Following the Feeling Ch. 08

"Good morning, my love, are you hungry?"

Grayson awakened at the sound of Kiera's soft whisper. He liked hearing the endearment on her lips and reached over to her. When he touched cold sheets his eyes opened to see that Kiera was not lying next to him. Confused he rolled over and saw Kiera sitting on the floor next to the bed. The white cat she was petting, the recipient of her quiet words, flicked her tail and hissed at his intrusion.

Kiera looked up as Bianca skittered under the bed to meet Grayson's slate gray eyes. She noticed hey were still heavy with sleep.

"Good morning," she said with a smile, "did I wake you?"

"Come here," he rumbled in response.

The gravely voice resonated through Kiera's being; she could no more refuse his order than not take her next breath. She rose and sat in the small space he didn't inhabit.

"Good morning," she said again while bending over to kiss his warm lips. He growled in response then pulled her closer for a deeper kiss. His tongue swept over hers deliciously.

"Good morning," he replied after letting her go. He ran his fingers through her sleep tousled hair, noting that she wore a tank top and pale pink underwear.

"How long have you been up?"

Kiera shrugged nonchalantly, "About half an hour."

Gray turned to bury his head against her hip. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

Kiera had to take a deep breath against the sensations of his warm breath and soft hair touching her skin.

"I didn't want to disturb you, I didn't know if you're a late sleeper or not."

The admission made her realize that there was a lot she didn't know about the man who shared her bed. The worry raised by that realization flickered away as he continued to nuzzle and kiss her exposed skin. Stranger or not, he knew her body intimately.

"How do you feel?" he asked against the soft skin of Kiera's thigh.

The question was so unexpected it surprised a laugh from her. Kiera met Grayson's puzzled expression.

"Sorry," she said with a wide smile. "I just can't recall the last time someone asked me that."

Grayson rose to lean on an elbow. "What do you mean?"

Kiera took a deep breath, looking into his mesmerizing gray eyes seemed to make her forget all else around her.

"No one asks me that. It's always 'what do you feel?' or 'can you tell me what so and so feels'...no one ever asks me how I feel."

Gray thought about what she had said and realized that her friends may have been neglecting Kiera over their own interests. Her feelings were very important to Grayson and he wanted her to understand that.

"So?" he persisted, "How do you feel?"

Kiera thought before answering. "Hungry. And in need of a shower. Not necessarily in that order."

He leaned his head down and took a deep whiff. "You smell heavenly to me," he said. "Like sex and sweat. I love it."

Eyes widening, Kiera replied, "That's exactly what I need to wash off before I go downstairs. I already feel like the others know what we did last night, there's no need to rub it in their faces."

Grayson lowered his face to nuzzle against her belly. The smell was exactly what he wanted his people to scent. Then they would know that she was his and in his protection. His woman, his future mate, the thought made him hard.

Kiera watched as Gray rubbed his face against her; he seemed to revel in their shared scents. The act felt more intimate than the amazing sex they'd already shared. Kiera envied the sun as it touched his tousled hair. She reached down to run her fingers through his hair, dark and silky soft. Her eyes traveled down his naked torso until the sheet covering his waist blocked her view. She realized that this man, a werewolf, had the most beautiful body she'd ever seen. It boggled the mind that such a perfectly formed creature would have any interest in her. Kiera knew she was average, in looks at least, with a body that wasn't supermodel thin or toned. As he continued to nuzzle her, Kiera felt an overwhelming desire to worship the body that gave her such pleasure.

Her hands traveled from his hair down to his shoulder and then lower to a magnificent, furred chest. Entranced by her feather light touch, Gray lay back down to let her explore. Kiera's gaze followed her fingers as they moved down the length of Grayson's body and settled against his stomach where the muscles rippled with strength. She traced each delineated muscle then ran her finger along the border of the sheet covering him. His responding groan encouraged her to go further: under the sheet, through coarse pubic hair, until she reached his already hardened manhood.

A deep breath expelled from Grayson's lungs when Kiera grabbed him. She glanced briefly at his face to assure herself that the exploration was welcome before refocusing on the heated lance within her grasp. So long and hard, the skin of his cock felt soft, but the strength underneath entranced Kiera.

