“Tell me again,” he demanded, grabbing my chin when I looked away and forcing me to face him.
“I love you, you fool!” I yelled at him. “And I’m scared because I want you to own me.”
“Oh, Alice,” he said in pity, settling his body on top of mine. He was warm with hard muscles and soft fur. “There’s no reason to be scared,” he whispered in my ear. A low purr vibrated in his chest. “I shall be the very best owner.” His hand slipped around my neck, holding me in a firm grip as his mouth trailed kisses across my face. I felt my panic start to settle as the purr continued on.
“Will you?” I asked. “There’s no knowing with you. Cats kill their prey.” He chuckled at my words, nipping at my ear.
“My love might be demanding but I’d never truly hurt you, Alice.”
“Your love?” My breath seemed to leave me all at once.
“Yes, White Rabbit, I have loved you for a long time and will never stop.”
“How terrible,” I said, my voice breaking. His confession overwhelmed me, making my body tingle from my toes to the top of my head.
“Quite terrible indeed,” he responded in amusement. He pressed his cheek to mine and rumbled a final loud purr before suddenly ripping me from the ground. He tossed me over his shoulder. I squealed and thrashed but then he began carrying us back the way we came so I settled down.
“Where is Shaheen?” I asked. “You didn’t kill him did you?”
“Not yet,” he said. “Though I did nearly kill Mad Hatter before she ran away. I always feel like murdering her far too often. She’s so irritating.” He gave a moody sigh.
Suddenly hands reached out from the woods and snatched me. I screamed, grabbing Cheshire’s arm as tight as I could but that only resulted in us both being lifted off the ground.
Chapter19
Alice
Leaves brushed my face and arms as I was plucked off the forest floor. I clutched Cheshire and he came with me, although I realised another hand was gripping him too. So many hands.
“Alice,” Shaheen sighed, hauling me into his body up in the branches. Two arms wrapped around me, encapsulating me so hard I could barely breathe. His other two arms reached behind me, holding Cheshire just as close. I felt their bodies caging me in tightly, squeezing me. I felt their chests and arms and legs—everything tangled up like vines twisting around one another.
"I've decided I don't care if you hate me," Shaheen murmured, lips pressing roughly to my mouth, demanding they open for him. His tongue dove in, dominating me for one breathless minute.
“What’s happening?” I asked. Everything only seemed to be getting tighter, pressing us even harder together. Cheshire sucked in a hissing breath.
“It’s time I cocoon but I’m much too selfish to let you two walk freely while I do it,” Shaheen mouthed against my skin. He was so needy for me as if just a moment without me had him half in withdrawal.
The light was dimming, being blocked up by golden silk winding around the three of us. It climbed higher, blocking out the entire world until it was just the three of us together. We were so entwined I could hardly tell where bodies began and ended. My heart pounded in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Alice,” Shaheen murmured, his mouth dragging over my face and then sucking on my lips greedily. He groaned, his fingers dancing down my belly until he slid them between my lower lips.
“I don’t—” A small whimper left me as his fingers dove inside me.
“No talking, Alice.” Shaheen’s voice was framed with authority, the command simple but effective. I found myself wanting to please him, to do as he asked. I sucked my lips into my mouth and whimpered more as he pressed another finger inside me.
His legs were everywhere against me, gripping my thighs and calves, spreading them wide. A soft, furred tail brushed up my ankle and moved up, making me tremble as Cheshire’s clawed hands grasped my hips.
“You can hate me all you want,” Shaheen murmured across my skin. “Despise me as I bring you pleasure, Alice. That’s fine. But I won’t let you leave. No more running. No more walking out of my door, leaving me to wonder if you’ll ever come back. If you’ll ever remember me.
You won’t need to remember me because I’ll be with you every waking minute of every single day, teaching you how our bodies combine all over again if I must.”
I opened my mouth to talk but Cheshire pressed a hand to my face. He covered my mouth, pulling my head against his shoulder and not letting me speak.
“You heard him, Alice,” he said in my ear, amusement sparkling in his words. “No talking.” Shaheen pressed a third finger inside me. I moaned behind Cheshire's hand, feeling the tickle of his claws against my face.
Then Cheshire’s hand travelled south, where Shaheen was already buried.
“Ahh, does my pet want inside Alice too?” Shaheen rasped. I felt Cheshire’s finger push inside me, tangling with Shaheen’s to stretch me out.
