My alarm clock was going off somewhere. I tried to sit up, but didn't quite feel up to it. I couldn't remember setting the alarm.
There were the sounds of struggle and I looked over to see Shadow beating on the poor clock, trying to find a snooze button. "It's the button on the…" She yanked the clock from the wall and tossed it across the room. "…left."
Shadow wrapped her arms back around my body. "It was bothering me," she said in a very sleepy voice.
I was learning a lot about the occult from Shadow. I had never researched werewolves, but I was pretty certain that even mystic scholars did not realize their love of Popsicles and their natural hatred for alarm clocks. Werewolves love to sleep in.
"I should make us some breakfast," I said with a big yawn.
Shadow tightened her grip. "The cupboard's bare, old mother Hubert," she said with a giggle.
"Coffee, then."
"Nope."
"I should get up anyway."
"Nope."
She was not letting go. I couldn't tell if she was being stubborn or playful, but it was kind of nice.
"Well, if we're just going to lay here, I should at least tuck the sheets back in."
Shadow glanced around for a second at the covers that had peeled up from the mattress. "Nope."
It felt really good being held and I didn't want it to ever end. The bed was warm and Shadow's skin was soft. I felt like I could stay there forever. "Well, since it doesn't look like I'm getting out of bed this morning…" I whispered, "I guess I could make love to you again."
Shadow growled happily and began to lick the back of my neck. "Yup."
# # #
Someone was knocking at the door again. I tried to hit the snooze button, but the clock wasn't there anymore. "Whu?" I moaned.
"Alex, are you in there?" a voice called.
I crawled out of bed and glanced back at Shadow. She was still asleep.
I tossed on a bathrobe and answered the door. Rich was there, wearing a cap and a baseball glove. "Whu?" I repeated.
"Alex, man, what's with you?"
"Huh?"
"We were going to the park today, remember?"
"We were?"
"Today's Sunday, right?"
"It is?"
That sounded vaguely familiar, but so much had happened this weekend that I couldn't be sure. "I overslept," I mumbled and stumbled back to the bedroom. "I stayed up too late."
"Figures," Rich said and walked in behind me, flopping down on the couch. "It's almost noon! Hurry up, man."
"I have to shower," I said as I closed the door to my bedroom.
"Make it a quick one!" he yelled.
"Shadow! Shadow! Wake up," I hissed.
She put her arms around my neck without ever opening her eyes. "Mmm. I'm glad you're back."
I pulled away from her and gave her a little shake. She didn't look seventeen. Rich was going to think I was a child molester! Hell, perhaps I was. "I promised Rich I would go play catch in the park. You have to hide in here or he'll get suspicious."
"I wanna' go to the park too," she whined.
"No, that would be really, really bad."
She shook her head. "No. You're my ward. I can't let you out of my sight," she said with a yawn. She opened her eyes and seemed more awake now.
"Oh geez. Oh God," was all I could manage. "You have to stay here."
"Nope."
«Are all werewolves this stubborn?»
Shadow slipped quickly out from under the covers and opened the door that lead back to the living room. "I'll go play catch with you."
I stared at her naked body and it felt like my heart would crawl up my throat. She closed the door behind her and I sat down on the bed, eyes wrenched shut. "No…"
"Hey, Alex!" I heard Rich yell. "When did you get a dog, man?"
