Awakening

[Maira]

The corners of her mouth twitched with a smile when Dayan offered to sleep outside the bedroom door. When he offered to have Inka lay next to her to keep her warm, she couldn't help but laugh. Still dead tired, but sounding a bit better, Maira answered playfully, "Dayan, as much as that would thrill Rain I'm not so sure waking up next to a big black leopard would be too good for my sanity." How could the man possibly make her feel so at ease and so flustered all at once?

Maira was a bit too distracted by the emotions playing on Dayan's face to notice the presence of Inka, lurking and taunting his human counterpart. Hoping she was reading him right, Maira added, "Anyway, I think you'd be plenty warm." As soon as she had spoken Maira had to wonder just what in the hell had gotten into her. Another purring ripple of mirth from Twilight's Rain was not helping her at all either. If she wasn't already a bit rosy from sitting so close to the fire, Maira was sure that Dayan would have seen her blush.

[Races The Night]

"I don't know, some people might find it a big turn on to wake up to a huge jungle cat." He flashed her a toothy grin with just a hint of fang and stood. Yawning, Dayan stretched luxuriously, almost groaning in pleasure at the pop of joints and stain of muscles.

"Well I'm really tired and in need of blissfully unconscious sleep. If you want I'll sleep outside of your door, its no biggy." The thought of being curled up outside of her door, while she slept was extremely excruciating. The thought of his sheets over her skin, or his shirt was enough to make him growl low in his throat. He covered it with a fake cough.

"Go on with you now, before I change my mind and fall asleep right here." He said, gesturing to the sofa. "Right now anywhere looks comfortable enough to sleep peacefully."

[Maira]

At Dayan's teasing, Maira hauled herself out of the chair. She got up slowly this time so as not to get dizzy. She too gave a stretch, her shirt lifting just far enough past the top of her pants to show off the pale skin of a toned stomach before falling back into place.

Once she was sure she'd be stable enough on her feet, Maira walked past Dayan and slyly slipped her hand into his draggin him after her towards the stairs. Giving up any sense of propriety, Maira said matter-of-factly, "You're not sleeping on the couch and I wouldn't dream of having you sleep on the hard floor outside your own bedroom." Her voice taking on a much warmer tone she added, "After all, I'm sure your bed is more than big enough for both of us. " When she reached the top of the stairs, Maira had no idea which door led to his bedroom so she just stood there, her hand in his, and waited for Dayan to lead the way.

Waiting for him to show her the way, Maira realized that touching him was waking her up and giving her a bit more energy. Twilight's Rain had come quite alert the instant Maira's skin had touched Dayan's. In the cave they had both been too worried about the man to feel much and Maira had been naked then. Now fully clothed, here she stood picturing him naked again but this time it wasn't in a cave with a crossbow bolt sticking out of him. The image was of them together in his bed. Not having the fire as an excuse for her flushed skin, Maira gave up.

Leaning in close Maira kissed Dayan on the neck, right where it met his shoulder. A bit flustered at her actions and the feelings she was having for a man she barely knew, Maira whispered in his ear, "Sorry," before pulling back. She didn't know what to do with her eyes in case he actually turned to look at her so she decided to stare at the floor.

[Races The Night]

Blood ran hot and low in his body at the sight of so much soft, feminine flesh. Inka purred dangerously, becoming restless and needy. His gaze burned her. The light touch of Maira's hand sent sparks shooting up his forearm. Without further question, he followed her. After all, what was a man to do when an inviting female was tugging him by the hand towards a bedroom. Lay back and enjoy the ride, that's what.

They stood at the top of the stairs when she gestured for him to precede her. He stood quite dumbly, his mind trying to churn out all the smoky gunk and focus on the task at hand. She leaned in close and he could feel her breath blossom over his collar bone, where his shirt fell away. She placed her mouth over the pulse spot on his neck and fire surged through his veins.

