Page 45 of Wedding the Werepanther

Kayla’s still in the middle of her alarm routine the next morning when I go ahead and take a shower. Even though it’s not something I could ever imagine enjoying back when I lived only as a panther, the hot water pounding over my sensitive skin is yet another delight I’ve grown to love.

I dry off, enjoying the soft touch of the towel, and wrap it around my waist. After wiping the mirror free of mist, I practice several thirst-trap poses.

A bird trills right outside the window, song bright and full of joy and reminding me that I have a new game to set in motion.

I open the bathroom door, and Kayla plows into me with a sleepy oof, the soft sound a puff of air against my shoulder. Her hands grip my biceps, her lovely soft breasts pressing against my chest. The scent of lavender and woman and Kayla stirs a primal instinct, bringing it roaring to life.Claim.

She leaps backward, blinking rapidly. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Her gaze finally focuses, her attention drifting down my bare chest to the towel, which now rides low on my hips. “You… you’re naked!” She says it with a note of disbelief bordering on affront.

“And here I thought that was fairly normal when taking a shower.” I drop my voice to a purr. “Perhaps I’ve been doing it wrong. You could always show me the correct way, my wife.” I gesture toward the bathtub, and my towel slides another inch lower.

“Whuh?” Kayla’s gaze remains on the towel for another second. Then she shakes her head, her cheeks blazing with color. “What? No! I don’t want that!”

I step closer and lean over to purr in her ear, “Liar.” At her shiver, I chuckle. “Admit it. I win this round.”

“Yeah, sure.” Her eyes lose the look of flustered attraction, growing cool. “You win.” She moves past me without sneaking any more peeks, and the door closes with a firm click.

I’m not sure what I did wrong, but I don’t let that stop me. If anything, it makes today’s plan even more important. The bedroom door might be done, but I’m unwilling to give up my new woodworking skills.

Or the opportunity to be a thirst trap.

Later that afternoon, I step off the shadow roads into Victoria’s backyard, carrying a bunch of large tree branches. Dewdrop launches from my shoulder with a happy chirp and angles toward the house, who opens the back door so he can fly inside to find Kayla.

When I met with the men at The Thirsty Tusk last night, I asked Jace to get me permission for another trip to the dragon realm, and he granted it. While Dewdrop visited with his friends, I spent all morning on the outskirts of the dragonet glen, collecting dried branches. It took longer than I expected, since magical trees tend to be exceedingly healthy, but I finally have enough for what I have in mind.

I quickly set up a couple of sawhorses and rip my shirt over my head just in time.

“I wanted to thank you for taking Dewdrop to visit his friends. He says thank you, too. He had a wonderful time,” Kayla calls from her open office window, the dragonet on her shoulder. Her eyes latch onto my bare chest. “Why are you nakedagain?”

“It’s a surprise.” I grin over at her while flexing as I pick up the heaviest branch and rest it across the sawhorses. “You’ll see what it is in a couple of days.”

I grab a knife and spend the rest of the day stripping away the bark without damaging the wood underneath. It’s painstaking work that challenges my newfound dexterity and stretches its limits, exactly as I hoped.

Of course, every time Kayla looks out her window, I also stop to pour water all over myself, head tipped back, expression lost in ecstasy. Her soft gasps of appreciation fill me with heat, ratcheting up the impatience of my cock, which strains against my jeans, having had enough of this year-long hunt.

I ignore it. Kayla’s well worth the wait.

And I play to win.

The next day, I move on to sanding and sealing the branches, finding several good thirst-trap opportunities. If my wife catches me in the middle of working, I play it up, rippling my muscles in the most alluring manner. My lack of fur allows her to see every play of movement, and I’ve been practicing in front of a mirror to make sure I know how to show myself off to best advantage. Though really, it’s not as if I could ever look bad. I am, after all, a panther no matter my form, and all cats are magnificent.

Finally, the morning of our date-night dawns, and I leap from bed to finish my project. I call Jace and tell him it’s time to come over, then get to work. Anticipation speeds my movements as I assemble my creation in the living room.

By the time the dragon lands in the front yard, I’m ready.

Victoria throws open the front door, a feeling of excitement filling the air.“Hello!”she writes.“These magical parchments are amazing. Thank you again!”

“It was my pleasure.” Jace gives her a courtly bow, his blue wings rustling as they shift with the movement. “In fact, I’d like to run some more diagnostics while I’m here.”

“After you do what you came for.” I grin at him.

“Of course.” He doesn’t smile back. I’m going to have to keep working on loosening him up.

Kayla tries to come out of her office, but I shoo her back in. “Not yet. I’ll get you in a moment. Please keep Dewdrop with you.”