Best Friends (New Species #15)(82)

“Don’t drop me,” she pleaded.

“Never. Hold on.”

She tensed and clung to him for dear life. He found it pleasing.

He leapt, landing easily on the lower platform, grabbing the cable to help steady his balance. He turned and aimed for the next one. He leapt again, hit that platform, then looked down for the spot on the ground that had been designed just for him. It was covered with artificial grass, but there was extra padding beneath. It wasn’t necessary but the designer of his domain had insisted. He bent his knees and leapt one more time, wrapping both arms around his mate.

He landed on his feet and straightened. “We’re on the ground. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“I’ll tell you when my stomach catches up with me. I think it’s still about twenty feet above us.”

He laughed, enjoying his mate’s sense of humor. “You’ll get used to it.” He helped her stand but kept ahold of her for a few seconds when she stumbled. His humor faded. “Are you okay?”

She lifted her chin. “I’m not a lion woman.”

“You’re mine.”

She closed her mouth, looking ready to argue.

“The bathroom is this way.” He took her hand. “It’s nice. You’ll like it.”

*

Nice?

Mary gawked at his massive bathroom. It was fantastic and gorgeous. It had a glass-enclosed shower in one corner that was all stone tile from floor to ceiling. Four people could use it at once and never touch. Five showerheads were positioned on the ceiling and walls.

The bathtub next to it was the size of a six-person Jacuzzi that most people kept in their backyards. There was an open door that revealed where the toilet was located. Two sinks sat on a long counter.

It took her a second to realize there were no mirrors in the room.

Lash removed his loincloth, just dropping it on the floor. He strutted to the shower in a way that once again reminded her he wasn’t totally human. Water flowed from those multiple showerheads as he twisted the handles. He put his hand under the water and adjusted the temperature.

She dashed into the smaller room and closed the door. Her bladder was full.

She was just finished relieving herself when the door jerked open, and she gasped, staring up at a wet Lash. He frowned.

“Close that! I’m going pee.”

“Why did you close the door?”

“Because I’m not two years old and my mommy isn’t making sure I don’t need help. OUT!”

He sighed and backed up, pulling the door closed. “Humans,” he growled.

“That’s what I am,” she called out, reaching for the toilet paper.

“You’re mine!”

She flushed the toilet and shook her head, jerking the door open and exiting the stall. “I heard that.”

“I roared it. I meant for you to hear.” He stepped into the shower and glared at her. “I’m not leaving. You’re sharing the shower with me. Be two, but get your ass in here.”

She washed her hands at the sink, then approached the shower. “Some things are private. Anything I do in that little room included.” She thought about it for a second. “And start closing the door when you go in there, too. I never want to see you sitting on the toilet.”

He frowned.

“I mean it. There’s just some things we never need to share, and that’s one of them.”

“Is that a human thing? Like washing your hands before getting in a shower?”

She didn’t like the way he was looking at her as if she were nuts. “Yes.”

“Is it important to you?”

“Very much so.”

He shrugged. “Fine. But we shower and bathe together. That’s fair. We both get what we want.”

She was impressed that he seemed willing to compromise. If he could do it, so could she. “Deal.”

“Sleeping without me isn’t an option. Don’t even bring it up.”

“I didn’t.”

She turned to study the bottles on the shelf and grabbed body wash, pouring some in her hands and rubbing them together. Her attention focused on his impressive chest, which was face level with her. The damn man was distracting.

She got under one of the lowest showerheads, which hit her mid-chest, and spread the soap on her body. It smelled like fruit. It was nice.

Lash stepped under the water that came from the ceiling and tipped his head back, just standing there.

It gave Mary even more time to study his body. He had the kind that any woman would really appreciate. He was all strength and hard male. It was probably from all that jumping around he did. His muscles rippled along his arms when he raised both hands, running them through his thick hair to probably make sure all of it got wet. He stepped out of the direct spray and pushed that hair all the way back off his face. He opened his eyes.

He looked different without that fluffy mane. Good, less lion-ish. The bones of his face and that small mat of fur on his chest, though, made certain he’d never pass for full human. His size, too. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall.

He made her feel super short, and she stood at a respectable five-five. She glanced down at his large feet. He would have to buy his clothes and shoes from some specialty store that sold exclusively to extra-large men.

“How much do you weigh?”