happen if he rejected my advances, however awkward and inexperienced I was at displaying interest in hearing him roar for a reason other than pure frustration.
“The building has to survive whatever happens tonight,” I informed him. “This is important to me, as while this is basically the equivalent of a nice shack, I don’t pay much rent on it, and I don’t think I can afford to replace it should we destroy it.”
“I’m sure we can figure something out that doesn’t involve the destruction of your home. Despite the reputation lycanthropes have, we are entirely capable of reason. We’re also capable of not destroying everything around us when we’re engaging in certain activities with prospective mates. Or just mates. And since lions can be very noisy, my father saw fit to teach my brothers and I the finer points of being quiet before, during, and after successful seductions of our women.”
“But why would I want you to be quiet? You roar.”
On that, my virus and I were agreed. I needed a roar out of him, and I needed one soon.
“I will be sure to give you at least one roar tonight,” he promised. “But seriously, we were taught because human women are fragile compared to lycanthropes, and the last thing we want to do is hurt our mate during a claiming, and until the virus has replicated enough to allow her to heal faster, we need to be careful, so my father made sure we know how to be gentle in bed. He also gave us a variety of tips and tricks on how to be gentle but excessively satisfying.”
“Wait, excessively satisfying? How is that possible?”
“Once, my father made my mother pass out. And at the time, my mother’s virus had fully taken root, she was well beyond her first shift, and she was well aware of his wily ways. Yet he managed to make her pass out. Let’s just say my father is an excellent example of what all men should strive to be like. I do not have my father’s experience, but I plan to make up for my lack of experience through extensive practice and enthusiasm. And I’m a lion. That helps. I’m a shifting lion who has been exercising more patience than I like the past few years.”
“Oh.” I stared at him with wide eyes. “What a way to go. That would be pure tragedy, to be killed in such a way. But what a way to go.”
“My mother asks for a repeat. Often. Usually when my brothers and I are visiting, as she feels we’re too easily embarrassed. He refuses, mainly because he was initially afraid he’d hurt her. Now she only complains he hurts her by not giving her a repeat performance, and he wants to save such evenings for when they’re planning to add to the family again.”
“I really don’t want to cut into my savings repairing this place, but I’m siding with your mother on this one.”
“Fortunately for you, I have brought handcuffs, and if you have rope, I won’t even need to misuse any of the yarn. However, I will be using some of your quilting supplies, as ropes aren’t good for your skin. While my brothers are more inclined to immediately indulge in their wild side, I’m far more methodical than they are.” Sebastian chuckled and got out of the truck.
Much like a lost puppy seeking attention, I followed him. “I’m the definition of inexperienced, so don’t get your hopes up. I am not under any delusions about my general prowess. Or having any prowess at all. And honestly? I’m not sure how I’m going to cope with any form of nudity. I do not own a bathing suit, Sebastian. Unless you run away, I’ll be scoring a grand slam during my debut as a lady of the night. Assuming I don’t run away. I might. I have never been in this position before.”
The lion laughed. “Lady of the night? Don’t I have to pay for you to count as a lady of the night?”
He made a good point. “Two words, Sebastian: vintage Singer.”
“We have joint custody of the Singer, so it doesn’t count. That was as much of a gift for me as it is a gift for you. More importantly, your scars aren’t going to make me run away, although if you’re not ready because of them, then we wait. If you need me to be patient, I’ll be patient. If you need me to be impatient, then