FENN DRAX
The next evening, I hear a familiar scratching sound at the ventilation grate.
I jump up, and inside hops my… beloved auburn furball.
"Wait," I say. "Don’t change yet, I like these little cuddle sessions."
I settle Marlow on my chest and start enthusiastically petting and messing up his thick, silky fur.
Marlow turns on his wonderful purring motor, the sound I absolutely love. It has deep, vibrating low tones that give me a lot of pleasure and relax me so much.
And on top of that, the kneading with his paws, absolutely adorable!
From time to time, I kiss his fluffy head and scratch him behind the ears and under the chin, and he lets me do it with his eyes half-closed in pleasure. What an adorable shifter; I can’t get over it.
Finally, after a long relaxing session, I get my fill of this nice moment and let Marlow transform into his human form.
He does it while still sitting on my chest, which, I have to admit… is very nice, especially since he’s naked.
First we exchange a few hot kisses, because of course we do.
And yet I can sense a slight tension in him.
It’s interesting how well I can read him. I can tell pretty easily that he’s somewhat upset; it’s almost seeping into my nervous system.
"Is everything okay, Marlow? Is what happened yesterday bothering you?"
"Absolutely not," he replies. "Something bad took place between Rupert and me. He did—"
Marlow presses his lips together and turns his head away, looking to the side.
"Something shitty, and then I beat the shit out of him. Pretty badly too, since he ended up in the hospital. I had to see Doctor Lomax and explain—"
"What did Rupert do?" I insist, because I can feel Marlow is making it sound a little less serious than I sense it was, but he shakes his head firmly.
"I don’t want to waste another second on that asshole. Let him deal with his Caspian and Juan. We’ll just coexist in this room like roommates. He was only here for the money from the beginning of this program anyway, so… fuck him."
"Okay, but—"
Marlow is already glancing toward my laptop and says, "Can I use it for a moment?"
"You won’t find any porn on it," I say with a smile and wink at him. "I can just play it in my head if I need to, for jerking off."
He snorts. "That’s not what I’m looking for. I want to check the website of a certain company that operates around here."
A little surprised, I nod. "Sure, but on one condition: while you’re looking for it, you’ll stay naked the whole time…"
Marlow lets out an amused little puff of laughter and actually gets up and walks over to the laptop naked, giving me the chance to look at his amazing, graceful figure and his perfectly shaped hips. His ass catches my attention, and when he sits down, I catch a brief glimpse of his pretty hole.
He opens the website of Santoro Timber and Constructions.
He taps the screen and says, "I met two guys from this company. I have their business cards. One is an older beta, Renato, and the other is a quiet alpha, his nephew Mauro. They seemed fine, and I don’t think they would have a problem with people who aren’t exactly ordinary…
" he adds with emphasis. "Both of them are… something unusual. Hard to explain, but magical ABOs. They told me they’re looking for people to work at their sawmill and on construction sites.
Carpenters. They build wooden houses; there are lots of vacation cabins around here, and they also do projects for private clients. They have a building supply store too…"
I just sit there gawking at him, unsure where he's going with this. Marlow's cheeks are lightly flushed, and he keeps tapping a finger against the desk in a slightly nervous way, like he's a little embarrassed, but about what? Then, all of a sudden, he lets out a breath.
"You know, if in two months you decide this area isn’t completely out of the question for you, maybe you could find work here?"
For a few more seconds, I stay silent, completely stunned, before I fully realize what is hidden behind his words.
Really? It’s hard to believe.
Is he… is he saying this because he wants me to…?
It’s almost impossible to voice it in my head.
I slowly stand up, then walk over to him and kneel beside the chair on one knee.
It takes some effort to overcome my shyness, but I reach for his hand and slowly lace my fingers with his.
That’s almost funny. I can fuck, but intimate, tender gestures? Those are a whole other level.
Now we both look at our intertwined hands.
"Do you like Rainbow Spring?" I ask quietly.
Marlow slowly nods.
"It’s a truly beautiful town. I rarely get such a positive reading of the energy as I did here. The closeness of this facility hasn’t affected it negatively. Besides, it’s seven miles away."
Marlow bites his lip. I can tell he's a little self-conscious, as if all of this has caught even him off guard.
"And… I’ve also started considering replacing the local veterinarian who recently passed away. A few people have already texted me asking for help with their pets. Today I went on two visits, and I have several more planned for the next few days…"
I widen my eyes slightly because it still doesn’t fit in my head.
