To Love a Stray Ch. 10

"What was it ya were thinking," I want to know. This time Steven laughs outright and I giggle.

"Gee I must be getting drunk," I say.

"It's a possibility," Micah tells me.

"But my beer is still half full," I say holding up the bottle for him to see.

"Looks empty to me," Micah tells me and I squint as I look at the bottle.

"Hey! Someone drank my beer," I complain.

"I think it might have been you," Steven tells me seriously.

"That's okay then," I mutter looking at the bottle before checking the bottom to make sure there's no hole in it.

"I think it's time you went to bed," Micah tells me.

"No! I want to stay up with you guys," I protest.

"I'm about to go to bed," Micah tells me softly.

"Are you?" I'm amazed he's ready to leave the others. I smile as an idea occurs to me. Maybe I won't have to face the dark alone. "I'll go to bed if you will."

"Micah! She's drunk she doesn't know what she's saying," Sam growls standing up.

"Want to come to bed Rosy?" Micah asks, "Sam is it okay if your sister sleeps with me tonight?"

"Sam's not the boss of me," I say indignantly as I get to my feet after fighting out of Mitchell's arms. The room sways and I grab for something to hang onto so I don't fall over. I look to see what I have grabbed and find both Sam and Micah have hold of my hands. "I wanta go to bed. I drunk I'm a bit think."

"Just a bit," Sam asks sternly.

"I don't drink beer," I say as I sway slightly.

"I think you'd better go to bed before you fall over," Micah tells me as he scoops me up in his arms.

"Don't do anything she'll regret when she's sober," Sam warns tightly as he lets go of my hand.

I rest my head against Micah's chest his heartbeat strong beneath my ear as I watch the walls go by. When we enter his room I know I should be concerned but I feel wonderful and carefree, even when he puts me on his bed and stretches out beside me. I watch his face as he pulls the hem of my shirt up and lays his hand on my lower ribs. His heart is beating faster now and I feel my breath catch in my throat as he leans closer.

"Remember when I kissed you at Pete's," he asks softly.

"Yes," my answer is little more than a breathy whisper. How could I forget that kiss?

"Want to try it again," he asks and I nod. I close my eyes as his face comes closer. His lips are warm and firm and surprisingly soft against mine and I sigh softly into his mouth. His tongue slips between my lips and I open my mouth to suck at it as he caresses the inside of my mouth.

"You're not so scary anymore," I think as he lifts his head and regards me with dark eyes for a few moments. "You're not bossing me 'round 'nd being all Alpha like."

"Is that so," Micah asks softly and I blink as I wonder what he's talking about.

Micah lowers his head to kiss me again and groans as I suck his tongue into my mouth. His kiss changes from gentle to demanding as he cups my face and kisses me hard. He drags his mouth away from mine leaving me gasping for air as he trails his mouth across my cheek and down my throat. One of his hands cups my breast through my shirt and I arch into his hand. His finger and thumb pinches my nipple gently and I run my hands over his shoulders restlessly.

"Like it when fingers and the tongue are used, do you," Micah asks softly as he runs his hand down my body and boldly cups between my thighs.

"Yes," I whimper and his mouth reclaims mine. He raises his head as I feel him pulling at my jeans and then he is moving down my body as he pushes my jeans off my hips and down my legs. His fingers immediately find my moist folds and I open my legs willingly as his touch causes pleasure to build. He moves to kneel between my thighs and I open my legs wider as I reach down to hold myself open. I jump as his mouth finds my most intimate centre and I gasp as I move my hips against his mouth.

"Hell that's good," I gasp and lift my legs to hook my knees over his shoulders. I feel the suction on my clit as fingers pump into my passage and I whimper with pleasure as I feel my stomach start to tighten already. I squirm and moan as I move against his mouth.

"Stop! Stop! Not yet," I protest but it's too late as wave after wave of pleasure surges through me and I groan and arch with its intensity. I'm vaguely aware of Micah moving from between my thighs as my legs come to rest on the mattress once more and then the lethargy of fulfilment starts to cloud my mind. I yawn sleepily and roll onto my side as I close my eyes. I yearn for Micah to hold me but I am alone in the bed.

I groan as light seeps beneath my closed eyelids and I roll over to pull the pillow over my throbbing head. My mouth tastes foul and my mind is hazy as I struggle to wake.

