FSE

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XXIII

Dogtona Beach

They arrived at Dogtona Beach around 0500. Because it was close to lunch time, they decided to stop for a quick lunch. After eating, Michael parked the car near the beach and they walked to a changing station. Michael had Amanda go inside and remove her blouse and skirt while he changed out of his shorts and T-shirt. He walked out of the "men's" side and saw Amanda sitting on a seawall. He saw a small smile of appreciation on her lips as she looked at him. At first, he was at a loss as to why she was looking at him that way until he realized that she had never seen him without some kind of shirt on before this moment. He thought that his time in Max's gym had given him a body that she could appreciate looking at.

Along the seawall was a pathway leading toward the ocean and on either side of the pathway were groups of sea oats. The pathway followed along the seawall and through the soft sand for about ¼ mile to the hard-packed sand of the beach which was about ½ mile wide.

As they walked along, Amanda smiled at Michael as she said, "It took you long enough."

"Sorry. My shorts decided that they liked my sandals and grew attached to them. Didn't you hear me cussing and grumbling?"

"Oh. So, that was what that was about. I thought you were rehearsing for the next time I pounced on you." She smiled.

Michael smiled and said, "Very funny. Come on. Here put my clothes in your bag and let's walk on the beach."

"Okay! Let's go!"

Amanda grabbed Michael's hand and pulled him toward the water. "Michael, why is the water so much closer here than it is on St. Simian Island?"

"Well, the continental shelf is narrower here than it is there. You see that dark blue water a couple of miles away?"

"Yes."

"That's close to where the continental shelf drops off. Back when the Ice Age was at its height, the beach went all the way out to there. Now, that the ice is melting, the water is coming back. In about two to five thousand years, the water will cover these dunes and probably reach another three or four miles inland from here."

"Wow! You know a lot, Michael."

"Yeah. I'm a wealth of useless information."

She laughed and pulled him all the way to the water. She was so happy and carefree Michael could scarcely keep from laughing. They reached the edge of the water and Amanda started wading. She commented on how warm the water felt on her legs. Michael was watching her legs and noticed a lot of little fish gathering around them. Amanda was too busy enjoying wading to notice them at first. He was torn between telling her and waiting until she saw them herself. He didn't have to wait long.

"AH!" She ran out of the water and jumped into his arms. "Michael, those fish--those fish were trying to eat me!"

Michael laughed and said, "No, they weren't, Amanda. They were looking for dead skin cells and parasites."

She glared at him and said, "Are you saying I've got fleas?"

"No, I'm not. Everyone has parasites, even me."

"What!? What do you mean?"

"Well, maybe not parasites, but, we do have tiny animals that live on our body and eat dead skin or dead hairs. The fish were just picking those off of you."

"Really? You mean they weren't going to hurt me?"

"Those weren't; but, there are fish that will try to hurt you. Just stay in the shallow water and they won't be able to get to you." He had lowered her to the ground by this time.

"Oh, okay. Come on, Michael. Wade with me."

"Okay."

He followed her into the surf which, because of a relative calm was only running 1 - 2 feet. As they walked along, Michael kept watching the horizon. The calm and low surf bothered him. Eventually, he noticed, far to the south, dark clouds. They covered less than one degree of the sky; but, he knew them for what they were, a hurricane. He hadn't taken the time to watch television since they had arrived Friday evening; so, he hadn't heard anything and he wasn't even sure the humanimals had any way of tracking weather. He later learned that a Category 1 hurricane had struck Mahi-mahi, Fort Airedale, and Key Wolf that day. (1) He was somewhat surprised because the entire time they were in Jaguarville, the weather, while not exactly perfect, wasn't very bad. In fact, the little rain they got was light and there were light breezes instead of strong winds.

After wading for a few minutes, they got out of the water and started walking along the beach. Amanda slipped her hand into Michael's and leaned against him. They walked back toward the changing station they had used earlier. When they reached that area, Michael took Amanda's bag, reached in and pulled out a large beach towel that he had purchased at the swimsuit shop earlier. He spread the towel on the sand at the edge of the sand dunes. He sat down and patted the towel beside him. Amanda smiled and sat beside him, putting her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder. She sighed as she looked out over the water.

