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XI

Saturday Morning

Bertha stretched languidly and slowly opened her eyes. When her eyes focused, she was looking into the eyes of Jonathan who was smiling gently at her. "How long have you been awake?" She asked.

"Just a couple of minutes." He answered.

"What were you doing while I was still asleep?"

"I was watching you sleep. You're beautiful when you're asleep."

Bertha looked away in embarrassment. "I'm not beautiful."

Jonathan placed his fingers under her chin and turned her face toward him. He kissed her gently and said, "You are to me. Bertha, I was no virgin before last night. I've been with women older than me, younger than me and my age but, I've never enjoyed the company of a woman more than I did last night. I believe you enjoyed yourself as much as I did."

Even more embarrassed, Bertha said, "Yes, I did, Jonathan. Like you, I've been with men older, younger and the same age as me but, no man has ever satisfied me, nor even tried to satisfy me, the way you did last night. It was like you made it your mission to make certain that I was sexually satisfied. I'm so happy that I agreed to let you stay last night."

"I hope that I get to spend the night with you again."

"Oh, you will. Don't worry your head about that; you most definitely will."

*****

Robert opened his eyes and saw Wanda lying half on his chest. Her eyes were open. She was looking at him and smiling. "Good morning, sleepyhead." She said with a smile in her voice.

"Good morning yourself. Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in many years. What did you do to me?"

"Nothing, except show you how much you mean to me, Wanda."

She smiled again and said, "I wish I'd realized that you were in love with me 20 years ago, Robert. Maybe things would have been different for both of us."

"Your parents would have never accepted me, Wanda, you know that."

"I don't care. Besides, I believe my happiness would have been more important to them than the fact that you aren't a badger."

Robert kissed her passionately and hugged her tightly. He said, "My parents were as much of speciesists as yours are. But, I believe they would have been more concerned with my happiness than their beliefs. Besides, one of my sisters married a rabbit and another one married a fox. My parents never said anything to them and accepted their husbands as if they had married chipmunks."

Wanda yawned luxuriously and lay her head on Robert's chest. "I believe we need a little more sleep."

"What about your cubs?"

"They're both old enough to make their own breakfast."

"I was talking about you and me, in bed, together."

"Robert, you know I have a reputation as a woman who'll sleep with just about anybody. My sons know this. Hell, they've met some of the men and women I've slept with over the years. I bet they'd be more surprised if I had slept alone last night than finding you in bed with me.

"Now, close your eyes and I'll make us something to eat after we have another short nap."

Robert smiled and said, "Of course, sweetheart."

Wanda smiled and, as her eyes slowly closed, said, "I hope I hear that regularly from now on."

*****

Michelle walked out of her bedroom. She was clad in a dark gray t-shirt that reached to her upper thighs and her panties. For some strange reason, she had awoken with a smile on her face. The first thought that crossed her mind after she woke up was what Albert had said last night.

Albert had, at first, seemed to be exactly what she expected him to be but, over the course of the evening, he changed before her very eyes. Even though Bertha had sat between them and prevented him from becoming too rambunctious with her, by the time they left Bruno's, he seemed genuinely serious about being the kind of man she could trust. As he gave her a ride home, he never took his eyes off the road and spoke in a calm, soothing tone when he spoke to her. When he got her home, Janet had been more than a little cross with him but, he never got upset nor cross in return. Now, she was looking forward to spending the day at the amusement park with him and Janet.

As Michelle entered the dining room, she saw Janet, already fully dressed, sitting at the table eating breakfast. "Where's mine?" She asked.

Janet pointed toward the kitchen and said, "In there."

"Gee, thanks. I thought you loved your older sister." Michelle said as she walked into the kitchen.

"I do. That's why I'm making you fix your own breakfast.

"Are you really going to the amusement park with that caracal, Michelle?"

"Yes, so are you."

"What!?"

Michelle returned to the dining table with a box of cereal, milk, bowl, and spoon. She was saying, "You agreed to go, Janet, and I fully expect you to go with us. If for no other reason, to keep Albert on a leash."

