Thanks to so many of you for encouragement over the last 2 months. Good news, I am now healing from my illness instead of still dying from it, and getting back in good shape has been occupying most of my time! Thanks for hanging in there. I hope to write at a faster pace now that I am feeling better! Remember to vote and that I live for your comments! - Rosamundi
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Full and a bit drowsy, they relaxed together as the afternoon faded, forgetful of the time. Addy looked at Hal longingly across the fire, "I'm fairly skeptical about the idea intellectually, but that true mate notion seems more plausible by the moment to my body. And..." she trailed off, looking down shyly. It was adorable.
"And your heart," Hal replied quietly, gently. "Mine too." He unfolded himself gracefully and moved to her side, then lay down with his head in her lap again. Her skirt was damp from washing up and cool against his nape. He closed his eyes and smiled, basking in Addy's softness and scent. Content.
Addy's hand soothed Hal's forehead, she stroked it slowly and rhythmically, running her fingers through his thick wavy hair as she had longed to at first glance. From afar it looked solid grey, but she noticed as she gazed down at him fondly that it was a mix of white, silver and charcoal, like his beard and his fur when he took wolf form. Why did men always get the perfect hair? Her fingers moved down to his whiskers, scratching lightly. Hal tilted his head back to grant her better access and sighed happily, exposing his throat without a second thought. Addy didn't know much about werewolves, but suspected she understood what that meant. They just didn't go around making themselves that vulnerable, she was sure. His trust in her moved her deeply.
She felt curious, but didn't want to talk just yet. Instead she gently stroked Hal's throat with her thumb, as he had done with her. He turned his head and kissed her belly, then snuggled into her with a tiny growl, a blend of cute and erotic. She returned to scritching his whiskers, something every bearded man she'd ever known enjoyed. Tired but comfortable, Addy took in the bubbling sound of the stream, chirping of birds and wind in the trees as a sense of peace and joy welled up in her. She could stay like this forever, Hal in her lap and the forest all around her.
Touching just Hal's head and neck, Addy suddenly understood as she never had before why heroines in her favorite classic novels considered such modest touching love making. It was. She was falling in love with Hal at every pass of her fingers. Though slow to engage in relationships, once in them Addy's lusty nature had always prevailed and her fondness for kink assured that rough and ready sex quickly followed. Now the strongest lust she'd ever known warred with a new urge to take things slowly, explore every millimeter of Hal's handsome body at her leisure and for his pleasure. She recalled the old Anglican wedding vow, "With my body, I thee worship." It seemed profound to her in this moment, describing her desire perfectly.
She sighed out, "Hal, do we really have to wait? Date for a long time? I will if you feel unsure, but I feel that I can trust this instinct. Sometimes they are right, most scientific progress is based on gut feelings that we eventually demonstrate with evidence. I'm content with the evidence so far. I want to be with you, be one with you."
Hal opened his dark eyes and looked into hers solemnly. He did not speak for so long that Addy started thinking how she could back out of what she had just said. She'd never made such a bold declaration of love, and the thought of rejection pained her. She was about to stammer out an apology when Hal stopped her with a joyful murmur.
"It seems we already may be one with each other, sweet. And there's nothing I want more than to make you mine forever. There are things you need to know though, you have to understand what mating entails. It's more than just a marriage, though it is that. And we don't know anything about each other, if we could make a happy life together, if we're compatible."
"Well, I don't feel like running twenty miles to my car, even downhill. You wore me out, remember? We could camp out and talk. I don't have to work 'til Tuesday. Give me some parameters, here. Any relationship deal breakers, ideas about what makes a good mate and whatever facts you think I need to know about mating, how we go about it." Addy proposed.
"I'd love to. Let's switch places." Hal said to her, obligingly sitting up so she could move. He stretched and smiled at her affectionately as she scooted away from the tree trunk.
"So now I get to lay in your lap?" Addy asked brightly, biting her lower lip with twinkling eyes.
Hal had Addy pinned to the earth before she knew it, hands held down on either side of her head.
"Bad grammar isn't a deal breaker," he growled, "but it doesn't go unpunished either. It's 'lie in your lap.' Would you like to know why I'm off until Tuesday as well, before I start?"
"Hal, I used perfect grammar. I had no intention of just lying there forever." Addy said as innocently as possible: not very.
"That just means you've gone from bad to wicked, and I have to punish you twice, or twice as much, or twice as long. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but since we have the long weekend, I'll let you pick." Hal allowed with an amused yet feral grin.
"Even good grammar warrants being pinned to the ground and punished? Now I'm officially in love with YOU. But what does this have to do with having Monday off from work, of all things?"
"Safe, sane and consensual hardly requires a warrant, my dear. Though I do plan to search your person thoroughly. I'm holding you down so you don't hurt yourself when you swoon." Hal transferred her wrists to one hand and pulled them above her head, starting to unbutton her dress with the other while fighting to keep a straight face.
"Well, since you evidently know how to cope with a swoon by unfastening my completely loose dress, please tell me whatever it is with perfect confidence for my safety." Addy entreated sarcastically.
"Triple punishment for disrespect. Now, if you wish to mate with me you must first be made aware that I am..." he licked down her throat.
"...the Henry Fielding..." then down her collarbone to her gaping bodice.
"...Professor of British Literature at our fair University. We both have Monday off because we both work there. Some administrative thing no doubt." Hal kissed and nibbled the tops of her breasts once he finished speaking.