XVI
Jaguarville
At 1630, Leo and Tigresa returned home from work. As they entered their house, they heard a delighted scream and heard the sound of two little feet pounding the floor as Anne ran as fast as a two-year-old could run from her room to the living room and straight into her mother’s arms. Anne reached her little arms around her mother’s neck and hugged Tigresa as hard as she could. Directly behind Anne walked Mrs. Khomyak.
Anne said to Tigresa, “Mama, Mah’l come see Anne?”
“No, Sweetie, Michael is going on a trip for a week.”
“Weally? Way-uh?”
“He’s going far away. He’s going to a place called Jaguarville.”
“Wy?”
“His boss sent him there. He’ll be back a week from Sunday.”
“Mah’l come see Anne Suhny?”
“Maybe not Sunday, Sweetie, but he’ll be back as soon as he can. I promise.”
“Uh-kay.”
**********
Just as the train started slowing for its eventual stop in Jaguarville, Amanda’s eyes started fluttering open. Once again, she looked around in a dazed state until her eyes settled on Michael and she smiled at him. Suddenly, something either didn’t look right or feel right to her. Whatever the reason, she suddenly looked at him with fear on her face and she started to push herself away from him.
“I’m sorry, Michael. I don’t know what came over me.”
Michael smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Amanda. Believe it or not, I kind of enjoyed having you sleep as you sat in my lap. It made me feel as if you trusted me to protect you while you slept. Guys instinctively want to protect females. Of course, now my legs are asleep.” He laughed. “I’m glad that we won’t be pulling into the station for another five minutes.”
Amanda looked out the window with a disappointed look on her face. “I slept through most of the trip. I didn’t get to see the sights you talked about.”
“We’ll be taking the train back. If this line is like the ones when I grew up, they’ll use the same tracks going back; so, you should be able to see the sights then. By the way, how is your—problem?”
“Problem?” She asked curiously. Then, she brightened and said, “Oh, my heat?! It’s eased but this is just the first day. Sunday will be the worst day. I’m going to have to lock myself in my room until Tuesday afternoon; otherwise, there’s no telling what I’ll do to you, Michael?”
“I’m not worried, Amanda; I’m pretty sure I can handle you. It’s the males I’m worried about. I may be strong enough to fight off a lion, a tiger, or even a bear but, I’d rather not find out. But, the conductor did say that as long as I allow you to be affectionate with me, most males will respect my ‘claim’ on you. He also said that as long as you have a desire for me, you will emit a pheromone that only I can smell and react positively to. Supposedly, the other males will notice that you’re in heat but that pheromone will repel all but the most ardent of them.”
“I hope that’s right, Michael. I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt over me. If any male tries to claim me from you, please don’t try to fight them. I’ll sacrifice my purity to protect you.”
Michael smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Amanda. Unless the male intends to do me serious harm, I believe I can assert my dominance and asserting dominance can, quite often, prevent harm from occurring.”
“I just hate the thought of you coming to harm, Michael.” Michael smiled. Just then, the train’s slowing in preparation to stop in Jaguarville became more noticeable.
**********
They went back to their original seats and retrieved their carry-on luggage. As they walked, Amanda’s heat chose that particular moment to reassert itself. She caught Michael’s arm and once again started caressing it lovingly. He decided to start implementing his plan to assert his dominance. He slipped his arm around Amanda’s waist and started to casually look around the car as they walked. He made it a point to look directly at any male that glanced their way. Every one of them would look away when they saw Michael looking at them. He didn’t puff himself up or even swagger; he just implied by his looks that this female was taken and was his mate.
They left the rail car and went to the car rental counter. SoGa Industries had rented them a decent vehicle; it was similar to a mid-size SUV. When the attendant brought it to the station, their shipped luggage had just arrived. Michael was more than a little surprised to find an onboard voice-activated computer in the car. The attendant explained how to use the map and driving directions applications. He did a walk-around to verify any existing damage. He was accompanied by Amanda who clung to his arm. This made the walk-around a bit difficult but he managed. After a minute, he was satisfied, signed the rental agreement after noting any exiting damage and they loaded their luggage in the hatch. They thanked the attendant, climbed in, and, after requesting driving instructions to their hotel, drove off.
