Chapter Nineteen
"DAMN IT!" Xena yelled. "COLE, GET ME OUT OF HERE AND TO GABRIELLE!"
Cole shimmered in, grabbing Xena. Sniffing the air, he carried her straight to Gabrielle who stood on top of the ship's railing, her back to them. The sun glinted on something silver, and they realized that she had her sai pressed to her bosom.
"Gabrielle?" Xena called in a quiet voice. "What are you doing? You want to kill both of us? If you do that, you kill both of us. Maybe I don't deserve to live, but you do. You're the best part of both of us. I love you! Please don't do this!" She wanted to rush forward and grab Gabrielle but knew that Gabrielle would be quicker than she.
"Xena," Gabrielle's voice trembled, "stop lying. There's no more point in it. I know what you did. I know who you chose. I just don't know why you bothered to lie about it. Why toy with me? Why lie to me? Why make me think you loved me when it was him all along?"
Xena's voice came steady and true. "I've never loved any one like I love you, Gabrielle! That's why I lied -- to protect you! I didn't want you endangered. If you were killed in battle, it would have killed me too. I would die a thousand deaths if it would spare you one instant of pain! That's why I lied! That's why Wolverine became my second-in-command, because after the Captain, they go for the second! If I had known for one minute you would have hated me for it and would have misconstrued and thought I wanted Wolverine . . ." she said, her voice turning to one of disgust as she spat his name. "For Gods' sakes, baby, I never wanted any one but you! But I wanted you to be safe! Can't you please forgive me?" She was down on her knees, oblivious to any one and anything except Gabrielle.
Cole wondered for a minute if he could shimmer and stop Gabrielle in time. It hurt him just to be close to these two. Their pain was so intense yet their love was even greater. "Gabrielle?" Xena called to her, waiting for her to forgive her or condemn her for all eternity. Cole closed his eyes; he knew he could not interfere. He shimmered away from them.
Slowly, Gabrielle turned to face Xena, hoping and praying to see the same truth in her face that she heard in her voice, but as she turned on the railing that they had both walked on countless times before, her booted feet suddenly slipped. She threw the sai to one side even as she fell forward, bracing herself to hit the deck only to collide with a softer body.
In one breath-taking move, Xena had flown from her knees to catch Gabrielle in mid-air. She slid her slowly down her body even as her lips sought hers, her heart beating a hundred miles a minute. It had scared the heck out of her, but she had seen Gabrielle throw the sai away. Did that mean she was forgiven? She prayed that it was so even as Gabrielle returned her heated kisses.
Cole shimmered directly in the path in front of Piper Halliwell. He surprised her so much that she dropped the load of dishes that she was carrying, and he barely caught them. "Sorry about that, Miss Piper. Can I carry these for you somewhere?"
Piper's bosom heaved as she tried to calm herself. "Cole!" she exclaimed. "How -- !" She shook her head in amazement.
"I'm a Demon, and that's how I get around. I had to get away from Xena and Gabrielle. They were having a very strong exchange and needed to be alone. I mean you no harm."
"Well, I know that," Piper assured him with a smile, "but you're a Demon?"
"Well, half any way. I didn't mean to scare you." He smiled at her, thinking she was more beautiful every time he saw her.
Her smile grew with his explanation and smile. "That explains it; you're too handsome to be a full-blooded Demon." She blushed a deep red as she realized the words that had slipped out of her mouth. "I mean -- well, hum -- I know that sounds prejudiced, but I never met any Demons before today and I thought they were all kind of like Lorne. Not that he's ugly, because he's not. Just . . . just different . . . "
He could not believe she thought him handsome! His smile grew even brighter as his heart sang out, She likes ya, boy! Move on it, but his mind refused to move any faster for fear of the knowledge that he could scare her to the point that she would never want to see him again. "Huh, Miss Piper, the dishes?" he asked, glad that he had something that he could talk about.
"The dishes?" she asked in confusion. "What about them?"
"Where can I put them?"
"Oh. In the kitchen, of course. Do you guys even call it a kitchen?" she asked, that thought having just occurred to her.
"It's called a galley, ma'am." He headed straight for it with the dishes and set them down on the table. "Are you finding everything okay? Do you need help of any kind?" He was having trouble coming up with a mundane topic, because all his mind wanted and kept telling him was, Kiss her, you fool, before somebody else does! He desperately wanted to but was afraid of her reaction.
