He gently laid her on the bed after withdrawing his fangs. Looking down at her, with her face flushed, hair spread out and the Mona Lisa smile on her face, he admitted to himself that he loved her. He didn't care how or why she was here. He didn't care how fast they were going, or about anything at all except her, Buffy, keeping her, and loving her.
"Jean, mi amore, Je t'aime.
"Je t'aime, Buffy. Ma petite dorée." He kissed her softly. "You're mine now; you bear my mark for all to see."
"So do you sweetie, which means your harem will have to go. I won't share you, lover." He laughed at her, but stopped when she grabbed his ear. "I'm not kidding, babe. Buffy doesn't play well with others, not about this"
"No, my sweet, I wasn't laughing at that. I was laughing at the thought of a harem. Those poor women waiting for me to tire of you. If I had one, they would be withered and old before that happened."
"Oh well, that is okay, then. You don't have anyone in your..."
"Jean-Claude, I was finally able to get past Damian. He wouldn't let me in, you must talk to him, chère." Gretchen stormed into the room, only to stop short when she saw her lover in bed with another woman. Gretchen didn't recognize Buffy, so she reacted like any vampire would and attacked.
"Buffy responded to the challenge by rolling off the bed, causing the other woman to crash into the wall. She picked Gretchen up by her dress collar. "You weren't invited to this party. Whoever you are, Jean-Claude is otherwise occupied, and will be from now on." Buffy carried Gretchen across the room and threw her out the door, then waited. A few minutes later, the enraged woman rushed back in to continue her quest to remain the Master of the City's lover. She tried catching Buffy's eyes to enthrall her. Jean-Claude was about to stop her, when he heard Buffy's voice. "Would you quit with the bug-eyed thing. You're giving me the wiggins."
Gretchen screamed, jumping at Buffy again and tried to slash the blonde with her nails, but found her hand caught in an iron fist. Buffy applied pressure until Gretchen was on her knees. "Now, let's put our cards on the table, shall we. Will you listen to whatever Jean-Claude says? If he chooses you, I'll walk away. But, if he chooses me, then you'll do the same, deal?"
"Yes, now let me go," Gretchen demanded.
Buffy released her hand with a push, causing the other woman to take several steps back. Ignoring the fact the she had no clothes on, she went to sit back down on the bed.
"No, you stay away from him."
"Whatever." Buffy rolled her eyes, finding a place to lean against the wall. "Just tell her your choice, Jean-Claude."
"Gretchen." The woman's chest puffed out when she assumed he was choosing her. "I'm sorry to tell you this way, but I choose Buffy. Do not challenge her again; she wears my mark. My protection isn't to be challenged by anyone."
"Jean-Claude, no, you don't even know this, this person. You cannot be serious. Please, my love, tell her to leave." The blonde vampire begged as she tried to get past Buffy to Jean-Claude.
"I have told you my decision. This matter is closed. Leave us, and Gretchen, do not enter this room again without an invitation."
Her shoulders slumped, tears fell down her face as she turned to leave. Damian ran into the room. When he saw Buffy moving towards Jean-Claude and Gretchen leaving the room, he cursed under his breath. "I got called away. It was a trick, so that she could get past me. It won't happen again."
"It's all right, Damian, the matter is now settled," Jean-Claude said, waving his second-in-command away, never taking his eyes away from his beautiful mate.
Damian's eyes took in Buffy's fresh mark and the mark on the Master of the City's neck. He nodded his blood red head as he pulled Gretchen from the room.
"I guess that answers that question, huh. Is there anymore I need to be worried about?" Buffy gave Jean-Claude her famous pout.
"Non chère, just the one, and I was only passing time with her. She was well aware that I didn't share her feelings."
"That doesn't always matter, Jean. You can't help who you love. Now, how about you feed me? I find I'm very hungry for some reason." She gave him a saucy grin.
"Oui, chère, you'll need to keep up your strength. You can wear this until we can get you some clothes, although I'm tempted to keep you this way." He handed her one of his plush velvet robes. He had to hide his smile, the garment swamped her. Jean-Claude liked the way she looked in his clothes. "Anita did say you could call her if you needed someone to talk to. Perhaps, she would take you shopping."
