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Chapter XIX

Visiting Brantawick

Michael found a place to park. They got out and, after Amanda reattached herself to his arm, they started sightseeing. It was while they were walking that Michael learned another aspect of a humanimal woman's heat. Amanda was overly, overtly defensive of him. If another woman looked at Michael for more time than was necessary to not run into him, Amanda would lay her ears back and slightly lift her lips in a quiet snarl. Very quickly, Michael learned that a reassuring caress of her head or a soft word of affection would ease these tense moments. Occasionally, Michael thought he heard her say, "Mine!" to some of these women; then, she would look at him with a little fear in her eyes. Her fear and her reaction to the other women bothered him.

As they walked through one of the numerous small parks that dot the oldest part of Brantawick, Michael found a bench and, guiding Amanda to it, he said, "Here, let's sit down for a little while."

They sat and Amanda put her arms around Michael and snuggled close to him. She seemed so happy; he hated to say what he had to say for fear that she would misinterpret what he said as she did thirteen weeks earlier at Max's Gym. Dealing with a humanimal woman in heat was going to be difficult. "Amanda, I'm going to say something that will upset you. Please understand, that isn't what I want to do." She looked at him fearfully. Michael continued, "Amanda, you know I'm fond of you; you know I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. That said, I need you to stop being so possessive of me."

"But . . ."

"No, please let me finish. I'm not interested in any other female. I've said, on more than one occasion that, if I can ever overcome my upbringing, you're the one I would want."

"Really?" She said, as she blinked quickly.

"Yes, Amanda. However, when you growl at the women walking by and say, 'Mine!' it embarrasses me. Please don't do that anymore. Otherwise, I'm going to have to renege on my promise to let you sleep in bed with me. I don't want to do that; you don't want me to do that. So, please do as I ask."

After Michael said this to her, Amanda removed her arms from around him, sat up and slowly looked toward the ground. She inched away from him before saying, sadly, "Yes, Michael."

Her whole demeanor changed. Her movements reminded Michael of someone walking in a trance. She walked slowly, barely lifting her feet off the ground. She looked at the ground as she walked and wouldn't hold onto his arm as she had been doing for the last day. As strange as it may sound, Michael missed her doing that.

After walking for about ten minutes in virtual silence, Amanda never looking up when someone approached him, Michael decided to enter a small restaurant for lunch.

"Amanda, let's go in here for lunch. Are you hungry?"

Still obviously upset at what Michael had said earlier, she replied, in a somewhat monotone voice, "I'll go in but, I'm not hungry."

"Aw, Amanda, please eat. Hey! I'll buy you some chicken Parmesan! How does that sound?"

She shook her head and said, "Thank you, Michael, but, I'm really not hungry."

Michael reached for her hand but she deftly prevented him from taking it. She fell in behind him and followed him into the restaurant. The hostess, a coyote with long black hair and chocolate brown eyes, gave Michael a startled look but, gathering her wits, showed Amanda and him a booth in the back of the restaurant. Michael stepped to one side to allow Amanda to sit and he sat across from her. The hostess left each of them a menu and left them to make their decisions.

Amanda refused to look at her menu choosing instead to stare at the table top. Amanda's lack of emotion was starting to worry Michael. Was the increase in hormones she was experiencing making her more susceptible to mood swings? Whatever it was, Michael wasn't able to figure it out. He needed time to think and he couldn't think while seeing her in this blue funk.

After about half a minute of sitting in silence, Michael said, "Amanda, I'm going to go wash my hands. I'll be right back."

"Okay."

"Please don't go anywhere, Amanda. It would make me very sad, if I came back and found you gone."

She looked at him as if to say, "How did you know what I was thinking?" However, she said, "Yes, Michael."

"Yes Michael, what?"

"I'll be here when you get back. I won't leave."

"Good." Michael reached across the table, took her hand and, even though she didn't reciprocate, squeezed it gently.

*****

The wash room was down a short hall set in the wall that their booth butted against. Michael went into the "men's" room and washed his hands. As he washed his hands, he contemplated the current situation with Amanda. He felt strangely happy that she was possessive of him; but, he couldn't understand why. The last time she was in heat she wasn't even remotely possessive. Yes, she hugged, nuzzled and kissed him; yet, she didn't seem to have a problem if any other female talked to him, except when Ruby Lepre was sitting at their table and talking to him. Today, all it took was for a female to glance at him and she was ready to fight. After several minutes of thinking, Michael was no closer to an answer than he was when he entered the washroom.

