Chapter 17
A couple of weeks passed, but Kirei remained stubbornly celibate. She still found it all too hard to believe. She loved being with them, and feared that taking the next step would ruin everything.
Her heart believed them but her head didn't. She kept telling herself that that kind of physical closeness wasn't necessary, that she was doing just fine as things currently stood. Yet the truth was that she needed to be touched, to be held, just as much as she needed air or water. Some part of her was starving for the lack of it. Despite her bluster to Sweet William that she was a lone wolf, the fact remained that wolves were social creatures. They could not survive in the wild for long if alone. They would die of loneliness.
She had been alone too long already.
Meanwhile, neither Roger nor Dorothy were making things easier for her. Roger, gentlemanly as always, never pushed her. However, he rarely let a day go by without a light pet or chaste kiss, a far more restrained version of his comfortable intimacy with Dorothy. For her part, Dorothy seemed to go out of her way to leave the two of them alone in potentially romantic situations.
Even in her dreams, Kirei found no relief. Roger was there too, with his beautiful dark eyes and gleaming black hair, overpowering her with his sleek seductiveness. She'd wake up whimpering, every inch of her body aching for him.
The magnifying tug of the full moon finally pushed her over the edge. While it wouldn't force her to shift (since she wasn't a "normal" lycanthrope, if normal could be applied to any type of shapeshifter) the lunar disc did call out other deeper things in her blood, a wildness that she could barely control.
Kirei had just come back from a long run, hoping the exhaustive effort would blunt the teeth of her need. Standing beneath the shower, feeling the water stream down her steaming skin--she suddenly wanted to feel Roger's heat against her, feel his power pour through her.
It was too much. She couldn't fight it anymore.
Taking just enough time to slip in her diaphragm, Kirei grabbed her black silk robe (a gift from Roger) and padded silently down to his bedroom. Standing outside the dark oak door, she could smell his deliciously masculine scent, a warm clean mix of soap and his freshly washed body...and a whiff of Dorothy's light perfume.
WHAT am I doing? she thought, shocked back to her senses. She turned to go when the door opened. It was Dorothy, wearing a short slip-style black nightie that left little to the imagination. She was smiling.
"I was beginning to think I'd have to drag you here myself," she said, giggling, and pulled the startled woman into the room.
It was dark, illuminated only by the dancing glow of the roaring fireplace. Roger was sitting at the edge of his big bed. He was bare-chested, his hair boyishly messy, the coal colored blanket covering his lap. He didn't seem to be wearing anything else.
He looked intently at Kirei, firelight glittering in his large black eyes.
The little shapeshifter couldn't read his expression in the flickering shadows, but she could feel the weight of his gaze. She shivered inwardly, wanting to flee, wanting to stay.
Dorothy tugged her over to him (Kirei couldn't escape the strength of the pretty androwolf's grip) and placed her small hand squarely in Roger's large palm. He closed his fingers around it, holding it tightly.
Kirei, bewildered, looked at both of them. "But, but..." she stammered, then stopped. She was at a complete loss for words, her brown eyes wide.
Roger lifted her hand to his lips. He kissed her knuckles, smiled, rubbed the back of her hand across his cheek.
Dorothy lightly kissed Kirei's cheek, and also smiled. "Pack is pack," the pretty redhead said. "What is mine, is yours." At that, she left, closing the bedroom door behind her.
She was alone with Roger.
Fear and desire thrilled through Kirei, making her tremble. She was so afraid (it was funny when she thought about it later. She could have killed Roger with a single blow if she shifted, but she was afraid to be in bed with him...not afraid of what she might do, but of what HE might do.)
She had never really made love in human form before. The female members of her pack had been taught just enough to satisfy a human master, simply another joyless function to perform if required. To be with a packmate in human form, with someone who loved you, who you loved--this was forbidden. Anything beyond a kiss, a caress, was severely punished. Lovemaking between shapeshifters was in wolf-phase only, supposedly in case of accidental conception; that guaranteed the embryo would develop as a cub, not a human. Her kind were to be born furred and tailed, or not at all (Kirei had heard the rumors of human-phase infants being terminated at birth.) Whatever the reason, it helped reinforce the view that they were merely animals, chattel to be used as seen fit.
To be truly naked with a lover, skin to skin, hands to touch with, lips to kiss with--no thick coats of fur or toothy muzzles or blunt paws to dull sensation--it was terrifying.
Yet she was in love with Roger, and he was human.
