Les Liasons Dangereues (Adela)

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

Josef's bodied stiffed as she passed him, as she made her way towards her room and her hand slid across him. She was quick to reappear with a shirt and sweats. Josef didn't not bother to go to another room to change, instead he dropped the towel right then and there and slowly got dressed, still careful on how he did it, especially with his hand. She would not let him do anything, no help cook, not do his laundry, nothing. She was actually concerned for him. The fever was on and off now, whatever meds they had in the hospital was slowly wearing off and after dinner Adela would need to hand him his first set of pills. Instead of flipping on a television or reading a book, he quietly sat by the coffee table. Abad wanted to go onto the patio but the air was colder than he liked, so instead he opened it just so. Some light could get in as could a light breeze. Even though it was just a patio, Josef had enough of being outside for a few days. Relaxing here, in the safety of Adelas home was all he needed. Resting his back against her love seat, he shut his eyes only momentarily. He noted each time she ventured through the apartment. He concentrated on her simply because he did not want to fall asleep. As the smell of the meat started to consume every room, Jo began to drool within. Meat... raw meat... That was how Abad liked his steaks... raw. He could tolerate medium rare but if it had well done, it would be like eating cardboard to him. He needed to taste the blood and he never knew why. Just a crazy craving. He'd kept his eyes shut for several minutes, silence between the duo as Adela scurried about like a mad woman. "Dinners almost read. I hope you like you're steak medium rare. I think I over cooked them a bit. What do you want to drink? I've got two bottles of Shiraz waiting to be drunk. One for each of us?"

"That sounds grand." Josef replied. When he heard the plates set on the table in front of him, his eyes nearly shot out of his head. She had gotten ready... gotten ready for him. The tight dark blue jeans and that red tank top were screaming out to him. Adela already knew Josef and how he would take any chance he got to check her out. He did not think that would ever change but she evern put on makeup and here he was looking like a two-bit bum. "You look pretty." Pretty? She's smokin'! It was a not so commonly used word any more for a description. Most men would have used ravishing, stunning, or gorgeous but Josef counted on the scare use of pretty to say more than a gorgeous comment ever could. In all honesty, no word could describe Adela. She was simply that beautiful. As he started to dig into dinner, his mind reviewed the previous days. There had been several things that he needed, that he wanted to share with Adela, though he decided to start with work. "Tomorrow I need to find a phone. I have to call my bank." Josef took the first bite of the steak, chewed and swallowed. It was so good and hit the spot perfectly. "The card that you used was a bank card. To come here I told work I was meeting people from banks around these parts so they would not grow suspicious. Even I have to follow rules and put two weeks notice in for a vacation but if I claim it's for work, I can fly out immediately. The credit card is monitored closely. Every transaction is reviewed by my board of directors and frankly..." He paused as he took a bite of his vegetables, "... I dont like them but their the most experienced bunch of people I know. When they catch wind of this, they're going to try and scrutinize this trip. See if I am here on business or something else." He paused as he took a couple of more bites, "Don't worry." Josef stopped and set his utencils down, "I'm not mad at you. I was mad at myself for not taking care of my body. I could have done that and then come out here." Wow, he admitted he was wrong in his decision making process. "Thank you." He was serious. He did not want Adela thinking she did anything wrong, since she did not. "My work is just uptight so when I call them tomorrow I'm going to let them know I've been in an 'accident'. I told the doctors to use the card in my wallet and they charged the wrong one." There was more too it than what he was saying.

Honesty is the best policy, "I've built my career on having a sqeaky clean record. Not a single blemish but my Board of Directors does not like me. They want me out but can't do it as long as I keep making the bank money. The only way they could get me out is if I died or if I broke a compliance rule such as with the bank card. I've come up from nothing. I worked hard my entire life. I won't let myself fail." Dedicated if anything. "And if they try and make a fuss I'm going to reply that they should have put the banks name on the card and not just mine." He chuckled, livening the mood. "You know..." he remembered something else about that Doctors visit, "Sorry about the sarcastic comments about our... intimacy. I was just irritated. It won't happen again." he paused re-picking up his utensils, "You have to admit though, it was funny... even if a little!"

[tinkerbell]

Adela brought two glasses to the table and one of the bottles of Shiraz. She poured Josef’s glass first and then her own. The Shiraz was one of her favorites and she was quite generous with her own glass. Adela sat down and smiled at Josef. “You look pretty.” She blushed a little, “Thank you.” Well, it had been worth it to spend and extra three minutes getting decent. But then, the talk turned to a much more serious topic. Adela had only managed to take one bite out of the delicious steak before she began to feel sick to her stomach with guilt. Her insides churned and she mostly stared down at her plate while Josef spoke. He knew it wasn’t really her fault. Josef didn’t sound mad at all. But, Adela still felt incredibly awful. She should have asked or waited until he was awake. “I just thought to use the one which probably had the biggest limit,” She piped in weakly at one point. He could do what he wanted to try and make her feel better, but Adela would not lose this feeling of guilt until after the misunderstanding was resolved. “I’ll vouch for you, that it was an accident or an emergency” She offered quietly, “I doubt I’d have any influence but…” She trailed off. She looked at her wine glass. It was empty. Had she drunk the entire glass in just the few minutes it took for Josef to explain his situation? Adela refilled the glass. The wine made her feel a little better but the stench of the food was starting to make her fill ill. Who knew a werewolf would ever turn down red meat? Adela looked up at Josef, studying his face. So… It turned out he was a business shark. And a smart one at that. She assumed him to be a cut-throat individual with little regard for the feelings of his business partners. He had one goal in mind at any given time: Make money. It’s seemed cruel to Adela, even dry and tiresome. There was no creativity involved. Only numbers. Only calculated decisions that never considered the actual people involved. Perhaps that was why Josef seemed to be lacking some people skills. He was most comfortable with numbers. Josef and Adela may both have been strong will, intelligent people, but they certainly seemed to differ on their consideration for others when it came to business. Adela smiled tightly and drank some more wine. “Well, I know you say it’s not my fault,” She sat up in her chair, trying to stay calm and collected, “But nonetheless, I apologize for causing you such grief.”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