Knowing Amanda’s need to touch him, Michael made sure his arm was easily accessible for her to caress. She even leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. She regularly rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and would sniff the area afterward. He recognized these actions from the night he visited Bruno’s for the first time. Even though he didn’t doubt Bertha’s statement about Amanda’s being in heat that night, he now had absolute proof of the veracity of Bertha’s statement.
It took them about 25 minutes to travel from the train station to the hotel downtown. As they pulled up to the hotel, the Marmoset, Michael could see the river. The Humanimals had renamed the river, the Cirrus Johns River, behind it. He thought, “I hope our rooms are on the river side and we have balconies. I believe Amanda would love that scenery after her heat ends.” He laughed at the last thought.
Amanda heard his laughter and asked, in a mewing kind of voice, “What’s so funny, Michael?”
“I was just thinking of how great it would be to have a room on the river side of the hotel.”
“That doesn’t sound funny.” She said with curiosity in her voice.
Michael paused because he didn’t think she would understand. He looked at her and saw expectation on her face, so he said, “I also thought you might enjoy the view after your heat ends.”
She put on a pouty face, turned away from him, although she continued, “I thought you enjoyed my attention. Now, I know you were lying to me.”
Michael reached over and gently rubbed the underside of her muzzle with the back of his hand, causing her to close her eyes and moan softly, and said, “Amanda, I do enjoy it. I was just thinking that your heat would make you blind to anything but me. Perhaps by Tuesday afternoon, you’ll be a little more clearheaded when your hormones aren’t quite so strong. Please forgive my maleness in my seeming misunderstanding.”
She opened her eyes, looked over at him, and started to smile. “So, it doesn’t bother you?”
“Only in the manner I’ve already told you about.”
She thought about what he said and then replied, “Okay.” Then, she lay her head on his shoulder again just as he stopped the car.
“Come on, Amanda. Let’s go register.”
Reluctantly, she let go of his arm and waited for him to open her door. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. She wrapped her arms around his arm and laid her head back on his shoulder and started caressing his arm.
Michael whispered in her ear, “Are you doing this to keep other males from pestering you or are you doing it because of your hormones?”
“Mm-mm. Both.” She mewed. Before he could move, she turned quickly and kissed him. “There. That’ll give the guys something to consider.” Then, she laughed lightly as she dance ran toward the registration desk.
Michael smiled and led her into the hotel and to the registration desk. The desk clerk, a Eurasian lynx named Miss Katamotza, smiled at us and said, “Newlyweds?”
Amanda said, “Yes!” Then, she giggled.
“Amanda!” Michael said in shock.
Michael turned his attention back to Miss Katamotza and said, “No, ma’am. We’re with SoGa Industries. You should have two rooms reserved for us. We’re Miss Fuchs and Mr. Thomson.”
“Thomson? Like the gazelle?”
“Like the gazelle, yes,” Michael said at the same time.
Somewhat sheepishly, Miss Katamotza said, “I guess you’ve heard that before.”
Michael smiled and said, “Once or twice.”
Miss Katamotza kept looking at Amanda as she spoke to Michael. “As requested by Mr. Blaidd, we’ve given you two adjoining suites with a connecting door.”
Under his breath, Michael said, “Great! But, it’s better than having her in the hall caterwauling.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Thomson?” Miss Katamotza asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Mr. Thomson, if I may, if you two aren’t newlyweds, why is she clinging to you like that?”
“You really don’t know? Let’s just say the last time she acted like this was 13 weeks ago.” Michael looked at her knowingly.
“Oh?” A look of surprise crossed her face. “OH! Is there going to be a problem?”
“No. I understand it and I’ve learned how to deal with it. Hopefully, it won’t be a big problem.”
“Would you prefer to switch to a single suite?”
“No!” After a lighthearted laugh, he added, “No, it’ll be all right. Hopefully, after dinner and a couple of drinks, she’ll be so exhausted that she’ll fall asleep rather quickly.”
“Well, I realize you won’t need it but all of our suites are equipped with fur dryers. So, the young lady won’t have to leave the hotel half wet after bathing.”
“Thank you, Miss Katamotza.”
“You are welcome, Mr. Thomson. Your suite is 1109 and hers is 1111.”
