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The Cohen Clover

Angie Mae & Anin E

copyright comidacomida 2023

Angie Mae didn't know exactly why the scheduled trips to Riparian Earth were always scheduled for Sundays but at least it was a consistent expectation. Since work in the lab was winding down as they were concluding their time at Station Zero the week before her pending transfer was split almost evenly between doing science, evenings with her Pod, and time alone with Anin. Despite how good it was to have time with all of her friends she'd made during her time at the Unity Centre she came to look forward to the hours before sleep and before work with her Ikali partner.

Her meetings with Dr. Inez Durand had done her some good but she knew she still had a long ways to go. Dr. Durand opened up half the meeting for time with Anin, in which the two partners worked closely on communication, coordination, and empathy. Anin had begun to see that Angie Mae's reservations were not about him and that helped her feel a little less guilty about accidentally hurting his feelings. In return, he was able to learn about some of her triggers and minimize the chances that he would inadvertently cause an episode.

Dr. Durand gave them both credit for Angie Mae's growth and, despite being so early in the process, apparently a lot of progress has been made. During their private meetings Angie Mae talked with her therapist about feelings she had toward Anin and, rather than being told they were silly, unhealthy, unproductive, or 'wrong', the young woman was instead met with positive encouragement; Dr. Durand considered her ability to have such strong emotions a good thing. She also encouraged Angie Mae not to move too quickly; recovering from trauma took time and jumping in too quickly could set back the healing process.

Her final single-session with Dr. Durand had been Thursday, and she spent a lot of her time in the lab on Friday considering their discussions. Angie Mae had one more joint session alongside Anin once she was done with work. Anin knew better than to discuss their sessions at work, but she often caught him looking her way and, every time their eyes locked he smiled encouragingly. Angie Mae honestly couldn't have asked for a better partner. Although she'd realized it for awhile, during that last day in the lab she was finally able to admit it to herself that she was quite possibly falling for her Ikali partner.

Nathan always made it a point to do check in with his staff but Angie Mae had become a regular fixture in his office on Friday afternoons. She was not the least bit surprised when he invited her in toward the end of their last day of work at the Station Zero facility. His greeting was as open-ended and as vague as usual. "So... how are things going lately, Ms. Kline?"

For the first time she felt like she was able to answer positively for the first time without bending the truth. "They're... going better, Nathan. Thank you."

He offered a patient smile, and a single clarifying question. "Better?"

She nodded in return. "I'm making progress. Things aren't perfect, but Dr. Durand says that perfection is an unrealistic construct."

The man laughed. "Yes... that DEFINITELY sounds like Inez."

Smirking as well, Angie Mae elaborated. "I'm... making progress. I think the last week-or-so with Dr. Durand was something I should have sought a long time ago... I might have been able to get healthier sooner."

Nathan nodded thoughtfully, tenting his hands on his desk. "Are you saying that because it's what you think I want to hear, or...?"

Angie Mae didn't hold his doubt against him; she knew that she had been incredibly reluctant to seek mental health support after the incident. "No... I'm saying it because it's true. I've noticed a difference-- Anin said he's noticed too. Considering how much better I'm doing, I figured everyone probably has."

Her supervisors smile returned. "I HAVE noticed, yes... but I also try not to read into things. So you're making progress?"

She nodded. "I am. Like Dr. Durand says, I still have a long ways to go, but at least I haven't had any anxiety attacks again, and I haven't snapped at Anin since-- well... you know."

Nathan leaned back in his chair. "And how is Anin handling all of this?"

The two of them turned to regard the Otter, who sat in the chair beside her; unlike prior weeks engaging with Nathan, she had requested her partner's presence from the beginning. Feeling the soft grip of his webbed digits holding her hand brought her a comfort unlike anything she knew was possible; she really did trust him. Angie Mae gave her partner a gentle elbow. "You can answer for yourself, you know."

The Ikali let out a happy chitter. "I am excited to go to Riparian Earth, and I will do anything it takes to help Angie Mae get better. She is an amazing Human and I am proud to have her as my partner. I'm doing very basin, thank you, Nate."