Feeling lost, the little shapeshifter let Roger pull her gently onto his cloth-covered lap. He didn't try to kiss or force himself on her. Instead, Roger petted her rough hair, threading his fingers through the damp tendrils. He took her chin lightly in his hand and turned her face towards him. To her surprise, Roger nuzzled her cheek and ear, then offered her his unprotected throat in a traditional wolf's greeting.
This (as Kirei later learned) had been Dorothy's suggestion. She understood the depth (if not the cause) of her packmate's disquiet. She thought the familiar ritual would comfort her.
Dorothy had been right. The gesture did reassure Kirei. She humbly kissed the big pulse in Roger's neck, not biting at all, then submissively offered her throat in return. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the expected bite as he established his ranking as her alpha. She hoped he wouldn't savage her, as she had seen happen to others joining Sweet William's pack.
Roger surprised her again. The negotiator didn't bite her. He kissed her as delicately as she had kissed him, a butterfly touch lingering on the pale velvety skin of her neck.
"I don't understand," she said, raising her eyes to his. "You and Dorothy are alpha, and I'm..." She didn't finish her thought, confused.
Roger smirked, but his black eyes were gentle. "We're all equals here, Snowy. No alpha, no beta, no omega, not in practice, anyway. All the same, even though we're all different. That will be our pack's strength."
His smirk broadened into a silky smile, watching the topazy lights start to gleam in the brown depths of her eyes as his words sank in. He caressed the fragile contours of her cheek and jaw with his knuckles, then again ran his fingers through her silvery brown hair. It was as soft as fur.
"I love you, little one," he said. "We won't do anything you don't want to do, not now, not ever. I promise." He pointed to a condom packet on the nightstand. "I'm even prepared if you decide you want me."
Kirei started to speak, then stopped, studying his expression. If I decide? MY choice? There was no deceit in his face, in his voice, only a sense of love and caring. She hadn't known what to expect, but it surely wasn't this.
Her pulse now racing, she leaned towards him, cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. The tip of her pink tongue pushed questingly against his lips, sliding against his teeth. Roger unhesitatingly yielded to her, letting her freely explore him. He liked that she felt safe enough to make the first move.
When she withdrew, he took her mouth in turn, his tongue thrusting playfully forward, moving against hers. She tasted pleasantly, faintly, of the spiced chai she liked so much.
Roger was deliberately delicate in his handling of her. He took his time to soothe and court her, to win her trust as if she were some mysterious wild thing that would flee at the slightest hint of danger--which in a sense she was, he realized. He smiled inwardly at the notion. This little shapeshifter was so full of secrets!
Her breathing deepened as he explored her beneath the thin fabric, cupping her breasts, tracing every curve and hollow. Kirei wanted to roll against him, to soak his warm scent into her skin. She wanted to luxuriate in the smooth solid feel of his wonderful powerful body so utterly naked against hers. She shrugged out of the robe, letting it spill like black water onto the floor.
"You're so beautiful," Roger murmured, admiring her. He was getting increasingly aroused. Kirei could feel him growing beneath her, becoming big and firm, only the dark blanket keeping them apart. The faint musk of his desire burned through her; she wanted to lick him like candy, savor the alkaline taste of his excitement.
She rose up on her knees, pressing herself against him. She nuzzled his smooth face and silky hair, biting softly, then kissing away the invisible marks.
Roger encircled her waist in his arms, cuddling her against him. He shaped her slender body with passionate kisses and slow rough strokes of his tongue, her murmurs of pleasure spurring him on. Her compact breasts were too tempting to resist. He teased the pink nipples with his lips and tongue, listening to her purr, then filled his mouth with her soft flesh. He closed his eyes, suckling contentedly.
Kirei felt drunk from Roger's touch, overwhelmed by sensation. The little shapeshifter had never experienced anything like this.
So this is how humans make love, she thought, giving in to Roger's sweet hot kisses, his gentle hands, the soft wet warmth of his tongue exploring her. A tiny part of her grieved, wishing she could have shared this with Shinji; they hadn't had a clue about what they had been denied.
"What are you thinking about, little one?" The question brought her back.
"This," she answered quickly, beginning some explorations of her own. She was pleased to hear Roger's approving growl as she touched him, mouthed him. If she had a tail in this form, she would have wagged it.
Something fiercely playful opened in her heart, encouraged by his reactions. All of her fears of loving him vanished. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she felt safe, safe to be, safe to love. She pushed him down lightly. "My turn," she said, smiling.
Roger chuckled and slid to the middle of the great bed. He sprawled invitingly on his back, running a quick hand to brush his hair out of his eyes, then crossing his arms beneath his head, raising himself partially up from the lavish pillows. The golden flicker of light from the fireplace danced over the perfect angles of his features, making him look like some beautiful ancient god awaiting sacrifice.