After a few minutes, Amanda lay on her back and closed her eyes. Michael sat and watched her. The bikini he had picked out for her was a beautiful contrast to the white fur of her chest and stomach and he had a hard time taking his eyes away from her. Every now and then, he would look away, close his eyes and enjoy the orchid scent of her pheromones, smiling as he did. As he enjoyed the scent, he could hear that voice in his head, once again.

"I can't believe you, looking at that animal with lust. You are a human! She's an animal! Don't you have any morals anymore?"

"Go away! I've told you time and again, I have to live in the now, not the past. Besides, I'm not considering what you are implying."

"Riiight! That's why you started to undress her last night. You weren't considering consummating your relationship, were you? You are pathetic!"

"I'm doing the best I can, damn it! She loves me! You know how many times I've been hurt by women that said they loved me and didn't."

"Humph! What makes you think she even understands that emotion? Animals don't understand the higher emotions that humans experience."

"Damn it! I've told you. She's not an animal; she's a humanimal. She has human DNA and she has a human brain."

"That's not what you're interested in or after. Don't forget, stupid, I'm your conscience. I know what you're really after."

"Obviously, you aren't my conscience; because, if you were, you'd know that I'm not interested in her body. I'm interested in her feelings for me. NOW GO AWAY!"

The voice said, "I'll go away for now. But, I'll be back."

As his conscience said this, Michael felt Amanda's hand on his arm.

"Why don't you lie down here next to me, Michael? I can't caress your arm while you're sitting like that."

He smiled and said, "All right."

He lay down beside her and she rolled onto her side, put her head on his shoulder and started caressing his chest lightly with her fingertips. Once again, the pleasure of her touch caused him to smile, close his eyes and start breathing softly as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across them. Michael opened his eyes and saw a bear looking down at them, a Kodiak bear. "May I help you?" He asked.

The bear continued to stare at them. Michael didn't like being stared it, especially after he'd spoken to that person. It made him feel threatened. The bear's continual staring was causing Michael to become a bit perturbed. It was the way he was staring that caused Michael the most perturbation. In fact, Michael felt an instinctual anger starting to grow. It was the anger of a male suddenly feeling threatened by a rival for the attentions of his female. This bear was here for one reason and one reason alone. He was challenging Michael for Amanda.

Amanda had looked up at the same time Michael did and he felt her move closer to him. She instinctively knew what the bear wanted.

"I said, 'May I help you?'" Michael said, as he disengaged myself from Amanda's embrace and started to get up.

He said, "Is this your female?"

"She's my mate. Yes."

"She's in heat."

"That she is. Thanks for telling me. Why are you telling me something I already know?"

Michael had stood up by now. He could see this bear stood at least 6'4" tall, a full four inches taller than him and weighed around 275 lbs. of muscle , close to 75 lbs. heavier than Michael. Several nearby humanimals were looking in their direction. Amanda who had stood up also was slowly backing away. Michael didn't know why he was willing to stand up to this bear, perhaps it was Amanda's pheromones, perhaps it was the bear's obvious malevolent intent; but, Michael glared at him. Michael's brain was telling him that he had to do this. He had to protect his rights to Amanda.

"Well, are you going to answer my question?"

"You are not worthy of her. Human!" The bear said human like it was an insult. "I think I'll challenge you for her."

"Oh, that would be a big mistake on your part." Michael said.

The bear laughed a menacing laugh. "If you wanted to keep her, you should have kept her in your bedroom, naked, so you could have her whenever you wanted it. She shouldn't be outside when she's in heat."

"Oh? Really?"

"Yes. I'll take her from you and show her how a female should be treated."

"Mister, have you ever fought a lion?"

"You're no lion."

"No, I'm not but, I have fought one. Have you ever fought a tiger?"

Michael's statement about fighting a lion had taken the bear by surprise. "You've fought a tiger? I don't believe you."

"I don't care." Michael said. "I have and I won both fights."

At that moment, a strange, somewhat German accented voice said, "Here now. Vaht's goink on here?" Michael turned and saw a Rottweiler in a police uniform with a name tag that read Karl Hund walking up to them. When he saw the bear, he said, "Oh, it's you again, Bjornson. Vaht haff I tole you about brawling on ze beach?"