She gripped him and measured him with her palm. The shy girl in her was embarrassed for touching him so intimately, but the wanton could not resist. His groan was all the invitation she needed to grip him firmly and pull up in an intimate embrace. Kiera felt his arms surround her, one around her buttocks and the other down to the vee between her legs. Like her own explorations, he touched her intimately. Kiera granted him access by parting her legs without giving up the treasure she held.

A sigh of surrender escaped her lungs when Grayson's hand breached the safety of her thighs to brush against her sex. Gray maneuvered her down beside him then reached beneath the waistline of her panties to brush against her damp folds.

Kiera squirmed within Grayson's tender grasp until she faced his throbbing cock. She ignored his attempts to turn her around and bent down to taste his cock. The tip was hard like the rest of him and she brushed her lips against it. He bucked against her tender ministrations, but she held fast to taste him again. Kiera guided his cock to her lips with a soft kiss then opened her mouth to take him inside. Overwhelmed by the feeling of his heat, Kiera leaned forward until she had half of him inside her mouth. She pulled back sensuously then dove in again.

"God," he breathed.

Kiera met his eyes smiling like a siren. "No, it's Kiera. Now stay still and let me play," she ordered then brought him into her mouth again.

Gripping his length with her right hand, Kiera licked the veins of his cock. Upon reaching the tip she took a deep breath and then swallowed as much as she could into her mouth. Kiera laved her tongue against Grayson's cock as she took as much as she could into her mouth. It was the first time she had ever done anything like this and was thrilled by the heady feeling of power that coursed through her. He tasted like salt and lust and she couldn't get enough. She pushed out the feelings of the people awake in the house and focused solely on Gray's emotions. He was drowning in lust, which she took inside her being while she bobbed up and down on him. She listened as his breath expelled from his lungs in deep gasps, felt the wild desire and reveled in the fact that she was the cause of it.

This was intimacy, she thought, this is what she'd been missing.

** ** *** ** **

Grayson endured Kiera's enthusiastic embrace as long as her could. Despite his years of sexual activity, this is the sort of thing he'd always been missing; the worship of his body by another for no other reason than pure desire. He tried to respond in kind with his fingers exploring Kiera's wet folds, but soon the pleasure that overcame his being was too much to bear. He lounged against the bed, trying to remain in control, but her passionate sucks on his cock grew too much to bear. He felt the beast slip its bonds as the knot formed at the base of his cock. He heard Kiera's breathless response, but she spared little time to acclimate to the newness, the strangeness of his beast, before moving her lips to the knot. Feeling her acceptance and desire drove Grayson over the edge. He waited until she slipped her magical mouth over him again before thrusting into her mouth. His hands slipped from her body to grip her head and force her mouth deeper until her satin lips brushed against the knot that had formed. Guiding her over him, Grayson thrust deeper as the desire to come overwhelmed him. With a deep growl, he thrust faster until he started coming into Kiera's welcoming haven.

Burst upon burst of come flowed into Kiera's mouth which she swallowed with greedy abandon. Her hands gripped Gray's waist as he thrust continuously into her mouth. He tasted of salt and wildness. She felt distinctly triumphant as he came apart by her ministrations. When at last the spurts ended, she felt oddly bereft of her prize.

Breathing deeply, Grayson used what strength was left in him to pull Kiera upward into his embrace. He listened to her panting against his throat and wanted to repay her in kind. With shaking hands he reached down and delved again between her legs.

Feeling triumphant in her victory over Grayson, Kiera was surprised when he pulled her against him again. His lips seduced her with his talented tongue while his hands removed her tank top then swept down her body. One hand brushed her thigh while the other delved between her legs. Dizzy from the pleasure she had wrought, Kiera had little defense again Grayson's attack. She opened her legs to welcome him, but was surprised when he teased her wet lips apart. The feeling of his thick fingers between her folds was too much.

"No!" she cried out when Gray shoved two fingers into her.

"Your turn, sweetness," he countered.

Grayson's fingers worked magic upon Kiera's body as they thrust deep into her sheath while his thumb tantalized her clit. Soon she was too caught up in desire to resist and lay back to allow him full access to her body.

"Take me!" Kiera cried desperately.