"I'm all yours," he chuckled, wondering what she was going to do.
Kirei sat on her heels, her eyes shining with unconditional love as she gazed at him. It was the way of the wolf pack; as of this moment she was his completely, body and soul. Now it was Roger's turn to tremble inwardly. No one had ever looked at him quite that way before.
After a moment's hesitation, Kirei moved over him, supporting herself on her hands and knees. She reached out with one small hand and began to stroke his face, her warm fingertips oddly smooth and soft, as if she were wearing gloves of the finest thinnest leather. She followed the graceful contours of his broad deep chest, traced the hard muscularity of his stomach, played briefly with the thin line of dark hair bisecting it from navel to groin.
Roger found himself holding his breath, watching her. She seemed utterly absorbed by her explorations, as if she'd never touched a naked man before. He wondered briefly if this was her first time...it would certainly explain a lot. He would have to be even more gentle.
Kirei leaned down and slowly dragged her tongue along the inside curve of his hip, sending shivers through Roger's body. She kissed her way back up his belly, across his chest, pausing to feel the quick strong beat of his racing heart against her soft lips. She pressed her sharp white teeth against the taut skin, biting gently, then nuzzling.
Roger began to knead her upper back and shoulders, his fingers pressing into her hot flesh. Kirei's breath was warm and moist against his skin, her tongue deliciously wet as she licked one stiffened nipple, then the other.
Roger purred, then growled happily as she began to suckle. His growl deepened as her hand blindly worked its way under the blanket, following that fine dark trail of hair to its ultimate destination.
The rumbling growl changed to a startled gasp when she cupped his groin so so gently, full and heavy in her small warm hand. One finger lightly stroked the sensitive flat space beneath it, the skin as delicate as a child's.
"Careful..." Roger could barely speak. "Careful..."
"I would never hurt you," she replied seriously, releasing him. Her hand moved up, taking hold of his hardened shaft with gentle firmness, her fingers stroking in a steady rhythm.
Roger groaned, squirming. He couldn't answer when she asked if it pleased him, could only moan and nod yes. He couldn't stop watching her, his half-closed eyes drowning dark and hungry for more of whatever she planned to do.
Kirei suddenly dimpled a smile in his direction. Letting go of his manhood, she slid headfirst halfway under the blanket, throwing it over him up to the waist in the process.
"What are you do--OH!" Roger cried out as a warm glow of pleasure spread quickly through him. What WAS she doing? Somehow he sat up, managed to pull the black covers aside.
He still couldn't see! She was crouched over him, her long hair blocking his view like a curtain. Whatever she was doing felt incredible, as if she'd wrapped the full length of him with her tongue...which was impossible, wasn't it?
Roger fell back helplessly onto the pillows, writhing beneath her, his slim hips thrusting instinctively. He felt himself start to tighten, his control wavering....
"No, stop, STOP!" he begged reluctantly, wanting her to continue.
It took her a moment before she could respond. She shook her head slightly. "You don't like this?" She looked up at him, loose curls of silvery brown hair veiling her face, her topazy eyes a glowing question. She licked her swollen lips delicately, like a cat who had finished some cream.
Roger smiled sheepishly, trying to catch his breath. "No, um, yes...little one, I like that VERY much." Almost TOO much, he thought, sitting up and pulling her close. "But I still want to play, and I won't be able to if you do much more of that." He lightly nibbled her ear, then licked its outer curve.
Kirei giggled sweetly, and turned to kiss him. Lovemaking with Shinji had never been like this. Sex with anyone had never been like this.
She leaned into his body, her arms resting on his broad shoulders. Her hands seized fistfuls of his thick black hair as they kissed hard and deep.
Roger embraced her small waist tightly, then slid one hand lightly across her flat stomach, tickling her. Before she could react, he boldly moved his hand down lower, first toying with the damp curls, then slipping between her legs. He began to play with the wet folds, his fingers stroking repeatedly. He slipped one finger inside her, caressing the soft warmth of her.
Kirei yipped in surprise, falling against him. This too was new.
Roger carefully laid her down on her back, still petting her intimately. He pressed love bites into her smooth neck and breasts, lightly marking the ivory skin as she squirmed whimpering beside him. He opened his mouth wide, taking most of one small breast, then suckled hard, his tongue rough against the stiffened nipple.
She cried out, her hands grabbing the smooth sheets as she thrashed, her body caught between his busy mouth and busier hand.
"Oh god," she begged. "Please, Roger, please..."
Roger rubbed his body against hers like some great cat, then released her breast to nuzzle her ear. "Do you want me?" he whispered, aching for her, hoping she'd say yes. "Do you?"
