"You can't come to St. Louis, Katelinn Haleigh!"

"Don't call me that, you sound like Judith. And why not?"

"Because - because my life is a free-fire zone. You are my baby, sis, and I do not want you to be hurt or killed because of me," she brushed back a tendril of black curly hair with one finger.

She rolled her pale blue eyes, "Oh, please, like you weren't ridiculously over protective of me to begin with. Remember high school?"

"Do I ever. Oh, alright, you can come. But I choose where to put you up, and I'm giving you a bodyguard, or two," the dulcet tones of her voice expressed her reluctance.

"Or two? Jeez, Anita, I'm not completely inept at defending myself. I know not to take my eyes off of my drink in a club or a bar. I know better than to take an already opened drink from a guy I don't know. I even know to stay in lighted areas after dark, and not to go out alone without keeping track of my surroundings," she tossed long, very wavy, reddish hair over her shoulder with a toss of her head and the shining pentacle around her neck caught the light.

"Darlin' it's not that, it's just that if you hang around me you're going to meet vampires and werewolves and the like. Not all of them are very nice," a small, pale hand squeezed the phone tightly.

A unwittingly vulnerable, feminine voice sighed over the line, "Okay, fine. But I'm only agreeing to this if I don't have to pay for my own room, since you insist on taking away my right to choose about this, and the bodyguard had better be a very hot guy."

"Fine by me."

 

Nathanial and Kati followed Anita down into the underground lair of the Master of the City and Anita's long-time boyfriend, Jean-Claude. After walking for what seemed like forever without running into anyone else, no doubt because the sun was still up, they finally stopped in front of one of the doors and Anita knocked. The man that opened the door was a little over Kati's height, which was still short, especially for a guy. His straight blond hair was cut short and had once probably looked businesslike but had since grown out a few inches. Eyes as blue and as innocent as spring skies went well with his baby-fine yellow hair.

He was wearing leather pants, laced up the side from waist to mid-calf. He was bare-foot and shirtless. The lacing was loose enough that she could see a pale line of flesh all the way down. He was shirtless, barefoot, and grinning. Anita had promised cute, and he was that.

"What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Jason Schuyler, this is Kati Haleigh. Kati, meet Jason," Anita said, "I have to talk to Jean-Claude about this, but I want Kati to bunk with or near you. She's only visiting St. Louis, but I need someone to keep her out of trouble and alive while she's here." Nathanial stayed silent during the introductions. Kati had met him earlier, when she'd first gotten off the plane at Lambert International they had met her to drive her to the Circus. Anita had introduced her to Nathanial then. Kati liked Nathanial because one of her favorite colors was violet, and she was a little in awe of his hair.

"Hi," Jason said, looking at her. Innocent his eyes may have been, but the look in them wasn't exactly.

"Hi," Kati said, cautiously.

"Before I went to Jean-Claude," Anita continued, "I thought I'd ask you if you'd mind babysitting."

Kati glared at her, indignant, "I am not twelve, Anita, I'm only a year younger than you are. And did you ever think to ask me if I liked him?"

Jason grinned, but said nothing. Anita glanced at Kati, "You know I'm just being over-protective. Relax. I just want someone to keep you safe."

Kati glanced at Jason, "He's only an inch taller than me, how's he supposed to keep me safe?"

Jason's grin didn't fade a bit, "I'm a werewolf."

Kati looked at him and blinked, "Oh."

"While Kati's busy taking her foot out of her mouth, I'll be in Jean-Claude's room," Anita glanced at her watch and sighed, "I take that back. He's not up yet, but he will be in an hour or so. Kati, I know you're hungry, what about you two?"

"I could eat," Nathanial said.

"Yeah," Jason said.

"And you know, I'm always hungry," Kati said, delighted.

Anita sighed, "You stay with her and keep her out of trouble, Jason. Come on, Nathanial."

Anita and Nathanial left and Jason cleared the doorway to let Kati in. Kati assumed Anita would want to grab take-out, and knowing Anita it would be Chinese food. Kati vaguely wondered what she'd get.

"Well, the bathroom's there and that's the bed. There's not much to do here, except watch TV and feed the vampires. Oh, and strip."

Kati turned to him, wide-eyed and ready to laugh, "What?"

"I'm a stripper, a were-wolf, and an appetizer for Jean-Claude," Jason said, grinning, "What do you do?"

Kati thought about it for a second. "I read a lot and watch TV, but my only real hobby is growing things. I volunteer at any local nursery on free weekends. I also grow Holly, Zinnia, Cosmos, Marigolds, and English bluebells in my own garden," Kati smiled, "It's still a small garden. I only started it to attract the birds and butterflies."

"What do you do for a living?" Jason asked. Kati sat down on the bed and Jason followed her, turned to watch her, sitting Indian style.

"Hasn't Nina told you anything about us?" Kati asked.

"Nope," Jason said.

"Well, I grew up in California, but in the middle of Jr. High my parents took us out of state and we moved into Nina's neighborhood. I became friends with Eliza Kintan and Jackie Courtenay, that's short for Elizabeth and Jacqueline, and Nina came next. I have pictures if you want to see them," Kati said, "Here ya go. Oh, and I am Witch. Eliza is a devout Muslim, and Jackie and Anita were Catholic at the time. Anita and I started hanging out because people heard rumors that she was practicing voodoo and she became ostracized. I was already an outsider because I was a new person, in a small Midwestern town. My being a proud, out-of-the-closet Witch didn't help much."

"I bet," Jason said, "I know you wear a pentacle because you're a Witch, but what's the symbol inside of your pentacle?"

"This is a healers pentacle. That is an ancient symbol of healing," Kati said, "Anyway, after high school we all tried to keep in contact and we have, sort of. Anita and I are the only ones to have moved so far away from home, Eliza and Jackie stayed in the same state, at least. Jackie and my brother, Jay, work for the same law firm back home. Eliza became a dental assistant, but now she's thinking about changing careers." Kati hugged herself, it had been a little cooler outside than she'd liked but now, here underground, it was considerably colder. The snap-sleeve, frosty blue tee shirt and the blue London "boyfriend" jean combination, was fine for outside during the day but the sun was setting and she was underneath the Circus where it was cold.

Jason handed the wallet and pictures back to her, got up, and walked over to the other door. It turned out to be his closet, and rummaged through it for a minute. He ended up pulling out an over-sized black sweater and handing it to her. The sweater hit her at about mid thigh.

"There," he said.

"You sure this is okay?" she asked.

"It's fine. The sweater's old anyway, it doesn't fit like it used to. You can keep it if you want," Jason told her, "Jean-Claude's always supplying me with new clothes anyway. But keep going."