"If it's not too much trouble," she asked hesitantly, "I could use some help getting the supplies moved in here and set up. Lorne was going to help, but I understand there was some kind of problem with a wolf not liking his pants or something . . . "
Cole laughed, and Piper's heart warmed at the deep, throaty sound. "You could say that. He should be over in a minute, but I'll help you until he comes. He had to change his clothes. He's all right now, but I wouldn't ask him about it." He walked back out, picked up another load, and brought it in. "Where do you want this put?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Where do you think the ship's chef would want them?"
"Oh, you're the ship's chef now, ma'am. We really didn't have one, just somebody filling in. Captain Jack's been off his diet for a while, and I don't think Captain Xena's eaten much either. Can't blame either of them. Autolycus and Joxer are awful cooks. I don't know where they're at or why they aren't here yet. I had brought them in a little while ago. They've had time to get here to help. They're supposed to be your kitchen helpers."
She looked at him curiously. "Did one of the Captains tell you that? I haven't had a chance to ask, what with everything else that's been going on."
"I'm third-in-command over here. They don't care who's in charge of the cooking as long as something get's cooked that's edible. I haven't had a real chance to talk to either of them yet, but I know they'll both clear it. We've been without good food for so long that it's ridiculous, and it's not because Captain Jack doesn't buy the best supplies either. He does. It's just what those two goonies do with the food. It should be a crime!"
He then began to show her around the galley and introduce her to the equipment she'd be using. "This is the oven, but I don't know how to use it. I can light it for you if you want. This is our cooler, but it doesn't really keep things cool." He opened the door to reveal a small, dark chamber. "It'd work better if we had some ice, but it melts about as fast as we get some, so we don't get much of milk and eggs," he said longingly. Cole simply adored good food, and he hadn't had any in a long time. "We can put any kind of food you want in these cabinets," he said as he opened the doors. "Just make it the way you want it to be."
Piper was grinning from ear to ear. She loved her mother and grandmother but had always wanted her own kitchen. Now, it seemed that one had practically been dropped into her lap! "Well, it sounds to me like you are all in desperate need of a good meal."
"That we are, ma'am; that we are. Can't remember when the last time was that we had one. Maybe when we were at Derek & Hansel's. They both cook good. They're in Tortuga."
Piper smiled at him even as she reassured him, "Well, you won't have to wait for Tortuga to get good food any longer. Just as soon as we can get things set up, I'll get to work, and I promise you a good meal."
They heard voices and looked up only to see Lorne finally arriving. "Sorry, Miss Piper, but I had to hunt for a pair of pants. I don't have much clothes. Somebody had my pants, and a wolf ruined the pair I had on." He was eagerly anticipating learning to cook.
"If you still have the cloth or something else I can use to patch them, I could fix them for you," she offered, not daring to ask about the wolf. Who would have such a beast, any way?
"Why, thank you, ma'am. I'll bring them the next time I come, and the wolf gave me back the cloth."
Piper's mouth fell open at that. "The wolf gave you back the cloth?" she repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, ma'am. She's a very smart wolf, and she was only protecting her mistress. She didn't mean me any harm personally, but she sure took a bite out of my butt! Then her mistress even healed it!"
Piper looked at Lorne as if he had two heads. A wolf being apologetic for biting a Demon, even a kind and gentle one like Lorne, and then her mistress healing said bite was just too much for her to take in. Piper nodded slowly, reminding herself to shut her mouth so that the men would not think she was a complete idiot, but did not know what to say.
Cole looked at Lorne. "Give me a hand out here with the supplies, and it won't take us long."
"Sure," Lorne said. Between the two of them, it didn't take long.
Once the supplies were put away, Cole lit the oven, showing Lorne and Piper how it was done. "You put the firewood down here," he said to both of them as he opened the lower door, "and the firewood's just outside the door. It'll take a while to heat up, so you'll have plenty of time to prepare. I've got to go hunt for Jack; I've got to tell him something." He was going to tell him all about Xena and Gabrielle making up; he knew he'd want to know. "If you need me, call me," he said and shimmered out.
Piper stared at the place where Cole had just stood. "Do you ever get used to that?" she asked Lorne.
"Not really. That's not one of the powers I have," Lorne said. "In fact, I don't really have any powers as such. I'm an empath. I listen to people sing, and I can see their future sometimes. Not really powerful powers, unfortunately." He smiled at her. "I'm sure looking forward to this; I always wanted to learn to cook!"
"Then it's time we got started," Piper told him with a grin. "I suggest a simple recipe first, something we can make as a sort of appetizer for the crews until we can get the whole meal done."