His hand moved, touching deep inside her again.
Kirei moaned, a low primal sound. As if dazed, she slowly reached down to gently stroke the darkly swollen head of his shaft, feeling the blood-hot firmness of him, hard and ready.
"You're so big," she murmured hungrily.
Roger glanced at himself and smirked briefly, feeling oddly proud. He bent down to her and tenderly kissed her forehead. "All for you, sweet Snowy, if it pleases you." The look in her glowing eyes answered him.
He reached for the condom when she stopped him. "That's not necessary," she said. "I want you naked inside me."
He felt himself tighten at her unexpected words, get harder still. "Huh? But Snowy, you don't want to take the chance of..."
She placed a silky finger on his lips and smiled. "I came prepared," she laughed gently. "I didn't know what to expect. Besides, I'm a shapeshifter. We don't get or give STDs." She snuggled against him kittenishly.
"Always thinking ahead, eh?" Roger teased her, kissing the tip of her nose. "That's my girl." He smiled down at her. There was no more fear in her, only love and trust. He knew with all his heart she WAS his girl now, would do anything for him...and that he would do anything for her as well. It WAS possible to love two very different people with equal passion, equal depth.
He rubbed his chin and cheek against her face, breathing in the warm sweet scent of her, the fine tendrils of her hair tickling him gently. She was utterly open to him, so vulnerable...he had to ask one more time, had to be sure.
"My dearest little she-wolf, do you truly want to become one with me, to join our bodies, to be of one heart, one soul?"
There was no hesitation in her answer. "Yes."
Her soft voice was full of quiet joy.
Serious now, Roger moved over her, caging her small form beneath his. His eyes were dark and soft, melting with his love for her, his ache for her. He wanted to fill her with his passion, to pleasure her with the skills of his body.
He flexed his slim hips so that just his tip entered her, then moved forward slowly. Roger slid carefully into her, each thrust a little deeper, a little harder, as if making room for himself within the wet heat of her body's tight embrace. She felt lushly wonderful around him, each slight movement sending another thrill of desire through him.
A faint whimper came deep from Kirei's throat, turning into a kind of purring sigh as he finally sheathed himself fully within her. She raised her hands to his face, pulling him down with surprising strength. They kissed hungrily, pressing their lips against each other's throat, mouth, eyes, whatever fevered skin was in reach. Roger briefly crushed her against the bed's surface, holding her tightly in his arms, burying his face in the wild dark halo of curls framing her.
Roger filled her completely; even lying motionless, trapped beneath him, Kirei could feel the heavy beat of his pulse against the walls of her body, felt herself twitch and tighten around the thick length of his shaft. She thought she would die from the sheer pleasure of holding him so deeply...and then he began to move.
It all seemed to be a kind of waking dream.
Roger was deliberate at first, still taking his time with her. He was enjoying himself too much to rush, loved watching the play of emotion across her sweet face.
Their bodies entwined in a kind of slow dance: stroking, touching, kissing, nipping, expressing their mutual need far more eloquently than mere words could ever do.
A rosy flush of heat gradually colored Kirei's face. She cried out his name, curling herself tighter around him, driving him deeper inside her.
Roger thrust harder now, faster, giving her his full weight and strength as she writhed ecstatically beneath him. Nothing existed but this golden moment, this growing ache to pour himself into her, to meld their two selves into one. He swallowed her cries as she surrendered to him, felt himself shatter into bliss as he took possession of her.
She had cried in his arms afterwards, still not quite able to believe. Roger had kissed away her tears, murmuring words of love, of comfort, assuring her that this was all real, that this was her life now. She would always be loved, always be wanted.
She had a home for now and for always with him and Dorothy.
A pack of her own.
Kirei sat up abruptly. She was trembling violently. How could something so wonderful end like this, without warning? It made no sense.
There had to be something more going on, something deeply hidden to cause all of this. Roger was not a frivolous man despite his youth. He could be thoughtless, headstrong, but he would never deliberately toy with someone's heart. He might go out of his way not to hurt her feelings, but knew her well enough to be honest with her. He knew she'd prefer a blunt truth to a silky dissemblance. He had learned that much about her early on, and had the scars to prove it.
Again, she thought about Dorothy's reaction to the gifts, to the handsome new officer at M.P.H.Q. The key to this mess was there somewhere. She wished she could get ahold of the redhead privately, confront her about just what the hell was going on. She had promised to say nothing to Roger, but that didn't mean she couldn't ask Dorothy directly...but she was never around.
She would not jump to conclusions. Let the game play out, Kirei thought to herself as she re-packed the box. The final option could wait.
