Page 47 of Murder Mittens

“What is it?”

“A challenge.”

“This year, I think we’re going to have to just come to terms with how challenging that challenge is. I mean, that’s…” The insanity that was my parents when they decided they wanted a new litter around befuddled me, and I shrugged.

“My pride demands I prove myself equal to your father, but I am a fan of your common sense. I’m going to need at least a year to strategize, Harri. And possibly a fertility test to confirm how much work I’ll have to do when we decide it’s time for kittens.”

I grinned at him. “Just think about it this way. If we fail at that challenge a few times, we win even when we lose, and we’ll just have to win some more next time.”

“I like the way you think. With that discussed, shall we sample some of that cheese and take this discussion to the bedroom?”

“Yes, please.”

Nine

They weren’t wearing shirts, and I’m not blind.

Sebastian went shopping while I enjoyed my first venture to the spa, where I was treated like a queen. Nobody flinched, and I suspected the front desk had warned the staff about my scars. Whether to enhance the mood or whether the spa really wanted couples to indulge in each other after sessions, I had two scantily clad men attending to me, and they did my nails while chatting about life in general. Their voices could melt chocolate, and the cream they slathered all over my face before adding the cucumbers did an excellent job of hiding my blushes.

I learned they were both wolves, and they’d been mated since before I was born, leaving me to marvel at the nature of the lycanthropy virus. In a matter of two hours, they did a hell of a lot to convince me not all wolves were idiots, and my hands and feet would never feel the same again. As planned, I went for a sexy red for the nail polish, and they even used practitioner magic to ensure the polish would stay pristine for two weeks.

To my delight, the treatment came with a little gift bag, and I fought my desire to bounce out of the spa. As promised, Sebastian waited for me in the spa’s lobby. I held up my bag. “I got a present.”

The lion chuckled, rose to his feet, and picked up a much larger gift bag from the spa. “And I got you a present while waiting. Upon exploration of our room, I decided we need to soak in the tub while we eat dinner, which will be delivered to our room in about thirty minutes. My shopping is finished, and I’m ready to spend the rest of the week enjoying your company.”

“I was attended to by two handsome wolves, and I bet they could melt chocolate on their chests with the power of their voices alone. Does dinner come with a dessert of lion? I need a dessert of lion.” I showed him my nails. “And this will last two weeks. Practitioner magic. My nails will be beautiful no matter what I do for the next two weeks.”

While he raised a brow, Sebastian chuckled. “I find you to be beautiful with or without your nails being painted, but your nails look as lovely as you do.”

“Blind lion,” I muttered. “Apparently, they have a formula for scar tissue, and it makes it softer for a while. The wolves are also ancient. I think they’ve been attending to the special needs of spa-visiting women for longer than I’ve been alive. They changed my entire beliefs about wolves in one session. If all wolves were like them, I’d want wolves visiting me daily.”

“That conversion didn’t take long.”

“They weren’t wearing shirts, and I’m not blind. And they’re really, really fit. Not quite as muscular as you are, but they were not slackers.” I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “What’s in the bag?”

“You will find out as soon as we go back to our room.”

“March, lion.” I pointed at the door. My stomach growled, and Sebastian laughed at the sound. “March!”

Rather than march, he wrapped his arm around me and walked with me. “I will accompany you, but I am not marching in shame to our suite. I have nothing to be ashamed of. How was your first session with the spa.”

I held up my gift bag. “I got a present after being pampered, Sebastian.”

“Presents are pretty magical for you, aren’t they?”

“It seems so. Did you have a good time out?”

“I survived and accomplished everything I set out to do, so I consider it to be a success. I may have been seduced with dyed fiber,” he confessed.

“Again?”

“The craft store rose up, blocked my path, and forced me inside. I struggled, but it was in vain. It was relentless. Cunning and cruel, even, forcing me to detour from my clothing shopping to purchase yarn.” Sebastian shrugged. “The storefront sign said there was yarn on sale. I had to go in and check it out. And once I had purchased the yarn, I realized I needed a proper bag to carry it in, and they had yarn totes, so I got two, because I bought too much yarn. I needed enough of the same dye batch, or it wouldn’t look right. And since I’d purchased the yarn, I also needed hooks for the yarn, so I got those, too. Except I wasn’t sure which type I wanted, so I got several different types.”

I realized I’d fallen in with someone who couldn’t be sent into a craft store without adult supervision. “How much did you spend, Sebastian?”

“Too much.”

Of course. “Right. That’s the default answer when the craft store rises up and forces you inside. I don’t want to be the responsible one of this relationship, Sebastian. Maybe we should take turns.”