Chapter Five

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

After hanging up, Abi felt for the first time in days more relaxed and calm from just hearing her mate's voice. If this was what his voice did to her from just hearing it, she could only imagine what it would be like being around him all the time.

A shiver of pleasure and happiness went through her body at the thought of seeing her mate again. 'My mate,' Abi thought smiling both inside and outside just thinking about Feral. Truly, she couldn't have done any better at finding such a wonderful mate to spend her life with. She was over the moon but, surprisingly, shy about seeing him tonight.

Across from her, Urabe watched as the high stress levels in Abi's body finally eased away. However, one thing very important had caught her ear during she-kat's conversation with her mate.

It wasn't a good thing to find out the she-kat was actively blocking her mate's mind from hers nor the fact Abi was totally unaware that she had been doing it in the first place. Shaking her head mentally, Urabe thought, 'Their bond must be very strong for her to be able to block him so easily even unconsciously.'

"Abi," Urabe gently called the scientist's attention back to her.

"Oh, sorry, I got a little distracted," Abi said blushing a little.

"Just remember to use protection during the heat of the moment, Abi," Urabe smirked making Abi blush so thoroughly that it had spread down her neck.

Totally flustered, Abi stuttered, "No, we…I don't think…"

"Abi, calm down, I was just teasing you." Urabe laughed lightly. "However, there is something else we do need to discuss," she added, her face taking a more serious expression.

"I have a feeling there are a lot of things I don't know about you guys that I'll have to learn," Abi said ruefully. "But, what has you concerned right now?"

Urabe nodded to herself, 'This is a very intelligent she-kat which will make this next thing much easier to explain.' "Pardon me for listening in, but did I hear Jimmu say that you are blocking him?"

Abi nodded. "That's what he said but, honestly, I wasn't aware I was doing that."

"It's alright, I understand. Of course, Jimmu hadn't told you that much about the bonding process in the first place so its no surprise you don't know what it's supposed to be like nor how to work it. So, I'm going to teach you," Urabe said briskly.

"Am I hurting Ulysses by blocking him?" Abi interrupted concerned.

"Not hurting per se, but making him miserable, certainly. The purpose of the bond, is to completely share everything you are with your mate including your emotions and thoughts as he will with you. Of course, that doesn't mean you aren't allowed to keep some secrets from your mate, especially Jimmu and the secrets he must maintain in his job. But most of the time, your minds freely mingle all the time, like a warm, comforting, security blanket." Urabe explained.

"Gee, that sounds so nice. I'm sorry I blocked him. I did feel his emotions when we first came together but now...I only vaguely sense him," Abi said guiltily.

"It's not your fault, Abi. You simply didn't know. Actually, the fact you can block means your bond with Jimmu is very strong...which is a wonderful thing. Anyway, I'm going to instruct you on how to remove the block, so listen carefully."

Abi nodded her head and prepared to listen closely.

"I want you to lean back as far as you can in your chair and take three deep breaths, letting them out slowly as you allow your body to relax completely."

Abi did as ordered. It took her more than three breaths to finally make her mind and body relax but finally she succeeded. Urabe watched her the whole time and was please when the she-kat's aura showed she was totally relaxed.

"Good, now clear your mind of everything and just focus on the bond. Focus on anything you're able to sense of your mate."

Abi nodded as she closed her eyes and did as Urabe instructed. She shoved her worries and concerns aside and only focused on that link with her mate. She sighed mentally in relief as she realized she could feel her mate through the block, though they were seriously muted at the moment.

The block in her mind resembled a plaster wall with cracks. She could just barely feel Ulysses' emotions trying to crash through which could be why she saw cracks and felt his emotions leaking through it. Focusing her attention on the cracks, she tried to figure out how to bring the wall down.

"Can you see it, Abi?" Urabe asked.

"Yes, but there are slight leaks in it. I think, Uly is doing that," Abi muttered distantly.

"No surprise there as he can't abide being separated from you. So many believe my brother has no emotions because his controls are very good but I can tell you his emotions are quite strong, especially for those he cares deeply for," Urabe told her. "Now, I want you to imagine that wall as a brick one then I want you to pry each brick out one after the other."