"I need a shower," I groan to myself and end up tumbling out of bed. I wince as my head hurts and open my eyes enough to see the floor. A pair of my cut offs is directly in front of me and I pick them up as I stumble to my feet. I feel with my hand to make sure I have a shirt on before squinting and heading for the bright rectangle that is the doorway. I make my way towards the bathroom more by feel than anything else and sigh with relief when I shut the door and walk into the shower cubicle.

I gasp as cold-water cascades down over my head and I fumble to adjust the temperature. I tilt my head back and hold my breath as the water runs over my face and down my body. I turn so the tepid water runs down over my head, neck and back as I brace my hands against the walls of the shower stall. As I start to feel more alert I realise that I am still wearing my t-shirt and holding my now wet cut offs. I strip my shirt off and toss my clothes in the corner of the stall before reaching for the soap.

When I am finished my shower and have dried off I realise I haven't got any dry clothes with me so I wrap myself in my towel and hurry to my room leaving my wet clothes behind to deal with later. I dress hurriedly in snug jeans and a shirt before heading towards the kitchen for something to drink.

"Hey Rosy, how you feeling this morning," Mitchell asks me as I walk through the lounge room.

"Don't yell. I got a killer headache," I mumble as I head into the kitchen.

"I think you'll find it's called a hangover," Malcolm says with a laugh. I stop just short of the fridge door and close my eyes as I concentrate on exactly how I feel.

"Okay, what moron gave me beer," I ask as I open my eyes, the fridge door and reach for two cans of coke. I carry my drinks into the lounge room and sit down carefully to avoid jolting my head.

"Okay, who was it? It so isn't funny. I feel worse than dog shit this morning," I groan as I close my eyes and hold both cans against my forehead.

"I don't know. You were quite entertaining last night," Sam says and I think I detect a hint of disapproval in his voice but my head hurts too much and my brain is still too thick and foggy to be able to tell.

"How much did I drink and who was the moron who gave it to me," I ask as I move the cans to my temples without opening my eyes. "Just for future reference – I don't

drink beer. Not only does it get me drunk, it totally knocks me out to where I don't know what I am doing or saying. I manage most other alcohol with no problems, have a few drinks but that's it. But give me beer and I am lucky if I can remember my own name when I come to the next day."

"Don't you remember what happened last night," Mitchell asks me.

"Not at the moment, genius but by tomorrow night I'll know who to kick for trying to fit a hundred and one drums in my head," I groan. "Who ever decided that alcohol kills brain cells sure got it wrong. It just makes you wish it did!"

"Yeah that will most likely be the way in this case," Sam says dryly.

I open my eyes to look at Sam. He's looking at me and there's a tightness around his mouth that tells me he's angry with someone - likely me. I glance at Mitchell, Timny, Dwayne and Malcolm who are the only others in the room or maybe building. Mitchell looks away from me as soon as I look his way and I frown as I wonder why both of my brothers seem angry. I put one can of coke down and open the other one wincing when the hiss of escaping gas assaults my ears.

"Ok, who did I piss off / get pissed off with / spill my drink on or tip my drink over their head," I ask resignedly.

"I take it you've done all those things," Sam asks in that same dry tone.

"Yeah."

"Well I guess I can add those to the list of things you've done," Sam tells me.

"Or maybe it's just what she prefers," Malcolm says and laughs. There are smothered laughs from Dwayne and Timny and I drink half the can of coke before looking at them and trying to work out what they were talking about. I glance at Sam and Mitchell but Sam is looking down into his cup of coffee and Mitchell is looking out the window.

"Okay, it's so obvious I did or said something that's pissed you two off. Out with it," I tell my brothers. This gets outright laughs from Malcolm, Timny and Dwayne as well as a chuckle from Sam and a hastily smothered grin from Mitchell.

"You talk a heck of a lot when you're drunk and answer all kinds of questions and even tend to say what you're thinking," Malcolm tells me.

"I've always said what I think; I'll say it to someone's face rather than behind their back. Whom did I tell off," I want to know.

"You informed us what humans call 'the local meat market'," Dwayne offers.

"Talked about college parties," Timny grins.

"You were flirting with Micah and Steven," Mitchell says.

"What's new about that? Micah and Steven are always flirting with me," I dismiss.

Dwayne laughs and shakes his head while the others grin widely, even my brothers.

