Chapter 27 Exclusive #3
The next morning, I woke before dawn. Still half-asleep, I felt my cat’s pull rise sharp and insistent under my skin. I didn’t fight it. Bones reshaped with a deep internal grind. Muscles flowed and settled into new shapes. The world sharpened into something simpler, cleaner.
Be good, I told her. Don’t cause too much trouble.
She stretched luxuriously across the sheets, claws flexing into the mattress, then curled beside Jackson with a deep rumbling purr.
Jackson stirred a few minutes later, the mattress shifting under his weight. His eyes opened and found her right away. A slow smile spread across his face as he took her in.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, running a hand down her back. His fingers traced the powerful muscles beneath her sleek dawn-colored fur.
She purred louder, leaning into the touch, kneading the pillow with her front paws and tearing the fabric a little.
Behave, I warned. She flicked her tail in blatant disregard.
“Look at those cute little murder mittens,” he teased, brushing a finger over one paw.
Her tail twitched again.
Then Jackson reached toward the nightstand. “I got you something.”
The cat’s ears perked forward. From the drawer he produced a small stuffed fish in lurid pink fabric. He held it up between two fingers.
The cat launched herself across the bed before I could fully process it.
Jackson laughed as she snatched the fish from his hand. She dropped onto her side and wrapped all four paws around it. A second later she was kicking it viciously with her back legs.
Catnip. Of course it was catnip.
“I thought you’d like it,” Jackson said.
She adored it. She was on her back now, fish clutched to her chest, pupils blown wide, tail thumping the mattress.
Jackson looked unbearably pleased with himself.
I am never going to hear the end of this.
“Harper, shift back,” he said, half amused, half exasperated.
The cat ignored him completely and kept attacking the fish, batting it hard enough to send it skidding across the sheets. Jackson chuckled and headed for the shower. The water started running a moment later.
She murdered the fish thoroughly while he was gone.
By the time the water cut off, the seam had widened, one fin was gone, and a wet patch of drool darkened the pillow.
The catnip had loosened its grip by then.
She lost interest and sat back, tail flicking once.
Then she nudged the wrecked fish under the corner of Jackson’s pillow with her nose and jumped off the bed.
With a soft click she pushed the bedroom door open and slipped out into the hall.
Where are you going? I asked.
She ignored me, padding silently down the hall. She leaped onto the tallest bookcase in the living room. It wobbled for a second, then held. She perched there like royalty, licking one paw with deliberate nonchalance.
Lia walked in from the kitchen and froze. “What the hell—”
The cat didn’t even look at her, grooming her claws with haughty precision.
Be good, I warned again.
Jackson ran down the stairs a moment later, still dripping, wearing only boxer briefs.
“It’s okay,” he told Lia quickly. “That’s Harper.”
Lia’s eyes darted between them. “I didn’t know that. I walked in and there was a—” She gestured sharply. “I could’ve killed her. This is my house. I could have—”
The cat paused mid-lick and yawned wide, showing every razor-sharp tooth. Then she hopped down and padded straight to Jackson. She rubbed her head and cheeks against his leg, scent-marking him thoroughly while holding Lia’s gaze the entire time.
Mine.
Jackson either didn’t notice the tension or chose to ignore it. He scratched behind her ears. “Come on, let’s go upstairs. Shift back for me, yeah?”
She huffed dramatically but turned toward the stairs. As she passed Lia she threw one last contemptuous glance over her shoulder.
Upstairs I took control again and shifted back. The change flowed through me until I stood naked in the middle of the room.
Jackson crossed the space in two strides and pulled me against him. His mouth claimed mine in a hungry kiss, heat surging between us.
“Morning, baby,” he murmured against my lips, grinding his hard length against my stomach.
“Morning,” I whispered. I kissed him deeper, then pulled back just enough to look at him.
“Just so we’re clear, I would’ve won that fight.”
“With Lia?” He smiled against my neck. “She's harmless. Just protective. For years it's been me, Jason, Rick, and her. Give her time. Once she gets used to you, she'll come around.”
I hummed, tilting my head to give him better access. I didn’t push. I had my doubts, sharp and persistent, but I kept them to myself. Telling him wouldn’t help right now. Not when he still saw her as the friend who had stood by him through the worst of his father’s bullshit.
He kissed my neck slowly.
“You’re mine. That’s what matters. She’ll see it eventually.”
I let myself believe him for the moment, sliding my hands up his chest.
“Good. And just so you know, I don’t share.”
His smile was slow and thoroughly satisfied.
"Neither do I."