Page 10 of The Cat's Dom

He hadn’t long to wait for her to come out in a big t-shirt and baggy sweatpants. If she was trying to hide her body, she was successful. If she thought the clothing would make her ugly or not attractive to him, she failed. He couldn’t see anything that could make her ugly. He studied her. “Come here and eat.”

“I had a hamburger not that long ago.”

“What else did you eat today?”

“I…” She looked away.

“I’m guessing nothing,” he said.

She sighed and shook her head.

“Come here and try one piece. I got a large pizza. Half with just cheese and the other with pepperoni. I hope you like at least one of them.”

“I like both.”

“Good.” He set a piece of cheese on a plate and handed it to her. “Here you go, Baby.”

“Thank you.”

He poured her a glass of soda. “I know this isn’t healthy, but it’s all I could get on such short notice.”

She glanced at him. “It’s fine. I don’t drink much of it, but sometimes I crave a glass.”

He nodded and sat down to eat his pizza. They ate silently for a few minutes before he reached for another piece. He noticed she was still working on the small one he’d given her.

Her hair was damp and hung down her back. She looked pale and had dark bruising under her eyes, telling him she was having a problem with sleeping, too. His lack of sleep was because of the war he’d fought and the other horrifying things he’d seen overseas. “I want you back at work in the morning.”

She lifted her head. “But…”

“No buts. We need you, and I think you enjoy what you’re doing.”

She nodded.

“Then there’s no problem with you working with us.”

“Are you going to be breathing down my neck the whole time?” she asked.

He smirked. “Probably. But you’ll get used to it. I’m going to be around a lot.”

“Oh, joy,” she grumbled.

He laughed.

She finished her piece of pizza. “I can’t eat anymore.”

“You couldn’t try just one more piece?”

She shook her head. “No, not unless you want me to puke.”

He grinned and finished off the pizza. They both cleaned up, and then he pulled her over to the door.

“I’m going to head home, but I’ll see you in the morning. I wrote my number down and put it on the kitchen counter if you need me.”

She stood before him, looking so lost he wanted to pull her into his lap and never let her go.

He cupped her cheek with his hand. “Cat, I want you to call if you just want to talk or need a hug.”

“Okay.”

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