"You weren't listening. I said you were flirting with them," Mitchell explains. I narrow my eyes as I look at him. I am starting to get the uncomfortable feeling something significant happened when I was drunk.

"Why do I get the feeling ignorance is bliss," I mutter to myself and close my eyes as I hold the can to my head once again.

"You really don't remember do you," Sam asks. "I don't know whether to tell you what you said and did or not. It'd be a heck of a lot kinder to tell you but it might be a lot safer for me to leave you to remember by yourself."

"Both of them bent on removing your head from your shoulders might be a bit much hey," Dwayne asks with a laugh.

"We made an honest mistake," Mitchell growls and all the toms become serious.

I finish the first can of drink and start on the second one knowing I will feel better when I get the fluids into myself. My head hurts too much to try to figure out what has the others so amused. I am nearly halfway through my second can when I realise I am starting to fall back to sleep. I climb to my feet clutching the drink and head for the bedrooms.

"I'm going to sleep until I no longer feel like dog shit," I mutter. I finish my drink, walk to my room and crawl onto my bed. I realise I am falling asleep even as I lay my head on the pillow as I yawn and snuggle under the quilt.

The familiar noise of lunch being made wakes me and I frown as I roll onto my back. My head still hurts but I feel much better than I did earlier. I sit up slowly and look around before pushing the quilt off my legs and getting up; I make use of the toilet and wash my face and hands before heading out for lunch. The lounge room goes silent as I walk through and I barely spare a glance for who's there before I go into the kitchen and set about making my own lunch.

"Looks like you're feeling much better," Sam comments.

"So just how many beers did I end up drinking? And who kept handing them to me?" I ask without glancing his way.

"It was Malcolm," Justin informs me.

"Thank you Justin," I say and glance at Malcolm where he sits in his usual place. Everyone is in the lounge room except for me and they all seem to be watching me expectantly. I turn back to making my lunch and when it's ready I carry it into the lounge room.

"Come sit next to me," Micah invites seriously. I glance at him, take in his seriousness and shake my head before sitting on the floor next to Sam's chair.

"You'd better go sit next to Micah," Sam tells me quietly. Steven laughs and I glance his way.

"As she told you last night Sam, you're not the boss of her."

"Shut your face," Sam snarls at Steven.

"Can someone tell me what happened last night," I ask tightly.

"What, you still saying you don't remember," Dwayne asks.

"You told us about your girlfriend. Did you really used to sleep with her," Justin asks. "Cause you ..."

"Bullshit," I exclaim and begin to pull my sandwich to pieces. I stop and glance at Sam and look down at my plate suddenly no longer hungry. "Am I in trouble?"

"So it's true," Mitchell asks.

"Yeah I prefer girls," I admit. "I don't go out with guys, just girls."

"You sure as hell didn't worry about that when you asked Micah to go to bed with you," Steven informs me and I feel my heart stop beating then start at a tremendous pace.

"How many beers did I have? Five or six in half an hour to forty minutes," I ask uneasily.

I only have two occasions as a guide to how much beer I would have drunk, as I stopped drinking beer the second time I found I couldn't remember the previous night. The uneasy feeling starts to grow as I get a flash of seeing numerous empty beer bottles at my feet.

"Eleven in just under an hour," Sam answers quietly. "Oh and half a glass of bourbon."

"So I wasn't even on this planet," I stop and look at Sam and it feels like my eyes are about to pop out of my head. "Tell me you ..." I stop talking as the memories start flooding back starting with my thoughts of not having to face the dark alone.

My food goes flying as I stumble to my feet. "Some brothers you are! Could I even walk? And you let me go into his bedroom with him," I yell at Sam and Mitchell only to stop and glare at Micah. "You knew I was drunk! You knew I didn't know what I was doing! You're nothing but a low down bastard," I hiss coldly and storm from the room.

Embarrassment and quickly returning flashes of memories send me heading outside

rather than to my room. Excitement curls low in my stomach as I remember Micah lowering his head to kiss me and heat starts building between my thighs as the memory of what followed shocks me. It is too much for me to deal with in my present state so I surrender to my need to become a cat.

Once I'm in the hallway I start stripping off and by the time I open the screen door I am naked and change almost instantaneously. I take no notice of where I am going as I race for the tree line. I run for a long time, aware I have two followers. I keep moving but they make no attempt to catch up with me merely keep within hearing and air borne scent range.

