Page 19 of All for the Beast

“Damn,” she said. “V, I should have dressed up more for this.”

V was used to dining in places such asThe Verge.It was a dimly lit, cozy establishment with gold and red accents and soft music played by an instrumentalist at the center of the room. The carpets were a soft royal blue made of the delicate fabric native to the planet.

V shook his head enthusiastically.

“You look great, Katy,” he said.

When he slipped off his shoes, going barefoot on the soft carpet, Katy frowned. She looked up at him like he had just shot an arrow into someone’s back.

He grinned wildly.

“The carpet iscalledtendra,” he said. “It’s an ancient fabric that can only be found on this planet. It moves all the way up your meridians from your feet, giving you a sensation of bliss. Trust me, it’s lovely.”

Katy gazed down at her feet. She was wearing black flats, lightly flecked in bright yellow sand. She moved closer to him and whispered with caution. “I really hope you aren’t fucking with me,” she muttered.

V let out a soft chuckle, then pointed around the room with his free hand.

“Look at the customers,” he said quietly. “None of them are wearing shoes either. Take a gander.”

Katy moved around the hostess stand to see the others sitting in their own private booths. She tilted her head and had to blink a few times to realize that, no, V was not fucking with her.

She turned back to him, her concerned look replaced by excitement.

“If you say so,” she whispered.

Katy then proceeded to slip off her flats one by one, then she placed her cute little feet on the blue carpet. V looked at them, wondering how they would feel in his hands.

“Mmm,” she let out a groan as she settled into the carpet, eyes closing.

V could only imagine what it would feel like to place your skin upon tendra the very first time with zero understanding of the exact feeling. As a born and raised Nova Auroran, V was accustomed to it before he knew how to even walk. It was often used in the homes of the wealthy, prestigious, and, of course, those of royal blood. It could ease the early years of growth for children with difficulties adjusting to their shifter nature.

V wondered if it was akin to getting a massage or, even more erotically, a sweet and tender orgasm. He scolded himself for a moment as he began to wonder if she disapproved of being put in such a vulnerable position.

But when Katy opened her eyes, she appeared tranquil and satisfied without a single ounce of resentment. She sighed and looked at him with eyes that sparkled with intrigue.

“You weren’t kidding,” she said softly. “I can only imagine what the food will taste like.”

They were escorted to a private booth that he had booked for them, one especially hidden and romantic. An iridescent candle sat between them, shuffling through various colors of the spectrum, all while remaining a flickering flame that he could run his fingers through.

“This place is like a dream,” Katy said, looking around thoughtfully.

V desperately wanted to tell her that she was the dream, but he managed to keep the words locked inside his soul for the time being.

They looked over the menu together, and V spoke about the various options that would be most popular within the establishments that they wanted on the cruise liner. She listened intently and sampled each item that V highlighted. She was slowly getting used to the food offered on the planet, which he greatly respected.

The two spent most of the afternoon talking at the restaurant, finalizing the foods that would be served, along with the entertainment, which would include the use of thetendrafabric.

V could have spent the whole day with Katy, but he was trying not to take up too much of her time and risk her getting tired of him. So far, she had shown all the signs of being the type of business partner who joked, laughed, and connected. But V didn’t want her to remain his business partner. He wanted her as his life partner.

As the evening began, they strolled side by side along the pier. The sea was full of energy that day, the pink waters crashing farther up the shoreline. As a seawolf shifter, V had a sense of its mood, the way a dog knew when its owner was anxious.

“You must love the ocean so much.”

She gazed at the water as they strolled. She had left her shoes off, and they were swinging on the delicate fingers in the hand farthest from him. V had the desire to hold her hand, to tell her how much he was already falling for her, but that was a bad idea.

Katy was getting comfortable with him without any pressure of romance, and he needed to keep that up.

“I really do,” V remarked with a sigh. “Not everyone around here has as much appreciation for it, though.”

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