"As far as my career goes, I haven't been doing much of anything seriously, but I've been thinking about moving to St. Louis and then finding work here. Don't tell Anita, though. I haven't decided for sure, yet. I want to help people, but I haven't decided who I want to help, or how. I might even go back to school, at least part-time. But my real motivation for coming to St. Louis is to help Nina. She took care of the three of us in high school and I've finally got a chance to pay her back somehow."

"Wait, did Anita always want to be a vampire hunter? You haven't told me about her in high school, yet."

"Oh, no! Back then Anita wanted to study supernatural creatures. She used to say that she was going to be the preternatural version of Jane Goodall and study dragons and things like that. She moved out here and I moved back out to California. But the accent I developed in high school makes me feel like an outsider back in Cali, so I don't think I'll stay. Besides, home is where the heart is, and my heart is with my sisters. Missouri is closer to home than California. Jackie and Eliza have each other, and my brother. Anita hasn't really got anybody out here by herself. Well, except for Ronnie but I don't trust her."

"That's not true, she's got Jean-Claude, Asher, Micah, and me. Actually, she's got plenty of people," Jason said.

"Oh, I know all about you boys, Anita and I have stayed in contact. We write really long letters. But I haven't met anybody except you and from what I've heard Anita's ability to communicate with her many boyfriends here in St. Louis in somewhat hampered. Partly by the fact that apparently all the guys are total hunks and partly because she is skittish about relationships. I think my being here will be good because I knew Anita before she got this way," Kati said, "Plus, I want to meet Jean-Claude. He has to be approved in order to date my sister."

Jason laughed, "You mean you want to rate Jean-Claude. This oughtta be good." He laid himself out backwards on the bed, still chuckling.

"Why are you laughing?" Kati asked.

"It's nothing, just that I think it's odd that you're so over-protective of the Executioner," Jason grinned.

"And don't forget," Kati reminded him, "I'm going to interrogate the Master Vampire of the City of St. Louis on whether or not his intentions towards my sister are honourable or not. And they had better be honourable, or else." Kati pretended to look scary and succeeded in sending Jason into another fit of laughter.

 

Anita came back with Nathanial and the predicted Chinese food. They's ordered kung-pao chicken and extra crab rangoon for Anita, Singapore noodles for Nathanial, sea food and soup for Kati, and Peking duck for Jason.

"What is this?" Kati asked, already delving into her soup.

"Some kind of sea food and a bowl of soup, because I know you like soup and crab. I didn't check to see what it was called," Anita said, "I just made sure there weren't any tomatoes or exotic, extra hot spices in it."

"There is no way to screw up soup," Kati said, "No matter what you do to it."

Anita swallowed and used her chop sticks to point to Kati, "That is, unless you're cooking it."

"You blow up one microwave and you never get to live it down," Kati grumbled.

Jason laughed through a mouthful of food and ended up choking, "What?"

Anita and Kati smiled, "Nothing, Jason."

"Just a private joke," Anita added.

 

Kati made Anita take her to Jean-Claude after they finished eating. Kati had slid her arm through Anita's and was clinging tightly while they made their way through the Circus.

"Do you think I'll like Jean-Claude and Asher?" Kati asked.

Anita shrugged, "I have no idea. I can't predict who you'll like and who you'll hate. Never could."

Kati smiled, "Do you think they'll like me?"

Anita glanced at Kati, "I don't know. It depends on what you're up to."

"Me? Up to something?" Kati did her best to look innocent, and since she'd had practice she pulled it off. Barely.

Anita gave a very inelegant snort.

"Ma petite, who is your friend?" Jean-Claude asked, with all the interest a cat would give a mouse. Asher couldn't have cared less. They were both a-fucking-mazing. Asher eyes were a frostier blue than her own, and that hair of his! It might as well have been spun gold for all of it's metallic golden glitter. Jean-Claude's were like black blue ink straight from India and his hair was a black veil of neat curls. Kati was almost breathless, but she regained her wits, hoping they hadn't noticed, and hid behind a mask of anger.

Kati glared at him, partly intimidated by their beauty, and partly offended by the look he was giving her. Anita smiled, amused for once.

"I'm your report card," Kati supplied, grinning, "Ya know, Anita tells me everything about you guys and -" Anita blinked and when she realized what Kati was saying her expression instantly turned to one of horror.

"Shut up," Anita hissed, and she smothered Kati with a hand over her mouth. Kati laughed, even with Anita's hand covering her mouth. Anita pulled her hand off of Kati slowly, reluctantly. Both of the boys were now watching with interest.

"I'll behave, Nina. I just didn't like the look he was giving me," Kati said, not in the least repentant.

"But really," she said, "I'm Katelinn Haleigh. You boys can call me Kati."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Katelinn," Jean-Claude said, smiling so that a hint of fang peeked out.

"He's not very good at using nicknames, Kati," Anita told her.

Kati blinked and shook her head, "And you're Asher, am I right? Anita described you in her letters."

"And what did she say?" Asher asked, his hair covering the right side of his face. Kati knew what he was hiding, knew because Anita had told her how it broke her heart every time he hid himself from her.

"That you are more handsome than Jean-Claude, but Jean-Claude's more beautiful. I have to say that I don't quite agree with her, I can't tell which of you is more beautiful, but he certainly is more feminine," Kati paused, unsure of whether or not to finish, "She said you are all gold and eye catching and brilliant like the sun. She said that that was why you are the first one anyone notices when they walk into a room."

"I'm afraid that the tales of my beauty were greatly exaggerated, Miss Haleigh," Asher said.

Kati was shaking her head slowly. "No, trust me, if anything Anita couldn't tell me how beautiful you are. She shouldn't have tried, no mere mortal could ever describe beauty like yours," Kati flushed, "But I, uh, should probably shut-up 'cause you are one of Anita's harem boys."

"Harem?" Anita asked, incredulously.

Kati rolled her eyes, "Yes, Anita, when you have three or more serious boyfriends it's called a harem."

"I do not have a harem," Anita protested.

"She does have a point, ma petite," Jean-Claude said, smiling. Asher was looking at Kati oddly, and she couldn't decipher his expression.

"Kati, could you go check on Jason and Nathanial?" Anita asked, not fooling anybody in the least.

"You know, sister, darling, if you want to get rid of me all you have to do is say so," Kati rolled her eyes and decided to sneak one more glance back at the gorgeous blond before she left. After accidentally locking her eyes with his she hurried out the door a little more quickly.

"Damn," she muttered, once she got out of the bedroom, "He is intense."

 

Back in Jason's room Kati found that Nathanial had gone off somewhere and Jason had changed from leather pants to well-worn denim jeans. Very hot. She was again alone with her were-wolf bodyguard. Kati laid back on the bed, her legs crossed and her fingers threaded behind the head. Jason dropped down next to her, and when she didn't protest he moved even closer to her, putting one arm over her stomach.

"So," Kati asked, "what do you do for fun around here?"

