"I hate snow," I grumble as more of the fluffy stuff falls from the sky. It seems like that's all that's been happening this last week. Snow, snow, and more snow.

"It's not so bad." Alfred looks up from his book to watch me stare out the window. I was kind of surprised to see him reading when I walked into the living room this morning. "You can make snowheroes and stuff."

"I think we've all seen that I'm not too good at making snow anything."

He laughs thinking about what happened when he arrived last week, but I just frown. I can't even walk in a straight line in the snow, let alone build something out of it. In the back of my mind, I thought of the time I had spent in warmer places. California had been nice, and I've never been to Florida but I expect it's similar. One of the pros of being a cat girl is that I did a lot of traveling. On the other hand, it was usually because I had nowhere to live.

I sigh and push those thoughts away. It's selfish of me to want to wander off to Cali when Matthew's been so kind to me. A little bit of snow is the least I can put up with in exchange for time spent with him. But it's not a little bit of snow. Why did he have to live in Canada of all places?

"I wonder when he'll be back," I say absentmindedly. Matthew had left earlier to run some errands or something and had left the two of us by ourselves.

Alfred doesn't answer. Sometimes I wish it's Alfred running the errands and not Matthew. That way the two of us could be alone without his helplessly nosy brother getting in the way. I don't think Alfred is trying to be annoying, but it happens anyway. He tends to appear when Matthew and I just get started having a moment together. I try not to blush at the thought. It's not like we were doing anything wrong or dirty, so I shouldn't feel embarrassed. Or that's what I keep telling myself.

I'm so lost in thought that I didn't notice Matthew approaching the house until the front door starts to open. I jump from my seat by the window and hurry to meet him.

"You're back!" I exclaim excitedly. I catch him in a big hug without thinking and sprig back when I get covered in snow. "Ah! Cold! Yuck!"

"I was going to warn you," he said apologetically, "but you were too fast."

"Well, now you have to make it up to me." I brush off as much snow as I can. "I've been so bored since you left, and now you've covered me in snow, you meanie."

Matthew hangs his coat on a peg and fixes his glasses on his nose since I knocked them crooked when I jumped him. "How do you want me to make it up?"

"Make me warm."

He smiles and opens his arms. I accept the invitation and leap into his arms, my legs locking around his waist. His soft sweater tickles my cheek and hides just how well toned he really is. He may not seem like it, but Matthew has muscle under the somewhat baggy clothes he wears. I giggle softly while thinking about this as he carries me toward the fireplace. We both freeze when we hear a soft snore. Neither of us remembered that Alfred is still here.

"He's asleep," Matthew tells me since my back is facing the front room and I can't exactly see.

"He was reading earlier."

Matthew's blue eyes go wide. "Really? Alfred?"

"I thought it was strange too." I crane my neck around to get a better look at Alfred. "Wait a minute." With the help of my cat abilities, I quietly jump down and sneak toward the sleeping brother to pull something out from beneath his book. "Go figure." I hold up a comic book for Matthew to see.

He laughs while I roll my eyes. "Maybe we should let him sleep. There's no telling when he'll be this quiet again." I take his hand and pull him toward the kitchen. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," I say with a wink.

On quick feet, I lead him around the house and stop occasionally to give him little kisses. It's like a little game. We eventually end up in his bedroom where we both sit on his bed. I'm not trying to suggest anything. His room is just quiet and out of the way, that's all. We haven't had a moment to ourselves all week, and now that we do, I don't know what to say.

"Matthew, I-"

I'm cut off by his warm lips on mine. I wasn't expecting this, but I probably should have. He's so warm and inviting that I lean into the kiss, begging for more.

"I'm sorry, (y/n). I couldn't help myself," he says slightly out of breath.

My voice comes out as almost a squeak. "I don't mind."

"I've missed having you to myself."

"I know what you mean," I tell him with a laugh.

His hand gently brushes through my hair sending a shiver down my spine. "Are you still cold?"

"No," I sigh happily. "I'm never cold around you."

I let my finger trace lazy circles on his thigh, and I slowly move my hand up to his waist. Then his stomach. Then his chest. Finally, his neck and face. Matthew's hand has meanwhile curled into a fist and clutches my hair. He practically pushes me into another kiss, but I don't try to resist. His smell overwhelms me as his lips coax mine to part slightly. I slide my hand up into his hair while he gives my bottom lip a teasing nibble. We break long enough to breath and change positions. I now straddle his waist, and both of his arms are around me.

"You're jumpy today," he murmurs against my neck. His breathy voice makes me tighten my hold on his waist.

"I guess that's part of being a cat girl." Just out of curiosity, I give his ear a tiny lick, and his breath catches in his throat.

"Is being completely irresistible also part of being a cat girl?"

"Maybe."

I place little kisses from his ear to his chin along his jaw line. One of his hands slides up the back of my shirt pulling it up enough to reveal a thin strip of pale skin along my stomach. I frown slightly as I wonder if he's going to try tickling me again, but the thought quickly disappears as he goes for my lips. We move in sync together like a hand and it's shadow, each movement perfectly mirrored. I gasp when turns and lowers me onto my back, which is followed by a strange sense of being trapped. Usually, I would hate such a feeling, but somewhere in my mind I know it's Matthew and I don't panic. I almost like it.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps sends my heart racing ten times faster than it was before. In a moment if terror, I find myself gripping the bed with my claws as the fur on my neck stands on end. I don't even remember transforming. By the time Alfred peeks his head through the door, Matthew has me cradled in his arms and is doing his best to calm me down.

"Oh, hey bro," Alfred says as he sleepily rubs his eyes. "When'd you get back."

"J-just a few minutes ago." Matthew's just as nervous as me, but at least he pulled himself together enough to be believable. I'm just laying here like a rag doll trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

"Cool. Nice cat. Wait, that's (y/n) isn't it? I keep forgetting about that. Hey, (y/n)."

I give him a small meow, which I hope doesn't sound too shaky. I'm still trying to get my feline heart to stop pounding a hundred miles a minute.

Alfred shoots me a strange look. "I thought you could talk, or maybe that was a dream. Is this a dream? I don't know..."

"Um, maybe you should go to bed and catch up on your sleep," Matthew suggests. I should have known. Alfred stays up late into the evening playing video games. Yup, he came all this way to play more video games. Typical.

He doesn't respond this time and just mumbles something under his breath as he turns toward his room. I let out a small breath and flick my ears a couple times to diffuse the tension.

"I thought he'd catch us for sure," I murmur.

"Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?"

Matthew's sad eyes fill me with guilt. "No! Not at all! It's just...I don't want him to see us...like that. It's awkward."

He nods. "Yeah, I understand."

"Sometimes I think he walks in on us on purpose." The two of us laugh at the thought, but something he said earlier still bothers me. "I'd never be embarrassed to be seen with you. You know that, right?"

His smile fades a little, but his eyes become soft. "Yes. I shouldn't have doubted. Will you forgive me?"

"Maybe." I carefully shift back into a human and bat my eyes. "But kiss me first."

He happily obliges and touches his lips gently to mine. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Forever."

"Forever."