C aden scrubbed me down slowly in the shower, and we distracted each other with heated kisses and playful touches. When I was dry again and bundled up in my pajamas, we let Seth back inside. He curled up on my pillow and waited for us to join him.
“Have fun outside?” I asked him as I curled up and stroked his fur.
I napped in a planter.
“You’re not getting dirt all over my pillow, are you?”
He flicked his tail. I bathed while you bathed. Clean as a whistle now.
I pulled him into my arms and although he squawked, he settled in quickly. Caden curled against my back and the three of us passed out in a comfortable pile.
Morning came way too quickly, but Caden bribed me into full wakefulness with some fancy coffee from a cafe down the street. Seth ate a can of wet food on the table next to me as I sipped my way into functional human territory.
“I’ll grab us something good from the restaurant for breakfast.” Caden kissed my cheek and set out to acquire us sustenance.
I feel pretty good today, Seth said, batting his food can around. I wonder if I can shift.
“Doesn’t hurt to try.” I hoped I didn’t sound too excited. I’d been wondering what Seth looked like since Caden shifted.
Seth hopped onto the floor, eyes closed in concentration. His body rippled and I jolted away when his panther form filled the space in front of me. He danced excitedly in place and hopped up, putting his paws on my shoulders so he could rub his face against mine.
I did it!
But then his form rippled again and suddenly it wasn’t a panther, but a very naked man leaning over me.
I froze, but my eyes did not. They slid along his body in a lightspeed whip, long enough for me to see his sleek muscles and the tattoo that coiled around his hip…
and a piercing in rather intimate places.
His cock rose to attention, giving me a full glimpse of the four steel balls marking the quadrants around the head.
Oh, gods.
His hazel eyes seared me, his pupils blown so wide it almost eclipsed the iris.
I sucked in a breath, a flush of need pouring through me so hot I bit my lip hard enough to make myself yelp.
That seemed to break whatever spell kept us still and silent and Seth leapt away, hitting the ground again in his house cat form.
He’d looked a lot like Caden, but with a touch of a baby face by comparison, and a bit skinnier.
They were both way too hot. My brain couldn’t handle that level of attractiveness.
I didn’t move an inch. My whole body was still thrumming and it took an embarrassing amount of effort to not start panting.
Sorry. I…forgot about the naked part .
“That’s—” I floundered for words. “That’s okay. I think I forgot too.”
Gods knew I’d never be able to forget what I saw. That body was going to be seared into my brain for the rest of forever.
I think I’ll stay in Boston. Seth took a tentative step toward me.
Well, that killed my lust stone dead. “What? Why?”
He licked a paw. I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be around in human form. I’ll be in the way.
“Why on earth would you think you’d be in the way?”
Seth stretched luxuriously and hopped up onto the table next to me. I hurt Caden and I know it looks like we’re okay with each other, but I haven’t made up for what I did. I don’t think staying would help me do that.
“But how can leaving help you make up for something? Don’t you need to be around for that?”
Just…trust me. There’s no way I could fix things if I stayed. I know myself well enough now to know being here with you two is too dangerous.
Damn. I didn’t like that one bit.
“Are you going to elaborate at all? I’m not a fan of being in the dark when it concerns me.”
This is between Caden and me.
“Please, tell me.”
You won’t like me anymore if I do. I’ll always be grateful that you saved me . He stepped closer, putting his paws on my shoulder so he could headbutt my cheek.
I scooped him into my arms and he didn’t resist. Instead, he curled up, tucking his head under my chin. “What if I don’t want you to leave?”
Seth’s purr kicked up, but he didn’t respond otherwise. I thought about jiggling his little kitty body until he answered me, but if he was set on leaving, I was going to get my cuddles in while I could.
By the time Caden returned with food, Seth had fallen asleep on me.
I wanted to ask Caden to tell Seth to stay, but I didn’t know why Seth wanted to—or needed to—leave, didn’t know what was in their history that would push them apart.
Caden and I weren’t even officially together and it hadn’t been that long that I felt comfortable forcing an answer out. They obviously didn’t want me to know.
I stress-ate my breakfast and stress-drove us into Boston afterward. I held my tongue. Seth could leave if he wanted to. He knew I didn’t want him to and that wasn’t enough to keep him here, so there was nothing else to be done.
Seth sat on my lap while we drove to the address Caden had acquired online.
“Stay here,” said Caden. “It’s not safe for humans inside a nest.”
“Why not?”
“Humans are a novelty. You’d attract a lot more attention than I could protect you from.”
“Is it safe for you in there?”
“More or less. Give me your phone number and I can call you on my new phone when I get it. Assuming they’re hospitable about it. If I haven’t contacted you in three hours…don’t try to come after me.” He looked at Seth. “Don’t let her go into the nest.”
I’ll tackle her if she tries .
I had no idea what the fuss was with a nest. I gave Caden one of my business cards and watched him disappear past the gates of what looked like a motel.
I’d gathered that shifters relied on one another to get access to resources they’d need to live as a human.
