Wiphas
I hold Shane tight to my chest, and soon he falls asleep. I think back to the conversation with General Griffin, I need to talk to my crew and soon. I have to be earnest with Shane as well. I let my head drop to his neck. Breathing deeply in his clean scent, that is all Shane.
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I wake up to chirping outside the window, on the sill sits a beautiful red and gold bird.
"Finn, how much I missed you."
Hopping out of his bed, he runs to the window to open it. The bird flies into the room. Before he lands on the bed, it shifts to a small feline creature in the same coloring as the bird.
"Finn is a Senshi, he can shift into various animals as long as he has seen it before."
"I know them. Senshi's one of the most thought after pets."
Finn starts hissing at me.
"He does not like being called a pet, he is a friend. He is very independent and only accompanies me if he wants to."
Shane walks to the bed and sits down, Finn immediately jumps into his lap and starts purring. Shane responds by caressing him.
"He saved me when I was younger and run away from home. Without him, I would have been dead already."
The mere thought of never meeting Shane brings me indescribable pain.
"Thank you, Finn, for protecting him. I owe you."
He stares at me for a moment, I feel like he is looking into my very soul. Then Finn jumps from Shane's lap into mine. Rubbing himself against my chest purring. I start to stroke him, he is so soft, and his coat shines in the sun.
"Wow, he must like you. The only other person that is allowed to touch him is Curtis. And it took Curtis months before Finn let him touch him at all."
His eyes are wide with wonder.
"It seems I'm just a likable person then."
Shane starts to laugh at my words, and I join him.
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After we ate Breakfast together, Shane dragged me out of the house. Walking to the backside of the house, a vast garden comes into view.
"I love sitting between all those flowers and just draw the scenery."
I can picture it, Shane sitting under a shade of a tree. So immersed in his drawing, he forgets the time or sitting before an easel painting with oil, watercolor, or acryl-based paint. For a moment, I picture a young toddler beside him with fingerpaint painting his first art piece. Both laugh and turn to me.
"My second semester already started," Shane says bringing me back to reality,
"I still can go, but I need to catch up, and I'm not sure if I want to if I'm honest."
"But why? I heard you love art."
He flushes a little,
"I… I want to… You know?"
I'm confused for a moment, but then I meet his gaze. I can see the longing in his eyes, insecurity, vulnerability, and shyness. Understanding overcomes me.
"We don't know each other long, but I would love to get to know you, Shane. How about we go out to a fancy dinner? You, humans, do that, right?"
"Yes, I would love that too."
Blinking shyly up at me.
Encourage I move into his personal space, going down to his eye level I wait. Shane needs to make the next step. And then his lips meet mine, first only tentatively. I freeze, afraid to dominate the kiss and scare him. He throws his arms around my neck. I can feel his tongue coming out to play. I feel electrified, pulling him to my chest. I return his kiss furiously with my tongue. Plunging into his mouth, I map every part of it with my tongue. Entwining mine with Shane's, I feel like I'm burning. My body trying to fuse with Shane's. My Xerxerus rejoice.
When his first moan breaks free, I harden to steel. I can feel Shane shiver, his hold tightens. An answering steel rod pokes my leg. My mind goes blank. All I still can feel is his soft lips on mine. Submitting to my every whim. He tastes like all my favorite things combined. Losing myself completely, I will go to the end of the universe for him. To protect him, I would give it all. The consequences are insignificant. Only one thing counts, and that is Shane's happiness.
Only the need to breathe finally breaks us tiny inches apart. Breathing heavy, Shane loses his grip on my neck and nearly falls to the ground. I support his weight and help him back to his still weak legs.
"That… that was," Shane says speechless.
"Yes, it was," I only can reply, still trying to regulate my breathing.
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After coming back from our stroll in the garden, I steal myself away from Shane. Finding Miguel, I ask him where he would go for a romantic dinner. He looks me up and down and winks.
"I knew it."
After outlining for me a perfect date and helping me organize it, I inform Shane of our evening plans, at least what he needs to know.