Page 68 of Rescued By the Beast
I refocus on the transformation, until, a few hours later, I succeed.
The first thing I do is run to the bathroom and take a cold shower, washing my hair. I dry myself with a towel, but I don't have much time. Yesterday, by my calculations, I managed to stay in this form for five or six minutes. I put the towel in the laundry basket, mixing it with one of his used towels.
If I could, I would wash and dry it to remove any traces. I know that in human form my smell is a little different from when I'm in animal form. Mark may notice, but it's a risk I have to take, at least until I can stay human longer.
And that's what I'm going to practise, every day: maintaining control.
I go naked to the kitchen. I don't know if I have seconds or minutes left, but I want to eat a little more. I grab a banana, peel it completely, and throw the peel in the bin before eating. I'm finishing chewing when I feel the need to transform again.
Damn...
But a small smile stretches my lips, because according to the clock on the kitchen wall, this time I stayed human for fifteen minutes.
"Tomorrow I'll try again and..." I glance at the computer. "I have a plan."
It's the last thing I say before turning back into a cat.
Mark comes home a few hours early, sighs as he closes the door and looks for me. He's holding a bag in one hand, and I'm curious to know what's inside, but my attention returns to him when he starts talking.
"You must be starving." He crouches down and runs his hand through my fur.
He walks to the kitchen, places the bag on the counter before taking out the food he left prepared. Then he puts it in the pet bowl in front of me. The smell of juicy chicken and vegetables makes me forget any plans for a moment.
I eat, savouring every bite, while he goes to hishome office, sits down in front of the computer and massages his temples.
I dash over there, leaving the rest of the food for later.
This is more important...
I jump onto his lap, purring, and he smiles, completely oblivious to my plan. He turns on the computer and I jump onto the desk, next to the keyboard, peeking as he types the password to unlock the monitor. I repeat the numbers in my mind. At first, they seem very difficult, until I realise that the first numbers are the same as the gate code, I just need to memorise the rest:
251122819961
I go back to the floor and finish eating, repeating the password silently. I keep repeating the sequence in my head until I feel sure I won't forget it.
Later, before bed, Mark surprises me with something unexpected. He enters the room with the bag he brought when he returned from work and, seeing my curiosity, begins to take out some items that immediately catch my attention.
"I've prepared aspanight for you. What do you think?" He says with a smile, as he takes a special brush out of the bag, which begins to release a soft, fragrant vapour. "I saw this today and thought you'd like it."
He sits on the floor and, with a gentle gesture, settles me more comfortably on the bed, strokes my muzzle with his fingertip before leaning over and kissing my head. I can't help but purr, a little surprised by the delicacy of the moment. With firm but careful hands, he begins to brush my fur patiently. The warm steam from the brush dissolves any tension I've built up during the day, and a deep relaxation takes over me.
"I don't think I've ever cared for anyone like this before..." He murmurs softly, his words laden with genuine affection. "But you deserve all the care in the world, you know?"
With each movement, he makes me feel more relaxed, while the warmth on my skin and the delicacy of his touch make the moment even more special. The tension in my shoulders disappears, and little by little, I melt under his care.
He smiles gently and then picks up a small jar and opens the lid. The sweet aroma of coconut oil spreads through the air as he spreads the product between his fingers.
"Let's take care of those little paws, my dear," he says affectionately, massaging the pads of my paws with a warm and gentle touch. The oil glides over my skin, moisturising every partwith precision, and I can't help but purr with pleasure again, my eyes closing.
With the same tenderness, he slides a little oil onto my snout, gently rubbing it on my nose so it doesn't dry out. I melt, my eyes closing in pure delight, his touch making me feel safe and cared for like never before.
"All done, clean and moisturised paws. Now... I'm going to return the massage you gave me last night." His voice is cheerful, and his fingers move in gentle circles at the base of my neck.
The delicate pressure and movements make me relax even more, my purrs continuing low and steady. He now massages my back, and the feeling of his hands there is incredibly comforting.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he asks, his voice low and full of complicity, as his hand moves back up, caressing the back of my neck with a gentleness that leaves me surrendered. "I take good care of what's mine."
I let myself be enveloped by that affection, my eyes still closed, feeling each touch as if it were a gift.
