Brandy sat at the end of an over-stuffed brown couch with a glass of red wine in one hand. Her other hand held a white envelope. Kevin sat at the opposite end from her, one leg crossed on the couch. Light music played from the stereo system while Brandy stared suspiciously at the young man.
"Our anniversary was three months ago," Brandy informed him.
"I know, I know. Just open the thing already!" Kevin's words were gentle despite his protest.
Brandy continued to stare. "This better not be a proposal."
"Oh god no," Kevin assured her. "No no no. Trust me. I mean," he corrected as Brandy's eyes hardened. "Not that you're not worth marrying. I mean. Not that you aren't- Look, just open it before I say anything worse. Please?"
With a final look, Brandy set her wine glass down and carefully opened the envelope. She'd always been careful with personal letters and gifts, making sure to never just tear through either of them. She had a little box where she kept old letters with their envelopes. This one was simple and just her name was written on the front in black ink. Inside was a white card with an artistic red heart on the front. Brandy smiled at it.
The card was well made with thick paper rather than the cheap plastic-y gloss cards that most places sold. Sneaking a sip of her wine, she opened the card. There were no pictures or pre-printed words inside. Kevin's handwriting was normally atrocious - sloppy and quick and barely recognizable but he'd taken care with what he'd written in the card. She could almost picture him writing each letter slowly and her smile deepened.
I saw you for the first time over a year ago in that little coffee shop. You had the most amazing smile and these little dimples that made my heart melt. I listened to you talk and laugh with the customers while I waited and by the time it was my turn, I couldn't even remember what I wanted! I could barely look at you while I tried to remember my order. I didn't realize then exactly how much you'd come to mean to me but I understand now.
Hey. Look up.
Brandy looked up automatically. Kevin's face was completely red. His hands were gripped together in a tight knot and he looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"Brandy," Kevin said. "I. I, umm. God. I love you. And you don't have to say it back or anything at all. I just realized it and I wanted to-" The young woman's smile deepened until her teeth showed. She could feel her own love, hidden for a few months but suddenly surging. "Oh. There are those dimples again. Brandy-"
Kevin's words were cut off as Brandy fairly launched herself at him. She held him tight against her, kissing his neck and mouth.
"You nerd. I love you, too," she told him.
"Oh thank god. Seriously? Really? Since when? You never said anything so I wasn't sure. I thought this whole time it was maybe me and just me but I had to say something because-"
Brandy laid a finger on Kevin's lips. "You talk too much sometimes, honey. I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I've had- It hasn't usually gone well for me." She lay against her boyfriend on the large couch. Her smile faltered as she remembered the past and it took effort to push it away.
"Hey," Kevin said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stir anything up."
"No, it's fine," Brandy said. "Besides, this is about us, not anything or anybody else. Thank you for the card and for finally telling me. I know how shy you are so that had to be hard. How long did you wait to tell me?"
"A while," Kevin said, blushing again.
"'A while', huh?" Brandy said, teasing her boyfriend. "Half a year? A whole year? Love at first sight? I knew it! You fell in love with my dimples right when you saw me, didn't you?"
Kevin laughed. "No. About a month ago, when we were at the fair. We were waiting in line for cotton candy and, I don't know, I just looked at you and my heart just swelled up. I almost cried. It was weird. But, about then." His hand traced gently along Brandy's back while he talked and she sighed in pleasure.
"Well, for me it was almost two months before that. You'd left me a message while I was at work. Remember when I had that crappy day where the customer spilled her drink on me on purpose? You left a message just telling me you were thinking of me and talking about all the different things you liked about me and how you were going to take me out for ice cream after work. I still listen to it sometimes, when I'm unhappy. And now you know my dark-" Brandy stopped.
"Secret?" Kevin finished.
"Yeah," Brandy said. She pressed herself closer to her boyfriend and he hugged her more tightly in return.
It's pointless, you know,
the voice in her head told her.