He rolled up his sleeves and looked at her eagerly, waiting to be told what was to be done.
Wolf and Elvira had finally reached her house only to see that it was on fire. Wolf's hackles began to rise. "Don't tell me we've gotta go in there!" he said in a high-pitched voice. "Wolves and fires just don't mix!"
She knew he was terrified, and her heart felt for him. However, she also knew that she didn't have much of a choice. Turning away from her house and to him, she told him, "I have to go in there, but I won't ask you to."
"You know I'm not letting you go in there by yourself! Just make it quick! Don't slow down anywhere! I can almost feel the fire smoking my bones!" His voice came out nearly in a howl.
She placed a gentle hand on the side of his face and reassuringly stroked his cheek. "I understand," she told him, "and honestly, Wolf, you don't have to come. But I have to at least get that Book. That damn thing won't burn. Believe me. I know, because I've tried to burn it in the past."
"I'm coming, dear heart. I'd never allow you to go in there by yourself." He nuzzled her. "Whither you go, I go."
Delicious chills shot through her, and she leaned into his nuzzling. "We could just wait for it to burn down and stay out here," she said, barely able to think for the emotions he inflicted in her. Her black fingernails gently kneaded his chest even as she added, "But then if something happens to my dress, I'll have to run around naked until I can get some more from Delvira."
He looked carefully at the house. "I think if we go in this part and run, we can beat the fire. I don't want you running around naked for others to see, only me," he nipped her on the neck, bringing a squeal of pleasure from her black lips.
"Wolf," she purred to him, "if we keep this up, we're never going to make it in there."
"Go, and I will follow you," he said, releasing her.
Elvira nodded, but although he released her, she still had to force her body to pull away from his for every part of her screamed desperately to be one with every part of him. She yanked at the hem of her skirt, and it pulled away to reveal a bodysuit. Folding the cloth in her hands to beat against the fire should they need to, she ran into the house.
The minute she had slipped out of her skirts, revealing her long, lithe legs, Wolf had howled. She burned him worse than the flames were threatening to! He had to have her soon! His tail was jerking and would not stay in his pants. "Soon," he promised. "Soon." He dived into the burning house behind her.
Elvira's long, pale legs streaked out in front of her as she ran for her bedroom. Once there, she grabbed the Book from her dresser before running over to her closet. She threw the door open to reveal a row of dresses exactly like the one she had on. She snatched a few of them and grabbed her cape before turning back. She frowned. "I'm missing something."
"Yeah, me," Wolf said with a snarl as he moved up to her, wanting those long legs wrapped around him. It was driving him almost mad with desire. "I . . . want . . . " He was breathing heavily. " . . . you!" he concluded as his lips fell upon hers.
As his lips touched hers at long last, she found that she could withstand the burning inferno he had built inside of her no longer. Her Book and clothes fell to the floor as her hands grabbed him, fondling every part of him that they could reach. As she deepened their kiss, her tongue quarreling with his, her arms wrapped around his body, bringing him even closer. Her hands dropped in search of his rear but instead found his tail; without hesitation, she stroked it with the fur.
He howled even as her hands stroked him. "I'm going to die if I don't have you soon!" he roared. "The big, bad wolf has got to eat, and the little wolf is hungry too!"
"Then eat me now!" She tore her lips from his to sink her fangs into his neck.
Wolf almost came on the spot before his mind cleared at the snapping, crackling fire that was getting ever closer to them. Holding her close, he whispered, "We've gotta get out of here. The fire's getting closer." He reluctantly let her go.
Though he released her, she did not release him. "Do we have to?" she mumbled from around his neck even as she slid one leg up and cradled the bulge in his pants.
The back part of the house fell in at that moment. "Soon, my darling!" he promised. "We have to get out of here!" He scooped up the Book, the dresses, and the cape from the floor only to realize, as he stood back up, that she wasn't there. "ELVIRA!" he screamed. The smoke-filled room kept him from seeing her.
"I'm just grabbing my tassels!"
"Tassels?" he asked even as she rejoined him, dangling something in her hand.
"Yeah," she grinned up at him. "They're something you can play with later."
"Promises, promises, baby, but I want to play with you the most." He didn't even know what tassels were.
"You can play with them while they're on me," she purred lustfully to him.