"Like I said - it's not your fault." Josef replied. He gave off a playful smile while he continued to eat. Having yet to drink from his glass, he'd been too caught up in an actual conversation, something refreshing in a sense. Every conversation he had with Adela was refreshing but the fact that he was able to open up and vent a little, especially about his Board of Directors was refreshing. Usually he had to bite his tongue and wait. "Look at business like this," a reference was building for a comparison between a wolf pack and business, "You have those you can trust when it comes to business, or at least your suppose too. Your business succeeds based on the how well everyone works together. The same within a pack. The pack is only as strong as it's weakest members. Unfortunately, my Board of Directors is filled with weak men wanting more and more in terms of financial gains than simply being content." He paused as he finally took a sip from his own wine glass.

"It's not easy firing people and thats why when I fired my last two Directors, no one else was present. I do it in private." He took a couple more bites of food. It was simply splendid to have a home cooked meal and a excellently prepared one at that. Still he continued on with his story, "Don't get me wrong. I'll do what I need to in order to ensure the survival of my Bank and if I'm removed from the Bank I can get a job with another... or I could simply just walk away. My choice really." Wow, he'd never thought of simply walking away but the more he thought about his work throwing a tissy for that bank card the more he wanted to start letting other peoples skeletons out of their closets. "The biggest difference I guess, the thing that separates a Board of Directors from every other position in my bank is near cruel attitudes we hold towards one another. I work, not just for myself... granted I want to succeed, but I have 400 employees who all have families. Moms, fathers, sons, daughters all work to support their families. If that bank fails, thats 400 families that may go hungry." That was the other side to business. The more personal side.

"If it means I have to clash with my Directors to ensure that their... lack of intelligence..." he was not going to say stupidity even though that would have been a better choice, "...is brought up to code, then I will. I like my home and I want a job as do the 400 people that rely on us. Sucks that I can't get along on a personal level with them but when people lively hood is on the line I will not sacrifice 400 for 12. I wont." He looked back at why he almost cried in the hospital, "The problem I think - is corruption. People can say what they want about me. I'm cold. I'm stuck up. I may be conceited but without my employees, I'm nothing. I realize that, unfortunately there are those around me," a reference to his directors, "that either ignore that or don't realize it. They all have served me for years. I won't let them down."

Josef finished off his drink and the remained of the steak before starting in on the last of the bread. He was so hungry but even while he ate, he kept his manners. Close mouth, wiped away anything on his face and chewed quietly. His eyes flashed around the room, to the various paintings, "Are these for sale?"

[tinkerbell]

Adela was just glad he was changing his tone about his work about. She’d feel guilty until everything with the credit card was resolved. It was just how she was. But, Josef seemed much more compassionate now about his work than he had just moments before. So? He did work for his people, rather than the bigwigs. There were a lot of people whose back’s Josef seemed to be covering. And maybe he wasn’t covering their backs, rather just standing up for the little guy. And that was noble and all until you had a family of your own whose necks were on the line if you should fail. Of course, Adela wasn’t family. Not yet, anyways. Whoa…. She blinked in surprise at her own thoughts. No ma’am. She was not allowed to go there. Adela smiled, “You are brave to stand up against them for your employees. I don’t think most men are capable of it. I just,” She popped a piece of steak into her mouth and chewed on it for a moment while she chewed on her thoughts, “I guess I’m used to being a freelancer. The only person I’ve every really had to answer to was myself. Maybe….” She stopped, her eyes dropping away from his face and back to her plate, “Maybe,” Her voice was small and unsure now, “That’s why I’m resisting you. I’m just,” She peered back up at him through her eyelashes, “Not ready to have to look out for someone else. Or maybe I am. Maybe I’m just a wuss. Scared of nothing. I don’t know.” Adela pushed some of the vegetables around on her plate. She set her fork and knife down and pulled apart a piece of bread. Dipping it in the marinade on the plate, she took a small bite. “I don’t think a pack would be like a company. At least, not like yours. A pack should be…. Everyone on equal footing. Yeah, there are ranks but, someone’s opinion can’t just be discarded because the top dog sees differently. And I’m not saying that’s how your company works! I’m just saying….” She looked back down at her plate. "Are these for sale?" Adela looked up, startled. “No,” She smiled, “For you they’re free. I’ve got so many. If you like any of them, let me know. Maybe we can work out an exchange of services….”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

"The pack needs to be family, well like a family. Your right, no one should be going behind anyone else's back and everyone covers for everyone else. Paris has it's own pack. I could pick up on some various scents on my way to your place. Though not overly strong, their here." Josef was talking like an Alpha, a top dog but his tone was still laid back and reserved. "I believe wolves are naturally fitted in their respective roles within a pack. Those who are naturally more dominate are higher up in the todum pole while those more docile are lower. Would it mean those lower are any less valuable? No." this was were Josef could properly use his work analogy, "At work, I'm the Alpha. No does anything without my knowledge but at the same time I can't do anything without them. Our lowest ranking position is the mail room. Gregorio Hegardt, the young man whom works there ensures that Sylia (my financial account manager) gets records daily. After Sylia does what she needs to, they go to Becka, my Secretary then come to me. I could not do what Greg, Sylia or Becka do on my own. They do more than most people at the Bank. Without them I'm nothing and the same would go in a pack. Yes someone would be the Omega, the dead bottom but they would get the same respect as the Alpha. Everyone has skills another person may need. No one is worthless... ever." He finished off his glass, set his utensils down and rested his back against the love seat.

