Xavier had been sulking for three hours.
Nana could tell by the way his white cat ears were pressed flat against his ash-blonde hair, and how his fluffy tail dragged on the floor instead of swishing elegantly as it usually did. He'd been doing his butler duties perfectly—serving tea, organizing her schedule, folding laundry—but he hadn't said a single word to her since the incident.
The incident being: she'd cuddled a stray cat she found in the garden.
"Xavier," she called from where she sat on the sofa, watching him dust the bookshelf with mechanical precision. "Are you really still upset?"
His ears twitched but didn't lift. "I'm not upset, my lady."
"You called me 'my lady.' You only do that when you're being petty." She patted the seat beside her. "Come here."
"I have duties to attend to—"
"Xaviee." Her voice softened. "Starlight break. Now."
He couldn't resist that. 'Starlight break' was their code for when she needed his attention as her husband, not as her butler. His shoulders sagged slightly as he set down the duster and walked over, sitting stiffly beside her.
His ears were still flat.
"Baby," she cooed, reaching up to scratch behind one ear. It flicked away from her touch. "Are you really jealous of a stray cat?"
"I'm not jealous." But his tail swished in agitation, betraying him.
"You are!" She couldn't help but smile. "Xavier, you're being ridiculous. It was just a little kitten—"
"You cuddled it for twenty minutes." His blue eyes finally met hers, and there was genuine hurt there beneath the petulance. "You let it sleep on your lap. You called it 'precious.'"
"It was precious! It was tiny and—"
"You never let me sleep on your lap for twenty minutes."
Nana blinked. "That's because you're six feet tall and would crush me."
His ears drooped further. "You also scratched its chin. And its belly."
"Xaviee—"
"And you made that cooing sound. The one you say is just for me." His tail wrapped around his own waist—a self-soothing gesture. "But apparently it's not just for me."
Oh. Oh, he was actually hurt.
Nana's heart squeezed. She'd been so charmed by the kitten that she hadn't realized she was neglecting her own cat hybrid husband. Xavier was usually so calm and composed that she sometimes forgot how sensitive he could be.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, moving closer. "You're right. I got carried away. But you know you're my favorite, right?"
His ears twitched upward slightly. "...Favorite?"
"The only one I love." She wrapped her arms around him, and after a moment's hesitation, he melted into her embrace. "That kitten was cute, but you're my Xavier. My husband. My precious star butler."
A rumble started in his chest—not quite a purr yet, but getting there. "You mean it?"
"Of course I do." She pulled back to cup his face, running her thumbs along his cheekbones. "Want me to prove it?"
"How?" His eyes were wary but hopeful.
She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Like this."
The kiss was meant to be gentle. Reassuring. A simple apology.
But Xavier had other ideas.
His arms came around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he deepened the kiss with surprising intensity. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming, possessive. The rumble in his chest became a full purr—deep and resonant.
"Xavier—" she gasped when they broke apart for air.
"Not enough." His eyes had darkened, pupils dilating into those vertical slits that appeared when he was aroused. "You need to prove it properly, starlight."
"Properly?"
"I want you to show me I'm your favorite." His hands slid down to her hips, gripping firmly. "Make me forget about that stupid kitten."
Heat pooled low in her belly. "Right here? In the sitting room?"
"Everywhere." His tail unwrapped from his waist to coil around her thigh instead—possessive and demanding. "I want to mark you. Want everyone to know you're mine."
"We're married. Everyone already knows—"
"That cat didn't know." His lips found her neck, teeth grazing her pulse point. "Need to make sure there's no confusion."
She should probably point out the absurdity of being jealous of a cat. But the way his hands were sliding under her shirt, the way he was purring against her skin, the way his tail was creeping higher up her thigh—
"Okay," she breathed. "Prove your point, butler."
The title made him growl—a distinctly feline sound. "I'm off duty right now, remember? Starlight break."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Husband. Mate." His hands found the clasp of her bra, undoing it with practiced ease. "Yours."
He stripped her efficiently—years of being a butler made him excellent at undressing people—until she was bare before him while he remained fully clothed in his pristine butler uniform.
"Not fair," she protested, tugging at his tie.
"Patience, starlight." But he allowed her to pull his tie loose, unbutton his vest. His ears were perked forward now, alert and interested, while his tail swished lazily behind him.
When his shirt came off, revealing his lean, toned torso, she couldn't help but run her hands over his chest. He was beautiful—all smooth skin and defined muscle, with just a dusting of light hair trailing down from his navel.
"Like what you see?" His voice had gone low and teasing.
"Always." She leaned forward to press a kiss to his collarbone, and felt him shiver.
"Nana—" Her name came out strained as her lips traveled lower, tongue flicking over his nipple.
"Hmm?" She looked up at him through her lashes, loving the way his pupils had completely blown out.
"Couch. Now. On your back."
She obeyed, stretching out on the plush sofa. Xavier stood over her for a moment, just looking, his tail swishing in satisfaction.
"Beautiful," he murmured. "All mine."
He knelt between her legs, and his hands—always so careful and precise—slid up her inner thighs, spreading her open. His ears were perked fully forward now, focused entirely on her.
"You're already wet," he observed, one finger sliding through her folds. "Is this from earlier? Or from now?"
"Now," she admitted breathlessly. "From you."
"Good." He brought his finger to his mouth, licking it clean while maintaining eye contact. "Because I'm the only one who should make you feel like this."
Then his mouth was on her, and all coherent thought fled.
Xavier ate her out with single-minded devotion, his tongue working her clit in slow, deliberate circles. His hands gripped her thighs, keeping them spread wide, while his purring vibrated against her most sensitive flesh.