Michael stepped out of the washroom and almost knocked the hostess, who seemed to be waiting for him, over. He apologized profusely but, she held her hand up to stop him. She looked over her shoulder toward the dining area.

She spoke quietly and said, "You are human, aren't you?"

Michael smiled and said, "Yes."

"The female that accompanied you in here, is she your mate?"

That startled him. He said, "No. We're co-workers; however, she has attached herself to me. Why?" Michael was nervously hoping that she wasn't interested in him.

"She acts submissive, like a female in heat who's been chastised by her mate."

"Wait a minute." Michael thought. "I had in a roundabout way chastised her just before we stopped in here."

Michael said, "She is in heat and, a few minutes ago, I did ask her to discontinue doing something that bothered me."

"That would make very little difference if you two aren't mates."

Michael said, "Well, I believe she loves me."

The hostess's expression changed. "That might have a little to do with it. Have you two shared any intimacy?"

"No. I like her but I'm not interested in a sexual relationship."

"Humans." She said it like an insult as she slowly shook her head. "Humans, especially males, equate sex with intimacy. Intimacy is more than sex."

"You mean like cuddling?"

"Yes, but the intimacy is more intimate. You can cuddle with a close friend of the opposite sex."

Michael thought about what might constitute intimacy; then, it hit him. "Last night, her heat was starting to affect her strongly; it's the second time she's been in heat since she attached herself to me. I offered to let her sleep in bed with me as long as no sex was involved. Is this the kind of intimacy you're referring to?"

She looked hard at Michael for several seconds before she said, "To a humanimal female, especially one in heat, sharing a bed, even without sexual relations, is one way that indicates a male's desire to take her as his mate. If one of you had slept on the sofa or on the floor, it would have told her you were interested in her but not as her mate. It would have left the door open to a possible relationship in the future, though. Now, because of your inadvertent acceptance of her as your mate, she is going to be very protective of her claim on you. From what you have told me so far, I believe that is what she was doing that bothered you. Wasn't it?"

"Yes. I'm afraid that I'm going to compound the problem?"

"Why?"

"I promised her that, until Tuesday morning, she could sleep in bed with me."

"But, only as long as she is in heat?"

"Yes."

"Your promise isn't going to help your situation; however, because you put a time limit on it, you might have saved yourself a little grief. She'll loosen her claim on you starting Tuesday morning but, don't expect her to be happy about it, though."

"What can I do to make her feel better now?"

"Go to her, sit by her and explain your earlier reaction. Also, try to make her smile. Since she's in heat and since she's attached herself to you, she'll do almost anything to please you, especially if she thinks she has upset or angered you. Plus, if you just act silly or say something silly, she'll probably smile or even laugh. Making her laugh and telling her that she's still important to you should bring her out of her depression."

"Thanks. She's such a sweet girl and I hate to see her depressed like this. I made her depressed the last time she was in heat. Fortunately, after I explained to her why I said what I said that upset her, she understood and even started laughing at some stupid jokes I had made."

"Good. But, don't break your promise to let her sleep in your bed with you. The damage, so to speak, is already done."

"Okay. I had best get back to her and see if I can make her feel better."

"Good luck, hun."

*****

Michael returned to the booth, stood next to the seat Amanda was sitting in. "Scoot over, please." He said.

Amanda looked at him, surprised. "What?" She said, perplexed.

"Scoot over."

"Why?"

"Because, I want to sit there."

"Okay. I'll move."

"No. Stay here, please."

"But . . ."

"I want to sit next to you."

Confused, she slid over and Michael sat next to her, close enough that their hips touched. When his hip touched hers, he heard a small whimper come from her throat. He glanced at her and she was looking at him with the look he had come to expect, and look for, when they were close to each other. When she saw him looking at her, she quickly turned her head away. He thought for a couple of seconds, then he leaned over and bumped her shoulder with his. She looked at him and he smiled at her. She looked away again and he bumped her shoulder with his again.

"Stop it." She said, quietly.

"I will when you smile again."

"Then, I guess I'll have to put up with your childish antics all during lunch."

"So, you're not going to smile?"

"I angered you. Why should I smile?"

"Because: a) you didn't anger me and b) you have a beautiful smile. It makes me all tingly and go weak in the knees when you smile at me."

"Liar."

"Whoa there, sweetie. Did I or did I not promise you that I would never knowingly lie to you?"

She thought for a second before saying, "You did."

"If I remember that I said that, why would I violate that promise?"

