Page 355 of Primal

Turns out IT Guy’s got decent upper body strength. Not that I’m noticing. Definitely not fantasizing about him shirtless later.

The cat leaps onto his shoulder before my brain can get any more bright ideas.

Kade tightens his grip, probably imagining throttling us both.

He lowers me, bit by bit, until my sneakers touch ground.

I twist free. Spring apart.

The cat purrs smugly from Kade’s shoulder. He grabs the little traitor by the scruff. “Next time, I’m letting you both fall.”

The tabby purrs.

Kade gives me a sidelong glance. “You good?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugs, scratching the cat behind its ears. “Didn’t peg you for the two am type.”

“Says the guy tossing rocks at distressed animals.”

“This little shit’s been yowling outside my window for hours.” His eyes flick to my mouth before meeting mine. “You’re bleeding.”

I swipe my thumb across my lips. Damn. Must’ve bitten it during the fall.

Kade adjusts his grip on the tabby and takes a deliberate step back. “Go to bed, Payton.”

I scowl. “Bossy much? Don’t tell me what to do.”

One corner of his mouth twitches. “Then don’t climb trees drunk.”

“I wasn’t—” The lie dies when I sway slightly. Maybe that fifth glass of Chardonnay was a mistake.

“Go inside.”

I rock forward on my toes just to watch his shoulders tense. “Make me.”

For half a breath, I think he might.

Then the tabby bites his ear and leaps off.

“Motherf—”

The smart cat lands in a patch of weeds and saunters off, tail flicking.

Kade retreats a step. Then another. “Lock your door.”

I should salvage my pride. Turn around and pretend this never happened.

Instead, I take one reckless step forward. “Why? You planning to break in?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He crosses the street.

Gone before I can think of a comeback.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I sing-song, strutting back into the house.

I slam my door. Yank it back open. The street’s empty now. Only the sting in my lip and the burn in my palms proving it wasn’t all my imagination.