The bear kept his mouth shut and Officer Hund looked at Michael. "Vaht haff you got to zay?"

Michael answered, "Well, Officer, my mate and I were lying on this towel," He indicated their beach towel, "Not bothering anybody when this guy came up and started threatening me for her."

The bear said, "He said he's fought a lion and a tiger and beat both of them. I don't believe him."

Officer Hund said to the bear, "Bragging, vehzer it is ze troos or a lie, gifs you no right to fight on ze beach." He returned his attention to Michael and said, "Vell?"

"I didn't lie, Officer. Anyway, this guy said that, since she's in heat, I should keep my mate locked in our bedroom, naked, so I can have her whenever I want; otherwise, I should be prepared to fight for her. I don't want to fight but, I'll not let him sully her for his own pleasure."

"I unterstahn, Herr.--?"

"Thomson."

"Like ze gazelle?"

"Like the gazelle." Michael said at the same time causing Officer Hund to smile.

"Vell, Mr. Thomson, like ze gazelle, Edgar here hahss a reputation for challenching anyvun for zehr female, if he sinks zaht he cahn eizer beat zem or bahck zehm dahn."

"And?"

"If you unt your mate vish to shtay, I vill run him off ze beach. I may do it anyvay, even if you two decide to leaf."

Michael turned to Amanda and said, "What do you want to do, Sweetheart?" He had decided they needed to continue the charade as long as possible. Fortunately, Amanda played her part.

Edgar mumbled, "Listen to him asking a female her opinion. He's not man enough for her."

Amanda said, "I would rather just go back to our hotel, honey. All the males are staring at me and it makes me a little nervous."

Michael turned to Officer Hund and said, "We'll leave. I don't want any more trouble with Mr. Bjornson, or anyone else."

"All right, Mr. Thomson, like ze gazelle." He turned to Edgar and, in an authoritative voice, said, "Bjornson, I am banning you from ze beach until next summer unt you vill shtand right here until zis couple is gone. If I so much as hear a rumor zaht you haf returned to ze beach before next summer, I vill run your ahss in. Is zaht clear?"

Edgar glared at Michael as he said, "Yes, Officer Hund."

Michael didn't trust Edgar so his senses were on high alert as he and Amanda started back to their car. He turned to Amanda and said, "Come on, Sweetheart. Let's go home."

They started toward the car. They had gone about 30 yards when Michael heard Officer Hund start yelling at Edgar to stop. Michael kept walking and listening. Suddenly, he stopped, whirled around and hit Edgar with a right cross to the jaw and a left uppercut to the chin. Edgar went down like the proverbial sack of potatoes. Michael saw Officer Hund running up and held out his hands. Officer Hund looked at Michael and said, "Vaht is wrong? Hurt your hahnds?"

"I'm guilty of public brawling."

"Zaht is not vaht I zaw. Zis gentleman tripped as he vahs running to his vehicle. You tried to catch him unt missed. He knocked himself out on zaht rock zehre by his head."

Michael looked at the area near Edgar's head and didn't see a rock. "Officer Hund, there isn't a rock by his head."

Officer Hund looked at Michael, walked over to one of the small granite anti-erosion rocks, picked it up, and placed it next to Edgar's head. "Vaht? Are you blind, Mr. Thomson? Do you not see zaht rock right zehre next to his head? It is almost as big as his head. It is probably almozt as hard."

Michael smiled and said, "Oh, that rock. I thought it was his head."

Officer Hund turned to Amanda and, smiling at her, said, "Is zaht not vaht you zaw, Fraulein?"

For the first time since he'd known her, Michael heard Amanda tell a lie. "Yes, Officer. That's exactly what I saw."

Officer Hund said, "Sahnk you, conzerned citizen, for trying to help zis klutz. You may go about your business. I vill call ze ambulance to take this poor bear to ze hospital. Haff a safe trip home."

Smiling, Michael said, "Yes, Officer. Thank you."

*****

Amanda and Michael walked to the car, got in and made the return trip to Jaguarville. He took the scenic route back because he wanted Amanda to enjoy the trip. Unfortunately, because of her heat, she wasn't interested in the scenery. Even though she was still a little subdued, she was more interested in making sure Michael's arm wasn't lonely by caressing, kissing and scent marking it. Every now and then, she would put her arms around his neck, pull herself up and kiss his neck. Even though it was more than a little distracting and he did enjoy it, Michael managed to keep his attention 95% on the road. The 5% of the time he was distracted was when she wanted to kiss him on his lips and he was unable to stop her.