He'll either find out eventually or you'll just have to dump him or leave. How long will that be? Are you going to tell him? Remember what happened last time? Did we ever hear back from Richard when we told him? No? Not a single word since he called us crazy and left.
Brandy breathed quietly. Kevin's hands worked up and down her back and the effect was more calming than she'd like to admit. She relaxed and cleared her mind until the voice grew more and more quiet.
Brandy found herself arching her back slightly and shifting around to encourage Kevin to scratch different areas. She sighed happily under his attentions as her mood lightened. She felt her arousal building - a sweet aching that boiled away the rest of the unpleasant thoughts. They rolled together until Brandy was on top, pushing herself slightly up on her hands above Kevin.
Scratches turned into light fingers that ran along her soft sides and wide hips. Brandy leaned forward to kiss under Kevin's jaw and then moaned as his hands dug into her ass. He pulled her hips down to him and she could feel his excitement. Brandy licked Kevin's neck happily and then rocked back, rubbing herself on his erection. She was suddenly incredibly turned on. Heat radiated from her stomach, racing up her body and the young woman gasped, arching her back until her hips were raised. She whined with her need, sure that her panties were completely soaked. She could
smell
herself in the air and that only pushed her arousal.
Sparing barely a moment to think, Brandy pushed away from Kevin. His hands reached for his pants but Brandy pushed his hands away. She felt drunk from her scent and the heat radiating throughout her body. The young woman reached for her boyfriend's zipper.
And then stopped.
"I-" Brandy said, her voice suddenly dry. Her cheeks and the tips of her ears burned from the urge deep within her body.
"Hey, you okay, sweetheart?" Kevin asked.
"I'm sorry. I have to go. It's, it's nothing you did. I just, I have to go. I'll call you later, okay? I'm sorry. I really sorry," Brandy stumbled as she stood. She held her right hand under her armpit. "Trust me. I swear, it's nothing you did. I have to go. I... I love you. I promise I'll call later, okay?"
"But- hey, are you... are you sure everything is okay?"
"Yes," Brandy said shortly. Her forehead and temples pounded with her racing heart. Her heat was spreading deeper inside and she was sure she could feel her juices running down her thighs. "I really... you're fine. I have to go."
The young woman grabbed her purse and shoes and left without a glance back. She nearly ran to her car. She cursed quietly at the gravel in Kevin's driveway until, after the third step, it stopped hurting. And then she cursed for a different reason.
Only when she'd backed out of her boyfriend's driveway and shifted into drive did she finally take her right hand from under her armpit. She could see clearly even without the street lights she passed as she raced home.
Thick black claws tipped each finger of her right hand. Bright red blood trailed away from where her skin had split. Brown and black fur had grown along the back of her hand and the joints of her fingers were swollen. She could see the delicate white skin along the bottom of her hand slowly darkening. She prayed she made it home in time.
Brandy was panting as she pulled into her own small driveway. Sweat lined her face as she ran through imaginary lists to keep her focus.
January, March... no! February. March. April. May. June. July. September. November. I. Did I? Was there more? Dammit. Dammit.
The urge to drop to all fours and run was difficult to ignore as she stepped into the small walkway leading to her house. She was barefoot now, her tattered socks trailing behind her as her claws clicked on the concrete. Her t-shirt had ripped and, had she been more mentally present, she'd concerned about exposing herself to her neighbors.
Inside inside inside inside inside,
the young woman chanted as her mind slowly faded. With luck, she made it into her small house and locked the door behind herself before collapsing to the floor.
--
When Brandy woke the next day, she was completely naked and curled into a small ball in the corner of her bedroom. Small brown and black hairs were stuck to her body with old, dried sweat. She couldn't remember anything since stumbling away from her boyfriend's house. Fresh shame coursed through her as she remembered running away. The small, always present voice, laughed at her.
Brandy stood. As always, her first job was to see what she'd done the night before. Second was the shower. And then, Kevin. Glancing at the clock, she sighed.
No,
she thought.
Work first since I'm late.
--