Holding the Book and clothes in one hand, he grabbed her with the other one and almost flew out of the house just as it finally crumbled to the ground, burning. He found an alley just behind the house, and he released her long enough to drop the stuff to the ground. He moved in to nuzzle her neck. His heat rose in his loins, and he felt his member stiffen even more. He had to have her and soon!
"Wolf," she gasped out between the nibbles and licks she rained over his neck and the sighs that he brought forth from his nuzzling on her own, "do we have to go to the ship now?"
"No," he said even as he grasped at her clothes, trying to strip her naked. When the clothes finally fell away to reveal her glistening body, his mouth moved immediately to her breast where he nibbled and sucked her. His hands roamed over her body, finding her secret place and touching her there.
She arched in his hand, and her gasp of thrilled delight echoed in the alley. Her hands moved to his chest, and her fingers tore blindly at his shirt, her nails bursting his buttons as she fought to get the annoying cloth off of him. He stepped away from her a moment, pulling his clothes off swiftly and revealing himself in all of his full glory. He was afraid Little Wolf would scare her as it stood swiftly and boldly, welcoming her and quivering for her attention. He knew he was bigger than normal males; most wolves were. He would be gentle if she needed gentle, but his body was crying out for wild. He started to move back toward her.
Her black eyes glistened with excitement and longing even as they feasted upon his mighty sword. Her body tingled as it ached so desperately for his that she could stand it no longer. Without warning, she ran at him and leapt into the air. Her arms and legs reached out for him, her arms wrapping around his strong shoulders and her legs entwining around his body even as she lowered herself upon his steed.
Little Wolf shot home immediately as though he had at long last found the perfect anchor. He howled even as he filled her completely. He thought the excitement would make him come immediately, and he fought to keep it down, wanting to make it good for her. He bore her to the earth, never losing contact, and began to pump madly into her as though Little Wolf had a mind all his own. He hoped he was not hurting her, but the screams that came from her mouth were of pure delight.
They were wild together! Wolf had never known such pleasure. Somehow, each time he almost came, something stopped him. He wasn't sure what it was, but it built the excitement even more. His tail twitched madly, but he ignored it as his mouth once again found her creamy breast and he gave it the long-needed attention it so desperately craved.
Her fangs nibbled his neck as hungrily as though she had never drank; indeed, he was the best she had ever experienced in all ways. Her legs were still wrapped around him, and she tightened and squeezed around him as he pumped into her.
When her fangs sank into his neck, he felt himself cumming, and it felt as though it would never stop. He howled again and again, her screams matching his howls. Her nails raked his back before grabbing his tail once again.
It was the most wonderful experience Wolf had ever had! He hated to think it might never happen again, especially as he wanted her again just as badly as he had just had her. He just couldn't get enough of her! He lay on top of her, Little Wolf still embedded in her silky sheath. Her fangs had came out of his neck, but suddenly she began to nibble and lick him again, growling lustfully in his ear. He felt Little Wolf jerk and begin to grow. He had never thought he could get it up again this fast, but he just could not get enough of her!
Her fangs dipped back into his neck, taking a sip here and a sip there, as she marked him again and again as hers. Her hands had never left his tail, and she began to stroke him once more. Her strokes always stayed with the fur.
He felt himself grow bigger and bigger, and he was afraid he would split her in two as Little Wolf again worked with a mind all his own. His mouth moved to her throat, and his fangs bit into her neck. He felt her jerk and held himself still as he was afraid he had hurt her.
Elvira had done a lot of biting, but never once had she been bitten herself. It was the most pleasurable sensation she had ever felt, and her gasp of pleasure caressed his ears like a butterfly's gossamer wings. "Are you okay, beautiful?" he whispered against her skin even then as he licked her skin and blood before nipping her again.
Her breath trembled in delight as she sighed again. "Okay? Wolf, I'm so good I don't even know the word for it!"
With relief, he let Little Wolf have his way again, moving slowly in and out and then faster. He did not think he could go any deeper, but he wanted to. He wanted to be part of her. He raised her up slightly and then pushed in just a little deeper. He was surprised when he went a lot deeper. She was built like no other woman he had ever had, because she was able to take all of him! The sensation that he felt threatened to explode him, but he held on, wanting to increase her pleasure.
When he felt the volcano building to a peak, he sank his fangs into her neck once more. The explosions hit him so hard that he fell over the edge and into the stars, carrying her with him. This time, he was not even aware of her fingernails clawing his back although they drew blood. They remained fully one, his sword filling her sheath completely and their fangs embedded in each other's necks, as they rode the waves together before finally crashing back down into the Heaven they had discovered in each other.