During this whole conversation, Amanda was giggling, moaning softly, and caressing Michael’s arm. Miss Katamotza kept watching her and smiling knowingly. He took the pen that Miss Katamotza offered him and signed his name. He offered it to Amanda but she just stared at it. He gently removed her right hand from his arm causing another pouty look on her face. He whispered that she needed to sign her name next to 1111 and guided her hand to the register. She looked at him and smiled lovingly before she signed her name. Miss Katamotza handed them their room keys and directed them to the elevator bank.
Surprisingly to Michael, this hotel had elevator operators. The operator of their elevator was a young leopard, perhaps 19 or 20 years old. As the doors to the elevator closed, the operator took a breath, wrinkled his lips, and looked at them; his look at Amanda was especially long. After staring at her for a couple of seconds, he looked at Michael.
“Is she in . . .?”
“Yes.”
“She has chosen you?”
“I guess. How did you know?”
“Her pheromones. They are rather strong but they aren’t unpleasant to you. Are they?”
Michael sniffed and said, “I just smell a mild, pleasant smelling perfume, not unlike the smell of an orchid.”
“Then, she has chosen you.”
“Chosen me for what?”
“To be her mate.” Michael guessed the look on his face said what his brain was saying. “You don’t feel the same? You don’t desire her as your mate?”
“It isn’t that. I mean, she’s very attractive and, I would even say, desirable. But, I have a mental block about a relationship with her or any other Humanimal female?”
“Why?”
“Because, when I was growing up, such a relationship would be deemed immoral and illegal.”
He looked at Michael as if he had lost his mind. “But, sir, you aren’t old enough to remember those days; you’re not much older than I am. Those laws were overturned more than 15,000 years ago. The human Congress at that time said that, because of the bleak future for humans and the fact that humans and Humanimals were genetically compatible, such laws were no longer necessary so long as the partner for the human was a Humanimal and not what was redefined as a beast.”
“And what defines a beast?”
“Any animal that is normally a quadruped and is not at least 50% human genetically. Humanimals are normally bipedal and are 50% human genetically; therefore, they do not meet the definition of a beast.”
“Okay, now that begs another question. The doctor that woke me from my 20,000-year nap is a lion and his wife is a tigress. They have six—cubs including a two-year-old daughter. Is that common?”
“Inter-species marriage and mating between Humanimals?” Michael nodded. “It depends on your definition of common, I guess. Let’s just say it isn’t unheard of.”
“What about you? Would you mate outside of your species?”
“You’re getting a little personal; however, since you obviously have lived under a rock, I will give you a lot of leeway. In answer to your question, not only would I, I have. I have a human wife and we have a son.”
“May I ask what he looks like?”
He laughed and said, “He has as much hair on his body as you do and he’s got my spots. His head is human, but he has a leopard’s muzzle.”
“He sounds—interesting looking.”
Once again, he laughed and said, “That’s one way of putting it. When my parents first saw him, my father said, ‘Boy! That’s one ugly cub!’” Michael laughed. “My mother slapped his arm and said, ‘There’s no such thing as an ugly cub, Franklin. He’s unique looking.’ So, my mate and I consider him unique.”
“I guess that’s what I may be looking at if I ever overcome my head and let my heart lead me.” Michael laughed.
The leopard looked at Amanda and said, “Hmm. A striped human? A fox colored human? Definitely unique, Sir.
“Here’s your floor. The bellhop will bring your luggage shortly. Enjoy your stay in Jaguarville.”
“Thank you, Mr. . . .”
“Teendua, Sir.”
The doors to the elevator closed and Michael led Amanda to their suites. He opened the door to 1111 and said, “Here, Amanda. This is your suite.”
“No-o-o.” She whined. “I want to stay with you.”
“Amanda,” Michael said, gently. “You can’t stay with me. The company paid for us to have our own suite. You don’t want the company to spend money on an unused suite, do you?”
“No-o-o.” She said, sadly.
Michael led Amanda into her room and showed her the connecting door. “I’ll be on the other side of this door. I won’t be far away from you.”
“Really?” She asked like a scared little girl.
“Yes. If you need my assistance, all you’ll have to do is knock on this door and I’ll come to help you.”
She pouted as she said, “Okay.”
