A scampering of tiny paws, and a grey ball of fluff launched itself at the cluster of feathers waving so temptingly, the cluster whisked out of reach at the very last second, the kitten stopped, face turned up to wherever the feathers went, little blue eyes blinking rapidly. A giant hand swopped down and picked up the little fluffy body. The kitten settled into Tim's hand and started purring.
Rachel grinned. "She's adorable." Reached out and gently stroked the top of the tiny head. "I thought you bought a black kitten?"
Raylan shifted on his seat, and hitched his daughter a little higher on his chest. "Erm…" he cleared his throat, deliberately avoiding Winona's eyes.
Winona grinned and joined Rachel in petting Tim's new pet. "That would be because there is a black kitten, but he got attached."
Raylan's eyes were fixed on Franny, but Rachel could see the colour climbing in his cheeks. He pulled his hat down a little lower, and hitched Franny until he could practically hide behind her.
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It was late when he got in, he'd dropped Winona and his baby girl off first, stayed for final feeding, and a night cap, and then headed back. Early start.
She was waiting as he knew she would be, "there have to be some rules here." He scooped her off the pillow, and sat down, toeing out of his boots. He gently flipped her over in his hands, her front paws wrapped around his hand again, and he winced as her tiny claws sank into his flesh, "that's gonna be one of them. Fewer claws in the gun hand please" she was giving him that bright-eyed look again. "Y'kinda wanna bite again, don'cha?" he felt the graze of her tiny teeth again, as the little eyes watched him, and she gnawed at the edge of his thumbnail.
He put her down on the pillow again "y'have a perfectly good pillow over there." He pointed. She was as bright as a button, her little head tilted as she watched him.
He sighed, and stripped down to take a shower. In and out, roughly toweling off the water, rubbing up his hair, dragged out a pair of sleep pants, and a wife beater.
She had made herself at home in the gap between the pillows, he could see the little black poker that was her tail, showing above the gap, one little green eye staring at him, just waiting. He pulled his clothes on, took one last rub at his hair, pulled the covers back and slipped into bed.
She waited, he could see her poised, ready, waiting. The leap was gong to come, and she was flying through the air again. Paws stretched out wide, as she went for his gun hand, grabbed, over-balanced and plopped down landing next to his chest, squirming over and snuggling up against the underside of his chin. She was purring, nipping at his jaw, and cuddling up against him.
"Rules." He sighed, as she snuggled and purred, and he could feel the softness of her jet black coat, and the affectionate nips she bestowed on his jaw, and the miniature hooks which pricked the skin of his hand.
Some rules, huh!