"Maybe thats why I'm resisting you. I'm just not ready to have to look out for someone else. Or maybe I am. Maybe I'm just a wuss. Scared of nothing. I don't know."

Abad could guess why she was resisting him and it had nothing to do with anything she stated. "First thing, your not a wuss. Second everyone is scared of some things, even I have fears. Spiders drive me nuts. Just sayin." He laughed. "Euck!" He did not know why he hated spiders but the thought of something that small, with eight legs, fangs and beady little eyes crawling on him... euck! "And you are ready to care for someone." Josef held up his hand, "See. No. I think it's that we are so similar it scares you. Someone just as equally dominate in nature, someone who could stand toe to toe with you. I have no doubts you could hand me my butt in an all out fight. Look at the way you held yourself in the Museum during your show. I could not smell another male on you and yet you used what wild wolves do to throw me off, psychological warfare. You had me on my toes, looking over my shoulder cause I thought by some slim chance there were other wolves, your alpha was around so I high tailed it out of there. Thats skill." He was honest. Adela got the best of him and if she wanted, he assumed she could continue to do so. Josef was learning as was she. Both had led independent lives and it seemed fate or whatever people wanted to call it brought the two together. Now it was time for adjusting to one anothers temperaments, ideologies, emotions, and bodies. They had to connect on the physical, intellectual and emotional levels if anything was to work. Both were already connected on the first two - it was the third that seemed to be the trouble hurdle - Emotional. He was opening up to her, more so than he had to anyone in a long time. Much like the cork to a champagne bottle, all the built up pressure was releasing because Jager pulled that cork. She was opening up slowly as was he. It would take time but Josef was confident with himself, as Josef Abad, that he could win her over.

"For you they're free. I've got so many. If you like any of them, let me know. Maybe we can work out an exchange of services..."

Ok so his mind went strait to the gutter. Oops but hey, she was beautiful, she got ready just for him for a simple dinner at her home and she did not care he was wearing sweats and an over sized white shirt. Everything she did today was for Josef and he admired her for it. He leaned forward and moved his plate to the center of the table and gently crawled over to Adela. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in towards him, her head resting in his arms as her body was tilted at an angle but supported by him as well. With his good hand, he removes the hair that had fallen in front of her face from her eyes and tucked the hair behind the ear. He smiled. Her hair was so soft. "Your hair reminds me of Egyptian Silk. The softest fabric in the Arabian states." He leaned in and kissed her earlobe. It was good to just hold her. Josef did not want her fearing him, not like she had when she left New York. Not again. Abad wanted to show her his softer side, the true side that had been hidden away for years. As his eyes glanced around, he took a look at each of the finished paintings and an idea struck him. "You know. I need works for both home and my office. How much for..." he counted the finished ones in the room, "these eight and if you finish that ninth one," his good hand pointed towards one on the loveseat, "that one too. How much for all nine? I'd like to display them. I would feel obligated to pay anything you ask as well as give you whatever services you require of me."

[tinkerbell]

Adela listened intently as Josef voiced his opinion on pack structure. She agreed with him for the most part. But, werewolves were mostly volatile, incontrollable creatures. Of course, the point of a pack was to help control these behaviors. But, why were they discussing packs anyways? Together they did not constitute a pack. Was he…? But, they we’re even together… Or mates, or whatever. Sure, they’d mated. But, they weren’t mates. And what about marriage? Where did that fall in? Again, she was getting way to far ahead of herself. “No one is worthless…ever.”/ Well, she didn’t believe in that completely… But in the sense of the pack, well sure, alright.

"See. No. I think it's that we are so similar it scares you. Someone just as equally dominate in nature, someone who could stand toe to toe with you.”

“Everything about you scares me Josef. Your strength, your mind, your…” She smiled, teasing him, “Your seduction abilities. But, I think what terrifies me the most is how you make me feel. I feel so small under your hands and yet like I can do anything at the same time. And I feel drawn to you, yet I hardly even know you. Josef,” She shook her head and laughed, “I’m terrified I’m already in love with you. I don’t even know you.”

As Josef pulled her in, Adela submitted. She snuggled up to his chest and rested her head over his heart. The sound of it beating was alluring and calming at the same time. She closed her eyes, almost beginning to drift off to sleep when she realized that Josef was talking to her. “I'd like to display them. I would feel obligated to pay anything you ask as well as give you whatever services you require of me." Adela reached up and kissed him along his jaw line. “Are you deaf? I said they were free. Take as many as you want. I don’t need them anymore. I only needed them before I painted them. But once they are done…” She shrugged, “I don’t need them.”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

"Everything about you scares me Josef. Your strenght, your mind, your... your seduction abilities. But, I think what terrifies me the most is how you make me feel. I feel so small under your hands and yet its like I can do anything at the same time. And I feel drawn to you, yet I hardly even know you. Josef," she her head and laugh but Josef listened intently, "I'm terrified I'm already in love with you. I don't even know you." She loved him? Wow. True feeling, true emotion... Jager had just placed herself on a limb and it was up to Josef on how he would respond. Would he let the limb snap and simply watch her fall or would the limb snap and he would catch her? It was all up to him. The entire day had been her game, whatever she wanted he did. Right now, in her apartment, the ball had been placed in his court and he now had to run with it. Would he? What would Abad do? He had never been told, by anyone, even his family, that they loved him. The only time he'd ever seen love used between people was when a co-workers boyfriend (with Abads approval) came into the bank and confessed his love to her before proposing. That was true love, not the act of proposing but how he did it, how he expressed it. Here and now Josef saw it in Adelas eyes. The same look that man gave his girlfriend, he saw in her iris's, the formation of her eyes, everything. She did love him.