Jason grinned, "We could go to Danse Macabre, it's Jean-Claude's newest enterprise."

"Never heard of it," Kati said, "What kind of enterprise?"

"It's a club, near the Arch, with loud music and lots of people."

Kati made a face, "No, but thanks anyway." She sat up and looked around. Jason stayed on the bed, propping his head up on one arm.

"Anita told me you liked to read," Kati said.

"Aw, she wasn't supposed to tell anybody that," Jason said.

Kati smiled, wickedly, "Oh, I know all sorts of things Anita's not supposed to tell anybody. But where are your books? Do you think I could borrow one while I'm here?"

"Sure," Jason said, getting up off the bed to rummage around in a box in the closet.

"Do you keep everything in there?" Kati asked.

"Yep. Doesn't everybody?"

"I don't. Though, truthfully, most of my stuff usually ends up on the floor," Kati admitted.

"Here," Jason said, smirking, "I saw Anita reading this once so I picked it up after wandering around in Barnes and Noble." Kati couldn't picture Jason in Barnes and Noble, but she knew it must have been funny. He handed her Archangel, the first book in the Samaria Trilogy, by Sharon Shinn. Kati started to giggle.

"Anita's been trying to get me to read this! Jackie recommended it to all of us and once Anita finally finished reading it she told me I had to read it, or else. I guess this is a sign," Kati said, crawling back onto the bed with book in hand. Jason followed her, laying down beside her and wrapping his arms around her until she moved so her head rested on his shoulder.

"What else do you know about Anita?" Jason asked, while Kati read the blurb and summary back of the book.

"Hmm. Anita's paternal side of the family is from Baden-Baden, Germany, and her Mother's family is Mexican. She was born and raised Catholic, which you probably already knew. Nina's middle name is Katherine for her Great-Aunt, on her father's side. When her mother died Anita was eight years old. Mrs. Blake was in a car accident and because she wasn't wearing her seat belt she went through the windshield. That's why Anita isn't crazy about cars, and is fanatical about people wearing their seat belts. Nina's dad was such a jackass," Kati told him.

"Why do you say that?" Jason asked, curious enough that he leaned in to hear the story. Kati thought for a moment that Jason was getting closer for another reason, but brushed it off. Anita had told her ahead of time that Jason flirted with anyone in a skirt. Kati may have been wearing jeans, but she was still female.

"Well, I wasn't there, but Eliza and Jackie were. When Nina's dad got the call about her mom from the state trooper he broke down completely. He took Nina with him to see his side of the family. It was only down the street because just about all of Nina's relatives live in the same neighborhood, but anyway, he went in to be comforted and left Anita outside, in the street, while she cried. She explained to the neighbors what had happened to her mom while her dad was inside being held by her father's side of the family."

"Woah," Jason said.

"Yeah," Kati replied, sort of petting him absentmindedly, running her fingers through his hair, "I ended up coming onto the scene about the time that Anita's powers blossomed. She spent the summer she turned thirteen with her Grandmother Flores, a vaudun priestess, learning how to control her powers." Kati felt Jason pressed against her a little better than she had a moment before. Confused, she turned her head and ended up looking straight into his eyes. Her eyes widened and then Jason's lips met hers. Velvet, Kati thought. Very soft. She was suddenly glad she wasn't standing, because she wasn't sure if her legs would have been able to support her. Blood rushed up to her face, her capillaries burst, and Jason's mouth left hers.

Jason brushed his lips across hers once more, then he pulled back again. Kati opened her eyes, not even remembering having closed them, and stared at him. He'd moved far enough back that she could look him in the eyes without going cross-eyed. He had a smile on his lips, and not his usual grin.

"Thanks," Kati said, a little breathlessly, unsure of what to do next.

"I figured I should go slow with you. You seem very - young - despite your twenty-three years," Jason said.

"Twenty-four," she said, still not thinking very clearly, "and a half." Jason good, kissing good. Young bad, twenty-three bad - wrong. Wrong. Think, Kati.

Jason chuckled, and since Kati had somehow ended up turned to face him on the bed, pressed very close, she could feel his chest moving against hers. Cool.

"What's so funny?" Kati asked, her higher brain functions starting to kick in again.

Jason shook his head, "I'm only twenty-two and I still feel older than you."

"My horoscope says I'm an eternal child," Kati replied, and Jason grinned.

"I bet," Jason said, getting up and going to stand next to the stereo. Kati was left feeling oddly bereft and cold. She hadn't realized, until he'd gotten up, how warm she was when they were so close together.

Meanwhile, Jason was looking through a collection of CDs. He pulled out one and put it into the player, clicking the next button until he got the song he wanted.

"If you won't let me take you out, then we'll dance here," Jason said, and held a hand out to Kati.

"Oh, alright," Kati said, and bounced off of the bed and over to Jason. Then she hesitated.

"You should probably be warned, I don't think I'm very good at this," she said, then, "I like this song. Do you usually listen to Bowling for Soup?"

"I don't listen to music very often, I have a little bit of Simple Plan on here, and Less than Jake. It's a mix CD," he told her.

"Oh, is One Slow dance on there? I know I can dance to that," Kati said.

"Yeah, just a sec."

The song started and Jason held out his arms. She stepped into his grasp and looked into his eyes. Kati flushed and glanced down, but that wasn't much safer because he was so not wearing a shirt. She opted towards laying her head on his shoulder while they moved gently. She could hear his heart beat, could hear him breathe, felt the strength in the arms around her. It occurred to her that Jason was a were-wolf, and suddenly she felt fragile. Safe, protected, warm, but fragile.

The door opened and Asher was just suddenly standing there. He glowered at them both. Kati stepped quickly away from Jason, flushing red. She didn't know why she felt embarrassed, but she did.

"My, my. Isn't this quaint." His voice was sharp and it almost hurt just to listen to it.

The song ended and a new song, My Bloody Valentine, started to play. Asher reached out and shut off the CD player. Kati felt something radiating off of him, but was unsure of what. She felt embarrassed and oddly frightened and silence had always made her crazy and why wasn't anyone saying anything?

"Is something wrong?" Kati asked.

"Yes," Asher hissed. Kati was mystified, and she let it show on her face.

"What?" Jason asked, and Kati began to worry. Asher instantly looked towards the were-wolf and glared. Kati didn't think he was going to say anything, but he was so angry. The staring contest went on for a moment and Kati almost broke in again.

"Did Anita want you to seduce her sister, wolf?" Asher said, and the words were spoken as if they were being bitten out, one by one. Kati was horrified. Jason's fists clenched.

"Anita - !" Kati couldn't form the words. To be honest she had nothing to say to either of them. She had to talk to her sister. Ooh, she was going to kill Nina for this. Kati was unaware that the last thought had been spoken aloud.

"For what?" Jason asked, staring at her now.

