Wild Wishes: A Happy Effin Valentine

by Stephanie Burke

  Chapter Twelve

  Monday morning was a revelation.

  Effin awoke with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

  Good sex will do that for you, she decided, as she rushed off to take a shower.

  Before leaving for the day, she woke Masa to tell him some things she thought he should know.

  “Don’t let anybody into the house,” was her first order. “The roofing people may show up. I’ll deal with them later. And if any gremlins make their way back into my life, tell them that I am most sorry and that I humbly apologize for insulting them. Got it?”

  Masataka slowly blinked up at her with sleepy cat’s eyes and curled back into the comfortable bed.

  “You are such a cat.” Effin chuckled and left for the day. She was getting a cab to the dealership and then heading off to work to deal with a certain best friend. Life was sweet.

  As for Masataka, he closed his eyes and took a little snooze. Delivering orgasms by the busload was hard work. If he was in heat, Effin would be carrying his litter by now.

  But things were as he told her. He was unable to get her pregnant or pass on any diseases. He was a preternatural creature, after all.

  But he went to sleep with images of Effin swollen and heavy with his child.

  The image woke him up and he tried to puzzle through its meaning. It was probably just him getting over twenty-five plus years of celibacy. Snorting at his own fancifulness, he snuggled into the covers again and resumed sleep.

  Sleep lasted until there was a distinct knocking at the door.

  Growling under his breath, Masa pulled himself from his warm nest of blankets and made for the front door, disregarding all that Effin had told him.

  After all, he was a neko, and nothing, barring vengeful kitsune, could harm him.

  He swung the door open, yawning wide to show his long fangs, and absently scratched at his bare chest as he glared at the person standing there.

  The man, if someone that gave off that much negative aura could still be considered a man, blinked as if surprised to see him there.

  “Can I help you?” Masa finally asked, growing weary of being closely examined by the short, hairy human.

  “Um ... I’m here to look at a roof for a little lady?”

  “Effin Hurtzs.”

  “Yes.” The man grinned. “I thought she didn’t have a husband.”

  “I am not a husband.” Masa rolled his eyes.

  “Oh, she’s like that, is she?” The man leered.

  “Like what?” Masa narrowed his eyes as his dislike of the man began to grow into something much darker.

  “You know, one of those independent types who does without a man ... unless she pays for him.” The man winked and nudged Masa with a flannel-clad elbow.

  “Pays for a man?” Masa was drawing several conclusions, and he didn’t like any of them.

  “That or is she the easy type.”

  “Easy ...” Suddenly the sleep left Masa’s mind and his protective instincts flooded his being. “Are you calling my female a ho?”

  Masa’s voice raised several octaves as he realized what the dark-haired human was saying.

  “Well, is she any good?” The man leered again.

  When his boss sent him out to assess the damage, he had warned him that Effin was an extremely independent woman. In his world, that meant gay or easy. And since a half-naked man answered the door, despite the fact he looked kind of girlie, that meant she was easy.

  “Where is the little heifer? I would love to meet her, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yes.” Masa purred, flexing his fingers as his milky-white claws slowly took the place of his fingernails. “Please come in. I am sure I have many great things to tell you about Effin.”

  Sixty-nine and one-half minutes later, a blubbering roofer shakily signed papers that stated all the repair work that had been done was under warranty, and that the roof would be completed by the end of the week.

  “I ... I didn’t know that you creatures existed,” the man sniffled as Masa, in his cat form, calmly licked the blood off his once pristine claws.

  There were various slash marks and bites covering the man’s face and neck and a suspicious tear right around the crotch of his pants.

  “Please, I never meant any offense to Ms. Hurtzs. I never knew she had a pet demon for protection! I am so sorry! Please don’t kill me!”

  Rolling his eyes, Masataka assumed his human form again, glaring at the creature who looked as if he would soil his pants any moment.

