The Cat Negotiates Further

"Are you sure?"

Is he kidding? I'm the gal that I can't cut out people who are abusing me.

"Once you're mine, you're automatically included in anything you want to be in. I'm being vague about that because I don't know what will happen or what you'd want to be in on. But you're always invited."

He tilts his head. "So if I want to show up at a shindig at your house, I'm invited."

"You are always invited—to anything, anywhere."

"As is my family, I assume. Theodora's never really been out and about. Since Donatella made her for Talia, she only stayed at the house or covering for Talia at work. Being a Talia droid made her different from every other droid out there, and she's always worried that it would freak people out."

"My door's always open; in fact, it's never locked. Family is family, love. Rafe's birthday is in May and we'll probably have a big shindig—we always do."

"By the by, did anyone tell you that no one let me know about Theodora? I found out by coming home from a gig to see Talia on the couch, knocking it with Damien."

I cover my mouth. "No way."

"Obviously, it wasn't Talia. But imagine my surprise when she yanked me off Damien's bloody body and tossed me through a wall. Talia's strong—my blood's helped there—but she's not that strong. Then Talia stormed in, mad as a wet hen, because other than injuries—it was a colossal mess. The goddess gets irritated when her house gets mussed. And somehow, it was all my fault."

"I can't imagine how." I give him a wry look.

"So I didn't stop to sense for her before I opened up a can of English whipass on Damien. That doesn't mean that I should clean it up myself."

"We had a big ass fight like that in our house. When he first came home, Hex used to turn Leo off and hide him in a closet. Caesar thought it was funny to program the early droids like Leo to hate clones. Victor got revenge by programming Hex to do the opposite... and he showed him where they hid their power switches. Hex would be all ‘Oh, he's sleeping downstairs' and I'd find Leo the next day in a damned closet. It blew up big time after a while."

He bursts out laughing, leaning back in his seat. "That's hysterical. Who knew the toaster, and the traitor had such good senses of humor?"

"Luckily, by the time Rafe came to live with us, Hex was over that. Leo had also gotten over his daddy issues about Victor and things worked out okay."

Taurus frowns, shaking his head. "My head is spinning, love. There's so much history that I don't know."

"After Rafe, I never had a problem with my people joining our family. My boys accepted that I'm kind of a softie and take in strays all the time." I look at him, watching his face. "Was that an overload of information?"

"A little," he admits. "I think I'll restrict my reindeer games to you, your immediate family, and mine for a while—maybe forever." He shivers, as if dreading the amount of people he might have to interact with.

"It's your choice, baby. If you want to come to parties or go out, I'll be there. Even if I have to smack someone around for getting fresh—which is probable—I'm happy to have you around whenever you want to be."

Practically beaming, he nods. "That's why it's a good idea if I stay close for a good long while. You're so insane over me you're likely to kill someone if they try me."

I narrow my eyes and growl. "More like maim. Killing community members is counterproductive, as you said."

"Aww, baby, are you being protective?"

"Always."

"I'm touched, kitty—more than you know." He sighs and pauses for a moment. "That's most of my issues, but there's one left."

I arch a brow, still growling a bit at the idea of bints pawing at him. "What is it?"

"Can I call you warrior princess, baby?" His eyes dance and he squeezes me tight. "Uh…obviously, that's not the issue."

I snort. "You can call me anything you want except cute."

"My little warrior princess," he says, looking delighted before he leers at me. "Well, that blows it. You are cute."

I give him a dirty look, my eyes narrowing as I plot a painful punishment for that statement.

"Especially when you get that evil gleam in your eyes, like when you think of someone knocking me around in public." He nods as he looks at me, grinning. "Just like that."

"That or laying hands on you. I'd probably growl at that, too." I wrinkle my nose, not intending to admit that.

He blinks at me as if he hasn't heard correctly. "Huh?"

"I didn't say that it made sense," I mutter peevishly.

I'd prefer he leave this alone because I don't even understand why I feel this way.

His chest puffs, preening like he's going to spread the tail feathers all the hell over me. "Are you saying you'd be jealous? You're kidding me, right? You? Jealous?"

"No. Possessive." It escapes my mouth, and I curse silently. That was not something I wanted him to know.