She spoke before thinking, "Nina has meddled in my love life, or lack of it, all because of..." Kati stopped, going pale. Oh, no, she was not going there. Not even in her head.

"Because of what, cherie?" Asher asked, his face bland, but Kati suspected his thoughts were anything but. Damned vampires. Damned men. Argh! Where was Nina?

Kati pushed Asher out of the way, muttering exclamations and being uncharacteristically rude. The two men were left behind, not quite sure of what had just happened.

"What is she hiding?" Jason asked aloud, though mostly to himself.

Asher raised an elegant eyebrow, anger melting away now that Kati was not in another man's arms, and commented, "She is adorable when she's angry."

"I noticed," Jason said.

 

"StupidstupidAsher! Ican'tbelievehe- He- argh!"

"Kati, slow down, what is it? What about Asher? I thought you were with Jason?" Anita said.

"Damnit, this is all your fault," Kati was busy fuming.

"What did I do?"

 

"I didn't tell Jason anything about seducing you, Kati. You were there, remember? So you're mostly angry because you almost told them about - him. Big deal. If they ask any touchy questions, just tell them to drop the subject. I don't understand why Asher was angry, either," Anita looked upset now, and upset was never a good thing for Anita, "He was acting almost jealous, but he's not allowed to be jealous."

"Why?" Kati wanted to know.

Anita blushed, "Because he's with me."

Kati blinked, "With you? You're not cheating on Jean-Claude are you, because that seems like a really stupid thing to do."

Anita shook her head, "No, we're both with him. Like a... Like Kay, Kolten, and ... what was his name?"

Kati supplied the forgotten name, "Derek Ballard. Those three are still together, you know?"

Anita blinked, "Really?"

Kati nodded, "That's why I remember the name, Kay C. Hadley and Kolten Bartoli are changing their last names to Ballard. I even saw the rings Derek and Kotlen got for Kay. Each one is actually three separate bands linked together to form one ring, but the three mini-bands move independently."

Kati paused, "Wait, you and Jean-Claude and Asher are a threesome?"

"My God. Kati!"

"Sorry, sorry. Blond moment," Kati said. Her hair had darkened so that it was almost more red now than blond, but once upon a time her hair had been the blond of most Californian children.

"So, Asher's with us so he's not supposed to be interested in you. So why was he upset?" Anita wondered.

Kati shrugged, "I don't know, and I don't care." She glanced at her watch, realized she wasn't wearing one, and grabbed Anita's wrist.

"Lord, it's late. I'm going to bed. I hope Jason isn't upset with me," Kati said, yawning.

"Good night, little sister."

"G'Night."

 

Once back in Jason's room Kati checked to make sure he was asleep, and he seemed to be, and went to take a shower. Kati saw her bag on a shelf up behind the toilette seat and pulled it down to rummage through it. Jason had the usual men's cologne, hair and body wash, and some nameless conditioner. The sink had shaving cream, after shave, and mousse. The usual, she thought.

Kati pulled out her own, more feminine, things. Strawberry and champagne scented soap, lotion, shower gel, and exfoliating body scrub; strawberry shampoo and conditioner. Then she pulled out her shaving cream, razor, body mist, and deodorant. She left the bubble bath in her duffel bag because Jason only had a shower head. She pulled off Jason's sweater and threw it in the laundry basket then tossed her own dirty clothes into a large, empty zip lock in her duffel bag. She stepped into the shower and slid the shower door shut behind her.

Kati shaved and washed her hair, body, and face. Afterwords, she stepped out of the shower pulled out an extra towel and dried off. She towel dried her hair and left it. Once she was dry she pulled out her poet's cotton chemise sleep shirt, a gift from Eliza. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and ignored the lace sleep shirt and satin robe that Jackie had packed for her when she hadn't been looking. She pulled a terry cloth hooded robe over her head and figured she was a safe as she was going to get as long as she was still sleeping in the same bed as Jason. She sat down on the toilet seat, pulled out her hair spray, and concentrated on trying to braid her wild hair.

When she finished in the bathroom she walked out of the small bathroom and was almost relieved to see that Jason was asleep and harmless. She brought her bag with her, putting it outside of the bathroom door, near the end of Jason's bed.

Kati tapped on Jason's bare shoulder and whispered, "Jason, please wake up. I need to get into bed."

Jason grabbed her and pulled her over him and into bed. Kati let out a surprised yelp, but Jason was already dragging the blanket over her and wrapping his arms around her. For a moment she had worried that he would be wearing bikini briefs, or less, but she realized now that he was wearing baggy boxers. Thank God. She wasn't quite ready for anything else, yet.

"Night, Kati," he mumbled.

"Sweet dreams, Jason," Kati whispered, forgetting about his sensitive ears. Her human eyes did not see the almost triumphant grin that crossed his face in the dark and she missed the way his nostrils flared to inhale her scent.

__________________________________________________________________________________

 

Jason woke up to the feminine scent of Kati and the feeling of a soft, warm female body next to his. He swore inwardly while he was slowly making his way out of the bed, letting her go gently so as not to wake her. He stripped off his blue boxers and climbed into the shower and turned it on, cold. He got out of the shower a few minutes later, after showering thoroughly and efficiently. He shook himself before grabbing the nearest towel and ruffled his hair, then dispatched a few random droplets that were scattered around his neck and chest. He wrapped the towel tightly around his waist and walked into the bedroom, towards his closet.

As he pulled out a pair of black jeans and jogging shoes he heard Kati's breathing change and knew she was awake. He heard her stretch, heard her yawn and heard the sheets sliding against the robe as she moved languidly, before she relaxed back against his sheets again. He turned to her, still wearing only a towel and said something inane before quickly moving back into the bathroom to change. He got there and realized he'd forgotten his underwear.

"Fuck," he muttered, "I'll just have to go without." He heard Kati giggle from outside the door. Apparently she'd heard him.

"Did you forget something, Jason?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said reluctantly, "Could you pull some underwear and socks out of the little dresser by the bed?" He heard her move to the dresser and rummage around in it.

"Do you need anything else?" she called, forgetting all about his were-wolf ears. He smiled, amused.

"A shirt would be nice, but that's not necessary," he said.

"Okay."

She opened the door a crack and handed him the only pair of clean, normal Hanes underwear he owned and a clean pair of white socks. While he dressed he thought about her going through his undies and shook his head.

In his room he could hear Kati moving around and changing clothes. He waited until she was finished before opening the door a bit to peer out at her. She was wearing a seamless, rose colored, strapless bra and had not yet changed into the light pink lace-and-ribbon trim sweater set that lay beside her on his bed. He assumed, from the other bra and pantie sets he could see in her open bag, that the underwear matched. She'd already put on low riding, baggy cargo pants. The khaki color of the pants and her nicely tanned, golden skin went well with all of the pink.

