Faline

He sighs heavily in my ear, his tongue darting out to slide along the curve of it. I jump at the touch, which causes him to chuckle softly. Could care less at this time though since he's slowly letting me rise.

A small movement of his hip has the hard length of him pressing between my ass cheeks, have to fight myself not to clench and give him anymore of a happy. An annoyed sound coming from behind us draws our attention again, breaking his spell.

I do, however, press a hand back to his leg, moving up his thigh. His startled muscle clench under my hand feels weird through denim, but I keep going, determined. Nicolaus's breath hitches as my hand rises higher and higher, and totally bypasses his straining loins.

Going straight to his pocket and pulling my underwear from it quickly, I dart forward out of his arms. Putting them on while he laughs behind me, just to turn and glare when I have them where they should be. His bottom lip is caught between his teeth as he looks me over, all the while, totally ignoring the naked woman next to him that's fuming at me.

Great.

Sighing, my shoulders droop, eyes close for a moment, then open and go to the angry woman, motioning to her that she's more than welcome to him. She still looks highly annoyed, but a look of triumph also fights for control of her face. A look over to Nicolaus shows his smirk at me as he buttons his pants.

I'm so gonna laugh when he gets hair caught in the buttons. On second thought, that's probably why he wears buttons instead of zippers. Of course.

I cross my arms as I return a look to him of a raised brow and my own smirk when she slides a pale hand across his chest. To my surprise, and with his eyes on mine the whole time, he grabs her hand, bringing it to his mouth where he places a kiss on her knuckles. Both brows raise by his just doing that gets a moan from her. Christ.

"Must be mating season for the lynxies, huh?"

Why can I never keep my mouth shut? I bite the inside of my cheek to cut off a groan. Much amusement glitters through his eyes, having to keep hold of the woman before she flies at me.

I raise my hands in a surrendering gesture, shaking my head as I go for the door. Annoyingly, he's right in front of it. My hands move in a shooing motion as I get to his side opposite the huffy female.

He holds her further away as he leans over and whispers to me. Don't see why he bothers since she will hear it anyway, but whatever.

"After the Lady has words with you, you and I shall dance."

I seriously doubt he means literally. Scowling at him, my eyes flicker over to the horny Vampiress then back to him.

"I think you'll be too busy entertaining elsewhere sir, but thanks anyway."

Chuckling again, he pulls Madaline away from the door, which she's more than willing to move from as long as she's with him, damn near tries to climb him before I look away. Ick. I've seen enough Vampire mating rituals, don't need to see anymore.

Of course, a few feet down the hallway is when I recall I have no idea how to get to the kitchen from here. Sighing, I keep going. Just have to ask a slave whenever one decides to pop out. Easy enough.

So of course, I see none.

Lost in thoughts consuming my brain, I don't even see what I walk into. I blame looking at the floor. Luckily I'm not moving fast enough to bounce off and on to my rear, but I still stumble back.

"You really need to stop trying to walk through me."

I look way up, over folded arms crossed on a barrel chest to a pair of laughing black eyes. Deeply tanned skin with raven black hair pulled back in a tail and a five o'clock shadow greet my eyes. I huff, pulling in air as I glare at him.

"You really need to stop being a wall in my way. Seriously, don't you have anything else better to do?"

"Not currently."

Unable to help it, I smile. Actually really glad to see him since I'm lost as hell.

"Well, good, 'cause I'm lost and need a seeing-eye cat apparently. Mind showing me to the kitchen?"

He smirks and motions me to follow him as he turns and walks away. I fall in beside him, watching his legs and the amount of space that passes between his strides. Once again not paying attention as I almost walk right into a wall.

His arm goes out to keep my head from connecting to the corner. I just stop and blink, uncomprehending for a moment. Snorting, I keep going.

"See? Seeing-eye cat. Think I shall get you a bell, a cute little tinkling one with pink glitter."

"You're going to punish me for saving you from knocking yourself out? That doesn't sound right. Think I'll get you a helmet, one of those very loud, bright orange ones."

I snort again before laughing since I had thought of that very thing before. Well, the helmet part, not the loud, bright orange part. My eyes are once again drawn to his long-ass damn legs.

"You know, this is hardly fair. You have those long as hell deer legs that take, like, one step to my three. Forget the bell, need to get you some reins and a sled. Mush."

"You give me more sass than anyone else I know. You came out of your mother complaining about the doctor's cold hands, didn't you?"

I look up and smile sweetly, his eyebrow raises as he looks back at me warily.

"Actually, if I had complained about anything, it was the fact that the doctor was too damn slow, seeing as how I was born in the hallway."

Orion blinks then laughs wholeheartedly. His mirth vibrates my chest cavity with its baritone. I look in the direction we're going before I say anymore.

"Besides, if you think I'm bad, you should meet my sister. Who do you think taught me?"

My eyes glance back over with a warm smile as his laughing stops, looking at me intently.

"She sounds like quite the sister. It would be an honor to meet her, Hellcat."

My expression rises in question, wondering if what I was just called is good or not.

"Hellcat?"

He nods, shortening his strides a little, so I'm not running to keep up.

"Since I've known you, you've done nothing but cause hell. Especially to those who cross you."

