Page 69 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie

“As long as you don’t mind damp hair, I won’t be long,” I promised.

“Take your time. The sun doesn’t rise for another eighty-seven minutes.”

I wondered if I’d ever get used to Leon’s very specific timestamp regarding the sun’s movements.

“I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

“And I’ll be waiting,” Leon promised.

I raced upstairs and took the fastest shower of my life.

* * *

Leon’s teeth tugged the edges of my bleeding wrist. He wasn’t as ravenous this time. He also didn’t take as much. Leon cradled my body, holding me as if I were the most important creature in existence. It was a heady sensation. I’d always felt loved. Auntie Tandra made certain of that. But the love of a parental figure was wholly different than this. I’d had lovers before, mostly brief dalliances here and there. Nothing that lasted more than a few weeks to a month or longer. I knew down to my very core this was different. I realized that before Leon confessed twenty-four hours ago.

Licking my wrist, Leon closed the wound, speeding the healing. I felt slightly lightheaded, but nothing like yesterday.

“Thank you,” Leon reverently said. “Those words are a pale reflection of my true feelings. However, they are currently all I have.”

“They’re enough.” With my head resting on Leon’s chest, I thought back to our earlier conversation as well as my thoughts while washing glasses. I could feel the press of Leon’s firm cock against my rear. My own sex was in a similar state. I could easily turn within Leon’s arms and sate that desire. I’m not sure why I didn’t. I only knew that, although it would undoubtedly feel good, it wasn’t what I needed.

Suddenly, it was crystal clear what I wanted. I only hoped Leon had been truthful earlier. Clearing my throat, I ignored Leon’s obvious desire and said, “Did you mean what you said?”

“You will need to be more specific.”

“Sorry.” I wasn’t sure why I was nervous. Maybe it was because I didn’t share my shifter side with a lot of others. Leon had seen it a couple of times. But this situation was different. “About being okay with me shifting and laying on your lap.” My cheeks warmed. I hadn’t even done that with Auntie Tandra. Sometimes I’d shift and sit at the opposite end of the couch, but I never crawled into her lap. I’d never wanted to do something like that with anyone else, not like I did now.

Leon was eerily quiet before he finally answered, “I would be honored if you would do so.”

I thoughthonoredwas a stretch but appreciated the sentiment. With a deep inhale, I focused on my inner cat, pulling it forward. I’d been told there was a shimmer of light when I shifted but it wasn’t something I could see. Auntie Tandra offered to record my shift so I could see it, but that wasn’t something I was interested in.

Stretching, I eased into my new form, relishing the feel. My purr was instantaneous. Leon’s slender fingers had to dig deep. My fur was thick and plush, the cooler temperature of Lucroy’s underground home a welcome reprieve from the sweltering heat of summer.

“Beautiful.” Leon’s whispered praise filled up all my hollow spaces. Kneading my paws, my thick claws dug into Leon’s pants. I was careful not to dig too deep. I didn’t want to hurt Leon, but his pants felt good between my toes. I wanted him to smell like me and rubbed my cheek over his chest, reaching up and rubbing his neck and whatever skin I could reach.

Leon’s thick chuckle matched my purr.

“I do not know why I was blessed with you as my beloved, but I will not question or doubt it.” Leon sounded confident. “I will never allow another to take you from me. Should you wish to leave on your own, I will not stop you. But should it not be your wish, there will be no hope of survival for the culprit.”

I hadn’t thought it possible for my purrs to gain in volume, and yet, that’s exactly what they did. Nestling in, I curled up in Leon’s lap and soaked in the peace.

We stayed that way until near sunrise. Leon rose, picking me up with him. He didn’t ask me to shift back to my pixie form. Leon carried me to the bed and laid me on his chest. His fingers only stopped stroking me when the sun grew higher in the sky, suppressing my mate with its power.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Leon

I knew the moment my consciousness stirred that I’d woken earlier than typical. The sun was still well into the sky. Early afternoon wasn’t a time I’d experienced in centuries. Phlox was still on my chest, curled up and peacefully sleeping. I’d never imagined waking up with a cat on my chest would be so fulfilling. Then again, Phlox wasn’t a typical housecat.

While I was conscious, my limbs still felt heavy and it was difficult to open my eyes. I’d been roused, but functioning was a different matter. If I didn’t have Lucroy’s experience as a blueprint, I would have found the situation odd. As it was, I assumed Phlox’s blood was beginning to have the same effect on me as Peaches did on Lucroy. Although they had different affinities, Phlox was a nature pixie, same as Peaches. Was it just nature pixies’ blood that allowed vampires more time in the light? Was it all pixies? Only time would tell. I also wasn’t certain if I would have the same sun tolerance as Lucroy. He was three hundred years older. That might factor into the situation.

I was not so foolish as to go running into the sun.

Quickly lulled back to sleep, I remained where I was, soaking in the feel of my beloved’s trust and desire to be near me.

It was later in the day when I woke next. The sun wasn’t so high in the sky and would set soon. My body was still sluggish, but not as heavy as before. Phlox was no longer in his Pallas’s cat form and lay on his side, arm thrown over my chest, his fingers lightly teasing my side. My hand found its way to his forearm, my fingers dancing across his flesh.

“Good evening, Leon.” Despite being in his pixie form, Phlox’s voice rumbled with a low purr.

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