Page 18 of Hell's Kitten

Sagittarius glowers at me and flicks his tail, but he waits by my feet, probably working out that he can follow me in a second. Some of these cats are just too smart for their own good.

Before tending to my new house guest, I pick his phone off the floor and pocket it before leaning down to reach for my sleepy kitty. I try and keep the blanket wrapped around him as I pick him up in a bridal carry. But it slips as I lift him and…oh…dear…god.He’s only got tiny shorts on and half a T-shirt. Well, he’s also got socks and paw slippers on his feet, but that’s not really the issue here.

He’s so adorable and half-naked andgah!

Okay, the only solution is to put him back down again as quickly as possible. He’s pretty heavy despite being so small. I can feel how muscular he is. But I manage to get him up the stairs without rousing him. A parade of kitties follows us into his bedroom, but that’s no surprise to me. They already love the hell out of him.

He’s unpacked in here, and seeing his teddies and other knick-knacks in my space makes my heart flip in my chest. I hate how much I love it. But I can’t get used to it. That way leads to danger.

As I go to place him on the bed so I can let him go, he rolls in closer to me, nuzzling his face against my chest and clinging to my arms with a moan.

I freeze.

“Jessie?” I say softly. “It’s bedtime now.”

He sighs with a little puff of air. “Okay, Nim,” he mumbles sleepily, allowing me to ease him from my grip and onto themattress. Somehow I yank the duvet back, but before he can burrow under the covers completely, I pull off his slippers.

Tucking him in, I can’t seem to stop myself from reaching out and brushing a wayward curl from his forehead. Then I snatch my hand back, knowing I’ve crossed a line. Stepping back, I watch as several kitties jump up to join him. Usually, they fight for a spot on my bed or occupy the tree perches in my room. I have a suspicion that tonight I’m going to feel a little lonely.

But that’s okay. Jessie is all that matters.

I creep back downstairs, then take a second to rest against the wall and massage the ache in my chest.

He’s perfect. He’s beautiful. He’s kind and hardworking, and he’s agod damned kitten.

“Really, universe?” I say, looking toward the heavens. “What have I done to deserve this torment?”

CHAPTER 9

Jessie

It takes aboutthree seconds after I wake up before panic explodes in my chest.

Where the fuck am I?

I gasp and flail. It’s only when I send several cats scattering across the dark room do I start to remember what’s going on.

Nim.

I’m at his place. This is my new room, and these are some of his cats that were keeping me company. But…hang on. This isn’t right. I didn’t fall asleep here, did I? And why am I half naked? A loud rumble from my stomach also reminds me that I’m starving. My phone is on the nightstand, so I check the time and see it’s just before eight at night. Wait…wasn’t I…?

“The lasagna!” I shriek. Tumbling from the bed, I go to run out of the room. But at the last second, I spin around and grab a hoodie so I don’t feel quite as exposed. If the house is on fire, then I’ll have a lot of cats to save, and I’d rather not face the firefighters in little more than a bra and panties.

But as I run down the stairs I don’t see or smell any smoke. My heart is still racing as I skid into the kitchen, looking frantically around. The oven is off. Did I dream making dinner in the first place?

“Thank you,” a low voice rumbles behind me. I shriek again and spin around, clutching my chest.

Nim is standing in the doorway, looking sheepish with his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, fuck,” I splutter. “Sorry, I’m still half-asleep. Um, thank you for what?”

He juts his chin toward the fridge. “Lasagna. And cleaning up.”

I blink at him before stepping over and opening the fridge door to peek inside. Sure enough, there’s the dish I made minus a square. I bite my lip, trying to piece my memories together.

“Oh…no,” I say, feeling the blush creep onto my face as embarrassment sweeps through me. “I fell asleep on the sofa, didn’t I? Why didn’t my alarm wake me up?” I snatch my phone out of my pocket and open my clock app. Sure enough, I set the time.

I just never pressed start, apparently.

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