Kati sat on his bed with her brush in her hands. The braid had come undone in her sleep and she'd woken up with an extra chore for this morning. She was brushing out her strawberry blond, almost red hair. He watched her while she was unaware, memorizing the way she moved and the way her hair looked in the morning. He shut the bathroom door slowly, waiting for her to put her shirt on, then thought, what the hell.

He spoke just before opening the door, "You had better be decent by now."

Kati looked up and Jason had to meet those pale blue eyes directly. Her eyes were not quite as extraordinary as Asher's but they were damn close.She put the brush down and reached for the Cami halter top sweater that went under the matching cardigan.

"You have a jacket to go over than sweet little ensemble? It might stay cold today," Jason said, slipping into his customary grin.

"Uh huh," Kati said, leaning across the bed to pull something out of her bag, "I brought this dusty pink leather jacket, just in case."

"Very feminine," Jason said, after having to clear his throat. Damn girl.

"Yeah," she said, younger than her years, "I shop too much a Victoria Secret, I guess."

Jason blinked, and fought not to picture that. He lost.

"Heh, well, do you want to go out today?" he asked, at a loss.

"I guess. I mean, I could do with a little bit of breakfast," she said, slipping her two small socked feet into a pair of chocolate colored boots, ending just above her ankles and making her legs seem longer. Jason had to look away. Was she trying to - ohh. A real, honest to God smile lit up his face.

She stood up, "Can you think of someplace to get breakfast?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Have you ever heard of Kaldi's Coffee House?" Jason asked her.

"No," she said, wide-eyed, but smiling.

"You'll love it, I promise," Jason said, "Usually I wouldn't take you to Kaldi's but since I have a few days off to show you around I have the time to drive out there."

Kati's eyes were definitely wide now, "Where exactly is this place?"

"De Mun Avenue, in Clayton," Jason said.

Kati looked abashed, "I don't know St. Louis very well, or which place is where so I'll just have to trust you."

"Do you?" Jason asked, and the question was more important to him than it should have been.

"Mmhmm," she said, murmuring an affirmative as she watched the people, buildings, and other cars they passed by.

Kati sipped the cinnamon hot chocolate while they sat at their table on the shaded outdoor patio seats. It was a beautiful morning.

"I can't believe that's all you've ordered," Jason said, wolfing down his pastries between large swallows of a grande latte.

"I couldn't pass up the chance at chocolate, and I think I will eat something but I don't know exactly what I want," Kati said, "I'm a finicky eater."

"Here," Jason said, handing her part of his breakfast, "try one of these and see what you think."

"Thank-you," she said, taking a bite, "These are good. I heard while we were inside that this place serves kosher coffee. What does that mean?"

"Oh, just that a rabbi has to check out the roasting plant every month. And this is the only place in the Midwest where you can pick up certified kosher coffee," Jason told her.

"Really, that's interesting," Kati said, then glanced around, "There are so many people here is it always this busy?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Jason said, looking at the line that had already formed, "Although we got here early. It's only seven thirty and they only open at seven a.m."

"This place is popular," she said, "And beautiful."

"Yeah," he replied, "I think most of the reason is that it's in front of a private college park. I used to spend a lot of time here, when I was still in school. Hey, have you seen the arch, yet?"

"No," Kati said, "Could we?" Jason grabbed her arm and turned it so he could the inside of her wrist.

"Not yet, it won't open for another half-hour. But I bet we could spend and hour or more doing something else until then," he told her, "You'll like the tram ride, I think. Do you have any money on you?"

"Yeah. There's a ride involved?" she asked him.

"Don't worry it's not scary, unless you're claustrophobic."

"That explains why Anita wouldn't take me."

 

"Here we are," Jason said.

"Where is here?" Kati asked.

"Here," Jason told her, "is the AMC Esquire 7 Theater. It's $6.50 per person. The movie is on you and I'll pay for the ride when we go to the Arch."

"Here's a twenty," she said, "Will you stand in line for me?"

"Sure," Jason said, taking the money, "But where are you going?"

"Nowhere, I just wanted you to pay for the tickets."

"Now you've confused me," he said.

"Confusion is something you'll get used to if you spend much time around me. Ask Anita," Kati told him, and she smiled remembering days gone by and things she thought she'd forgotten. Like Anita's trip to visit Kati in California, while on zombie raising business for Bert.

Some woman Anita had met on the street had refused to believe that all of her curly hair had been natural and had gotten very angry with Anita for not telling her where she'd gotten it done. Anita had come back to Kati's then apartment spooked and swearing that she would never come back. Kati had decided to leave three months later, for mostly unrelated reasons, and had gone to visit Eliza and then Jackie before trying to make a home for herself back where she'd come from. Now, however, she wanted to move again. To St. Louis.

 

"Oh, I think it was too early for popcorn," Kati said.

"You're the one who wanted it," Jason said, his arm resting comfortably, wrapped around her slim shoulders as they walked out of the theater.

"I know, but I didn't expect to eat so much of it," she told him, letting her arm slid around his waist, "I guess I was hungrier than I thought."

"I'm going to pick up a Gatorade somewhere along the way to the Arch, do you want anything?"

"A water bottle, I guess, but nothing nasty," Kati made a face, "Arrowhead or some other kind of natural spring water."

"Your wish is my command, my lady."

 

"That was neat," Kati said, after leaving the Arch, "Is there anything else you want me to see, or should we head back?"

"Well, I'll let Anita be the one to take you to the Zoo. I have to leave her something to do with you. I guess we could go back, but do you want to eat lunch first?"

"Sure. Where do you want to go?" she asked him.

"We can go to the Craving Bakery and Restaurant, or the Big Sky Cafe," he said, "But my favorite place is King Louie's."

"Let's go there, then," Kati said

 

Later on in the evening Kati collapsed onto Jason's bed, back beneath the Circus. She wondered, though. Jason flopped down next to her, sighed, and rubbed his stomach. They'd both eaten their full. But was curious, she remembered what Anita had said about the Circus, "The Circus of the Damned is a combination of traveling carnival, circus, and one of the lower rungs of hell, Kati. I think you'd like it."

"Jason, we've been all over St. Louis, but I haven't seen the Circus, yet. Can we do that tonight?"

"Sorry, babe," he said, "But I'm going to be resting for a while. Today has been an adventure and a half but I will need to feed Jean-Claude once he wakes up. I'm sure Asher will show you around the Circus. He and I talked last night, after you left, and we have an agreement. He wants to get to know you better."

"An agreement? About me?" Kati said, "That's okay, I guess. But, I'll be alone with him?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about Asher. He's not going to hurt you. I think he's just curious, you do know an awful lot about Anita's past, and you do call each other sister."