Janet smiled. "Well, I truly believe he's serious about trying to get to know you better. But, I know how you feel about caracals so, I'll be there for you."

"Thank you. Oh, I should call Amanda and see if she's feeling all right this morning and see if anything happened between her and Michael."

"Michael?"

"Yes, Michael is the CIT manager at SoGa and Amanda has a major crush on him. She had a few drinks last night. Her inhibitions probably completely disappeared by the time Michael got her home last night. I wonder if she tried to get him into bed with her and if she succeeded." Michelle retrieved the telephone and started dialing. After a few rings, someone answered.

*****

Michael was sound asleep and having a wonderful dream. He was in the company of a relatively tall, very beautiful strawberry blonde woman. She had gorgeous blue eyes. They were sitting in beach chairs on a secluded beach and watching the waves roll against the shore. She was wearing a yellow bikini swimsuit. They were holding hands and Michael noticed that she was wearing what looked like black cocktail gloves. He looked at her legs and she was wearing black knee-high stockings. He thought, "That's strange. Why is she wearing stockings and gloves at the beach?" Despite the incongruity of these things, they were holding hands and talking intimately. She turned her head and looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she smiled shyly at him. He noticed an impish twinkle in her eye. Her smooth white skin invited him to caress her upper arm. As he stroked her arm, he heard a small whimper of pleasure escape her light pink lips. He couldn't resist the temptation to lean over and place his lips on hers.

As Michael enjoyed the kiss, he sensed something happening. He pulled back and noticed that her eyes were no longer blue. Now, they were golden yellow. He saw black triangular ears, each with a white spot on the back, high on the sides of her head and poking through her strawberry blonde hair. Her chest, abdomen, inner thighs, inner upper arms, lower face and jaw, and the front of her neck were all covered with white fur. The rest of her body as well as her face, which now had a short feline muzzle, was covered with orange-red fur and had black tiger's stripes. There was a small black nose at the end of her muzzle. When her transformation was complete, Michael found that he wasn't appalled; he wasn't even revolted. She slipped her arms around him and he accepted her embrace as he kissed her again. As their lips met, he heard a ringing sound. The ringing caused him to wake up.

Michael opened his eyes and winced. He said, laughing, "I didn't think I drank that much last night; but, then, it has been over 20,000 years."

Suddenly, Michael realized that the ringing sound was his telephone which he had moved into his bedroom after he got home last night. He picked up the receiver and said, "Hello?"

The feminine voice Michael heard was full of pain. "Michael?"

Michael smiled as he said, "Good morning, Amanda. How are you feeling this fine morning?"

Once again, Michael heard the pain-filled voice saying, "I'm sick; I've got a headache. You promised me last night that you'd help me this morning if I wanted you to."

"I did and I meant it. So, are you asking for my help?"

"Ye-es." She whined. Michael could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke.

"All right. I've got to take a shower and get dressed. I'll be at your place in about half an hour. You get comfortable and go back to bed until I get there."

"You can take a shower here, Michael. I really hurt."

"I appreciate your offer, Amanda; but, it wouldn't look right. I promise I'll be there as soon as possible. Believe me, your pain hurts me, too. Just do as I say and I'll be there as soon as I possibly can."

"Okay."

Her pathetic sounding voice tugged at Michael's heart so much that he just wanted to put his arms around her and give all the comfort he knew she wanted. But, just as that thought entered his brain, another thought fought for supremacy. This thought was the reminder that Amanda isn't human; she's a humanimal, a fox to be exact.

Michael had hung up the phone when he realized that he had left his car at Bruno's last night. He was concerned that Bruno might have it towed so he decided to call and let Bruno know that he'd be by later to pick it up.

Michael called Bruno's and, after a couple of rings, he heard Bruno's mildly German-accented voice. "Bruno's."

In a shocked voice, Michael said, "You're open!?"

"Yes, we are. We're not just a tavern, Michael, we're a breakfast and lunch restaurant."

