Page 11 of Love Lives

In the end, Aldrich settled on a compromise. Shifting into his animal form, he jumped up on the bed on his four paws and settled by Remy's side, his front legs resting lightly on the mortal's chest.

Remy stirred, but didn't wake. Aldrich nudged his cheek with his nose, following animal instinct. Sure, he was a predator even in this form, but that didn't mean he didn't know how to be cuddly.

When he needed to be.

Eventually, Remy's breathing evened out, so the whole operation was a success. Pleased with himself, Aldrich made himself comfortable in his new position and listened for sounds from the hallway. If anyone approached the room, he'd have to shift back or risk freaking out the nurses. Which would be fun, but not what he'd come here for.

He very nearly startled when Remy's hand came up to scratch him behind his ear. He'd been so focused on the outside world that he'd neglected to monitor the mortal next to him--who was studying him curiously now.

"You don't usually stick around in this form," Remy murmured. "I don't even have scraps for you."

If he hadn't been a cat, Aldrich would have laughed. He usually only shifted in front of Remy when Remy had food for him. It was always worth it. Even that one time he'd ended up eating something that didn't belong in a cat's stomach and he'd spent a portion of the night vomiting it back up.

He'd never refer to anything Remy fed him as 'scraps'.

"Your fur's nice," Remy said, making Aldrich want to preen. Instead, he swished his tail through the air. Normally, he'd shift back now so he could respond, but Remy still had his hand behind his ear and that feeling was really nice.

Aldrich should have done this ages ago.

He hadn't known Remy was a cat person.

It was really too fucking bad that, just at that moment, he heard steps drawing closer to their room. The night nurse. Reluctantly, Aldrich jumped off the bed and changed back. Couldn't be caught now.

He'd definitely file his new-found knowledge away for later use, though.

"I didn't know you were so into cats," he said, trying to act casual.

"Well, you're not exactly a house cat." In the darkness of the room, a small smile showed on Remy's lips. "But yeah. My grandma used to keep cats." His tone turned fond as he mentioned his grandma. Another piece of knowledge that Aldrich filed away diligently. He’d read about Remy’s family in the journal Remy’s late father had kept, but the information there had all been very factual. Remy’s mother had been deemed unfit to care for Remy, and then his grandmother had raised the boy—until she’d been run over by a motorcycle.

Mortals really did die way too easily.

"You were having a bad dream," Aldrich said to explain why he'd jumped into Remy's bed.

"And here I was thinking you were just trying to come on to me again. In an unusual way."

"It was totally working too."

"Sure."

The nurse's footsteps passed by outside. Aldrich quietly cursed himself. He'd abandoned his comfortable position by Remy's side for nothing.

Remy reached over to the bedside table and turned the light on low, then studied Aldrich. "Jared said something to me earlier..."

Aldrich tensed. What exactly had Jared said about him?

"You saved me?"

Aldrich exhaled. He’d known the topic would come up sooner or later. "It's no big deal."

"No big deal?"

"The fire wasn't even that bad."

"The floor above the kitchen caved in."

Aldrich shrugged instead of responding.

"Why didn't you tell me? It’s not like you."