A couple of weeks passed, but Kirei remained stubbornly celibate. She still found it all too hard to believe. She loved being with them, and feared that taking the next step would ruin everything.
Her heart believed them but her head didn't. She kept telling herself that that kind of physical closeness wasn't necessary, that she was doing just fine as things currently stood. Yet the truth was that she needed to be touched, to be held, just as much as she needed air or water. Some part of her was starving for the lack of it. Despite her bluster to Sweet William that she was a lone wolf, the fact remained that wolves were social creatures. They could not survive in the wild for long if alone. They would die of loneliness.
She had been alone too long already.
Meanwhile, neither Roger nor Dorothy were making things easier for her. Roger, gentlemanly as always, never pushed her. However, he rarely let a day go by without a light pet or chaste kiss, a far more restrained version of his comfortable intimacy with Dorothy. For her part, Dorothy seemed to go out of her way to leave the two of them alone in potentially romantic situations.
Even in her dreams, Kirei found no relief. Roger was there too, with his beautiful dark eyes and gleaming black hair, overpowering her with his sleek seductiveness. She'd wake up whimpering, every inch of her body aching for him.
The magnifying tug of the full moon finally pushed her over the edge. While it wouldn't force her to shift (since she wasn't a "normal" lycanthrope, if normal could be applied to any type of shapeshifter) the lunar disc did call out other deeper things in her blood, a wildness that she could barely control.
Kirei had just come back from a long run, hoping the exhaustive effort would blunt the teeth of her need. Standing beneath the shower, feeling the water stream down her steaming skin--she suddenly wanted to feel Roger's heat against her, feel his power pour through her.
It was too much. She couldn't fight it anymore.
Taking just enough time to slip in her diaphragm, Kirei grabbed her black silk robe (a gift from Roger) and padded silently down to his bedroom. Standing outside the dark oak door, she could smell his deliciously masculine scent, a warm clean mix of soap and his freshly washed body...and a whiff of Dorothy's light perfume.
WHAT am I doing? she thought, shocked back to her senses. She turned to go when the door opened. It was Dorothy, wearing a short slip-style black nightie that left little to the imagination. She was smiling.
"I was beginning to think I'd have to drag you here myself," she said, giggling, and pulled the startled woman into the room.
It was dark, illuminated only by the dancing glow of the roaring fireplace. Roger was sitting at the edge of his big bed. He was bare-chested, his hair boyishly messy, the coal colored blanket covering his lap. He didn't seem to be wearing anything else.
He looked intently at Kirei, firelight glittering in his large black eyes.
The little shapeshifter couldn't read his expression in the flickering shadows, but she could feel the weight of his gaze. She shivered inwardly, wanting to flee, wanting to stay.
Dorothy tugged her over to him (Kirei couldn't escape the strength of the pretty androwolf's grip) and placed her small hand squarely in Roger's large palm. He closed his fingers around it, holding it tightly.
Kirei, bewildered, looked at both of them. "But, but..." she stammered, then stopped. She was at a complete loss for words, her brown eyes wide.
Roger lifted her hand to his lips. He kissed her knuckles, smiled, rubbed the back of her hand across his cheek.
Dorothy lightly kissed Kirei's cheek, and also smiled. "Pack is pack," the pretty redhead said. "What is mine, is yours." At that, she left, closing the bedroom door behind her.
She was alone with Roger.
Fear and desire thrilled through Kirei, making her tremble. She was so afraid (it was funny when she thought about it later. She could have killed Roger with a single blow if she shifted, but she was afraid to be in bed with him...not afraid of what she might do, but of what HE might do.)
She had never really made love in human form before. The female members of her pack had been taught just enough to satisfy a human master, simply another joyless function to perform if required. To be with a packmate in human form, with someone who loved you, who you loved--this was forbidden. Anything beyond a kiss, a caress, was severely punished. Lovemaking between shapeshifters was in wolf-phase only, supposedly in case of accidental conception; that guaranteed the embryo would develop as a cub, not a human. Her kind were to be born furred and tailed, or not at all (Kirei had heard the rumors of human-phase infants being terminated at birth.) Whatever the reason, it helped reinforce the view that they were merely animals, chattel to be used as seen fit.
To be truly naked with a lover, skin to skin, hands to touch with, lips to kiss with--no thick coats of fur or toothy muzzles or blunt paws to dull sensation--it was terrifying.
Yet she was in love with Roger, and he was human.
Feeling lost, the little shapeshifter let Roger pull her gently onto his cloth-covered lap. He didn't try to kiss or force himself on her. Instead, Roger petted her rough hair, threading his fingers through the damp tendrils. He took her chin lightly in his hand and turned her face towards him. To her surprise, Roger nuzzled her cheek and ear, then offered her his unprotected throat in a traditional wolf's greeting.
