Page 48 of Mistle-Ho

Gavin runs one big hand down the lizard’s back, flattening out the pokey things growing along its spine. “He seems to like it.”

Gavin seems to know what he’s talking about. The lizard leans into his touch, eye closing as he soaks up the affection. “He does kinda seem like he’s used to being handled.”

Gavin turns away from the shower, scanning the room. “That’s why I thought he was probably someone’s pet.” He pauses to look over the counter, peering into the two bowls sitting on the granite surface. “You ate everything I gave you, didn’t you, buddy?”

I swallow hard, afraid to look in the bowl because there might be remnants of the lizard’s meal. “What did you feed him?” I give the giant beast in Gavin’s arms a sidelong glance. “He looks like he could eat me.”

Gavin’s mouth slides into a slow smile, his voice dropping dangerously low when he says, “I’m the only one who gets to eat you, Al.”

22

She’s Not For Everyone

Gavin

AL’S FLUSHED SKIN has my dick hard in a flash, as all sorts of dirty thoughts race through my head. Thoughts that involve her sprawled across my mattress, watching me with those wide eyes, her cheeks pink as I bury myself to the hilt in her warm, welcoming body.

That’s got to be why I don’t notice Cilantro strolling into the bathroom. It’s also why the sound of my cat’s low growl doesn’t immediately register. Now that I’ve finally given in, I’m so wrapped up in the possibility of Alexis being mine, it’s not until the iguana in my arms jumps to the floor that I notice there’s a problem.

Al’s shrill scream fills the bathroom as she backs away, practically climbing up onto the double vanity as the lizard takes off after my cat. I have no choice but to follow them out, uncertain which of the two I’ll have to save. My money is on Cilantro getting the upper hand. Paw? But then again, I haven’t seen all the lizard brings to the table. He might be a scrappy bastard.

Cilantro darts across the hall and into my bedroom, nothing but a black blur as she screeches at the top of her lungs.The iguana is shockingly fast for as old as it looks, long claws scratching against the floor as it scurries after her.

“Was that your cat?”

I turn to find Alexis behind me, her small body tucked behind my back, fingers once again fisted in my shirt. Having her use me for protection is embarrassingly satisfying and sends my chest puffing. “Yeah. She’s pretty feral.”

Al’s brows lift and her head tips to one side. “Honestly, that’s probably gonna work in her favor.”

She’s right. Cilantro can likely take care of herself, but I’ll feel like a complete asshole if she mauls a lizard who’s already been torn up a few times in its life.

Al’s grip on me suddenly tightens and she screams again, her short frame scrambling up my back until her arms are wrapped around my neck so tight I can barely breathe. I press one hand against her ass, hefting her higher just as Cilantro races out of the bedroom and between my legs, lizard still in pursuit.

I pivot, following them down the hall, but only make it a few steps into the living room where they disappeared before my front door flies open and my neighbor races in, an umbrella gripped in one hand and his wife shoved behind his back with the other. “What the bloody hell is going on in here?” Fynn’s wild eyes snap around my apartment before finally coming to rest on where Alexis clings to my back, her short legs hooked at my waist. His dark brows lift and the arm holding the umbrella drops. “Have we interrupted?”

I’d laugh if I wasn’t worried there was about to be bloodshed in my condo. “This isn’t a sex thing, asshole.” I go back to my task of catching the iguana. “That little problem I handled for you earlier is about to get its face scratched off by my cat.”

Alexis clings to me, squealing a little as I drop to my hands and knees so I can see under the furniture. “It’s not your cat you’re worried about?” Her sweet voice in my ear and thepress of her tits against my back threatens to distract me, but somehow I manage to stay focused.

I deserve a fucking award for that.

“Cilantro is pretty good at taking care of herself.” The sound of my cat’s slow growl sends me crawling toward the sofa. “I’ll feel bad if she hurts that fucking lizard though.”

Guilt makes me move faster, the slight weight of Alexis barely slowing me down as I reach the couch. Working quickly, I grip the arm with one hand and shove it away from the wall. There, standing face-to-face, are my cat and the lizard. Both are completely still, but I know it’s only a matter of time before one of them makes a move.

“Al, I’m gonna need your help on this one.”

Alexis shakes her head, arms tightening at my neck. “Nope. Not happening.”

“Do you want to witness a bloodbath?” I lean to one side, trying to slip her off. “Because if we don’t get these two apart, that’s what’s gonna happen.”

Alexis hits the floor with a little grunt and huffs out a breath. “Fine. But I get the cat.”

“Trust me when I tell you the lizard is the lesser of two evils.” I inch closer to the face-off. “If you try to grab Cilantro, you’re going to be the one involved in a bloodbath.”

Alexis pushes up on her knees, full lips pressing into a confused frown. “Why is your cat named Cilantro?”

As cute as Alexis looks with her hair wild and her brows pinched, I cannot take my focus off my cat. “Because she’s not for everyone.”

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