*****

They returned to the hotel at 1830. After parking the car, Michael got out and opened Amanda's door. As soon as she got out, she ran around behind him and, before he could react, jumped up onto his back.

"Amanda! Warn me before you do that. Do you want me to fall over and possibly hurt you?"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted you to carry me to our room." She said as she kissed his cheek.

"Rooms, Amanda. You have a room and I have a room. Just because I'm letting you sleep in bed with me doesn't make my room our room."

"Yes, dear." She said, laughing.

Michael grunted and shook his head as he carried her into the lobby. He walked to the registration desk and spoke with the spotted skunk that was working. After she acknowledged them, he asked, "Is there anywhere nearby that has a dance floor?"

"Yes, sir. When you exit the lobby, turn right, go three blocks, and it will be on your right. It's called the 'Arctic Wolf.' It has a nice band and a very large dance floor. My boyfriend and I go there all the time."

"Thank you, Miss Moufette. Amanda, guess what we're doing after dinner tonight?"

"Going swimming?" Miss Moufette smiled at them as Michael laughed and shook his head.

When they got to their rooms, Michael said, "Amanda, go take a shower and get dressed as nicely as you can. I'll take my shower and get dressed. We'll meet here in about half an hour. Okay?"

Michael saw the wheels turning in her head and, before she could say it, he said, "No, you cannot take a shower with me."

She grunted and said, "Why not? You've seen me naked. I haven't seen you naked."

"Need I remind you of the circumstances concerning my seeing you naked?" She smiled. "I didn't think so.

"As for seeing me naked, it'll have to wait."

"Wait? For what?"

"It'll have to wait for the night that we get married."

She brightened and said, "Is that a marriage proposal?"

"No. It isn't. It's an 'If, then' situation. If we get married, then you can see me naked."

She glared at him and said, "You know what?"

"I'm no fun?"

"Yes."

"Oh well, go take your shower so I can take mine. I'll see you in about half an hour."

She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. She turned and walked to the connecting door. When she reached the door, she turned and said, "Don't lock the bathroom door. I promise I won't walk in on you."

He looked at her and said, "Yeahright. That very statement tells me that you plan on doing just that."

Twenty minutes later, he stepped out of the bathroom. He looked around the room and didn't see Amanda anywhere. He thought, "I ought to wait for her in her room. That would shock her so badly she might have to take another shower." He imagined Amanda stepping out of the shower and thought, "No. Knowing her in heat; she would probably step out of the bathroom naked just because she hoped I would do just what I'm contemplating."

As Michael combed his hair, an idea crossed his mind. He walked over to a chair that was angled toward the connecting door. He had just gotten settled when he saw the door handle slowly turning. He sat perfectly still and watched. The door opened and he saw Amanda's head slowly peek into the room. She looked toward the bed and slowly around the room. Her eyes lighted on him and paused for a second or two. He was staring right at her; but, he didn't move a muscle. After a couple of seconds, she slowly entered the room; her eyes were focused on the bathroom door. He smiled as he contemplated what he was going to do. He knew it wouldn't break her of her attempts to surprise him; but, it could make her think twice before following through with those attempts.

Amanda eased across the room and Michael followed her with his eyes. She reached the bathroom door and placed her left ear on the door, as she listened. Her eyes were looking directly into his but she didn't or couldn't see him. A smile touched his lips as he watched her. After a couple of seconds, with a funny look on her face, she opened the bathroom door and entered. As she walked into the bathroom, he got up and eased to the bathroom door and followed her in, a step behind her. He saw her looking around and, as she turned around, she whispered, "Where can he be?"

Michael leaned forward and whispered, "Who?"

If you've ever snuck up on a cat and scared it, you might have an idea as to how Amanda reacted to that one word. The fur that Michael could see fluffed out; her pupils dilated until he couldn't see any color. If he hadn't been standing there blocking her exit, she might have run back to her room. As it was she stumbled backward and fell onto the toilet seat. If she had had a tail, he was sure the fur on it would have been standing straight out. Her reaction was funny and he was laughing so hard, he had to hold onto the sink counter to keep from falling down. He turned, still laughing, and walked out of the bathroom.

