Chapter Nine

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

By late afternoon, Abi's work preparing for the exhibit and the rest of her paperwork she needed accomplished before going on vacation was finished. Sighing happily, she tossed the completed files in her out basket, took projects requiring follow up or monitoring to one of her many assistants then locked up sensitive documents that could wait until her return into her desk.

Pleased to be done, she sighed happily and glanced at her wristwatch. She had twenty minutes before her normal workday ended. Seeing how she was finished with her work and the fact she was the boss, she felt no guilt had leaving early. After all, she did work long hours all the time, she deserved to take time for herself.

Her mind on her vacation with her mate, she was about to rise from her chair when a sudden wave of warmth and love flooded her bond with Ulysses followed swiftly by a surging need and desire.

"Oh!" She gasped in startled surprise as her body reacted to the intense need thrumming through her. Between her legs, her clitoris swelled and throbbed with burning arousal. Unbidden, a moan escaped her lips causing her to slap a paw over her mouth the other was gripping her chair tightly as the unrelenting need pushed her closer and closer to orgasm

"Ulysses!" She cried out through the bond hoping her mate could explain what was going on and why.

An amused and heated whisper came back across the bond. "Shh Abi...it's alright...just go with it."

"B-b-but...Ulysses there could be others around!" She choked worriedly while her body continued to writhe in mindless pleasure.

"Relax...there's no one around...I promise, love. Now enjoy what I'm doing to you," he purred hotly.

Panting and only a little annoyed with him, she growled, "Ulysses! I'll get you for this!" Her back arched upward as another intense wave of erotic heat rushed through her, wrenching another cry from her.

Laughing darkly, he murmured, "Oh, I have no doubt of that."

Adding to the hot wave pouring through her, she felt his paws caressing every part of her as if he were right there with her...it was maddening as her body ached for his true touch and body to complete this little interlude he'd begun.

"Aaahhhhh!" Her body jerked as her mate's mental 'paws' ghosted over her lower half and drew even more delicious shivers of pleasure from him.

Doing as Ulysses asked, she simply relaxed and enjoyed the many sensations bombarding her. She could feel her inner walls begin to tighten as fire grew hotter and hotter. Her head tossed backward as her body stiffened and she climaxed with a scream.

Little ripples of pleasure continued to pulse through her as her body relaxed. She sighed from the endorphin high, her eyes closed.

They flicked open when a chuckle reached her ears from the vicinity of her office door. There stood her mate eyeing her with a pleased look and heated desire. Her face flushed when she realized he'd been watching her when her orgasm crashed over her.

"Don't be embarrassed, Abi. This is just one of the many wonderful things we can do for each other that's common to our kind. Having never done it before, I wanted to see if I could do it with someone who isn't a Sahara." He grinned as he entered the room completely, closing the door behind him. "I'd say it was a roaring success."

Snorting and definitely not amused, she let him feel her annoyance at what he'd done. "I'm not pleased you used me as an experiment, Uly. What if someone had come in, I would have been humiliated."

"I would never let that happen to you, my love, which is why I checked the perimeter before I did it. No one's here except the guard and he's near the front entrance right now. Forgive me, I just couldn't help myself and as your mate, I'm the only one allowed to see how beautiful you are when you come." Ulysses purred as he leaned over her and gave her a kiss.

The warm kiss set new flames burning as well as the dark, passionate look of need Uly was giving her. Kissing him back with equal passion, she asked him a question over their bond.

"Mmm, when did you get here?" She moved her arms upward to slip around his neck.

"An hour ago...left work early to be with you," Ulysses murmured back sliding his arms under her and lifting from her seat so that she rested completely in his arms.

The warm comfort she felt in his arms suddenly gave her a wicked idea. If Uly could do what he did with his mind then it stood to reason, she should be able to do it too. Smirking to herself, she deepened the kiss while hiding her intent from her mate.

As they clung to each other, she began to send waves of erotic energy through him. He gasped and shuddered under the gentle assault, his cock responding as it rose to press against his trousers.

"Abi…" He moaned hotly, using his free paw to caress her chest.

"Oh no...no touching me there just yet, Uly," she chided him amused, through their bond.

Unable to hold her while his body demanded he do more to her, he set her on her feet again. She smiled at the effect she was having on him then sent another rush of warmth and added ghostly touches to his chest and hardening cock. He was panting now and crushing her closer to him, kissing her neck and licking her face.

"I need to touch you more than just hold you," He pleaded.

"Uh-uh...your paws must stay around my waist until I allow otherwise," She cooed, giving his nose a nip.

All this play was making her hot and aroused as well. Tormenting him was great fun and it just made her more needy for him but she wasn't through 'punishing' him for his trick earlier. His eyes pleaded as he got more and more heated, his desire for her burning in his eyes but still she refused, shaking her head.

So wrapped up were they in each other, Feral's internal alarm failed to warn him when a sudden cough startled them both.

They jolted and turned their heads toward her office door to see the Deputy Mayor standing there with a look of mixed displeasure and envy on her face and her arms crossed over her chest.

Flushing in embarrassment at being caught in such a compromising position at work, Abi stuttered, "Oh...uh...Callie, I forgot you were returning later...sorry about this..." She trailed off as she pulled from Feral and stepped closer to the other she-kat.

"Great…just want I needed...the deputy mayor dropping in…what a mood killer." Ulysses' mind voice groused, unhappily.

Trying to keep her face mild despite the blush, it didn't help hearing her mate speak to her in her mind at the same time. She chastised him, "Ulysses!"