  “Oh, God!” the man wailed, watching as Masa went from cat to human in less than a blink of an eye and tugged on a pair of sweatpants that hadn’t stayed on his body when he changed.

  “Human, remember. I can track you wherever you go. I know about the three females you are sleeping with, and I also know that you are doing much more than sleep.” He tsked as he shook his head.

  “My wife ...”

  “Will do more harm than I.” Masa sneered. “And all I have to do is go to your home and tell her.”

  “Oh, God!” The man looked ready to cry as well as defeated, as Masa picked up the signed papers and shooed the man toward the door.

  “Do the work you are supposed to and never mention Effin’s name again. We guardian demons can hear a whisper on the wind.”

  With that little piece of information, even if it was entirely untrue, the man turned tail and ran.

  Satisfied, Masa shut the door and waved his hands, sending a cleansing wave of air around the areas where that man had walked before being attacked by his cat demon.

  Shaking his head at the stupidity of humanity, he placed the signed papers on the kitchen table and went to take a nap. This defending the territory stuff was hard when in human form, but damn near exhausting when doing it as a cat.

  Within seconds, Masa had made his way back to bed and climbed in, too tired to even remove his pants. Almost instantly, he was lost in a dream, his hands twitching and small mewls coming from his throat as he dreamed.

  * * * * *

  It was unfortunate that Masa was such a deep sleeper, because no sooner had he drifted off than trouble arrived.

  Monika waltzed into Effin’s house as if she owned it, pocketing the spare key Effin swore she’d lost and promptly replaced, never knowing her sister had run off with it.

  At the time she stole the key, Monika claimed she was doing it out of sisterly concern. After all, if there was a fire or something and Effin was trapped, how would she get out?

  It was this same twisted logic that led Monika to once again invade her sister’s home, on the off-chance that she could find more information about the Asian dude that hadn’t given her any attention when she’d made her entrance into the kitchen the day before.

  It was her chance to do some snooping, and if there was something that Monika was good at, it was being nosy.

  She silently made her way into the kitchen, noting that it had been cleaned up and that there were repair invoices on the table.

  Monika sniffed at that and went searching through the first floor.

  Other than signs of sex, a few containers of lube placed in convenient areas, there was no sign that a man was cohabiting with her sister. Maybe it was a weekend thing?

  Wrinkling her nose in disappointment, Monika made her way to the top floor, hoping to find something good and juicy before her sister got home.

  And she found something rather big and juicy.

  There was a naked Asian man in her sister’s bed, and damned if the boy wasn’t delicious.

  He was all golden-toned skin and muscles, like he was a martial artist. His long hair was spread out over the bed in silky waves; his breathing was deep and even, making those perfect pecs rise and fall rhythmically.

  Her sister was keeping secrets, Monika thought. And it wasn’t good of Effin not to share.

  Before she could investigate further, there was the telltale sound of her sister’s engine, the vintage Jeep soundin
g like no other as it pulled into her driveway.

  A wicked grin spread across Monika’s face as she began to rip off her clothing, her body moving before her mind could assess if this was a good idea or not.

  Without making a sound, she slipped into bed beside Masa, grinning as she thought of the trouble this encounter would cause. Effin was sure to be pissed and maybe even cry! The thought was so tasty she had to hold in a giggle. Effin would never know what had hit her.

  * * * * *

  Effin giggled as she walked into her house, gabbing on her cell to Christa.

  “You can say you are sorry all you want,” she mock-growled. “You set me up with a serial killer!”

  “Alleged!” Christa was quick to remind her.

  “And I would be doing my Jason impersonation on your ass if I hadn’t met the most amazing guy.” She sighed as she placed the take-out lunch she’d brought home for her and Masa to share on the kitchen table.

  She looked at the paperwork spread out. Somehow, Masa had let the roofers in and had gotten the work order signed and sealed.

  How great a man was that?

