Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
BANE
I walked into the guest room, drying off my hair. Magnolia was on the floor, the kitten sitting on her shoulder as she opened a bag of litter, pouring it into a small pan that I had carried home. When the kitten opened his eyes and saw me, he jumped down, running over and climbing up my leg. I hissed as his sharp little claws dug into my skin, and he curled into my chest as I stopped his trek up my torso. He was purring loudly, making Magnolia chuckle.
“He already loves you. He knows you saved him.”
“He’s going to the shelter. I don’t do pets. Or you can have him.”
She stood, shaking her head. “The owners of the house have strict rules. She is highly allergic to cats. I can’t take him. You have to keep him, Alex.”
“I’m too busy to look after a cat.”
“Cats are very independent. He’ll settle in here where he is safe and quiet.”
“And scratch my furniture and destroy my things.”
“You can train him.”
“Shelter.”
She looked sad but stopped arguing.
I walked over to the little tepee thing, lifting the kitten down and sliding him in the opening. He sniffed around, then curled up, immediately shutting his eyes.
“There. He’s safe. You have food for him, a litter thing, and some toys. He’ll be fine.” I stood, holding out my hand. “Bed. Now, Magnolia.”
She walked past me, and I followed.
“Leave the light on,” she instructed.
I did as she asked, even though I rolled my eyes. I did stop before shutting the door, peeking at the kitten. He was curled into a ball, seemingly content. I had an odd feeling as I left the room, but I convinced myself it was simply because I felt unsettled at the thought of an animal in my house.
In my room, I heard Magnolia in the en suite, and I lay on the bed, waiting for her. This wasn’t how I planned the evening to go. By now, we should be on round two. Maybe three. Not caring for a stray and at odds about its future.
Magnolia came out, wearing a shirt I’d left on the back of the door. I patted the bed. “Come here, darling.”
She hesitated but did as I asked and crawled into bed, letting me pull her close. I pressed a kiss to her neck, ghosting my mouth up and down the silky skin. She hummed in pleasure as I flicked her lobe, nuzzling the sensitive skin behind her ear.
“You mad at me?” I whispered.
“Maybe a little.”
“Kitten is safe and warm and fed,” I reminded her. “They’ll find him a home where he is loved.”
“He is so cute. And a ginger.”
“He looks like a hedgehog. His fur sticks up everywhere.”
“I know. It’s cute.”
“I have a demanding job, Magnolia. I travel. He’d be alone.”
“I know.”
“I have never had a pet. I have no desire to have one.”
“Okay.” The one word was laced with sadness.
I sighed, knowing I had just eliminated sex from the agenda tonight. I pulled her close, brushing her hair off her cheek and burying my face into the thick locks. “Your hair always smells so good.”
I nuzzled behind her ear, tightening my arm around her waist. “So does your skin.”
“You always smell good too,” she whispered, trailing her fingers up and down my forearm.
“Yeah?” I whispered back.
“Sometimes, I want to lick you.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. Between her scent, her closeness, and her simple words, I was hard as a rock. And she seemed open to the idea of being closer. Maybe sex wasn’t off the table. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here. Offer you affection.”
She rolled over so we were almost nose to nose on the pillow. “You can offer me affection.”
“I want to offer my cock too.”
She pressed her lips to mine. “Accepted.”
I woke up, Magnolia nestled against me. Our fingers were entwined, her back pressed to my chest. I was holding her tight. I lifted my head, squinting at the clock. It was only two, but something had woken me up. Hearing nothing, I relaxed back onto the pillow, shutting my eyes.
Then I heard it.
A plaintive, quiet little meow. Then another.
I carefully sat up, pulling my arm out from under Magnolia. I grabbed my boxers from the floor where I had tossed them earlier, and I went to the guest room, opening the door and stepping in. On seeing me, the kitten raced over, meowing and moving quickly. I dipped, lifting him before he used my skin as a climbing wall. He began to purr loudly, making little noises that made me smile.
“What’s up, little man?”
I checked out his area. He still had food and water. His bed was in place. The litter box was right there. The toys I had added that the pet shop recommended were sitting on the floor. Perplexed, I bent, slipping him into the tepee. “Go back to sleep.”
I turned to walk away, but he was right there. By my feet, his strangely large paws on my toes. He meowed again, this time louder.
I bent and scooped him up. “I don’t know what you want.”
I slid him back into his bed and tossed in a toy to keep him company, but a few steps later, he was back at my feet, crying. I tried twice more, but he insisted on following me. Finally frustrated, I carried him into my room and crawled into bed, snapping on the light and waking up Magnolia.
“Magnolia, the kitten keeps crying.”
“He’s lonely and scared in there,” she mumbled and went back to sleep.
I poked her. “Myers.” Then again. “ Myers .”
She kept sleeping.
I looked at him and he at me, each studying the other.
“Pee in my bed and I will put you back where I found you,” I threatened. “And it’s only for a while.”
I lay down, and the kitten crawled beside me on the pillow, burrowing into my neck. He made an odd motion with his paws, almost tapping at me with them, then curled up, purring loudly in my ear. “Don’t get comfortable. You’re going back in the other room soon.”