He ran his fingers through her hair. She did not know a lot about him, nor did her know a lot about her. He knew a way around that. "Adela... I care about you. What I did... the stunt I pulled... I myself feel like I am falling in love... only a person in love would do what I did. But your right, you don't know a lot about me. So here is what we are going to do." He shifted Adela so that she was straddling him while he sat on the floor. Though her knees were folded, her weight was off of them and put on his thighs to ensure the knee joint didnt start aching. His hands slid up and down her arms, his good one lowering the left shoulder strap of the tank top slightly to allow for him to give a gentle kiss before placing it back. "We will play twenty questions. No hold bars. We can ask about anything the only rule is after each question," He placed one on her collar bone, "we give the other a kiss. So if I ask you a question. After you answered I give you a kiss somewhere on your body. Affection is a sign of respect and admiration. What is told between us stays between us. No one will ever know what questions we asked each other. Complete and utter privacy and trust is exchanged here and now." Again he placed another kiss on the same spot. His heart was thumping as was hers and he pulled himself away. "Any questions about our child hoods, our teen years, adult years. What we have done, our intimate aspects of our lives. Anything and everything is an open book." He placed yet a third on her collar bone before looking up at her, "If we can't be comfortable asking each other sensitive questions in this private area, we never will be able to finish the connection that is building between us."

"Adela," Josef paused, "You have done more for me today than anyone ever has. You've given me a roof over my head, clothes on my bad and food on my plate." he nodded, his eyes showing complete seriousness, "You already have my trust. I just need to earn yours." Leaning in, his let his teeth slide along her neck, before wrapping his lips around a spot and kissing hard, very hard though he pulled off before he left a mark. His body was starting to heat up and not from a fever either. Her scent filled his lungs as he breathed in deeply, his heart once more thumping against the rib cage. Had he been a sixty year old man with this heart, he'd have died by now from a heart attack. Good thing he was still young and in his prime. "I'll go first..." his eyes met hers. "What's your earliest childhood memory?" Odd question to start with but a not so common one. Josef did not want to start his line of questioning with the same trend other people might have such as Where she was born, who her parents were... no this was not a game for simple questions. This game was to learn of the other. Josef wanted to know his mate on a deeper level than just the physical.

Josef loved her enough to want to learn about who Adela Jager was...

[tinkerbell]

“But your right, you don't know a lot about me. So here is what we are going to do.” Adela felt like she was always straddling him. But, she sure wasn’t complaining. In this position, Adela was on top. She could get up and leave if she needed. Josef was putting her in a position of power over him. She wouldn’t take advantage of that power but still. It felt like he was stroking her ego by giving her such power. And her ego liked it. Adela wiggled her hips, settling down onto his thighs. Placing both hands near his hips, she leaned forward as he explained the rules. Chills rushes across her body as he kissed her collarbone and… Christ! His teeth on her neck were indescribable. “We’ll never make it to the 20th question, at least not tonight. Want to up the odds?” Adele reached out and ran her nails slowly through his hair. “I bet I can get you to stop playing the game before question number….” She thought. How seductive could she be while still learning something about him? Hm… “Seven. Loser cooks breakfast tomorrow?” She gave him a sly smile, hoping he’d want to add the twist to the game.

"You already have my trust. I just need to earn yours." Adela nodded but said nothing. He was already on his way to earning it. "I'll go first...What's your earliest childhood memory?" It was a tough question, but Adela knew the answer immediately. She sighed, “I want good kisses for this one…” She gave him a small smile and begun, “My first childhood memory is of myself, around the age of four, being held by my own father and being so terrified that I fainted. I screamed and screamed because I didn’t know who he was and he wouldn’t let me go back to my grandmother. Apparently, he had hadn’t seen me in two years. We haven’t exactly stayed close since then. My mother died of cancer when was just a few months old. I don't remember her. My dad couldn’t handle it and went crazy. So I grew up with my grandmother.” Adela paused, feeling suddenly sad. She hated trips down memory lane. Especially that lane. She smiled at Josef and waiting for her kiss.

“Okay, my turn!” Sure, she wasn’t allowed to kiss him until after he gave his answer. But he never said anything about touching. “Do you remember the night you were bitten?” She placed her hands on his chest and pushes slowly down and out, making large circles across his muscles. She could feel his heart beating underneath her palm and it made her grin.

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

"Just seven?" Josef replied, "You have to give me more credit than tha...." he paused remembering New York. She was probably right, he'd fall before question seven but if he could hold on to at least question seven it meant she would cook him breakfast. The winner could sleep in, well, if the winner got sleep at all that is. His grinned in response, and signaled he approved. When he asked his first question she stated she wanted good kisses and he would oblige. As she spoke, he thought. She never really knew her father and still does not. She was raised by her grandmother when her mother passed from Cancer. That disease, that ailment was one of the scariest things in the world today. No one was immune from it and anyone had a chance at getting it. Highly unpredictable disease that could appear, literally, out of nowhere. Her father had gone crazy after her mothers death. She never had real parents, it was not fair. Josef did not really like his father but at least he had one. Trying to compare his father to her not having one would be an insult, a slap across the face and highly inappropriate. Abad had something, even if he did not like it, he still had something Adela never would. His heart sank slightly for her. When she was done, he could feel her body loosen, she had saddened. He hit a sensitive area and it was time to move on. Gently he leaned in and lowered the tank top slightly, placing a gentle kiss just above one of her sensitive regions, yet close enough that they would feel it as well. He nipped, played the area with his tone before sliding his teeth down across her flesh and unleashed and another kiss. He pressed her body against his with his good arm. Lord, he wanted her but... question seven! 'I have to get to question sexen... damn seven!" Josef corrected himself. He pulled himself back and waited for his question.