I stop at a stream for a drink and lay my ears back when Sam and Mitchell come out of the undergrowth some fifty feet away and have a drink as well. It's the hottest part of the day and I retreat to the shade to flop out on my side enjoying the coolness of the ground beneath me. Sam and Mitchell come over closer and stretch out in the shade as well. I get up and walk over to them sniffing at them before lying down near them and relaxing, I doze fitfully, waking often to get up and drink.

Sam wakes me when the sun is low in the sky; he sits watching me and tilts his head to one side before glancing back through the trees and undergrowth. Mitchell comes over and noses me affectionately and I roll over showing my belly. He pulls at my tail and I growl as I wriggle on my back. Sam takes the opportunity to grab Mitchell by the scruff of the neck and I watch as they wrestle playfully. I slap one of them on the rump and then race for the nearest bush. All three of us play tag until I stop and sit down to clean my ears. I take my time making myself look respectable before walking over to Sam and nudging him in the ribs. Sam looks at me hopefully and I follow as he leads the way back towards the compound. Mitchell trots at my side leaping and batting at sticks and twigs playfully as we travel.

My clothes aren't scattered where I left them and I make my way to my room before changing. I find the clothes I discarded folded neatly and placed on the end of my bed. I can't summon the energy to be angry when I smell Micah's scent on them telling me he has been in my room. I dress quickly and head out to the other end of the building where everyone is in the kitchen and I wonder if we ever do more than eat three times a day around here.

Sam passes me a plate already filled with food and I retreat to the lounge room to sit down. I sit in my usual place and dig into my food to avoid having to talk to anyone. I can't help noticing that Micah and Steven end up staying in the kitchen to eat and I am relieved for the brief reprieve but I am realistic enough to know that before the night is out I will once again be the centre of their attention.

"You're not going to kick the crap out of my leg again are you," Malcolm asks uneasily.

"I won't if you promise never to give me beer ever again unless I ask for it. No, better yet make me get it myself," I tell him sternly and Malcolm smiles in relief.

"I didn't mean for it to turn out like it did. I just thought you needed to relax after yesterday afternoon," Malcolm says with a shrug. I automatically glance at Mitchell

and he makes a point of being very interested in his plate of food.

"Next thing we know Mitchell will be getting an invitation into the cage," Mikkarl laughs.

"He won't be here and Jazzy is still too fragile to do that," Micah growls and I see Mitchell send an angry glance his way.

"What exactly is or was wrong with Jazzy? I been told she's always been sickly," I query with interest.

"Doc could never pin point the exact problem," Dwayne says. "But now she's older and has gotten much better."

"So where is this meeting thing with the Alphas going to be? And do you and Mitchell have to go," I ask Sam.

"It's a sign of respect to be asked along. Usually it's Micah and Steven or Micah and myself who go with Wade and Marissa, but since Marissa needs to stay here with Jazzy, Micah will stay as well. You're going to come with us aren't you," Sam asks.

"Yeah, you'll get to meet a lot of other werecats," Mitchell tells me.

I don't tell either of them that the biggest appeal is the fact that I would be away from Micah after what happened between us. I wasn't looking forward to his advances.

"So where will it be held," I ask again.

"There's a compound in a neutral zone. It's run by several of the older retired Alphas. That's where it's planned for." Sam explains. "You'll have a great time if you come along."

"Maybe," I concede.

"You'll probably get to meet Lotty," Sam tells me.

"You sure you want to let your sister near the love of your life," Steven asks with a laugh. I glance at Sam and see him look away from me and realise he isn't as comfortable with my preferences as he makes out, or maybe it is because it is his female friend we're talking about.

"Steven, stop hassling my brother," I tell him.

"You want me to keep my full attention on you do you," Steven asks me with a grin.

"Whatever," I say as I roll my eyes.

"Thinking about going are you," Micah asks as he walks into the lounge room.

"Yes," I say guardedly as Micah sits down beside me.

"Not going to stay here with me while your brothers are gone," Micah teases me lightly.

"Probably not," I shrug.

"As much as I would prefer you stay here it'll be good for you to go," Micah tells me evenly.

I don't say anything and after a few minutes he puts his arm along the lounge-back behind me. The normal conversations over the meal start to fall into place and it is almost like last night didn't happen except for the uncomfortable feeling that doesn't want to leave me. When I get up to get myself a drink, I turn around from the fridge to find Micah right behind me.