Page 42 of Love the Way You Lion (Rise of the Resistance #3)

The Artist Is Entranced

RAFE

P ropping my shoulder against the wall, I wait. I have to respect her request that we stay calm and back off so she can get Blade to relax. I know all of us looking at her when she’s hurt makes her feel weak and stupid. That’ll make her cantankerous.

A scent catches the air and I smile—jasmine. I love that bloody stuff.

My primary continues working on my wife, dipping her head as she knuckles out kinks and knots.

“Ah. That’s getting better.” She works the muscles of her lower back, watching every reaction.

Even without magick, I know she’s got a gift for this.

“The oil was heated when I had it in the bathroom, but by the time he called me, it cooled.”

“Mmm. That feels good. The cold only gripped for a sec.”

I figure the less I say, the less I’ll get in trouble for. I’ll keep my mouth shut while she works.

Besides, it’s a pretty picture .

“Good. My hands are usually warm when I do this, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem for long. The healing part generates a bit of heat.”

The cat moves up my wife’s back to around the ribcage area and I glance over at the bird. He’s leaning against the opposite wall, grinning like a loon.

Guess he thinks it’s pretty, too.

Blade sighs, relaxing under the massage. “Nice hands.”

“You’ve been holding back lots of owies, it feels like,” she chides. Resting her hand just under the shoulder blade, I watch the cat lean over and use leverage to loosen the muscle up. She’s done that to me before when I sat too long in the chair working and my shoulder’s trashed.

Looks different right now—not that I’m complaining. Not a bit.

I catch the bird looking at me, and without warning, he speaks into my mind. ~I don’t know who’s enjoying it more, mate. The golden goddess or me. ~

Chuckling, I wonder for a moment why no one thought it was important to tell me he could pan-orate, but I nod.

I drop into the fat armchair, trying to look casual.

I wonder if I can do it back. Cat’s mated to him and me, so maybe?

~No bloody kidding. Sometimes, I amaze even myself with my brilliance. ~

I have no idea if he heard that, as he doesn’t respond. Damn.

“I’m used to holding back that stuff. Easier for me to handle on my own, without expecting others to do it for me. Ouches only hurt if you think about them.”

I observe the cat, trying to see what she’s doing now. Ah. She’s chiding her .

“Remind me to send some special oil over here. I could give it a little kick so you wouldn’t need me around to make it work for you.

” Her hand moves to work on a bicep as she kneels, the other hand working the right shoulder blade.

That flame red hair is sweeping all over the golden and porcelain skin around them, and the visual effect is stunning.

Not to mention other things.

I’m so wrapped up that I break the low tones by blurting, “No need for that.”

My eyes dart from one to the other, but they don’t pay attention to me. That’s good—I’d look like an idiot right now.

“Appreciate it,” my wife says.

I feel her skeptical emotion through our bond, and it occurs to me she heard me.

Fuck.

My primary turns to me, tilting her head. “I wasn’t saying you can’t do this. Don’t be a baby.” She rolls her eyes at me and leans down to whisper to my wife, “Fragile egos on these men. He’s been on me to teach him how to do this. All sensitive about not picking it up as quick as he’d like.”

Blade chuckles, then winces, and grumbles, “See, now, Long Hair —leave off until Deli’s finished. I laugh at your pouts and I hurt.”

Something transpires between her and the cat and they giggle a bit, but I’m not paying attention.

I’ve gone back to ogling. They can share a little secret as they want.

I cover my mouth, trying not to snort. When I get under control, I clear my throat.

“Alright then, love. I’ll be a good boy and sit quietly while you finish. ”

As if we don’t all have the preternatural hearing, my wife whispers, “ Personally, I think the sensitive pride gene got over-enhanced in the entire batch of clones.”

The cat giggles again, making her body shake and her hair tumble a bit as she lays her forehead on my wife’s shoulder, whispering to her. “Gee, do you think so? However did you figure that one out?”

I arch a brow, looking over at Taurus. “They know we hear them.”

He grins a bit at me. “More than that, mate. At least one of them is listening to you.” Eyeing me, he smirks, looking both amused and interested in our mates.

~I hear all of you. Don’t act so bloody superior, you leches. Not that I couldn’t smell you, which I’m certain she can. It’s like a pheromone factory here. You should be ashamed of yourselves. ~ She sniffs and returns to her work, looking satisfied that she told us off.

“Nah, luv. Don’t think there’s much room in the knickers for being ashamed right now. Talk to me again later.” Taurus smirks again, looking as if he’s enjoying every second of this.

“Have I mentioned how much I love those cat’s ears of yours, love?”

“No,” she grumbles, still looking peeved at us.

“Good. Didn’t want to be a liar.” I stop right there because Blade cries out as my mate works on the hurt shoulder. She’s being gentle, but it’s a mess, so it’s bound to be painful.

“That’s a little sore.”

“Hold on,” my primary croons. She closes her eyes, concentrating as she attempts to soothe some aches.

“I feel a flash of pain hit me as Blade sends a flurry of images, none of them friendly. “Could you two keep the fantasies down, please? You’re emoting everywhere and it’s making me tense. Otherwise, you can leave.”

“Leches.” The kitty wrinkles her nose at us in disapproval, then goes back to relaxing the unhurt side of Blade’s back, her hands glowing a bit with the magickal touch she’s using to staunch some pain.

I blink at them both innocently, zipping my lip.

Hell, if I’m getting kicked out of this little party.