My Wild Beast
Chapter 37: My House Cat

Chapter 37: My House Cat

Sleep eluded them both.

Yoa lay tense, every muscle tight with the urge to claim Nova in every way he craved. He was too pent up, but he reined himself in, fighting his urges with the sobering reminder that his little mouse was fragile and delicate, and he’d let instinct take over. That instinct left scratches on her soft skin.

Meanwhile, Nova wasn’t just restless from that teasing encounter and what didn’t happen between them, but her thoughts spun in endless circles, jumping from thought to thought. Was she really going home tomorrow? And if so... why didn’t it feel like complete relief?

What did Yoa mean by going back to the lake? What did he plan to do to return her? If returning was possible, why was her heart thudding so disturbingly, as if it was slowly breaking?

"Sleep," Yoa murmured softly, his thumb caressing Nova’s thigh where he held her to him.

"I’m trying," Nova pouted into the night. "How come you’re not sleeping?"

She peeked up at him, but in the darkness, she could only make the outline of his huge form. Then his eyes snapped open, and gold glowed in the dark, reflecting back at her. "Because I can hear your heart racing," he said gruffly, not daring to admit how his own pulse thundered, heat flooding downward just from having Nova nestled against him.

Yoa’s hand slid up her back, the touch featherlight. Nova almost combusted under the teasing action. This man, hands down, had to know what he was doing! She narrowed her eyes at him, and he chuckled deeply before that same hand slid into her hair.

"What.... Oh..." Nova hummed, eyes closing to feel his fingers pressing into her scalp. He played with her hair and massaged her scalp. "Can’t you come with me," Nova joked with a low sigh, enjoying the feel of her hair being played with.

Yoa chuckled, watching her in the dark, seeing how clearly she loved her hair being played with. His lips twitched into a small smile as Nova’s breathing started to even out, her shoulders sagging from all the tension bottling up there. Her calming heartbeat seemed to steady his own, grounding the wild energy pulsing through him.

He curled around Nova protectively, one hand remaining in her hair as he continued to massage her scalp. The sound of her even heartbeat and breathing soothed the part of him that liked to stay awake at night. Fortunately, nobody knew about his hideout—besides Atia. So he could always rest easy here when rest was allowed as Yiska.

Yoa’s eyes closed, and he, too, felt himself relax with the tiny woman in his arms. Everywhere their skin touched left a tingling sensation and the need to keep her close. His protective instincts were already kicked into gear, and now he knew there was much more to it. He’d marked her and almost lost control.

Nova was to go home tomorrow. That thought both tore at his chest and comforted him. At least there he knows she would be safe.

Nowhere is safer than besides you.

Yoa’s arms clutched instinctively tighter around Nova. She snuggled into him more in response, spreading warmth along his body. His fingers slowed in Nova’s hair as sleep finally claimed him.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

The following morning, Nova woke to Yoa’s head resting on her chest. How the hell was she still breathing with this weight on her? She had no idea! She took that moment to brush some strands of his hair away from his face. It was the most content he’d seemed in days.

Even in the tree when they slept, Yoa was still somewhat tense. Either that or it was because of his steely muscles. No, it was the sternness in his expression still, even in his sleep. Now, he looked relaxed, the weight of whatever responsibilities he held seemed to roll off him right now in this moment.

Nova couldn’t help but admire him in the quiet morning. Today, they were going to see if she could return home via the lake. Right now, that was the furthest thing on her mind. She wanted to just be present, right here, right now and stare at his striking good looks.

Yes, yes! I know! It’s creepy!

But what if these were our last moments together?

Nova couldn’t help but stroke some of his thick locks back. "Mmmm," his soft hum turned more guttural, and his head moved to her hand movements, seeking more of her touch.

"You’re such a..." Nova trailed off her whispering. "Such a cat." She rolled her eyes at herself.

Yoa rolled a little to the side. "I can be if you want me to be," he purred, his voice sleep-filled, eyes slowly blinking open at her.

The sun was slowly reaching out across the horizon to wake up the lands and his eyes sparkled with the same intensity. "Or does my little trick scare you little mouse?" He mused, his temperament very playful this morning.

