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Taming the Cat Ch. 01

By: kitten101



Twenty year old Alexia Devon dropped into a crouch to avoid the whip whistling over her head. Her opponent grinned savagely and lifted his hand to deliver another strike. Alex threw herself to one side, wincing as her hip took the brunt of her weight on the hardwood floor. 22 year old Rider Stroke cut the whip low to the ground forcing her to jump again. This was only practice but neither were holding back and Alex did not want to give him the chance to mark her with the whip.

Alexia, Alex for short, usually had long dark brown hair that gleamed red in the right light. She had a long curvy body and was reasonably tall, although her two house mates still towered over her. Males of her species were in general very tall and muscular, they had to be if they were to survive in their world. As Shape shifters both her and Rider had the ability to change into Leopards, her other house mate, Jeremy Madox, shifted into a tiger.

Rider had shoulder length black hair that he wore tied back when training. He had incredible blue eyes, and moved with a grace that hid a deceptive amount of his strength. One of Alex's friends had once mentioned that he had the body of a stripper or a dancer, although to be frank Alex did not see it.

Alex lifted herself off her hands and knees, well aware that Rider seemed to be ahead in this match. She sucked in her breath as the whip lashed in front of her. Ok perhaps not just ahead, more like winning by a mile. She was forced to drop back down to hands and knees after a particularly nasty slash at her throat.

Alex lived just outside of a small town called Fern in the centre of Northern Dartmouth. Her home was an old victorian mansion built on a large estate backing onto acres of lush green forest which she lived in with Jeremy Madox and Rider Hunt. Jeremy had taken her in as a thirteen year old after her family had disowned her. Officially he was her bodyguard and her guardian, unofficially Alex thought of him as an adoptive father. Jeremy was equally close to her, to the extent that he had never told her the real reason for her exile for fear of hurting her. Alex had come up with her own theories on that.

Jeremy had been appointed by the royal family, formally her family, to make sure she caused them no embarrassment. They had gone as far as to send her overseas with him seven years ago to ensure there would be no chance of her interfering with the royal line. 

The shape shifters royal Devon Family was located in Aruba and the Changers council - who were the real power behind the royal family and official rulers of Shape shifters and other non human beings - were in Dartmouth. If the human royal family ever wondered why some their Dartmouth subjects didn't seem to give them their undivided attention and worship they hadn't said anything. 

Humans did not officially acknowledge the existence of the other beings on the earth, however they all knew how well humans would react to finding they were not at the top of the food chain anymore... It would be war. The Council was responsible for ensuring that did not happen, they made the rules, and punished those caught breaking them. 

Rider had arrived in Dartmouth four years ago, aged 18 to be trained as Jeremy's replacement. He was banished in his own way, by lies and rumours around the court about the death of his intended mate. Alex had been prepared to accept him after her own experiences with being cast out, but he had made that impossible.

Rider was raised with the royal family, so his prejudices were made apparent within hours of arriving at the house. In private he had teased her mercilessly and called her names. When Jeremy was around he would ignore her entirely. 

Alex put up with him for exactly two days until Jeremy had left for groceries. Rider had called her a barstard telling her that she was so worthless her family hadn't wanted her. Alex punched him, knocking him out cold. When Jeremy returned he found six broken windows, and the T.V room missing most of its drywall. Alexia and Rider were still fighting to the death on the front lawn. 

Jeremy had taken one look at the pair, and left them to it. He had figured they were going to do it some time, and he would rather not fix the house twice. He acted as a referee in the weeks that followed stopping the fights before the injuries could get too bad, and after a month of solid fighting Alexia and Rider had settled into an uneasy truce. Much to Jeremy's everlasting relief.

The mansion resembled a war zone, so many walls were damaged - or destroyed completely - they had taken the chance to renovate and modernise a lot of the house. Jeremy had put in the gym, and built himself a large set of rooms on the first floor, well away from the younger members of the household. Alex had claimed the third floor as her own, and Rider, too wary to fight her for it took the second. They had never become close, preferring in most cases to stay out of each others way.

Rider flicked the whip behind himself in preparation for a nasty overhand lash, designed to bring the full weight of the whip down onto Alex's back. Jeremy Madox, a big grey haired man in his late forties, entered the room. "Freeze!" He bellowed. Alex was able to stop with no problems, Rider was not so fortunate, and was only able to lighten the blow as it connected with her shoulder. 

Her arms and legs gave out from below her and Alex was left with her body pressed to the floor rigid with pain "This had better be good" she groaned. 

"Rider, you know better than to train with Alex, you two don't know when to stop. Last time she was limping for a week." Jeremy growled. 

Rider coiled his whip, and cautiously came closer. He was cautious because while most cats welcomed body contact and craved touch, Alex had broken him forcefully of the habit when he had first arrived. He had been accustomed to sleeping in big nests while young but, after several painfully unsuccessful attempts at getting close to Alex, had realised that she had missed out on that particular experience after being banished. 

"You'll live Red, its not too bad." He said taking a step closer to inspect the welt on her shoulder. 

"Back off Rider." Alexia said tensing and moving to stand again. 

"Alexia you're late again. Your bike is out the front, wear a helmet and don't drive like a maniac." Jeremy said. "Also don't get in any fights, don't get arrested, and don't for the love of god talk those girls into doing anything stupid." Jeremy had learnt through experience to be specific when speaking to Alex. 

"Thanks, I'll be good. See ya" Alex yelled running for the stairs to change.

Alex left the house in low cut leather pants, a tight faded green tee and a leather jacket to keep the chill away on her bike. She'd left her hair out, curling wildly down her back. After roaring out of the gate (she like to keep Jeremy on his toes) she stayed near the speed limit and was only 1/4 of an hour late meeting Jo and Hannah, who were well and truly accustomed to her habitual lateness.

Later that night Alex twined her body round the nearest pole, using her curves to their full advantage and batting her eyelashes to make her friends laugh. They had been out to celebrate Jo and Hannah getting into university, and after visiting the towns only two pubs and dancing till closing they were heading back to the restaurant they had started at to pick up their cars. 

Alexia greatly regretted not being able to move away to college with her friends. The three girls had been almost inseparable since Alex had met them shortly after arriving for the first detention of her life, on her first day at her new school. With her admittedly short temper they were the only humans Alexia was truly friendly with, and she was not looking forward to life after they moved away.

"So are you excited about leaving tomorrow? Are you going to be living near each other??" Alex asked wistfully. "Yeah I can't wait, I'll miss my Mum though." Jo confessed. "We're pretty sure we're rooming together. Are you sure you can't come? There is still time, you'd get in with no trouble with your academic record." Alex grinned noting that she hadn't just left it at school record. "You were a little hellion through most of school, but you topped all of your classes by miles, universities expect geniuses to be a little misbehaved." Hannah grinned at her. "Its an expression of your intelligence..."

Alex laughed "Please! you're telling me that dying the school pool green and adding five litres of dishwashing detergent as a protest to being forced to participate in school swimming was an expression of intelligence!" Hannah interrupted Alex's laughter "In my opinion the intelligent bit was waiting until half the school was already in the pool before adding the dye and detergent." 

Alex grinned remembering the look on Mr Lambton's face when he realised he had to tell an angry hall full of parents that their kids would be green for a week. She also remembered Jeremy coming to pick her up from school. She had sat silently the whole time growing steadily more concerned that Jeremy was going to disown her for her bad behaviour as he sat silently through the Principal's tirade. He hadn't looked at Alex once until they were in the car and had driven a block from the school. 

She was near tears when Jeremy had pulled over, all ready to beg for his forgiveness when he began to chuckle. The chuckle had quickly grown into roars of laughter, and it was a good ten minutes before Jeremy had been composed enough to dive the rest of the way home. It was one of the only times she had seen the usually gruff Jeremy roar with laughter and even now she still had the occasional giggle about it.

"Thanks guys I'd love to come, but its really not my thing. I'm studying psychology and criminology through correspondence though and that's enough for now." Truthfully Alex would have loved to go to University, but in her circumstances it just wouldn't be possible.

Alexia left her friends at their cars and stopped into the now closed restaurant to pick up her motorbike helmet from the restaurants owner Marcus, whom she had know for several years. 

"Did you girls have fun?" He asked grinning "What am I saying of course you did, the real question is did you make anyone cry tonight?" 

Alex laughed, "No I managed to restrain myself. Thanks for letting me leave this here, drop me a call sometime if you need a back up waitress" she said as she left. It was a long standing joke with them as Alex had worked for him a few years ago. She held the dubious record of being the only person he had ever hired and then fired in the same week. 

Alex rubbed her shoulder as she walked through the dark car park, the mark from earlier was beginning to throb again. Its only 3 am and I'm shattered she thought. Caught in her own thoughts she did not hear the man behind her until it was too late. Big hands grabbed her from behind. Surprised she let the man drag her back against himself. His stale scent reached her as he began to drag her further into the parking lot, heading for an alley on their left. 

She bared her teeth, trying not to loose her temper "I think you had better let me go fat arse." Alexia growled, tightening her hand around her motorbike helmet. 

"Honey we're going to have some fun. Just you relax and let Tim take care o' you" The fat man drawled.

Alexia relaxed her body, the only sign of her growing rage in her clenched jaw and the white knuckles of her hand around her bike helmet. She held herself in check until Tim had moved far enough into the shadows and pulled her further back against his swollen belly. As his hand moved towards her breast Alexia grinned and swung the helmet. 

Rider watched her emerge from the alley from where he had propped himself against her bike. Its unbelievable that Jeremy lets her leave the house without his protection he thought as she walked towards him wiping the other mans blood off her cheek. 

Alex, busy trying to remove the blood, only noticed Rider when he shifted his weight off her bike. She scrunched her nose up as his scent reached her "Been out rutting again Rider? This one needs to relax on the perfume a bit I think." 

Rider raised an eyebrow and looked down at her with his dark blue eyes "You didn't even realise that guy was there until he grabbed you, an he was moving with all the stealth of a bloody rhino." 

Alex frowned and swiped at her face again "You didn't think to maybe say something, you are meant to be my bloody bodyguard. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I didn't do anything because you got all pissy last time I tried to do my job. I need a lift, mine left without me." He noticed Alex's amused grin and grabbed her cheek, licking his thumb and rubbed the last of the mark off her face. 

"Missed a bit." Rider leaned forwards and smelt the alcohol on her lips in an oddly intimate move. 

Alex's eyes widened and she twisted free of his hands "personal space dog-breath, respect it." Rider held out his hand "you've been drinking, and you're tired, I'll drive." 

After only a small squabble over the keys Alex relented and let him drive her home. To make the trip more enjoyable for herself she kept up a running commentary on his driving faults, reminding him every few minutes that she had only had the two drinks and was more than happy to take over. The night ended with Rider slamming the door and nearly getting himself bitten by Jeremy who had been sleeping on the stairs in his cat form, a large shaggy tiger. Most cats do not like to be woken up by force and he was no exception.

