Page 45 of Hell's Kitten

I laugh along with them, but I’m quickly lost in thought as the conversation moves onto music. They chat about an all-girl pop-rock band called Glittergasm that I vaguely remember touring with Below Zero when I saw them back in the day. Normally, I’d love to gush over my favorite ladies in music, but I’m too preoccupied worrying about concerns closer to home.

Is Nim’s beloved café really in trouble because of some political bullshit? And, more importantly, if itis…

Why hasn’t he told me about it?

CHAPTER 17

Nim

I will never,ever complain about the incredible sex Jessie and I are having, nor the wonderful frequency of it.

But trying to change the bed sheets with ten cats around is just a little bit challenging, I must admit. Even with several spare sets to rotate, the fact that I’m now doing it at least two or three times a week doesn’t seem to be dampening any of my furry friends’ enthusiasm for it. Or mine for having sex.

Hell, right now, we’re on our third day in a row of fresh bedding.

“Libra, really?” I say in exasperation. I’ve managed to get the fresh sheet on, and the pillowcases didn’t need changing. But trying to wrestle the duvet cover on is proving to be some kind of military operation. Currently, I’ve got two cats inside the damn thing, with a third on top, batting at them through the cover.

“Hello?”

All my stress melts away in a flash at hearing Jessie’s voice. “In here!” I call out, giving up and dropping the whole duvet to the floor. Jessie knows by now not to step on the bedding when it’s deconstructed because it will inevitably be filled with felines. I turn just as he comes through the door.

Immediately, I reach for his hands, looking at the beautiful job Candy’s done with my kitten’s nails. It distressed me how he would anxiously chew on them, so we agreed that this might be a nice way to help him break the habit. Plus, I get the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve marked him. This adorable manicure signals to the world that he’s mine.

They’re teal and purple, just like his squad colors, and each nail has the top half of a tiny cat face poking up from different positions around the edge of his nail. I think they’re adorable. I look up, expecting him to be giddy and excited.

But his eyes are wide and…wet?

Oh god!

“Baby, what’s wrong?” I cry, grabbing his shoulders.

He looks away from me and chews his lip. My heart is breaking just looking at him, but anger is also rising. If someone’s hurt him, I will kick down their door to give them a piece of my mind if I have to.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Mayor Durham?” he asks quietly.

I blink, his words not making any sense. “Huh?” I grunt.

He huffs and turns back to frown at me. “You didn’t tell me that he’s been terrorizing the Cardinals for weeks! That his wife is trying to get Toe Beans shut down! Youliedto me!”

I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face. “No, no!” I splutter. “I…”

But he’s right.

I might not have exactly been lying to him. But I haven’t told him the whole truth, either.

Hanging my head in shame, I rub my thumbs against his shoulders. “Oh, kitten. I’m so sorry. I was just trying to protect you.”

“From what?” he demands. “Real life? This isn’t just some kinky thing to me, Nim. I’mwithyou. I want to be a part of your life. But if that’s not what you want, if you want to shut me out?—”

“NO!” I shout, my heart threatening to explode out of my chest. I take a deep breath as Jessie looks at me, startled. “I shouldn’t have shouted. I’m sorry. No, baby, I want you in every part of my life. This is real for me. I’m all in. ButI’msupposed to protect you, to provide foryou.I didn’t know if my whole life was about to implode, and I didn’t want to burden you with that.”

Mercifully, Jessie finally sighs and looks at me with affection. “I’m not with you for any of those reasons, Nim,” he says, sounding slightly exasperated. “Yes, I love it that you take care of me. You’re the kindest, sweetest, most selfless man I’ve ever met. But I’m with you because you’reyou.I don’t want you shielding me like I’m some fragile child?—”

“I don’t think that,” I interrupt hotly.

Jessie raises an eyebrow. “Well, that’s exactly how I feel right now. Candy seems like a lovely lady, but she’s not who I want to hear my Daddy’s most important news from.”

My shoulders slump. “Oh,” I say. He has a good point. “Okay. Fair enough.”

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