After a few seconds, a small smile formed on her muzzle as she said, "You really think my smile is beautiful?"

"I sure do." Michael reached over and pulled the corners of her lips tightly into a smile that distorted her facial features slightly and said, "Just like that. Bee-you-tea-full."

She slapped his hands and laughed. "Stop it. You're being silly."

"Yep. Are you going to smile now?"

She shook her head as she smiled and said, "I shouldn't. I upset you."

"Yes, you did. But, I'm partly to blame."

"Why?"

"I spoke with the hostess after I stepped out of the washroom. After I told her that I had allowed you to sleep in bed with me while you're in heat, she told me that your emotional attachment to me became strong enough for your subconscious to believe we are mates."

"So, you don't want me to sleep in your bed tonight?" She asked with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

"Amanda, because of the possibility of our actions being misunderstood, I didn't want you to sleep with me last night. But, I woke up a couple of hours after I brought you to my bed and saw you sleeping so peacefully that I didn't care what people thought. Yes, you can sleep in my bed tonight and I'll be there with you. Besides, I made you a promise and I try to keep my promises."

She smiled happily and reached for his arm but stopped. Michael looked at her, smiled and said, "Go ahead." She put her arms around his arm and caressed it lovingly. "Now, are you got to eat lunch with me?"

"Yes. Thank you."

The waitress arrived, took their order and, a short while later, they were enjoying their chicken Parmesan. During the meal, Amanda kept steady pressure against Michael's arm and leg. He laughed to himself as he thought about how easy it was to make her happy, especially while she was in heat. He could hear her soft whines of happiness as she ate. (He wasn't sure if that was because she was enjoying her meal, enjoying the fact that he wasn't angry with her or both.) Michael realized, as they ate, that he was actually enjoying her attentions. He asked himself if his upbringing was starting to be overridden by the fact that Amanda seemed to love him the way she did or if his brain was becoming acclimated to the current state of the world. Whatever the reason, Michael was starting to become a little protective of his tiger-striped vixen friend and starting to dread the thought that, starting Tuesday afternoon, she was going to start becoming less interested in spending time with him.

*****

After they finished eating Michael said, "Let's go to St. Simian Island and walk along the beach."

The waitress had brought the check and overheard him. "The beaches here are wide. They're almost a mile wide on high tide. At low tide, you can practically wade from St. Simian Island to Jackal Island."

Michael was flabbergasted. "Really?" He asked.

"Yes, the seaside beach is over two miles wide at low tide."

"Are we in an ice age?"

The waitress laughed and said, "Where have you been for the last 15,000 years, asleep?"

"Well, yes, actually."

She stared at him as a predator would stare at potential prey. "Oh-kay. Anyway, the ice has been retreating off and on for the last 3,000 years. Currently, about ¾ of Canineda, 95% of the Republic of Eelaska and the Rocky Mountains are still covered with ice."

"Wow! How far south did the ice get?"

"On the east coast, it reached as far south as Carpolina and southern Finnessee and northern Barkansas. On the west coast, it only got as far as the middle of Washingtuna. In the central part of the continent, it got as far south as northern Mexicod. I've heard that even now the ice is covering western Chowna, northern Wingdia and almost all of Gnurope. In the southern hemisphere, it isn't quite as bad. I guess it's because of all the water. However, Afurica is covered as far north as southern Gnawmibia, Barkswana, Moozambark, and Madagarscar. South Afurica, Leeksotho and Swallowziland are covered completely. South Amurica, outside of the Handes, is covered by ice as far north as the Rio de la Platypus and the southern half of Chille. Australemur has it the worst, though. Over half of Australemur is covered with ice. Ships can't sail from ocean to ocean; ice over a half mile thick reaches from Antarcticarp to South Amurica, Afurica and Australemur."

"What about the Indokneesian archipelago?"

"The water is too narrow, even at high tide and no ship could make that run in the six hours of high tide."

"Well, thank you, Miss . . ."

"Mrs., Mrs. Gato-Montes."

"Thank you for serving us and for the education, Mrs. Gato-Montes.

"Come on, Amanda. Let's go take a walk on the beach."

"Okay. I've never seen a beach. What's it like?" She asked as they left the restaurant.

"It's sandy." Michael replied as they walked toward where he had parked the car.

"Sandy?"

"Yes. It's nothing but sand left by the ocean currents and waves. But, it is damp sand not dry sand like you see along the roads in Catlanna."

"Damp sand?"

