My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Incredible

“Yes!” Zachary shot upright at once and reached for Matthew’s tail with both hands, then slowly stroked downward from the base.

Matthew’s body gave a slight shiver, and a faint flush crept over the tips of his ears.

But Zachary was far too thrilled to notice. Cradling Matthew’s tail in his hands, he stared at it like he couldn’t get enough.

This is way too captivating. Everyone should come with ears and a tail.

Matthew suddenly asked, “How does it feel?”

“Soft and smooth. Seriously incredible.”

That answer was nothing like the one Zachary had given earlier.

Matthew flicked his tail, clearly in a better mood.

In the dim light, a pair of bright eyes watched from nearby.

Yael had an arm around Quincy’s waist, his chin resting in the hollow of Quincy’s shoulder as a low laugh rumbled out of him.

“Look at Matthew. He’s letting Zachary play with both his ears and his tail.”

“When have you ever seen him show his ears and tail while in human form?”

At that moment, Yael could only think of two words to describe Matthew: repressed flirt.

He looked proper and self–controlled, but what was underneath? Absolutely dark–hearted.

Off to the side, Kyle and the others were even worse. They stared like they were witnessing something impossible.

“What the hell–that’s Matthew?!”

“Did Zachary threaten him or something?”

“Oh my god, are my eyes

broken?”

Matthew had reached the very edge of what he could contain. A streak of red had spread up the side of his neck.

He grabbed Zachary’s hand, which was still lingering at the base of his tail, and said in a low, strained voice, “That’s enough.”

Hearing the change in his voice, Zachary blinked at him stupidly. “What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

“It’s late. Without a word, Matthew moved a hand in front of himself to block Zachary’s view.

O

14:59 Fri, Jun 5

JM

Chapter 81 Incredible

Finished

“Yeah, true.” Zachary was reluctant, but he still pulled his hand back, a deeply satisfied smile on his face.

Matthew had already been so generous about letting him touch; Zachary felt like he ought to give a little something in return.

After tonight’s experience, complimenting Matthew was starting to come a lot more naturally to him.

With those bright, shining eyes fixed on him, he said, “Matthew, you’re the coolest and most handsome therian I’ve ever met.”

Matthew’s pants tightened even more, and for one dangerous second, his usually controlled expression almost cracked.

At this point, Zachary had completely started seeing Matthew as one giant cat. He nearly reached up to pet his head too, only to suddenly remember Matthew was supposed to be this cold, untouchable heartthrob His hand froze awkwardly in midair before he forced himself to stop.

“Let’s go to sleep,” Zachary said with a grin.

He didn’t mean anything by it, but after everything that had just happened, the words landed in Matthew’s ears with an entirely different kind of meaning.

Sure enough, once one’s mind got dirty, everything sounded dirty.

On the way back, Kyle and the others looked at Zachary with open admiration–and at Matthew with expressions that screamed they were trying not to laugh.

Zachary was completely baffled. Matthew, now back in black panther form, shot them a cold look. The group immediately drew little X’s over their mouths with their fingers and behaved.

As usual, Matthew lay on his side, exposing his belly.

Zachary settled onto him with practiced ease, draping himself over that warm stretch of fur. Covered with Matthew’s fur cloak, he snuggled closer and happily replayed everything that had happened, savoring every second.

Maybe because he’d gotten exactly what he wanted, Zachary even dreamed while he slept. In the dream, a giant black cat kept licking him and rubbing against him, affectionate to the point of being overwhelming.

It was incredibly warm to hold, though.

Sometime past midnight, Matthew gently shook him awake,

Zachary rubbed his eyes, yawned, and pushed himself upright off the fur, still wrapped in heavy sleepiness.

His mind was still foggy, and when he spoke, his voice was thick with drowsiness. “Are we leaving?”

“Mm.” Matthew reached out and pulled him up. “If we set out now, we should make it back to the tribe before sunset.”

“Okay Zachary scrubbed at his face to wake himself up a little more.

Everyone else was already packing. The campfire burned hot and bright, lighting up the gray–black night.

@ 0 7 0 0

O

2/3

14:59 Fri, Jun 5 M

Chapter 81 Incredible

Finished

The mouths of the fur bags were tied shut, and anything that could be bundled had been lashed together with vines. The whole campsite buzzed with movement.

Since they’d already made two earlier trips back to the tribe, they didn’t have much left to carry this time. And with so many people helping, it didn’t take long to finish packing.

Once the fire was put out, the headcount done, and the loads divided up, the group set off for the tribe

nonstop

Zachary sat astride Matthew’s back, still yawning nonstop and sleepy as hell.

Would still vaguely make out the shapes around

The forest wasn’t completely dark, and even sub–therians them.

Even carrying supplies, the therians weren’t much slower than they had been on the way here.

The pack of black panthers raced through the jungle in long, powerful strides. Their fur brushed through the grass with a whispering rustle, and their heavy, padded paws landed with soft, muffled thuds.

The noise wasn’t loud, but it was enough to startle birds sleeping in the branches. They burst into the night sky in a flutter of wings, accompanied by a few short cries.

A moment later, everything went quiet again.

The path was still rough, and as Zachary swayed with Matthew’s movements, he kept nodding off.

Yael, carrying Quincy, caught up and ran alongside Matthew.

Quincy called out, “Zachary, hold on tighter. Don’t fall off.”

“Okay.”

Just then, they came to a rock outcropping. The black panthers leapt, their bodies suddenly launching into the air, and the jolt scared Zachary fully awake. He immediately threw his arms around Matthew’s back.

322