What she asked next caught him off guard. His breathing was heavy, but he soon got it under control, "Do you remember the night you were bitten?" Wow. He did not expect that but he would not avoid it. Biting his lip he looked away, shame seemingly befalling him. He knew that this was a place of safety. They were not suppose to judge each other but his life had been so different before Adela. What would she think of him after he answered. Sucking it up, he glanced back at her with a grin, "I remember it like it was yesterday. I had met a lady and after a few drinks we both decided to go back to my place. No more did I enter my front door first than I was jumped on from behind. I felt something bite down on my right calm but I was able to kick it away. I must have stunned it cause I was able to make it into the kitchen before it was on top of me again. The next few moments are a blur. I felt teeth and claws everywhere. Each time I tried to move, it came in for another attack. I finally made it to a kitchen knife and started slashing... " he paused. He could still smell the blood, his blood and the sight of the kitchen floor. Blood and tattered rags of the clothes he'd been wearing. "...either I hit it or it backed off but what I thought was a dog at first was so bigger, meaner and scarier. I scurried into the bathroom downstairs and as I slammed the door shut, the beast slammed its body into it. I don't know how long I was in there. All I remember was being on the bathroom floor, holding a knife towards the door and each time the door was slammed, I prepared myself for death." He paused, his eyes did not waver as he recalled what he saw next, "When everything stopped, I moved forward and peeked under the door. I watched as her feet and hands formed in place of her paws. The fur vanished and when her change was done I listened as she scratched something on the door before leaving. I stayed the rest of the night in the bathroom. I don't know how I survived, especially with how much blood I lost but when dawn broke I ventured out. I looked up at the door and she carved 'With Much Love'. Sadistic witch. I crawled into the kitchen and called for help. I did not want to believe it at first, but that was my first encounter with a were. The authorities claimed it was a large dog but when I told them it was a wolf, not I did not tell them about the shifting cause they'd have locked me up, they stated no wild wolf attacks have occurred in New York City in nearly 200 years..." Josef shook his head, causing the memory to fade." That was the last time I ever brought a woman home. Lessons learned." He'd never wanted a kiss more than he did right now. His body has stiffed without his notice while he had spoken of that particular memory and it took a fully conscious effort to un-stiffen the tensed muscles.

He was at question two, with five more to go. He simply had to hold on even though Jo was inside beginning Josef to cave. The human was determined, but would determination be enough, "Do you want a family of your own one day?" He wanted to add onto it, to specify but Adela would already know why Josef would ask that question. With what happened with her mom and dad and what happened with her unborn child, did she want as normal of a family as she would be allowed in the future? A mate, a husband? Would she ever dare try for another child again?

[tinkerbell]

She found it so strange, as Adela listened to his story, that there were so many parallels between how he had encountered the woman who had changed his fate forever and how they themselves had met. A few drinks, meeting at home… It was the same. So, what had compelled him to trust her? To bring her home? Maybe he hadn’t realized the parallels of his two encounters with female werewolves. She ran her hand down the side of his face as he spoke. She would never betray him. Never hurt him intentionally. It would probably kill him, just as it would kill her if he ever hurt her or betrayed her. She didn’t expect it from him and allowed her thoughts to move on. “That was the last time I ever brought a woman home. Lessons learned." Adela smiled at him, running both her hands through his hair. She sat forward slowly and gently as she stared into Josef‘s eyes, pressing her body into his pelvis. “Until you met me,“ She purred. Adela leaned to one side of his face and allowed her soft breath to dance on the sensitive skin of his neck. There was a sensitive spot, just below the earlobes and where the bottom part of the jaw ended. Adela barely touched the area with wet lips. From that spot, she moved her lips across his skin below his jaw. She continued until she found his windpipe and then, kissing more firmly, she moved downward slowly towards his collar bones, all the while pressing her body into his. When she got to the top of his collar bones, she paused. “I will never betray you, Josef.” Adela breathed the words into his chest, just above where his heart rested. It was as if she was promising his heart directly. After a moment, she leaned back and smiled.

"Do you want a family of your own one day?"

Adela nodded but she avoided his gaze by staring down at his stomach, “Of course. I want to be married and be a mother and cheer on my kids at their football games and watch them graduate. A boy and a girl, maybe a third,” Her eyes raised and met his. Did he want children? To be married? To be a father and a husband and a brother-in-law and a grandfather. Adela averted her eyes again. She sighed heavily. Again with the memory lane trips. “I just…” She reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. Sometimes it helped her hold back tears if she did it hard enough. “I don’t know when I’ll be ready. And,” She let out a tired laughed, “I don’t know if I can be pregnant. I mean, the transformation is not gentle on any part of the body.” She looked down and placed a hand on her lower stomach. “Even if I wanted a baby and I do, or I will one day, I… I…” She stopped speaking for several moments. “I’ve been robbed.” Tears began to trickle down her pale cheeks. "Damnit Josef!” She stood up abruptly, not giving him a chance to stop her. “Here’s a question!” Her anger, though valid, was obviously being directed at the wrong person. “Why didn’t you remind me to give you your medication.” She snatched her purse from the kitchen and set the bottles on the counter. She opened a cupboard and pulled out a glass and filled it up with water. She opened each bottle and poured out the correct amount of pills from each one. She smashed the tops back on. Adela stood over Josef’s medication, her breath coming in jagged intervals. “Okay…” She tried to regain her composure. “I saw a Qur’an in your house in New York. Why didn’t you tell me you were Islamic?”

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

“I will never betray you, Josef.”

