Raya slowly backs off, unlocking her jaw and releasing Chadwick’s neck from her hold. He whimpers again, his bound hands reaching for his neck despite that being the only area on his body that seems unharmed. I eye the pool of blood beneath him with a sick satisfaction.
“Come on, sweet girl, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I lead Raya to the closest restroom and manage to flip the lock before she rumbles a warning and pressesherself between me and the door, herding me to the opposite side of the restroom.
“Okay, okay,” I say, backing up until I’m as far from the door, and Chadwick, as I can be. My heart is thumping an erratic rhythm in my chest, and Raya is pacing, prowling around the small space, her enormous cat form only allowing her a few steps in each direction as she continues to protect me.
What remain of her clothes are tattered rags, completely destroyed from her shift and fight. I slip off my suit jacket, then unbutton my shirt. My clothes swamp her, so it should be enough for now, at least to get her out to my car. I hang my shirt on a hook next to the sink, then I sit down with my back against the far wall.
“Raya,” I say, keeping my voice as soft and calm as I can.
Her spotted head swings around, and those golden eyes pierce me.
“You’re amazing,” I tell her, and her ears twitch. “Thank you.”
Her pacing slows and she lowers her head, looking at me from the other side of the room.
“Can you come over here? Can I pet you?”
Her head tilts and she hunches down, then shuffles over on her belly as though to make herself seem smaller. As soon as she’s within reach, I tug her toward me—as much as I can when she’s a nearly 200 pound cat. I pat the floor next to me and she crouches, settling on her haunches. I’m thankful this area has been closed all morning so it’s still freshly cleaned.
“You magnificent woman.” I card my fingers through her fur, then press my palms to her feline cheeks and gaze straight into her eyes. “Incredible. You’re absolutely incredible. Thank you for protecting me. We’re safe now.”
She blinks one big, slow blink. I have a feeling she’s not entirely in control of her animal, so I lean back and settle in,prepared to sit here with her for as long as it takes. Raya’s head drops into my lap, and I continue to pet around her ears, up and down her snout, between her eyes, down her neck and along her back. As much as I can reach from this position, and soon she starts purring.
It startles me at first, the deep rumble that comes from her chest and vibrates my entire arm, but I grin when I realize what it is. Her eyes are closed, and it’s not long after that, that she shivers and the spotted fur recedes. Her body contorts and transforms back into her beautiful, human skin, and I’m holding my sunshine in my arms again.
44
EMBRACING MY INNER BOSS BABE
RAYA
Asher pullsme into his lap before I’m even done shifting, and I huff a laugh at his impatience. I curl my legs into my chest and his arms circle around me, holding me close against him. He nuzzles his nose into my hair and inhales a deep breath. I stick mine to the bare skin at the base of his throat and breathe in his scent as well. I rub my cheeks all over his chest and shoulders, along his jaw and chin, belatedly realizing what a feline move it is to attempt to mark him as mine in that way.
When I look up, he’s already gazing at me.
“You weren’t afraid of me,” I say.
“Why would I be?” His arms are tight around me and his fingers trace small circles in my skin.
“Because I mauled and nearly kill a man?” I say, darting my eyes to the floor next to us.
Asher stiffens for a moment before his muscles relax again.
“That is no man,” he says, his voice gruff. “That is a monster, and he deserves to die.”
His arms cinch tighter around me, and I snuggle into him, letting him hold me as we chase away each other’s demons.
“Are you okay?” Asher asks a short time later.
I nod and tap his hands to let me go. They tighten around me for a moment before loosening, and my face flushes at my nakedness.
“Let me make sure you’re not hurt,” Asher says, standing and pulling me to my feet with him as he twists my body and inspects every inch of me.
My cheeks flame hotter under his scrutiny, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He tugs me toward the sink and wets a paper towel, gently trailing it along one arm, then my ribs on one side, and finally around my calves, feet, and ankles.
It appears most of the blood wasn’t mine, either that or I’ve already healed from whatever superficial wounds Chadwick managed to inflict on me. One laceration along my side still beads with fresh blood, and I eye it in the mirror before the weight of Asher’s gaze settles on mine, and I turn my eyes up to him.