A week later Alex gritted her teeth, and delivered another set of punches to the boxing bag tap, tap, Thwack. She regularly used fighting as an escape from her frustrations, taking solace in the satisfying sounds and exhausting workout. In fact she thought, there wasn't much that beating the shit out of something couldn't make me feel better about. She grimaced and turned the stereo up a little more as the screams of Rider's latest conquest reached her sensitive ears. Not that the woman was in pain, probably far from it at Alex's guess. 

The music on the stereo lulled as the screams of Rider's woman reached a climax, and the dissolved into giggles that grated over Alex. She gave the boxing bag a roundhouse kick that sent it swinging jangling the chain. With any luck Rider was done, and Alex would be able to return to her room and study, she stepped aside as the boxing bag flew back towards her, and delivered a solid body-shot sending it jangling in another direction.

Music started again, and so did the sounds from the woman. It was unbelievable. She had been going a good forty minutes already, and there was no sign of them stopping. By all rights Alexia should not have had to hear them. With four stories including the attic and many rooms Alex had chosen the first floor gym to escape the noise, the gym being the furthest room from Rider's on the second floor overlooking the forest. 

Alex was situated in a large room almost directly above Rider's. It had fantastic views and huge windows stretching right across the right hand side facing the forest. On occasion she had used those windows to escape down the building via a series of ledges including Rider's window. 

Hell today she would have taken that rout and gone for a run, the only thing holding her back was the rain. Alex had been terrified of storms for as long as she could remember, it was so bad she wouldn't sleep during storm season for nights on end. She usually sat up all night watching movies until sheer exhaustion made her fall asleep, or the storm stopped. Occasionally when the storms were really bad Rider would join her. She hadn't yet been able to figure out if it was for his benefit or for hers. 

The female's screams began again raking at Alex's admittedly short temper. She left the gym, shedding her boxing wraps as she went. Storming through the house she took the stairs two at a time intending on confronting Rider. And possibly ripping his female's voice box out. 

Jeremy stopped her on the stairs. "Leave him Red. You're just going to end up fighting again, and I will ground the both of you if I have to."

"Jeremy! He's out of line, I don't mind him bringing his sluts here, but I don't want to have to hear it. Its not fair - I'd never do it to him, and its disgusting." Alex vented her frustration at him. Jeremy looked angrily down at her from under his shaggy grey eyebrows. "Yes Alex but I don't want to have to patch you two up again. If you fight do it without claws, and you can fix your own wounds if you go up there and start it again." Jeremy had acted as referee and doctor on countless occasions before and was not interested in doing so again. 

Alex watched feeling guilty as he turned and walked away to his rooms, leaving her on he stairs to make up her own mind. The woman in Rider's room squealed and she heard Rider's throaty laugh rumbling through his door. Her anger intensified and she continued up the stairs telling herself that she wasn't going to fight. 

She pounded on the thick door smiling in satisfaction when the noises stopped. Rider swung open the door wearing nothing but a towel. Alex narrowed her eyes at him. She had seen him undressed before but had made a point of not looking put of politeness. Now being so close she couldn't help but notice that his body although naturally slim he was surprisingly toned. It shouldn't have been that much of a surprise, he did work out regularly.

Alex had to work to ignore the sexy scattering of dark hair leading from his belly button to the towel. She didn't want to think about where that trail went. Instead she dragged her gaze up over his sweaty body, noticing a couple of her scars marring his belly and watching the movement of his broad shoulders as he shifted to lean casually against the door. 

Her attention moved to his face and she took in his angular chin, his strong sensual mouth finally settling on his remarkably blue eyes. He grinned down at her and shook his black hair out of his eyes. "You like what you see?" 

"Would you mind muzzling your slut, I would like to be able to get some work done." She dug her nails into her hand, focusing on her anger to block out whatever it was that was daring her to look lower. "Would you like to join in Alex? I know you're a little inexperienced, but I could make it good..." Rider knew he shouldn't but couldn't help grinning in a way that he knew would get under her skin. He made a point of licking his lips and looked down at her slim figure displayed rather well under her sweaty workout gear. He loved getting her angry, he could almost taste her mood when she got like this. 

"You pig!" Alex was feeling very out of her depth. In her distress she grabbed the first thought that entered her head "Like I'd be interested in fucking you. I'd rather be suspected of killing my intended Mate... Oh wait that happened to you... Well Rider, I've been dying to ask, did you do it?"

She saw his eyes widen before he stepped out of his room slamming his door and backing her against the wall. He leaned in, putting a hand either side of her body and moved his face to within an inch of hers. All she could see were his angry eyes.

"No Princess, I didn't kill Shayla. But you already knew that you nasty tempered bitch. Hey at least I had a mate, you, darling will probably be stuck in this run down old mansion with Jeremy, and after he's gone, me for the rest of your life. And its because your mother muddied the royal line by screwing the enemy and having you. How does it feel to know that you will be stuck here with me -" He lowered himself closer to her tilting his head so that his nose grazed her ear and dropping his voice "- because your family can't bear to look at you, because you represent their shame and their utter disgust at your mother spreading her legs for the enemy and inviting them back into the council to destroy four hundred years of peace. How does that feel? To know that every Changer under the council hates you." He lowered his voice again dropping it to just a whispering rumble "Even Jeremy..."


Taming the Cat Ch. 01



Alex was backed as far up against the wall as she could get. She dimly felt Rider still against her breathing in her ear. Her mind was reeling. "Get the fuck off me Rider." She had assumed it was the fact that she had come into her Changer abilities before her older brothers her older half brothers signalling that the female line was strongest, something that had never happened before in the royal family. She had never realised the true extent of the issue. 'Even Jeremy' oh hell Rider was right, how could he not hate her? 

She felt like she had been punched in the gut, and was dimly aware of Rider moving away. "Alexia..." He started. Alex couldn't focus on him, so instead she turned and headed for the stairs aiming for her room.

Rider felt like shit "Alexia..." He turned to go after her, she hadn't known? Of course she hadn't she was banished at 13, Jeremy wouldn't have told her, he loved her too much to burden her with that. She did have a temper but the girl also cared far too much about other people. His bedroom door opened "Rider?" Oh hell Candice was still here. 

After sending the woman on her way Rider started up the stairs after Alexia. 

Alex had showered and was standing at her windows lost in thought - still shell-shocked from Rider's revelation. Her mother had slept with a member of the Theris Family. Alex was part of a family that had been causing civil war between Shape shifters for centuries. the Theris Family had risen up after her exile to challenge the Devon's for power of he throne, and leadership of the Changers' Council.

She had caused war. she had been responsible for hundreds of Changers deaths, including in a roundabout way, Rider's intended Mate. At the time Shayla was discovered stabbed in the palace public opinion had been that he had done it. Later in the trial it had become clear that she was killed by an enemy spy. It was too late for Rider though, rumours still spread and he was outcast from the court, and eventually sent away to join Jeremy and Alexis. 

She heard Rider coming up her stairs. He was probably ready to tear her throat out. 

I can't deal with this right now Alexia thought. She flung open her window and stripped from her clothes. She then swung out the window clinging to the side of the house, nimbly dropping from ledge to ledge. The rain soaked her, and by the time she was on the ground her hair was plastered to her body. She stripped from her underwear leaving it in a puddle beside the house and began to run, willing the Change to come. 

"Alexia!" She hear Rider roar angrily from her window. "Get your arse back in here!" He watched absolutely livid as she continued running. She was terrified of storms, and it was gearing up to be a huge one. As her bodyguard he should have been protecting her against these sorts of things. Rider growled and dropped the jeans he had thrown on hurriedly after Candice had left onto the ground next to Alex's clothes. He then began to make his way down the side of the house.

Alex raised her hands up feeling the bones and muscles pop and change inside her shoulders and back. Her hands extended and thick claws curved dangerously from her fingers before retracting into big golden paws. She grunted in pain as her knees popped backwards, and her muscles reshaped themselves around her powerful hind legs. She dropped down to all fours seeing the world go fuzzy and then sharpening unbelievably. She could almost hear each individual raindrop, and Rider dropping from the side of the house behind her. She could smell him, a rich blend of male, anger, cat and sex. 

The remainder of her muscles elongated and thickened, and she felt her tail extending from tailbone until finally she was a Leopard, rich golden-orange with neat black rosettes covering her body. 

She had always loved running as a cat, the perfect symmetry and flexibility of her muscles extending and contracting within her body, the agility and balance that having four legs gave her. Feeling her wickedly sharp teeth and strong claws inside a beautiful but deadly package, it gave her a huge power-rush ever time she changed. 

She burst into the forest, knowing it like the back of her paw she let her instincts take over and her nose lead her through the familiar scents of her territory. The rain slowed and then stopped as chill winds began to blow shaking the forest around her. She heard Rider crashing into the forest behind her in cat form, and increased her speed using her incredible eyes to negotiate her path, avoiding slippery looking patches and trying to stay as quiet as possible. Rider was not worried about making noise he just wanted speed, he worked overtime picking her scent from the rain muted forest and tracking her path, desperate to catch up with her before the storm hit and she got really crazy. 

Alex could hear Rider gaining on her, so turned abruptly to head for higher ground, hoping to lose him on the rocky slopes leaving her free to shelter in one of the caves dotted along the hillside. She never got that far as the storm broke right above them. thunder rolled above her closely followed by lightning arcing down to her left.

The female cat's eyes widened, and her ears pinned back against her head. She swung to the right running wildly towards the rain swollen river, intent on crossing it to escape the lightning. 

Rider dropped in front of her blocking her path. He was bigger than her in cat form, slightly taller and heavily muscled with a darker muzzle.

She rose on her hind legs ready to fight her way free of him. Rider rose higher and used his heavier body to drop her down and finally pin her on the wet ground. She struggled and fought under him as Thunder continued to crash around them. Finally Rider closed his jaws around her throat growling into her ear to get her attention. She continued to fight and he tasted blood before she finally stopped, exhausted and terrified. 

Rider moved off her intent on getting her to the safety of the house,but now that Alex had stopped she was not interested in moving again. She huddled on the ground, distressed, her ears down and her tail tucked against her body. Rider snapped and growled at her forcing her off the ground and herding her towards home. 

He stayed on her flank the entire time not letting her get away from him until finally they reached the mansion. They entered through the laundry door, which was always left open to avoid the problem of opening doors when changed. 

Alex collapsed onto the floor and concentrated on sucking in breath. Rider dropped down beside her protectively, close enough for his ribs to brush hers as they recovered from their run. 

He could feel her shivering beside him so changed back into human form, grabbing a towel to wrap around his waist. Rider felt very aware of his nakedness around her. Alex sat up and he stroked the top of her head before dropping a towel around her shoulders and turning away to give her privacy to shift. 

He rummaged through the clean washing before finally finding a pair of jeans for both of them, and one of his sweatshirts for her. Alex almost dropped the towel as he flung the clothes at her, and saw his eyes flash with something unfamiliar before he turned away again to pull on his jeans. 