"Yeah. I guess that's okay." Kati felt like there was something else she should be picking up on, some undercurrent or hidden meaning. She'd always been terrible at reading between the lines, at picking up on lies and hidden agendas.

Jason moved his head so he could look at her face, "You don't like him much, do you?"

"It's not that," Kati said, "It's just that he makes me nervous. He's very intense, and very beautiful. I know he belongs to Anita, so I felt guilty whenever I look at him. Not that I wouldn't feel guilty and shy anyway, just because he is so beautiful. Anita once described Jean-Claude and Asher as original Da Vinci paintings, given to her not just to put up on a wall and admire but to roll around on. It feels wrong to her, like she'll end up ruining their beauty when she touches them."

"Why would touching him ruin his beauty?" Jason asked.

"Because," Kati explained, "Asher is too gorgeous to be real. If you touch him then he is real. And it's instinctive to think that if you give a dream substance it suddenly isn't as perfect. It's not true, but it seems true."

"If you say so," Jason said, and shrugged, "Anyway, duty calls." Jason hesitated for a moment and then leaned over to brush his lips against hers, once, twice, and moved his hands to cradle her face to kiss her gently, carefully. He kissed her And then he was gone.

Kati opened her eyes to an empty room and glanced around, then, opening up her duffel bag she pulled out her small cache of mix CDs. She turned his player on and set the song to Toploader's Dancing in the Moonlight and laid back on Jason's bed to listen to the music and wait for Asher. She assumed that Jason would send him once he woke up. Anita had told her that Jean-Claude woke up earlier than all of the other vampires beneath the Circus because he was the Master of the City. She glanced at her watched and planned to wait a half hour before going out on her own. She smiled to think of how Anita would over-react to Kati wandering around inside the Circus alone.

Kati glanced at her watch a half-hour later and got up to rummage through her duffel bag. It was cold again so she pulled out her jacket and shrugged it on. "I Love Rock and Roll" came on, the Britney version, and she danced, deaf and almost blind to what was going on around her. When the door opened she was in the throes of her only mindless passion. Funny thing they had about not knocking on doors. Maybe it was just Asher. She lowered her arms and tried to think of something to say.

He was beautiful, always. Kati would have sighed, but she was frozen. She knew better than to get romantically involved with two men. Inexperienced maybe, virginal definitely, but she was not going to do anything that might hurt anyone else. So, no romance, but the way he was looking at her made her nervous.

"Oh, um, damn. Hello," she said, lamely.

"Don't mind me," Asher said, taking all of her in with one quick, intense glance.

Kati smiled and thought, What the hell, "I want to see the Circus of the Damned. Then, maybe we could go dancing?"

"Your wish is my command, my lady." Where Jason had made the same line a joke Asher said it formally, seriously.

 

"So, how does a cute vampire like yourself end up being my glorified babysitter?" Kati asked, looking for all the world like a carefree teenager while she picked individual pieces off of her cotton candy. Blue, not pink. When Asher had asked why not pink she'd gestured to her clothes and said she had enough pink to last her twenty-four hours.

Kati stared directly into his eyes, Asher having already promised not to bespell her. He had amazing eyes and she couldn't resist the temptation to stare into a vampire's eyes, now that she had permission.

"It was my pleasure, mademoiselle," Asher said smoothly.

"Well, thank-you, anyway," she said, still moving to the song that had ended ages ago.

"You like to dance, don't you?" he asked her.

"Not any more than I like other things, I'm just in the mood tonight," Kati said. Immediately Asher's eyebrows shot up.

"In the mood to dance," Kati said, gesturing emphatically, and Asher laughed.

People around them glanced at him, both drawn and repelled by the sound, both frightened and enticed. Kati took a deep breath and couldn't help shivering.

"I've talked enough about me today, can we talk about you?" Kati asked, "Do you like St. Louis? Is it very much like France?"

"I do like St. Louis, it is more free than in France. There a few, very few, similarities. The people are very different, because I spent most of my time with the Council while I was in France," Asher told her, suddenly solemn.

"Well, I don't want to talk about the Council. I want you to have a good time and be happy tonight," Kati said, nervous at his mention of the Council. She finished her cotton candy and started to unravel the paper center. Asher watched the movement of her fingers, and spoke.

"Why don't we go someplace else?" he suggested, "I do not think you would like Guilty Pleasures or The Laughing Corpse. But you wanted to dance? Would you like to go to Danse Macabre?"

"No, not really," Kati said, suddenly feeling guilty about not going with Jason when he'd asked, "I can dance up until there are people watching, and other people dancing with me."

"What would you like to do then?" he asked.

"What do you do for fun?" Kati asked, throwing away the mangled paper and tucking an errant tendril of red hair behind her ear.

"I -" Asher started to speak, but something stopped him. Kati looked where he was looking and felt a disturbance of some sort. The majority of Circus goers saw nothing but Kati wasn't ordinary, no matter how often Anita forgot about that.

"Let's go investigate," Kati told him, grabbing his arm to take him with her. She tugged but he did not move, and his arm felt stiff and lifeless. Kati had the urge to wipe her hand on her pants.

"I do not think bringing you with me into danger would endear me towards our lovely Executioner," Asher said, and moved her so that he look straight into her eyes, "Please, stay here and stay out of trouble."

"Whatever you say," Kati smiling brightly and lying through her teeth. He could tell.

"You will not stay here on your own," he said, and it was not a question.

"So you might as well take me with you," she said, and felt whatever it was grow worse.

"I do not have time for this," Asher said, more to himself than to her. He left, running at that speed that all vampires are capable of, with Kati running. She couldn't keep up with him, but that was okay because she knew where he was going, could feel something more than what the others around them noticed.

When Kati got there the first things she noticed were the crosses, they were lit up like miniature suns in the darkness. Asher had his eyes shielded with one arm, the other out as if to defend against an attack. It was then that realized it was an attack. Humans First, of course. Damn it, Asher couldn't defend against them. But could, maybe. Kati made a beeline for Asher, stepping in front of him. She looked at the advancing members of the hate group and started to speak the words to a spell she'd long ago memorized.

"Winds arise and dead air stir,

Breezes blow and zephyrs whir.

Stagnant air resume its flow,

Blust'ry storm and gale force blow.

One on one and three times three,

As I will it so shall it be!"

As Kati spoke the wind inside the Circus began to pick up, and the gentle breeze began to blow harder. Kati was the center, her power and her force of will commanding that it should be so. The fanatics from Humans First noticed, the felt the wind and they saw Kati. One of them, unfortunately, had the foresight to bring a shotgun.

"Thirsting plants beckon shower,

Man and beast as well as flower.

Crashing rain fall earthward bound,

Soak into the needy ground.

Rain we need times three

As I will it so shall it be!"

Kati knew the next part of the spell was the most dangerous, the calling of lightning. As she began to speak the words,

"These mortals we must fight.