"You remember my voice and name?" Michael asked even more shocked.

"Of course. Everyone's voice is unique. I just put a face and name to a voice. What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Bruno . . ."

"Ah, ah, ah! What did I tell you last night, Michael?"

"I'm sorry, Bruno. Is there a Tankoo Catoosa in your parking lot?"

Without so much as taking a breath, Bruno said, "There sure is. Are you on your way to pick it up?"

"No, sir. I've got to go to a friend's home. She's experiencing her first hangover and she wants me to help her feel better. I just wanted to let you know that I hadn't abandoned it. I'll be by later today to pick it up."

"Would you like me to have it delivered to your home?"

"How much is that going to cost me?"

"Nothing. It's a courtesy I offer. It keeps people from driving while drunk. I can't afford to lose customers."

Michael laughed and said, "That's true. No businessman wants to lose customers. How will you bring my car to me? I've got the key."

"No, sorry. I've got it right here in my hand. You left it with me when you took your girlfriend home last night."

"She's not my girlfriend, Bruno; she's a coworker. We're not involved with each other otherwise."

Michael could hear the laugh in Bruno's voice as he said, "You could have fooled me from the way she was kissing and nuzzling you last night."

"She was kissing me to fool that Arctic fox that was pestering her when I arrived. She was also drunk which was why she was nuzzling me."

"Well, anyway, just give me your address and your car will be parked at the curb in less than an hour."

"Thanks, Bruno." Michael gave him his address.

"All right, Michael, I'll drop the key in your mailbox. I want to thank you for patronizing Bruno's and I hope to see you again soon."

"I'll do my best, Bruno. Thanks again"

*****

Michael jumped into the shower and took a quick shower. After he dried off and got dressed, he walked to Amanda's apartment. He entered her building and started climbing the stairs. When he reached the second landing, the door to apartment 2-A opened and a naked young otter woman was standing there.

"Hello there." She said, seemingly totally oblivious to the fact that she was naked as the day she was born.

Shocked, Michael mouthed the words several times before he could finally say, "Good morning."

"I'm Angelique Protelo."

"Michael, Michael Thomson."

"Oh, like the gazelle?"

Laughing, Michael answered, "Yes. Like the gazelle."

"Are you Amanda's boyfriend?"

"No. I'm her co-worker."

"Why are you here so early in the morning?"

"Amanda went to Bruno's Tavern last night and drank too much. She's got a hangover. She called and asked me to help her."

At that moment, a masculine voice called from the back of the apartment, "Angelique, where are you?"

"I'm out here, Oskar."

Michael saw an Aardwolf come out of the bedroom and walk toward the door. "Angelique, what are you doing standing in the doorway naked?"

"Oskar, this is Michael Thomson. He's a friend of Amanda."

Oskar, who was wearing shorts, stepped to the door and offered Michael his hand. After shaking hands, he gently guided Angelique away from the doorway toward the bedroom. He said, "Thomson? Like the . . ."

"Gazelle, yes."

Oskar laughed. "Please forgive Angelique, Michael. She was brought up to worship the humanimal body and she believes that nudity is both natural and beautiful. We've been married for two years and I believe that I've seen her fully clothed for a total of, perhaps, 20 days."

"That's all right, Oskar. It was nice to meet you and your lovely wife but Amanda's waiting for me. I'm sure I'll see y'all around sooner or later."

"You, too, Michael."

Oskar turned just as Angelique called to him, "Oskar, honey, I'm waiting for you."

Oskar shook his head and said, to no one in particular, "Every man should have a wife like my Angelique." Then, he called to her, "I'm on my way, baby." Oskar closed the door to the apartment and, a few minutes later, moaning could be heard coming from the apartment.

*****

Michael climbed the stairs to the third floor and knocked on Amanda's door. Several seconds later, the door opened to reveal something he never expected to see. Amanda was standing in the doorway without a stitch of clothing on. Needless to say, Michael was both shocked and embarrassed. He quickly turned around and could feel the blood rush to his face as he blushed profusely.