His sweatshirt smelt like him even after being washed and she felt surrounded by his scent. Her jeans clung around her still damp hips, and put pressure on interesting places without underwear. She watched him dry his long hair then run his hands through it combing the long strands back and securing it with a black tie he had found somewhere. Alex could imagine his hands on her hair, she was uncomfortably aware of her nipples against his sweatshirt. 

Thunder broke her out of her reverie, and a flash of lighting sent her brushing past him for the door to the rest of the house. She ignored the way her stomach contracted as her shoulder made contact with his still bare chest. Rider turned surprised at her sudden movement remembering the storm. That small contact with her had him hard in his jeans, he followed her to her storm hide-out willing himself under control. 

Alex curled herself into a recliner on the second floor T.V room. This was her favourite spot in the house to wait out storms. The room was in the centre of the building, so there were no windows, and it was insulated enough with the floor above to mute a lot of the noise from wind, heavy rain and thunder. It was on Rider's floor but so far he had not said anything about her use of it. Rider. She would have to apologise - unfamiliar ground for her and Rider, she had never apologised for anything to him before. 

He entered the room behind her "Rider..." She turned to watch him stop, resting his hands on the back of her chair and looking down at her. He was still shirtless, and he looked serious. 

"I'm sorry, I was stupid and out of line. I was really out of line, I know you didn't kill her, I just wanted to hurt you and that was the first thing that came to me, so, sorry. And thank you for before... the storm." She finished awkwardly.

Rider was still gazing down at her, his deep blue eyes meeting her green ones. "I'm sorry too Alexia. I shouldn't have pushed your buttons like that, I was trying to get a rise out of you. And I did..." His mouth quirked up "We don't hate you Alex, far from it, You're like a daughter to Jeremy, he didn't tell you because he would be crushed to see you hurting. And the storm, I'm your guard and its my job." Rider reached down and ran his fingers through her hair, working out some of the tangles with his fingers. 

Alex half closed her eyes. The simple touch was meant as comfort but her body was interpreting it a different way. His big hands running deliciously across her scalp and his fingers combing through her damp hair gave her chills. She let his hands soothe her tattered nerves while trying to distract herself from the tightening of her stomach. 

Alex hadn't been aware how much she had isolated herself from contact with others. After being cast out of the palace she had withdrawn into herself, her body's reaction opened her eyes to what she had been missing out on.

Rider smiled at the blissful expression on her face. "You're a hair person then? And here I was thinking you didn't like to be stroked." He tugged gently on the ends of her hair. 

"I'm definitely not the stroking type of cat Rider" She said. 

He grinned and said nothing. She was lying. She most defiantly was the type of cat to enjoy being stroked, but Rider was not stupid and knew better that to contradict her. He was willing to bet she would be purring if she could. Alex let out a soft disappointed sigh as he moved away to stretch out on the couch. "So what are we watching Red?" 

In the end they decided on a romantic comedy. Rider managed to get through the opening credits before he stopped paying attention and instead drifted in and out of sleep. 

Alexia huddled on the recliner regretting her choice of movie. The focus seemed to be less on comedy, and more on romance Lots and lots of romance. She shifted uncomfortably on the chair. Her jeans shifted with her, tightening closer around her exposed body. 

Her body temperature had dropped since the run in the forest, and she was beginning to feel really cold with the exception of her pussy which was beginning to feel warm. The on-screen couple began to heat up again. Alex got up intent on finding herself a blanket to curl up in, there were usually several dotted around the room. 

Rider drifted back awake again to the sounds of sex and watched with great interest as the woman was bent over a chair and entered by the man on screen. 

"Nice choice of movies." He looked around to find her shivering and looking through a trunk, probably in search of a blanket. 

"Yeah I don't know what happened to the comedy part. I'm not finding this particularly funny." She hoped he couldn't smell how the movie had affected her. "Its freezing in here, how are you not cold?" He grinned and shot her a look she couldn't figure out. 

As far as she could tell he was paying attention to the movie again so she gave up her search for a blanket and eased back past him to her chair. Rider's arm shot out, curling around her arse ending up under his sweatshirt resting on the swell of her hip and pulling Alexia towards him. 

"I'll keep you warm" he murmured. With that he slid his other hand between her thighs and lifted her over himself so that she was straddling his stomach, knees either side of his body on the couch.

Alexia gasped and stared down at him, in disbelief. His hand was still between her thighs and the other arm was preventing escape still twined around her arse. Rider grinned up at her and slowly increased the pressure of his fingers. She could feel him touching her pussy through her jeans. When he began to slowly slide his hand upwards she buckled forwards grabbing the back of the couch for support. 

Rider slid his hand up to her flat belly, pushing the sweatshirt up as he went. Then he curved forward leaning his forehead against her stomach, and lipping the soft skin near the waistband of her low slung jeans. 

When Rider licked the exposed skin, then gently scraped his teeth across the sensitive flesh she couldn't hold in her whimper. Rider sat up, lifting his sweatshirt over her head and sliding his hands back down over her shoulders and across her breasts, pausing to pinch her nipples hard enough to buckle her forwards. Alex felt a rush of dampness between her thighs.

"Rider please." She gasped "That feels really good" Rider grinned wickedly at her and ran the tips of his fingers over her breasts lightly in stark contrast to the force he had used before, the new touch left her shivering above him. 

Rider hooked his arms around her body again and twisted out from under her. Alex was then lying in the warmth of his body heat, with him holding himself above her, his long legs either side of hers and his hips pressing down into her. 

Alex reached up to put her hands on his broad shoulders, and Rider lowered his head and kissed the base of each breast before snaking down her body, kissing and licking a trail to her belly button. Alex remembered the woman from before. He had been having sex with her less than four, no three hours ago!

"Rider stop, we can't do this." Rider showed no signs of hearing her. He had abandoned her belly button and was gracefully repositioning his body further down. Alex's breathing quickened again, he meant to... Rider crouched over her holding himself up with his arms, and dipped his shoulders lower dropping his mouth to her exposed hip and teasing the skin with his sharp teeth. 

"Rider. No" Alex reached down and grabbed him by his hair. She pulled his face back from her body. "We're not doing this here, or now, or ever." 

Alex twisted her hips buckling her body upwards and using the back of the couch for leverage trying to unbalance him and throw him off the couch. Rider grabbed her hips trying to pin her to the couch below him. She saw the confusion in his eyes be replaced by determination. She was beginning to panic, so employed a technique that rarely worked against him, she relaxed. Rider paused a second that then loosened his hold above her which was her cue to give a huge shove. He was still holding her hips and ended up dragging her with him to the ground. 

The had a moment of winded silence staring into each others eyes before she tried to sit up off of his chest. Rider grabbed her long hair twisting it around his wrist and burying his hand deep into the tangled strands. 

"You want this as much as I do Red." She was lying on his chest his voice vibrated through her. 

Alex didn't want to make eye contact but this close to his face she had little choice about where she looked, she chose his mouth. "Stop calling me that" she growled trying to move her head back again. She hated being teased about her temper. Rider licked his lips and Alex was momentarily distracted by the movement. She switched her attention to his forehead.

"What, Red?" his eyebrows raised and his head tilted slightly to the side.

"Yes I have a temper, now stop teasing me about it and let me go." She was quickly getting upset, and didn't want to have to struggle with him to get free, she wasn't particularly good at close hand to hand combat without a weapon.

"Alexis, I don't call you Red because of your temper, I call you Red because of your hair. It glows red in the sun, sometimes it looks like a halo of fire at sunset. Of course your temper did help it stick." He loosened his hand in her hair until he was caressing the strands.

Alex swallowed. That didn't sound like something a bodyguard that disliked her would say. She lowered her eyes to meet his. She had partially expected to find him laughing at her. There was a little amusement, but his face was mostly serious. His eyes were guarded, as if he was waiting for her to hit him. When that didn't happen he drew her head down and touched his lips against hers. 

Alex sank into the kiss momentarily before abruptly realising his hand had loosened on her hair. She slammed her fist into his solar plexus, swung off him and headed for the door without looking back. 

"Well done, you've just made her very very angry." He groaned to himself once he could breath again. Truthfully he had been expecting much worse. Realisation dawned "She's not angry, she's scared. You've managed to finally scare the unshakeable Alex." He grinned "Well that's a change."



Taming the Cat Ch. 02



Alex had curled up in her bed, her back to the window with as much of her face submerged by the covers as she could manage without feeling trapped. The storm was still raging outside, and her body was raging from earlier. Rider had woken the beast, and she had no idea how to soothe it again. Actually that wasn't true, she had a fairly good idea of how to calm her body, but she wasn't resorting to that. 

Her emotions were a jumble and she felt truly lonely for the first time since she was thirteen. Her friends were leaving her for university, and she couldn't talk to Jeremy about what had happened between her and Rider. In fact that would be a very bad idea indeed she thought with a start. Her exile, her parentage. It was probably his job to make sure she never passed her genes onto a child. Alexis was not interested in kids, but preventing her from having sex would probably be the easiest way to stop that from happening. 

Not that she was going to, she didn't want Rider in that way. Did she? No, she assured herself. No she didn't, Rider and her hated each other. This was just him having a good time. She had seen how he was with women and sex. 

The storm continued well into the night, and Alex finally managed to sleep early in the morning. Her mind had wandered to the memory of Riders hands stroking her hair and she had been so caught up in her thoughts that the storm had finally faded to the back of her mind. 

The next few days were difficult for Alex. She submerged herself into her study and ignored her bodies demands to shift or seek out Rider. When she was finally forced to see him it was not by her choosing. 

Alex had been in her room for the larger part of three days and had crept down for ice-cream. She was positive that Rider had gone to bed for the night. Jeremy had left for a run earlier and would probably be gone until early the next day. His runs seemed to be lasting longer and longer lately.

The kitchen and laundry doors were both open and Alex, in bare feet, a short skirt and a black singlet top, luxuriated in the feeling of the cool night air drifting across her skin. She was tempted to shift and play in the forest, but instead grabbed a small tub of boysenberry ice-cream from the freezer and sat up on the centre island bench with a spoon to eat straight from the container. 

She had intended to go straight back to her room, but after days of being cooped up and sneaking around the house she wasn't ready to go back to studying. She was staring into space and resting her feet on the opposite bench when she heard movement behind her.

"Sitting with your back to the main entrance way is usually a very bad idea Alex." Rider trailed a finger across her back, taunting her with how close he was able to get without her noticing. "Without Jeremy or I around to take care of intruders you could get into a lot of trouble." Rider leaned closer inhaling her scent.

Alexis shivered "Thanks for your concern, but I'm well equipped to take care of myself." She put the lid back on the ice-cream and slid off the bench. She made brief eye contact with Rider before the intensity of his gaze made her turn away. 

"Why are you scared of what happened between us, Alex?" Alex threw the ice-cream back into the freezer, the blast of cold air helped her flushed face. "There's nothing wrong with what we did, its natural for shape shifters to react like that." Said Rider. "Its natures way of letting us know when we've found the right mate." Her eyes widened and she couldn't help looking back up at him as he finished.

Rider stayed still, bracing himself on the bench in front of him. He kept his arms wide and tried to look as non threatening as possible. He knew her well enough to realise how that statement would affect her temper.