Send to me your lightning bright,

Lightning bright, Lightning - "

A shotgun blast drowned Kati out. Kati was thrown to the ground and she heard Asher's scream. He'd pushed her out of the way. Kati was up, feeling the air crackle with the electricity inside the Circus that she'd excited. Damn it. Kati stared into Asher's face and knew with a healer's intuition that he was not dead, yet. There was something left. And God have mercy on them all if Asher died. If they killed him, Jean-Claude and Anita would slaughter every one of his murderers. But already Kati could distantly hear the sound of sirens.

Kati heard a growl, she looked up and saw a great furred beast. She gasped, but would not abandon Asher. Then, when she realized that the giant wolf was guarding them she concluded it must be Jason.

"You are not allowed to die, damn it," she said, her attention returning to the still vampire laid out in front of her. She sent out a whisper of her power and felt something left. But she had never tried to heal a vampire what - blood. The answer came before she had a chance to finish thinking the question. Kati lifted her wrist to his mouth and forced his fangs to pierce the inner skin of her wrist. Damn, it hurt! She prayed while skin attempted to save him, and then, her prayer turned into a spell. She was, at the very least, good at her chosen craft.

"God, Goddess, please, hear my pleas and save this man. I know you can. Make his heart beat, let him regain his feet. He can cheat death, just let him draw another breath. Drink, damn it. You can come back from the brink, I know it."

She visualized her power feeding him, her blood feeding him. She made his chest rise, and saw his chest rise. She made his heart beat, and felt it start to pound. She prayed for his eyes to open and they did. Thank God. She was still whispering to him as he sank fangs deep into her wrist. He was pale and his heart had ceased beating again, but he was awake and he was feeding.

"Please, stay with us," she said, and suddenly realized that she was still talking to him. She shut her mouth and looked up to the wolf who was still guarding them.

"Thank you," she said, and saw the large shaggy head turn back to monitor the fight, which by now had stopped. The humans were either unconscious, hopefully not dead, and the rest had run or were being held down by very upset vampires and were-wolves. She saw Nathanial and realized that some of the were-leopards were here as well. Which meant that...

"Katelinn!" Anita shouted, sounding at once both terrified and angry.

"Here," Kati tried to shout, but at this point she could only manage a weak attempt. The were-wolf, he was Jason wasn't he? barked and Anita glanced their way. She went a shade paler and Kati smiled, Asher drew back from her wrist, and Kati fell forward as he started to sit up. He murmured in French as he held her and rubbed her back.

"Damnit, Asher, she's anemic!"

 

Kati woke up to a warm, wet tongue licking her face. Her eyes opened in time to see Anita shooing the were-wolf away. She felt arms around her, strong arms that were almost certainly masculine and not Jason.

"Hey, Jason," she said, sounding as tired as she felt.

She faintly heard Asher's chuckle, "Ma cherie, do not mind him. He worries, is all. Go back to sleep."

"Oh, I can handle that," Kati said, falling back to sleep almost immediately.

 

"She saved me."

"I still don't understand," Jean-Claude said, "How were you injured?"

"Someone from Humans First was going to use a shotgun to kill her," Asher said, "Apparently, Anita's baby sister is a very powerful little witch. They realized what she was doing. The one who brought the shotgun couldn't bring himself to shoot a girl, but other of his cohorts decided that he could. I pushed her out of the way but failed to save myself."

"A shotgun, mon ami?" Jean-Claude asked, "I would think that a mere feeding would not have saved you."

"It probably wouldn't have, but Jason tells me she is a healer as well as a witch. She fed me with more than blood. The power she raised with her spell went towards healing me instead of defeating our human attackers."

"Then we should be very grateful to her, then," Jean-Claude said.

"Yes."

 

Jean-Claude, Anita, Asher, and Jason came to visit Kati in the hospital with flowers, chocolate, a baked potato from Carl's Jr. and French fries. Kati's sweet young nurse didn't want to let all of them in but one look at Jean-Claude and Asher to render her too speechless to say anything about it.

"I brought you flowers," Jean-Claude said, handing her a bouquet full of fern, daisies, and one white rose and lots of red carnations, "I hope you like them."

"And the rest of us brought food," Jason chimed in. Kati smiled.

"Jason," Anita chided, but everyone knew she didn't mean it.

"I hope you like chocolate," Asher told her and handed her a white See's box, "Anita warned me not to get dark chocolate."

"Oh, yes," Kati said, "Thank-you, very much."

"And we brought you Carl's Jr. A potato with broccoli and cheese, from me," Anita said, handing her the box, "I know how much you hate hospital food."

"Not as much as you do, sis," Kati said, grinning. Anita smiled.

"And I brought you fries, 'cause Anita said you like potatoes a lot," Jason said, handing her another box.

"Thank-you, Jason." Kati set the food down on a table next to the hospital bed. And glanced up at Anita, sighing.

"Anita, I think you're going to be mad at me for asking, but can I please talk to Jean-Claude alone?"

Anita blinked, looking surprised, "Sure, I guess." Anita took Jason's hand and Asher's arm and led the two out of the room and into the hall.

Jean-Claude looked at her with his head tilted partly to one side, "Yes, ma cherie?"

"Pull a seat, JC, this might be a long talk," Kati said, and he did pulling one of the hospital chairs closer to the bed, "First of all, let's get this out of the way. I'd like to stay in St. Louis but I have no idea how to do that. I would need a job and a place to live. I would like you to help me find something. I will not be a stripper, I can't dance or sing, and I don't think I can work in any of your clubs. I don't like clubs, to be completely honest. And you can always say no."

"And then there's Anita. I have my two cents as far as your relationship with her goes. She is my sister, even she is older than I am, and as far as I'm concerned your intentions thus far have not been what I could call honorable. I think you and Asher should propose to her. She doesn't have enough control over the arduer to say yes for certain, but I think you three should at least be engaged until she can control well enough to marry both of you. I even know of a ring that would be appropriate."

Jean-Claude hesitated, "We are vampires, ma cherie. We can not marry in the church, or in the church's eyes. And legally one woman cannot marry two men. And why would you have us bound together?"

"I know all that. But you can be handfasted, it's a religious ceremony, a wiccan one. And it doesn't have to be legal. It's been done before, Jean-Claude, and I would feel better about you if you did this. And I know Anita would trust you more, it might convince her that you really do love her, both of you. You must know that part of her can't quite believe it. Actually, my real reason for wanting you to do this is because I know about Asher's hissy fit after he took blood from her the first time. This would tie him to her almost irrevocably. The marks bind you to Anita, that and you both love each other, but nothing ties Asher and Anita together. They love each other as well, I believe, but neither one believes it. They both have a severe lack of confidence when it comes to how beautiful they think they are, and how lovable. This way Asher and Anita will find it harder to walk away from each other, and from you. Basically, you would just be making an informal vow more ceremonial and solid."