"Amanda! What are you doing!? You're . . . you're naked!"

"I got hot in my clothes. I was about to sit in a tub of cool water when you knocked on my door."

"That's a good idea. You get in the tub." Michael turned her around and started toward the kitchen as he added, "I'll prepare you some breakfast."

As Michael passed her, Amanda caught his arm and said, "Please wait for me in the bathroom."

"Wait! What!? Amanda, I'm not your husband; I'm not even your lover! I shouldn't be in your bathroom while you're in your bathtub naked! I shouldn't even be in your apartment with you naked!"

Amanda giggled and then winced and moaned in pain. "You're cute when you're flustered and puritanical. I trust you about as much as I trust my own father. You aren't likely to strip and join me, even if I asked you to." Under her breath, though she added, "Although I wouldn't mind if you did."

"I'm sorry?"

Realizing she had spoken louder than she thought she had, Amanda said, "Nothing."

"Besides, I'm not puritanical. What you wear, don't wear; who you date; who you sleep with; all that is none of my business. I don't care. I'm just very shy and seeing a very attractive female naked is enough to evoke said shyness."

"But, haven't ever wondered what I look like naked?"

"No!" Michael answered quickly, perhaps too quickly. He didn't want to admit to her that her kissing and nuzzling him last night had started another round of mental and emotional turmoil. "Amanda, I don't know you that well. You know that last night was the first time I'd ever spent any time in your company away from work since the day I started at SoGa. Besides, thanks to Dr. Leo and his tutor, I know that humanimals look like humans--down there." He added a little more slowly.

She got that sexy look that she wasn't very good at in her eyes again. "I still want you in the bathroom while I soak. Please!"

"Very well; but, I'll have my back to you as we talk."

Once again, she giggled and moaned in pain. "All right."

When they reached the bathroom, Michael got a bath cloth, handed it to her and said, "Wet this, wring it out and place it across your eyes. That'll to do two things. First, it'll help keep you cool. Second, it'll block the light that I know has to be hurting your eyes."

Amanda turned completely toward him, fully intending to give Michael a view of her nudity and took the cloth out of his hand. (Despite his best efforts, Michael's eyes did roam causing her to giggle/moan again.) She slipped into the filling tub and asked, "Should I fluff my fur?"

Michael thought for a moment and said, "If you need to do that to get the water next to your skin, yes, you should."

Without realizing it, Michael had sat on her commode facing her and watched her rub her fur that was under the water. After a few seconds, she stopped and, without moving her head, said, "Enjoying the show?"

"Oh! Sorry!" Michael turned quickly, blushing again, and she started laughing and moaning again.

"Very funny, Amanda." Michael said somewhat indignantly.

"Well, you said you weren't going to look at me." Michael could hear the laughter in her voice.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I believe you were hoping to see me touch myself."

Another wave of blushing hit Michael; but, he remained silent because, as he searched his thoughts, he realized that she was right. "How dare I think those types of thoughts? Even though she is a very attractive female, she isn't human, not completely anyway." His mind was racing. This situation reminded him too much of the dream he had been having when Amanda called him earlier. He found himself rubbing his hands together in nervousness.

Michael was just before standing up and racing to the kitchen when he felt Amanda's hand on his knee. Then, he heard a quiet voice, saying, "I'm sorry, Michael. Please don't be upset. Other than my doctor and gynecologist, I've never had a man see me naked before. I guess I started to feel a bit mischievous for a moment knowing what had to be going through your mind. If you want, why don't you go and prepare us some breakfast."

"Sure, I can do that." Michael said, nervously. "Unless you would prefer me to stay here."

"What am I saying?" Michael thought. "She just suggested that I do what I was planning on doing."

"I would prefer that; but, I don't want to add to your emotional distress."

"I'll be okay. To tell the truth, Amanda, you're the first woman I've ever seen naked; so, I'm a bit nervous. I'm surprised you can't hear my heartbeat."