She reacted as expected. "We are not mates. We can barely stand in the same room without killing each other." Alex resisted the urge to bare her teeth and instead turned away again. She could keep her temper under control if she wasn't looking at him. Maybe. 

"I can't sit in a room with you for five minutes without wanting to tear your throat out, and I'm sure as hell not going to let you decide what's right for me right now. I'm also pretty sure I'm not meant to be screwing around. I'm willing to bet its part of Jeremy's job description to stop the muddied genes being passed on." Anger seemed to be quickly morphing into panic. Rider stayed silent behind her so she pushed on. "I'm not going to submit to being some guys mate. I don't work like that. I'd make both of us miserable. I like having my own space, as pitiful as that is stuck in this house, but I don't plan to be here forever. I don't like sharing. I have plans for my life, and a partner is not in them."

Rider noticed her shaking hands and moved around behind her taking the glass she had been about to fill with water. "Let me do that." He stepped closer, pressing her to the sink and reaching around her to turn the tap on. Alex accepted the glass of water and drank most of it with Riders warm body cocooning hers.

"I don't think Jeremy gives a flying fuck what his job description is Red." Rider said quietly into her hair. "He cares about you, not his job."

She placed the glass back on the bench and turned in Riders arms. He didn't step back as she had expected, instead he pressed closer dropping his mouth to hers and kissed her.

Their tongues slid against each other and he tasted inside her mouth stroking the roof of her mouth. He was a little unprepared for her to thrust her tongue inside his mouth, aggressively taking over the kiss, her teeth nipping his bottom lip as she drew back. The nip pushed at Riders control and he let his hands Shift a little. Sharp claws extended from his hands and drew them down her exposed back and shoulders. The claws bit into her skin and made her gasp and reach back to hold herself up against the bench, one of her hands slipped and knocked the glass off the bench. 

Rider, remembering her bare feet, scooped her up and sat her on the centre island. He stepped in between her knees, and despite Alex's best efforts she was not able to stop him.

"We're just going to have to learn to get along." Murmured Rider. He ducked his head to gain access to her throat, and lapped at the spot above her collar bone making her squirm and relax her leg a little further. Rider took another step closer to her spreading her legs wider again and running his - now entirely human - hands over her knees. 

His mouth moved to her collar bone, and he began delicately nipping along it with sharp teeth. It felt good. Alex rested her hands on his wide shoulders, giving him increased access to her body.

Rider moved his hands further up to her thighs pushing her skirt up as her went. He stopped inches from her black panties, and teased her a little circling his thumbs on her inner thighs making her gasp and arch her back a little. 

"See we're getting along fine." Rider chuckled. 

"Don't make me beg for this." Alex whimpered. She wasn't thinking with her brain that was for sure. She just wanted relief from the pressure that had been building up inside her over the past three days. She writhed on the bench trying to get him to touch her.

Rider nearly lost it, he desperately wanted to sink himself into her, but wanted it on his terms. He knew in the back of his mind not to push his advantage, She needed to make the decision to have sex with him with a clear head. In the mean time though he could satisfy her immediate cravings. 

Rider sunk his teeth into the join of Alex's neck and shoulder, without words commanding her to sit still. Alex, surprisingly, obeyed letting her head drop onto his shoulder. Her thigh muscles tensed as his fingers inched closer to her centre but she did not writhe against him again. 

He slid his fingers under the side straps of her panties and snapped them, throwing the now useless underwear towards the laundry. Alex shivered as the cool air bathed her moist centre. 

Rider released her shoulder "Don't move." He whispered before wrapping his jaws more securely around the base of her neck. He slid his finger up along her pussy, gathering her juices on the tip of his finger. She whimpered and dug her nails into his upper arms as he spread the lubricant and massaged her clit. 

He started gently teasing her, but soon her had a slow rhythm, not quite rubbing her hard enough or fast enough to let her come. It felt like her pussy was on fire, her entrance felt white hot but still she held herself still. Her fingers clutched his arms and her back broke out in beads of sweat from the effort of holding herself still. The cool breeze chilled her back and felt like a delicious contrast to the burning between her legs. Her breathing was harsh in her ears and still Rider kept the infuriatingly light stroking.

Alex felt the pressure build up in her stomach, and moments before it all became too much for her Rider slid a long index finger into her, having to work to thrust the digit into her tight passage. Alex couldn't hold it in any more and cried out with every invasion until Riders thrusting hit a spot inside of her that changed the pitch of her voice. 

He then changed the rhythm of his fingers on her clit, rubbing her harder and faster, and driving her to the brink by thrusting his finger over and over the spot inside of her. The orgasm broke over Alex in waves. Rider kept his hands busy until her hoarse cries had finally stopped before withdrawing from her pussy. 

Alex sighed and slumped against him, bathing in the afterglow of what had to be the best orgasm of her life. The best orgasm of her life... with Rider. Shit. Alex tried to stand and ended up sprawled on the ground with Rider crouching over her.

"Are you ok?" He asked concerned. 

"Yes, my legs just aren't working right now." Alex said reluctantly. Rider began to grin. "Back off. I'll be fine."

"That good huh?" He chuckled. "Come on then Red its past your bedtime." Despite her protests he picked her up and carried her to her room. Once there he turned down the bed, and slid her into it with ease. Alex had a moment of near panic when she thought he was going to join her before he left, turning out the light. 

She spent a good minute trying to figure out exactly what had happened before realising she was still clothed and giving up in favour of stripping and getting some sleep.

Rider grinned the whole way down the stairs, he had been worried when he hadn't seen her around the house, but now that he had he was pretty sure everything was going to be ok. In general the angrier Alexis was the quicker she would get over it and in truth this didn't feel much like anger, it felt more like panic which in Riders mind was much easier to deal with.

Back in his room Rider slid into the shower, wincing as his arms slid under the water. Alex had dug her nails in hard enough to draw blood. He was still hard and took the opportunity to relieve his arousal, sliding his hands over himself and thinking back on Alex. The feel of her under his hands, and the salty taste of her skin. Rider came with a cry and leaned back against the glass in his shower. They would be good together, he was head over heels for her and had been within moments of arriving. The issue was convincing Alex of that. 

She was stubborn as a mule, and her temper made her unpredictable. He loved her for it anyway. He loved the fact that in the right circumstances she could have him on the ground gasping for breath. He loved the fact that when she cared about someone or something nothing anyone said would change her mind. He loved the fact that no matter how tough she was, and how emotionally closed off she pretended was she still needed someone. She needed him. 

The following day Alex decided to sneak out to the forest It was actually less of a decision and more of a necessity. The long days of being cooped up had left her miserable and angry so after throwing a pointless tantrum over her inability to concentrate on her study (and shredding her duvet in a fit of anger) she forced herself out of the house. She climbed down the side of the house and shed her clothes at the bottom, shifting immediately into her cat form. 

The change felt so good she couldn't resist playing a little, she tussled with a couple of blades of grass contorting her body and writhing on the ground theatrically. After bounding across the lawn towards the forest like a bunny on steroids she got down to the real business of running. 

Much like fighting Alex had always felt more relaxed while running as a cat through her territory. Of course she shared it with Jeremy and Rider but in her cats mind this land was hers. 

She had also found running to be conductive to thinking, so she used the time to mull over her latest problem. Thinking about Rider wanting her as a mate inevitably got her angry. Alex took her frustration out on the forest swiping at trees, and tearing at the ground with her claws as she pounded out all the anger. 

The wind was picking up when she was finally done tearing the the forest apart so she headed back to the house. Somewhere between snapping at the river and scattering the rocks on the banks she had decided to stop hiding in her room. She was done with slinking around her own house on her belly. Her run over Alex wasn't feeling quite so aggressive anymore, but she was still going to walk in there with her head held high and her teeth showing. Literally. 

At the laundry door she manoeuvred the kitchen door open - a real bitch with the mouth of a cat - and loped silently to the library. The library was shut but this door was easier to open, just a bar handle as opposed to one of the pain in the arse round doorknobs. 

Inside Jeremy was reading one of his world history books and Rider was curled in one of the big armchairs with one of her books. He reached out idly drawing his hand down her back as she passed, almost totally engrossed in the book. She let it pass as the library always left her feeling calm. 

Alexia settled on the thick rug beside the fire and placed her muzzle on her paws, closing her eyes to doze. There was an art to catnapping and Alex had it down. She relaxed every muscle in her body, one group at a time and shut down all of her senses until finally she was listening just for any out of place noises and let herself drift, almost into a trance. 

The fire at her back made her lethargic and she knew from the feel of the fur against her skin that if anyone stroked her she would feel velvety soft. The books around her pressed at her, the memories of them almost a tangible weight in her mind.

As a kid she had loved reading and had gone through almost every book in here absorbing everything she could. Jeremy had indulged her, spending thousands on rare and interesting books to occupy her mind. 

Her favourites would always be the old versions of fairy tales and kids books. Peter Pan was her absolute favourite, the book was well-read with thick yellowing pages and a cracked spine which the paper spilled from. It had been found in a second-hand shop and Alex had nearly cried when Jeremy had brought it for her after seeing how taken she had been by it. 

Alexia had been entranced by Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland and enchanted with Peter Rabbit. She still sobbed her eyes out at the end of Charlottes Web, and made a point of seeking out and reading new children's books but she still came back to Peter Pan every time. There was just something about escaping into an unknown land, leaving all of your problems behind to fly and have adventures and never grow up that appealed to her. 

Speaking of growing up. Rider had grown from the silent closed off person he had once been. She opened her eyes into little slits and studied him. He'd filled out too. Even with the extra muscle he had still stayed graceful. Curled into the armchair his hair spilled down his back and over his arm, gleaming in the firelight. His eyes were devouring the book intensely. 

He moved with a natural grace and strength, a combination that you don't usually see in a man. She enjoyed watching him do little things, the way his big hands could seem almost delicate. They could feel pretty delicate too she reflected. 

Fighting with him was like trying to out-manoeuvre a dancer . He knew exactly what the moves were, and if he was intent on causing pain not much could stop him. She was pretty sure she didn't look nearly as graceful when fighting to the death, and could never hope to be as effective. She did have a craftiness which would would still occasionally win her points against him in a fight. When he fought her he gave her his all. He didn't pull hs punches, trusting her to be able to take it - which was very liberating. 

His face was the prefect mix of sensual and strong. No she definitely didn't mind his looks, or the way he handled her. 

Lying there on the rug Alex finally admitted it to herself, she like him. She had feelings for him. She might, if she let herself, love him. 

The panic that she thought would accompany that revelation didn't come. It could have been the fire or the catnap, or it might have even been the tantrum in the forest, Alexia felt more relaxed about the whole situation. Alexia slipped into a sound sleep hardly noticing when first Jeremy then Rider departed for their own beds. 

She woke slowly sometime later to the sound of wind raging outside. The fire had burnt down to embers and Alex had wrapped her tail over her nose in an attempt to keep warm. It wasn't working and she was about to go to her bedroom to curl up in her own bed before remembering her temper tantrum from earlier. She had shredded her goose-down duvet. 