"How long have you been feeling that way about me, kitty?"

The whole bloody time, you great ninny. I clamp my mouth shut until the urge to scream that at him dies. "I just would be. It's not a big deal." I cross my arms over my chest, looking aggravated.

"That was not an answer to my question."

"Fine," I huff, blowing hair out of my eyes. "Recently, I think. Probably since the feather." I rub my fingers over the spines of the feather, my expression troubled as I feel it ache a little.

"You weren't feeling possessive when Blondie was chatting me up the other day, were you? You were mad she lied to you."

"I was mad as hell that she lied to me." I retort, feeling cornered. I'm troubled that this is the first time I've realized that I feel this way and frustrated that I blurted it out.

"Were you feeling that way when you thought I'd fucked her?" He tilts his head, looking curious, and I don't know how to answer him.

Yeah, that hurt like hell. But it's not my place to cast stones when I live in a glass house, now is it?

"I was because I got the feeling that she was trying to do it before I did. I felt like it was a competition. That annoyed me."

His lips curl. "It was—you won."

"You know what I mean."

"I know, kitty, but I'm putting a happier spin on it. A first prize Taurus is a good thing, right?"

I lean up to kiss him lightly. "You are a wonderful prize, though I wouldn't use that terminology on someone I care about."

Drawing me into his arms, he murmurs, "Thanks, love. You're a bloody excellent prize yourself." Switching gears, he gives me a supremely arrogant smirk. "Now, let me see if I get this right. With this newly found possessiveness you've got going on, I'll need clarification on the rules. Does that mean you'll be snatching bits bald if they try to cozy up to my lower half? More importantly, does that mean I get to vice that versa?"

"You will never fucking let me live this down." I put my face in my hands, completely chagrined. How could be such a fool?

"I'm surprised, love—pleasantly, but still."

"Even I get possessive sometimes. I think it's the primal part of me because I've never felt it as strongly as I do now. The stronger she gets, the stronger those urges are."

"And we both know I bring out the primal in you." He looks me in the eye. "Can I be honest?"

"It seems like you're the only one who can anymore."

He smiles at that, leaning forward to put his forehead on mine. "It makes me tingly to think of you loving me enough that you don't want to share me. Thank you for telling me."

Boy, that feels serious.

Despite the lighthearted tone of this conversation, the significance of that admission doesn't escape me. It delineates the chasm between our belief systems, and I'm not sure if it's actually a good thing. I don't know why the beast is so attached to him, but she gets fierce about it.

Maybe it's because she can stretch her legs when we hunt and run?

"You're special," I say softly. "When people are special to me, I'm protective and possessive. Despite my ability to share without qualm, I still get the ‘mine' feeling like anyone else. I'm a greedy bitch because a lot of things are mine." Well, they were at one point. I suppose now I can't say I know what's mine or everyone's. Honestly, do I even want what I'd previously claimed anymore?

"As in, I'm yours and everyone else should keep their hands off?"

I squirm. I'm very uncomfortable with this part of me. I don't like to discuss it because it's antithetical to my beliefs. "Yeah, sort of."

Shooting to his feet, he picks me up and spins us around in a circle. His smile is wide as he twirls us around gleefully.

I shriek, surprised as hell, so I thump his shoulders hard. "We've discussed this flying thing!"

He sits me on my feet and pulls me to his chest. Kissing me quickly, he runs a finger down my jaw. "Baby, in my entire life, I've only loved one woman besides you. You have nothing to worry about—no one else can have me. In case you missed it, I'm kind of stuck on the faithful gig. I don't expect reciprocation, but just because I've taken you doesn't mean that I'm going to become a gigolo." His arms squeeze me to him tightly, and I squeak again. "I started falling for you faster than you know, and I love you even more for telling me that."

"I didn't think you were going to strut out around, pimping yourself out. I'm worried about people's inability to allow me to have anything to myself. It might make me a little growly, that's all."

"Thanks ever so for that imagery, but you can get growly all you want, baby. I have one last thing to ask you before I have to get some sleep. It's late again and tomorrow I have at least thirteen hours of bullshit to deal with at work. Do you realize that since I fell for you, I haven't gotten a single full night's sleep?"