He groaned and mourned the loss of contact when she pulled away. It took him a few moments of heavy breathing and straining control to pull himself back from the brink. "Don't be." He murmured, his voice laced with desire and moved past her towards his room. Their bodies brushed together, hard steel muscle against giving, soft flesh. Dayan was caught up in an entirely new form of hell as he swung the door open to his bedroom and stood aside for her. "Go on in, I think its best I have the sofa tonight." He said, choosing to use his last shred of honor before he shredded her in a more pleasurable way.

(Play along Maira might find a big kitty lying next to her in the morning)

[Maira]

Maira was so confused. Dayan had just told her he would be sleeping on the couch after all. Did the groan that she had heard when she had pulled back from kissing his neck mean nothing? What about him telling her not to be sorry, especially in the tone of voice he had used?

She wanted nothing more than to grab Dayan's hand tighter as he told her to take the bed alone. Maira wanted so badly to drag him into the room with her. Of course, Rain's insistence wasn't helping Maira keep a level head with the whole situation.

When the door finally closed behind Dayan, Maira just stood staring at it dumbly for a few minutes. She may not have been the most worldly of women when it came to the ways of loving a man, Maira had had her fair share of partners and she had never been rejected. Not until tonight. Feeling completely and utterly dejected, Maira finally turned and made her way to the bed.

When she got to the bed she couldn't help but smile. There sitting on the bed was an oversized, at least for her, t-shirt that Dayan had obviously worn until it had that comfortably beat up look to it. Slipping out of everything but her panties, Maira slipped the t-shirt on and revelled in the smell of her mate.

At that thought, Maira paused and stood gaping. What had she just called Dayan?! Surely she was getting ahead of herself with that thought. Inside her, Twilight's Rain was purring contentedly at having the scent of her mate surrounding her. Inka was more than suitable as a mate and she would not have any other, Maira would just have to get used to the idea.

Giving up on trying to figure out what her leopard influenced brain was trying to think, Maira shrugged and climbed into Dayan's bed. Pulling the blankets up around her, Maira was even more surrounded by Dayan's scent. That accompanied by the warmth of the blankets and sheer exhaustion, put Maira to sleep almost instantly. Her dreams were pleasant and filled with a big black leopard and handsome man she had known less than a day.

[Races The Night]

Combing his hair back n agitation, Dayan growled at himself. The leopard in him was angry with himself. How dare he rob him of the female. There was a moments hesitation that allowed his head to fall on the wood panel of the door. Inside, Dayan could hear her rustle about the room - and the knowledge made stepping away even more painful.

Finally dragging himself away through shere will power, he paced downstairs, going through a nightly routine of checking the safeguards of his home. Everything to his satisfaction, he returned to the living room and shrugged out of his clothes, discarding them on the floor. Dayan slid between the sheets on the sofa and lay down. The brush of coarse fabric over his heated skin agrevated him. Tossing and turning to find the best position, he came to the conclusion that there was none. He punched the pillow. Still sleep was far away.

Realising that he wasn't likely to rest tonight, Dayan gave up, his edgy need for the Change foremost in his mind. Slowly, savoring the familiar pain/pleasure brought on by shifting, he drew Inka forward. The black leopard surged into control, grasping his mind with an unmoveable hold. Dark fur slid over the muscles of his back and down his arms, which twisted and reshaped into hude paws and limbs. Fully formed, Inka dropped down off the sofa and paced his home, restless. The leopard wanted to go claim his mate, the man was desperately clinging to honor.

Full dawn was breaking by the time Inka slipped silently upstaris and nudged the door to his room open. The woman lying on his bed was bathed in fresh morning light, her features relaxed and beuatiful in sleep. His honor had given away a short while ago and he had battled with himself for a long while before venturing upstairs. As softly as he could, Inka vaulted onto the soft matress. Maira's fiery hair was tousled and sleep mussed, spread around her face like a halo. She wore his shirt, he noted with masculine satisfaction.

Inka nosed tthe covers aside and laid himself down next to the woman, touching her cheek affectionately with his muzzle. He closed his eyes and breathed her scent deep into his lungs, drifting away on dreams filled with rainfresh scents and naked nymphs, dancing in the moonlight.

((Yeah I just had to go through that whole post and replace D'yan with Dayan ....))