His body loosened even more, as if a weight had been completely lifted. She had just given in to him and if felt good. She would never hurt him by her own cause, she would never hurt him because she wanted too. Accidents were understandable but she would never set out with a cause to tear him apart. The kissing along his jaw line, down the windpipe and to his chest was arousing. It just felt good. Male wolves were highly protective of their mates, which might have been why Josef had been so over bearing on her. The wolf inside wanted too much too quick and the days apart seemed to settle him down. Still, this was how to win Adela over. Simplicity. Nothing fast, nothing forced. Everything was moving at it's own pace, unguided, unaltered, it simply flowed and on its natural course, their bonding was still moving quickly but nothing seemed off. Still, she promised to never betray him and he would take her word. His chest tingled when she had spoken those words into it. His eyes were heavy but still, he wanted to win. But could he last? When she leaned back, he almost breathed a sigh of relief, any longer that close and he would have caved. Adela spoke of wanting a family. She wanted to be married, to have children, to do the motherly things with them. Did he want a family? Josef thought carefully as he listened to her responses. Abad wanted a wife... he wanted children. She wanted three kids but he had always wanted just one or two. Would she be willing to settle for one of two? He wanted a family that was for sure he just was not sure how many kids, though he surely wanted some. As she spoke, he decided to kiss her, this time, dropping her left shoulder, he nibbled. He did not know why he liked to nibble on Adela. Was it the sudden rise in her heart beat? The light sweat that built up on her flesh or the way her body started to writhe with his? It was all of it, he decided but before he could drop the shirt and thus give in to temptation, she suddenly stood.

"Dammit Josef" He was surprised by her sudden change in tempo. "Why didn't you remind me to give you your medication?" She stood hovering over the pills and regaining her composure. Abad hit a sensitive area and he knew it but her new line of questioning got him thinking, "I saw a Qu'ran in your house in New York. Why didn't you tell me you were Islamic?"

"I'm not." he replied. "I was raised a Muslim and had been one most of my life but when my religion could not answer a simple question, 'What was I?' without it coming off as if I am some sort of Demon, i second guessed my faith. Islam teaches peace and tranquility and yet it is just like Christianity and Judaism. Sure there are the good sides, the sides of peace and love but there is also the dark side. If you do not fall into their neat little ideals, their personal opinions of what true followers of God are, your demonized. Everytime I looked something up in the Qu'ran about being something other than Human it was either an Angel or Demon. What do you think they would classify me as knowing what happens on a full moon?" he paused and shook his head, "When I needed my religion the most it was not there for me." Josef had felt abandoned by Islam, how could a religion claim to have answers if it did not know of everything there was to humanity, including werewolves. "Is there a God? I don't know. Is there a heaven? Maybe. All I know is that I won't get there by blindly following them. If there is such, I'll find my own way." Josef was a werewolf. History did not look kindly on people accused of being Vampires or Witches in the past. Think for instance, the Salem Witch Trials... just imagine if it was revealed that werewolves existed. "When my father found out what I had done... he was not too happy..." this was leading Josef into something that hurt, even if just a little, "... he disowned me. Islamic followers are not kind on those whom abandon that faith. They're treated worse than than a rapist in Iran. If I step foot back in Damascus, odds are my father would have me arrested for some bogus charge and I would be held until I conformed to his ideologies again." That faith and his father had nearly cost him Adela. Had Josef not thought for himself, had he not changed, he may still be on the streets sick and injured or Adela might have just killed him. Slowly he stood and walked towards Adela. Turning her gently, he pushed her against the wall and slowly lowered the other strap to her top.

His fingers snagged the front of the tank top and slid it down, revealing Adela to him. A sly grin crossed his face and Josef pressed himself for a kiss, his lips connecting with hers, the tongues wrestling for domination, his hands sliding and holding firm to the area of her body that only he may now see, that were only his to do as he wished with, to touch, caress... and love. Suddenly, Josef pulled himself back and chuckled though he kept his body pressed firmly against hers, "Question three..." he said in between kisses, "A shaved man or a hairy man?" A highly erotic question with an intentional pun. Did Adela like body hair? Josef may have had a beard but he did not have hair in specific areas of his body. He thought it was a tad too gross. Under his armpits and in another area... that was a no no for him. He laughed cause he waisted a question on something so childish but still, it was question three... Jager had not won... yet.

[tinkerbell]

Sometimes she attributed her outbursts to the wolf inside. Dela was pure instincts, pure emotions, and no rational. Other times, Adela was just plain ignorant and stupid. This was an example of the latter. She’d let her emotions get too tight a grip and she’d basically insulted Josef’s intelligence. And yet, he didn’t explode or even yell at her. He simply told her what she needed to know. She knew next to nothing about his religion. Well, what used to be his religion. She had grown up without a church or any kind of spiritual guidance. The spirit who guided her now was Dela. She didn’t know what it felt like to be deserted by your religion. But, she could sympathize with the loss of a father. Her father had the choice to accept fate and move on for his children’s sake. He chose not to. Josef’s father probably could have done the same. It didn't matter anymore that neither of them had a religion. They had each other and that was more than enough.

Next thing she new, Josef was slowly heading her way. Her heart began to pound loudly in her chest. She wanted him. All of him as he pressed himself against her. He began to kiss her, and something strange went off in Adela’s head. She was supposed to kiss him…. It didn’t matter. She simply wanted him to take her away much as he had done in New York and be hers for all eternity. His hands over her body sent shivers up her spine and out through her arms and into her finger tips. She could feel her heart growing in size, little by little, preparing for the love Josef was ready to give to her. Only her. Adela couldn’t breath when he touched her like that. He broke away from her suddenly, and she thought she might faint. But, Adela didn’t faint. "Question three… A shaved man or a hairy man?" Adela raised an eyebrow. Such a strange question. But she had an excellent answers. She leaned in towards his ear and reached up to hold his head in her arms. “I like them…. Over hard. My eggs, that is. And some toast, too, if you don't mind.” She pulled back, a bright smile on his face. “I was supposed to kiss you. You broke the rules. I win.” She laughed and pulled up the straps to her tank top. “Not too early either. I liked to sleep in after… Well,” She flashed a sly grin that made her eyes sparkle mischievously. “And,” She added as an after thought, “I like my men comfortable, whatever that means to them.” Adela slid out from under Josef and headed back towards the coffee table. She poured herself another glass of wine and held it out to her side. "Am I supposed to kiss you now? Or are we stopping now that you've lost?"