"What? My erection just vanished because of her. I don't think I have to remind you what a pain in the..."

"Ulysses! Hush!" She snapped desperately, while turning her attention firmly on her angry friend.

"So this was the special person you were telling me about, Abi. Truthfully, I'm surprised to learn it was Commander Feral." Callie said tightly a definite bite to her tone.

Not liking Callie's tone of voice, Feral stepped forward and inserted himself between the two she-kats. "So, Ms. Briggs...what brings you here this late?" He asked casually.

His laid back tone didn't fool Abi. She could feel his watchfulness in her mind and see the tension in his body. He was protecting her though she really didn't see Callie as a threat. Shaking her head mentally, she pushed past her mate sending a warning that he didn't need to protect her.

"She's here on the behest of the Mayor. He wants a speech written about the Saharas Exhibit that he's giving at the opening ceremony."

Frowning a little, Feral glanced down at his mate, his golden eyes staring into her soft brown ones as they had a small disagreement mentally.

Callie's eyes narrowed as she watched the pair. It seemed like they were having some kind of silent conversation. This show of how deep their relationship must be made Callie feel even more irritated and jealous. It upset her that someone like Abi had been able to capture the one she'd been after for years. Also, she was getting angry at being ignored.

'What does he see in her that he couldn't see in me? How did she manage to capture his eye?' Those questions burned within her.

More annoyed than she thought she should be, she snapped a bit angrily, "Excuse me, Abi, but I really need to get this done. I still have to write the speech and its getting late.

With great difficulty, Abi pulled herself forcefully away from her mate's piercing gaze and turned back to the fuming deputy mayor. "Of course, sorry. Do you want to go back to the exhibit?"

"That'll be fine. You were about to tell me more on the First Knight. I'd like to hear that story." Callie set aside her pique, work took precedence right now. She'd deal with this new knowledge about her friend at a later time.

Abi nodded that what Callie suggested was fine then turned to Feral a moment and said mildly, "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Certainly." Feral said equatably but he wouldn't let her leave without extracting another kiss and a question. "How did she know you were seeing someone?"

"I'll tell you later," she said hurriedly as they broke the kiss.

He nodded, caressed her cheek before turning to the deputy mayor to give her a brisk nod then walking past her out the door, vanishing from view.

Once he was gone, Callie gestured to the doorway and said, "Shall we go?"

Abi nodded and smiled lightly to try to ease the tension she could feel from her friend. Walking past the she-kat, she led the way out.

As they made for the Saharas Exhibit, they made no attempt to dispel the uncomfortable silence between them. Abi's mind was on what to say to her friend while Callie's was strictly on business.

0~0~0~0~0~0~0

Feral had decided to go to his apartment to wait for Abi to join him. As he stood on his balcony and watched the sun setting, he ruminated on how Abi and Callie were getting on after the awkward scene in Abi's office.

He could tell Callie was not happy about Abi stealing the prize...meaning him. She'd been chasing him for years so it wasn't surprising she'd feel angry about losing to him to her best friend. Though she was far too good a professional to rip into Abi right now, she wouldn't hold off for long to vent her anger at Abi in a more private setting. She might even sic the SWAT Kats on him in retaliation for snubbing her all these years.

A faint snick in the direction of his front door warned him someone was opening the door. He stepped back into the room in time to see Abi stepping in with a small travel bag in her paw. She closed the door behind her and set the case down.

He immediately noticed her distressed look and hurried to her side. Wrapping her in his arms, he asked, "Abi? What's wrong? Did Callie do or say something nasty to you?"

Abi shook her head vehemently. "Oh no, she was all business which made it worse actually. I could tell she was upset. Oh Ulysses, I'm worried our friendship is over," she moaned.

She walked past her mated and flopped down on the sofa, dispirited. Her sad feelings made him feel bad as he joined her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close.

"Oh, love, it's alright," he murmured, sending waves of reassure toward her. "Just give Callie time to adjust. She's angry because you won me and she didn't. No one likes having the object of their desire go to their best friend. Truly, she's not going to toss a long time friendship over a tom."

Snorting, she punched him lightly in the chest. "You're that tom, remember?"

He flashed a small smile at her. "True." He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "If you want, I can talk to her?"

Abi shook her head, "No...don't...this was my fault in the first place. When Callie came by the museum earlier today, I got too excited about the exhibit and Saharas in particular. She wanted to know why so I deflected her interest, telling her that I was seeing someone...I just didn't tell her who thanks to a timely interruption...her phone rang."

"Ah, I see. Don't let it bother you. Though I'd hoped our relationship could have remained a secret for quite a while longer, I knew it couldn't be when we became mates. Our feelings are too strong for each other for it to be kept secret. But, it's only Callie that knows right now and she won't feel inclined to let the secret out. Most likely, she'll come and talk to me about it very soon." He gently assured her. Privately, he still felt she would tell the SWAT Kats...she told those two everything.

"I hope you're right. I hate losing her as a friend," she said pensively. "I'm sorry to have let the secret slip, though."

Ulysses shook his head. "Don't be. We were lucky to have kept it as long as we did, love. I'm just glad it was Briggs and not Gora. That she-kat drives me up the wall with her endless questions."

Abi couldn't hold back the giggle that welled up at his put upon expression about the Kat's Eye News reporter. If anyone could drive her mate crazier then Briggs it was Ann Gora. The she-kat had quite the talent for finding out things.

Pleased he was able to lighten his mate's mood, he could now focus on getting ready to leave on their vacation. Hopefully, things would quiet down before they returned.