This (as Kirei later learned) had been Dorothy's suggestion. She understood the depth (if not the cause) of her packmate's disquiet. She thought the familiar ritual would comfort her.
Dorothy had been right. The gesture did reassure Kirei. She humbly kissed the big pulse in Roger's neck, not biting at all, then submissively offered her throat in return. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the expected bite as he established his ranking as her alpha. She hoped he wouldn't savage her, as she had seen happen to others joining Sweet William's pack.
Roger surprised her again. The negotiator didn't bite her. He kissed her as delicately as she had kissed him, a butterfly touch lingering on the pale velvety skin of her neck.
"I don't understand," she said, raising her eyes to his. "You and Dorothy are alpha, and I'm..." She didn't finish her thought, confused.
Roger smirked, but his black eyes were gentle. "We're all equals here, Snowy. No alpha, no beta, no omega, not in practice, anyway. All the same, even though we're all different. That will be our pack's strength."
His smirk broadened into a silky smile, watching the topazy lights start to gleam in the brown depths of her eyes as his words sank in. He caressed the fragile contours of her cheek and jaw with his knuckles, then again ran his fingers through her silvery brown hair. It was as soft as fur.
"I love you, little one," he said. "We won't do anything you don't want to do, not now, not ever. I promise." He pointed to a condom packet on the nightstand. "I'm even prepared if you decide you want me."
Kirei started to speak, then stopped, studying his expression. If I decide? MY choice? There was no deceit in his face, in his voice, only a sense of love and caring. She hadn't known what to expect, but it surely wasn't this.
Her pulse now racing, she leaned towards him, cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. The tip of her pink tongue pushed questingly against his lips, sliding against his teeth. Roger unhesitatingly yielded to her, letting her freely explore him. He liked that she felt safe enough to make the first move.
When she withdrew, he took her mouth in turn, his tongue thrusting playfully forward, moving against hers. She tasted pleasantly, faintly, of the spiced chai she liked so much.
Roger was deliberately delicate in his handling of her. He took his time to soothe and court her, to win her trust as if she were some mysterious wild thing that would flee at the slightest hint of danger--which in a sense she was, he realized. He smiled inwardly at the notion. This little shapeshifter was so full of secrets!
Her breathing deepened as he explored her beneath the thin fabric, cupping her breasts, tracing every curve and hollow. Kirei wanted to roll against him, to soak his warm scent into her skin. She wanted to luxuriate in the smooth solid feel of his wonderful powerful body so utterly naked against hers. She shrugged out of the robe, letting it spill like black water onto the floor.
"You're so beautiful," Roger murmured, admiring her. He was getting increasingly aroused. Kirei could feel him growing beneath her, becoming big and firm, only the dark blanket keeping them apart. The faint musk of his desire burned through her; she wanted to lick him like candy, savor the alkaline taste of his excitement.
She rose up on her knees, pressing herself against him. She nuzzled his smooth face and silky hair, biting softly, then kissing away the invisible marks.
Roger encircled her waist in his arms, cuddling her against him. He shaped her slender body with passionate kisses and slow rough strokes of his tongue, her murmurs of pleasure spurring him on. Her compact breasts were too tempting to resist. He teased the pink nipples with his lips and tongue, listening to her purr, then filled his mouth with her soft flesh. He closed his eyes, suckling contentedly.
Kirei felt drunk from Roger's touch, overwhelmed by sensation. The little shapeshifter had never experienced anything like this.
So this is how humans make love, she thought, giving in to Roger's sweet hot kisses, his gentle hands, the soft wet warmth of his tongue exploring her. A tiny part of her grieved, wishing she could have shared this with Shinji; they hadn't had a clue about what they had been denied.
"What are you thinking about, little one?" The question brought her back.
"This," she answered quickly, beginning some explorations of her own. She was pleased to hear Roger's approving growl as she touched him, mouthed him. If she had a tail in this form, she would have wagged it.
Something fiercely playful opened in her heart, encouraged by his reactions. All of her fears of loving him vanished. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she felt safe, safe to be, safe to love. She pushed him down lightly. "My turn," she said, smiling.
Roger chuckled and slid to the middle of the great bed. He sprawled invitingly on his back, running a quick hand to brush his hair out of his eyes, then crossing his arms beneath his head, raising himself partially up from the lavish pillows. The golden flicker of light from the fireplace danced over the perfect angles of his features, making him look like some beautiful ancient god awaiting sacrifice.
