Page 111 of Valpar

“When he gets over-tired, sometimes his body won’t unlock for a bit. He’ll be okay.” She patted my shoulder, and I shook my head.

This goat was going to be trouble when we took him back to the Wood. There were creatures twice his size that would eat him alive. Not only would I have to keep my miresa tied to me, but a goat as well.

I would be a laughingstock.

My miresa showed me where their bathroom was. There wasn’t a tub, but a shower. It was large, a place for sitting and even a lounger where someone could lie. There were many shower heads that all came pouring from the walls and I looked in awe at how many knobs there were.

“Mom always wanted a fancy shower, so Dad built it for her. I don’t like it so much; I’d rather take a bath.”

“But there is no tub.” I looked around more as she turned on the knobs. Steam rolled out of the shower and the water on my muscles instantly relaxed me.

“Nope, I usually go bathe in a hot spring.”

I felt a sudden surge of tension, as my muscles contracted and swelled, creating a taut, rigid sensation in my back muscles.

“Naked?” I growled and watched her as she squirted oil onto the towel.

“Well, one tends to get naked when they bathe.” She snorted and continued with her bathing. I watched as the water droplets dripped down her breasts, her nipples hardening.

“You will not be naked, not without me. Do you understand?” I stood next to her and my shaft rubbed up against her leg.

She squeaked and stared up at me. “Never? Without you? So, are we always bathing together, then?”

“Yes.”

She stuck out her lips into a pout and shrugged her shoulders. “Okie dokie.”

I blinked several times, waiting for her to brat back at me, but it never came. Satisfied with her answer, I washed the rest of me and helped her with her hair, combing it with my claws and fixing it into a large braid so she could sleep.

When she showed me her room, I knew my stature was far too large. I had to squeeze inside the doorway and when I finally did, I could see the variety of color she had created on thewalls. Pinks, yellows, and purples swirled together in patterns of flowers, streams, mountains and forests. I wanted to wait until the light sources came above the horizon, so I could see what she had done to create such beauty.

Could she paint our cabin this way? Make it bright and beautiful? Perhaps I didn’t decorate my cabin because my miresa would make our house into a home.

My miresa yawned again, and I shook that thought away, wrapping my arm around her waist.

“Come, we sleep.” I grabbed a ribbon from a shelf and tied it around her wrist and then to my ankle. She eyed me for a moment, but again, she did not argue.

“I’m gonna put some pajamas on.” She rubbed her eyes. I shook my head and took the towel that she used to dry her body.

“No, your body goes against mine. Consider it your punishment for leaving me alone in the bed of furs.”

My miresa muttered under her breath, “But is it really punishment?”

I chuckled, and she fell into her bed, which was far too small for my body. She curled up next to me, her cheek resting next to my chest.

“We still have stuff to talk about.” She yawned and closed her eyes. “Lots of important stuff.”

I hummed, stroking the little piece of hair around her face. “We will, in the morning, sweet female. Sleep long, we have all the time.”

Her nose scrunched up, and she blew out a breath.

If she wasn’t so tired, I was sure there would be an argument there.

“Oh, don’t pet the fart squirrels, if they come by at light sources rise,” she added.

My eyes darted open.

“Fart squirrels?”

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