[Maira]

When Maira finally woke, the sun was coming in through the windows and she felt warm all over. She had always loved the way the sun warmed her but now that there was a big cat prowling inside of her, the sun felt even better. Before she had even opened her eyes, Maira became aware of a heaviness on the bed next to her. Forgetting she wasn't at home, Maira figured it was her trio of cats all in a pile. She rolled over to pet them and came face to face with a feline that was most deffinately not the size of a housecat.

Rain purred warmly with greeting at Inka at the same time that Maira rolled back over onto her back taking deep calming breaths. Only at the last minute had Maira restrained the scream that almost escaped her and still breathing heavy, she looked sideways at the leopard form of Dayan laying cuddled next to her. How had such a big creature crawled in bed with her and she hadn't known? If a leopard could snicker, Maira figured that Rain would be doing just that. The snowleopard was very smug and pleased with herself. Her mate couldn't resist her after all.

Without realizing she was doing it, Maira grumbled at Twilight's Rain, "Will you stop thinking that?" Maira barely knew Dayan and she was certainly not ready to call him her mate. No matter what the snowleopard, now fully awake, inside of her though Maira needed to get to the know the man before Rain could have the big black leopard as a mate.

Looking at Inka, still sleeping, out of the corner of her eye, Maira began to relax. It had been a shock to wake up to the big cat in bed with her but she had to admit she had never slept better. All in a rush, Maira's desire to wake the leopard, and hopefully coax the man out of him, Maira rolled back over and reached up tenatively to caress the big cat's head and shoulders. She hoped he wouldn't be insulted by her petting him like she would her housecats but she couldn't think of anything else to do to wake him.

[Races The Night]

In a flash, the leopards icy eyes snapped open and a low feral growl started vibrating in his chest. Lightning fast, Dayan leapt to the forefront of Inka's mind, forcing the Change to come over him with startling speed. It took an instant before he gripped her writst tightly and was on her in a shot, pinning her down on the soft mattress, his grip hard. Dayan's eyes were wild, his breathing heavy as he fought the blind rage consuming him. The wound on his shoulder was no more than a white scar.

It took him a full ten seconds before his grip slackened and he choked out, "Maira?" his eyes clearing of the mists of rage and leaping away from her as though she were on fire, he scooted to the edge of the bed, utterly and gloriously naked. HIs hair was haphazard, giving him the appearance of a person gone insane, spikes sticking out unevenly. "Oh god, did I hurt you?" He asked, paniked as he lunged forward, moving his hands over her in a decidedly more softer manner. Oh gee what if he had hurt her unintentionally? He should have warned her not to shock him out of sleep, that he would attack anything that moved past his field of vision.

[Maira]

The low growl that issued from Inka was not at all what Maira expected and despite the beast inside her, Maira quivered in fear. She hadn't realized that Inka was being replaced by Dayan until the man was on top of her, gripping her wrist hard and pinning her to the bed. To scared to even squirm, Maira lay there and just stared up at the man that had acted so warmly towards her only the night before.

When he finally came out of his rage and leapt off her Maira took a deep shaking breath to calm her nerves. If she didn't, she was afraid she'd start to cry. She'd never been so scared of anything or anyone in her life. She was too nervewracked to even notice that Dayan was naked or how cute he looked with his hair sticking out all over the place.

She had taken a couple calming breaths when he asked if he had hurt her and then he lunged at her again, making her close her eyes and tense in fear. Only when his hands smoothed down her body gently, searching for any hurts he might have inflicted, did Maira begin to relax and open her eyes to look at him. What she saw was more the man she recognized and she relaxed even further. Softly she answered him, "You scared the hell outta me Dayan but I'm fine."

He didn't seem to hear her so Maira reached up a hand to his face and caressed it much the same way she'd been caressing Inka's head and shoulders. Just a gentle brushing of fingertips along his skin, slightly scruffy with overnight beard growth. She kept doing that until he looked up from his search for injuries on her body to look her in the eyes. Once he finally did she said again, "I'm fine Dayan, I promise." Inside her, Twilight's Rain purred in agreement.