Michael thought for a second and said, “Hey, why don’t you take a shower and we’ll go down to one of the restaurants on the river and have dinner. We can eat outside on the patio and enjoy the sights.”
She got a mischievous look in her eyes and said, “Why don’t you join me? We can wash each other’s back.”
“I don’t thinkso. Thanks for the offer though; besides, I don’t think your parents would like it if we shared a shower.”
She put on a disgusted look and said, “My mother wouldn’t. My father would be upset but he would accept that I’m a grown vixen and I can make my own decisions who I expose my body to.
“If you won’t share my shower will you brush my back for me?”
“On two conditions.”
She smiled happily and asked, “What are they?”
“One, you have to have your body covered from the waist down and two, you have to lie on your stomach.”
“Aw, why?”
“The best way to resist temptation is to remove the temptation.”
She started to get pouty again and said, “Okay.” Michael guessed that heat made a Humanimal female childish in many respects.
“Are you going to take your shower now, too?” She asked.
“Yes. Since I don’t have fur, it won’t take me long to finish.”
Just then, the bellhop, a Koala in his early 30s, knocked on her door and came in with her luggage. He said, “Mr. Thomson, your luggage is outside of your door. Do you wish me to take it inside for you?”
“Yes, please.”
Just before he turned, Michael handed him a 20 Yenar coin. He smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Thomson.”
“Why did you give him so much for a tip?” Amanda asked as she started her seduction attempt again.
“To get good service, you pay for good service. I paid him twice the going rate for a tip. Now, if we need something, he’ll be here double quick because he now knows we value his help. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah. I guess it does.” She said as she started scent marking Michael and caressing his arm again.
“Now, be a good girl and lock your door, take your shower, dry off and call me when you’re ready for me to brush your back fur. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be through before you are.”
Without waiting for a response, Michael turned to leave. As he turned, he heard her giggle and say, “‘be a good girl.’ You sound like my father.”
Michael laughed as he left her room and walked into his. A lot of what he had been able to learn about Humanimal heat told him that it was like a combination of being drunk and hypnotized. When the female in heat is asked to do something, so long as it’s something she wouldn’t normally refuse to do, she will, normally, do it without a second thought. That’s why he was certain that he would have a few minutes of peace. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy Amanda’s attention; as strange as it may sound, he did. However, Amanda’s attentions were a bit suffocating to him. At the same time, though, he knew that he had to accept her attentions to prevent another male from trying to take advantage of her in her semi-weakened mental and emotional state.
**********
It only took Michael 10 minutes to complete his shower, dry off, and get dressed. He figured it would take Amanda longer than that to dry her fur. He took advantage of this reprieve to call the front desk and get the name of a couple of good restaurants on the river that had outside dining. He made sure to get several different cuisines so Amanda could choose one to her liking. Just as he hung up the telephone, he heard her tapping on the connecting door.
“Michael,” she said as seductively as she could, “I’m ready.”
Michael said, though the closed door, “Are you covered from the waist down?”
“Ye-es.” She said, somewhat plaintively.
“Are you lying on your stomach?”
“I will be by the time you get in here.”
“Okay. I’ll count to ten. That’ll give you time to lie down.”
Exasperated, she said, “All right.”
Michael counted to ten, unlocked the door, and walked through. He saw her lying on her stomach on her bed. She had her face looking toward the door. She smiled seductively at him. He smiled back and walked over to the bed. Her eyes followed him until he sat on the edge of the bed on her left side.
“Where’s the brush?” Michael asked.
Pointing with her muzzle, she said, “It’s on the bedside table.”
Michael got up, retrieved the brush, and sat back down beside her. “Which way do you want your fur to lie?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you want it to lie lengthwise or do you want it to lie from your spine to your chest?”
“Didn’t you ask me that the last time?”
“Yes. But, your fur is so soft I could brush it either way and it would look good.”
“Brush it whichever way you think would look best.”
“In that case, I’ll brush it lengthwise. It’ll show off your stripes better, although, with your blouse on, it’ll be difficult at best to see your stripes.”
“I’ll be happy to show them to you any time you want to see them.”
“Right,” Michael said as non-committally as possible.