"Yes, I see," Jean-Claude said, quietly, "Do you think she would accept?"

"Buy her an engagement ring, propose and see what she says," Kati said, "If she says no, I'll drop it. But I don't think she'll say no. I don't think he will either, unless it's out of some obscure and ridiculous notion born from his self-doubt and self-hatred."

Jean-Claude nodded, "If I do these things for you, will you do something for me?"

"Sure, I guess. What is it?"

 

Kati lay back on her own bed underneath the Circus of the Damned. They'd moved the rooms around a little, Asher had moved in with Jean-Claude and Kati had taken Asher's old room. That put her between Asher and Jason, which was just fine with her. Jean-Claude had asked her if she was willing to become Asher's pomme de sang in return for helping find her an acceptable job, which they hadn't found, yet. They'd proposed to Anita and she'd hesitantly agreed, with the understanding that it would be a very long engagement. In a few years, as soon as Anita could adequately control the arduer, well enough to feed from a distance, they would have a handfasting ceremony to bind them to each other. Everybody was happy. That was, except for Kati.

Kati was surrounded by people who were coming to love her and that was fine, but now that she'd moved out of Jason's room and into her own she... she missed him. A lot. She sighed and rolled over, admitting to herself but never aloud that she cared about Jason in a way that was not in the least bit platonic. Sure, he was a great friend but she wanted his heart. She wanted his body. She squirmed, tossed, turned and finally gave up. She tiptoed to the door, opened it and peered out glancing up and down the hall. She saw no one and could well believe it. The vampires were just now settling down to sleep in their coffins and beds. Jason would had come home from work only an hour ago. She decided to sneak her way down the hall towards his room. Her knuckles came up to knock on the door, but she hesitated. What was she going to do once she got in there, anyway? Well, seduce him, but how... Never mind, first, open the door. Not like anyone else ever knocks around here. Kati cautiously opened the door and stepped quickly and quietly inside.

"Took you long enough to decide to come in," Jason said from the bed. She would thought he was sleeping from the way he looked, but apparently not.

Kati blinked and remembered that even in human form he could hear - and smell - like a wolf. He turned to look at her and grinned. Kati looked at the floor and thought about that for a minute.

"Did you hear me or smell me?" she asked.

"Both," Jason said, the grin widening.

Kati looked up at him slowly, a smile spreading across her own face.

"So you know why I came to see you?"

"I'm a were-wolf, not a mind reader," Jason said and his grin faded a bit.

"Well, what do you smell?" Kati said, spinning a little, as if to show off her outfit. Come to think of it, she was wearing the little lace and satin ensemble Jackie had packed for her. If the outfit didn't clue him the look in her eyes should.

Jason moved up and off the bed in a blur of speed and was suddenly standing in front of her. She watched his face as his nostrils flared and he lowered his face, which was really unnecessary and just for show, to her shoulder and he sniffed as he moved his face up closer to hers.

"Lust," Jason said, swallowing, "Uncertainty. But a lot of lust."

"And what would I smell," Kati lowered her voice to a breath of a whisper as her hands came up to rest lightly on his bare chest, "if I were a were-wolf? What would I smell on you?"

"Desire," he said, his voice low, "Anxiety."

Kati had had enough of talking, she laid her lips on his cheek and then let her hands drift. Jason took a deep, shuddering breath as Kati's fingertips brushed his nipples. They hardened as Kati's mouth moved to his and Jason truly kissed her, deeply, for the first time. She pulled him towards the bed, but he stopped her.

"Are you protected?" Jason asked, voice a little hoarse.

Kati frowned, "I'm on the pill, but don't we need a condom anyway?"

Jason smiled, "One good thing about dating a were-wolf, there's no risk of STDs or HIV. All we have to worry about is not getting pregnant."

"Cool," Kati said, and Jason laughed.

"God, you are young," and Jason stopped, something seemed to have occurred to him.

"Kati," Jason asked, reluctantly, but he had to know for sure, "Have you ever done this before?"

Instantly the blood rushed up to Kati's face and she stammered, "Um, well, no."

Jason hugged her, pulling her in close, "Don't worry. I'll be careful."

Kati, impatient again, let her hands slid down to the tops of his jeans, and then around his body. She pulled back and Jason tilted his head back as she explored his chest and stomach. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly and looked at her again.

"Let's go lay down, then you can explore as much as you like," he told her, urging her into bed. She stopped him this time, untying the satin robe and letting fall to the floor before sliding into bed. She pushed back the sheets and scooted towards the opposite side of the bed and looked at him. Jason took a deep breath and unsnapped his jeans. Kati watched him push them off and this time she got to see his bikini briefs. She held out her arms to him, wanting him.

Jason climbed into bed with her and that was an interesting view. He crawled towards her like he had muscled in places that only cats should have muscles. It was oddly feline and made her wonder what else about him was more beast than man. Now that was an interesting question.

"Jason," Kati asked, speaking softly, "Will this be different because your a were-wolf?"

He paused to consider the question, "It could be, but for now we'll stick to the normal stuff. If my eyes change colors don't worry about it, that's normal."

"Okay," Kati said, deciding to ask more questions later. For now, there was a mostly naked hunk in bed with her and she was going to make the most of it.

Jason laid back on the bed while Kati's hands slid down his sides and her mouth drifted down his abdomen. His breathing was uneven and his underwear was suddenly too tight, unbearably snug, and it hadn't been before he'd heard her breathing outside his door. He'd smelled her and thought of sex. He gasped, she'd found his underwear and was tugging at it, wordlessly asking for it to be gone. He moved enough to be able to get it down to his thighs and she took it the rest of the way off.

Kati looked at him, naked and exposed to her and knew now what desire was. She was curious, wanted to taste him. She placed a gentle kiss of his genitals but he stopped her.

"Anymore of that and this will be over way too quickly," he said, sitting up to pull the lace sleep shirt up and over her head. She glanced at the sheets and the bed, not wanting to see his face. He touched the side of her breast, sliding one thumb down the curve he found.

"So beautiful," he said ever so softly, "And so soft."

Kati laughed, tried to stifle it, but failed.

"What's so funny?" he wanted to know.

Kati looked at him, smiling in the dark, "I thought the same thing about you when I kissed you a second ago. Velvet over steel."

Jason grinned, "Thanks." He pulled him closer, kissed her and laid back down on the bed, bringing her down on top of him.

Kati pulled back, and Jason let her, his mouth spilling down to her throat, then up behind her ear.

"Jason," Kati said, while he buried his nose in the skin and hair behind her ear, "I love you." Jason inhaled her scent deeply. He would know if she lied, but she wasn't lying. She did love him.

"I love you, too," Jason said, and he wasn't lying, either.