Page 10 of All for the Beast

“You could spend years exploring the mountains and never get tired of them,” he said.

He looked at Katy, she smiled at him … a genuine smile. I’d like to see Siborim with you.”

Vharlk felt the heat rise in his cheeks at the sentiment. He would like that too.

FIVE

KATY

Before a day of touring Siborim, they decided to get something to eat. Katy was slowly warming up to Vharlk, laughing and joking with her newfriend.

She was beginning to feel incredibly attracted to Vharlk, to the point where she was distracted. He was bold, bossy, and already a bit too possessive. While sitting in that restaurant, she decided that she was going to make some outrageous demands of him to completely put him off her presence.

It was a painful notion because she was starting to wonder what his hands would feel like resting against her hips. It had been a long time since Katy had a good lay, and her girl parts were screaming at her about it.

He insisted on paying for the bill once they made plans for him to show her around the pier. Katy wasn’t made of money, but she had been told that her services would be a sufficient payment for her aiding the tourist attractions in the suffering town. Gerri seemed to be gushing with money, and she wondered if that also meant that Vharlk was.

They went shopping first, letting Katy see what the area had to offer. It was midday when the three of them returned to the pier. Katy couldn’t believe how bright the sun was, causing her to promptly rip her sunglasses out of her pocket.

“I’m going to store these bags at the inn, Katy,” Gerri said, turning away once more. “I will catch up with you two in an hour or so. Deal?”

Vharlk nodded, his hands back behind him like royalty.

“Did you need any help with those?” he asked softly. “How rude of me not to ask you earlier.”

Gerri grinned, her gray eyes beaming in the light.

“You know as well as I do that I can handle myself, V,” Gerri teased. “But the gesture is appreciated, as always.”

She hovered her eyes to Katy and gave her a reassuring wink. Katy gave her an awkward smile back, not knowing what else to do.

“Now behave with her,” Gerri quipped, pointing a finger underneath the various strings of bags.

“Only the best for visitors,” Vharlk said.

Gerri turned with a confidence Katy wished she could bottle. Vharlk seemed to have returned to the initially respectful individual she had met while walking along the pier, solemn and quiet, rather than the brute who had been trying to assert his dominance.

“So,” she started. “Vharlk-”

“Call me V,” he offered.

“V?”

“Yes,” he said, smirking. “It’s a short form only my good friends use. I suppose that means you fall into that category.”

Katy felt her cheeks heat with a shade as red as an autumn apple. She tried to play it off, thankful that her sunglasses were able to shield her true emotions.

“You are certainly right about that.” She scoffed at him. “Now go on, lead the way.”

They strolled along the pier, the portion which ran adjacent to the shipyard. Only a handful of shifters passed by as he described the history of each shop, as well as some ways they could utilize their various skill sets.

Katy tried to put him off immediately.

“Do you have any big pop stars on this planet?” she said, staring off into the distance. “A rock star or anything of that nature, Vharlk?”

“V,” he said, his lips barely parting.

“Yes, okay, V,” she said, grimacing. “I think the opening of the cruise line needs to be over the top, dramatic, almost to the point of tacky. Do you follow?”

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