by Tara Lain
Killian squatted down next to Blaine and added his hand to the belly rub. “I’ll miss you so much, Al. I hope Alain will come and see me often.”
Jimmy knelt next to Killian and stroked Al’s head. “Probably not a good idea for a while. We don’t know what those females might do. They know about Alain, so he should keep a low profile.”
Killian’s gaze dropped. “You’re right, of course.” And the beautiful, powerful, reserved male witch buried his face in the black fur and cried.
Blaine stroked his husband’s back. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll always have Al.”
But they wouldn’t. Shitfire, Aloysius was giving up his power and his immortality to be Alain. Luke wiped at his eyes. “He shouldn’t do this. Not for me. I’m not worth it.”
Killian turned, his beautiful blue eyes red around the edges. “Never say that.”
The words sent shivers up Luke’s spine.
“You’re the beloved of one of the most amazing beings ever created. You’re worthy, or Al wouldn’t love you.”
He might have gotten into this relationship by accident, but it was about to change his whole life. No, hell, it already had. The sheer responsibility of this commitment felt like an elephant on his chest, not a cat. Still, his heart refused to consider life without this being in it, whether cat or human. “I’ll do my best.”
Blaine nodded. “That’s all any of us can do, Luke. We’re only human.”
The pretty Lavender smiled. “I’ll miss you too, Aloysius, but I’m very much looking forward to meeting Alain.”
Sammy sat in the chair in front of the easel. “I think that’s our cue, fuzzball.”
Killian rose slowly. He dragged a chair over next to Sammy. “Luke, will you sit here, please?”
Shitfire, this was it. He got up and crossed to the chair.
Blaine came over carrying Al. “Get comfortable, and I’ll put Al on your lap.”
Luke sat. Blaine gave Al one last nuzzle and laid him down on Luke’s lap. Blaine blinked back tears. “I’ll get him a robe for when he’s human.” He walked away wiping at his eyes.
Jesus. Luke felt like a home wrecker, personally responsible for making everyone miserable. He gazed down at the cat. But Aloysius didn’t seem unhappy. Serious but resolute. If Al wanted Luke that badly, then damn, Luke was going to live up to his trust.
Sammy looked up at Killian. “So when I get further in, what do you think will happen? Once Aloysius starts to lose his power, how fast do you think I’ll deplete?”
“I wish I knew. We can only hope it will be gradual.”
“Merwaor.”
Killian looked at Al. “I think he may have the whole thing under control.”
Sammy shrugged. “Let’s hope.”
Ryder got up from the couch and came over to embrace Sammy. Of course, the young witch was going to be a lot less powerful when this was over. Ryder held Sammy’s chin and stared into his big gray eyes. “You okay, my love?”
Sammy gave a tight smile. “Hey, I barely knew how to cope with being the most powerful witch on earth.” He laughed. “It was wasted on me.”
Ryder kissed his forehead. “It was given to you because you’re the kindest and most unassuming of beings. In any other hands, it would have been abused.”
Killian nodded. “He’s right, Samlyn. No one else could have been given such power.”
Funny, Luke had never thought about the fact that the skinny redhead was actually stronger than the leader. Wow. And he was giving it all up for Aloysius. Man, these guys knew how to love.
Ryder stepped back. Sammy took that deep breath like he had before, and gradually his body went still. The air got thick like molasses. Breathing was hard. Aloysius seemed to vibrate at a very high speed, so rapid it was barely noticeable.
Sammy grasped a brush and dipped it in paint. With swift strokes, he began drawing the room, the furniture, and then the people. It happened so rapidly it looked like a special effect in a movie. There was Lavender’s dark hair. She looked exactly as Luke saw her, sitting perched on the edge of a chair, watching. Sammy painted in Jimmy, Ryder, Blaine, and Killian, each an amazing likeness.
He started drawing Luke. Whoa. Sammy’s hand hovered over the canvas as if he was checking his mind’s eye. He didn’t know Luke as well. Then Luke’s long legs, lean body, and chin-length hair took form. Oh, right, the rubber band had fallen from his ponytail. In the painting, his lap was empty.