Cole had arrived just in time to see Jack starting to rummage again for his rum. He did not make a comment on it as he did not want Jack to know what had become of the rum. Jack looked up at him with questions in his eyes. "Xena and Gabrielle have made up; I heard them before I left the Witch. They may be partying by now."
"Good," Jack said with a grin.
"Piper is getting set up in the kitchen."
"Can she cook?" Jack asked.
"Well, she says she can. It's got to be better than what those two goons were putting out. Lorne's helping her."
"Good thing," Jack said. "Make sure she's got everything she needs."
"I hate to tell you, but the time is growing short. Evil approaches. We have several saying this, including Doctor Doom and his new woman."
"New woman?" Jack asked.
"Yes, sir. She's a scientist," he said as though that explained everything.
"Well, they should be happy together."
Cole was used to reporting to Jack everything that was going on on the Witch, because even though he was on the Witch and Xena was technically his Captain, Jack was his Captain of choice. He was Jack's inside man, and only he and Jack knew that. "I've got to locate Wolf and Elvira. They have not returned to the ship, and they could be in danger. If you can get a woman to go with you as a decoy, when I return, I'll shimmer you to the Governor's room. It'll be quicker and faster, but I don't want to know what you're doing in there, sir."
"I don't want to know what I'm doing in there until after it's over with," Jack said. "I wanted some rum to handle it with, but there's not any on the whole damn ship! So I'm going to have to go it without it. I'll pick some up while we're out. Report to me as soon as you know about Wolf."
"Yes, sir," Cole said and shimmered out.
Meanwhile, Prue, after being escorted to the Witch, had gotten settled in and decided to go in search of a little adventure. She had been totally smitten by the man called Brendan Richards. She knew Piper had already marked her a man, though she hadn't even admitted it to herself yet, and Prue was determined not to be outdone. After all, she was the oldest.
She carefully concealed herself in the shadows and began to search out her prey. She watched him walking around, checking on things and talking to other crewmates to be sure that everything was set for sailing. She gave him enough distance that he wouldn't know that he was being followed.
Brendan began to check to be sure that all the ropes were secured. Nothing could go wrong. They had to get out of the harbor. He had not been paying particular attention to any of the people passing around him. All of the newcomers' scents had crossed his nose at different times, and he had not paid attention to them. He was checking on one of the ropes in the northeastern corner, however, when he heard approaching footsteps accompanied by the sweetest scent he had ever smelled. It was vaguely familiar, but he could not place it.
She was determined to get something from him, even if only a kiss. She had managed to sneak up on him when he suddenly turned and sniffed the air. She froze, hoping he wouldn't see her, but as his head turned again, his yellow eyes looked directly at her. She grew bold at his appraisal and moved to stand right in front of him. Quickly, before she could change her mind and run, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head toward hers. Their lips met, sending thrills racing down her body that she'd never felt before.
Brendan had been about to ask Prue if he could help her when she had suddenly stolen a kiss. He tried to push her away, but she refused to release him, clinging to him instead. Her kiss was burning him! He longed to be able to enjoy the sensations that swept through him, arousing his manhood, at the first kiss he had ever had, but he could feel the beast within already reacting. His mind was frantic, and his eyes were already on yellow as fur began to grow.
In sheer desperation, he shoved her away, hating to use force but knowing that there was no other way. "You -- You shouldn't have -- " he gasped, trying desperately to rein in the wolf but failing completely as a howl broke forth from his lips and he fell to his knees. "You . . . shouldn't . . . have . . . " he tried again. His nose and mouth enlarged and grew together to become a snout, and his words ended in a howl that echoed out over the dock and across the water.
Prue, who had fallen on her rear, had never seen such before! "What are you?" she asked and watched in amazement as he continued transforming. She was roughly grabbed. She realized that the man called Captain Jack Sparrow had arrived as he told to get out of there quickly and placed himself between her and the monster that had been Brendan. Cole, too, had heard the activity and arrived just in time to knock Brendan on his butt and prevent him from attacking Jack.
"WOMEN!" Jack said, shaking his head. He knew fully well that Brendan had never made the move on Prue but that Prue Halliwell had just made a move on Brendan. Even then, the Werewolf was scrambling to get to his feet. Hating to do it but knowing he must, Jack raised the silver walking stick that he had brought with him and brought it straight down on Brendan's head, knocking his friend out cold. "Damn!" he muttered.