"I'm all yours," he chuckled, wondering what she was going to do.
Kirei sat on her heels, her eyes shining with unconditional love as she gazed at him. It was the way of the wolf pack; as of this moment she was his completely, body and soul. Now it was Roger's turn to tremble inwardly. No one had ever looked at him quite that way before.
After a moment's hesitation, Kirei moved over him, supporting herself on her hands and knees. She reached out with one small hand and began to stroke his face, her warm fingertips oddly smooth and soft, as if she were wearing gloves of the finest thinnest leather. She followed the graceful contours of his broad deep chest, traced the hard muscularity of his stomach, played briefly with the thin line of dark hair bisecting it from navel to groin.
Roger found himself holding his breath, watching her. She seemed utterly absorbed by her explorations, as if she'd never touched a naked man before. He wondered briefly if this was her first time...it would certainly explain a lot. He would have to be even more gentle.
Kirei leaned down and slowly dragged her tongue along the inside curve of his hip, sending shivers through Roger's body. She kissed her way back up his belly, across his chest, pausing to feel the quick strong beat of his racing heart against her soft lips. She pressed her sharp white teeth against the taut skin, biting gently, then nuzzling.
Roger began to knead her upper back and shoulders, his fingers pressing into her hot flesh. Kirei's breath was warm and moist against his skin, her tongue deliciously wet as she licked one stiffened nipple, then the other.
Roger purred, then growled happily as she began to suckle. His growl deepened as her hand blindly worked its way under the blanket, following that fine dark trail of hair to its ultimate destination.
The rumbling growl changed to a startled gasp when she cupped his groin so so gently, full and heavy in her small warm hand. One finger lightly stroked the sensitive flat space beneath it, the skin as delicate as a child's.
"Careful..." Roger could barely speak. "Careful..."
"I would never hurt you," she replied seriously, releasing him. Her hand moved up, taking hold of his hardened shaft with gentle firmness, her fingers stroking in a steady rhythm.
Roger groaned, squirming. He couldn't answer when she asked if it pleased him, could only moan and nod yes. He couldn't stop watching her, his half-closed eyes drowning dark and hungry for more of whatever she planned to do.
Kirei suddenly dimpled a smile in his direction. Letting go of his manhood, she slid headfirst halfway under the blanket, throwing it over him up to the waist in the process.
"What are you do--OH!" Roger cried out as a warm glow of pleasure spread quickly through him. What WAS she doing? Somehow he sat up, managed to pull the black covers aside.
He still couldn't see! She was crouched over him, her long hair blocking his view like a curtain. Whatever she was doing felt incredible, as if she'd wrapped the full length of him with her tongue...which was impossible, wasn't it?
Roger fell back helplessly onto the pillows, writhing beneath her, his slim hips thrusting instinctively. He felt himself start to tighten, his control wavering....
"No, stop, STOP!" he begged reluctantly, wanting her to continue.
It took her a moment before she could respond. She shook her head slightly. "You don't like this?" She looked up at him, loose curls of silvery brown hair veiling her face, her topazy eyes a glowing question. She licked her swollen lips delicately, like a cat who had finished some cream.
Roger smiled sheepishly, trying to catch his breath. "No, um, yes...little one, I like that VERY much." Almost TOO much, he thought, sitting up and pulling her close. "But I still want to play, and I won't be able to if you do much more of that." He lightly nibbled her ear, then licked its outer curve.
Kirei giggled sweetly, and turned to kiss him. Lovemaking with Shinji had never been like this. Sex with anyone had never been like this.
She leaned into his body, her arms resting on his broad shoulders. Her hands seized fistfuls of his thick black hair as they kissed hard and deep.
Roger embraced her small waist tightly, then slid one hand lightly across her flat stomach, tickling her. Before she could react, he boldly moved his hand down lower, first toying with the damp curls, then slipping between her legs. He began to play with the wet folds, his fingers stroking repeatedly. He slipped one finger inside her, caressing the soft warmth of her.
Kirei yipped in surprise, falling against him. This too was new.
Roger carefully laid her down on her back, still petting her intimately. He pressed love bites into her smooth neck and breasts, lightly marking the ivory skin as she squirmed whimpering beside him. He opened his mouth wide, taking most of one small breast, then suckled hard, his tongue rough against the stiffened nipple.
She cried out, her hands grabbing the smooth sheets as she thrashed, her body caught between his busy mouth and busier hand.
"Oh god," she begged. "Please, Roger, please..."
Roger rubbed his body against hers like some great cat, then released her breast to nuzzle her ear. "Do you want me?" he whispered, aching for her, hoping she'd say yes. "Do you?"