"I don't think I'm ready to bond with your old flame, lover. I'll see if Cherry wants to go with me. It'll give me a chance to get to know her better."
"Oui chère, what're you going to do with your new pard?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulder "Later, food now!"
Anita and Richard sat on Anita's couch; neither person said a word they just stared into the other's eyes. Anita finally broke the silence. "Richard, if we're going to make it together as a couple, especially, if we want this to lead to marriage, we have to be completely honest with each other. I need to see you change, to see your wolf form. I need to make sure in my own mind that I can handle all aspects of your life."
"Anita, I agree but I'm not sure I can this close to the full moon."
"What if I helped? I could call on my necromancy, wouldn't the power push give you enough to change?"
"We can try but only if you're sure. How do we go about doing this?"
Anita stood up, grabbing his hand to pull him after her towards her bedroom. She rushed out again to the kitchen for some salt. "I need to create a circle then we can use, well, sex and my blood to call your beast." She grinned wickedly while she created a large circle that surrounded the entire bed. After setting the salt down, Anita pulled off her jacket and threw it on a chair outside the circle. She slowly began to disarm herself, pulling the arm sheaths off, but keeping one knife. She placed it by the bed while she toed off her shoes and worked on undoing her shoulder harness.
Her eyes caught Richard's while she pulled the short sword from her back. Her movements grew slower more sensual, like a killing dance as she removed two more guns before pulling her shirt off. They followed her jacket onto the chair. Now, standing in only her bra and jeans, Anita chuckled at Richard. "It works better honey if we're both nude. I know that I'll enjoy the scenery."
Richard snapped out of his daze, and not bothering to unbutton his shirt, pulled it over a muscular upper body. Anita watched the play of muscles in his arms and chest, then wandered lower to the washboard abs. She licked suddenly dry lips while other parts became wet with want. They watched each other pull off their jeans smiling to see the same flame of passion in each other's eyes. Richard walked over to Anita, picking her up and laid her on the bed. He crawled onto the bed like the predator that he was while sniffing and licking his way up her body.
Anita's breath caught in her throat as she watched this beautiful man learn her scent, her taste. Richard let his beast know this was their mate, the one they must always protect, must keep. His tongue dipped in her belly button, causing her to squirm. He moved up her stomach to her ribcage, his hands moved to pull her body up to his searching mouth. Richard sucked Anita's nipples through her bra, nipping at them as if he needed to mark them as his. He moved up to her neck where he buried his nose in her shoulder, sniffing her hair while he licked and nipped at her soft neck. Anita's hands came up to run over the muscles of his back, then went to hold his head close to her. She offered herself to him and his beast.
He nipped her neck, sinking his teeth in carefully, worrying the flesh leaving his mark on her neck. Richard kissed her with the want and need he had kept from her. He ravished her mouth sucking hungrily on her tongue. Anita sunk her hands into his luxurious shoulder-length chestnut hair. She ran her finger through the silky, wavy length, rubbing it between her fingers. It was so soft which conflicted with his hard strength. Running her nails lightly down his back, caused Richard to moan into her mouth. He leaned away from her while his hands moved to her back where he unclasped her bra. He tossed it aside watching her large breasts rest on her chest.
Anita's petite, slender body made her breasts appear even larger. The brown nipples contracted into tight beads showing her body's rising passion. Richard held a breast squeezing it, testing the weight. His large hand couldn't confine the large globe.
Richard grinned slyly, then he bent his head to take her nipple in his mouth, tasting it, causing Anita's breath to explode from her lungs. It was as if she held her breath until she passed his inspection. A low moan broke from her lips and her head fell back on her shoulder when he suckled hard, pulling on her nipples until they were cone shaped. He moved from one nipple to the other until they became sensitive to the touch. Anita's panties were soaking by the time he bit down on the sensitive peaks. Her hips rocked back and forth trying to relieve the ache that settled low in her belly.