Magnolia shifted, draping herself over my chest. Her hair tickled my nose. The kitten’s fur tickled my ear. I shut my eyes.
When had this become my life?
MAGNOLIA
I woke up, something irritating my nose. I opened my eyes and turned my head, a smile immediately stretching my lips. Alex was asleep, and curled up on his pillow was the kitten. His paws rested on Alex’s mouth, and his tail had been on my face. Both of them looked at peace and comfy. Too comfy to wake up.
I recalled Alex’s voice in the night telling me the kitten was crying. What I had said, I had no idea, but somehow the kitten had ended up here with us and had slept with Alex the entire time.
I desperately wanted a picture. I had my phone plugged in on the nightstand, and I carefully reached over and grabbed it, taking a few shots.
The two of them were probably the most adorable thing I had ever seen.
Alex would hate it.
My smile died when I thought about what Alex had said about the kitten going to the shelter today. I understood his position, but I still hated it.
As I watched, the kitten stretched, then curled up again, burrowing into Alex, half draped across his face. I had to bite back my laughter as Alex’s eyes fluttered open and he looked at the kitten, then me. His gaze fell back to the kitten, and he rolled his eyes.
“Not the pussy I wanted to find on my face this morning,” he grumped.
I gasped at his words, then laughed. The kitten jumped, raising his head and looking at me as if to tell me I had disturbed his sleep. He nestled back into Alex, who frowned. “I only meant to let him stay for a few minutes. I must have fallen asleep.”
“You two look so cute together.”
He snorted. “Don’t get used to it.”
He rolled out of bed, ignoring the little meow of protest from his pillow, and headed to the en suite, coming out a few moments later. The whole time he was gone, the little kitten perched on the end of the bed as if waiting for him. When he came out, the kitten meowed loudly in greeting, and Alex looked askance.
“What does he want?”
I slid from the bed, attempting to tame my hair. “You.”
He scoffed. “He’s getting a one-way trip back to his room. I need coffee and a phone number for the shelter.”
I picked up the kitten, pleased when he curled into my arms. “I’ll make the coffee.”
I brushed past Alex and took the kitten to the room next door, showing him the food. He immediately attacked it, and I left him to go make coffee.
Alex appeared as I was pouring, and he took his mug, taking a large sip. “You do make the best coffee.” He studied me. “What?”
“Can we at least take him to a no-kill shelter?” I asked, my voice catching.
“What?”
I repeated myself, and he frowned. “So, if no one came to adopt him, they would…” He trailed off.
“Yes.”
“But kittens are always wanted.”
“If that was the case, we wouldn’t have found him outside in the dark.”
Just then, the kitten ran into the kitchen, meowing loudly. Alex frowned and bent to pick him up, not objecting when the kitten attached himself to his shoulder, burrowing into his neck. He took his cup of coffee and left the room.
I knew the look on his face. The stubborn, I-will-handle-this expression. He got it at the office several times a day.
I sat on the sofa and drank my coffee. When he reappeared, he was dressed, the kitten held in his hand against his chest, the other hand holding a bag that I knew contained the things we’d bought the kitten. “I found a place.”
“Okay.”
“I’m taking him now.”
I felt the tears building, which was crazy. But I nodded. “I can’t—” I whispered.
“I know. Darryl is coming. I’ll be back.” He paused. “Will you be here?”
“Yes. I understand, Alex. I’m just being—” I couldn’t finish my sentence.
He bent and kissed my forehead. “You’re being Magnolia. Tender and sweet. I understand too, but I have to do this.”
I was silent as he left, letting the tears fall. While he was making calls, I had tried to find someone to take the kitten but got nowhere. I hoped someone would adopt him. He was a crazy-looking little thing with big paws, the orange fur that stood up all over his head, and his big green eyes.
Surely someone would see that and how adorable he was and would adopt him.
Right?
To stay busy, I made muffins. I had brought the ingredients with me, and I needed to keep my mind off what was happening.
I heard the door open as I was taking the muffins from the oven and heard the footsteps behind me.
“Those smell good.”
I drew in a deep breath and forced a smile to my face as I turned. I was shocked to see the kitten on Alex’s shoulder. He met my confused look with a small smile.
“I tried, Magnolia,” he said with a shrug. “I got to the shelter, and I was talking to the woman at the counter. I explained the situation, and she was very nice. I started to fill out the forms, and I turned my head to look at him—” he paused, swallowed, then continued “—and he licked my cheek, as if he was saying it was okay. But I felt him trembling like the way he did when he found us last night. And the shelter was full of cats and kittens. He was going to be there a long time. I knew it. So I couldn’t leave him.”
I clasped my hands, letting the tears fall. Alex didn’t understand what this meant. It wasn’t only about keeping the kitten. It was the fact that he was bonding with him. Allowing himself to feel.
“But you have to help. He’s not just mine. He’s ours.”
My heart thrilled at his words. “I will.”
“I leave Monday. You have to stay here.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t let Hedge scratch my furniture.”