If she wasn't so annoyed with herself she would have attempted to giggle. The thought of herself raging in her room with snowy feathers slowly settling onto every surface around her was amusing. She would have to find some way of paying for a new duvet. Jeremy had strictly enforced the rule that if she broke something because of her temper she was to replace it herself. It hadn't happened for a while, and Alex had thought she had learnt the lesson. Apparently not. 

It occurred to her that Rider probably wouldn't mind her curling up with him. The problem was that although she had admitted her feelings to herself, she wasn't quite prepared to admit them to him. 

He may have implied they were meant to be mates, but that was likely to be him thinking with his penis rather than his head. He probably wasn't altogether interested in the long-term view of it. Alexia wasn't anywhere near prepared to have her heart stomped over, so felt it best to keep the soppy feelings to herself. 

She padded down Riders hall, pausing a couple of times to think it through again. Did she really want to do this? Yes it was cold but she did have other options. In the end the weather decided for her. The wind whipped against the house screaming eerily. 'Enough standing and more finding a warm bed' she thought, nearly galloping for Riders room. 

Alex did the door handle trick again and batted the door shut behind her. Walking to the bed she wrestled with bed crashing etiquette. Should she ask permission, or just jump on in? She stopped, resting her muzzle on the bed inches from Rider's face and let out a small questioning chuff. 

Rider opened his eyes a little, managing to conceal his surprise, and patted the bed behind himself to invite her up. Alex ended up between the wall and Rider, curled by his shoulder. Rider fell back to sleep almost immediately. 

Alex woke to being tucked under the covers by Rider. She had shifted back into her human form some time during the night , 'my naked human form' she thought embarrassed. She was freezing, and snuggled into Riders warmth. 




Taming the Cat Ch. 02



He yelped a little as her cold body came into contact with his but allowed her to continue to burrow into him. 

"I would complain Red, but I'm quite enjoying this. My only regret is that I seem to be overdressed." Alex was actually quite glad he was wearing shorts.

"Shut up, and warm me up. Its your fault I'm naked anyway." She said shrugging his arm over her shoulder and back and cocooning herself further in his heat. 

"Its my fault you're naked?" Rider grinned "Not that I'm disputing that fact, but just explain to me your reasoning behind that..." He drew his head back a little to see her face which she had tucked into his shoulder. 

"You scared me." Alexis kept her eyes fixed on his shoulder and pressed her forehead closer to the skin. "I wanted to be on my terms, and having bigger claws and teeth than you made me feel better." 

Rider grinned "I never underestimate your teeth Alex. It doesn't matter whether you're wearing your fur or not. Do I still scare you?" 

"Not in the way that you used to." Alex slid up his body until she was looking him in the eyes Rider lifted his eyebrow up questioningly before she tangled her fingers in his hair, dragging his mouth to hers roughly. She crushed herself to him letting him know just how much her body - how much she - needed him, combing her fingers through his hair and down his back. "That's why you scare me." 

"Lets see about getting you warm then." Rider said thickly before diving on her mouth again

He wasn't gentle, using his teeth and his tongue to make her moan and push herself against him. Rider pulled his mouth away from hers dipping his head to reach her neck and trying to push her onto her back. 

Alex fought him, trying to win the upper hand. Her struggles had her moving against him, and she could feel how hard he was against her belly. When he grabbed her wrists and pinned her she fought for the feeling on having him powerful and hard above her.  

Rider growled and stretched her wrists above her head, crushing them to the mattress with one hand. His thighs pushed hers apart and he latched his mouth onto her breast, biting and licking and nipping at her until she wasn't sure of the differences between pain and pleasure. It all felt good.

Alex whined when he took his mouth away, leaving her nipple aching to give his attention to her other breast. The softness of his tongue, then a hard suck and his teeth grazing along the underside of her breast. Alexia mindlessly lifted her hips to his thigh, desperate for his touch, rubbing herself against his leg. 

Rider released her wrists, and picked her up, positioning her on her hands and knees on top of the rumpled blankets. He stroked his hands down her back, and she arched up into him. Moving behind her he slid a hand up her inner thigh. Alex sank down lower, spreading her thighs for him. 

His cool fingers stroked her pussy lips before spreading her open to him. Alex twisted her fingers into the sheets, not noticing that her claws had begun to grow again. Rider's fingers began a slow dance over her clit, causing the blood to pound in her temples. She could feel her juices beginning to run down her thighs. 

Rider grunted, his cock twitching, as he slid his index finger into her warm passage. She wasn't a virgin but she was tight, he was going to have to take it slowly. He worked his finger inside of her, adding an extra one as she began to back against him.  

"No!" Alex growled as he pulled away from her, leaving her on the brink of an orgasm. 

Rider chuckled, leaning over to his bedside table to grab a condom. He slipped off his shorts and rolled the condom on, glancing up to find her watching him hungrily. He moved to drape himself over her body, purring at the feel of her skin against his and pressing his face into her back between her shoulder blades. 

"Rider, please, stop playing around. Fuck me!"Alexia implored, her hands curling at the feel of him. Her claws caught at the sheets and she forced herself to relax them, remembering the duvet from earlier. 

Rider taking her at her word, entered her quickly. The sudden movement causing the air to slam out of Alex's lungs and her claws to tear through the sheets and the first few layers of the mattress. 

Rider rode her hard causing her to growl and shriek, arching her back into him and tearing at whatever she could get under his claws. He slammed into her cervix at the end of every thrust, the small pain making her nerves tingle. It was rough, but she loved it, every movement felt right and caused the cat inside her to curl and stretch savouring the feeling of being ravaged. 

Her orgasm was ripped, screaming, from her and Rider snarled above her. The release was so intense she sunk down onto her belly panting. Rider didn't let the change in position faze him. He sank down ending up stretched above her, his cock still lodged deep inside her. 

Alex's pussy was convulsing around him, so he gave her a moment to collect herself. Arranging himself so that his long arms rested each side of her head he lapped at her neck, distracting himself from the build up of pressure at his groin. 

When she was purring below him he began to move again, achingly slowly, pressing her whole body down onto the mattress. He teased himself, pacing his thrusts, and lowering his cheek to hers over her shoulder. 

Alexia was loving the long deep movements, and showed her appreciation by twisting her head around, nipping gently at his jaw. At the same time she squeezed her inner muscles around his shaft. Rider gripped the sheets in front of her and groaned, involuntarily jerking his cock deeper into her wet cavern. 

Alexia loved his responses and continued squeezing herself around him, causing the pressure in her belly to build again. In no time she had Rider thrusting short and sharp into her, his pelvis slapping forcefully into her arse. Rider kept her pinned into the mattress with his chest, moving a hand up to hug her chest and shoulders and crying out roughly against her. 

She felt safe with him, and let the restrictions on her movement enhance her pleasure instead of distract from it. Building the pressure in her belly and thighs and tight core until Alex came again with whimpering, long pulses. Her pussy tightened around Rider pushing him over the edge with an almost agonised grunt. 

For long moments he stayed pressed against Alexia, panting. Then remembering how heavy he was Rider withdrew from her, causing Alex to whimper as he slid against her oversensitive flesh. 

He gathered her into his arms and tucked her against him before feeling around for a blanket to keep them warm. That done he curled protectively around her satisfied body, limp against his.

Alex came back into awareness of her surroundings a minute later. She was disorientated for a moment before recognising Riders arms around her and his chin resting on the top of her head. She could tell from the pattern of his breathing that he was still awake. 

"I'm sorry I ripped up your mattress a little there. And your sheets. And one of your pillows I think..."

He chuckled which sent vibrations along her back. "I wasn't too rough then?"

"Oh God no, that was perfect." Her beast twisted inside her, remembering. It almost felt like the cat was stroking itself inside her, against all the places he was touching her. 

"Well we'll just have to use your bed for round two." Rider said grinning sleepily, he knew just what he wanted to do with her. 

Alexia opened her eyes suddenly wide awake again. "Um my bed is more of a mess than yours. I sort of... shredded my duvet." 

"Jeremy won't be pleased with either of us I think. I'm pretty sure we just disturbed his sleep." Feeling her tense beneath him he continued "Sleep Alexia, We'll face him in the morning..." Catching sight of the clock he corrected himself "Afternoon. No decent person would be awake before noon anyway."

Alexia agreed with him, and despite her worry she was soon asleep. Rider took a little longer, he spent a little time working out what he was going to say to Jeremy. Despite his assurances to Alex he wasn't entirely sure Jeremy wasn't going to beat the living shit out of him to make sure Rider didn't end up hurting her - he wasn't planning on it, but convincing Jeremy of that was likely to be difficult at best. 



Taming the Cat Ch. 03



Sorry for the delay, its a bit of a mission finding time to write between work and study (I am still continuing with both stories!)

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Rider strode heavily down the stairs. He had left Alexia in the shower, knowing that she wouldn't appreciate him waiting for her. He would have to watch himself when it came to things like that - she enjoyed her 'alone time' and wouldn't take kindly to Rider forcing himself into all aspects of her life. 

He wasn't looking forward to facing Jeremy today. He would have heard the two of them together, and knowing Jeremy, he was going to want to protect Alex. It was his job description after all. The thing was, Rider didn't think she needed protection. Not from him in any case. She was more than able to take care of herself in that area. 

Jeremy was sitting with his back to the door, reading a newspaper when Rider entered the dining room. Deciding to leave the inevitable a little longer he continued skulking towards the kitchen, interested in finding something to cook for breakfast. 

"Sit down." Jeremy commanded without looking up. Rider obeyed. 

Jeremy was the closest thing to a pack leader he had in his life and Rider owed him a lot. He settled into a chair directly opposite the older man's and waited patiently as Jeremy finished reading the article. He would continue when he was ready. 

Finally finished Jeremy looked up and glowered at him. "Alex is not like the other women you have been amusing yourself with. You will not use her and toss her aside. I am aware that she is more than capable of defending herself against you, but she is, in my mind at least, my daughter and I would be remiss in my duties as her father if I didn't warn you that I will not hesitate to rip you to pieces if you hurt her in any way." He annunciated his words very carefully and Rider had the sense that he had thought them through with great care. 

The younger man wasn't quite sure what Jeremy was wanting him to say. "I won't hurt her Jeremy, I'd hurt myself before I let anything happen to her. Alexia is special." 

Most of the tension that had been clogging the room left when Jeremy grinned "Good to hear." Alex strode into the room as he finished "I've been waiting for you two to get together for a while now. You took your time about it."

"So what am I worth, two cows, a camel and a large bag of rice?" Alex tried to contain her anger, but she was finding it difficult. She didn't like being talked about behind her back, and this felt a lot like the two men were conspiring together. She moved around the table so she could glare at Jeremy. 

"Actually we decided on one cow, two camels and a duvet. Much like the one you destroyed yesterday." Jeremy said mildly before turning his attention back to his paper. She hadn't known he knew about that. 

