“It’s not the first time I’ve had a cat claw in me, Trouble. Although, I can say that I haven’t had a lot of experience with cats wanting to join in on the action. New experience there.”
He doesn’t laugh, but after swiping up the blood threatening his sheets, something cold covers the first cut, stinging enough for me to register it as rubbing alcohol. I hiss in a breath, and Jansen apologizes. “Shoot, I should have warned you. I’ll warn you next time. I didn’t think he’d do something like that. I’m so sorry.”
The pain has me pausing my pets, and Prince Fluffington nudges my hand again, obviously wanting more attention. “No worries, Jansen. His royal highness has already apologized. Not that I plan on getting naked around him again, at least until we figure out if that was a fluke or a habit.”
“Sting incoming,” he mutters, the warning lessening the burn. “I can’t say I blame you, but I’m not waiting a week to fuck you, Clara. Next cut.”
“No, you’re right. That’s way too long.” He treats each subsequent wound as I watch his focused attention on my back,Fluffington’s soft fur under my fingers. He finishes up with a smattering of Band-Aids that tells me exactly how bad my back is right now.
“No backless dresses for a while, I take it?”
His sad gaze turns to me. “I don’t care what you wear. As long as you’re here to wear it, I’m happy, beautiful.”
I roll so I can rest my palms against his cheeks. “I’m here, Jansen. Right here.”
His eyes close. “I know. I just worry. So much bad shit keeps happening. How long until it’s too much? Until you’re not here with me?”
This kiss is quiet, small, and my chest aches. Because what do I say to that? “The future’s never guaranteed. Not for any of us. All we have for sure is right now. So, for now, be happy with me?”
His lips twist up, but his eyes are still sad. “Are you handing out wisdom now?”
“Only sometimes. I don’t seem to be the wisest. I have a feeling if I were, I wouldn’t keep getting into these situations.”
His lips meet mine again, but it doesn’t escalate. “Maybe we both need a little more wisdom.”
Prince Fluffington chooses that moment to force himself between us, his tail held high. Jansen chuckles, then scratches the cat’s rump. “You should have seen Walker picking out a food dish for this handsome fellow. I think a pet might be in our future.”
I allow the subject change. Too much heaviness has hung over all of us. A little mindless fun is a needed break. “Really? You think we should get a pet?”
“Not now. But when things settle down, it could be fun.”
“Dog or cat?”
“Both. You?”
Sitting up, I pull my shirt back on, Jansen mirroring me, silently agreeing that sex isn’t going to happen right now. We’reboth too raw once the initial mood was cut. Literally. “I’ve never had either, so I don’t think I have any particular preferences.”
“No pets?”
“Nope. My mom hated the mess. And probably the responsibility.”
“Your mom, Clara...” Jansen’s face twists.
“Trust me, I know.”
“But your dad’s pretty cool. Needs a spine, but cool.”
I search my memory, but I can’t think of any reason for Jansen to have an opinion about my dad. “You didn’t even talk to him at my race.”
“Oh, no. Not then. We chatted when I got your old snow stuff.”
“And my mom didn’t freak out?”
He leans back against the headboard, the cat settling into his lap. “She wasn’t awake.”
“How late were you there?”
“Like, one in the morning.”