After several seconds of brushing, Michael caught a tangle in the brush. Even though he was brushing slowly, Amanda winced. “Sorry. I caught a tangle in your fur. I’ll have it out in a few seconds.”
Michael caught the offending fur between two fingers and pressed his hand gently into her back. Then, he commenced brushing the tangle with short, quick strokes. As he pressed his hand into her back, Amanda groaned quietly.
“I’m sorry, Amanda. I’ll have this tangle out in a few seconds. It’s either this way or cut it out.”
“If you can save my fur, don’t cut it out.”
“Got it.”
Michael brushed her fur with long strokes to make sure there weren’t any more tangles. He moved to the other side of the bed and started brushing again. Amanda turned her head so they could continue talking as he brushed her. Sometimes he would snicker as they talked. Finally, just as he was finishing, she couldn’t stand it any longer.
“What is so funny?”
“I’m sorry. I used to brush my cats as I was growing up but I never carried on a dialog with them as I brushed them. I would talk to them but, they never answered back; well, not in words anyway. It’s just funny to me; that’s all.”
She snickered and said, “I can see how you would find that aspect of brushing my back funny.”
“Well, that and the fact that I’m brushing someone’s back and that someone is a female.” Michael laughed again as he said, “Most human females don’t have hair on their back.”
“I may have to make you my fur dresser.”
“Is that anything like a hairdresser?”
“Yes. You brushed my back so good I’m going to have you brush all of my fur.” She said, smiling mischievously.
Michael thought, “If she had said that when she wasn’t in heat, I’d have to say okay just to see her reaction.”
Michael said, “We’ll see. Now, get up and get dressed so we can go to dinner.”
Amanda said, “Michael, will you brush my fur after we get married?”
Michael looked at her for a couple of seconds before replying, “Don’t you mean, if we get married?”
She giggled and said, “Let me have my fantasies.”
She started to get up and Michael said, “Wait! Let me close my eyes.” She giggled and he closed my eyes. “I won’t open them until you’ve gotten dressed.”
A couple of minutes later, she said, “Okay, I’m dressed.”
Michael opened his eyes, turned around, and let out a low whistle. “Wow!” He said, impressed. “Where did that dress come from?”
She was wearing a dress that was butter yellow to the waist and harvest gold from her waist to the hem which was about halfway down her thighs. At Michael’s reaction, she did a slow pirouette to show him the whole dress. It was backless which showed off her back stripes beautifully. While the skirt wasn’t billowy, it wasn’t tight either.
In response to Michael’s question, she said, “This is the dress my parents bought for me for my sixteenth birthday party. I was afraid it wouldn’t fit.”
“That dress couldn’t fit you better if it was tailor-made, Amanda.”
“It was tailor-made. I was afraid I had gotten too big for it to fit my hips and bust.” She looked down ruefully and added, “I guess I don’t have to worry about that.”
Michael laughed and said, “Amanda, you look gorgeous in it. Don’t let your concerns about your attributes, or our imagined lack thereof, concern you. Personally, I’ve always preferred smaller women. Does that make you feel better?”
She smiled and said, “Yes. Immensely. Thank you.”
“Good. Now, let’s go see if we can put some meat on your bones.” Michael said, laughing, as he rushed out her door.
“Oh! You!” She chased him and caught him at the elevators where she slapped his arm.
“I ought to bite you for that remark.” She said, as she once again started caressing his arm. “Don’t forget, I still have my canines, you meanie.”
When she saw him smiling, she shook her head and smiled back. They got on the elevator and Mr. Teendua was operating it. He and Michael conversed during the 11-floor trip as Amanda returned to rubbing her cheek on Michael’s arm and sniffing the area. When they reached the ground floor Michael thanked him and Amanda and Michael headed out of the hotel’s door. They walked to the Riverwalk, which was about 15 yards away from the hotel, and he started looking for the restaurant they had chosen. After a 15-minute walk, during which Amanda giggled almost as much as she talked, they reached the restaurant. Michael had noticed on the review he had read that, while it was mostly a seafood restaurant, they served beef, venison, mutton, and chicken as well. Amanda had assured Michael that she loved seafood, but he was pretty sure as to what she would order, nor was he disappointed. She ordered broiled chicken.
