His gaze burns into me, heavy but awed.
He still hasn’t dared to touch me.
“I need you to understand,” I continue, my voice barely a whisper, “when I dance now, it’s because I decide to. Not because I’m owned, not because I’m grateful.”
I let my hands touch his chest, shifting upwards to the thick and muscled column of his throat. My hand presses in, feeling the solid muscle beneath the soft fur. I drag it up his chest and stop at the base of his neck.
“You saved my life, and that matters,” I admit.
I wind a circle with my hips, drawing a quickly swallowed growl from Mekkra.
“But this isn’t payment.” My mouth hovers near his collarbone, and I let my teeth graze lightly against the fur there. “This is a demonstration.”
I pull away from him slowly, meeting that possessive gaze.
“Are you willing to fight to win me? Because I don’t surrender. I choose.”
The words linger between us as I continue my lap dance. He’s holding himself rigidly, hands gripping the arms of the chair like he’s bracing for some terrible impact.
“You…are…enjoying…this,” he says through gritted teeth.
“What girl doesn’t enjoy being listened to?” I reply lightly.
But with that one shift of my hips, I’m taken off guard.
It’s not only his spine that’s grown rigid.
I pause. Sure, I knew it would be larger given his size, but something here feels different.
“Hold up.” My brows pull together as I look down at his crotch.
“What?” His ears twitch.
“That doesn’t feel standard issue, that feels like something new.”
“New to you.” A pleased rumble rolls through his chest.
“Don’t get too smug.” I suppress a curious little smile from spreading too far on my lips. I motion a hand toward this recent development. “May I?”
“Yes,” Mekkra says, almost a little too quickly.
I gently trace a finger around its outline. Something is definitely twisted, and the head feels blunt and strange.
“Should I be…concerned?” I look back up to him.
“You are safe with me.” His expression quickly shifts to one of my serious protector.
“That’s sweet—but not what I meant.”
He studies me for a second, as if to double-check that I’m not mocking him, but actually asking out of curiosity.
“If we’re going to eventually…go there…” I pause, not really sure how to word this. “I want to understand what you’re working with.”
His hand twitches.
“I can show you, if that’s what you wish?” he asks, sounding hopeful.
“Sure do." I giddily swing my legs before hopping down, ready for the show.
