin on the bed, perched regally despite his spiky, damp fur, furiously licking himself.
“We literally just washed him. Twice.” I stood there baffled, watching this tiny creature undo all our work—well, Jesse’s work mostly. “Why is he doing that?”
Jesse giggled. “In his mind, we completely ruined his fur with our stinky water and awful-smelling shampoo. Cats only feel truly clean after they’ve groomed themselves. It’s just how they are.”
“Nothing like taking matters into your own... tongue, huh?” I turned to her with a playful expression, my mind already heading in a different direction.
She caught my meaning immediately, a smile playing at her lips. “Sometimes it takes another tongue to get the job done.”
I slid my own tongue into her mouth and kissed her slowly, savoring her taste as we made our way back to the bathroom. We turned on the shower, and I adjusted the temperature to lukewarm. This was the first time we’d showered together, and I wanted to take my time.
We were still hungry for each other, even after the intense encounter in the kitchen less than an hour ago. But this time was different—slower, more deliberate, more tender. We lathered each other with shower gel, turning the simple act of washing into something intimate and sensual. My hands worshiped the curves of her body, the places that made her breath catch, the spots that made her press closer.
Once we’d rinsed off, I couldn’t resist anymore. I tore my mouth from hers and moved lower, my hands and tongue tracing a path down her body until I was kneeling before her. She braced herself against the wet tile, and when my tongue first touched her center, she let her head fall back with a moan that echoed off the bathroom walls.
Being able to give her pleasure was quickly becoming my favorite thing in the world. I raked my hands up her thighs as I worked, feeling the muscles tense under my palms. My tongue explored every fold, every sensitive spot, alternating between gentle and demanding. When I added my fingers, sliding them inside and matching the rhythm of my mouth, her hands tightened in my wet hair.
I could feel her getting close, her body tensing, her breathing becoming ragged. Just when she was on the brink, I rose to my feet and turned her to face the wall, entering her from behind. My fingers found her front, stroking and circling that sensitive bundle of nerves, and she cried out, her face pressed against the wet tile.
When she convulsed around me, I let go completely, following her over the edge and pouring myself into her, whilewater continued cascading over us from above. In that moment, I knew with absolute certainty I was never letting her go again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jesse
I stood in a green field, butterflies dancing around me. One brushed my face, making me smile. The touches grew more insistent, until one nearly flew up my nose. I batted it away. Then, the butterfly scratched me.
My eyes flew open—well, one of them, since the other was buried in the pillow. Robin sat watching me, his green gaze unblinking. When he realized I was awake, he let out a demanding meow, circled twice, and planted his butt on my nose.