"More," Anita demanded in a husky voice. Richard's hand took over for Anita. He ripped away the tiny scrap of material that kept him from where he needed and wanted to be the most. She caught her finger in his boxers, pulling them down his muscular thighs. His fingers teased her slit while his thumb lightly stroked across the swollen bud. Anita pushed up against his hands with her hips, demanding in a breathy voice. "More, Richard, more."
He started a rapid rhythm, pushing her body further towards the edge. She moaned, her hand found his hard cock and started a rhythm of her own. They moved their hands in a tandem pattern while one set of hands went up the other went down. Deep gulps of air were pulled into air-starved lungs. Richard kept a tight control on his body while Anita's hand moved faster to match his as it moved in her own body. He bent down and sucked her swollen clit into his mouth even as his fingers continued their journey down her swollen slick channel. Anita screamed when a hard climax hit her body and Richard felt her inner walls grab at his fingers. Richard withdrew them, putting them into his mouth to lick her juices off his fingers.
"Richard, I want you inside me, now."
He moved between her thighs, guiding himself into her waiting opening. Richard slid the swollen head of his cock into her, moving with tiny shallow thrusts. He moved forward slowly entering her inch by inch, stopping each time to only move the addition in, then out again of her hot, slick channel. Anita tried to take him with a thrust of her hips, but Richard controlled their love play.
Anita felt almost delirious with need when she demanded. "Now Richard, damn it. I want you, now."
He laughed. "Anita, only you would curse at your lover to hurry up and fuck you." The sound of Richard's deep husky voice while he talked like that to her, made her push her hips up even harder. "Here baby, is this what you need?" Richard buried himself inside her.
"Yes, oh yes, now move, Richard. I want to feel you pounding in and out of me."
Richard moved with a force that pushed his beast forward, as well. It sat just below the surface, striving to get to its mate. When he slammed into her, he bent forward to nip at her breasts. Anita leaned up on her elbows to be within his reach. She arched her back to offer her full, lush breasts for him to feast on.
Anita pulled the knife out from under the pillow and with one quick look at Richard, asking for permission to proceed. He nodded, knowing they were close to climaxing. She sliced her arm, pulling her power to her before sending it out in a blast to Richard. When it hit him, his back arched and his own power flooded out to receive it. They screamed when the power mixed with their passion filled bodies, bringing them to completion.
Richard's beast started to burst free from the power, blood and sex that filled the room. It overloaded his senses and he pulled away from Anita to stand at the foot of the bed. He howled, his eyes turned amber and his body arched before dropping to all fours. Anita sat up to watch her lover's form change. His face elongated into a snout, his bones shifted under the skin and his spine moved up causing his back to arch while a fluid covered his body as the wolf burst through his skin in one leap. A large beautiful male wolf stood where Richard once was. His coat an interesting mix of browns and creams, as if he were painted with the colors of Richard's hair and skin onto a cream canvas. The wolf moved forward with a low growl emitting though its bared teeth.
Anita lay on the bed waiting for him to approach her, a knife held in her hand. Richard jumped up to sniff Anita. Starting at her feet, moving up her body, he sniffed everything until he reached her breast, which he licked causing Anita's breath to hitch. The wolf buried his snout in her hair just like Richard had earlier. Carefully, the wolf nipped her ear, and Anita turned to look at him. Their eyes caught and held. The wolf's snout pushed against her neck asking permission. Anita bared her neck to him and Richard opened his snout wide, clamping down on her neck. He applied his own mark of ownership on top of the one his human had already made. Licking Anita's neck before moving back down her body, his tongue bathed her breasts again, its roughness stimulating the tender nipples into two aching hard pebbles.
Richard moved further down her body to her very core. His cold wolf's nose pushed against her closed thighs. Anita cautiously opened her legs to Richard's wolf. He licked her legs moving his snout to her womanhood. Richard pressed his cold nose onto her clit using his long tongue to lick away their combined juices. Anita groaned and her breath came in ragged gasps, shutting her eyes tightly as she tried to hold onto her control. She opened her eyes to see Richard, her Richard buried between her thighs. Anita fell completely over the edge when he started nibbling on her clit. She screamed his name, her hands pulling on his head to come to her. He stretched out over her body while he bent to kiss her mouth, to once more settle inside her.