Abi nodded her head but didn't lose focus as she worked to morph the plaster to brick. It took a lot of concentrating but gradually she watched as the sickly white wall began to transform into a red brick wall that was faded with crumbling gray cement mortar holding them together.

Pausing, Abi stared at the new wall a moment searching for a weak spot. Thinking she'd found one, she reached out mental fingers and began to prise a brick from the wall. It wouldn't budge.

"It won't move." She moaned despair causing her to lose focus.

"Easy Abi, don't lose hope or focus. You're just new at this is all. Just keep trying but remember, you must want the wall down as you're trying to pull a brick. Your desire and strength of will can conquer this." Urabe quietly encouraged the she-kat.

"I do want the block gone. I feel…so alone." Abi murmured longing in her voice as she focused again on the wall.

"That the great thing about the bond, Abi...never feeling alone again," Urabe warmly. As she watched Abi carefully, her heart sang with joy that two of her brothers were now lifemated. It was a truly wonderful thing for the clan.

Heeding Ulysses' sister's words, Abi turned all her will against the wall. She remembered how it had felt when she had felt his emotions in her mind that moment after he'd spoken with his grandmother and had been so upset. Her touch and thoughts had quickly eased him, making him relax. And the other moment when he poured his love into her despite how angry she was at him.

Those moments had felt wonderful and she desperately wanted to feel those loving emotions again. Being away from them hurt! Her intense need and desire to forgive him helped her begin to actually move a brick out an inch. Determination gave her added strength.

Finally the brick came free and disappeared. Smiling, Abi was pleased to see the small hole in the wall. Now for more of them and she reached out again to begin pulling the bricks away.

Across from her, Urabe could see a smile flash across her sister-in-law's face which told her the she-kat had made a breakthrough. She continued to watch as Abi's smile grew till finally she opened her eyes again, a look of triumph on her beaming face.

"I can feel him now. It's nearly overwhelming," Abi said breathlessly as she felt Ulysses emotions of love and desire pour through their shared link.

Urabe chuckled a little at Abi's enthusiasm. "Very good, congratulations, Abi. Don't feel so alone now do you?"

Abi shook her head, "No I don't. Thank you, Urabe for showing me how to bring it down."

"You're very welcome...after all, you are now a part of my clan."

"I'm sure Ulysses will be so grateful to you for helping me."

"Please don't tell him," Urabe said quickly.

Abi blinked at her in surprise, a question in her eyes.

Urabe smiled reassuringly at her. "I don't want you to tell Jimmu I was here as I want to surprise him. I want to personally offer my congratulations to him over his new mating and I don't get to see him very much so it gives me the opportunity to do that as well. I just love surprising him."

"Oh sure, I understand," Abi said grinning. "However, I'm a terrible liar and Uly will know I'm not telling him something right away," she said ruefully.

"Hmm…I think I can help you with that. There's a little trick I know that will help you whenever you want to keep the truth from him only for very good reasons...like a birthday party. Nothing spoils things when you've so carefully planned an event to have your mate know about it ahead of time," Urabe smirked.

"So very true," Abi laughed.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

In his office, at the same time as Abi was learning to break through the block in her mind, Feral, Felina, and Kazuma were bringing each other up to date on the doings of the clan.

He tried to get a little more information about the testing but his friend was close mouthed about it except to say he wouldn't begin the testing until Feral and Abi had returned from their necessary sequestering.

"Don't concern yourself so much about it Jimmu. Just enjoy being mated," Kazuma said warmly, giving his friend a hardy clap on the back. "Now, I need to be going. If I have time, I might drop in you again."

"It was good seeing you," Feral murmured, warmly, giving his friend a brief hug.

"I'll see you out, Kazuma. I have to return to duty too," Felina said, cheerfully, also giving her uncle a hug and wishing him congratulations again and that she'd keep an eye on his workload while he was gone. Soon the two were walking out his office door and vanishing from view.

Sighing, Feral returned to his desk to try and get some work done before his date tonight. Just thinking about that caused his mind to drift toward his mate. He frowned at the block that was still there. For a few minutes, he tried to beat on it again.