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

He lost. Josef actually laughed cause he had not realized it. Jager was a clever little lady. He gave her that much. So nothing early meant he could sleep in as well... good. She liked her men comfortable. Josef was shaved in some areas. Simply cause that felt better and, he thought, made a man more attractive simply because it showed off the toning of the muscles in the thighs, abdomen and well... As she slid out from under him she went to pour herself another glass of wine. "Am I suppose to kiss you now? Or are we stopping now that you've lost?" Abad raised an eyebrow. He had so many sarcastic come backs for that line but in all reality he lost... for now. Who's to say he would lose in the next couple minutes? Adela like the position of power, the dominance he allowed her when she straddled him, something he would remember as his eyes flashed with thoughts and ideas too.. unique... to just blurt out. "We are not stopping..." He paused as he walked to her, "We're just taking a break." He took the pills and snagged a glass from the cupboard. Using the tap, washed them down with a glass of water. So tap was not the cleanest thing to drink but it was no more worse than the bottled water. Heck bottled water had the chemicals from the plastic in it. Nothing was ever truly clean. Setting the cup back down, he walked towards Adela and once more dropped the straps to her tank top. "Your right... I could not make it too question seven." With that he dropped and put his shoulder into her abdomen. Using the arm with the good hand, heleveraged her over his shoulder and began to carry her off. "I lost the game for now but I have a feeling we are both going to be winners." Opening the door he kicked it shut in the same manner he had in New York and tossed her onto the bed.

Immediately following her, he came up to her, wrapping her legs around him, Abad lowered the tank top completely to his hips and gently began placing kisses across the body. "Adela," Josef hardly used nicknames but if he could figure out one that he could call her, only her, even Abad thought he would use it. "I don't want you to be fearful of me in here." his eyes glanced around signaling the significance of the bedroom, "not in this room, not on this bed." he continued to kiss her. "If I ever do anything, get too... aggressive... you put me in my place." again he wow'd himself. Abad was continuously giving Adela the power, the dominance of the relationship and why shouldn't he? She was no threat towards him and she was no threat toward him. In this room, on this bed, the two would express towards each other what they could not do in words. She would unleash her grief, anguish, pain, anger, and joy upon him at her hearts content and he would do the same in return. People often viewed the bedroom as a place for some Tarzan and Jane escapade - only used for the wildest of moments between two people - but there was a deeper meaning to it. Mates were the only ones who used the bed. Tarzan and Jane would be used for some fun evenings but not every evening called for something so adventurous. No. There needed to be times where it as just the two of them, like tonight. No gimmicks, cheesy come ones - could they have fun. Of course, just like they had in New York but tonight was about reconnecting. "I just don't want you to be scared coming back here with me, not now, not in New York, not ever. I'm yours."

He pulled himself back and slowly unbuttoned and then unzipped her pants. Coming to a stand before the bed, he slowly removed her pants and let them drop on the floor. Her intimates caught his eye and his arousal rose. Was it the intimates or her scent which had been growing in strength as his had? Perhaps both! What could be seen and what could be smelled. She was ready for him and obviously he for her. Still, Jager deserved to be treated with kindness and affection. There would be plenty of time for the... other stuff... but right now her whole body deserved love. Leaning over, his mouth past over her garments, bit the edge of the intimates before kissing her naval and moving up. His hands sliding up her calves, then knees, then thighs before reaching her hips. His lips pressed once more against her collar bone, "Adela..." was all he said as he pressed his body against her once more.

[tinkerbell]

Adela finished the rest of the wine swiftly. Courage. She needed lots of courage. Sure, they’d been down this path before, but each time they went deeper and deeper and she’d need more and more courage to survive. Eventually, they’d be able to go no further down the path. That was the point of complete trust in one another. Boundless love and acceptance. But for now, they were no where near that point. And Adela needed courage. She set the glass down just as he swept her up onto his shoulders and admitted he’d lost. It was rare to find a guy who would willingly admit defeat to a woman. Josef was certainly a rare breed. Adela reared back and then slapped his ass with all her might just before his tossed her onto the bed. “I don't want you to be fearful of me in here, not in this room, not on this bed." Adela pondered that for a moment. Sure, she needed courage but not because she was afraid of him in the bedroom. The only thing he’d been in the bedroom so far was wonderful. They’d had issues just after their last rendezvous in New York but they’d been settled. Adela wasn’t afraid of him. She was afraid of how she felt about him. They way he made her feel, like her heart was going to break into a million pieces, terrified her. She was falling in love and it scared her senseless. “I’m not afraid of you.” She told him simply. “You’re not very ferocious,” She added, teasing him with a smile. She reached down and ravaged his hair with her hands, then stroked it softly as he kissed her body. “Adela…” She shuddered as he called her name and his hands took hold of her hips. Alright, that was enough of that. Adela wanted him. And she wanted him now. She slid her hands down the side of his head and to his cheeks. She kissed his forehead and then guided him upward. Adela kissed his lips feverishly and her hands found their way down to the bottom of his shirt. She guided it over his body and away from his head. She tossed it on the floor. Bending her knees, she brought her feet up to his hips. She slid her toes between his hips and the waistband of the sweatpants and then began to push them away. Clothes were truly annoying at times. The werewolf wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled their bodies together. Adela bit down playfully on his shoulder then kissed her way up to his ear. “Josef.” That would be one of the last coherent words she spoke that night.