Michael laughed when she finished ordering and said, “Amanda, here we are in a coastal city on a river. Seafood is at a very affordable price. You say you love seafood and you order chicken?” He whispered. “You know that waitress is thinking, ‘How stereotypical, a fox eating chicken.’”
Amanda glared at Michael. “Well, I’m sorry, Michael. I just happen to like chicken. Besides, she’s a mink and she’s working at a seafood restaurant. Isn’t that a bit stereotypical?” He smiled at her indignation causing her to stick her tongue out at him which, in turn, caused him to laugh even harder.
“You should be glad that I’m in heat and in love with you, Michael. Otherwise, I’d go back to my room and leave you here alone.”
Michael smiled and said, “Well, I’m glad you love me, then.”
When he said that, he thought, “I really am glad she loves me. What’s wrong with me?”
She seemed satisfied with Michael’s response and they settled into general conversation. As they waited for their meal, it got dark enough for the lights of Jaguarville to come on. Amanda was impressed at the sight of all those lights reflecting off the river. As the lights from the boats on the river moved, she became almost giddy.
Their meal arrived and they continued to talk as they ate. During their conversation, Amanda asked Michael what he planned on doing after they ate. He said that he’d like to walk along the Riverwalk for a while and enjoy the sights and the cool breeze coming off the river.
She said, “I think I’d like to do that, too.”
“Well, then, may I officially invite you to join me?”
In the dim lighting that the restaurant had on the patio, he saw her smile shyly as she said, “Thank you. I accept your most kind invitation.”
**********
They finished their meal and Michael paid for it, leaving a generous tip. They started walking along the Riverwalk and Michael had the pleasure of hearing her exclamations of delight as she saw how the walkway extended for several miles upriver from the restaurant. She continued her holding and caressing of his arm as they walked along. This was going to be the first time he had ever spend any length of time in the company of a Humanimal female in heat, other than the time he was living in Dr. Leo’s home and dealing with Dr. Tigresa’s, Victoria’s and Elizabeth’s heat. Already, he had noticed the pendulum swing of her emotions. No, pendulum swing is the wrong analogy. It was more like a planetary orbit, from anger to joy to innocent infatuation to pure unadulterated lust and back again. The only emotion he hadn’t as yet seen was jealousy and, since he had no desire to upset her, he made certain that he barely noticed any other female. Of course, even if he had been of a mind to do that, Amanda’s pheromone perfume increased in intensity causing him to ignore the other females and look at her. Despite the pleasure he felt when he sensed her pheromone increase, his emotions were taking a beating. Brain continued to win these battles but heart was making headway.
Finally, Michael said, “Amanda, I think it’s time we went back to the hotel and went to bed.” He winced the instant he said it because he knew what her reaction would be. He wasn’t disappointed.
“Go to bed?” She asked as seductively as she could. “I thought you’d never suggest that.”
“You know what I mean, Amanda.”
“But, I need you, Michael.”
“You don’t need me, Amanda.”
“Yes, I do.” She was whining plaintively. “You don’t know what I’m experiencing, what I’m going through.”
“You’re right; I don’t. But, answer me this; suppose I agreed to do what you’re begging me to do and then, Tuesday night after your heat has ended, will you be able to look me in the eye without feeling a little ashamed of yourself for what we did?”
That put her to thinking. After several seconds, she said, “Probably not. But, Michael, what can I do?”
“We’ll think of something. Let’s head back. You can keep holding and caressing my arm if that will help any.”
“It’ll help a little but, as my hormone count increases, I’ll need more than that. I’m afraid of what I’ll be like on Sunday.”
“The middle of your heat. Will it be bad?”
“Do you know why I didn’t talk to you on Sunday the last time I was in heat?”
“I thought you were considering what I had said on Saturday afternoon and that night.”
“No. During the middle of our heat cycle, if we have someone we want, we will nearly rape them, if we see them. I guess it isn’t too bad if we’re married, I never heard my father complain, but it’s embarrassing if we aren’t.”
“We’ll get you something to help you sleep.”
“No!” The forcefulness of her response took him aback. “I’m sorry, Michael. I just don’t want a drug to make me sleep. It wouldn’t be restful sleep. Michael, please let me sleep in bed with you.”
“Amanda, do you hear what you’re saying? Suppose for a moment I agreed to your request and suppose that, somehow, it got back to your mother, how long do you think I would live after that?”