[Races The Night]

"You scared the hell out of me." He said in return, shivering at the contact of her warm fingers on his jaw. Like a cat he leaned into the caress just a little further and tried not to purr. He stopped his searching for any injury to posie there, his eeys drifting closed, did she realise what she did to a man? On that thought, maybe she did if she looekd down.

His eyes opening slightly he stared, fixated at her lips, lips that were full and kissable. He really shouldn't, every brain cell was screaming for him to see sense and that getting involved with anything, Were or otherwise was dangerous right now. If you had something close, you were guarenteed that the enemy knew about it. Still, try telling his body that as he leaned forward. Just a breath apart, that was all and he'd have his piece of heaven.

His ips gently brushed against hers and he wondered briefly if he should have shaved beforehand. He'd spent a rough night, even after he had finally gievn in to weakness and crawled into his bed. Every muscle was ready to scream after being denied touch for hours. He'd lain awake most of the night lsitening to her breathing, the sound only adding to his turmoil.

[Maira]

Maira smiled softly at Dayan's return answer that she had scared him too. She hadn't meant to any more than he had meant to scare her. Her smile broadened as he closed his eyes and leaned into her caress just like one of her housecats would. That action alone, him leaning his head into her hand, was enough to stir Maira's feelings more than she though a simple gesture could.

When he opened his eyes, she saw something different in them and she held her breath to see what he would do. Something in his look made it clear to her he was thinking very hard about something and when he leaned in to kiss her, she had a pretty good idea what he might have been thinking about. It was a hesitant kiss, not something she would have expected from such a strong willed man, and all the more endearing.

Moving her hand from the side of his face to the back of his neck to tangle in his hair, Maira pulled him closer and kissed him more firmly. As she did so she felt her body arch into his and felt the snowleopard inside her urging her on. Rain wanted her mate, and she would not be denied this time if she could help it.

[Races The Night]

Dayan groaned heavily at the feel of her soft body against his hard frame. She looked damn right edable in that over-sized shirt but it was one more barrier keeping her skin from his. He kissed her fiercely, his hands roaming where any other female should really slap him and tell him to get lost. Inka riding him hard, demanding for his mate and 'who was he,a weak and feeble human, to stop him from taking her?' Fisting his hands in the hem of his shirt he yanked, making clear his intention. This was the part where she either stopped him or let him loose. Unfortunately for her, wahtever leash bound him had been shredded long ago and stopping him now would be an obstacle for both of them.

Her rainfresh scent sent his head spiralling in a sea of female scents and potent aphrodisiacs. He dropped her lips long enough to explore the tender skin of her neck, nipping playfully with teeth that had grown strangely in length. Ivory fangs pressed gently into her skin, not breaking through, but enough to be felt.

Every inch of him was hard steel, coils wound tightly. Inka brushed his mind, sent shivers over his back as her ahnds explored the plains of muscles stretched over them. Not good. Not good. he itterated over and over to himself, knowing full well he was almost past the point of no return.

[Maira]

Restraint was suddenly not a word in Maira's vocabulary as she felt Dayan tug at the shirt she was wearing, his shirt. As soon as he loosened his grip enough she untangled her fingers from his hair and slipped the shirt off over her head allowing her skin to brush against his.

The feeling was like fire crawling across her skin, like Shifting but with none of the pain. His hands on her body left little trails of fire in their wake as they explored and she couldn't help but moan. She'd been with men before but it had never been like this, how could this be so different? She really didn't care and in an instant all thoughts, including that one, were wiped from her mind and Dayan's fangs pressed into the skin of her neck. With no more thought to consequences or anything else, Maira tangled her fingers in his dark hair once more and brought his mouth back up to hers. She nipped at his lower lip and then kissed him hard. She wanted nothing in the world so much as she wanted Dayan and in that instant of realization she let all control go, she let Twilight's Rain have her way.

Feeling Maira give up control, Twilight's Rain revelled in the sudden pleasure of being so close to her mate. She would let Maira stay human for this time, but someday she would demand to have her mate in her own form. For now she was more than content to let Dayan have Maira in the way of humans.