“What?”
“Don’t let?—”
“You named him Hedge?”
“Hedgehog Hedgefund, actually. I have a feeling he is gonna cost me. But he is too little for that, so we settled on Hedge.”
“Alex, he’s a cat.”
“You pointed out he looks like a hedgehog. It suits him, and he likes it. Right, Hedge?” he asked, turning his face and speaking to the kitten.
The kitten, or Hedge, opened his eyes and licked Alex’s cheek, as if in agreement. I tried not to squeal at the cuteness level. I had a feeling Alex wouldn’t like it.
“I need a coffee. And a muffin.”
“I’ll bring both to the table.”
“Okay. I’ll put Hedge in his room, and we’re going over the rules. I’ve already had that conversation with him, but I’ll reiterate it again later.”
I bit my lip. “Um, okay.”
“What?”
“You know Hedgy is a cat, right? They don’t really understand a list of rules.”
“Hedge,” he corrected. “And he is very clever.” He flashed a grin. “He found me, didn’t he? He could have chosen anyone else, but he waited until we were there and he came to us. To me.”
Then he strode from the kitchen, quite proud of himself.
I chuckled to myself. This was going to be fun.
Twice while we had coffee, Hedgy appeared, climbing Alex’s leg and jumping to his shoulder. I listened to Alex’s lecture on proper behavior and the rules, trying not to laugh but failing when he scolded Hedgy a second time and told him to go to his room and behave.
“What now?” Alex huffed at me.
“Hedgy is a cat, Alex. They don’t do rules or understand what you’re saying. All he wants is to be close to you.”
He plucked Hedgy off his shoulder, placing him on my lap. “He needs to get used to you.”
“He will, but he loves you. You saved him.”
A strange look passed over his face, but I didn’t ask him what he was thinking. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“I was going to take you out to dinner.”
“That’s fine. We’ll put him in his room, and when it’s quiet, he’ll go to sleep.”
“I have a little work to do as well.”
“No problem. I brought my knitting with me. The hospital told me they need more blankets.”
“Blankets?”
“I knit little blankets and beanies for preemies. I’ll whip a few up this week and take them over.”
He furrowed his brow. “So, you knit, paint, and sew.”
“Old-fashioned endeavors, but I like to stay busy.”
“You like old-fashioned things.”
“I do. My favorite is remaking my grandmother’s clothes to wear.”
He sat back, letting Hedgy crawl into his lap and stroking his head. “Like your sexy blouses,” he confirmed.
“Yes. And some of her skirts. She was taller than me, so I have to adjust the sleeves and hems. I got her curves, though.”
He leaned over and kissed me. “I like those curves.”
I sighed. “The bullying thing starts while you’re away.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No. The little group is ignoring me and Rylee now, which is a relief. They stay away from us.”
“I have it on good authority that Verity may be leaving the firm.”
“Oh?”
“Laura told me she had a reference call about her. Her work is fine, so she gave her a positive one. I hope she moves on. I’d be happy to get her out of the office. Maybe once she’s gone, the others will grow up some.” He tickled Hedgy’s chin. “I still think the courses are good for everyone, but it pleases me to think she won’t be around to torment you.” He lifted his eyes to mine. “You don’t deserve that.”
“No one does.”
“You, especially.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “Because of who you are, Magnolia. Everyone likes you. You’re kind, conscientious, good at your job. You care for those around you. That should be celebrated, not ridiculed.”
I smiled at his words. “Is that your professional or personal opinion?”
“Professional. My personal one is much more… personal .”
“Oh?”
He grinned, setting Hedgy on the sofa beside him and pulling me onto his lap so I straddled him.
“You’re everything I said before, but also sexy, funny, witty. Exasperating. Sexy.”
“You already said that.”
“It stands being repeated. I have never wanted a woman as much as I want you. You’re on my mind constantly.”
I linked my arms around his neck. “Is that a fact?”
He kissed me, nuzzling my lips softly. “Yes, it is. Undisputed.”
Our gazes locked, the heat between us building. His grip on my hips tightened, his erection growing between us. He pulled me closer, covering my mouth, stroking my tongue with his. I whimpered as he cupped my ass, then I giggled as a small ball of fur wiggled between us, meowing and purring as he crawled up to Alex’s shoulder. For a moment, Alex stilled, his head thrown back as he found his patience.
“Is that what is going to happen from now on? Cockblocked by a cat?” he asked dryly.
I slid from his knee. “I’ll put him in his room. Go do your work.”
“I’d rather do you.”
I winked. “Something to look forward to.”
He grumbled all the way to his office. I fed and petted the kitten, but as soon as I put Hedgy down, he raced to the open door, disappearing down the hall, and I heard Alex’s admonishing. “No! Down! Hedge, I said—dammit, stop licking my face and making that infernal noise.”
A few moments later, I peeked in then left them alone. Hedgy was on Alex’s shoulder, his eyes already shut. Alex had given up and was working on his laptop. Hedgy looked happy. Alex looked resigned.
But I noticed he didn’t call me to come and take him.