Sammy paused much as he had before painting the female witches, but this felt even more serious. The moment of truth. As Alain took form, would Aloysius disappear, taking his power with him? How would it happen?
Luke wanted to grab the cat. The vanishing of the furry feline seemed more than his heart could bear, even knowing it would bring back the man he’d discovered he loved.
What if Al vanished and Alain never took his place? Oh God, to lose them both!
Sammy’s brush dipped in black paint and pointed at the canvas. Suddenly, Aloysius lunged forward and bit Sammy’s hand. Shitfire! Why? Did he change his mind?
But instead of stopping Sammy, it spurred him on. His hand flew over the canvas as if propelled. The figure of the beautiful Alain appeared lying across Luke’s lap like some gay pietà.
Luke’s heart hammered. Sweat inched down his forehead. The weight on his lap changed, but he couldn’t force his eyes from the canvas, as if his viewing the painting added energy to it.
Every perfect inch of Alain, from his flowing hair to his dangling balls, received precise attention from Sammy’s brush. He painted and painted. Then stopped. His hand stilled. He fell back into Ryder’s arms.
The sound of a deep breath finally peeled Luke’s gaze from the painting. Luke looked down.
He heard his own gasp. Yes, he’d been told it would happen, but the reality was so far beyond imagining. Where Aloysius had been, there lay Alain—nude, shining, and beautiful. The black hair flowed over Luke’s knees, and the wide blue eyes in the perfect face gazed up at him.
The beating of Luke’s heart should have been echoing through the room. God, light-headed. Any thought he’d had about wanting to keep Aloysius? Gone. It was like some piece of him clicked into place. This was what he wanted. This was what he needed to live.
He slid his hand behind Alain’s head and raised him. Gently, he touched his lips. Soft, full, perfect. “Hi, kitten.”
Blaine dropped a robe over Luke’s shoulder to cover Alain’s rapidly filling cock. “There’s a lady present.”
Alain’s blue eyes crinkled as he grinned, flashing those slightly crooked teeth. “I’m very happy to be back with you.”
Luke wrapped him up in a tight hug. “And I’m so glad to have you back.”
Killian knelt down. “What do you remember, Alain?”
Alain leaned back against the circle of Luke’s arms. “I remember that I’m a cat. A very extraordinary cat that you value highly. I’m so grateful that you were willing to let me return. I can’t be as useful to you as he was, I’m afraid.”
Killian shook his head. “And you mustn’t try. It’s important that you and Luke live your lives as happily as you can. To attempt to take the place of the cat will compromise his sacrifice and that of all of us.”
Those wide blue eyes stared at Killian. “But I am the cat.”
“No, I’m sorry. You’re human, and we want you to live a human life.”
Luke tilted Alain’s face toward him. “Can you do that, kitten? Can you be happy just being with me?”
Alain beamed. “I’m always happy with you.”
Maybe that wasn’t quite an answer, but it still felt good.
Killian turned to Sammy. “How do you feel, Samlyn?”
Sammy leaned heavily on Ryder. “A bit the worse for wear, but I’m sure I’ll recover quickly.”
Alain sat up and pulled the robe over his private parts. The alabaster skin glowed with as much sheen as the cat’s fur had. “Thank you so much for bringing me back, Sammy. I’m so gra
teful. How is your dog?”
Sammy laughed. “You do get to the important things, don’t you? He’s great, and he’ll sure be happy to see you.”
“As I will him.”
Alain looked over at Lavender. “And how is your cat?”
She flashed her lovely smile. “Very well. I’m so glad to meet you finally.” She extended her hand, and Alain took it.
Blaine leaned over the back of the chair. “I raided Killian’s and my closets and found some clothes for you, Alain. They can hold you until you get home.”
Home. That sounded good. Luke held the top of the robe, and they managed to wrap it around Alain without flashing the group. Lavender didn’t seem inclined to turn around.
