Hi everyone! New chapter time!

Who has won the game?

Author's note: How about that Steele chapter? He came about because I was a bit stuck this one, which I will elaborate on more in the next chapters. I was thinking: Why is Feral called a glory hound in some of his descriptions? Shouldn't that title go to Steele? And everything flowed from there.

What do you think Steele's true motives are?

Thanks to ulyferal for getting this back to me quickly.

Thanks for all the reviews! Enjoy!

AkaneKitty

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The Blind Date:

Figure It Out

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Callie sighed in defeat.

Perched on the pool table she slowly sipped on what she was making her last bottle of beer of the night. She didn't know how the tom did it, but Feral managed to come from behind and beat her two games straight…by using defensive maneuvers. When he didn't have a clear shot, he would block hers turning her pool shark game into a slow strategic game. It frustrated the hell out her and caused her to make simple mistakes. Feral capitalized on this.

Callie stole a glance at Feral, who was busy gathering the pool balls. She really shouldn't be surprised. Feral was the Commander and he probably came up with more complex strategies in his sleep. But it still didn't take the sting of defeat away. Now she would have to play that highly unorthodox game with someday.

As if he felt her glance Feral gave her a bemused glance of his own before resuming gathering the balls. "The bitter taste of defeat?"

Callie shot him a withering look. "…Let me drown my sorrows in peace."

"You sure? Because it looks like you're want to do something else."

"I want to do some unspeakable things to you," Callie glared at him, "but I'm not sure I could get away with it without being thrown in jail."

"Don't be so sure." Feral slightly smirked. "I just might end up liking it."

Callie tittered, feeling her irritation dissipate a little. Who would have guessed she would actually be flirting with the Commander?

His flirts tended to make her blush, but now she was welcoming them, and even challenging them on occasion. Especially now that it seemed to expose a hidden trigger point. Who knew just scratching his ears would be a turn on for him? That nugget of info would have to be filled away for future use.

"So…" Callie said after taking a long pull from her beer. She needed the liquid courage as her next question going to make her blush. "…when do we play this game of yours?"

"When we absolutely have nothing to do, are completely bored, and have no important business the next day."

"So after next week's budget meeting?"

Feral laughed. It was nice and deep, matching his voice. It surprised Callie as this was the very first time she'd heard it. She wasn't sure if it the alcohol talking but Callie found herself genuinely happy that she caused it.

His laugh was over as soon as it began, and Feral glanced back at Callie. "What?"

"That was the first time I heard you laugh. I liked it. It was…" Callie searched for the right words, "interesting."

"Really?"

"Mmm, hmm. Now I wonder how your purr sounds like."

Callie could have been imagining it, but she though she saw Feral reddened slightly despite his dark fur. "No you don't."

"Of course I would! I bet it's cute." Callie teased.

Feral smiled a little. "It might…if you can get it out of me, that is."

He moved away, heading for the coat rack, and Callie drank some more of her beer. Was that a challenge, she wondered? She could make it one. Might make things more interesting…

Pondering it Callie idly watched Feral slip on his suit jacket, taking notice of his holster. "Does your holster bother you at all?"

"Hmm? No, not really." Feral replied, straightening his jacket collar. "I've been an officer for years, so I'm used to it."

"I see."

"But there are times where it doesn't make my life any easier."

"Oh?"

"It takes away any chance of me being..." Feral paused, looking like he was debating something within himself, "...spontaneous."

Now Callie was curious. "Spontaneous? In what way?"

Feral chuckled slightly. "Sometimes the prospect off taking off all this rigging for a lovely she-kat and then putting it all back on can throw cold water on the whole moment."

Callie smiled to herself. "So nothing in the heat of the moment?"

"It just complicates the situation. But you should be in the break rooms at Enforcer HQ on a Friday sometimes." Feral smiled to himself. "Lots of gripping about equipment getting in the way.".

"Really?"

"One of the hidden banes of law enforcement, Calico." Feral tugged on his jacket's sleeves as he walked back toward Callie. "Welcome to my world."

"Sounds like a she-kat worth her salt would know how to manage that little problem." Callie teased.

"True." Feral leaned against the pool table near Callie was perched. "You offering?"

Callie could feel herself up heating up but refused to be intimidated. "I believe that was a proposition, Commander."

"Maybe It was. Especially since it seems like you're ...," Feral waited a beat as Callie raised her bottle to her lips, "... sexually frustrated."

Startled Callie fought the urge to spit out the last remnants of her beer by hastily swallowing it instead. "What!"

"…Did you know that you're so cute when you're angry?"

"You tomkat! If you weren't the Commander I'd…"

"I was only kidding." Feral shrugged slightly before smirking at her again. "But maybe there's some truth in your outburst."

Callie's cheeks burned. There was no way she was going to let Feral get away with that statement. Setting her bottle aside, she leaned toward him. "Oh really? That's a fine statement from a tom who gets turned on whenever he gets his ears scratched!"

Feral flinched slightly, giving Callie a small bit of satisfaction that she hit a nerve. "I wouldn't say..."

"Don't try to deny it. You enjoyed it way too much."

After a moment of recovery Feral gave her a searching look. "So what turns you on?"

Callie blinked at the bold question. "Being rather direct aren't we?"

"Sometimes it's the best way to get an answer."

"Is it?" Without realizing what she was doing, Callie reached up and gently traced Feral's ear with her claw and whispered, "You're the Commander. I'm sure you can figure it out."

Time seemed to stand still at that very moment. Feral's brief confused look quickly shifted to one where he would completely devour her. Callie found herself thinking she wouldn't mind at all.

A bell suddenly rang out throughout the pub, and Bailey bellowed at the bar for last call for lushes and to settle up tabs. Their intense moment broken Callie was lowering her paw when Feral suddenly grasped it, pulling her in closer to him.

"If that was a challenge Calico," Feral's voice was low and deep as he leveled his intense gaze with hers, "then I think I'm going to enjoy accepting it."

Letting her paw go, and with a smile which didn't make Callie feel concerned for herself for once, Feral turned and joined the crowd surging toward bar for last minute drinks or to pay their tab. Now feeling completely flushed, Callie quickly hopped down from the pool table and headed toward their booth in order to gather her clutch.

She had a nice long cold shower to look forward to.