Alexia stared across the table at Jeremy for a beat before Rider grabbed her wrist pulling her into his lap. Ignoring her outraged growl he bit her gently on side of her neck. Alex shivered a little when he followed the harsh nip with a soft lick. 

"What would you like for breakfast Red?" Rider asked grinning at her scowl. 

"Pancakes. And coffee. Lots of coffee." Alex said perking up at the thought of coffee. 

Jeremy seconded her vote and Rider got to work in the kitchen as Alex and Jeremy discussed the day's news together. 

After a huge breakfast the three of them separated. Rider went to the kitchen to clean up the monumental mess he had made, and Jeremy spent the majority of the day in his study on the phone.

Alex went for a long run, and avoided Rider until later that evening. She had sort-of been expecting him to seek her out. Instead she did, finding him in the library stretched out along a couch and reading his way through a pile of Jeremy's daily newspapers.

Rider kept his attention on the newspaper, forcing her to take the initiative. Alex, much to his surprise, stepped up behind him. She untied the leather thong that he had been using to keep his hair out of his face, embedding her fingers in the strands and lightly scratching her nails against his scalp. After a few moments of delicately combing through his hair she amused herself by coaxing it into a complicated plait.

Rider sat silently throughout her attentions. He was glad she couldn't see his face, he was practically drooling. He was also hard. He didn't know why but having his hair played with seemed to affect his whole body, raising goose bumps on his arms and electric tingles down his back that pooled in his groin

She had just finished retying the leather when he tipped his head back and grabbed her by the front of her tee shirt, dragging her mouth down to his. The new angle made Rider's mouth feel completely different under hers, and she explored it with her tongue making him purr as she tickled the roof of his mouth. 

Rider gave up the pretense of the newspaper sweeping it off the couch. Alex circled around to slide herself over his body. He moved to touch her, stopping abruptly when she growled deep in her throat. 

Alexia was pleased when Rider offered her his throat. She had found she didn't mind letting him lead her, but by nature she was a dominant person, and Rider would have to be prepared to acknowledge that occasionally. 

Licking her way down his neck she tasted him thoroughly, nipping occasionally to encourage his small groans. She slid a knee in between his thighs, feeling him rub himself against her leg. 

The sound of Jeremy coming up the hallway woke them both from the haze they had fallen under. Rider pushed himself up to sit, and grabbed a newspaper from the stack beside him. Alex slid down beside him, propping herself up on his chest. Jeremy probably knew exactly what they were doing, but they all preferred the pretense. 

When he entered the room Jeremy grinned at Alex's flushed face. He looked tired as he settled into an armchair opposite them. 

Alex pushed herself up a little higher - she had a feeling she wasn't going to enjoy this. Rider dropped the newspaper back onto the pile and set his face into an empty expression. 

"While I have you both here and paying attention, I need to tell you of my plans for the future." Jeremy said looking levelly at Alex. "My family in Aruba need me. My Mother is unwell, and my sister is not coping with the illness. I need to go back."

"You're leaving me here? When are you going?" Alex asked, shocked.

"I leave in the morning, yes I'm leaving you here. Its not safe for you in Aruba. The people suspect your bloodline and there is something big going on in the royal court. None of my contacts back in Aruba know what it is, they suspect it is the Theris Family" Alex sat up away from Rider, knowing that the blood had drained from her face. 

She wasn't aware that Rider had told Jeremy that she knew. Rider went further into silent bodyguard mode. He was going to be blamed for this. 

Sure enough Alexia turned accusingly towards the man at her side. He met her eyes without showing remorse. "You knew. You knew that he was going back, and that I would be left alone with you. What was it you said? I'd be stuck in this run down old mansion with Jeremy, and after he's gone, you for the rest of my life?"

"I was angry there Alex. But yes I knew." Rider said emotionlessly. He had agreed not to tell Alexia when Jeremy had told him, but now he was regretting it. 

"You two can't keep me here forever. I've tolerated it for as long as I have because I respect you Jeremy, and where else was I going to go? But I need more than this. I know its dangerous. I know there are people out there who think I would be better dead for the disruption I have caused, but no one has to know who I am." Alex pleaded with Jeremy for understanding. 

"Alexia, you can't be inconspicuous. You were born to lead, you are a Devon and a Theris and that will endanger those around you. You will be seen as a threat to the Royal family, and as such, a threat to the council." Jeremy said sadly. 

"You can't force me to spend my life here! I'm strong. I can protect myself and the people around me!" Alex yelled, frustrated. 

"Where would you go? Brahan? That is where the council is situated and they would know you were there in seconds Alexia." Jeremy sounded as level headed and calm as always. 

"You would be picked up trying to enter a foreign country. The Council have people in every country checking through visa's for errant Changers, so you are confined to Dartmouth." Jeremy was glowering at her as he said this.

Alex knew he was right, but wasn't quite ready to concede the fight. "I'll go to Paradise City." She said. "Its big enough to hide in, right under the noses of the human Royal's, and its practically at the other end of the country compared to Brahan."

"No. Its too dangerous." Jeremy thundered. 

Angry and frustrated beyond belief Alex stood and stormed out of the room. She reached the front door and walked out through it, slamming the heavy door with a satisfying bang. 

Once outside she was tempted to get her bike and go. Fortunately she wasn't that impulsive and Instead she headed through the garage to the huge swing set Jeremy had built her in the first year they had lived in the mansion. 

It was huge because it was part scratching post, part climbing gym and part swing. It was made out of thick interlocking logs with four thick metal chains suspending two curved rubber swing seats. As a teenager she had sharpened her claws on the four angled logs holding the contraption up, giving them uneven ridges and furrows. 

Once she had grown older she learnt to climb to the top, lying across the thick top log for hours at a time. It had been her haven when Rider had moved in. She would lie up there for hours on end as he paced below yelling and swinging the heavy chains. He had come to them not knowing how to climb a log without branches, and thankfully it had taken him a while to learn. 

She kicked off her trainers and grabbed one of the chains, hauling herself up hand over hand. It would have been quicker to change and claw up the posts, but the burn in her arms and shoulders gave her something else to think about which she welcomed. 

Once up the top she stood and walked confidently to the centre of the log before lying down. She had discovered that if she got the exact right point of the log it hugged her curves, and she could reach a small hollowed out knot in the wood, where as a teenager she had kept top secret notes from her friends and trinkets from the boys she liked. 

She had also engraved here as a lonely 14 year old 'Princess Alexia Elizabeth Devon' Then a year later she had partially scratched out the words 'Princess' and 'Devon.' Now she lay watching the stars appear, and ran her fingers over the words. 



After an hour of sitting several meters off the ground she began to get cold, so slid back down the chain, sitting on the swings to put her shoes on. She wasn't sure what she was going to do. She didn't think she could stay in Fern for the rest of her life. It was pretty, and she had her forest, but she needed more.

Alexia needed stimulation, new people. Sometimes she was sure there was something else she was meant to be doing. It was an indistinct thought though. Much like the feeling she got sometimes in the supermarket, knowing she had forgotten something from the shopping list, but unable to work out what it was.

Rider padded up behind her. "Red you have to understand..."

She exploded. "NO. Rider YOU have to understand!" She stood, and paced towards him, anger in every line of her body. Rider began to back away from her, bumping into one of the logs. "You know I can't live my life cooped up here. I need more than the house and the forest." 

Alex began to circle, driving him back towards the swing she had been sitting on. "Its not enough. As my 'mate' you should understand that. Its not who I am." 

Moving faster than he had anticipated she kicked him in the stomach, Rider sat gasping into the swing. He hadn't thought she was angry enough to hit him. He didn't bother looking up, figuring that she would stop after the one kick. 

Alex had slipped off her belt while Rider was bent gasping on the swing. She slipped the looped belt over his wrist and gave him a solid knee to the belly, using the pain to distract him as she stretched his hand above his head and tied the belt to one of the chains. 

That done she twisted his other wrist behind his back and used one hand to unbuckle his belt. He was beginning to struggle as he realized how much trouble he was in, but it was too late as Alex tied the other wrist to the opposite chain. 

"You stand up and I'll kick you again. You won't be able to do much any way, not tethered to the swings like that." Alex said, her voice sounding falsely calm.

"Alex untie me. Alex I'm..." Rider was beginning to get a sinking feeling in his stomach. She wasn't going to listen to him. 

Rider tried to look on the bright side. Alex in charge was not necessarily a bad thing. He could think of worse things than being tied up for her. And to be honest he had always enjoyed a little pain. Alex looked him over before walking past him to the garage, she had an interesting gleam in her eye. Rider swallowed. Alex angry and in charge, now that was just a little bit scary. 

Alex knew exactly what she was looking for, so it didn't take her too long to return to the swings. She took her time however, enjoying the sight of Rider bound to the chains with his arms over his head. He hadn't tried to stand and get himself free, which was a good thing. She wasn't sure how long the belts would hold if he really put his mind to breaking them. 

Alex stepped up behind him, kicking her shoes off, and growing kitty claws. With a few swipes Riders tee-shirt was in pieces n the ground. Rider sat tense on the swing. Alex stepped around him coming into view. She was holding a bull whip that had recently been brought out to the garage for repairs. Rider tensed again, she could do some real damage with that if she put her mind to it. After a moments indecision he decided to let her play it her way. 

Alex settled the whip around her shoulders and crouched in front of him. She held his gaze as she slid her hands up his thighs, her claws occasionally snicking at the fabric of his jeans. 

Riders head dropped back as she cupped his groin. He almost pushed himself against her hand, only stopping when he remembered her claws. Alexia caressed his cock, feeling it grow harder under the heavy fabric. 

"Lets give you a little room to move huh?" She said huskily before extending her claws entirely and slashing the jeans away from his skin. Rider sat motionless almost afraid to breath as the cloth fell in tatters around him. She hadn't once scratched him.


Alex stood, roughly jerking the remainder of his jeans from under his thighs. She ran a critical eye over his body and was a little annoyed that even now she could find nothing to fault with his body. 

His eyes were a little wide but he was excited. She could tell by the short pants of breath he was taking. He was also hard, his cock was already resting against his flat stomach and his legs were a little wider than they had been when she had started. He wanted her to touch him. 

Flicking the whip from around her neck Alex brought the tasseled end against his inner thigh. Rider gasped with surprise. It hadn't hurt. It was just a small sting to get his attention - she had it.

Alex circled around him dragging the whip behind her. The platted leather slid along the crease between his torso and his legs.

Closing his eyes Rider concentrated on slowing his breathing. Every time he inhaled his cock slid a little on his stomach leaving damp spots.

Alex flicked the whip back and brought it down across his shoulder leaving a light welt. Riders breath huffed out and his belly clenched. 

Alex kept the lashes light working her way dow his back before giving her attention to his arse. Rider was squirming on the seat and crying out before she was finished. Even with the light whipping his arse was a deep pink.

Alex wanted to rub herself over him. She dropped the whip to the side, instantly forgetting it, and ran her hands over his smooth shoulders working her way down soothing the path her whip had made. 