Damn, am I dreaming? He barely knows me. Does he feel the same thing I do? The Pull, the desire to get closer, to form a Bond?
"And you would want," I loudly clear my throat, "to include me in those plans?"
I ask it so directly because I need to be sure. I can’t assume anything. Monsters don’t have that luxury.
Damn, how shaky and uncertain my voice sounds. It probably looks funny, coming from such a large body.
Marlow raises his gaze, and our eyes meet. He looks at me for a moment, and again, I can pick up on his energy perfectly well. He’s a little shy too, and yet something in him is pulling toward me. I can sense it… It’s as if he’s gently holding me in his mind, and a moment later he actually does.
He raises his arm and moves his fingers over my cheek.
"I—I’d be open to trying more. I’m not the type who is interested in just casual sex. And you?"
I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling a strong, intense wave of joy that almost takes my breath away. I let out a rough exhale, but this has to be said:
"Marlow, I’m a monster with a past that no one will forgive easily, and definitely no one will want to understand. You won’t be able to walk through the town center with me holding hands on the tourist promenade… do you understand that?"
Marlow looks somewhere over my head. His expression turns slightly melancholy, his gaze distant, and then he starts speaking softly, though there's a strange intensity to it.
"I’m a loner, Fenn. The kind of person who walks his own path, finds one special person, and is perfectly happy spending the rest of his life like this.
In that way, I’m truly like a cat. I’ve never cared much about crowds, social circles, or being seen.
I don’t need parties, attention, or a busy social life.
I don’t need to show people who I’m with or prove that I’m happy.
What I want is something peaceful. A white house surrounded by flowers.
And kids… and maybe a yellow Labrador who won’t mind that his owner is a cat shifter.
" Marlow adds the last part in a whisper, his voice shaky, as if he’s embarrassed by those secret dreams, but I realize how important this moment really is, and I tremble all over.
"That sounds—"
My voice breaks. I can’t stop it. For the first time, probably since I was a child, I feel tears gathering in my eyes.
Somebody takes me seriously, considers building a life with me?
A monster. Me!
So I whisper, "That sounds wonderful. A dream, something I was afraid to even let myself think about… and I want the same thing, Marlow!"
I wrap my hands around his fingers and give them a gentle squeeze, wanting him to feel how seriously I take his words.
Marlow exhales heavily and lowers his eyelids.
"You know… both of us ended up somewhere off the path of our lives, derailed, lost, but maybe together we can get back on it? Build something together."
His hand squeezes mine tighter.
"I know how rushed this sounds. I know we barely know each other, but I just—" he closes his eyes, "I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like you and I will get along."
I let out a loud huff.
Incredible, did a miracle happen in my life just now?
"Oh, Marlow, absolutely. I feel it too. Actually, I know it. I’m on board! And I promise you I’ll do everything… everything in my power to make you happy. Everything and more. You’ll be the center of my life."
Marlow opens his eyes, and whether it’s just the light playing tricks on me or they’re slightly wet, I can’t tell.
"I’ve never been the center of anyone’s life, Fenn. I had a few relationships, but they all treated me like a sneaky link, a dirty secret, because they couldn’t be seen with an alpha."
I lightly squeeze his hand.
"Then they were total idiots for missing out on a gem like you."
Marlow stares at me intensely.
"You have two months left here. If we get through this shit together, then who knows, maybe Rainbow Spring will accept us as new residents?"
Still in confusion, still unable to believe it, I try discreetly pinching myself to check if I’m not going to wake up from this dream, but Marlow is very real, the heat of his body palpable right next to me.
So I just nod, enjoying a surge of thrilling hope.
"Yes! And thank you for… giving us, giving me, a chance."
Marlow’s hands, slender and delicate, move over my face gently, brushing against it only with the tips of his fingers.
He brings his lips to my temple and kisses it softly.
"Yesterday was wonderful, Fenn. I’d like…" His lips move to my cheek. "More."
Oh, wow. A pleasant shiver races down my spine at the very thought of what his words mean.
"And what about your…?"
I slide my fingers down his back with a meaningful gesture. "Isn't it a bit sore?"
Marlow lets out an amused huff. "Everything's good. Ready for round two."
He tilts his head, and his lips land just under my ear, close to my glands.