Page 24 of Quick on the Claw

But as she drifted off to sleep, her dreams were filled with golden eyes and gentle hands.

Hours later, Tiffany found herself wide awake, staring at the ceiling of her ornate guest room. Sleep eluded her, her mind too full of the day’s events – and a certain panther king – to settle. With a sigh, she threw back the covers and put on a simple sheet dress that was soft and comfortable. Maybe a walk would help clear her head.

As she stepped out into the hallway, she nearly collided with a solid chest. “Oh!” she exclaimed, stumbling back. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was?—”

She broke off as she realized who she’d bumped into. Zak stood before her, looking equally surprised and somewhat disheveled. His usual regal attire had been replaced by loose sleeping pants, leaving his muscular chest bare. Tiffany swallowed hard, trying not to stare.

“Tiffany,” Zak said, his voice husky with sleep. “I didn’t expect to see you up at this hour.”

“I could say the same for you,” she replied, forcing her eyes up to his face. “Trouble sleeping?”

He nodded, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Too much on my mind, I suppose. I was just heading out for a walk to clear my head.”

“Great minds think alike,” Tiffany said with a small smile. “Mind if I join you?”

For a moment, Zak hesitated, and Tiffany wondered if she’d overstepped. But then his expression softened. “I’d like that very much,” he said. “In fact, there’s somewhere I’d like to show you, if you’re up for a bit of an adventure.”

Tiffany’s heart quickened at the mischievous glint in his eye. “Lead the way, Your Majesty. I’m always up for an adventure.”

Zak took her hand, the warmth of his touch sending tingles up her arm. He led her through winding corridors and down hidden staircases until they emerged into the cool night air. The twin moons of Nova Aurora cast an ethereal glow over the landscape as they made their way into the forest.

“Should I be worried that you’re luring me into the woods in the middle of the night?” Tiffany joked, though she felt no real fear. Something about Zak’s presence made her feel utterly safe.

He chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. “I assure you, my intentions are purely honorable. Well, mostly honorable,” he added with a wink that made her stomach flip.

After about ten minutes of walking, Tiffany began to hear the sound of rushing water. As they rounded a bend in the path, she gasped. Before them was a small, but relaxing waterfall, its waters glowing with an otherworldly blue light.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, taking in the sight.

“This is my favorite place in the whole kingdom,” Zak said softly. “I come here when I need to think or when the pressures of ruling become too much.”

Tiffany turned to look at him, struck by the vulnerability in his expression. “Thank you for sharing it with me,” she said.

They settled on a flat rock near the water’s edge, close enough that their shoulders touched. For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, listening to the soothing sound of the waterfall.

“Can I ask you something?” Tiffany said finally, breaking the quiet.

Zak nodded. “Anything.”

“Why me?” she asked, voicing the question that had been nagging at her. “I mean, you’re... well, you. A king. Surely you could have your pick of any woman from your own world. Why me?”

Zak was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water. When he spoke, his voice was soft but intense. “Because from the moment I saw you, I felt... something. A connection I’ve never experienced. It’s like... like a part of me I didn’t even know was missing suddenly clicked into place.”

He turned to face her, his golden eyes glowing in the bioluminescent light. “I know it sounds strange to someone from Earth. I know we’ve only just met, and there’s so much we don’t know about each other. But I know for a fact you’re meant for me and I for you.”

Tiffany’s heart raced at his words. Because as much as she wanted to dismiss it as ridiculous, she felt it too. That inexplicable pull, that sense of rightness when they were together.

“I know what you mean,” she admitted. “I haven’t felt this connected with anyone…ever.”

Zak reached out, cupping her face gently in his hand. “Tiffany,” he murmured, “may I kiss you?”

Instead of answering, she leaned in, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was soft at first, a gentle exploration. But it quickly deepened, fueled by the held-back tension and attraction between them. Tiffany wound her arms around Zak’s neck, pressing closer as his strong hands settled on her waist.

When they finally came up for air, both breathing heavily, Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh. “Well,” she said, her voice slightly breathless, “I guess that answers that question.”

Zak grinned, looking more carefree than she’d ever seen him. “Indeed it does.”

“You don’t need to ask my permission to kiss me, Zak. I welcome your touch.”

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