Page 101 of Obey

There are sixteen pounds of furry judgment, standing directly on my bladder.

“Oh lord, Cypress!” My fickle feline picks his way across my stomach like he’s conducting a formal inspection, meowing sharply. “You are too heavy for this kind of disrespect,” I groan.

He flicks his tail into my face and collapses onto my chest with the wounded dignity of a Victorian widow abandoned at sea.

Right. I was gone almost the entire weekend, so naturally, the tiny warlord is punishing me.

“I said I was sorry,” I mumble, scratching behind his ear. “You don’t have to try to murder me in my sleep.”

He purrs, incongruously pleased, because he’s obsessed with me despite the theatrics.

Honestly? Same.

I finally win my freedom by bribing him with leftover chicken from the fridge. The moment he hears the seal break, he’s all forgiveness and shrieking hunger, winding between my legs. I dump a chunk onto his plate and watch him inhale it without chewing.

He wants what he wants, and so do I.

Five minutes later, I’m sitting cross-legged on the couch with coffee in one hand, Cypress sprawled across my lap like he didn’t just verbally assault me for existing, while my phone glows accusingly beside me.

Three unread texts.

Jace

Rise and shine, Sugar.

Nate

Don’t spend your entire day hiding in bed.

Elias

Text us when you’re awake.

Cypress headbutts my hand impatiently, demanding more attention while I scroll through the messages again. Then a terrible idea occurs to me, and I have to bite back a laugh before I’ve even typed it. The furry dictator lets out a warning chirp, as if he already senses criminal behavior unfolding.

“Mind your business,” I tell him.

Then I open the group chat.

Awake and currently feeding the very grumpy man I woke up to

Three dots appear instantly.

Nate: Excuse me?

Jace: ????????

Elias: Explain.

I bite my lip hard to stop myself from cackling.

Oh, you know

very handsome

but a little demanding and high maintenance

Met him about nine months ago