"I can." She thought for a second and added, "Wait a minute, you've never seen a woman naked before, even in your life 20,000 years ago?"

"No."

"Then, you're a . . ."

"Yes."

"No wonder this situation makes you nervous.

"If I promise to be nice from now on, will you stay here while I soak?"

"Yeah."

*****

They were quiet for a couple of minutes; each lost in his or her own private thoughts. Michael was still experiencing internal emotional and mental turmoil. "She's an animal, after all, despite what she looks like." He was thinking. His heart, on the other hand, kept saying that Amanda was attracted to him and she was a very attractive female. Since his species didn't matter to her, her species shouldn't matter to him; but, the time he was born and reared had a strong influence on his thought processes. After all, didn't Dr. Leo tell him that the humanimals have 23 pairs of chromosomes just like humans and half of their genetic makeup came from human DNA? "God! What do I do? There isn't any likelihood of me finding a human woman. Please let me know what to do!" He thought.

Michael heard the water sloshing in the tub and felt Amanda's hand on his back. "Michael?"

Michael flinched and turned his head slightly and saw her resting her chin on the edge of the tub and, as a result, hiding every aspect of her femininity from his view. He didn't know if it was intentional or not; but, it eased his mind. "Yes?" He answered.

"Earlier, you said something about seeing a very attractive woman naked. Were you talking about me?"

"Of course." Michael said with a laugh in his voice. "Who else would I have been talking about?"

She smiled shyly and said, "You really think I'm attractive?"

Michael studied her face and saw her questioning eyes pleading with him. He smiled at her and said, "I think you're very beautiful."

"Even my stripes?"

"Your stripes give you an exotic beauty. The man that wins your heart will be very lucky."

Once again, the emotional turmoil in his brain began. "Why am I so honestly intimate with her? She's a fox, literally. I shouldn't be having these kinds of thoughts about her. What thoughts? The thoughts of jealousy of the man she would eventually fall in love with. But, as I look at her face, my heart starts beating faster." He closed his eyes and imagined her running around on four legs with a fluffy white-tipped tail to get his mind back to thinking the way it should.

After his mental battle, Michael saw her smiling shyly again as she rolled back into the tub. She slid down until the water was just below her jawline and said, "My mother always told me how it would be difficult for me to find someone who thought I was even acceptable looking." Michael could hear the sadness in her voice and saw it in her eyes as she spoke.

Incredulously, Michael said, "Why would she say that? If I was a fox, or even a humanimal, I would be following you around like a sick puppy hoping you would take me home with you."

She looked at Michael for a second. He could see that, just like all men, he had said something that would have been better left unsaid, at least the way he said it should have been left unsaid. With a bit more sadness in her voice, she continued, "Because I'm not pureblood red fox. I have tiger blood, too."

As reassuringly as possible, Michael said, "Amanda, for you to have the tiger stripes, you have to have at least one tiger in your ancestry and, likely, stripes are a recessive gene in foxes; therefore, you have to have at least one tiger on both sides of your family."

Just then, the telephone rang. Amanda said, "Would you please answer that? I'll get out of the tub and dry off. I don't want to cause you any more mental distress by seeing me standing naked in front of you as I dry off."

As he left the bathroom, Michael said, "No, stay there until you feel better."

She called after him "But, I do feel better."

As she said this, Michael lifted the receiver. Without thinking about possible consequences, he called to her, "No, stay in the tub. I'll be back in there in a minute."

Michael put the receiver to his ear and said, "Hello?"

He heard Michelle's voice saying, "I must have the wrong number."

He smiled and said, "Only if you weren't calling Amanda, Michelle."

"Michael? What are you doing at Amanda's apartment at 0100 in the morning? You didn't--you didn't...?

"No, Michelle, I didn't. She's got a hangover. She called me at 2400 to come over and help her feel better."

"And joining her in her bathtub is supposed to make her feel better?"

"Oh. You heard that?" Michael laughed and said, "No, I wasn't going to join her in the tub. I was just--going to--uh, never mind."

