Kit/Kat
Icannotbelieve I just said that. What possessed me to?—
Before I can continue my packed thought train, Slash’s arms gently pull me closer and his face descends to press a very soft, surprisingly hesitant kiss to my lips. I swallow hard when he pulls back a bit to look at me with a shy smile despite his sharp teeth.
“Like that?”
I nod, gathering my brain cells so I can respond. “Yes. Um, exactly like that.”
The big guy’s hands are settled on my waist, and because I’m soaking wet, it’s easy to feel the chill coming off of him. It’s probably from the shifting and the water. Dank’s pamphlets were full of descriptions of how shifters—particularly strong ones—keep some characteristics of their animals in human form for a time after they turn back. Sharks aren’t mammals, so Slash is cold when he’s usually warm as fuck. “I should… I should also admit something that I have not said out loud before. To anyone, I mean, even Jasper.”
Huh? Oh, this is going to get me in so much trouble if anyone finds out.
“Are-are you sure? I mean, you’ve only known me for a couple of months and, um… they’ve been your friends forever. Maybe one of the actual guys is the right person to share with. I’m not?—”
Placing one finger over my mouth, he gives me what I think is a fond expression. “Little demon, this is none of their business. But as of now, itisyours, and therefore, I want to tell you the truth because I trust you with it. We are equals in this, and now that I have your secret, you should have mine.”
“Oh,” I say softly, feeling heat rise in my face. “Well, I guess it’s okay then.”
Slash lifts his finger from my lips and runs his hand through his wet hair as he sighs. “They do not know because… I have been diligent in threatening, cajoling, and scaring the living fuck out of anyone who might have a clue so it did not escape containment. I didn’t do so because I am ashamed, but rather because there are… expectations of me from many sources. If I were not living up to them, it would have caused more trouble than it was worth. Yet, I could not force myself to live for others and not myself.”
I frown, my brows furrowing. “Slash, you said you’renotattracted to guys, but this really feels like a coming out speech. And… I’m definitely not judging you for being bi or pan or… well, anything. You’re a scary motherfucker, but there’s a big heart in there. I’ve seen it in how you take care of people. Whatever this is? It doesn’t make me like you any less. I don’t think the guys would care either, but whatever you need, I’ll help.”
He lets out a sharp, rusty chuckle, and I know that’s his animal pushing at him. I don’t know exactly what his demon sounds like, but I bet it will be different, too. Slash is a unique man, and I’m lucky he’s being so candid with me. Shaking his head as his amusement wanes, he says, “No, Kit. I was telling the truth before. I do not need to be ashamed about who I like or don’t, but… I am expected to behave like a royal male and the son of the most powerful soldier in Hell. If I didn’t, both my father would question us.”
“Uh-huh,” I say as I look at him skeptically. “Well, you and Jasper are the big bads, and everyone knows it, so I think you’ve done a good job. It’s not a secret to me, though. I’m smart enough to realize when the two of you are performing for a crowd rather than showing your true selves.”
Slash arches a brow, smirking. “Good to know, but thatalsoisn’t the secret.”
Getting frustrated, I thump his chest with my fist as I growl, “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Tell me and rip off the bandage. Are you engaged to some court bootlicker back home? Do you have a weird lump I haven’t seen? Is your favorite porn about licorice whips? Come on!”
“Is my—what?!” His eyes widen and I can tell my big mouth overrode my brain again as he tries to assimilate my wild guesses. “No…to all of that. Little demon, I’m trying to say that I have… done things, but notallthethings. Ipretendedthat I’d done all the things because we are expected to sow our oats and be the image our fathers projected onto us. But I… I have not done everything that I claimed because I have issues somewhat like yours.”
Holy Poseidon’s pregnant seahorses—Slash is a virgin.
Blinking as I absorb that statement, I shake my head and then squint at him suspiciously. “Not that I don’t trust you, but dudes can definitely say that and we’d never know. Why should I believe that when the other guys have said differently? Hell,rumorssaydifferently, too.”
“Where are you getting rumors like that from, little demon?” he asks sternly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
I roll my eyes at him. “Did you forget my hearing is getting better? I hear people whispering, and they assume I can’t because they think I’m human. It’s kind of useful, though the fucking lion thing blew that out of the water.”
Suddenly, Slash’s jaw drops, then he laughs. In fact, he laughs so hard that he backs up and puts his hands on his knees to hold himself up. I have no idea what’s so damned funny, but I cross my arms over my chest and tap my foot as I wait for him to catch his breath. When he does, he gives me a sorrowful yet completely amused expression as he scrubs his palm over his face.
“Little demon, Zavida has convinced Jasper that you have no mane because you are younger than us and your lion is juvenile, too. I don’t know if that was a gambit to give you time, and he knows, or if he just made a leap of logic and followed, but…. Oh, the prince is going to be very, very pissy when he figures this out.”
My eyes widen. “Oh, fuck me raw. Jasper’s going toincinerate me, especially if he’s told anyone that shit. Slash, it was nice knowing you, man.”
The shark shifter barks another laugh, then comes back close enough to pull me into his chest again. “Kit, I will not allow him to stir-fry you; I promise. I believe now that I have reviewed my thoughts that Oriel and Salem will also be quite put off by that situation.”
“Probably X and Anton as well,” I mumble. “But, um, Anton doesn’t know yet. Xerxes and I are waiting to reveal it.”
“Those two and their games,” Slash mutters. He tilts his head, looking at me seriously. “Then Anton, Zavida, and Jasper are the only ones who do not know, yes?”
I nod, licking my lips. “I want to tell everyone, but I have to feel safe enough to do it. Does that make me selfish?”
“Hardly. I’ve known my caliphate for longer than you want me to say, and they obviously believe that I played around as much as Jasper did.” He frowns and adds, “Well, he did for a long time before coming here. Oddly, he’s been fairly devoted only to Zav since you arrived, and we’ve all shunned the females we came into contact with.”
“That’s not my fault,” I scoff. “None of you have left me alone to hardly piss since I walked onto campus. I didn’t steal your social lives; you turned them in because Jasper thought I was a spy.”