Blaine pointed toward the hall. “The clothes are in the bedroom. Last door on the left. As you know.”
Alain slid off Luke’s lap. Luke almost grabbed him back, he missed the weight so much. After a couple of wobbly steps, Alain got his sea legs and walked toward the hall.
Luke smiled. “He moves just like Aloysius.”
Killian sighed. “Yes, there’s much of our feline friend still with us.”
Luke turned to Killian. “So what now?”
“Take him home and do what you would have done if you’d never known he was anything but a man.”
“They want him to testify in that trial against Nicky.”
“You decide what to do about that. He was a witness.”
“Yeah. And not much more damage can be done to my reputation anyway.”
Jimmy nodded. “But you have to keep the clinic open, because you’ve got a lot of members of our community who have pets and need a vet.” He grinned.
Luke smirked. “The official witches’ veterinarian?” How did he feel about that?
“There are far worse clients.”
A voice came from behind him. “We will take very good care of all your animals. I think I’ll go back to school and get my degree in animal medicine.”
Luke laughed. “I think you’ll bring an entirely new perspective to the profession.”
Alain walked toward him wearing jeans that had to be rolled at the ankles and a T-shirt that hugged his slender frame and broad shoulders. Luke’s chest couldn’t hold his heart. So beautiful. Any description of the past few days of his life would qualify him for the psych ward, but he didn’t care. He got to have Alain.
Luke stood. “Hey, kitten. Let’s go home.”
Alain smiled. “I’d like that.”
Chapter Sixteen
ALAIN SEEMED awfully quiet. Luke glanced at his kitten in the passenger seat. The beautiful profile stood out pale and classic against the dark window of the car. “You okay?”
“I think so.”
“Are you tired from what they did to you?”
“A little.”
“What else is wrong?”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Alain look toward him. “How do you feel about… what you know?”
“The witches and shit?”
“Partly.”
“I guess I haven’t grasped it completely. It’s like I walked into a fairy tale and have to accept the reality of it to survive, but my mind hasn’t really come to terms with it.”
“I can see that.”
“What about you? You didn’t remember that you were part of a witch world. You thought you were human. How do you feel?”
“Once I changed back, I saw everything. It’s not possible to unring that bell. I know who I am now.”
“What was it like?”
“Being a familiar?”
“Yeah. A cat. You know.”
“It’s hard to say. Aloysius doesn’t have language in the same way I do. It’s more impressions, feelings, pictures. But he loves who he loves and takes his responsibilities seriously.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
“But, Luke, how do you feel about Aloysius?” He sounded tentative.
How could he explain it? “He’s a great cat. If you hadn’t come back, I would have wanted to stay near him forever. I know that sounds weird, but it was my only connection to you.”
A short pause. “So you don’t mind that I’m a cat?”
Well, hell. “I guess I kind of think of you as two different beings.”
He shook his head. “We’re not very different, Luke. Is that all right?”
Was it? “I figured out that in a strange way it’s perfect.”
“That’s good, then.”
“Who else could lick their own balls?”
They both laughed as Luke pulled into the parking space for his apartment. Their apartment. Alain bounded up the old stairs to the top floor, but he had to be tired, right? How exhausting was it to change from a cat? Alain waited at the door. No key in his borrowed clothes. Luke opened it, and Alain walked in. Man, did he look perfect in the apartment. “Welcome home.”
He turned toward Luke. “Is it my home?”
Luke’s heart definitely stopped. “Do you want it to be?”
Alain’s eyebrows pulled together. “I remember how angry you were that I had ruined your business and made the world aware of your past.”
“Shit, you remember that?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry, Luke. It’s not my nature to hide. I should not have drawn so much attention to you.”
He swallowed. “Let’s sit down for a minute.”
Alain followed him to the couch. “Where’s Amelia?”
Luke blew out his breath and sat. “She’s at the clinic. She hates me because I let you get away.”
Alain perched beside him. “She could never hate you. She’s just upset that things didn’t go as she wanted them. You know how cats are.”