Behind him, Michael heard Amanda growl, "Oh! You!"

He braced himself, crouched and covered his ears. He heard her run up behind him and felt her land on his back. When she couldn't nip his ears, she bit his shoulder.

Still laughing, Michael said, "Ow! Ow! Stop!"

"Serves you right! Scaring me like that!"

Still giggling, Michael said, "Well, now maybe you'll think twice before trying to sneak a peek. Now, get off so we can go to dinner."

"No! Because you scared me, you can carry me to the restaurant and not the one in the hotel."

"You've got to admit. It was funny."

She didn't say anything for several seconds, then he felt her body shaking as she laughed quietly. "All right. It was a little funny. Where were you hiding?"

"I wasn't hiding." He pointed and said, "I was sitting in that chair. I watched you sneak across the room to the bathroom door."

"No. I looked around the room. I looked directly at the chair, too."

"Yes, and you looked right at me. Twice."

"But, why didn't I see you?"

"I can sit very still when I want to."

"You were wearing these clothes? I thought you had placed them in the chair to put on after you got out of the shower."

"Yep. Your antics while you've been in heat have forced me to shower and dress quickly. Besides, I believe that turnabout is fair play." He said as he looked at her tiger's muzzle laying on his shoulder. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Michael. Where are we going for dinner?"

"I thought we'd have Chownese cuisine tonight. There's a Chownese restaurant next to the Arctic Wolf; we could go straight from the restaurant to the dance floor. How does that sound?"

"It sounds wonderful. Can you dance?"

"Honestly? No. But, you look like you can dance and you probably enjoy it."

She smiled appreciatively. "I'm not very good; but, I do enjoy dancing. I just haven't had too many opportunities to go dancing."

"Well, in that case, we'd best hurry so we can eat and get to the 'Arctic Wolf' early."

Amanda lightly slapped his side and said, "Giddyap!"

Michael stopped and said, "You really enjoy tempting fate, don't you?" She giggled.

Shaking his head, he walked toward the door and said, "Watch your sore head."

"My head isn't sore."

"If you don't duck, it will be."

She ducked her head and nipped his ear. "Ow! Will you stop that!?"

"You know you love it."

"Oh, sure. I'm a masochist. I love feeling pain." She giggled again and hugged his neck tightly.

They got to the elevators and he said, "Press the call button, please."

The elevator doors opened and Michael saw a female Husky operating the controls. She eyed them as they entered but didn't say anything. After the doors closed, she spoke with a slight but noticeable Russian accent, "You are fox, da?"

Amanda didn't respond. "Amanda," Michael said, "she's talking to you."

"What?"

"She's talking to you. She asked if you are a fox."

"Is that what she said? I thought she said, 'You are foxda.'"

"Amanda, she is speaking with a Fursian accent. Da is Fursian for yes or right."

Michael turned to the elevator operator and said, "You're from Fursia?"

"Da. I am from Humansk. My family moved here when I was 10. That is why I have accent still."

"Well, it's my pleasure to meet you. I am Michael Thomson and this is Amanda Fuchs."

"I am Anna Khryply.

"Amanda, she is your mate? Yes?"

"Not officially. She wants me to be her mate and I do like her."

"She is fox but not fox, da?"

"Yes. Each of her parents had a tiger ancestor."

"Ah. My family is speciesists. Since days of changing, always mate with Husky. I am what humans call pure bred."

"Well, your markings are beautiful. Ow!"

Anna said, "What is wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I felt a bug bite my ear." Michael said, as he glared at Amanda.

Amanda whispered, "Just remember, Michael, you are my mate."

Michael whispered back, "I was just complimenting her; I don't desire her. You are the only female I'm attracted to. Okay?"

"Okay." Amanda said, as she kissed him where she had nipped him.

Anna said to Amanda, "You need not worry. I have mate. He is Borzoi." She laughed and added, "My parents were, how you say, scandalized when we mated. At first, they no want him in their home. When I got pregnant, they change minds."

"Yeah. Parents tend to do that."