Sun poured in through the window, hurting Adela’s eyes as she woke. Something warm and heavy was wrapped around her waist, holding her securely. She sighed in Josef’s arms as waves of memories came rushing back to her. She had loved every intense moment of the night but that feeling began to creep its way back into her stomach. That feeling of fear. How could she already feel so strongly about this man? What was wrong with her!? Adela wiped her face with her hands, trying to get rid of the feeling. But it persisted. Slowly, she slipped out from under his arms and slid off the bed. She pulled on her underwear and the shirt she’d let Josef wear the day before. She inhaled and wanted to simply collapse. Again, little red flags began to go off in her head. What was he doing to her? Adela looked back at him as he slept. Her mind was blank. She didn’t know what to think about her conflicting feelings. She slipped out of the room quietly and retrieved his things from the dryer. She returned placed them on the dresser opposite the bed and then walked into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind her.

Adela needed to think. She couldn’t run from him. He’d track her down just like he had when she’d left New York. And, she was falling for him. She flipped the faucet to the tub, running the hottest water possible. Adela added some lavender oil as the tub filled up. The scent was soothing. And it was a change from the musk and mint scent she’d been intoxicating with all last night. She stripped out of her clothes and then moved to her mirror. Steam was already beginning to cloud her reflection. She looked a frightful mess. She grabbed a comb and dragged it through her hair. Halfway through, she noticed something. Just above her left collar bone. It was a bruise. It wasn’t too big and it didn’t hurt but… Josef would be so angry with himself if he saw it. She couldn’t allow that. She’d cover it up until it went away. Finally, her reflection disappeared as steam clogged the bathroom. She placed one foot in the water. It was scalding, just how she liked it. Slowly, she sank into the water and her muscles began to relaxed. She leaned back and dunked her head under the water. His scent rubbed off of her and rested on the waters surface. Adela leaned her head against the side of the tub and closed her.

[Josef Ibn-Abad]

The smells of eggs and cooked meat filled the apartment. Josef set two eggs and three slices of meat on each of the two plates that he had set out. Living alone meant that he had to learn to cook, sure he could have simply ordered take out food to his hearts content but that was unhealthy and dangerous on the body. No, Josef was used to make meals, though simple and quick like this one, they were meals none the less. He double checked the eggs, ensuring they were as Adela had instructed they be, double checked the meat. Even though his body craved the rawest of meat, eating raw pork was extremelly dangerous, even for a wolf. Too many parasites lived in pork meat and could do some real damage if they were not killed off by cooking the meat throughly. Besides, he only really liked his steak raw anyways. Flipping on the kitchen light finally, he placed the pans in the sink, pulled out two small cups and then the juice from the fridge. Pouring a near full glass for each, Abad put everything back. He washed then dried the pans, he then put the juice back, took the plates to the coffee table but realized something... he was still nude. He grinned as he thought about the previous night and began a trek back down the hall. Adela was still in her bathroom and from what he could smell and hear, she was enjoying herself in the tub. Though she was silent, the lavender scent he picked up on told him all he needed to know. She needed some good relaxation.

He placed the same sweats back on though he could not spot the shirt that he had worn the night before. Adela had been doing his clothes but he was unaware of them being put in the dresser and instead of prying around, Josef decided to wait and ask her when she was done. He sat on the bed for a moment and thought about the prior night. Everything that needed saying got said. He looked at his shoulder and chest which had like teeth and scratch marks. If there was one thing Josef could handle it was Jagers wildness. Each time she scratched him, clawed him at him it felt as though she marked him. Her scent covered his body, and he could still smell both of them on the bed. Good. Getting up, he decided it best to take a shower. He did not know how long he had slept past Adela. All he knew was that she had gotten up some time before. The sun was beaming through her windows and Abad had finally woken. His body still wanted to sleep but hey... why sleep now? He owed her a breakfast and so he had pulled himself out of a comfortable bed to make it. He lost. The Winner reaps their rewards. Quietly he made his way into the hall bathroom, flipped on the lights and dropped trousers once more and climbed in. The water was hot and the room filled with steam again. This time, with the lights on, Josef could clearly see the various bottles of shampoo and body wash. Each seemed to have a different scent but he focused on an orange bottle, the one that he used yesterday. It was a shampoo and so he dabbed a little more than usual. He liked the smell.

The citrus soon overtook his own and Adelas but the shower was quick. He washed his hair, face, body, legs and one arm though since he could not get the other bandage wrapped, oops. They forget to change the bandages last night and since he knew he was not going to wash his wound, it hurt. Jager would have too. He shut the water off, grabbed the same towel he used the day prior and wrapped himself. Exiting the bathroom, he watched the steam rise from his body as the warm flesh met the cold air. Looking at the coffee table, he noted Adela still had not come out of the bathroom. Was she ok? Making his way back into the room, he cautiously opened the bathroom door and stepped just inside, though he did not approach the tub, the curtain wrapped around it. "Adela, breakfast is ready." he paused as silence filled the room. The temperature was warmer, much warmer than his bathroom had been. She liked herself a hot bath. "Is everything ok?" His voice had concern. Had he done something wrong? Something last night in the throws of intimacy that might have made her uneasy? He didn't speak anymore. Perhaps she wanted to be left alone? For Josef to leave her be? Even a woman need a private escape at times. He shut the door and, put the towel back in the hall bathroom then dressed into the sweats. Making his way back out to the living space, he sat patiently by the loveseat and waited.