"You can tell me to shut up anytime, silly. We don't have to be up so late every night."

"No, actually, I can't. You've worked yourself into me, baby, like an addiction that I crave feeding."

I try not to look pleased, but fail miserably.

"I love you, Sandwich."

"I love you, too, baby."

"My last concern is Blondie. I'm worried about her reaction if we mate. We might have gotten away with the marking by banking on her following the crowd, but this is bigger than that. You told me what her issue is with me and mating with you means that we're going to hit that button hard. I'm afraid Talia's friendship with her will suffer. Hell, I'm even worried about what she'll do to you when she finds out."

"She'll go with the crowd—at least in public. Sari will make a show of being okay with it and Rhea will follow her lead. That doesn't mean they won't be awful behind the scenes, but they won't come at us publicly. And Rhea has never confronted anyone on her issues with them, so her friendship with Talia will be fine. Fake, but fine."

"Christ, do you even have to tell them?"

"I'll have to mention it at some point. You know that as mates—even less than perfect ones—they're owed that much."

"Balls," he grumbles petulantly.

"Sari's been a good girl so far."

But Wilde has not been a good boy.

He plops down on the couch, pulls me down, and buries his face in my stomach. "That's terrifying." Holding onto my pant legs as he leans into me, I can see that he's having a hard time trying to reconcile what is right with what would be easier.

I whisper softly, "I love you, Taurus. None of the other people can change that. You don't need to worry about them. I know there's been a lot of hard shit lately, but I promise you I'm here to stay."

He blinks owlishly as he looks up at me. "What did you call me?"

"What did I call you?" I echo, giving him a puzzled look.

"My name. What did you call me?"

"Tau-rus," I repeat slowly, wondering what the hell is up with him.

"Do you know that it's the first time in—I don't know how long—that you've called me that? It's the first time you've said ‘I love you, Taurus' period."

His expression is so serious that I try to muddle out why I haven't. I haven't purposefully avoided his name or anything.

"Not counting mumbling shit while we're going at it, of course. But actually saying it out loud? That's the first time. I worried maybe you had forgotten who I was." He doesn't look at me, clearly embarrassed to admit that it bothered him.

I shake my head vehemently. I know exactly who he is and what I say to him. I consider everything carefully to ensure that I don't fuck it all up. "I could never forget you."

"With my wee insecurity about us, you not calling me Taurus was plaguing me. I don't know why, but hearing you say it like that makes us more serious. You can't walk up to Rafe and say, ‘I love you, Taurus' without him giving you a strange look."

Hell, he'd look at me funny if I said it to Taurus directly in front of him. My family is so used to using nicknames I couldn't tell you the last time I said that to Rafe like that, either. I wonder if that's bothered anyone else. "I didn't mean for you to feel that way. I know exactly who you are." I smile softly, turning his face back to mine.

"You said the exact right thing, minx. I'm not saying I'm completely secure yet, but I'm better than I was. I can deal with the rest of my worries now." His posture relaxes as he tugs me closer.

I reach over and pull his hand to the feather. "This is you. I can't forget who you are because you're here all the time to remind me."

"You're right—mine." His grin widens as he strokes the feather gently. "However, no more telling me about the wacky stuff the others are into. Half of me wants to heave and half is genuinely curious if you liked it."

I smile, ruffling his hair fondly. "No more wild tales unless pertinent to the topic at hand."

"A bloke gets unsettled, wondering about that shit."

Oh, he will not let this go. I'm going to address it right now. "I didn't enjoy everything I've ever been asked to try. Sometimes there were fun kinks, of course. Some things I enjoyed with certain people and not others. But lately, it's…not been fun." I tread carefully, knowing that if I don't, it will open the door to questions I don't want to answer.

"You didn't enjoy all of it? I suppose that's good to know. It makes me feel less…prudish."

"I mean, I'll try just about anything once. But I didn't enjoy having to…come up with more outrageous things like it was a competition? That shit takes the fun right out of being naughty."

"I can't help but think I'm at the tip of a very difficult iceberg." His brows furrow and he looks melancholy, as if he's worried that he won't be enough.

Lord knows I know how that feels.

"Taurus, you have nothing to worry about. There are things you do with me that none of the others do: hunting is a prime example."

