Page 15 of Loaned to the Leonid Knight

There. That was honest. And hopefully, it didn’t make him sound like a cub or some sniveling coward.

“Displeasing me?” Sasha slowly allowed herself to be drawn back.

“Yes. Because I haven’t been in this position before.”

“Oh. Well, yeah, neither have I. Don’t worry about displeasing and stuff. I’m not big on the physical side of this contract. As long as it’s not too painful, we’ll be fine.”

“Sweet Bastet, no! No, it should definitely not be painful.”

“See? That’s all I need. I know they say these shots make you go into ‘heat,’ but I assume you have to enjoy sex to want to do it all the time, and I don’t. Nothing personal! Nothing about you! I just don’t like it. I never have.”

Gideon frowned. Well. Maybe that was a good thing. She had no high expectations of his ability to pleasure her, just refrain from hurting her, and he was sure he could manage that. She didn’t expect to experience insatiable cravings for sexual attention like Queens did during their heats. “Well, if you do want something or need something, I’ll support you. That’s my job.”

Sasha gave him a bemused smile. “You could give lessons to human guys, you know.”

“I’d be willing, but I’ve heard Sapien-Three is hardly a tourist spot.”

They shared a laugh.

“So, dinner?”

“In your quarters?”

“I’m right next door.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

He showed her out and waved goodbye, standing awkwardly in the doorway of his quarters, trying to decide if he should walk her to her rooms or not, since he could literally see her door from his own.

She tossed him another smile over her shoulder, this one broader and happier than any of the others, and he felt as though someone had swiped him across the knees.

He clutched the doorway for support.

Farhet was an utter idiot for passing up a chance to spend more time with Sasha. A blasted fool for not at least attempting to get used to her appearance and touch.

He sank back on the bed and put his paw over his chest, startled to find his heart was still beating hard. “Must be a side effect of hypersleep.”

Or it could be a side effect of thinking about her words. Just avoid pain, that’s all she wanted.

Poor little human Queen.

That makes it sound as if she has never experienced pleasure. Neither have I, not with another person. If I could make this good for her, then—

Then what?

The voice of reality was dull and firm.Then you’ll have a chance to rut her more often? Isn’t that the selfish perk of selling your lineage to a rich bully like Farhet?

Sasha doesn’t think it’s wrong. She understands me.

We might get along very well.

I hope so...

Chapter Six

Kamau and Nessa bustled in with trays piled high. “Your feast awaits!” Kamau proclaimed.

“I just wanted to have a chance to talk with him, especially since he wasn’t the original Felid I thought I would be, um, working with,” Sasha cried, her voice fading away at the end. “You didn’t need to do anything fancy!”