[Races The Night]

Knowing he had her, needing her with every breath he took, taking her in with each, shuddering breath. His skin felt tight, on fire with a fever he'd rather not cure. Free of his shirt and bare to his gaze Dayan growled at the confirmation of knowledge that she was as nature intended her to be. Heavenly, beautifully and overwhelmingly naked, apart from the rather cute panties she wore. Kissing his way down her front he soon took care of those tiny little problems. She was his now and he'd make sure she understood just what that entailed. loyalty to her mate was upmost and he meant to prove to her that no other man or Were would be suitable for her.

They rolled and tussled for a bit, like leopards would, all part of the game, in the end the female always gave into her male. Dayan sank his teeth into her shoulder enough to pin her to the mattress and prevent her from moving out from under him. Stretching his full length over her, overpowering her with the desires of a male were-leopard at his prime. As the sun rose they made furious love until they both reached their own pieces of paradise. When they floated back down to earth Dayan took them to the heights again, slower this time, making sure to pay attention to everything that brought an ounce of pleasure to her.

They made love twice more before Dayan felt he was sated enough to let her out of his arms for a few minutes. Still, he chose to keep her locked at his side, nuzzling her neck and burrying his face in her soft, fiery hair. He smiled against her ear and nipped it. "You smell good." Of sex and leoaprd and man and woman. Inka purred in male satisfaction.

[Maira]

Maira wasin a state of dreamy half awareness when Dayan nipped her ear and told her she smelled good. She purred contently as she took in his scent and answered, "So do you." Lying there, wrapped in his strong possesing arms, Maira wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. Not only was she pleasantly exhausted but it just felt like the right thing to do, the right place to be. Maybe Rain wasn't wrong after all, only time would tell if Dayan really was 'The One' for her. Unlike the snowleopard, Maira needed to spend time with Dayan to know for sure whereas Twilight's Rain apparently knew instinctively. This morning, and her dreams from the night before, made it rather clear that Rain was probably right.

Unfortunately, Maira did have a job she had to be to sometime that day. Her voice rough and sleepy she asked, "Do you know what time it is? I missed work yesterday and if I'm late, they won't be happy with me." To contradict her obvious feelings of responsibility, Maira wiggled back towards Dayan so her body was pressing even more firlmy into his. She really didn't want to leave.

[Races The Night]

Dayan growled. "Do that again woman and you won't be going to work at all today." He moved against her to prove his...point. "Its drifting towards elevm a.m." he replied, punctuating his words with feathery kisses along the balls of her shoulder. "As mucha s I hate to let you go, living in the modern world means us Weres have to work for a living like everyone else. Shall I drive you into town?" He offered, making no move to leave the warmth of the covers.

Light filtered in from the drawn curtains over the bedroom window and somewhere outside, a bird was happily singing its calls to the forest. There was a faint hum from electronics downstairs and in the enxt room, where computers had been left on overnight, downloading or just plain left on.

Dayan reached around his shoulder to check the wound from the crossbow bolt. It had disappeared completely. Were's of a certain affinity healed faster than others, but overall the species had an accelerated healing rate over normal humans. Infection was still possible and thus delaying healing but in his case, he had escaped without a scratch.

[Maira]

As comfortable as she was, as tired as she was, and as entranced in Dayan as she was, when he said it was getting close to 11am, Maira couldn't help but groan inwardly. Out loud however she muttered, "Thank God I have a late shift today..." She'd missed her shift at the animal shelter the day before because, well, going all kitty the night before that had taken a lot out of her. Today, even though she was equally as exhausted it was for various reasons. The most prominent of which she was still cuddled up with.

She kissed Dayan's chest lightly where her lips rested against it, then she pulled herself away from him and up off the bed. Even though they had spent the last few hours totally engrossed in each other, Maira still felt a bit self conscious when she stood before him naked. After all, naked during sex and naked any other time were two completely different things. At least to her...

She tried not to show her nerves as she gathered her clothes and pulled them on but she was pretty sure she failed. The odd look in Dayan's eyes pretty much confirmed it. She wasn't about to apologize though because that would be silly. She couldn't help feeling self conscious any more than she could help feeling like she wanted to jump Dayan and make him stay in bed with her all day long...