  “I’ve got to go, girl.” She grinned, her mind going on ways to thank him. Maybe a little “afternoon delight” before she had to go back to work. “Masa is waiting.”

  “Did you just call that man master?” Christa gasped. “Are you into some kinky BDSM stuff?”

  “No!” Effin gasped, rolling her eyes. “His name is Masataka. He’s Japanese.”

  “Ohhh!” Christa moaned. “Effin’s playing hide the rainbow roll with Bruce Lee!”

  “Japanese!” Effin corrected. “Bruce was from China. And girl, it’s more like hide the torpedo!”

  “I want details!” Christa laughed. “Later! After you go and get your ship sunk!”

  Laughing, the two friends disconnected the call and Effin went in search of her Asian treat.

  “Masa!” she called, walking up the stairs to her bedroom. “Masa? Where are you hiding, my handsome neko?”

  Spying a lump in the bed, she walked over and yanked the comforter off.

  “You lazy kitty -- What the fuck!?”

  Effin’s eyes almost popped out of her head as she saw her sister’s naked body lying next to Masa’s.

  “Mmm,” Monika groaned as she opened her eyes in feigned surprise. “Oh, Effin!” Then pretending modesty, she pulled the top sheet over her exposed breasts. “I ... I’m so embarrassed ...”

  But before any more words could pass her lips, Effin attacked.

  Growling like an angry lion, she pounced on the bed, claw-like nails extended, her teeth bared in her fury.

  But instead of attacking Masa, she went straight for the bane of her existence.

  “You stupid bitch!”

  Then Monika and her perfectly naked body went flying across the room.

  The screaming woke Masa, who looked around him with sleepy eyes, trying to figure out what was going on.

  “Effin?” he asked, as he smelled his female ... and an oddly similar feminine scent.

  But Effin was paying no attention.

  She was sitting on her sister’s naked chest, delivering round after round of open-handed slaps to Monika’s cheeks while delivering the sermon of a lifetime.

  “You do not touch my things, you bitch!” she bellowed, her face a mask of fury. “You do not flirt with my man! You do not ever come into this house again, or I will fucking kill you!”

  She grabbed a fistful of her sister’s hair, avoiding the flying fists and drumming feet to slam Monika’s head back onto the carpeted floor.

  “Do you understand me?”

  On the second bang, the hair extensions, so carefully sewn in, fell apart, leaving Effin with a handful of treated hair tracks and a surprised look.

  But her amazement only lasted a second as her screeching sister tried to fight back.

  “Oh, no!” Effin snarled. “Not this time!”

  Her anger giving her strength, Effin rolled over to sit on the floor, dragging her sister across her lap, her naked ass wiggling in the air.

  “You act like a spoiled brat, so I’m going to treat you like one!”

  She raised her hand and delivered the first of many stinging blows to her sister’s backside. She didn’t stop swinging until her sister was a limp, sobbing piece of human flesh across her lap, her ass a bright red to match her eyes, from which her tears continuously flowed.

  “I’m sorry!” she hiccupped, sniffing at her humiliation. “I’m sorry!”

  “Yeah, you are a sorry piece of shit, Monika!” Effin growled, shoving her sister off her lap. “Now get the fuck out of my face and don’t expect a Christmas card this year!”

  Monika didn’t waste any time gathering up her clothes and racing from the room like a scalded cat.

  In minutes there was the sound of the front door slamming shut and Monika’s car racing away.

  Taking a deep breath, Effin now turned to take care of the last of her unfinished business.

  “Masataka? We need to talk!”

  * * * * *

  “Why?”

  “Why what?” Masataka was confused. Not that he hadn’t enjoyed the female’s deserved punishment, but what was his woman asking?

  “Why did you sleep with my sister?”

  “I didn’t sleep with your sister!” Now the confusion fled as Masataka took in the situation. “You think that that underhanded female and I cavorted?”

  “She was naked in my bed with you, Masa! What the hell am I to think?”

