“I bet it’s a surprise attack,” King Nelson stated. “He needs to get close to rip into her throat.”
I froze at that, and my face was bombarded with lion slobber as he licked all over my cheek. The cub made a noise, peering up at Ezra, who stood a breath away from my side, his hands raised almost as if they were frozen in mid-motion, aiming for the cub. My eyes followed the cub’s to Ezra. He was staring at the cub with what could only be called shock.
At that exact moment, I felt something slip under my coat.
Already a little freaked, I squealed and jumped.
Ezra unfroze, and in a blur, held the cub away from me, shouting in his furry face, “No!”
King Kincaid rushed to my side. “How badly did he hurt you?” His fingers began effectively unbuttoning my robe, his gaze intent on the action.
“He didn’t hurt me,” I squealed, bouncing on my feet. “Something’s under my coat!”
Everyone froze.
Except for the cub in Ezra’s grip, which batted at his hands, huffing at him. And me, as I continued squalling and bouncing. And then King Kincaid as he shouted, jumping away from me and staring down at the bottom of my coat.
King Kincaid blinked, holding up his hands. “Stop moving! You’re going to hurt her.”
Everyone in this damn room was acting crazy. I sure as hell wasn’t going to stand still and let a critter lie in wait to bite my ass. Quickly, I finished undoing the last button and yanked my robe apart, staring down at the ground. Within my wide stance was a small, reddish lioness cub.
She stared up at me, blinking innocently, even though her tail twitched in irritation.
“Fuck me, what a view she’s got,” Elder Merrick rumbled, his wolf growling low.
I glanced up and saw his eyes glow with craving. Blinking, I glanced down again, and realized what he meant. She was between my legs with an unfettered intimate view. I also realized I had revealed my attire not quite how I had wanted.
I couldn’t chance peeking at Ezra right now because that might be too obvious after Elder Merrick’s comment, so instead I lowered and picked the cub up. She instantly cuddled against me and hardly let me place her on the table, wanting to stay in my arms. Her ears instantly lowered when her paws touched the marble and she eyed everyone else warily, a bitty growl, which was barely distinguishable, vibrating inside her chest.
Slowly, she lowered and began creeping back in forth in front of me, her eyes not leaving the Kings and Elders. Goodness, she was really worked up, appearing to not like people much. Glancing at Ezra’s cub, which was having a fit to be put on the table, I reached over, plucked him from Ezra’s grip, and placed him on the table with an affectionate rub on the head.
“Go play.” I patted their rumps, pushing them. “And quit causing such a ruckus.”
Ezra made that funny noise in his throat again.
I chanced peeking at him as the large male cub began creeping in a circle around the small female cub, sniffing her. Ezra’s eyes were darting back and forth between me and the cubs, a mixture of shock and desire riding his features. I stood on tiptoe, asking him, “Now, what’s the matter with everyone?”
The room was mute except for the noises the cubs were making.
Ezra inhaled sharply, and his gaze darted to Elder Merrick, shooting him a poisonous glance, before his eyes returned to me. Actually, my cleavage. He licked his bottom lip, placing a hand high over the cubs, and said, “He let you touch him.”
I blinked. “And?”
His mouth opened again but his body stilled, his head snapping to the cubs. The female was raised on her hind legs and butting her head against his palm, obviously wanting him to pet her. Bit by bit, Ezra began stroking her head, bending at the waist with a look of awe as she nuzzled into his hand. He brought his face close to her, gazing at her watchfully.
Until the male swatted at Ezra’s hand and jumped, sitting right in front of his face with his furry back to Ezra’s nose. He puffed up his chest and growled once at the female. Ezra straightened as the male lowered his face and started nudging her with his head. She bit his ear gently, but moved when he kept pushing. When he stopped, she swatted at his face for his antics, but he ignored it and started circling her again, gradually lowering his body, his eyes avidly on her.
“What’s he doing?” I asked in fascination.
Antonio coughed hard, glancing at me.