They ended up tumbling into a corner that had already been cleared of the chair that was there previously, and she was starting to tire, though just barely. She landed in a heap on top of him, and for the moment, she didn’t even move.
Nothing I read prepared me for this. It didn’t prepare me for the way I feel being close to you. It didn’t prepare me for all the things I didn’t know. It didn’t prepare me for how happy I could feel away from everything I’ve ever known.
Some things I don’t think you’re supposed to be prepared for. He nuzzled his face against her neck, feeling the same kind of peaceful exhaustion coming over him as it was over her.
What else should I look out for? Candra asked curiously, but she was always full of questions.
I don’t think I even know. You’ll just have to let me know when things surprise you. He laughed. Which I imagine will be pretty often, considering your past experience.
She pressed her nose to his for a moment and then she licked him again. How old are you, anyway? Candra never thought to ask before, but now the thought crossed her mind and she wanted to know.
That question made him laugh even more. Please make sure you really want to know before you ask that question.
I do. Come on, tell me.
He sighed. I’ll be seventy-six in three months.
Candra was definitely surprised, but she just started barking in giggles after her eyes widened. Wow. You’re old. He wasn’t, really, with at least two centuries left in his life at the conservative end of their usual life expectancy, but he was nearly a third of the way through his lifespan.
Orlando just rolled his eyes. I’m aware of that, trust me. He licked the side of her face after he spoke. But I feel like I’m still your age. Even though I’m not. My brothers used to tell me that they’d heard wolves like me live longer than most. About as long as wolves like you, even though you still weren’t supposed to exist.
I’m nineteen. She said to add insult to injury about his age, but obviously the gap didn’t bother her.
I know. He sighed again and laid down a few inches from her. Which, according to most, makes me a very, very dirty old man.
Why does it make you dirty? You haven’t done anything. Candra cocked her head in confusion, since he was very respectful toward her and the relationship between them.
Yet. He left a kiss on her cheek that came with a slow jolt of power that ran the length of her fur down her spine.
Candra trembled and shook out her fur, but she liked the feeling of it, the feeling of him and his power. She snuggled even closer to him, and then looked into the depthless, dark eyes that she loved so much. Yet? Really?
Really. He pulled her back against him with a paw, and looked up at the window, barely visible from where they were but already beginning to lighten against the darkness of their home around it.
She curled into him and felt even more excited, even though she was scared too. She wanted intimacy with Orlando, but she also knew that he had to be ready too. They both had to be ready, and his heart was still recovering from Aura. I don’t really know how to do any of that. The books don’t really give pictures that might be helpful.
He laughed again at that, and at her innocence. Some books do, but I imagine they didn’t exactly give you those books down there.
Have you ever tried it like this? As a wolf?
That chased away his jovial emotions fairly quickly, but he tried to keep it from being too obvious in his voice. Just once. It’s better as humans, but still…very enjoyable like this.
I’m sorry. Candra apologized as she licked him again. Sometimes I’m too curious.
Curiosity kills cats, not wolves. He said as he returned the kiss. Be as curious as you want.
I’d rather find out by doing it. She nuzzled his fur. Books can’t help me here, I don’t think.
No, they really can’t. He looked up to the window again, and they could both feel the Fulness slowly lift from their bodies. It was like a weight left him by degrees, and as soon as it was gone, he shifted back to human form, still lying behind her with one arm beneath her head and his other arm in her fur.
Candra licked the side of his face before she shifted back into her human form as well, grinning as she did. “Did I get slobber on you?”
“If you did, do you really think I care?” He brushed her hair away from the back of her neck and kissed her as his free arm wrapped around her waist to hold her back against him. His arm that was pinned down took her hand.
Candra felt extremely nervous and still a bit frightened, but she liked feeling so close to him. She wanted more, and that desire overruled every other emotion. Slowly she turned around in his embrace to face him, and she pressed her forehead to his. “I love you.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” He smiled as he kissed her, his hands holding her gently, promising that he wouldn’t hurt her.
She kissed him several times as her hands ran gently up and down his back. Every part of her touch gave him a jolt of energy, even after spending all night as a wolf. He knew he should feel exhausted, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel anything but almost