"Xavier—oh god—" Her hands flew to his hair, careful to avoid his sensitive ears.
He pulled back just enough to speak. "Touch them."
"What?"
"My ears. Touch them. I want you to."
Hesitantly, she reached up to stroke one soft ear, and the moan he made was absolutely filthy. His tail thrashed behind him as he dove back between her thighs with renewed enthusiasm.
She scratched lightly behind his ears, the way she knew he loved, and he trembled. His tongue worked faster, more desperately, while his purring grew so loud she could feel it throughout her whole body.
"That's it," she encouraged, her own voice shaky. "Good boy. Such a good boy for me."
The praise made him groan against her. One hand left her thigh to press two fingers inside her, curling to hit that perfect spot while his mouth focused on her clit.
The dual stimulation combined with the vibrations from his purring was overwhelming. Her orgasm built quickly, pressure coiling tight in her belly.
"Xavier—I'm going to—"
"Come for me, starlight," he murmured against her. "Let me taste how much you love me."
She shattered, crying out his name as pleasure washed over her in waves. He worked her through it, his fingers gentle now, his tongue soft and soothing.
When she finally came down, trembling and oversensitive, he rose up over her. His lips were glistening, and the satisfied smirk on his face was almost smug.
"Feeling better?" she asked breathlessly.
"Not yet." He was already working his pants open, freeing his erection. "Not until I'm inside you. Not until I've marked you so thoroughly that you smell like me for days."
Heat flared again despite her recent orgasm. "Then what are you waiting for?"
"Impatient," he chided, but positioned himself at her entrance. His tail wrapped around her ankle as he pushed inside slowly, inch by inch, letting her adjust to his size.
When he was fully seated, they both groaned. He dropped his forehead to hers, ears flat against his head—but from pleasure this time, not upset.
"Missed this," he murmured. "Missed you."
"We made love this morning—"
"That was before the kitten incident." He pulled back and thrust in sharply, making her gasp. "Before I had to watch you give affection to someone else."
"Xavier, it was a cat—"
"I'm a cat." Another sharp thrust. "I'm your cat. The only one who should get your attention."
He set a steady rhythm, each thrust deep and precise. His butler training showed even here—every movement calculated for maximum pleasure. But there was an edge of desperation to it, a need to prove himself that made her heart ache even as her body sang.
"You are," she gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist. "You're my favorite. My only. My everything."
His purring intensified. "Say it again."
"You're my everything, Xavier. I love you. Only you."
"Mine," he growled, pace increasing. "My starlight. My wife. Mine."
"Yours," she agreed. "Always yours."
His control started slipping. His thrusts became harder, faster, less coordinated. Light began to emanate from his skin—his Evol responding to his emotional state, bathing them both in soft luminescence.
"Touch my tail," he demanded suddenly.
"Are you sure? I know it's sensitive—"
"Touch it. Please."
She reached down to where his tail was still wrapped around her ankle, sliding her hand up to grip the base. The effect was immediate and devastating.
Xavier's back arched, a yowl tearing from his throat as his whole body convulsed. His thrusts became almost frantic, chasing sensation with single-minded need.
"Starlight—can't—too much—"
"Then come," she urged, stroking his tail from base to tip. "Come inside me. Show me I'm yours."
His hand wedged between them to find her clit, circling it with desperate precision. "Together. Want you to come with me."
The combination of his cock hitting deep, his fingers on her clit, and the sheer intensity of his need pushed her over the edge again. She clenched around him rhythmically, and that was his undoing.
He buried himself to the hilt and came with a roar, his light Evol exploding outward in a brilliant flash. She felt him pulse inside her, filling her completely, marking her from the inside out just as he'd promised.
His purring was so loud it shook them both as he collapsed on top of her, careful to keep most of his weight on his elbows. His face buried in her neck, and she felt wetness there.
"Xavier? Are you crying?"
"No." But his voice was thick. "Just... really love you. Got scared when you paid attention to that kitten. Thought maybe I wasn't enough."
Her heart broke and mended in the same instant. She wrapped her arms around him, one hand stroking down his back, the other gently petting his ears.
"You're more than enough. You're everything." She pressed kisses to his temple, his cheek, anywhere she could reach. "I'm sorry I made you feel that way. It won't happen again."
"Can I..." He hesitated. "Can I sleep on your lap later? For twenty minutes?"
She couldn't help but laugh through her own tears. "You can sleep on my lap for however long you want."
"Even though I'll crush you?"
"Even then."
His purring softened into something content and peaceful. His tail, still wrapped around her ankle, squeezed gently.
"Love you, starlight," he mumbled, already sounding half-asleep—his usual post-sex habit.
"Love you too, my jealous butler cat."
"Not jealous anymore," he protested, but it lacked conviction. "Just... territorial."
"Same thing."
"Shh. Let me nap on you. Butler's orders."
"You're off duty, remember?"
"Then husband's orders."
She smiled, running her fingers through his hair and scratching behind his ears the way he loved. "Fine. But later, we're having a serious talk about your jealousy issues."
"Mm-hmm," he agreed, clearly not listening anymore. His purring had reached that deep, slow rhythm that meant he was already drifting off.
As she lay there with her husband dozing on top of her, his tail still possessively wrapped around her ankle, his ears twitching contentedly at her gentle pets, Nana made a mental note:
No more cuddling stray cats. At least not when Xavier could see.
Her jealous butler cat husband couldn't handle the competition.
And honestly? She found that absolutely adorable.
⭐⭐⭐