"The touch is what's important," Jamil said, "not where or how."
Zane was standing at my back. I moved backwards until my back touched his body. Our bodies made a nice solid line. "Enough?" I asked.
Jamil shook his head. "For God's sake, just touch him." He motioned to Jason. "Ask for my protection."
Jason came to his side with a smile. He stood very close but was careful not to touch. Jamil put an arm across his shoulders, obviously protective, almost a hug. "There, that's it."
"Does it have to be just like that, or can I touch him anywhere that's noticeable?"
Jamil made a small sound between an umph and a growl. "You are making this too complicated."
"No," I said, "you are. Just answer the question."
"No, it doesn't have to be just like this, but it's best if you get in the habit of making the offer look normal to people."
"Why?" I asked.
"What if Zane were running from me in public? He sees you through the crowd, comes up to you. All you have to do is pretend to hug him, or even kiss him. I know you've given him your protection and none of the humans around us know anything is wrong."
I wasn't sure how I felt about not being included with the other humans, but I let it go. I drew Zane out from behind me with a hand around his waist. I'd have been more comfortable if he'd been wearing a shirt, but hey, that was my hang-up, not his. I made it my left arm, leaving my right free. I also moved back enough so that my gun wasn't pressed up against his body. Having my arm around Zane's waist, standing a little apart, made the gun under my arm very obvious. There were a lot of different ways to make threats. "Happy?" I asked.
Jamil nodded once very curtly.
Jason stepped away from him, closer to Zane and me.
"Jamil's just mad that Zane told you he had to do a submissive greeting."
"And you've reminded her," Jamil said.
"Ooh," Jason said, "I'm so scared."
A roil of power prickled through the room. I watched Jamil's brown eyes bleed to a rich yellow. He stared at Jason with wolf eyes. "You will be."
Cherry slid off the bed, kneeling behind me. She reached a hand up to me, and I took it. She licked a quick tongue across my hand, a greeting that only the leopards used, then one slender hand went to my leg, holding onto my pants like a small, shy child. She seemed to think something bad was about to happen.
I half expected Jason to come to me like the wereleopards had, but he didn't. He moved farther into the room, away from Jamil, but he didn't ask for help.
"What's the big deal?" I asked. "Jamil just offers me his cheek first, right?"
"Oh, no," Jason said, "much more fun than that."
That made me frown because I knew what Jason's idea of fun was. "Maybe I asked for something I don't understand."
"But you did ask," Jamil said, "and as our lupa it is your right."
I was beginning to suspect I'd made a faux pas. That I'd asked something of Jamil he didn't want to give and I probably wouldn't like receiving. "If you hadn't been such an ass**le when we first got here, Jamil, I'd probably let this go."
"But ... " he said.
"But I don't back down, not to you."
"Not to anyone," Jason said softly.
That, too.
"If I refuse, it's challenge between us," Jamil said.
"Fine, but remember, you've had your last free pass for the weekend, Jamil."