Part 14 (1/2)

”I'm afraid to get dressed. That's when I changed back last night, while I was trying to put on my clothes.”

”I doubt it was the clothes that made the difference. I think the potion only worked for a short time.”

”You're probably right, but I just-I just don't want to take a chance.” Besides, bringing this s.e.xual desire under control was the first order of business. Murmuring together in the dark wasn't helping, either. But if he let her turn on the light, she'd probably guess what his problem was.

”Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Something to drink?”

He thought about it. Not knowing when he might suddenly revert back to his cat status, he was reluctant to make big plans, like heading over to his condo. Going through the change in the backseat of a taxi didn't appeal to him. In fact, going through the change while being anywhere but here was a dicey proposition.

Maybe he should set his sights low. ”You got any beer?”

”Um, yes, I think so.” She seemed taken aback. ”Maybe one or two. I don't even know what brand they are.”

”I don't care about the brand. I'd just like to taste some beer. It's either that or have s.e.x.” He heard the words come out of his mouth and couldn't believe he'd actually spoken them aloud.

Anica sucked in a breath.

”Whoops.” He had the inappropriate urge to laugh, so he coughed instead. ”I didn't mean to say that.”

The mattress s.h.i.+fted as she slid out of bed. ”I'll get the beer.”

Chapter 13.

Anica's heart thumped crazily as she hurried into the kitchen, Orion close at her heels. Orion always followed her into the kitchen with the optimistic hope she'd feed him something yummy. Instead, she picked him up and carried him back into the living room, where she closed him in the coat closet.

She wasn't sure what had prompted Jasper to say what he did, but she'd been thinking about that very subject from the minute she'd become aware of his transformation. She hadn't expected him to be thinking about it, though. Yet the more she considered the matter, the more it made sense that he would.

First of all, he was a man (again!), and weren't they supposed to think about s.e.x every four minutes? Something like that. Second of all, he might be a man now, but after last night's experience he couldn't count on staying that way.

She certainly wouldn't advise him to leave the apartment, at least not until several hours had gone by with no change. Essentially he was trapped here with her while he waited to see what would happen. A man with nothing much to do but wait, when finding himself naked in a woman's bed-well, it just stood to reason what he'd be thinking.

Anica walked back to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and found two bottles of Sam Adams. She held them to her hot cheeks. Whew. So how about her? Was she seriously considering going back in there specifically to have s.e.x with Jasper?

Yes, she seriously was. After all, he'd woken her up with what was definitely a pre-climax moan and then he'd called her name. She'd bet anything he'd been dreaming about having s.e.x with her, and if he hadn't covered himself with the quilt no doubt the evidence would have been overwhelming.

She longed to be overwhelmed. When it came to Jasper Danes, legendary lover, she might never have this chance again. A good game of mattress bingo would serve many purposes. It would pa.s.s the time, get rid of a boatload of frustration-his and hers-and it might soften his heart enough that he wouldn't try to ruin her once he regained his human form permanently.

There was no downside to jumping into bed with Jasper right now. Okay, he might turn into a cat during the event, but there were worse things. Many men turned into pigs in bed, even though they didn't actually grow a snout and tail.

She'd take a cat transformation any day over a couple of other s.e.xual misfits she'd had the bad luck to go to bed with. Better a guy who turned into a cat than one who had a foot fetish or was a premature ejaculator.

She wasn't about to waste precious time drinking beer beforehand, either. Neither of them knew how long before he would change again. She put the bottles back in the refrigerator.

Too bad she'd worn this granny gown, but at least she could unfasten all seven b.u.t.tons that ended where her cleavage began. She could untie the ribbon holding her braid and fluff her hair, tossing it around to give herself a tousled look. She could dab some vanilla behind her ears and between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

When she'd done all that, she went through her s.e.xual readiness checklist. Legs shaved-check. Recent shower-check. Condoms in the bedside table drawer . . . were there condoms in the bedside table drawer? She hadn't had s.e.x since Edward, and hadn't thought to restock. There had to be at least one left, though, and one might be all they had time for.

Shoot, they might not have time for that if she didn't get on with it. She might even walk back into the bedroom and discover he was a cat again, which would be a b.u.mmer. Spontaneous-that was the watchword tonight. She was going in.

She noticed that the bedroom light was on when she entered the hall. She decided to start the conversational ball rolling before she walked in there, mostly because she wanted to hear his voice and rea.s.sure herself that she wouldn't find a cat in her bed instead of a man.

”Jasper, I've been thinking about what you said a couple of minutes ago.”

”It was uncalled for.” He came to the door wearing a towel wrapped around his hips. ”I . . .” His voice trailed off as he stared at her.

”I think it was totally called for. I think it's the best idea I've heard in ages.” Dear Zeus, he was gorgeous. He'd transformed back into exactly the man he'd been in the restaurant-except for the being-naked part. He was clean-shaven, with great hair and a terrific body. Add to that the obvious benefit of wearing nothing but a towel and you had the perfect setup for outstanding s.e.x.

Jasper's gaze traveled from her unbound hair to her unb.u.t.toned nightgown. Her nipples peaked under the soft flannel, and she was quite sure he noticed. His nostrils flared and the intensity in his eyes reminded her of the way he'd looked at her across the restaurant table . . . was it only two nights ago? It seemed like a lifetime.

He swallowed. ”You didn't bring the beer.”

”Nope.” She advanced, backing him into the room and toward the bed.

His chest rose and fell as his breathing grew more labored. ”I don't think you want to do this.”

”Oh yes, I do.” If he took a moisture meter reading about now, he'd know exactly how much.

”But something could happen right in the middle of-”

”That's why we can't fritter away valuable time drinking beer and debating the issue.” She surrendered to basic instincts and hooked a finger inside the knot of his towel.

He looked into her eyes. ”I hope you know what you're doing.”

”I have a working knowledge of the subject but I'll bet I could take lessons from you.” Holding his golden gaze she loosened the knot until the towel fell to the carpet with a naughty whisper.

She wanted to look but she was afraid if she broke eye contact, he might bolt. She recognized performance anxiety and it must be a novelty for him, the man who, as Sheila had said, was that good.

In this situation, though, he didn't have total control of his body, and at any time it could betray him. He might be willing to abandon the idea of s.e.x in favor of avoiding potential humiliation. She didn't want to give him that chance.

So instead of feasting her eyes on his endowments, she took matters-and his considerable endowments-into her own hands.

When she touched him, his eyes darkened from gold to mahogany. His p.e.n.i.s was thick with desire and his b.a.l.l.s tightened as she cupped them in her other hand. Feeling the heft, she shuddered to think that he'd almost lost them to the vet's knife today.

He cradled her face and leaned close to brush his lips over hers. ”I guess you're committed to this.”

”You betcha.”

”It's a really bad idea.” His breath caught as she stroked the length of his p.e.n.i.s. ”But I guess we'll do it, anyway.”

”I'm counting on it.” She closed her eyes when he leaned down to nuzzle the base of her throat. This was familiar. They'd made out before, and she knew he was good at that.

Then he took the open neck of her gown in both hands. ”This is just wrong.” In one swift movement, he tore the material right down the middle. He kept ripping until he broke through the hem and had the whole thing apart and every inch of her exposed. ”Much better.”

That was totally unfamiliar! The thrill of such an unexpected a.s.sault left her gasping and even more drenched with need.