She breathed in his unique Rider scent and placed her ear against his back listening to his breathing and the steady rhythm of his pulse. She wanted him inside her. 

She shifted her hands back to their human form, and slid out of her clothes, leaving her bra on. Walking around to Riders front she gripped the chains and lowered herself into his lap and onto his cock. 

Riders head dropped back as Alexia rode him aggressively. She was using him to satisfy her craving and dampen down her anger and it felt great. HIs fists clenched around the belts binding him and hung on with what felt like his last gram of control. He was waiting for her signal.

The chains in her hands felt icy cold, a huge contrast to the warmth between her thighs. The pressure mounted quickly and Alexia held out for only another two strokes before before her orgasm was too close to hold back "Now Rider" she commanded before curving forwards and her tensing muscles took over. 

She cried out with the force of her orgasm and rider felt her clamp wetly around him. He began thrusting up into, instinctively curling into her body. He brought her closer by pinning her shoulder to him with his chin and finally let himself come, spurting inside her. 

They sat together like that for a while, Alex huddled in to his body and him curving as protectively around her as he could. 

She used to the time to gather herself. She had done something unforgivable. Finally she took one last breath of him and stood, whimpering a little as he slid out of her. Not meeting his eyes she scooped up her clothes and hurried back towards the house. 


Rider watched her go, puzzled, before turning his attention towards his bonds. once he had freed himself he picked up the forgotten whip and headed around the house to the laundry - his clothes were unsalvageable and he didn't really want to explain the marks on his back to Jeremy. 

In the laundry he picked up a pair of worn leather pants and headed to the gym to drop off the whip. He also had a feeling that that would be where Alexia chose to hide and berate herself. He was right. 

She was hugging her knees surrounded by racks of weapons, a place where she no doubt felt safe. He walked past her to hang the whip back on its peg and then turned back towards her. His throat tightened, she looked miserable. 

"I'm sorry Rider." Alex said not looking up from her knees.

Rider moved to crouch in front of her, forcing Alex to meet those amazing blue eyes. "You didn't force me to do anything Red. You and I both know I could have been free in a minute if I had wanted to be. So what's really bothering you? Is it because I enjoyed it? Do you think less of me because I enjoy a little pain with my sex?"

"No of course not, I like a bit of pain too. Its just... Did you really enjoy that? If you had done it to me I would be furious. I would be halfway to Brahan by now." Alexia confessed. 

"Ah. You were worried about me leaving." Rider smiled and moved to sit. He dragged her unwillingly into his lap. "Listen Red, you really don't have to worry about that. I'm here to stay. In fact if you don't do that again I will be very disappointed." 

Alex slowly relaxed into his arms, liking the feel of his bare chest against her face. He wasn't going to leave her. More than that he had like what she had done to him. 

Finally Rider got to his feet lifting her to hers too. "Lets go talk to Jeremy." He said. 

Back in his quarters Jeremy had finished packing. He wasn't taking much, but he also wasn't expecting to come back. Neither of his charges knew that yet, and his heart was heavy with the knowledge. He felt guilty, but knew he was doing the right thing. He could be infinitely more useful to them in Aruba. 




Taming the Cat Ch. 03



Rider and Alex stepped into the room and he was engulfed in a bone cracking hug from Alex. He hugged back gently and tried to look as if he was unaffected by her display of affection, it wasn't often that she showed her softer feelings so obviously. 

"I'm sorry Jeremy. You're right, you have to go. I was just angry because I the the feeling of being trapped here." Alex said, even though the thought of it still stung.

"I'm not trying to hold you here against your will-" Jeremy said

"She's right though. We can't." Rider interrupted surprising all three of them. "Alexia is old enough to be making her own decisions. I'll be with her. I'll protect her to the best of my abilities." He smiled cockily "Which are considerable..."

Jeremy rolled his eyes and picked up his bags. "We'll discuss this after I've had a chance to sound out what is happening in Aruba." 

Alex could barely contain the giant grin that stretched across her face. She was nearly free and - perhaps more importantly - Rider had stood up for her. Even if he was being an arrogant arse about it.



Taming the Cat Ch. 04



Jeremy had been dropped off to the airport early the next morning. Alex and Rider had both said their goodbyes to him, both making promises not to kill each other while he was gone. The next few days at the house had been unusually muted and quiet. They spent time alone getting to know each other better and trained a lot to distract themselves from Jeremy's absence.

It took a fortnight for Jeremy to make contact with them from Aruba, right as the two cats were preparing to do some sparring with weapons. 

Rider had noticed Alexia getting short tempered, and had insisted that she do some practice with some short bladed knives. He had justified this to her by insisting that she was getting rusty without her regular practice. In reality he wanted to give her a chance to let off some steam. 

Rider slid into a fighting stance and preparing to attack Alexia, who stood in the centre of the gym with a lethal looking pair of daggers. They were just about to launch at each other when the phone rang. Instead of grumbling at the interruption and ignoring it as she normally would, Alexia dropped the daggers into her belt and ran to the phone in the hall. 

Rider ambled after her, hoping for the same caller that she was. He leaned casually against the wall, listening to her conversation. 

"Jeremy, How are you?" Alex turned stone faced. 

"You're kidding. Does that include me?" There was a pause, and he saw a flash of fear run across her face. 

"Uhuh." Rider shifted more firmly on to his feet. 

"Jeremy, when are you coming home?" This last answer must have not been much to her liking, because she growled and dropped the phone in Riders hand. 

He raised an eyebrow as she headed back into the gym, drawing her daggers with something close to hell in her eyes. "Well whatever you just said to her has cost you a punching bag and a nice set of daggers. What's up?"

Jeremy sighed on the other end of the phone. "The Royal family has taken out contracts against the Theris family bloodline. The council is in an uproar, they've been waiting for this chance for a long time. They've put Marcus Louvre and his wolf pack on the job."

The Louvre pack were renown for their fighting and tracking prowess. Recently he had heard rumors circulating that they had a tiger working with them. Rider hadn't realized they supported the Council and Royal Family to the point they would kill for them. Another thought occurred to him. 

"Is Alexia tagged as a Devon or a Theris in this slaughter?" Rider asked.

"I don't know Rider. Until we do I suggest you find some supporters. Are you still friendly with your cousin?" 

Rider's cousin Gabriel had left Aruba, and a highly sought after position with the Royal Guard, when rumors around the court painted Rider a murderer. He now ran Hunter Enterprises in Paradise City with a group of other shifters. 

Rider visited Gabriel as often as he could, they were each others only family. He owed Gabriel a lot, trusted him implicitly, and the older shifter enjoyed having Rider around.

"Yeah we're in contact."

"Good, get Alexia to the city, and make sure you have enough support to keep her safe if the Louvre wolves come for her." Rumbled Jeremy. There was a pause and Rider waited patiently for the news that had sent Alexia off to destroy something. 

"I won't be returning to Dartmouth. The Devon's have decided I'm needed here and I can't change their minds at this point. I will get as much information to you as possible from here" Jeremy sounded resigned and Rider wasn't surprised. They had both realized that there was a possibility that this would happen. 

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Keep her safe." Jeremy finished. 

After exchanging more information and their goodbyes Rider passed the phone back to Alex and popped his head into the gym before heading to the study to call Gabriel. 

Alex had destroyed an old punching bag, as predicted. He grinned and shook his head in amusement. Red may have been tamed but she was certainly not a well-behaved house cat.

***

Alex was curled in the library with a book on ancient greek politics when Rider found her later that day. He slid into the chair beside her, taking the book and laying in onto the floor before curving around her completely. 

Alexia rested her head against his cheek for a moment before asking "what's up?"

"I've just spoken to Gabriel. We're going to be heading down there kinda soon. Like mid day tomorrow. Its too dangerous to stay here. Gabriel intercepted a file with a list of addresses for people the council are keeping an eye on... We were on it. They didn't have the right address, but if they're looking for us then we are in trouble." Rider said into her hair. 

"How much trouble? Like wipe all record from the face of the earth trouble?" Alex twisted to see his face better. 

"I don't know. We're on the same list as a bunch of anti royalists... There are some names that have been connected with supporting the Theris family too." Rider said heavily. 

Neither of them assumed it was a good thing to be on the list. 

"I can't figure out what to do with the house." Rider said. 

They would be gone for some time, and it would make sense to sell it, but both cats were very attached. 

"I think we should keep it. Jeremy's taken care of the titles and stuff. It won't lead back to us, and we can lock it up pretty easily. No one will trip all the way out here to vandalize it.. I'm not sure most of the people from town even know where it is." Alex reasoned. 

"Yeah I don't like the idea of anyone else living here. Its home, and I wouldn't mind being able to come back here one day. I know a witch in town who won't mind keeping an eye on the place - she's always wanted to be able to have access to the forest, so I'll see if she wouldn't mind." Rider said. 

"Really who??" Alex said, intrigued to know she had been living in the same town as a witch and not realized. 

"Marcus's wife Jiena Talbolt. Why else do you think he gave you that job? They're good friends with Jeremy, and how we get most of the information about the rest of the non-human world." Rider explained, wondering again why Jeremy ever let her leave the house alone.. He loved her but she could be amazingly scatty sometimes.

Alexia blushed and shrugged "I don't know I never really thought about it. I was busy being angry."

Rider snorted and tugged her closer. "Ok I'll call Jiena. We both need to pack, and I think it would be a good idea to clean the house. We should probably chuck sheets over all the furniture to stop it from getting dusty... just like the movies." 

"I'll do the kitchen, and downstairs. And the gym... The weapons will need to be locked down I guess." Alexia said. 

They had designed the gym to conceal the weapons, just in case they ever had human company. Rider decided to take the upstairs areas, and after another nuzzle they separated to begin work. 

***

"Three stories, and a gym is so excessive for three people" Alexia grumbled as she did a final check of all the rooms. 

They had worked almost solidly since the previous day to ensure the house would be left in good condition. The car was packed, the water had been turned off, and the house was almost entirely locked up. All the plants had been put outside to fend for themselves, and Jiena was more than happy to keep an eye on the house. 

"Ready?" Rider asked from the front foyer. 

Alex paused in the room she was checking. Was she ready? She had wanted to leave ever since she could remember, but now that the time had come she was reluctant to leave her only home. With a deep breath she switched off the light and made her way downstairs, running her hand along the banister. 

"Good to go." She said a little grimly. 

Rider turned off the electricity, and Alexia locked the front door and they both made their way to the car. 

"Are you sure you're ready?" Rider asked, concerned at her silence. 

Alex looked up at him and grinned "Yeah I'm sure."

***

Both Alex and Rider were relieved when he pulled up to Gabriel's security gates. Someone must have been watching out for them, because the gates opened automatically, allowing Rider to drive up the long driveway. 

Rider bounced energetically out of the car and up to the huge doors, knocking impatiently. Alexia followed grumbling behind him. 

She hated being trapped in small spaces for long periods and had felt carsick for the last four hours, preventing her from eating or napping. 

Gabriel answered the door looking harried and a little panicked. "Hi guys come in."