Her wishes were ignored as Grayson continued to fondle her. Instead of mounting her, Grayson pushed deeper inside her pussy and hooked his fingers against her G-spot. Kiera nearly wept with the pleasure that assailed her; she pushed against his hands in desperation as the tidal wave of her desire grew.

"Now, my sweet," he whispered against her panting lips. Grayson kissed her deeply as his thumb thrust against the hardened kernel of her clit. Kiera flew apart in a sea of pleasure, crying and screaming Grayson's name.

Gasping for air, Kiera wrapped herself around Grayson as the orgasm wrecked her body. His fingers remained lodged deep inside and she couldn't keep from clasping her muscles around him. It was delicious bliss that she relished with each breath of her body.

Grayson pulled her deeper into him embrace with his free arm and marveled at the bold, sensual creature in his arms.

** ** *** ** **

Seemingly endless moments later, Kiera was still stunned from the pleasure Grayson was able to pull from her body. It was unlike anything she'd ever experienced and the thought both thrilled and terrified her.

Against her hair he rumbled, "How do you feel now?"

Kiera smiled against his chest. "Still hungry and definitely in need of a shower," she teased.

Gray chuckled and hugged her close. "Which do you want first?"

Kiera pulled herself from his warm embrace and looked down into slate grey eyes. The tenderness she felt emanating from him pleased her a great deal.

"Shower first, food after."

Grayson stretched until several bones cracked. With a great sigh he replied, "Ok, I would have chosen food, but if you insist on a shower then I'm game."

"No," Kiera pushed at his chest. "We can't take a shower together."

"Why not?" He queried, already imagining rubbing soap all over her luscious body. Then he'd rinse her clean and resume his seduction, the idea had him growing hard again.

Kiera rolled her eyes, "Because I know what you're feeling and I need to get clean without distraction. Besides," she reasoned, "I'm already pretty sore and need to recuperate a little before we, you know, go again."

An eyebrow lifted. "Sore?"

She shook her head at the implied question. "Not there, but everywhere else. I'm not used to being so...active."

Grayson laughed again. "Ok, go take your shower and I'll make sure breakfast is ready for you."

Already moving off the bed, Kiera turned back. "Don't you want to shower? You can go first if you want, as long as you don't take too long."

Gray leaned forward to bury his face against her naked back. The smell of sex permeated his oversensitive nose bringing him to full hardness.

"No, you go first. I'll shower later."

If she wouldn't willingly carry his scent on her then he would carry hers. Then the pack would know without a doubt that he'd claimed her, would understand that she would be at his side as his mate. He was exerting patience that was rare for their breed when it came to claiming their mates, but he had to tread carefully to avoid scaring her human sensibilities. He wondered if he should propose, like humans did to legalize their union. He looked up into her curious and now wary gaze and decided he would continue to court her until her acceptance of him was absolute.

Kiera shrugged and headed for the bathroom. "I could use a little privacy," she called out over the shower.

Gray rolled his eyes, but got up and put on his jeans. "I'll be downstairs, holler if you need help scrubbing your back."

He heard her snort as he left the bedroom.

Kiera walked under the hot spray and let it soak into her muscles. She wasn't kidding when she told Gray that she was sore. Her legs ached the worst, probably from clinging to him so tightly last night. The memory made her smile, but she focused at the task on hand and scrubbed her body soundly.

** ** *** ** **

By the time Kiera finished getting ready she was shaking with hunger and the smell that wafted from downstairs called to her. She looked down the hall to the other bedroom and saw the door was still closed. The girls were sleeping in, the lucky brats. Jasmine was able to sleep for ten hours a night if left to her own devices, a skill Kiera envied. Smiling, Kiera made her way down the stairs and through the living room, but only made it halfway before stopping in her tracks.

A large, sleeping werewolf was sprawled on her couch. Its head was hanging off with its tongue lolling out in a comical way. Kiera observed the sight with bemusement, half admiring the pretty brown and white fur and half shocked by how the large beast dwarfed her. The first time she'd seen them in this form she was distracted by the situation, but now seeing the wolf in casual repose in her house made her accept the reality of her life. She was keeping company with non-humans, and had taken one into her bed. Grayson was this creature too, large and potentially dangerous. Staring, Kiera noticed the fur around the breast area rounded out with small nipples barely visible above fur. A female, Kiera deduced the werewolf was probably Ginny. They had bonded over liquor and laughter last night and Kiera realized that despite the momentary doubt, she trusted Ginny, Grayson and all the others in her home. Different or not, she believed that the werewolves were not the monsters fiction had made them out to be.