Suddenly, to his surprise, it was beginning to weaken. Excited, he focused on the block and pounded on it. Only minutes later, the wall suddenly was gone and he was flooded with his mate's warm presence and her excitement at her success in removing the wall between them. Pleased and happy, he let his own emotions of joy mingle with her own.

Now he truly couldn't wait to see her this evening. It was extremely important that they get away for a time, or they would lose control due to the stresses of being apart and give themselves away. They still needed to keep secret their bonding and taking time away would ensure they cemented that bond as well as reduce their stress. He already made plans so, smiling in better cheer, he toned down the output from his mate a bit so he could focus again and set to work in a happier state of mind. He had a lot to get done so his temporary replacement wouldn't be overwhelmed.

While he struggled to keep his attention on his work, he couldn't help looking at his watch nearly every five minutes. Impatience dogged him, despite the amount of work that should have kept him occupied.

His need to be with his mate was riding his back but he forced himself to get his assigned tasks done no matter what. Working diligently, he managed to complete the report the Mayor had wanted as well as several other reports and projects, tossing them in his out basket for his secretary to disseminate. The rest, he sorted into two piles, the unfinished work going into his in box and the more sensitive stuff being locked in his desk.

Once done, he saw the time was six-fifteen. Time to go home and clean up and leave for his date with Abi. He headed out, grabbing his coat then locking his door behind. In very little time he was in his vehicle and heading home.

He made it home in good time as the traffic was light this late in the day. Taking the elevator up to his apartment, he barely waited for the doors to open on his floor before striding down the hall and putting key to lock quickly. Once inside he stripped off his clothes on the way to his bedroom. Jumping into the shower, he washed up with care, then chose a nice casual outfit for the evening.

A simple white t-shirt worn with a pair of black jeans, black walking shoes, and a plain dark blue jacket completed his outfit. Grabbing his wallet and keys, he stepped out of his apartment locking it behind him then hurrying for the elevator.

He made good time getting to Joe's Diner. The place was bigger than the name suggested, being able to hold over a hundred patrons and done in a seventy's style with red and white decor. He looked up at the large, round, red and white clock that hung over the old style counter that Feral sat waiting at for Abi. The time was just now eight zero five. His ears perked up when the quaint door ringer sang out announcing another patron had entered.

Feral turned his head to see if it was Abi and it was. Smiling, she came walking up to him dressed in a dusty rose tank top with a white undershirt beneath it and brown, low cut jeans with white sneakers on her feet.

She was a lovely vision that made Feral's body heat up. His gaze was hot as he beheld how well her clothes hung off her in just the right places displaying her curves to their best advantage and swaying her hips suggestively as she came toward him. His primal side purred at the sight of her.

Abi's warm brown eyes stared with equal heat at her handsome mate as he stood up. She adored the way his powerfully muscular chest stretched his t-shirt. He exuded power and grace in his every move. It just gave her shivery goosebumps just to know he was all hers. It also feel so incredibly protected to know just how deadly he was but how gentle he could be when with her.

He swept her in his arms and stared down at her. The feel of her in his arms was so incredible. She was affected too he noted. Despite how their bodies reacted, their minds seemed uncertain how to proceed.

"Ulysses…" She murmured, softly.

"Abi…" He rumbled in that deep voice of his.

They had spoken at the same time...they froze and stared at each other, not sure who should go first. Finally, Abi did.

"I missed you, Uly," she said quietly.

He pulled her more tightly against him and she gasped. The feel of him was just so wonderful so she wrapped her own arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest, taking his scent into her nose. That sent a jolt through her body, setting certain parts on fire.

Feral rumbled a deep purr, that pulsed through her body. He loved the feel of her against him, molding perfectly with his own body. Leaning his head down, he sniffed her hair, taking her scent into his very being. It set him on fire and hardened him painfully. Oh how he missed her, even though it truly hadn't been that long.

He reached a paw up and caught her chin with his fingers, forcing her head up gently so his lips could meet hers in a hot kiss.