He gives me a flabbergasted look. "You're mated to other clones, though. Obviously, I don't mean Wilde, but what about my brother, Rafe, or even that asshole Victor?"

"None of the clones that live in the Rift hunt anymore. You and I can run and hunt and feed our primal sides. It's a gift that no one else can give me."

"We can train and spar, too. That's when the real fun starts: grand theft, targets, chasing down the wicked."

"See? Rafe and Victor will spar with me, but they won't go at me for real and they definitely won't do any of that."

"There are a couple of baubles in museums around the world I'd like to pick up, not to mention that you haven't lived until you've switched the Egyptian mummies and the Incan mummies without security going off." He bobs his brows playfully and I can tell that he's feeling better.

"I have a cat suit like on the TV show," I grin excitedly, trying not to look like I'm geeking out as hard as I am.

"Oh, Christ, you want me because I'm bad." Rolling his eyes, he puts a hand over his heart as if he's struggling not to have palpitations.

I swat him firmly. "You know better. I like you for a lot of reasons and bad isn't one of them."

"I know why you like—love me. I can do wicked with a grin and a wink. Not much affects me if I get caught because all I do is hunt, fight, and irritate people all day long. I also love you so much that sometimes I can't get two words together for the lump in my throat when I look at you. And I'm not ashamed to tell you about it, either."

"That about covers it, yeah." I duck my head, feeling shy as there's an enormous lump forming in my throat now.

"I love you for similar reasons, so we don't have a problem. Plus, the stompy and jiggly bits are nice."

I snort. "Uh-huh."

He tips my chin up and gives me a long, slow kiss. I wrap my arms around him tightly, feeling the emotion inside me well up. He pulls back eventually, resting his forehead on mine. "That's why I want to mate with you the old-fashioned way. I'm sick of restrictions; I won't have them with you. Do you understand?"

My voice is soft as I look at him, emotions choking me. "Yes."

"You're still along for the ride?"

"I am."

He looks at the ornate clock on the wall—a recent addition—and sighs. "Then when it's not four a.m., you and I are going to see about a peacock, a bloodletting, and a nice, long drink."

"Oh, goody!"

He looks me in the eye, hands cupping my cheeks. "I will drain you, kitty. I'm not doing this halfway. By the time we're through, we'll be lightheaded, and neither of us will know whose blood is in whom. I damn well better not grow a tail."

Giggling, I shrug. "I don't think you will." Of course, I never thought I would grow a tail, so I'm not sure I can promise that. "It will pop out when you bite. I won't be able to stop it. I don't think you've seen what happens when I let her fully out, so don't, um, be too shocked."

I don't say that lightly.

The first time she popped out, people were intrigued and enchanted. That didn't last. The discomfort that I feel about her because of Wilde makes me overly sensitive about letting people see the full monte. She has no patience for those who don't appreciate her, and I don't have a lot of self-esteem left in that arena. It's why I started on the journey that led me to him. I wanted to know how this happened so I could reverse it. I haven't ever told anyone that, though, and I don't plan on telling him now.

"The last time I yanked it, I got a fun response. I'm looking forward to it."

"You didn't get half of it," I chuckle throatily.

"Oh, but I will." His smirk makes me wriggle, and he laughs. "Are you sleeping here or are you heading home?"

I blink. "I hadn't thought about it."

"Well, if I go now, I can get three hours of sleep before my thirteen-hour day."

"Then you should go get some sleep. Keep your strength up." I give him a playful grin, masking the fact that I hadn't considered being mated to someone who won't spend a large part of their nights and days with me. Or how I will manage splitting my time with people who expect us all to sleep in a kitty pile.

"I'm out of here. I love you." He leans down and kisses me lightly.

"I love you, Taurus."

"Do you have things going on tomorrow during the day?"

"In the morning, probably. I have a ritual to organize."

"Oh, good. I might actually get some work done rather than pop in here to be with you. I've got a death at one that might run a little while, so I may not you until later in the afternoon. You will see me, though. I promise that."

"Okay, baby. Sleep well."

"Night, love."

With that, he disappears. I look around, trying to figure out what I've gotten myself into and how it's going to change my life.

I guess it couldn't make it worse, that's for damned sure.