scarred horrified most, but Sebastian chuckled and rolled his eyes. “You are such a cat.”
“I am. I’m a lynx. I’m a most proud and fluffy predator. Lion manes are really fluffy, too, so I’m looking forward to you shifting for me so I can play with your mane. That was my plan all along, to get my hands on you and your mane, Mr. Mane.”
“Sure it was. You might be an excellent cat, but you’re a terrible liar. Your expression when you realized I actually wanted you is now one of my most priceless treasures. You couldn’t even begin to believe or imagine that I might actually want to tie you to my bed and do wonderful things to you.”
“I probably looked like I’d been slapped across the face a few times. I’m still waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up, but I’ve pinched myself a few times and haven’t woken up. I even took a nap in my new dream-like reality, and when I woke up, a lion was driving my daddy’s truck, and this was a pretty damned good reason to purr. Or so I think.”
The decor in the resort reminded me how simple and modest of a life I—and my family—lived. If I hadn’t known it was a lycanthrope friendly establishment, I would’ve worried about leaving dirt on the polished marble floors, or on the end tables decorated in a bewildering and eclectic collection of statuettes, flower vases with real and fake bouquets, and random bowls filled with stuff.
I peered into one such bowl, wondering what the point was of putting dyed glass balls into sand. I pointed at it. “What is this, Sebastian? I don’t understand the point.”
“It’s art. Things like that make some people happy. The spheres are probably from a high-end glass artisan, and the sand is probably from somewhere exotic. I feel I should warn you now that one of my new missions in life is to make you purr, and having me around is a pretty damned good reason to purr. I am a lion. I am the best of lions, and I don’t think you should purr for other lions. I’m the jealous kind.”
I refrained from reminding him I rarely purred for anyone. Did I even know a second lion? No matter. I had the important lion in my clutches, and I would train myself into believing I deserved a lion all to myself if necessary. “We’re lycanthropes, Mr. Mane. We operate on jealousy with a splash of spite. I hope lionesses don’t think lions are to be shared like mundane prides. I am not good at sharing. And anyone who tries to share my lion is getting a beatdown.”
Still chuckling, Sebastian wrapped his arm around me and marched me to the elevator. “You have nothing to worry about. On to more important things. I am very pleased with the amount of pampering you signed yourself up for this week. I’ll make sure I’m appropriately dressed and otherwise prepared to join you. I take it you were planning your hunts for the morning?”
When I took the time to think about it, I realized I’d set up a hell schedule for myself, and I’d planned it without anyone around to help me. With the help, it counted as insane but possible. Without help? It went beyond merely insane. “After dinner and in the morning. I don’t sleep as much or as well as I should, and I’ve been working evenings lately. I figured I could nap during some of the treatments. Like the one where I’m supposed to put cucumbers over my eyes for some reason and just chill out. For an hour. While listening to some nice music. Someone is going to paint my nails and toes while I relax. That’s tonight, and you’re going to have to tell the spa people how to get a hold of you, because after that, I’m going to be asleep. And I will not want to wake up. Who would? Not only will I be pampered, I will be pampered in such a way where my nails will be beautiful when they’re done.”
I would pick a bright and daring red.
“I’m sure they’ll wake you up, but if you’d like me to be around after you have been relaxed into a stupor, I’m sure I can amuse myself in the waiting area of the spa until you’re freed from their clutches. And if you’re that tired, I’ll enjoy tucking you into bed.”