A smile lightens my face. Hellcat. I like it. Much better than Kitten. Looking back to the corridor, however, has me frowning again, stopping to look the way we came, then to where we're going.

"How the hell do you navigate this place? There are no defining marks or smells. Not that I've caught anyway."

"I've been coming around here for years, I've had time to memorize. And you, short-stuff, are really slow."

My eyes widen as two massive hands sweep me up and toss me over a thick shoulder.

"Hey! This dress-thing isn't exactly long you know, I'm mooning everyone."

He points me in either direction.

"You see anyone? No one is going to see your pale ass."

"Pale!"

I can't make up my mind on whether to be outraged or laugh at his antics while trying to hold myself more upright without having my butt in his hand. He's being quite the gentleman as he keeps an arm around my legs. Then, a brilliant idea strikes me.

"Hold up, let me turn, your shoulders are wide enough."

"What?"

Twisting my body with some awkward movements and almost kneeing him in the face, I get situated on his shoulder. Sort of. His shoulders are wide, yes, but not like ridiculously, so half my ass is hanging off. So to make up for it, I lean over his skull, practically putting my boobs on his head.

"You have got to be kidding me."

He asks as if he's not sure if I'm joking and just being a pain or actually planning on sitting like I am.

"Nope. Mush. I'm not that heavy, and you have all those big muscles that do nothing else but sit there and look pretty. Time to put 'em to use."

I feel his neck and shoulder muscles move under my rear and thighs. Starting to feel like a tweaker as I wince each time at the weird feeling, his walk isn't jarring, exactly, just weird.

"You are to heavy, and it's all in your hips. I think you just sprained my neck with your ass."

Making a shocked and outraged sound, my heel thumps against his abdomen. This guy is all hard muscle. Heavy my ass.

"And I think you just broke my foot. Aren't cats supposed to be all soft and squishy?"

"Squishy?"

I nod as if I know what I'm talking about. His arm comes up and wraps over my thighs like a living seat belt, then takes off running. A yelp is ripped from me as my arms wrap around his head, trying not to cover his eyes, but I'm not sure I succeed.

"Don't you dare drop me!"

"If anyone drops it will be me from being strangled."

His laughter is the only thing keeping me from screeching. Being bounced around while over seven feet in the air is kinda scary. A couple of the submissives we run past just look on with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

Can just imagine the rumor mill after this. Orion slowly comes to a stop, my heart pounding. In cat form I don't mind heights, human form is a whole new ball game of nope. Once he's fully stopped, I squirm to be let down.

"What's the reverse term for mush? I want a refund, I think your shocks are broken."

Both hands reach up and grasp my waist, lowering me to the floor then dropping when I'm still a foot from it.

"Rude."

"And you're not?"

Smiling up at him sweetly, I look down to his shins, contemplating how fast I can run compared to him.

"Don't even think about it Hellcat, or you won't be able to walk for a while from having my foot up your ass."

I sniff and turn around, putting my nose in the air, moving as steady as I can with my legs still being wobbly. I actually recognize this hallway, having gone through it several times. It leads through a few open sitting areas then into the kitchen.

Hanging back a moment, I look over at the lion in disguise, feeling a little guilty for how I treated him last time I saw him.

"Hey, I'm sorry about how I acted earlier in the kitchen. I'd say it's been a rough day, but it's more like it's been a rough...couple weeks or so."

He inclines his head, giving a lopsided smile.

"No problem. I can just imagine what you've had to go through. I haven't been able to find much out yet, so I have nothing to share, but as soon as I do, I will get it to you."

I nod, keeping my head down as I debate on saying any more. With all my confusion about Nicolaus, it might be better if I do.

"Can... Can you keep an ear out to see who the Silver Wolf is? If it is my sister, I want to help her, even if she can't help me. One of the last visions I'd shared with her, she had been around a large black wolf."

The one who I'd found familiar but can't place from where suddenly jump-starts my heart as I place where I've seen him. He was the wolf that we'd seen that day before I was taken, the one that had bitten Kie in the woods. I didn't see the silver necklace it had worn, but those eyes...those eyes I remember.

Orion is nodding, a look of concentration on his face. I get my own expressions schooled as we walk into the large open room that reminds me of a cafeteria. Kerry is looking a little frantic, so I showed up just in time.

Maii comes running at me, looking worried. Giving him a smile, I take his hot hands in mine and look into his face.

"Thank you for earlier Maii. You were so brave."

I'd give him a hug but I think he'd faint if I did, his eyes so wide now that they may yet pop out. I can't help myself, I poke the middle of his forehead and smile as he blinks rapidly at me. Having let his hands go, he's still frozen to the spot as I go to Kerry.

"You staying for dinner Orion? Got some rack ribs planned."

He smiles and shakes his head, the frantic girl smiles in gratitude that I've come back, looking a little overwhelmed.

"No, but thank you. I have to get back to work. Take care of yourself."

I give him a salute, snapping to attention. He rolls his midnight eyes before turning and leaving. Turning to Kerry, I motion Maii to get his butt over here.

"What's the matter, Kerry? You look flustered."

"Some of the ingredients you have listed for the glaze, I can't find them."

Smiling at her and motioning her to breathe with me, I get her calmed down.

"That's one of the good things about cooking. Most things you can substitute with something else. What can't you find?"