Page 26 of All for the Beast

“You’re okay,” she whispered to herself as she walked in the sunlight. “Just think about the job. The job is what is important.”

Katy wore her sun hat and sunglasses, which made it easier to look V in the eye without feeling like she was going to plunge into his soul. Her outfit was a flowing floral skirt and a button-down shirt with a collar, which could evolve into a simple T-shirt and short combo in a snap. V had taught her how to use the fabric and could change instantaneously, appearing a lot like magic to her curious mind.

He was already standing on the small boat when she arrived. The pink waters were calm, which was perfect for their day of exploration. His clothes expressed a similar vibe as her own, a dress shirt, professional-looking long shorts, and dark hair combed back into a casual and friendly style. His cheeks had sprinkles of stubble on them that made Katy nearly groan.

“Good morning,” he said, offering his hand to her on the dock.

She smiled at him. She hoped she could keep her shit together with him looking so delicious all day.

“Good morning,” she replied.

Katy took his hand, and he helped her onto the dinghy. It looked like any transport boat that would be used on Earth, except it was much shinier with its stainless steel and neon orange accents.

“Did you sleep all right last night?”

Katy sat next to him as she always did, with their legs pressing against one another, but neither made a move to escalate things. She had lost her focus at the musical performance the other night, placing her hand on his thigh in a vulnerable moment.

“It was okay, yes,” she said, adjusting her sunglasses. “I think I’m finally getting used to the time change around this place.”

V grinned at her as the driver set off through the water. There was no smell of gasoline or even a rumble of an engine. Katy looked around to the back of the dinghy and realized that they were moving across the water like it was made of ice.

She pointed at it firmly.

“Explain.”

V glanced back and chuckled. There was nothing in the world hotter than the way he laughed.

“Sustainability is very important in Nova Aurora, as you know,” he began. “We’ve seen the use of gasoline destroy many environments on your planet, as well as many others. So we created this air filtration system that literally drives the boat forward.”

Katy was in utter shock and bewilderment. She looked back at the end of the boat, almost wanting to rub her eyes to see if he was fucking with her.

“That is incredible,” she muttered.

V kept a smile on his face as they traveled to the first island where the cruise ship would be boarded. They were moving at a high rate of speed, so every now and then, he would wrap his arm around the back of the dingy. This pulled her closer to him, and she leaned into it, catching his delightful musk and giving it a long sniff.

Too quickly, they reached the strip of land. It was one of the older islands showcased for tourists but hadn’t been maintained well. There were three different castles from some of the first shifters on the planets, as well as ancient ruins that belonged to an even older family of dragon shifters.

Sweat ran down her back as she tried to study the sight before her. “I didn’t think dragons lived around here?” she said.

V wiped his forehead, the heat seeming to affect him too.

“They haven’t for a long time,” he said. “They adjusted to living in colder climates after centuries of living on this island. Since they left, it’s only been wolf shifters around here. But not on the island, of course.”

Every word he said dripped with smooth coolness. He was the most attractive tour guide she had ever met. They walked back to the dinghy after Katy took a few photos of the castle, stepping through overgrown vegetation and fallen debris.

“You were right about this place. It’s definitely for people interested in the historical aspect of things. A bit of a calmer escapade.”

He nodded and helped her back onto the boat. When the driver set out again, he placed his hand behind her, but that time, let his fingers rest lightly upon her hip. Breath caught in her throat.

“What would you prefer?” he asked.

Katy blinked, centering herself. “Me?”

He smirked and narrowed his eyes. “I can see you liking both, depending upon your mood.”

Katy pursed her lips at him and wrinkled her nose. Something flashed in his sea-shaded eyes like a breeze over the water.

“I’ll have to see the island first and make up my mind,” she said, then boldly continued. “Are you hoping I’m a bit of a wild girl?”

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