Rider stepped forward and gave his cousin a quick hug and then reached back to haul Alexia inside the door. "Gabe you know Alexia, my delicious sex slave."

Gabriel's eyes shot up and Alexia went bright pink. 

"I think I'm going to go for a walk, I'm not feeling all that great." She growled, turning on her heel and heading back out the door. 

"I want to hear the whole story there, but I have something I urgently need to take care of. You'd probably better go let her beat the crap out of you... I'm guessing this is a new thing?" Gabriel asked, amused despite himself. 

"Yeah. She's not a fan of long car trips and hasn't eaten anything for a bit. Low blood sugar and all." Rider flashed a grin and loped out the door after Alex. 

***

Rider caught up with Alex just outside of the forest. She rolled her eyes at his carefree grin and stripped out of her clothing to change. Rider followed her lead and they set out into the bush, Alexia intermittently growling when he came too close for her liking. 

A few minutes in they both saw a woman tumble out of one of the bigger trees ahead of them. She let out a shriek before landing on her back in a pile of pine needles.

Alex pinned her ears back and Rider stepped closer to investigate the disgruntled woman.

"Well that was elegant." She said. 

Her features were delicate, with deep green eyes and a stubbornly set mouth. Her eyes narrowed and she launched herself to her feet as she heard Alex and Rider. 

Rider stepped forwards out of the bush to alert her to his presence, and Alex growled low before following. Trust Rider to have beautiful women falling at his feet in the middle of a deserted forest. 

Alex had a feeling that her expression wasn't particularly friendly, but really didn't care. Rider probably looked friendly enough for the both of them. 

"Erm. I don't suppose there's any hope you didn't see that?" The woman asked eyeing them carefully. 

She brushed a few leaves off her jeans, bringing Alexia's attention to the strip of golden skin above them. Another woman dropped from the tree, gracefully landing beside Max and startling the hell out of Alex. A line of fur went up along her back. 

She was short, and slim, with streaked red and black hair and almost matching black eyes. Great. Rider had found two beautiful women in a deserted forest. Alex growled a little. 

Rider looked over at her and began to change. He probably thought she was incapable of controlling herself. That or he wanted to chat them up. 

Alex realized how jealous her thoughts were sounding, but didn't really care. She would be stupid to forget what Rider could be like. He went through women like tissues, and she would be silly to think that just because he was with her he would change. 

"Hi I'm Rider, and this is Alexis. She's a bit tetchy because long car trips don't agree with her." Alexis growled and swiped at Riders leg.

"Also because I called her my sex slave to Gabriel. I'm not sure she was quite ready to break the news." Alex resisted the urge to swipe at him again. 

The woman grinned at them both and introduced herself as Max and her friend as Jess, they both worked for Gabriel. Rider cocked his head on the side and looked Max over properly.

"So you're the girl Gabe's all worked up in a frenzy about?" He asked.

The friendly mood changed dramatically, and Max growled "Nope that would be some other girl" 

"Its a bit of a touchy subject." Jess explained, shaking her hair out of her eyes and going after Max who had turned to go back to the house

"Enjoy your run." she yelled over her shoulder. 

Rider watched Max and Jess go with a speculative look on his face. Alex grumbled deep in her throat. Stupid men and their stupid libido's. Couldn't Rider just pretend to be uninterested in other women around her?

Hearing her growl Rider sighed. "Oh sure. Its going to be a load of fun."

Alex hissed at him, and turned away, slinking into the forest. She didn't care if he followed. Its not like she had drooled at Gabriel around Rider - and that was a man worth drooling over. 

Suddenly sick of the over-stimulation of her senses, she shifted back into her human form, shaking her hair back over her shoulder. She took a deep breath and relaxed into the dulled world her human body perceived. 

"So what's up Red?" Rider asked from the tree he was leaning against. 

She looked over him, stretched out with his arms crossed over his chest he looked edible. "Nothing. Lets go back." 

Rider sighed. There was obviously a problem, and if he had to drag it out of her he would. 

Alexia strode past him, unaware of how sexy she looked. Her hips swayed gently with each step, and she was totally unconcerned with covering herself to him. She looked disappointed and resigned as she headed home. 

Rider decided to take charge. Moving silently he stepped up behind her locking one arm around her throat, and the other around her belly, pinning her arm against her side and grabbing her free wrist. 

He used his hold to lift her a little, and stretch her out along himself. Looking around he spied a soft looking patch of moss against a tree and sat down. He sat Alexia between his legs, with her head resting on his shoulder. He didn't release his grip, and she didn't fight him. 

"Alexia, honey, tell me what's wrong." He said patiently. 

She felt cocooned against him, rather than trapped. Not safe enough to to tell him about her issues with jealousy though. "Nothings wrong. I'm just tired and hungry." 

Rider released her neck, and trailed his now free hand down the column of her throat. "Are you sure?" 

"Yes" she hissed as her body came alive.

Rider stroked his finger lower, reaching her breast and pausing a minute to play with her nipple. Alex writhed against him, trapping his hard cock between his belly and her back. 

Going lower he tickled the sensitive spot on her belly. He felt a thrill of excitement as she bucked against him, and tried to free her arms for the first time. 

"And you're sure that you don't need to talk about anything?"

"I'm sure." 

She gasped as his fingers slipped lower, playing with the curls between her thighs. Her thighs splayed open, resting against his where they bracketed her. He slid his finger a little lower, running lightly over the seam where her lips met. 

Releasing her arms he smoothed his other hand over her belly. He finished by resting a hand on each inner thigh. 

"Tell me what's wrong Red."

She responded by rolling her hips. The movement put pressure against his cock again, and he groaned lowering his mouth to her neck. 

Alex waited breathlessly as his fingers inched closer to her center. Just a little more and he'd be touching where she needed it. 

"Watch" he breathed in her ear before returning his attention to her neck, his mouth and teeth ticking against the skin. 

She did as he asked and watched as slowly he peeled her lips back, exposing her to herself. She shivered as his fingers slowly moved for her clit, one each side. She moaned, long and loud as they made contact, slipping along her wet flesh and making her nerves sizzle. 

She dropped her head back and the fingers stopped. "Watch or I'm not going to let you come."

Her head snapped forwards again. One of the fingers circled her entrance. She clenched wanting it inside of her. 

Teeth bit into her neck, making he gasp, and in fascination she watched as he sunk a finger into her. His cock pressed harder against her back, leaving a wet spot. 

He pumped insider her a few times and then stopped. "Tell me what's wrong."

She growled. He added another finger. She pressed back against him waiting for him to continue. When he didn't she looked back at him accusingly. 

"This isn't fair. And its not a big deal. Please, let me come." She whimpered. 

He kissed the corner of her mouth soothingly. "It is a big deal. You're upset, and I don't understand why. I can't fix it if I don't know what's broken Red."

"I'm not broken, and I don't need fixing." She growled, trying to rock her hips against him. 

He pumped his fingers inside her once and then withdrew them entirely. "I didn't mean you Red. You're perfect the way you are, but something's bugging you about me. Give me a chance to make it better."

She groaned. Great. He wanted to change to make her happy.  Because she had issues. 

She angled her face away from his. "I'm jealous. The way you look at other women annoys me. You were speculating about that Max woman. Whether you could get her into bed weren't you? And you told Gabriel about us... I wasn't ready, you made what we have sound kind of cheap and nasty. And I'm scared this is all going to go wrong, and we'll hate each other again." 

Rider grimaced. "Sorry Red. I was feeling a bit possessive. I know how tempting Gabriel is, and I wanted to let him know straight off that you were mine." 

Alex relaxed a little against him so Rider continued. "And I was looking at Max like that because was I pretty sure there was something going on between her and Gabriel. She's new here. He's all worked up, and she's all worked up... Also for the record, I might notice other women, but you're the one I love Alexia. I never hated you. I never will. We're going to be fine together."

Alexia's breathing froze for a moment, and she twisted away to kneel facing him. 

"Are you sure?" She asked.

Rider grinned and rose to his knees also. "Yes I'm sure, you dweeb." 

He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her against him for a kiss. She relaxed into him for a moment before pushing him back. 

"I'm not a dweeb you arse. I was just checking. And I love you too, but then you knew that, didn't you?" She said shoving him on to his back. 

"Yes I did know that. There's no way you could resist me and my considerable charm, skill, and my manly protection. Besides I'm hot, and you know it. You're hot for me." Rider said pulling her onto the floor and wrestling her to the ground beneath him. 

"Yeah I'm hot for you. Now finish what you started cat, or I'll take my frustration out on you." Alexia giggled. 

Rider pressed his cock against her entrance, pausing a moment to enjoy the sensation of her warmth and wetness coating the tip of him. Plunging the rest of the way into her he growled and hugged her tight to his chest. 

"You promise?" He whispered roughly. 

"You bet I will." She gasped. 

He took her roughly, as she writhed beneath him. His cock dipped deep inside of her, stretching at her walls. She was so ready for it that her climax took very little time at all. Rider felt her nails dig into his arms and her vagina grow incredibly tight around him as she came, groaning under him. 

Rider grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. She lay limp beneath him as he continued to thrust into her. 

"You're so tight." He groaned forcing himself into her tight channel. 

Alex whimpered as his swelling cock slid forcefully inside her again. His thrusts grew rougher and deeper as he got closer, pulling a scream from her. As the pain bordered on too much her muscles grew almost too tight and she came around him again, wetness flooding her as Rider reached his climax.




Taming the Cat Ch. 04



They lay side by side for a few minutes until they were able to stand again.

Rider signed. "Let's go sort out accommodation. I'll see if we can get a room with a spa pool, and we'll do that again."

Alex grinned at the leer he sent her way. "We'll also need to christen the bed."

Hand in hand they headed back to the house. 

Along the way the collected their clothes, and combed the majority of the leaves and twigs out of their hair. They had just reached the front steps when a pretty blond woman stormed out of the house. Turning her grey eyes to them she dismissed Alex immediately but stepped close enough to press up against Rider, with a pale hand on his arm. 

"You must be Gabriel's cousin. I'm Christina." She simpered. 

Alexia saw red, and body slammed the woman away from her mate. Christina slipped and landed on her arse in the driveway. 

Growing claws Alex stood over the blonde angrily. "That's mine bitch. I don't share - touch him again and I'll end you." 

Looking up she saw Jess and Gabriel standing at to the door. 

"Christina was just leaving." Gabriel said, with a cold glance at the woman on the ground. 

"Send your address and I'll have your belongings forwarded." Gabriel turned to go back into the house. 

Jess giggled and said "Remind me not to piss you off." to Alexia before following her boss. 

Rider stepped close enough to scrape his teeth against her pulse, sending shivers down her spine. "Feeling possessive Red?"

"You betcha I am. Lets go find a bed to christen. Any bed." She reached up to untangle a leaf out of his hair. 

Rider licked his lips and grabbed her hand, tugging her with him into the house. "What did I say Red, we get along just fine."

She smiled a secret smile to herself and felt her heart get a little lighter in her chest. He was right, they were going to be fine together. 

 The End