About this time, Amanda came walking into the living room wearing nothing but a towel that covered her from the top of her breasts to the extreme top of her thighs. When he saw her, Michael forgot about Michelle as he said, "Amanda! Put some clothes on."

"WHAT!" Michelle screamed causing Michael to involuntarily flinch away from the phone.

"Great." Michael said. "Thank you for deafening me, Michelle. It'll be a week before I can hear out of that ear now."

Amanda said, "Michael, will you dry my back and brush my back fur while I talk to Michelle?"

Michael took a quick look at her legs and saw that she wasn't completely dry. He said, "Do you have a hairdryer? Where's the towel?"

She snatched the towel from around her body and, after Michael figuratively picked himself up off the floor, handed it to him as she giggled at his reaction. Once again, her giggle was accompanied by a painful moan. He glared at her and said, "Very funny. Serves you right, though."

She smiled at Michael, sat on the coffee table in front of the sofa with her back to him and took the phone from his hand. "I have a hairdryer in my bedroom, Michael. Why do you want it?"

"It'll dry your fur much faster than simply brushing it. I'll be right back."

When Michael returned, Amanda was talking to Michelle. Naturally, he couldn't hear what Michelle said; but, from Amanda's responses, he figured out the gist of what she said.

"Hello, Michelle."

["Amanda, are you all right?"]

"Yes, I'm fine, except that I've got a headache a mile wide and I'm sick on my stomach."

["What was Michael talking about when he said for you to stay in the tub and he'd join you in a minute?"]

"Oh, he's sitting naked on my sofa. We were going to soak in the tub together for a while to get to know each other better. You know, more intimately."

Michael said forcefully, "Michelle! Don't believe her. She's jerking your chain. I'm not, repeat not, naked and I'm not going to join her in the tub."

Amanda put her hand over the phone and gave Michael a dirty look. "What did he say? You couldn't hear? Oh, he said to hurry so we could get back in the tub." She giggled.

"Amanda!" Michael growled. "You're going to start a rumor that could hurt your reputation."

She stuck her tongue out at him and said, "Michelle wouldn't repeat anything we talk about."

"She's still a little drunk despite her hangover." Michael muttered a little more vigorously than necessary.

"Ooh, Michael. You shouldn't do that. It feels too good."

["What's he doing?"]

Amanda giggled and said, "He's touching me where he shouldn't." Then, she moaned slightly.

"She's going to ruin my reputation as well." Michael thought.

"Amanda!" He whispered hoarsely causing her to laugh openly.

["Amanda, are you joking with me at Michael's expense?"]

"Yes. You should see his face. He looks upset enough to leave. But, he's too nice a guy to leave a woman when she doesn't feel good."

Michael leaned to her ear and whispered, "You better be glad of that, too."

She turned unexpectedly and kissed him. "Believe me, Michael, I am." She whispered. "I'm teasing Michelle more than you. She's a bit gullible at times."

Michael had finished drying her back as well as he could. He picked up the brush and stared at her back for a few seconds. "Amanda, "I said, "Which way does your fur grow, from your head down or from you back to your chest?"

"From my head down.

"What's that, Michelle?"

["When we got to my home last night, Albert was the perfect gentleman. Of course, Janet was her usual over-protective self. She made sure that Albert stayed as far from me as she could keep him."]

"Really? Why is Janet so protective of you?

["It's because of that situation that happened to me."]

"Do you think that Michael's threat had anything to do with him acting like a perfect gentleman?"

["Michael's threat might have had something to do with it; but, you know how Michael said that, basically, Albert is a nice guy? Maybe he was right and that had something to do with it."]

"So, what are you going to do about Albert?"

["He asked me to go to the amusement park with him later this morning. He even invited Janet to come along as a chaperon."]

"Michelle, that's great! You're going with him, aren't you?"

["Do you think it'll be all right to do that; after all, he's a caracal and you know my situation with them."]

"Of course, I do. Michelle, you can't judge all caracals by. . ." She stopped and glanced at Michael before whispering, "Him."

