“It’s so inspiring out here. I would have been scared to be in the country, outside, at night, just a few weeks ago.” He groped blindly for my hand and I grasped his.
“What changed?”
“You’re here with me.”
The whole way to the front steps, I felt like I was floating. I had him wait outside while I put the food away and then came back and took his hand again, guiding him around to the barn. His steps picked up as he seemed to realize where we were going, and he gave me a little purr to let me know he’d already figured out this was going to be a surprise for my Harley kitten. I laughed and we ran the last little way, stumbling in the dark, to the small side door of the barn.
“I did this Wednesday when you were at your apartment,” I said and reached in to flip on the overhead light. It blinded us for a moment, but then Harley raced past me and the other furniture over to the cat tree. It was finished, finally. There were six levels on it, and I didn’t tell Harley this, but I’d made Kwan climb up on each level with me and we’d both jumped on them together… just to make sure that there were no unfortunate accidents later.
Harley let out a gleeful yelp as he climbed up onto the first level. I’d gone with an actual tree aesthetic so that each branch looked like it had real bark on the sides, with a ledge wide enough to hold two people. He moved to the other side to the next branch and then did the same, crossing over the center pillar, until he had made his way to the highest branch, which was almost to the barn ceiling. I had the structure anchored to a beam overhead with a steel rod that I planned to eventually hide somehow, but he grabbed it and stood up there grinning, more like a lookout on a pirate ship than a cat.
“I love it!” He slung himself easily down from level to level, and was far more graceful here than he had been earlier playing games with his brothers.
“And… I’m glad,” I finished lamely, shocked at what I’d been about to say back to him. And I love you. I didn’t think he would appreciate it yet, but he met my eyes and his cheeks turned a sweet rosy color, and I thought maybe he was thinking it too.
That was okay. We could wait until the time was right. I walked over to him and waited at the bottom level until he stepped down onto it and then plopped onto his butt in front of me, hooking his legs around my waist. I loved the position, and had half expected him to slip into his kitty persona, but instead he put his arms around me and buried his face against my chest. He sighed there, nuzzling, and I held him, stroking his hair. My excitement felt softer tonight—not that I didn’t want to fuck him, because I did, but I also wanted this gentle stuff we had going on right now. It was perfect.
“No one’s done anything like this for me before.”
“It was my pleasure,” I whispered and meant it.
He didn’t move, only hugged me tighter.
When we began to kiss, I was surprised. There was no purring. No teasing. He opened his mouth and welcomed me into the silky heat with a new enthusiasm. I hadn’t thought he was holding back before, but he sucked my tongue and rocked against me in such a sweet way that I was hard and hurting for him in no time at all. Electricity danced in my gut with every tiny suck to the tip of my tongue.
He pulled back and gasped out, “You really did this just for me?”
“Well, yeah.”
He shook his head and glanced around like he was waiting to be punked, but then stroked his hands slowly along my arms. His gaze lingered in the corner. I’d stuffed all the dog toys that had been lying around into the kennel and then tossed a gray tarp over it. The appreciative grin I got from him made the small effort well worth it.
“Can we… do you…?” He swallowed and looked away. “Do you have any interest in having sex with Harley the man?”
I blinked at him for a few seconds. “Harley, I want you any way I can get you.”
He rested his forehead on my chest again, and I found myself holding and rocking him for a few long minutes while he shivered in my arms.
“Take me to the bed? I want… I love this, but I want….”
Reaching down, I snagged his chin and tilted it up. He seemed shaken, maybe, but mostly okay. His eyes were clear and bright. No fear. I nodded. “Yeah, I’d love that.”
Harley gave me a warm, crooked smile and I kissed him again. The mood of the hour was sultry and slow. We took our time winding each other up until he was gasping and thrusting against me where he had his dick pressed tightly to my stomach. When we finally got in the house, he stumbled his way upstairs ahead of me. For once, he stripped the clothes off me, pushed me back onto the bed and climbed on top. After a quick fumble to get a condom and lube onto my dick, he sank down onto my hard cock. His tightness and heat forced my eyes closed as he rolled his hips in a slow version of heaven until we were both covered in sweat with cum splattered between us.
Afterward, I cleaned up and then held him, exhausted, staring directly into his brown eyes. My heart hitched when he stared right back at me, unwavering and content.
“Harley? I like the kitty. Hell, he’s fun. But it’s the whole Harley I want, you get that?”
He never answered me, only tucked his head under my chin and clung tighter. I lay awake for a long time, hoping I’d be able to convince him so he’d never run away again. I was hooked.
16
Ididn’t know what was worse, standing out in the middle of a baseball—sorry, kickball —field, or the fact that my family, nearly all of them, were sitting in the crowd, cheering my name loud and very clear for everyone to hear. I flushed in embarrassment and glanced at Brad, who stood at the pitcher’s mound. He winked at me and I ducked my head. Practice was nothing like this.
The Grizzly Boys were big men, much larger now that I was up close to them. Somehow, the Mighty Unicorns were playing them for a second time. I didn’t quite understand the elimination schedule. One man lingered on the base I stood near, and he glanced over his shoulder at me with a charming smile. I barely reached his shoulders, and he was so wide that I had to peer around his mass to look at Brad.
“Hey.”
I startled, looking at the Grizzly. “Hi.”