Once she was dressed, and he was still laying in bed beautifully naked, Maira said to Dayan, "I can drive myself to work, its actually not too terribly far from here. I just work at the County Animal Shelter." Then, hope shining in her eyes she asked, "Can I swing by after work though? I think Rain would like to explore your forest a bit more if its okay with you and Inka." Not to mention she just couldn't get enough of Dayan... Oh how she hoped he'd say yes!

[Races The Night]

Nudity wasn't very much of an issue among leopard life. Plenty of times Dayan had woken up completely naked and cushioned by the warm flesh of his pard. The Pard seldom slept together but on the few group meetings. Sleeping among each other helped to establish the heirachy and strengthen the bond between pard-mates.

Dayan leaned back against the headboard, doing nothing to cover himself up. The morning rays just barely filtering in through the heavily draped windows warmed his golden skin where they touched. He stretched, straining each muscle and working out all the knots and mussing up the bedcovers even more while he was at it. As Maira trundled about the room gathering her clothes, Dayan allowed himself a completely unabashed scrutiny of her, the soft round curves of her buttocks as she bent to retrieve her top, or the firmness of her thighs right up to the deliciously rounded breasts he'd so lavished with attention alst night. His scrutiny didn't go unnnoticed but he wasn't fased when she looked his way and instead gave her a lewid smile.

"Of course you can." He purred suggestively. Rain would like to explore the forest, but Dayan and Inka had other explorations in mind. "I'll be home all day." He began, suddenly busienss like. "My job is mostly at home, on the few occassions I'm sent elsewhere, its usually out of the country but for the time beign I have a reprieve." He rolled onto his front and gripped the head board, stretching back in a very feline way, there was a small crack as a joint popped. "What time do you get off work?" He asked, looking over a shoulder at her.

[Maira]

Maira fought the urge not to blush at the tone Dayan used, and she almost won. Her normally creamy complexion only darkened a little bit as she smiled and thanked him. The only thing Maira needed now was to brush her hair and she'd be ready for work. Unfortunately her hair brush was outside in her truck where she'd left her purse.

Very reluctant to leave Maira walked back over to the bed and climbed back on it, getting just close enough to Dayan to give him a kiss before backing off the bed again. "Alright, I really gotta get going. I missed work completely yesterday and I doubt my boss will be too thrilled if I'm late today..." Her words trailed off and she gave a wry shrug. Not much could be done about her work situation, unlike most people who had weekends off, Maira most certainly didn't. She actually worked every weekend and had Mondays and Tuesdays off and seeing as today was Sunday, she had to get to work.

Not sure if he wanted to walk her out to her truck or not, Maira just stood waiting and watching him for a moment. When he didn't appear to be getting up to get dressed, Maira smiled and turned to walk out the door. As she did she said over her shoulder, "I'll see you round bout 7 tonight." That said she made her way out of the bedroom, down the stairs and out of the house to her truck.

[Races The Night]

As Maira turned to leave, Dayan slunk out of bed with a feral grace only a feline could possess. Moving across the floor he closed the distance between them in a few easy stride. Clutching her waist he nuzzled her neck a moment before reluctantly letting go. Keeping a hand close to the small of her back he walked with her through the house to the front door and stood out on the varanda, still completely naked. Cats didn't hold much modesty and besides, in his cosy home away from civilisation, it was almost unknown for humans to wander among this forest. Dayan amde certain they came up against a few nasty surprises along their way to scare them off. His peace was his peace.

When Maira had driven out of sight, dayan returned to his room and fell back into bed, wrapping the bedding around him, Inka revelling in the scent of Rain that still clung to his sheets. He clutched the shirt in one fist and a handful of sheet in another. Cats were lazy when it came to sunny days, he was almost tempted to take all the bedding out side onto the porch and curl up in the sun. Almost. That would involve effort on his part - and Maira had made certain last night that he would have next to no energy come morning. Grinning to himself, Dayan dropped back into a light slumber before the day started calling him and his duties to pard and job started demanding of him.