"I'm gone to get Wolf, Captain," Cole said and shimmered out. Jack sat down on the floor beside Brendan with his back against the ship's side. He breathed a sigh of relief as werewolf transformed back to man, but still he waited for his friend to wake up.
Prue ran as though the Demons of Hell were behind her and did not stop until she reached Piper in the galley. Holding onto the table so that she would not fall, she looked into her sister's face. "He -- He's a wolf!" she finally gasped out.
Piper looked at Prue in concern but did not know what to make of her sister's exclamation. "Who's a wolf?" she asked. "The wolf that bit poor Lorne in the rear?"
"No, I don't think so," Prue said as she pulled a chair out and sat down in it. "He's -- Brendan Richards," she said in a voice of disbelief. "We kissed . . . "
"You didn't!" Lorne interjected. "No wonder he changed! True he's a Werewolf and he can't control it, but he stays away from women so that he doesn't hurt anybody. How'd you manage to kiss?" He could not believe that she had actually managed to steal a kiss from him. He knew Brendan would never have kissed Prue.
"I wanted him!" Prue said. "There was just something about him that seemed to call to me!"
"Hold it right there," Lorne said. "This is women's talk. I'll see you in a little while, Piper; I'd best go check on him."
Piper nodded and took out the seat in front of Prue's. She sat down in it, the food completely forgotten as she turned her full attention to her distraught sister. "Prue, what did you do?" she asked her. "You know better than to kiss a stranger!"
"But I wanted him, Piper!" she protested in a small, quiet voice. "I'm so drawn to him! I've never felt anything like this before! I followed him and surprised him. I kissed him! Then the most awful thing happened! He began to change and howled! Then the Captain was there, and he beat him!" She had heard the whack when Jack had hit Brendan. Tears were running down her face. "I still want him! I don't care if he is a wolf!"
"Prue, you don't know what you're talking about," Piper gently told her sister even as she gathered her into a hug, softly stroking her hair as their mother had always done whenever one of them was upset. "You just met the man. I know he's burning you and I know it's hard to control yourself -- I almost slipped up already with Cole --, but he's a wolf. You need to give it time. Talk to him; figure out if you can do anything. You don't want this happening again."
Prue hugged her sister to her as though she was a lifeline, burying her face into her sister's shoulder. "I want him, Piper! I want him desperately!"
"I know, Prue. You might not believe me, but I know better than you think I do. There's one on here who sets my very blood on fire, too, but we don't know what we're getting into. We have to take it slowly, and you're going to have to talk to Brendan eventually, before you make another move on him. You don't want him to change again on you like that."
Prue looked up at Piper in wonderment. "You found some one?" It finally dawned on her what Piper had been telling her. "So why didn't you go after him?" she asked her sister.
"Because I just met him today, Prue. You have to give things like this time. I know it's hard, but it takes it to make sure."
"Too much time, Piper, and somebody else will grab him! That's why I didn't wait! I know I want him, and if I wait for him to come to me, he won't do it."
"Then don't wait for him but don't move on him either. Talk to him. What would you do if you made another move toward him and he changed again, Prue?"
"I promise. I'll talk to him tomorrow if I can catch him." He had been very hard to catch that day, and she knew he'd be more wary and even harder to catch the next.
"I'll tell you what, Prue," Piper said, lifting her sister's chin and gently wiping away her tears. "If you promise me you won't move on him again until you've talked to him and are sure he's not just going to wolf out again right away, I'll even help you catch him."
"You will?" Prue asked with a smile. "Then I promise I'll talk to him and not move on him again until I'm sure it's safe."
Piper nodded. "I will," she promised, "tomorrow."
"So which one is it, Piper?" Prue asked with an impish grin. "Mister Green or Mister Tall, Dark, and Handsome?"
Piper had to laugh at her sister's question. "Cole," she admitted, then dared to blushingly make another admission. "I actually told him I thought he was handsome!"
"You did?" Prue asked in amazement. She had never known Piper to move on any one. "And he didn't pick up on it?"
Piper shrugged. "I don't know. He didn't call me on it, at least. But, Prue," she added with a frown, "I think we might both be in trouble. Brendan's a Werewolf, and Cole's a Demon, half any way!"
"We might be, Piper, but I'm willing to face it just to have a chance at getting closer to him. Are you?" She smiled when her sister nodded. "Then we'll work on them together!"
She raised her pinky finger, and Piper hooked hers with it. "Pinky swear," they said together. "They'll never know what hit 'em!"
To Be Continued . . .
