Page 79 of Cats Never Fly

“Yes.Onlyfated mates,”Iagreed.

Heblinked his eyes rapidly and a tear escaped out of the corner of his eye. “You’rereally my fated mate.Iwanted to believe it, but when theEternalMagicdidn’t mark us before…”

“Believeit, kitty cat.Itis true,”Iwhispered. “We’rebonded now.Ourlives are entwined.

“Forthe rest of our lives.”

“Ourvery long lives,”Iamended.

“Howold are you?”

“Olderthan anyone else inWillowLake.”

“EvenGage?”Simonsounded shocked, like he couldn’t imagine anyone as old as that.

“Yes.Isthat a problem?”

“No…Ijust…Wow.”

“Justdon’t call me yourSugarGrandaddy,”Iteased.

Iopened my mouth to tease him some more, but he cut off whatIwas going to say with a kiss.Onekiss became two, and then more.Welost ourselves in one another until we were sated again.

“I’llbe right back,”Simonsaid when our bodies cooled and our breathing calmed.

Hecrawled out of the little nest of blankets and pillows.Thebeautiful sight of him walking naked through my rooftop garden mesmerized me.Hedisappeared down the steps to my apartment.Ithought about following, but my body was still shattered from my last orgasm.

ThenSimonwas back, carrying a couple of bottles of water and a cloth.Hissmile was shy as he kneeled beside me.

“Here,” he said as he set the water down, “let me clean you.”

Iblinked at him, but he didn’t move untilInodded my okay.Ashe brushed the warm, wet cloth over my belly,Iswallowed hard.Icouldn’t remember the last time anyone had taken the time to care for me like this.Mypast lovers had come—pun intended—and gone.Simontook his time, wiping away the cum from my stomach and then down over my cock and along my hole.EvenwithSimon, until tonight,I’dalways been the one to tend to him.Iloved caring for him like this, soIwas surprised how muchIenjoyed the reverse too.

Ashe worked, a soft purr rumbled from his chest, telling me he was enjoying doing this for me.Histouch was gentle and sure, not meant to arouse me, but the intimacy of what he was doing made my eyes sting with emotion.Whenhe was done, he tossed the cloth aside before grabbing a bottle of water and opening it.

“Here, this is for you,” he said, passing one to me, while keeping one for himself.

“IthoughtIwas the one who was supposed to spoilyou,”Iteased asItook the bottle, but my voice betrayed my emotions.Icouldn’t hide how much these little actions of his were unraveling me.Filledwith a need to show himIappreciated his thoughtfulness,Idrank down the water.

Whenwe set the empty bottles aside, he stretched out beside me and wrapped his arm around me again.Hisfingers drew feather-light loops over my stomach.

“Whatif…” he said softly. “Whatif we spoil one another?”

“Ilove that idea.”

“Good.”

Welay beside one another, listening to the muted noises of a small town settling down for the night.Adog barked in the distance.Acar drove past on the street below.Achorus of crickets sang their songs.Iwanted to stay forever in this moment, wrapped in the warm embrace of my lover, my mate, listening to peaceful and familiar sounds.Therewas only one thing we had not done yet: shifted with one another.

“Iwould like to see your shifted form,”Iwhispered.Iwasn’t worried about anyone else hearing me, but the intimacy of the moment begged for softly spoken words.

Simonlifted on his elbow so he could look into my eyes. “Youwant to see my cat?”

“Yes,”Isaid. “Butonly if you want to show me.”

“Iam a boring house cat in my shifted form.Iam not majestic like you.”

Ireached up to cradle his face in my hands. “Don’tbelittle yourself, kitty cat.Iam interested in you, all of you.Youcould be the smallest mouse andIwould still marvel at the privilege of seeing your animal half.Iam adragon by a twist of fate; there was nothingIdid to achieve that.Itis not an accomplishment; it is simply a fact.Iam no more majestic than any other creature or shifter.ButIwould like to know everything about you.Youare whoIwant to see because you are everything to me.Iwould be honored to see your cat form.”