["I know I shouldn't; but, even though it's been ten years, the memories are as fresh as if it happened just yesterday."]

"Well, I think you should give him a fair chance. If you want, Michael and I will go, too."

Michael whispered, "Why am I being invited?"

Amanda turned and whispered, "Because Michelle really wants to go and it would look strange for one guy to have three girls with him."

["No, I don't think you two need to come along. Janet is tough enough to protect both of us."]

"Okay, then. Call me this evening and let me know how your date went."

She hung up her phone and started a soft moaning that matched the strokes of Michael's brushing her back fur. "Ooh, that feels good." She moaned contentedly.

Michael stopped for a moment and said, "If you start patting the floor with your foot, I'm going to stop."

She turned that cute tiger-striped face to him and said, "What?"

"I'm sorry, Amanda. Back in my previous life, we kept dogs as pets. If you scratch a dog vigorously along his spine, he'll stretch forward, point his head up and start patting his foot on the floor. It was something of a joke back then to make that comment when we thought someone was enjoying something too much."

"I'm sorry; but, it does feel good. I'm going to have you brush the fur on my back from now on." She laughed.

Michael made a wry face and said, "I think I'll prepare breakfast for you. So, go put some clothes on. It's almost 0200 and I'm supposed to meet Dr. Leo and Richard at the gym at 0700." He handed her the brush. "By the way, how do you normally brush your back fur?"

"I've got a special brush, with a long handle and a special mirror which allows me to see my back."

"Well, you need to go get dressed. I shouldn't be seeing you naked; plus, it is considered bad manners to come to the dinner table undressed"

She stood up and, turning toward Michael enough to give him a glimpse of the curve of her smallish breast, said, "God! You sound like my mother."

"Well, in this respect, your mother is wise indeed. It's a sign of respect to be dressed when you're sitting at the dinner table."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll find everything you need in the refrigerator and cabinets."

She walked into her bedroom swaying her hips seductively and Michael walked into the kitchen. He thought, "Why does she get such pleasure out of teasing me like that? She knows why I get so nervous around her."

Michael opened the refrigerator and scrounged around until he found what he had hoped to find, a package of bacon and some eggs. He looked into the cabinet and found a loaf of bread, some fruit spread similar to jam, butter or margarine, and a container with what looked like grits. By the time he had obtained all the items for a good Southern breakfast, Amanda had returned wearing a sunshine yellow bathrobe. He had a feeling, knowing her actions so far this morning, she was wearing little else, probably nothing else.

"Does this meet with your approval?"

"It's a definite improvement. Thank you."

She smiled. "What are you making?"

"I thought I'd make some bacon, toast, eggs, and I guess these are grits." He showed her the container.

"Yes. You know how to cook grits?"

"My mother taught me how to cook. She thought I wouldn't ever find a wife, or even a girlfriend.

"Now, how do you want your eggs?"

"What options do I have?"

"Scrambled and raw. Those are the only two ways I know how to cook eggs."

"Eww. I guess I'll take mine scrambled."

"Scrambled it is. How many eggs do you like?"

"Two."

"Okay. How many slices of bacon?"

"Two."

"Very good. Now, I cut my bacon slices in two. I hope you don't mind."

"Cut them in two? Why?"

"Less shrinkage."

"Oh, like not going into cold water?" She smiled mischievously.

Michael looked at her for a couple of seconds and shook his head while smiling before he said, "Something like that."

She laughed and said, "Can I help?"

"No, you're still a little drunk."

"How can you tell?"

"Your pupils are slightly dilated."

As he was cooking her breakfast, Michael felt Amanda's arms wrap around his waist and her chin resting on his shoulder. The unexpectedness of this caused him to freeze momentarily. He wasn't certain what was on her mind and he was afraid of his reaction.

"You don't seem to be cooking enough."

"This is how much you said you wanted."

"Aren't you making something for you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because, a) this is your food and b) you didn't invite me to breakfast. I can pick something up later on my way to the gym."