  Effin rose to her feet and stormed over to the foot of the bed, glaring down at the man she had trusted.

  Growling, Masa rose to his feet, hitching his sweatpants as he glared at his female.

  “How dare you accuse me of such duplicity? I would never ...”

  “But you slept with that kitsune’s bride!” Effin reminded him coldly. “That is why you were stuck in your cat form.”

  “I was tricked into sleeping with her,” Masa growled, his eyes glowing in his anger. “I had no idea what she was doing or who she was. She was just ...”

  “Another lay,” Effin cut him off. “Apparently, like I am.”

  Those words hurt to say, but Effin knew in her heart that she was not good enough for a royal neko. Hell, the man was preternatural! He could have any woman he wanted! Why would he want a plain Jane like her?

  “You are not just another lay, Effin. You are growing into a part of me!”

  “Yeah, and the part's between your thighs and bumps into your sac with regularity!” Effin growled, turning her back to the man she had been making whoopee like mad with for the past weekend.

  “Effin, if I wanted sex, I could have it anywhere and with anyone. But I chose you!”

  “Because I freed you!” Effin snapped. “God, it’s happened again! I start to open my heart up to a man and he shits all over it!”

  “I have done nothing to warrant this attack!” Masa snapped back, growing angry himself.

  “Then what was my naked sister doing in your bed?”

  “I have no idea!”

  Spinning around to face him, Effin rolled her eyes in disbelief. “So a naked woman crawls into your bed and you don’t even notice?”

  “I was asleep, Effin!” Masa’s voice rose, as did his ire. “I was in a deep sleep replenishing my energy for you!”

  “Bullshit!” Effin sneered. “You can smell me from the basement, and you never even notice a naked woman climbing into your bed?”

  “I made a commitment to you!” Masataka roared, inflamed at having his word, his honor, questioned.

  “Fuck you!” Effin screamed back. “I was just a convenient lay! Admit it, you bastard!”

  Masataka reached for her, wanting to draw her close and bring an end to the arguments, but Effin snatched away, fearful that the longing in her heart would overcome her reason and she would forgive him.

  “Don’t touch me, you damned neko! I wish you were still a cat! I wish I had never brought y
ou home to hurt me!”

  Masa’s eyes widened in amazed hurt, but before he could utter a single word, he was sucked into his cat form.

  “Holy shit!” Effin breathed, knowing that Masataka had not wanted this change. “Masa ...”

  But then those all too human cat’s eyes were glaring at her in hurt and betrayal. Then before she could take a step to reach him, to right what her anger had wrought, Masa bounded across the room and out of the window, leaving behind sweatpants and a devastated Effin.

  “Masa,” she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  But it was too late. Her lucky neko was gone.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The storm that suddenly rolled in fit her mood exactly.

  Effin lethargically began to strip her sheets, her mind not really on the task at hand, but on the words she’d spat and could not take back.

  But her reaction had been a knee-jerk, “hurt them before they hurt you further.”

  And after her sister’s ultimate betrayal and her violent reaction, she began to distrust everyone around her. It was a defense mechanism, but it was one that had saved her from hurt in the past.

  Only this time, it didn’t quite go as planned.

  Sure, her sister was guilty of some duplicity or another -- she always was. But it wasn’t until she watched her pretty kitty race out of the window that she really opened her eyes and looked around her.

  Her kitty had climbed out of a pair of sweatpants.

  You can’t have the kind of sex that would put you out for hours and still remember to put on sweatpants before you slept.

  Masa was innocent of any wrongdoing, but still ...

  They were just so different!

  She recalled why he was trapped in the neko form! He had slept with another preternatural creature.

  Sure, she had tricked him into it, but she was an exotic creature filled with beauty and light. How could Effin compete with that?

  Sure, Effin had freed him from his curse and had given him the only sex he’d had in years, but she was only human.

  Effin sighed as she sat on her unmade bed, her thoughts going back to what she and Masa had done together.