That was probably especially difficult in the modern world.
I wouldn’t want to have to start from scratch even with help.
I didn’t want to be too far away when Caden eventually called, so Seth and I decided to hang out at Wollaston Beach after I picked up a lemonade at the drive-thru.
I parked my butt in the sand in the shade of one of the few available trees and settled in to wait.
Not too many places would let me inside with a cat, but at least it was a pretty comfortable temperature out and the wind was light.
Seth wasn’t any more forthcoming with explanations about his imminent departure. He took advantage of our time together for a lengthy cuddle and a nap. There was no point in chiding myself for having gotten attached to him. It had happened the second I’d found them.
I kept up a steady pattern of petting to occupy myself, reading a book on my phone until a text popped up from an unknown number.
Unknown:
Got my phone
They’re going to mail the driver’s license and docs
Be out in about 20 min
I patted Seth’s butt. “Caden’s almost finished.”
Seth yawned and stretched, taking his time to rub each of his cheeks against mine. Can you drop me off in Lower Roxbury after we pick him up?
“What’s there?”
The old lady that used to feed me.
“What if she’s not there anymore?”
Then I’ll find a new cat lover to take pity on me .
This was so dumb. He already had a cat lover on tap. I said as much and he turned his wide, saucer eyes at me.
I don’t have the brain power in this body to feel how miserable it’s going to be to leave you. It already sucks. Please don’t make it harder for me.
“Shutting up might make it easier for you, but not for me.” I sighed and carried him to the car. “My stance is clear. Come back whenever you want, okay?”
He settled onto my lap once I was buckled in, refusing to meet my gaze.
“Are you going to ignore me to make it easier for yourself?”
Lo, please .
My heart softened at the short name and the way he nuzzled his head on my stomach.
Just let me love you quietly while I can, okay?
I bit my lip and sucked back the sob that tried to climb up my throat. “Okay.”
My mood was painfully low as we drove to collect Caden, and he sensed it immediately when he climbed in. “What’s wrong?”
I’m staying here , Seth answered for me.
Caden looked only mildly conflicted about the news. “In your old territory?”
Seth nodded. I don’t know if I’ll stick around. I have friends up and down the coast if I need somewhere else to go.
He squeaked and I realized I’d been squeezing him. “Sorry.”
“Keep up with check-ins and don’t get eaten.” Caden patted Seth on the butt.
“You’re not worried about him?”
“Well, sure, but he’s survived this long.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, because surviving is exactly what you were both doing when I found you hiding in my front yard?”
I’ll be fine.
“He’s right,” said Caden. “Try not to worry too much. In my experience he’ll pop up like a whack-a-mole when you least expect it.”
I white-knuckled the steering wheel on the drive into Lower Roxbury. It was only about ten minutes from where we were and I briefly contemplated doing a loop around the city instead, or driving straight to Salem and stuffing Seth in my suitcase for the drive to Syracuse, but he’d leave anyway.
I had to accept his terrible choices whether I liked them or not.
My heart broke when we pulled to a stop on a quiet street and Seth gave me one final cheek rub before hopping out of the rolled-down window.
I hated myself for driving away.
What if he changed his mind?
As if reading my thoughts, Caden reached for me. “The Boston nest has my contact information if he wants to reach out later.”
“I don’t get it. What did he do that was so bad he couldn't stay with us?”
Caden sighed. “If I tell you, you’re going to think differently about him. Are you sure you want to know?”
I chewed my lip. “I dunno. He said something similar, too.”
“I understand your curiosity, and I do want to tell you. Just…maybe not this soon. Let yourself enjoy the version of him that you know.”
I sank against my seat. “Okay, I guess I don’t need to know right this second.”
He leaned over and pulled me into a kiss. “Want me to distract you when we get back to Salem?”
“Yes, please .”
“Perfect.” He grinned, his gaze igniting. “Then get us to the hotel and I’ll distract you so much you forget your own name. And afterward we can peruse the witchy shops to find you something cute.”
I let out a laugh. At least one of these brothers was making decisions I agreed with.
We stopped at a park a short distance away because my eyes decided crying was better than focusing on the road.
Caden extracted me from the front seat, carried me over to a tree, and sat down beneath it with me cradled in his lap.
I leaned into the embrace. His purr roared to life, and between that and the hand rhythmically stroking my hair, I was eventually able to pull myself together.
I’m here. As long as you want me . He cuddled me even closer and I tucked my face against his throat. At least one of them wasn’t going anywhere. The declaration went a long way to soothing my ragged nerves.
I sat up and turned his face to me. “You really want to stay?”
“I’m not sure what impression I’ve given you at any point that would imply otherwise, but I meant what I said. I like you. A lot . And I’m happier than I’ve been in decades.”
“Good. Because I like you a hell of a lot too.” I snuggled in again, but not before indulging in a kiss. “You’re stuck with me forever.”
He laughed softly. “What a hardship.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8 (Reading here)
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62