Kiera was reminded of her initial destination by a loud rumble from her stomach. She turned and saw Grayson standing a couple feet back with his arms crossed.

"Hey," she said guiltily. Staring was not polite in any culture.

Grayson's eyes narrowed momentarily before he closed the distance between them. "I thought you said I couldn't sneak up on you anymore."

It was not the words she expected. She'd shored up her mental walls as tightly as she could when people started waking up. There was no off switch, but she'd learned how to tone it down when she focused. The act was so ingrained that she hardly noticed until her house was filled with virtual strangers.

She shrugged, "You can't unless I let you, I guess. Besides I expected you to be in the kitchen which isn't so far from where you were standing."

A small smile appeared as Gray leaned close enough to kiss her, "Can you sense me now?" he teased.

The flutter in her stomach now had little to do with hunger, "Yes," she whispered back.

He brushed a soft kiss on her lips while wrapping his arms around her. Kiera melted, comforted by his heat and strength. Grayson turned her around in his arms to face the still sleeping Ginny.

"She had a bit of a hangover; you girls did quite a number on her. This form is more comfortable for us when we're healing. Are you okay with this?"

The real question was whether she was okay with being faced with the reality of werewolves in her life, not just in their human form, but in their wolf form as well. It was a potential barrier in their relationship; Gray recognized the need for her to accept all aspects of him for their future together to exist. If she couldn't deal with it, he wasn't sure what he'd do. Beg? Maybe...

Kiera leaned back against his chest and absorbed the apprehension he felt. She shook her head, "Five days ago I don't know what I would have said, but right now I'm okay."

She turned her face to look into his eyes, "I can't promise that I won't be shocked by anything I see, but I can promise to keep an open mind. I like you, Gray, and this is just part of who you are. I'm okay with that."

Gray's smile returned, but before he could speak she stated, "Now feed me before I pass out."

"Your wish is my command," he replied grandly.

They entered the kitchen with his arm wrapped around her waist which he used to guide her into a chair next to Amber. Kiera recognized most of the people in her kitchen, but there were a couple new people milling about. She always thought the kitchen was large, but it felt crowded. She pushed down her unease to return the smiles and greetings.

Like her personal waiter Grayson served her coffee and juice then asked. "So what do you want for breakfast? Today's offerings include eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, omelets, pancakes, French toast and some sort of hash thing Derek came up with."

"Uh, that's a lot to choose from. I usually just have toast or cereal." Kiera wasn't even sure she had the right cookware to make everything that was listed.

"It's true," Amber piped up. "Try the hash, it looks funky but tastes good."

** ** *** ** **

Kiera managed to eat everything she was served and given the vast quantities of food, she was surprised at that feat. Mason joined them when she was almost done, looking more relaxed than she'd seen him for days. Over a final cup of strong coffee she mulled over what needed to be done that day. The bar would be open, with or without Gray's blessing, and she would have to work. She mentioned shifts and to her mild surprise both Amber and Mason were anxious to work. They agreed to meet at the A Typical Oasis around five and get started on the early shift. Jasmine, Kiera learned, was still sleeping off the effects of the previous evening. The three friends decided her tardiness in the morning meant Jasmine would be part of the closing shift.

A call to Adam confirmed he was okay and he had not seen anything untoward over the weekend. Kiera also called Gareth, who was frantically busy, but otherwise well. He was more worried about them, but pleased with his werewolf guard. Having been friendly with paranormals for several years, Gareth was demonstrating an enormous ability to adapt to the strange.

Kiera concluded the call by extracting Gareth's promise to stop by the bar after work. With business concluded, Kiera ran upstairs to brush her teeth. Grayson appeared a few minutes later.

"I think," he said while leaning against the bathroom doorframe, "that we should return to the Hub until you start work. We can hang out and have a late lunch at Grazing, and then I'll drive you to work."