"Yes, because it's so close to the ocean, water from the ocean seeps into the sand and keeps it moist."

*****

They reached the car and got in. Amanda moved over next to Michael, lay her head on his shoulder and sighed happily. He smiled because now he knew for certain that she was no longer depressed or worried that he might be angry with her.

Michael cranked the car and started toward St. Simian Island. Amanda started humming happily and running her hand over his chest. As they rode along, she started kissing and nuzzling his neck. If he had any doubts earlier, now, he knew for certain that the hormones in her blood were increasing. But, he didn't care. As long as she wasn't depressed and was happy, he felt better and, for some strange reason, he was happy, too.

About halfway to St. Simian Island, Amanda suddenly asked, "Michael, are you still going to let me sleep in bed with you tonight?"

"I told you that you could. You just have to remember two things. One, no sex. No matter how badly your body may want it; it isn't going to happen. Two, no nudity. We both wear as much clothing as we can and still be comfortable as we sleep. Those are the only two requirements, Amanda. Besides, I promised to let you sleep in bed with me until you're no longer in heat."

"Aren't you afraid I might start becoming possessive of you again?"

Michael reached over and took her hand, interlacing their fingers and said, "Nah. I believe the situation we went through earlier today will still be fresh in your memory and you don't want me to be upset with you."

She lay her head against Michael's shoulder and said, "You're right; I don't."

About 15 minutes later, they arrived at the beach on St. Simian Island. "Do you want to walk to the water?" He asked her.

"Where is it?"

Michael pointed to the breakers about a mile away from them. "Way out there." He saw her eyes grow larger as she looked. "When I was growing up," he turned and pointed about 200 yards up the beach toward some old sand dunes, "the water reached to about there at high tide."

Amanda looked to where Michael was pointing, turned around, looked at the breakers, and said, "Wow! So, that's what Mrs. Gato-Montes was talking about."

"Yep. So, do you want to walk down to the water?"

She thought for a few seconds before saying, "Sure. That way I can tell Mother and Daddy that I saw the ocean."

She was as happy as any child seeing the beach for the first time. She started walking toward the water and pulling Michael behind her. She kept saying, "Come on, slowpoke. You can walk faster than that."

Michael laughed as she got more and more excited. Finally, he said, "Amanda, the ocean isn't going anywhere. You don't have to race to see it. If you wear yourself out, I'll have to carry you back to the car."

She stopped, turned, leered at him and said, "Really? Promise?"

Michael laughed and said, "I knew I had said the wrong thing when I said it." She started to put on a pouty face until he said, "Yeah. I promise."

She laughed and took off running. All Michael could do was shake his head and follow her. Despite all of her running around and threatening to leave him behind, they got to the water's edge at about the same time. Michael was laughing the whole time they walked because she was at that transition age where she still had the energy of a child but she was mature enough to stay within sight of him. When they reached the edge of the water, she stopped and stared; she had never seen so much water in her whole 18 years of life. Of course, growing up over 250 miles from the ocean does tend to curtail any real possibility of visiting the beach on a regular basis. When Michael reached her, he put his arm around her waist and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Wow!" She said in awe of the view. "I wonder if Mother and Daddy have ever been to the ocean."

She stepped in front of Michael, slipped her arms around his neck and said, "I'm tired and thirsty."

Michael smiled and said, "There's a whole ocean full of water behind you." She looked as he continued, "Of course, it's salty, dirty, and full of fish droppings."

Wrinkling the lips on her muzzle, she said, "Ew!"

Michael laughed and said, "Well, I told you to be careful. Now, I've got to carry you back to the car." He looked over his shoulder and said, "And that's a long walk."

"I'll ride piggy back."

She ran behind him. Michael surprised her by squatting enough that she could climb onto his back. "What are you doing?" She said, laughing.

"Letting you ride piggy back. You're not that heavy and I'm not tired. I believe I could carry you."

Michael felt her shrug as she laughed and he felt her 115 pounds of weight on his back. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck and she laid her chin on his shoulder. He looked at her and said, "Comfortable?"

She thought for a second or two before saying, in a carefree voice, "Yeah."

Michael cupped her buttocks with his hands, "Do you know where your hands are?" She whispered sexily into his ear.

"Yep."

"Are you trying to start something?"

"Nope. My hands are there to prevent you from starting something."

"Really? How?" She asked, cautiously.

"If you'll note, my hands are cupping your bottom. That means my thumbs and forefingers are facing up, toward your butt and you know what you do with the thumb and forefinger. Don't you?"

