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He transformed, spines growing from every surface. A thousand pins
pricked through Eva’s clothes, driving into her front. She choked on a
cry. He struggled in her grasp, the spines digging deeper into her skin.
Eva closed her eyes and hugged Giancarlo to her.
Then the pain vanished.
She held a man, slick with sweat. “Giancarlo?”
He groaned, an inhuman noise. Tabby stripes streaked his hair.
“Are you all right?” Aching from pinpricks and bruises, Eva slowly
straightened.
He shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. His breath rasped in his
throat. Eva kept her arms around him. He had to transform again. His
hind quarters were still those of a cat and his tail lashed furiously.
Unless she had guessed wrong.
Swallowing a wave of nausea, she ran through every piece of folklore
she could think of. There was only one consistent thing that broke
spells across multiple cultures. Taking a breath, she said. “I’m going to
kiss you. To see if that helps. Is that all right?”
His eyes opened, cat green glaring out of his classic profile. He nodded,
panting.
She pressed her lips against his. Giancarlo opened his mouth with a
moan, as his tail wrapped around them both. His teeth were sharp and
his tongue was rough on hers.
LE PORTRAIT MAGAZINE
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