Amanda said, "You mean that Mother will accept you after we are mated?"

"Sweetheart, I doubt that your mother would ever accept me even if we get mated and have ten kits. You know how your mother feels about humans."

Dejectedly, Amanda said, "Yeah. If she'd only take the time to get to know you, she'd see you're a great guy."

Anna said, "Ground floor. Watch step, please."

"Thank you, Anna. Have a wonderful evening."

"Spasibo.(2) Ah, thank you. If all of passengers are as pleasant as you and your mate, it will be great."

*****

Still carrying Amanda piggy back, Michael walked through the lobby receiving numerous strange looks. He walked out the front door and carried Amanda the three blocks to the Golden Panda Chownese restaurant. When they walked in, Michael fully expected to be greeted by a panda. You can well imagine his surprised when he saw a flying fox standing just inside the door holding a stack of menus. The flying fox, a female, bowed slightly as they entered, Amanda still on Michael's back, and stared at them with her solid black eyes. Michael returned her bow as gracefully as he could.

The hostess said, "Good afternoon. Two?"

Michael smiled and said, "Yes. Thank you."

She seated them and Michael coaxed Amanda off his back, despite her grumbling. He noticed the hostess's name tag and was even more surprised when he read Mei Xiongmao.

Michael said, "Your name is Chownese."

"Yes, it is."

"But, you look like a flying fox, without the wings and flying foxes are indigenous to the tropics of Asia, Australia and east Africa."

"I am a flying fox, well my ancestors were flying foxes before the change. As for my name, I was adopted by the panda family that owns the Golden Panda when I was an infant."

"You were adopted?"

"Yes. I was born out of wedlock. The flying foxes are strict adherents to having legitimate babies. My birth mother rejected me after my father abandoned her after he learned she was pregnant. Rather than abort me, which is even more abhorrent to a flying fox than an illegitimate baby, my birth mother put me up for adoption and my parents chose me."

"You're the first bat I've met since I woke up; so, please tell me about your lack of wings."

"Bats were the only flying animals that accepted human DNA when the humanimals were created. We exchanged our wings for hands and regular feet; however, our fingers are about twice as long as would be normal, though." She showed them her fingers as she spoke.

"I bet bats make great pianists."

"That is true. The greatest pianists alive today have bat ancestry. We also make some of the best surgeons, as well. Our long delicate fingers allow us to perform surgery more precisely than humanimals with shorter, beefier fingers.

"Would you like to order from the menu or eat at the buffet?"

"I'll have the buffet. What about you, Amanda?"

"Me, too."

Amanda had already slid into the booth. She patted the seat beside her and looked at Michael. He said, "Amanda, we have to go select our food. I'll sit beside you when we get back."

Amanda looked mildly dejected but got out of the booth and followed Michael to the buffet. They made their selections and returned. Amanda's heat was beginning to ebb because she was paying almost as much attention to her food as she was to Michael. However, she was still paying a lot of attention to his arm. She would take a bite of food, lay her head against his arm and sigh contentedly as she chewed.

Despite the consistent remonstrations from the inner voice that berated him for enjoying Amanda's attentions, Michael found himself fearing what Amanda was going to do when her heat ended Tuesday. Would she be so embarrassed by her actions this weekend that she would refuse to let him anywhere near her or would she act as if nothing had happened, including and especially sleeping in his bed with him, and deny it if he brought it up? These thoughts were in the forefront of his mind when he looked down and saw her looking at him with a smile of utter happiness on her face. He smiled back at her and put his arm around her shoulders. She slid closer and lay her head against his chest.

*****

They finished eating and Michael paid for the meal. Mei Xiongmao thanked them and invited them back. Amanda and Michael walked, arm in arm, the three doors to "The Arctic Wolf". There was a small cover charge that he paid and they went in.

They found an empty booth and, despite the fact that the music wasn't overly loud, Michael slid in next to Amanda. Unlike the previous times this weekend where she would grab his arm in a death grip and scent mark him, Amanda seemed rather reserved, although she did, once again, lay her head on his shoulder. He ordered them something to drink, a glass of wine for each of them. Amanda sipped her wine rather daintily which was different from the last time he saw her drink.