Richard moved sharply, pulling her up to his chest seating himself deeper inside her. Anita's legs wrapped around him while she looked up at him smiling. "Okay, I think I can live with that. How many hickeys did I end up with?"
arms rested on his shoulders. "Two, one from me and one from my wolf. Are you sure, you're okay with this, Anita? Wolves mate for life, I marked you, we marked you as our mate.""Do I need to mark you too?" Anita looked up at Richard's handsome face, seeing his feelings clearly written there for her to see.
"Do you mean it? I mean for real, no joking?"
"Yes, Richard, no joking. I accept you and your wolf. Now, can you say the same about me and my power and what I do?"
"Anita, I know you think I'm a boy scout, but I'm not. I just don't always accept things the way they are. I see the way Raina and Marcus run the pack, and I know it isn't right. Someone has to step in and do something. I know that I'm strong enough physically to become the next Ulfric. I just don't know if I'm prepared for it mentally."
"Richard, who is? I know that sometimes you think that I'm hard or unfeeling. I do feel, Richard. I've just had to learn how to hold them inside when I need to focus on what's happening. I lock it all away."
"Maybe you can teach me how to do that. I have a feeling that I'm going to need it sooner that I want."
Raina returned to the Lunatic Café furious, pushing her power out as she stormed into the restaurant. An evil smile marred her beautiful face when she saw a young wolf drop a tray of glasses. She walked over to the visibly shaken young girl. "What's your name girl?"
"F-Fred," she answered, with a stammer and a heavy southern drawl.
"Come with me." Raina headed for the office without a backwards glance.
The Lupa truly frightened the willowy brunette. She had been on the way home to Texas with her parents when they got hit by a car that came out of nowhere. Her parents died immediately, leaving Fred with severe injuries that required her being flown to Phoenix. During her convalesce, they realized she wasn't immunized for lycanthropy. Fred agreed to take the vaccine and of course contracted the disease. The hospital told about a large Were community in St. Louis. So, with no family she went back to Texas, closed out her parent's estate and moved.
Fred hadn't even considered calling Angel or Cordelia. They were nice to her, but she felt like a third wheel. She knew they felt relieved when her parents came to get her, even though they didn't say anything. They were busy with their business helping people and didn't need another person who didn't leave when the job was over. She slowly walked into Raina office, nervously pushing up her glasses.
"Stop fidgeting, girl. I'm not going to bite...yet." The Lupa of the Thronnos Rokke Clan smiled wolfishly as she allowed her eyes to go amber. Raina could manipulate her body and facial features to look any way that she desired.
"Y-yes, Ma'am," Fred drawled, her accent thickening the more nervous and frightened she became.
"Ma'am, ma'am, do I look old to you? Don't call me ma'am. Call me Raina or Lupa. I can see you're going to need a lot of attention." Standing beside Fred, Raina's hand lashed out to grab the smaller woman's hair. Pulling Fred's head back as she leaned over to study her face closely. Raina enjoyed the smell of fear pouring off the petite girl. She licked Fred's cheek, moving up to her ear whispering. "Do you know what I'm going to do to you, girl?" Fred shook her head, not sure, that she could speak. "I'm going to fuck you. Then, I'll decide if I keep you for my own private use, or if you're photogenic enough for everyone to fuck."
Fred shook her head, not believing what her Lupa was saying to her.
"Don't tell me no." Raina pushed her power out at Fred and with a swipe of her claws sliced Fred's dress from her body. The smaller woman tried to cover herself, but Raina grabbed her hands. "Oh, no little wolf. I want to see what I'm going to fuck." Holding Fred's hands in her hand, she pulled them over her head, leaving Fred's body stretched out before her. Raina's other hand roamed over Fred's body. Raina sliced away the modest white bra and underwear. "You hide a very tasty little body under that ugly dress." The Lupa leaned down to capture Fred's breast in her mouth. She purposely sucked hard, gnawing on Fred's rosy nipples.