She raised her head and said, "You wouldn't pinch me. Would you?"

Michael shrugged and said "If you're a good girl, you'll never find out. If you aren't . . ." He gave her a gentle pinch causing her to squeal.

"You would!" She said, accusingly.

"You bet. I've got you at my mercy." Michael did his best evil laugh.

"Just you wait." She whispered. "You have to sleep some time." They both laughed and the she hollered, "Mush!"

Michael had taken a step when she said this. He stopped short, turned his head to look at her and said, "Do I look like a Husky or a Malamute to you?"

She studied him for a second before saying, "Nah. You don't have enough fur."

Michael pinched her butt causing her to squeal again.

"Why you . . ." She said and she nipped his ear.

"Ow! You little vixen."

"That's right and don't you forget it." She said, laughing.

Michael started laughing and said, "I'm going to give you a spanking when we get back to Jaguarville."

She laughed and said, "Are we going to go back or are you going to continue to make idle threats?"

Michael started walking as he said, "You'll see how idle they are soon enough."

Michael found himself actually enjoying their little repartee. As he walked toward the car he found himself thinking, "When did I start enjoying Amanda's company so much that I started relaxing this much around her? I know she's attracted to me but that shouldn't have anything to do with my enjoying the time I spend with her. I dated several girls in school but I never enjoyed their company ¼ as much as I enjoy Amanda's. Most of the time, even now when she's in heat, she acts like she doesn't have a care in the world. If I'm not careful, my emotions will overrule my brain and I'll be wanting to be more than friends with her."

As Michael was musing about these things, he suddenly became aware that Amanda had become quiet. At first, he thought that she had fallen asleep; however, he realized the idea was incorrect when he felt her cheek against his. As he enjoyed the feeling of her soft facial fur against the bare skin of his face, he noticed that she was slowly rubbing her cheek against his. He realized that, once again, she was scent marking him. After several seconds of this, he felt her move her head until it was level with the crook of his neck and the she started kissing and nuzzling his neck; he heard a soft whine of pleasure in his ear as she did this.

"You had gotten so quiet, I thought you had fallen asleep."

"No-oo. I was enjoying the fact that you had actually invited me to touch you."

"Is that why you're scent marking me again?"

"Mm-hmm." Another soft whine of pleasure.

"Your hormones are increasing again, aren't they?"

"Yeah." She giggled like a mildly inebriated person might do.

"Well, here we are. Come on, Amanda, you need to get into the car."

"Don't want to. Want to hug and hold and kiss you." She said, petulantly.

"You can do that tonight when we get back from dinner."

She brightened and said, "Then, we're going to bed?"

"Yes, and sleep."

"No-oo." She whined.

"Now, Amanda, didn't you agree with that?"

She glared at him before breaking down and whining, "But, Michae-el, why not? Nobody would know but us."

"And the maids that clean the room." That stopped her short. "Remember they come by every day. When they see that two people were in my bed and no one was in yours, plus, when they see that my bed is messed up as only a couple can mess it up, they'll be able to put two and two together and come up with what happened. Do you want that? What would your parents think, especially your mother?"

The hormones her body was pumping into her blood because of her heat were strong but, obviously, they weren't stronger than her logic, yet. Michael could see that the idea he had suggested was starting to cause her a bit of embarrassment. He had moved his hands away from her buttocks but she continued to wrap her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He glanced at her and saw that she was thinking. Finally, after almost half a minute, she dropped off his back, stepped in front of him and hugged and kissed him. Afterward, she got into the car, slid to the middle and buckled her seat belt.

After Michael got in the car, she laid her head on his shoulder. Unlike previous times, though, she didn't grab his arm, kiss and nuzzle his neck nor scent mark him. At first, he was a little worried that she was upset that he had flat refused to even consider sex with her tonight. But, as she sat there, he started to hear her attempt at purring. Every now and then she would turn her head and sniff his cheek where she had marked him and he could hear a small sound of happiness and pleasure in her throat. About fifteen minutes after they started back to Jaguarville, he heard Amanda's breathing become soft and regular. He turned his head and looked at her. Her pretty golden-yellow eyes were closed and her ears were lying flat against her head. Since she had never taken his arm, Michael put it around her shoulders. She sleepily opened her eyes and looked around. When she saw what he had done, she looked at him, smiled sweetly, snuggled closer to him, and went back to sleep. Michael guessed that all that excitement and running around on the beach had taken its toll on her.