Page 16 of Saved By the Servali

“Yes,” Kamau admitted, fur on his neck and cheeks puffing up as he blushed, thankful that his fur hid the rush of blood—and hoping Nessa wouldn’t figure out that “fluffing” was the Servali equivalent of blushing. “I’m sorry if that was another liberty—”

“I liked it.”

“Really?” His fur slowly smoothed down.

“What does it mean when your fur puffs up like that? And when your ears go down? Why does your tail do a full swing sometimes, and other times it just taps?” Nessa leaned forward, speaking in a rush as if she’d been holding questions in for hours and they’d finally burst out.

Kamau chuckled, a gentle purr starting in his chest.

“You purr, too! Does that mean you’re happy?”

“Very happy.”

She makes me happy.

Nessa beamed at him.

She likes that. She wants to know all about me—or about Felids in general. She listens to my crazy ideas with a smile. She moans when she tastes my food.

As Kamau happily explained the functions of various Felid mannerisms, his heart twisted, half in enjoyment and half in fear.

I think I am falling in love with this Queen.

Chapter Six

“Could I ask one favor before you go?” Nessa looked at the red electronic numbers above the door to her quarters. She and Kamau had talked for three hours without a single lag in the conversation, something that had never happened on any of her ill-fated dates.

This wasn’t a date. It was just two people getting to know each other.

And that isn’t what dating is?

Well, it’s what dating was supposed to be. Nessa had to admit that on Sapien-Three, dating had become synonymous with sex, and that was extra true at the MWIP, where people were kept together with little chance to leave, lots of stress, and an eagerness to take their tensions out on something pleasurable.

But sex sucked with Merton—her on-again, off-again date who worked in flight coordination. She’d seen him twice in two years, and both times ended in lackluster sex where he finished before she’d even started to enjoy it.

“I would do a thousand favors for you, Nessa. Name them.”

Kamau’s low, husky voice and the way he gently lifted her hand in one paw as he spoke gave her the tingly butterflies in her middle.

I thought all those damn fluttery things were dead, she thought, trying not to get carried away.

What the hell? I’ll only be here for a couple of weeks. Let’s get carried away!

She ignored the little voice that warned her she should keep her distance and guard her heart, that told her if she explored the instant connection she had with Kamau, she would regret it.

It’ll hurt to leave him.

Well... It’ll hurt to leave all of them. A day on the Comet Stalker has felt better than the last ten at the MWIP—and that’s even after a near-death experience!

“What is the favor, my Queen? You can ask me for anything,” Kamau asked, deep voice dropping even deeper, turning the fluttering inside of her into a throb.

“Can you show me how the shower works—and can I make it more human-friendly? It’s so big in there, and I’m getting tired, but I’d still like to shower before I get into bed.”

Kamau gave her a critical look. “I don’t think you should shower. You should soak in the tub. And yes! I know that you must not get your hair wet unless you have all the tools and treatments you require. I will help you put your hair up, and I will get you paw balm for your skin. If you’re tired, I’ll carry you.”

“I didn’t even see there was a tub, just a stand-up shower,” Nessa stammered as she held out her arms for Kamau to pick her up.

He swept her up and carried her easily, walking her into the bathroom. “You just have to change the settings on the shower. See? The walls are up, to create a shower stall. Press this,” he showed her a small white panel on the bathroom wall, “and set it for soaking tub.”

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