"Well, a) I don't care if it is my food because b) I'm officially inviting you to join me for breakfast. After all, you said you weren't going to meet Dr. Leo until 0700 and breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

Michael looked at her for a couple of seconds before saying, "Very well."

She stood there looking over his shoulder and, to his chagrin, pressing her breasts into his back until he prepared something for him to eat; all the while fussing until he had prepared the same thing for his breakfast he had made for her. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but, preparing something for her to eat had started his own stomach rumbling. After a few more minutes, he had made two plates of their mutual breakfast and something to drink.

"Now, don't eat too fast." Michael admonished.

"Why not? I'm starving."

"Because with all that alcohol that's still in your system, you'll make yourself sick. Now, eat slowly."

Naturally, she ignored him and started eating like someone that hadn't eaten in three days. Suddenly, she stopped with her fork about two inches away from her mouth. Michael was looking at her at the time and he saw the look he had seen in so many hangover sufferers.

"Amanda, go to the bathroom right now; do not say anything; just go."

She didn't say a word. She got up and practically ran to the bathroom. Fortunately, she made it as she closed the door. Michael sat there as he listened to her relieving her stomach of its contents. A minute or so later, he heard her toilet flushing, bathroom faucet running and then her spitting. He had to suppress a smile as she came back into her dining area moaning.

She looked at Michael and said, "Don't say a word. You warned me."

Sympathetically, he asked, "Feel better?"

She sat down and started cocking her head, first this way, then that. Finally, she said, "Yes, actually, I do. Why?"

"You got rid of the rest of the alcohol in your stomach. Consequently, your body isn't absorbing any more. This allows your body to metabolize the alcohol already absorbed and flush it out of your system. You can either finish eating or go lie down. You should feel significantly better by lunch."

Amanda looked at her plate and felt a renewed sense of nausea. "I think I'll go lie down on the sofa."

"Okay. In that case, I'll wash these dishes and go on home and get ready to meet Dr. Leo and Richard."

"No, wait. It's only 0230 and those dishes can wait. You've got four and a half hours before you have to be at the gym. Please stay a little while longer. Let me lay my head in your lap."

"I don't think it'll be very comfortable. I do a lot of leg presses and my quads are rather toned."

"I don't care. I just want to lay my head in your lap."

Michael sighed and said, "All right." He sat on the sofa and Amanda lay down with her head in his lap.

A couple of seconds later, he heard her say, "Michael?"

"Yes?"

"Would you scratch the top of my head?"

"Scratch the top of your head? How?"

"With your fingernails, silly."

"Smartass." She giggled when he said that. "You know what I mean."

She was smiling as she said, "Just run your fingernails along my scalp between my ears. I remember my grandmother doing that for me when I felt bad or sad when I was a kit."

"I hope you're asking me to do that because you feel bad and not because you feel sad."

"I've felt better; but, I just want you to do it because it also helps me fall asleep."

Michael laughed and said, "Okay. You need to get more sleep anyway."

Michael started to slowly scratch her scalp from her eyes to just above her neck. She moaned softly and turned her head slightly to show him where to scratch. As he ran his fingernails along her scalp, he heard a rumbling sound in her throat.

"Are you trying to purr? You're not a cat; you can't purr."

"I'm part tiger, remember?"

"Well, for your information, tigers can't purr. They can chuff, but not purr."

"Chuff? What's that?"

"It sounds like a purr; but, it's made in the mouth, not the throat or chest. They open their mouth and vibrate their vocal cords as they exhale. It gives the impression of purring; but, normally they only make that sound in greeting."

She made a non-committal sound and Michael noticed her breathing was slow and regular. She had fallen asleep. He continued scratching her scalp. He asked himself why but he had no idea unless it was because he wanted her to feel good and . . . loved. He knew he could never love her because she was only half-human; but, for some reason, he had a funny feeling in his chest today as he looked at her lying there with her head in his lap. He couldn't understand why anyone, especially her mother, wouldn't think she was a beautiful young woman.