I nodded.
After a brief hesitation, Animus placed his hand gingerly on top of my head. I noticed he was careful not to poke me in the eyes with his dark claws. He moved his hand, smoothing back my sensitive ears. I shivered at the weird, ticklish feeling. Noticing my reaction, he did it again. I let out a small sound of happiness.
"You like that, don't you?" Animus asked in a low, playful voice.
"Yes. Do it again."
Animus repeated the rhythmic stroking until I could've bounced five feet in the air from pure joy. It felt so nice that he finally touched me.
But I wanted to touch him, too, and I couldn't do it with my paws.
"Are you warm yet?" I asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"If you are, I'm going to shift and touch you, if that's okay."
His pale cheeks suddenly looked like a pair of bright pink rose petals. "Why?"
"Because you're doing it to me and it feels nice, and I want to make you feel nice." I paused, remembering I didn't always want to be touched, so Animus might not either. "But if you don't want—"
"Yes," Animus interrupted, his voice hoarse. "I mean, ah, I would enjoy that."
My whiskers twitched happily. I shifted into human form with a smile. I'd hoped he wouldn't say no.
Animus watched me with his supernaturally white eyes. Framed by dark lashes, they were striking. As the autumn breeze flowed through the clearing, it made his hair flutter. I raised a hand to gently catch a long, silky strand. Just like his eyes, his hair was unusual, too. At the base of his head, it was pitch black, darker than night. But as it moved closer to the tips, it turned an odd translucent color. I saw my fingers through the ends of his hair.
Animus let out a soft huff of amusement. "Are you examining me like one of your flowers?"
I took a second to think about my answer. I was excited to touch him and look at him up close, but it was a different kind of excitement compared to when I found a fascinating rock or plant. This was... deeper. My soul itself vibrated with passion of a more intense variety. It was the contrast between a raindrop and the ocean.
Or maybe, because Animus's scent reminded me of a campfire, the difference between a newly kindled flame and a raging forest fire.
That felt correct. I'd certainly noticed a burning sensation coursing through my body, like I was on fire from the inside out. It blazed hotter when I combed my fingers through Animus's hair.
"No," I said. "You're prettier than any flower."
His eyes widened, glistening.
"And you smell better than one, too," I added.
He laughed shyly. "Come on, now."
"I mean it." To prove my point, I brought a lock of his hair to my nose and sniffed it deeply. A pleasant prickling sensation ran down my spine. "You smell amazing."
The rose petals that his cheeks resembled turned a shade deeper, red instead of pink now.
"You're going to have to stop flattering me sooner or later," Animus said, raising a brow.
I met his gaze. "I'm not trying to flatter you. You're the most beautiful being I've ever seen. I would not lie about that."
Flustered, Animus turned his head away. His expression lost its snarky edge. He looked vulnerable. It made me want to reach out and touch his face. I did so gently, but it only made him freeze up. Feeling guilty, I withdrew my hand.
"Sorry," I said.
Animus shut his eyes and shook his head. "No, it's not you, I…" A frustrated sound came out of him. "Iwantthis, Leveret. I wantyou."
I breathed in sharply, staring at him in shock.