Binding 13

"Focus," Claire snapped, clicking her fingers in Gibsie's face. "Where is he now?"

"He's in your bathroom." Grimacing, he added, "He's had an accident."

"What kind of accident?" Claire growled.

He shrugged sheepishly. "The explosive diarrhea kind?"

"Gerard!" Claire screamed, slapping his huge bicep. "I told you not to bring him over here after the last time."

"I was worried," he groaned, rubbing his arm. "I'm sorry. But you have to help me."

"Ask Hughie to help you," she growled, planting her hands on her hips. "I’m tired of rescuing you."

"I can't," he groaned. "He's dropping Katie home and picking up the lads before we go out."

"So why are you still here?" Lizzie quipped, as she flicked through a magazine.

"Hey," I admonished quietly, poking her rib. "Don’t be mean."

"Ugh!" Claire growled as she stomped out of the room with Gibsie hot on her heels.

"That boy is an idiot," Lizzie muttered, not looking up from her page. "Our friend is in love with a class-A idiot."

"He's not that bad," I replied and then quickly backpedaled. "Hold on – you think Claire's in love with Gibsie?"

Now Lizzie looked at me.

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked. "What girl in her right mind puts up with years of flirting and tormenting if she doesn’t have serious feelings for him?"

"Gerard!" Claire screamed at the top of her lungs, distracting us both. "Your cat is shitting in my bathtub!"

"I know," Gibsie groaned loudly. "It smells so bad, and he won't stop."

"I have to see this," I snickered, scrambling off the bed. "Are you coming?"

Lizzie shook her head. "Nope. I've seen more than enough of their antics to last me a lifetime, thank you very much."

Shaking my head, I hurried out of the bedroom and across the landing, reaching the bathroom doorway to see a huge, and I mean seriously huge, snow white Persian cat balancing on the edge of the Biggs family bathtub.

Standing in the doorway, I watched their strange interaction with my hand clasped over my mouth, partially because of the smell, but mostly because it was so fu

"Brian!" Gibsie was roaring. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He turned on the water and grabbed the shower head. "God, that's the worst fucking thing I've ever smelled in my life."

"Yeah, I know, Gerard," Claire hissed, covering her nose and mouth with her hand while using the other to pour bleach into the tub. "I can smell it too, you know."

"He did this on purpose," he told her, tone accusing. "Because I put him out of my room last night. He's punishing me."

"He's glaring at you," she told him.

"I know." Gibsie shuddered. "Just pick him up and put him in the utility room."

"He's glaring at me now," Claire squeaked, scrambling away from the cat.

"He's trying to intimidate you, babe," Gibsie coaxed. "Don’t look him in the eyes."

"Christ, he's scarier than Mr. Mulcahy," Claire groaned, shrinking behind Gibsie's huge frame.

"Just come up from behind him and scoop him up," he instructed as he held the shower hose in front of them like a weapon. "Keep his paws away from you –hold him away from your body and run."

"I am not picking him up, Gerard," Claire hissed, eyes wide. "He looks like he's two seconds away from murdering me."

"I'll protect you," he vowed valiantly.

"You're afraid of him!"

"Fine, hold this," he grumbled, passing my friend the hose. "I'll put the fucker out."

"Do you think we should hose him down?" Claire asked. "He's got poo all over his fur."

"Fuck no," Gibsie exclaimed. "Last time I tried to clean his ass, he maimed me."

I laughed out loud.

"It's not fucking fu

"I'm sorry," I snickered, clamping a hand over my mouth. "I'm not laughing at you, I promise," I chuckled. "More at the situation." Studying the furry feline, I added, "He looks like the cat from Inspector Gadget."

"Yeah, well he's certainly evil enough," Gibsie replied. "Some nights I wake up and he's on my bed, standing over me with those evil little eyes." He shook his head. "They should have never neutered him. He's been in a homicidal mood ever since. Would have been an easier life to let the poor bastard keep his balls."

"Go on, Gerard," Claire coaxed, shoving Gibsie towards the tub. "You can do this. I have every faith in you."

"Ah fuck, okay! Okay!" With his arms stretched out, Gibsie prowled towards the cat. "Here kitty kitty," he coaxed, reaching over the tub to pick him out. "Good pussy… that's right… I love pussies…I do... I won't hurt you– ahhhhh!"

Brian snarled and wacked a paw at Gibsie, who, in turn, screamed like a girl and dove behind Claire.

"Bad fucking pussy," he choked out, dragging Claire away from the flailing cat who was hissing and spitting at them both. "Did he get me?" he demanded, thrusting his hand in her face. "I feel like he got me."

"I don’t know," Claire screeched, pushing them both into the corner of the bathroom. "But I really hate your cat," she squeezed out, huddling under his arm.

"Let me help," I offered, stepping into the danger zone.

Smothering my laughter, I swiped a towel off the hand rail and approached with caution.

"Don’t do it, Sha

"That's not true," I coaxed, crouching down in front of the bathtub, eyes locked on the stu

Surprisingly, he let me stroke him without fuss.

"Meow," he croaked out, hackles retracting.

"It's okay," I soothed, stroking him in a gentle pattern. "You're okay."

"Jesus Christ," Gibsie breathed. "Your girl here is like the pussy whisperer."

"Sha

"Yeah, Sha

"Shh, guys, don’t shout," I warned when Brian's hackles shot back up. "You two are making him nervous," I explained. "He can sense your anxiety and it's making him lash out."

I sat there for several more minutes just stroking and petting his face and ears until reaching over and scooping him up.

"Good boy," I cooed lovingly, holding him to my chest.

Thankfully, I was rewarded with a deep purring noise.

Flicking my gaze to Gibsie, I asked, "How far is your house?"

"Directly across the street," Gibsie replied.

"Okay." I continued to stroke Brian. "Do you want me to carry him over to your house for you?"

He nodded gratefully.

I inclined my head toward the door and said, "Lead the way."

Gibsie scuffled out nervously, keeping a wide berth of me.

Careful not to upset the cat in my arms, I followed him out of the Biggs' fancy house and across the street to another impressive looking three-story property.

"You're a lifesaver, Little Sha

"You're welcome," I replied, feeling shy now that my mission was complete and I was alone with a virtual stranger. "It was no big deal."

"It was for me," Gibsie chuckled as he locked the front door and slipped his key back into his jeans pocket. "I'm heading out tonight for birthday drinks and you just saved my ass from showing up covered in scratches."