A little reminder of the end of the last chapter of Written In The Stars- Opposites Attract

There was something decadent about waking up under your own steam rather than being jolted awake by the blaring of an alarm clock or an emergency call.

Selene didn't bother opening her eyes, not wanting to face the brightness of the daylight that would be pouring in through the curtains that hadn't seemed important enough to close the night before.

She was so comfortable, flat on her back in a super soft bed piled high with squishy pillows, did she have to move yet? She didn't think so. Surely as the bride she was allowed a certain amount of leeway considering the day they had had?

Once the rain had come the party had started to wind down, people that had been up all day now feeling the effects of the late night. The coach had been called and those that were staying in the neighbouring hotel had gratefully piled in, more than ready to head to bed.

For the Island dwellers and the guests that had come with them the night had still been young and they had relocated to Penelope's parlour for coffees and some of the wedding cake.

John and Selene had joined them for a cup but, still being soaked to the skin from their time outside and now feeling decidedly chilly, they had made their excuses and retired, needing a shower and a change of clothes.

Penelope, in an effort to afford them a little privacy, had housed them in one of the small cottages in the grounds. Once belonging to the ground keeper it had been converted into a charmingly modern little guest house with a large shower that they had made good use of.

Thankfully they hadn't promised to return to their guests after drying off, so they felt no guilt in tumbling into bed, intent on spending the rest of their waking hours alone together.

Selene stretched out as best she could, limbs still heavy with sleep, feeling the comforting weight of an arm thrown possessively across her chest.

Sighing contentedly she started to roll over, meaning to snuggle closer and go back to sleep when a sharp pain stopped her in her tracks.

"The fuck?"

Her eyes shot open, her sleep addled brain struggling to catch up and make sense of what she was seeing.

"You're not Armie," she told the cat that was camped out on her chest where a John arm was supposed to be. The cat blinked in response to her observation. "Though it would be hard, considering he's back on the island with MAX."

The cat's paws flexed, needle sharp claws pricking into her skin again. Well, that explained the ouch.

"I didn't know Penny had a cat. Where did you even come from, how did you get in here? Do you belong to a neighbour or something?"

She turned her head to wake John, not really surprised to find that the bed beside her was empty.

"He left me already," she grumbled goodnaturedly, not really minding. Crossing time zones was a hazard of their job and it played havoc with their sleeping patterns, meaning they were used to being up and about when they were supposed to be sleeping or vice versa.

"Shall I assume that you snuck as he left?" she smiled at the cat. "You're a beautiful one, aren't you?"

It really was gorgeous, the pretty bengal coat shot through with all variants of the brown ginger spectrum, fur sleek and silky looking, the sharp boned triangular face so lovely.

The cat meowed at her, obviously agreeing with her assessment of its handsomeness, its claws digging deeper into her bare chest.

"Hey, watch the claws, buddy. Those pillows don't belong to you, I'm a married lady now."

She reached out a hand to stroke the cat, unable to resist the lure of its soft fur any longer.

The moment her fingers touched the cat's head she felt it, a tingle of awareness that called to her on a soul deep level.

She looked again at the creature's eyes, a startling shade of bluey green the likes of which she'd never seen in a cat before. But she recognised them, knew them as well as she knew her own.

She didn't want to speak, almost like she worried that breaking her silence would make it real, but was unable to hold it in. She had to ask. She had to know.

"John?"

The cat meowed an affirmative.

"Well," she huffed, trying to remain calm. "That's not what I expected to wake up to, but I guess this proves that it runs in the family."