Michael finished his glass of wine and was sitting with his eyes closed, enjoying the music, when he heard Amanda say, "Are you sleepy, Michael? We can go to the room and go to bed."

He smiled and said, "No, I'm not sleepy." Immediately after saying that, he stifled a yawn causing him to shake his head and smile.

"Not sleepy, huh? Come on, sleepy head." Amanda started to stand.

"No. I want you to enjoy this evening; so, we're not leaving until we dance at least one time." He looked at her significantly.

"Michael," she replied. "I told you that I'm not that good of a dancer."

"Neither am I. Come on. We'll look bad together."

She laughed and Michael got out of the booth, held out his hand and assisted Amanda. He held her hand and led her to the dance floor. He put one arm around her waist and held her right hand as she put her left on his shoulder. As they danced, she pressed her body against his and looked lovingly into his eyes. He smiled at her and, before he could react, she kissed him, not passionately, but gently, almost fearfully. It was the kind of kiss you would expect from someone who wasn't certain that her kiss would be accepted.

After they kissed, Michael thought, "What is this hold she has on me? She's had it since the day we met. Despite my protestations to the contrary, I want us to keep growing closer. I want that so badly that, if a human girl walked in here right now and offered herself to me, I would refuse her offer because I want to stay with Amanda and I know it isn't because she's in heat and her pheromones are affecting me. Why? Because, even though I've openly denied it, I've felt this way about her ever since we met, even when she wasn't in heat."

Amanda lay her head on his chest and he could see a small smile on her lips. "What are you smiling about?" He asked her.

"Oh, nothing in particular. I'm just enjoying how good you smell."

"Really? Is that all?"

"Well, I am thinking about how good it'll feel with your arms around me as we sleep tonight."

"To tell the truth, Amanda, it'll feel good to have you sleeping next to me."

She looked at him in shock. He said, "I've gotten used to you being there. I know that you'll probably change your mind by Tuesday afternoon. You'll probably be embarrassed by your actions this weekend. And you'll probably refuse to acknowledge that we shared a bed for four nights. So, I'm going to enjoy the warmth of your furry body, the way you smell, and the attention you give me, despite all my protestations to the contrary."

"Michael, I would never deny that we slept in the same bed."

He looked at her and said, "How many people know about your actions 13 weeks ago?" She paused, her mouth open. "Well?" He insisted.

"I--I haven't told anybody."

"Except Michelle."

"Yeah! She knows."

"What did you tell her when she started to tell Wanda and Bertha?" Once again, she paused with her mouth open. "Well?"

In an embarrassed voice, she said, "I told her to not talk about it."

"Why?"

"I was afraid my mother would find out."

"Now, are you going to tell anyone about the sleeping arrangements this weekend?"

"No. I guess not. But--"

"Amanda, there's no need to make excuses. I've already said that you wouldn't talk about it. I'm not upset at that prospect; I probably won't tell anyone either, for the same reasons you won't."

She slipped her arms around his neck, looked him in the eyes and said, "Thank you, Michael. So, you really enjoyed it when I've shown you how I feel about you, even when you were saying I shouldn't do the things I did?"

He smiled at her and answered, "In a roundabout way. Yes."

"And you love the way I smell?"

"Even when you aren't in heat, your scent is very exhilarating. I have to remind myself to stay far enough away from you that I can't smell you. I know that humanimals don't put on cologne or perfume, except to tell their mate that they are ready for sex, so I know that the scent I smell is your natural scent."

"What about the smell of my pheromones?"

"I have to be careful when I sense your pheromones. It's a very intoxicating, subtle scent. One that will sneak up on me and lasso me in your heat. However, I enjoy it so much that I can't stay away from you when they hit me."

"You've really enjoyed having me sleep in your bed with you?"

Michael swallowed hard. He was afraid of the direction she was headed; however, he said, "Yes."

"Then, why are we still here? Let's go back to the hotel and go to bed. After all, we have to get up early in the morning."

Smiling, he said, "All right; but, we're coming back here Friday night. I want to enjoy dancing with you for more than one song."

She smiled shyly.

********************

1-When they got back to Catlanna a week later, Michael saw that Gnawleans had been struck by the hurricane he had noticed.

2-Spasibo is Fursian (Russian) for Thank you.