He shrugged. “It’s just a cat.”
“I know it’s a cat. I’ve seen them before,” I said, locked in the staring contest with the black animal. “But it’s in our car.”
“So? Just move it outside.” Picking my backpack off the ground, Zion placed it behind the driver’s seat, oblivious to the kitten refusing to budge from its spot.
Rooted in my spot, I huffed, “How am I supposed to do that?”
His chuckle wrapped around me like wisps of smoke. “Don’t tell me you’ve never held a cat.”
My glower deepened. “I haven’t. Ilasall euthanizes any strays, and only green-banded can afford to keep them as pets.”
Sure, I’d seen them before, even came close to some when I’d visited the apartments of the fertile folk to tradefavors. But I’d never actually interacted with the animals. I’d been too terrified of accidentally hurting them and then having to deal with the wrath of their owners.
Zion leaned against the trunk. “Then go ahead and pet it.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “It’s not going to bite me?”
“Not unless you provoke it. It might scratch you, but it’s still a kitten, so your pretty ass is safe.” To fully drill in his point, he bent forward to check out my backside.
“Stop gawking at my butt.”
“Never. It’s something I can pet while you take care of the kitten.” Pushing off the car, he patted my ass twice before complaining about too many layers covering it. Apparently, it should have none. Which was also one of the reasons I hadn’t purchased a full wardrobe since he’d incinerated the previous one.
Except underwear. That I had to keep buying anew as it continued to disappear, one pair at a time. As if I wouldn’t notice.
Warily, I reached for the kitten, pausing to let it sniff me. When it didn’t leap away, I scooped it up, bringing it close to my chest, marveling at its wide eyes bouncing between me and Zion. It was so scrawny I could count each of its ribs.
Before my courage had the chance to run out, I gently patted its back. It rested its head on my forearm, and I freaking melted. Who knew cats could be so lovable? “It’s so soft.”
“Told you so.” Zion stuffed his hand down my sweatpants and two pairs of leggings, startling me with his cold touch. “Don’t move. You don’t want to scare it, do you?”
Grumbling under my nose, I swore to make him pay once we were back. Tonight, I was going to press my freezing feet to his bare back right as he was about to fall asleep.
Squeezing my ass, he let out ahmph. “Just as soft. And squishy,” he said, continuing to knead my flesh.
Nothing could uproot his craziness.
And yet…I’d learned to crave it. Had developed a thirst for it.
To the point that if too much time had passed since he displayed a glimpse, I’d begin to miss it.
Caressing the kitten, I smiled—an actual, true-to-my-bones smile. It seldom made an appearance these days. “What do you think it’s doing here?”
He brushed the underside of my butt. “Something probably happened to his mother for him to stay here instead of running away. It’s, like, two or three months old.”
“Him?” My face flushed from him brushing between my legs, making me squirm. “Zion.”
“Do you want me to stop?” He tapped thrice in quick succession. “Do something else?”
“I’m holding a cat,” I retorted. “I can’t do anything.”
“You don’t have to.” He skimmed along my underwear and paused right above my clit, resting his forefinger exactly where he knew inaction was going to drive me insane. My skill set lacked patience. Didn’t have a drop of it.
“You just have to keep still, or the kitten will sink his nails into you.” Zion put pressure on that bundle of nerves sparking tolife, and a whimper slipped out of me despite my resolve to stay serious. “And you know what blood does to me.”
Such an ordinary thing—crimson, liquid, and tasting of iron. Yet whenever I cut myself making breakfast, and he sucked my finger clean, my thighs would quake, like they were about to do now.
He hummed, kissing down my neck, mapping out my arteries. “Your pulse is racing.”
