Hearts joined in gentle excitement,
secrets crown her and gift her a cat,
and she half laughs when he teases her.
He adores the adorable way her tongue peeks out from her lips as she concentrates,
and the way her pink pajamas leave her looking so effortlessly beautiful,
and loves the way that her hair falls down to her shoulders out of her twin ponytails.
All he wants anymore
is to be her knight,
to hold her closer,
let claws become a sword to guard her
and loving paws to hold on to her.
He wonders if it's so wrong to lean in for a kiss,
to wonder if her lips taste like the sweets that her family make,
and wonder if they are as soft as the dreams that he'll lie about having
to anyone except may be her if she'd just ask him about it.
She bats him away,
but while his pride plummets,
he falls for her harder,
because she was never afraid,
not around this side of him and most people,
to let her decisions stand firm.
He wonders if just a mere alleycat
could become a knight
or even a beloved king
by her side
without posters and false smiles to hide behind,
without the steady ache of a dull, lonely house
that's too big for just a mere knight or small cat.
He wonders if she knows how she fills his heart up,
desire and love on a string
yet never easily snapped off
or ripped.
He smiles when he hears her laugh,
smiles when the sound erupts a contented laugh turned purr,
wonders if she notices if her self proclaimed knight
feels tears build up in bright, green eyes
out of the wonder of how this woman is too much for him,
too precious to ever be his.
He wonders why she admires his other self so much,
wonders why she seems content to dream about what might not just be a fantasy anymore,
and definitely wonders if she could ever let a cat into her heart
and the worst parts of who he is.
He smiles,
feeling her fingers loop through his paws,
and wondering if there is a better feeling in the world
than her leaning in and giving his cheek a gentle kiss,
so hesitant yet so brave.