Luke lay back against the couch and laughed. “Oh yes, I do know that.” He took a deep breath. “So even though you didn’t know if I was still angry at you, you gave up your power and immortality to be human.”
Alain looked up with wide eyes. “Love isn’t conditional.”
Everything stopped. His breath, his mind, his life.
Only three words came to mind. “I love you.”
Alain grinned. “I know.”
Luke grabbed him and hauled the gorgeous body against his chest. “What makes you so smart?”
“I’m a five-hundred-year-old cat.”
Luke stared into those fathomless eyes. “Holy shit.” Nothing would ever be the same. And that was good.
“Are you hungry, kitten?”
“No. Aloysius ate today.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“I’ll be happy to sleep right after you fuck my ass into the mattress.”
Luke’s mouth fell open. He held Alain at arm’s length. “Where did you learn that expression?”
Alain giggled. “Watching gay porn on your TV.”
“So that’s what you do when I’m not around.” Luke wagged his finger.
“It’s too much responsibility for you to be my only source of information on gay. I thought I should conduct independent research.”
Luke laughed. “As long as it’s just TV.”
“Ah, would you be jealous?” He smiled.
The truth spilled out. “Blindingly jealous.”
“Good. So are you going to take me up on my invitation? It’s been days.”
“You mean Aloysius didn’t succumb to any feline hanky-panky?”
The teasing face got serious. “Aloysius and I are one. We both love you.”
Luke stood, reached down, and scooped up Alain into his arms. “Let’s get this party started.”
“Merwaowr.”
Luke jumped. A little too real. He took off toward the bedroom with his passenger. Alain fluttered his lashes, then nuzzled Luke and licked his neck. Ooh, on the other hand, a cat lover might be kind of nice. Alain applied his silky tongue to the rim of Luke’s ear; then he insinuated the tip into the recesses.
“I could drop you. Have mercy.”
“Merrrrrwaowrrrr.”
Luke deposited his beauti
ful burden on the bed. Alain leaped onto his knees and unfastened his button, then lowered the zipper slowly.
Shitfire. His big cock poked out of the opening unencumbered. “Naughty boy.”
“I did not want to borrow underwear.”
“Makes sense to me.”
Alain pushed the jeans down his hips, fell onto his butt, and kicked the pants off completely. That uncut dick slapped him in the upper abs as he bounced. Then he pulled the T-shirt over his head, and meeeow, he was naked.
Man, Luke had almost forgotten the pure perfection of the whole body complete with cock. His mouth watered.
Alain curled a hand under his chin. “You seem to be way behind me, darling.”
“Just enjoying the show.”
Alain crawled toward him on all fours, making purring sounds. He rubbed his head against Luke’s hip, then snuffled at his pants where the big bulge pushed his zipper out. “Merwaowr.”
He sounded pretty damned convincing. Luke chucked him under the chin. “Kitten, want a play toy?” He unzipped slowly, reached in, and pulled out his cock. Throbbing didn’t begin to describe it.
Alain looked up at him with those eyes, stuck out his tongue, and licked. His cat persona was so realistic, Luke practically felt the rasp of his tongue, but in truth it was soft, wet, and devastating.
“Oh shit, kitten, I forgot how good you feel.”
Alain grinned. “Never forget.” He licked long and slow up one side of Luke’s shaft, then began to lap at his tightening balls.
“Don’t stop.” Getting the jeans off without pulling his cock away, however, was one funny dance. He slid the denim over his butt, managed to get his briefs under his cock without displacing Alain, then kind of wiggled to get the whole wad of fabric down his legs.
Shoes. Damn. He toed them off and tried to do the same with the socks. Alain giggled but didn’t quit. Finally, Luke pulled his shirt over his head. Nude at last.
Reward! Alain swallowed Luke’s cock so far down his throat only witchcraft could explain it.
“Holy shitfire.” More! Luke pumped his hips, holding on to the side of the bed for support. The pressure of that throat lit him on fire. Nobody did it like his kitten.