His hand moved, touching deep inside her again.
Kirei moaned, a low primal sound. As if dazed, she slowly reached down to gently stroke the darkly swollen head of his shaft, feeling the blood-hot firmness of him, hard and ready.
"You're so big," she murmured hungrily.
Roger glanced at himself and smirked briefly, feeling oddly proud. He bent down to her and tenderly kissed her forehead. "All for you, sweet Snowy, if it pleases you." The look in her glowing eyes answered him.
He reached for the condom when she stopped him. "That's not necessary," she said. "I want you naked inside me."
He felt himself tighten at her unexpected words, get harder still. "Huh? But Snowy, you don't want to take the chance of..."
She placed a silky finger on his lips and smiled. "I came prepared," she laughed gently. "I didn't know what to expect. Besides, I'm a shapeshifter. We don't get or give STDs." She snuggled against him kittenishly.
"Always thinking ahead, eh?" Roger teased her, kissing the tip of her nose. "That's my girl." He smiled down at her. There was no more fear in her, only love and trust. He knew with all his heart she WAS his girl now, would do anything for him...and that he would do anything for her as well. It WAS possible to love two very different people with equal passion, equal depth.
He rubbed his chin and cheek against her face, breathing in the warm sweet scent of her, the fine tendrils of her hair tickling him gently. She was utterly open to him, so vulnerable...he had to ask one more time, had to be sure.
"My dearest little she-wolf, do you truly want to become one with me, to join our bodies, to be of one heart, one soul?"
There was no hesitation in her answer. "Yes."
Her soft voice was full of quiet joy.
Serious now, Roger moved over her, caging her small form beneath his. His eyes were dark and soft, melting with his love for her, his ache for her. He wanted to fill her with his passion, to pleasure her with the skills of his body.
He flexed his slim hips so that just his tip entered her, then moved forward slowly. Roger slid carefully into her, each thrust a little deeper, a little harder, as if making room for himself within the wet heat of her body's tight embrace. She felt lushly wonderful around him, each slight movement sending another thrill of desire through him.
A faint whimper came deep from Kirei's throat, turning into a kind of purring sigh as he finally sheathed himself fully within her. She raised her hands to his face, pulling him down with surprising strength. They kissed hungrily, pressing their lips against each other's throat, mouth, eyes, whatever fevered skin was in reach. Roger briefly crushed her against the bed's surface, holding her tightly in his arms, burying his face in the wild dark halo of curls framing her.
Roger filled her completely; even lying motionless, trapped beneath him, Kirei could feel the heavy beat of his pulse against the walls of her body, felt herself twitch and tighten around the thick length of his shaft. She thought she would die from the sheer pleasure of holding him so deeply...and then he began to move.
It all seemed to be a kind of waking dream.
Roger was deliberate at first, still taking his time with her. He was enjoying himself too much to rush, loved watching the play of emotion across her sweet face.
Their bodies entwined in a kind of slow dance: stroking, touching, kissing, nipping, expressing their mutual need far more eloquently than mere words could ever do.
A rosy flush of heat gradually colored Kirei's face. She cried out his name, curling herself tighter around him, driving him deeper inside her.
Roger thrust harder now, faster, giving her his full weight and strength as she writhed ecstatically beneath him. Nothing existed but this golden moment, this growing ache to pour himself into her, to meld their two selves into one. He swallowed her cries as she surrendered to him, felt himself shatter into bliss as he took possession of her.
She had cried in his arms afterwards, still not quite able to believe. Roger had kissed away her tears, murmuring words of love, of comfort, assuring her that this was all real, that this was her life now. She would always be loved, always be wanted.
She had a home for now and for always with him and Dorothy.
A pack of her own.
Kirei sat up abruptly. She was trembling violently. How could something so wonderful end like this, without warning? It made no sense.
There had to be something more going on, something deeply hidden to cause all of this. Roger was not a frivolous man despite his youth. He could be thoughtless, headstrong, but he would never deliberately toy with someone's heart. He might go out of his way not to hurt her feelings, but knew her well enough to be honest with her. He knew she'd prefer a blunt truth to a silky dissemblance. He had learned that much about her early on, and had the scars to prove it.
Again, she thought about Dorothy's reaction to the gifts, to the handsome new officer at M.P.H.Q. The key to this mess was there somewhere. She wished she could get ahold of the redhead privately, confront her about just what the hell was going on. She had promised to say nothing to Roger, but that didn't mean she couldn't ask Dorothy directly...but she was never around.
She would not jump to conclusions. Let the game play out, Kirei thought to herself as she re-packed the box. The final option could wait.