Nova narrowed her eyes at him. "I can handle your other form."

Yoa arched an eyebrow and smirked. Before any more could be said, Yoa shifted on the spot. His bones broke in rapid succession and realigned, his skin changing to black fur, and his bone structure completely changing until there was a huge black jaguar almost suffocating Nova. She wiggled back, so she sat up and rolled her eyes playfully at Yoa, who was on his back, curling like a crescent moon.

"This is incredibly cute... But cats always fool me into stroking their belly, and then they attack..." Nova’s hand hovered near Yoa’s belly. "Are you going to be the same mister?"

Yoa’s eyes gleamed back at her in challenge. "You’re not a regular house cat, though... I really shouldn’t be playing with something so lethal..." Even as Nova mused this aloud, her hand lowered, eyes locked with the big cat’s as she then stroked his belly.

Usually, after an awkward intimate moment the night before, it could be just as awkward the following morning or a few times after. Apparently, that was not the case here. Nova giggled when Yoa playfully caught her hand between his huge paws and, without using his claws, started kicking lightly at her hand exactly like a house cat would.

No house cats would rip her hand apart, acting like she insulted them for daring to touch them. Nova couldn’t help the smile on her lips, feeling completely at ease here with a huge-ass black jaguar acting like a kitty. She wanted to just scrunch his head and pepper his head in kisses. That she didn’t do.

Instead, she stroked the back of his neck, scratching with her nails. "Just so you know..." She murmured quietly. "I enjoyed last night..."

Why was she offloading on him? It wasn’t like they did anything more than kiss. Passionate kissing could have made her melt then and there. Is it because he is in his jaguar form?

Those eyes were still the same, watching her with the same intensity as usual. With a quick gulp, her hand pausing, Nova then said what had been on her mind a few times. "Even the bit where it got a little out of hand. The scratch marks... They were nothing and... I liked it." Her cheeks burned with the admission.

Yoa gave her a deadpan look. He was in his jaguar form, but Nova could tell he was giving her the ’Are you serious?!’ look. He didn’t believe her and in this form, he even seemed a little sassy.

"Honestly, I don’t like admitting it as much as you like hearing it." Nova booped his nose because why not. He’s in this form, and she was also feeling a little sassy.

Yoa huffed, shook his head and leaned into her chest with his head languidly and flopped down on her. "Well, I didn’t expect you to jump right into it in this form..." Nova mused aloud and watched as he huffed again and demanded more head scratches.

After some more head scratches and cuddling, Yoa shifted back into his human form and went straight to the fire. "Food?" He asked, acting nonchalant and blunt like usual, acting as though he hadn’t been acting like an adorable overgrown kitty moments before.

"Yeah, I’d kill for a coffee or something," Nova chuckled and shook her head.

Yoa paused over the fire he was making and looked over at her with a furrowed brow. "Co- fee? You would... kill someone for it?"

Nova’s eyes widened. "No! No!" She held her hands up and rushed out of the tree bed and crouched beside him, enjoying the little squat stretching her hips. "I didn’t mean I would literally kill someone for it."

Yoa arched an eyebrow and then smirked at her outburst. "I know. You’re too weak for anything like that."

"Wow! Well excuse me!" Nova scoffed then frowned at why she was so argumentative about wanting to be seen as someone capable of murder. She did not want that reputation thank you very much.

Yoa chuckled and started spearing a fish again. "What is co-fee?" He asked, trying to pronounce it correctly.

"Oh, it’s just a hot drink that can make you more alert. Some people love it, like me. I used to have quite a few a day to help with my chaotic lifestyle..." She trailed off, thinking about her work life back in the city. She cleared her throat. "But some people don’t like it because of the taste."

Yoa nodded. "Interesting. Sounds like Guaraná Brew. It’s a bitter drink but can help with giving energy to those needing it. Most of us don’t drink the stuff, though. Tell me more about your home life."

That was how it led into Nova telling little snippets about her life to Yoa even going as much to describe what a skyscraper was.They ate breakfast and spent time together, but they were both overly aware of what was to come next.

They were going to Luna Lacus.