Tears ran down Fred's face while she struggled against the much stronger woman. She tried even harder when she felt Raina's hand wander down her body to cup her sex. Fred shrieked in pain when the Lupa actually bit into her tender breast.
Raina smiled licking away the blood from the mauled mound. She pushed Fred's legs apart as she prepared to continue in her rape of the young wolf. She viciously pinched Fred's clit when the door flew open. "Marcus, I'm busy here darling," Raina rebuked her mate, the current Ulfric.
"Get out, girl. Raina, dearest, we need to talk. I just heard about Gabriel losing his pard. Who's this woman that threatened you so much that you crawled away from Jean-Claude's office." Marcus let Raina have free reign, but he was no one's push over and he planned on keeping his power. Someone that could come into town and scare Raina was trouble and a threat. Marcus didn't like either one.
Raina growled, realizing that Fred stood there listening to every word about her humiliating day. "Get out girl."
"B-but, I have no clothes. You, you tore them all," she stammered. Raina grabbed her, dragging her from the room, only to shove her outside, then slam the door in her shocked white face. Fred huddled on the floor trying to hide herself when a young man about twenty-two with blonde hair came over to her.
"Here, use this, and I'll help you get out of here. There's a side door over there. I'm Jason, by the way. What's your name?"
"Thanks. Uhm, I'm Fred. Won't you get in trouble for helping me?"
"Nah, I work for the Master of the City. I mostly get a walk on stuff." Jason shrugged as he tried to make the obviously scared and shy girl feel comfortable enough to let him help her.
"Could you just get me out of here?" Fred looked at him with big whisky colored eyes that seemed to take up most of her face. They heard their Ulfric and his Lupa arguing in the office and neither one wanted to hang around for the ultimate fall out.
"Where do you live?" Jason asked Fred as he walked her to his car. He held the door for her and she climbed in tucking her bare legs underneath her.
"I live over close to the Circus, the Clown Arms. Do you know it?"
"Those are pretty nice apartments. What're you doing working here?"
"I couldn't get a job in my field. So, I thought I'd try waitressing."
"I could probably get you a job at the Circus. You wouldn't have to strip or anything. You could just take drink orders from the bar. Jean-Claude's cool and he doesn't abuse anyone. In fact, he has a girlfriend who would probably kick his ass if he tried." Jason smiled at her. He had noticed her before, but hadn't found a chance to talk with her. He liked her southern accent, shy smile and the way she would play with her glasses when she got nervous.
Fred smiled at the thought of a woman beating up her boyfriend, especially the Master of the City. "That sounds nice, are you sure that he'll hire me?"
"Yeah, just let me talk to him and you can come back, uh well, later today. You'll see it's going to be okay, plus, no Raina." Fred burst out crying shocking Jason and herself. "Come on don't cry. I can't stand it when women cry. I always end up in trouble when women cry." Jason pleaded, as he looked over at Fred while he tried to drive.
"I'm sorry its just been really hard, you know. I've only been a Were for a few months and it's harder than I thought it would be."
"That's okay. I haven't been one for very either. Are you sure that you're going to be okay?" He glanced back over at her. Fred nodded, giving him a small smile. "Give me your number and I'll call you about coming to work at the Circus. Just wear a short black skirt and white blouse. They'll give you a uniform after your probation period is over." Jason smiled at the shy girl; there was something about her that made you want to hug her so she wouldn't be so scared. He was determined to help her; he'd just take her to Buffy. She'd know what to do.
Jason returned to the Circus, deciding to call it a night when he realized he didn't know where he was supposed to sleep. He normally slept in Jean-Claude's room to be available when the Master Vampire woke up. Now, he wasn't sure where he was supposed to go, and when he got to Jean-Claude's suite, he found Nathaniel sleeping across the doorway.
That in itself wasn't so unusual, the wereleopard would sleep wherever he felt the safest. No, the really strange thing was that the rest of the pard were curled up around him. They made a most unusual doorstop. Jason sighed then laid down beside Gregory, a wereleopard whose twin was a wolf, and went to sleep.