Page 11 of 8-Bit & Cat

Her eyes slowly rose over black slacks. Her breath and gaze froze on the tan skin above the waistband of his pants. Her eyes meandered along the intricate inkwork framed by a black suit jacket. Inch by inch, her gaze moved higher then paused at the tattoos on his neck. Her breaths trembled as she approached the most terrifying part of him.

“There she is,” he murmured when her eyes made it to his face and got locked in tight. He could’ve been Ethan only his wavy ebony hair reached his shoulders. His eyes were like pitch, hot and burning on her. But his mouth… dear God. A perfection that could wreck a whole world.

His gaze was unreadable as his head tilted slightly. “In here, you call me Omnis. And you greet me with a kiss.”

He presented the back of his hand, and she stared at the tanned silky skin lined with thick veins.

In here, you call me Omnis.

Her eardrums filled with her pulse beating like war drums.

It’s not real. It’s an illusion. He’s a… digital Ethan.

She leaned in and placed a quick kiss on thewarmskin.

His hand eased back to his side. “You’re sitting for two reasons,” he informed, back to the lesson. “Because you were asked to sit. And you were allowed to sit.”

The words landed with an odd weight in her mind while her mouth tingled from the realness of his skin.

Zero gave a curious hum, watching her closely.

Omnis exhaled slowly, deeply. “But I want you to sit because you belong there. “

She remembered Zero saying that. Learning how to… belong.

The towering god in a suit watched. Waited.

Zero also studied her, or waited for her to understand something.

Cat’s fingers flexed in her lap, feeling their eyes on her. Trying not to wonder where on her they were.

She focused on the belonging part of the lesson.

You’re supposed tobelongin this chair.

This isyourchair.

Yours toownandclaim.

The whole concept of owning achairandbelongingin one was so weird to her. Her paw-paw would probably get it perfectly. He sat in his favorite one most of the day.

Determined to do her best, she sat up a little straighter.

Omnis’ head tilted slightly. “There it is.”

She glanced at Zero, his green eyes lazily assessing her while surprised by the difference such a little adjustment in her posture had produced. Even she felt it.

She turned her gaze up to Omnis, waiting.

His dark eyes held hers till the entire room began to fade. “Now let’s begin.”

The room and the air itself took off for the races but Omnis didn’t move from where he stood. Didn’t speak. He just continued watching. Waiting forsomething.

Cat tried to discern the meaning of his stare—it wasn’t like Zero’s, not taunting. All assessing and testing. But blast it, testingwhat?

She resisted the urge to shift in her seat, feeling like that would mean something. Likely something wrong. So she kept herself frozen in place, daring half a glance at Zero, still lounging, also still watching. Even with the mask, he looked entertained.

“She sat,” Zero said lazily. “She straightened.” He paused, tilting his head. “But does she stay?”

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