"It is."
"And the perfect place for a date." I moved my hand so that I grazed his fingers with mine. Even that small touch was enough to ignite something in me. Ptah had always made me feel desirable when we were together. Like I was the only other person in the room. It was easy to see that we were slipping back into those same kind of feelings, and I couldn't say that I was sorry for it.
Chapter 8
Bastet
Giddy nerves bounced around within me as we approached the cat sanctuary. I'd both expected it to end up feeling like this, and not at the same time. But there was a part of me that felt like a young mortal experiencing romance for the first time again.
In a way, it was intoxicating, and I wanted more of it.
"This is me," I said, waving unnecessarily towards the sanctuary building. Even with the door closed, I could hear the sounds of the cats inside. They'd missed me, but had been content to get up to mischief in my absence.
Perhaps shifting forms had made my hearing more acute. It had been a while since I'd done it, so that could be the case.
"It's been fun," he said. "Am I allowed to ask you on another date, or do I have to wait? What's the human custom? Three days. It seems arbitrary."
I let out a small laugh. "You can ask me when our date is over."
He raised an eyebrow. "Is it not?"
"Not if you don't want it to be. I could invite you in for coffee. I think that's something the humans say too."
"Why would they want coffee this late at night? Surely it would keep them awake."
Disbelief crashed through me. "Coffee?" I checked.
"What about it?" Genuine confusion marred his face.
"Oh, Ptah. I thought you'd be more aware of human euphemisms. You always used to enjoy them."
"That was a euphemism?"
"Yes, for do you want to come inside and maybe we'll end up in bed." A small smile lifted the corners of my lips even while I waited to see whether I'd read the situation right. I'd been dropping signals our entire date that this was how I'd be interested in ending it, but every time I pushed forward, he'd started to reciprocate then pulled back.
"Oh." He paused as my words really sank in. "Ah, then I'd love some coffee."
I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to unlock the front door. Anticipation and nerves built within me. It had been a while since I'd been with anyone, and even longer since I had with Ptah. And I was excited. Far more than I thought I'd be.
I reached out and took his hand in mine, pulling him through the sanctuary door.
"Do you need to tend to the cats?"
I shook my head. "They've already had everything they need. I'll just be disturbing them."
"Good." He tugged on my hand and pulled me to him, turning us both so my back was against the wall.
Our lips were inches apart, and his body pressed against mine in the most delightful way.
"If you don't want this..." he started.
"I want this," I assured him, my voice barely above a whisper. "I want you."
It was all the permission he needed to lean in and catch my lips with his.
My eyes fluttered closed, and I lost myself in the way it felt to be kissing him after so long. Without thinking about it, my hands reached down and started tugging at his shirt, pulling it free so I could touch his bare skin.
One of his hands brushed against my waist, sending a bolt of desire through me, along with a hint of frustration that my dress was in the way.