She giggled and said, “Not long, I suppose.”
“Not long would be a bit optimistic. I would have to be on another planet orbiting another star on the far side of the galaxy to guarantee I’d live more than an hour afterward. But, it really isn’t me I’d be worried about. It’s you. Suppose you got pregnant. That’s what my fear would be.”
“I’m not asking you to have sex with me, Michael, although I wouldn’t complain if you did. I just want to sleep in bed with you to feel your body heat and feel your arms around me. Please!”
“Amanda, I’ll make a deal with you. Try to sleep alone. If you can’t, call my room and I’ll let you sleep with me. Okay?”
She was disappointed and it showed in the tone of her voice as she said, “All right, Michael.”
By this time, they had returned to the hotel and were waiting for one of the elevators to open. The operator wasn’t Mr. Teendua who had been their operator the two previous times they rode the elevator. This time it was a female African wild dog, although nowadays they aren’t so wild and are known as African dogs Her name tag read Elizabeth.”
“Floor?” She asked.
“Eleventh floor,” Michael replied.
“Yes, Sir.” The doors closed. “You’re human, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Michael smiled and asked, “What gave it away?”
She laughed and said, “I believe it was the bare skin and the lack of a muzzle.”
“Bear skin? I don’t have bear skin; I have human skin.” Michael grinned as he spoke.
She gave Michael a “smart ass” look but said, “Not the skin of a bear, furless skin.”
Michael laughed. “Well, darn it. I thought I could hide that with this growth on my arm.”
Amanda glared at Michael until she saw him smiling at her. She said, “I’m not a growth.”
Michael put his arm around her shoulders and said, “Of course not, Sweetheart. You’re just a female in heat and near the male you want.” He kissed the top of her head.
“That’s right.” She said, indignantly.
Michael smiled and winked at the elevator operator as the doors opened and she said, “Eleventh floor. Watch your step.”
**********
Ophelia hung up the telephone after talking with Bertha. She was thinking, “I can’t believe it. Edward sent Amanda to Jaguarville with that human. Why would he do that? Well, I’m not going to allow that human to hurt Amanda. I’m going down there and bring her home with me.”
Ophelia dialed a telephone number and, when someone answered, she said, “Yes, I need to book a flight to Jaguarville.”
She listened for a few seconds before saying, “Yes, it’s an emergency! I know the restrictions on flights within a region. My daughter is in Jaguarville with someone I believe intends to harm her and I won’t allow that to happen. Now! Book that flight for me!”
She listened again for a few seconds. “Yes. My name is Ophelia Fuchs. Yes, that Fuchs! I want to be on the next flight to Jaguarville. I also want tickets for two to return from Jaguarville. My daughter’s name is Amanda Fuchs. Thank you.”
A few seconds and Ophelia said, “Yes, sir. Here’s my credit card information.”
Ophelia gave the agent her information. She hung up the telephone and changed her clothes. After changing her clothes, she said, “Marshall! I’ve got to fly down to Jaguarville to save your sister from that human she thinks she loves. You’ve got to take care of your siblings until I return with her tomorrow. Do you understand?”
Marshall looked at Ophelia for a few seconds before saying, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll take care of them.”
Ophelia thanked Marshall and kissed his cheek before she walked out the door and got into her car. She drove to the airport, picked up her ticket, and walked to the airplane going to Jaguarville.
**********
About half an hour after Ophelia’s plane took off, Jacob walked in the door to his home. He called to Ophelia but didn’t get an answer. However, Marshall walked into the living room.
“Marshall, where’s your mother?”
With a resigned voice, Marshall said, “She’s on her way to Jaguarville. She’s going to ‘save Amanda from that human’.”
“She’s driving to Jaguarville?”
“No, sir. She demanded a seat on a flight to Jaguarville. Dad, mom’s going to cause trouble for Amanda again. Isn’t she?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Marshall. Well, I guess I’m going to have to pull some strings and get on a flight down to Jaguarville myself. Can I count on you to take care of the house and your siblings while I’m gone?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll protect them with my life. You know that.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Marshall.” With that, Jacob was on his way to the airport to try to prevent Ophelia from upsetting Amanda, again.