Nathan didn't miss a beat. "Doing 'well', eh? Glad to hear it."

Angie Mae slowly approached the topic she was dreading; it was only two days until they were set to depart and she still had reservations. "I look forward to going to Riparian Earth with Anin, Nathan... assuming I'm still in line for the trip, I mean."

Her supervisor stuck his feet up on his desk, laughing. "I told you before, Angie Mae: I haven't nor do I have any inclination of holding you back. If you tell me you are ready and able to go to Riparian Earth then I trust you implicitly."

She knew that she should quit while she was ahead, but she also wasn't about to not address her concerns. "What if I... have an issue-- while I'm there I mean?"

Nathan took his feet back down and slowly let out a sigh. "Well... aside from the obvious concers that there is not a lot of mental health infrastructure set up yet on Riparian Earth, I would suppose that you would notify your supervisor immediately so that the Programme could arrange suitable support for you."

Anin gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "And I will do everything I can to help too, Ammy. I'll be with you the whole way."

Although Angie Mae knew she didn't need to reiterate that part of her concern was that Anin might somehow 'set her off' she couldn't bring her self to discuss it. Instead, she redirected the conversation. "Anin and I have one final meeting with Dr. Durand tonight. She promised to cover even more positive coping mechanisms before I leave."

Nathan had always been good at reading between the lines. "In that case, I won't keep the two of you. Be sure to say hello to Inez for me, then go home and get some rest. I'll see the two of you bright and early Sunday morning."

They both acknowledged the dismissal before packing up, saying one final goodbye to the lab, and heading off to their last scheduled appointment. Angie Mae didn't wait for Anin to reach out for her hand; she sought his paw instead.

* * * * *

As usual, Dr. Durand was very direct once the two of them had sat down. "Tonight is our last session. I would like to gauge your impression of your progress, if you please. How do you feel you are doing, Angie Mae?"

Unlike the prior times she was asked, the young woman was ready with an answer that had been considered thoroughly since the last time her therapist brought it up. "Things are getting better. A lot better."

Nodding at the response, Dr. Durand looked to Anin next. "And do you agree, Anin? Are things getting better?"

The Ikali's muzzle wagged up and down in eager agreement. "Oh yes, Doctor D. I was worried in the beginning because Angie Mae used to hug me all the time and was okay me being near her but... after what happened, she did not want to be near me at all." He glanced to Angie Mae, offering a whisker-quirking smile. "Now she will sometimes hug me without me having to hug her first. I like it."

Angie Mae found herself smiling too; Dr Durand was doing the same. Marking something down on her pad, the therapist asked another question. "And the both of you would say that your current relationship is going well?"

Glancing to Anin, Angie Mae found her partner looking to her. They both smiled anew, nodded to one another, returned their attention to Dr. Durand and spoke in unison. "Yes."

The Psychologist flipped a page and tapped the paper with her pen twice before shifting her posture in her seat. "And... the two of you are cohabitating well?"

Angie Mae gave Anin's paw a gentle squeeze and he squeezed back. Steadying herself with a deep breath, the young woman answered the question. "We have spent a lot of time talking. I think Anin knows me more than he ever has, and he's helping me learn more about how his thought processes work. It's like you've said all along: we need to understand one another in order to be the best partners we can be."

Anin added to her comment. "She is willing to talk a lot more about things she did not want to discuss before. We cried together last night."

Angie Mae felt a faint pang of pain in her chest as she thought back to that evening; the two had discussed the concept of loss, and she'd come clean about the emotions that had torn her up inside when her first Phin partner had died. The two shared a bonding experience, holding one another closely as they both sobbed. She felt like it really had brought them closer together. "It was cathartic."

Before she knew it, she and Anin were hugging again. She was sitting down and he was standing beside her so, for once, he was taller, but she didn't mind when he leaned down to embrace her. Angie Mae didn't feel the cold stab of anxiety or the icy grip of trepidation; she felt the warmth of the Otter's embrace, and the comforting, ever-so-soft vibration of his contented churl. The happy moment ended for the both of them with Dr. Durand's next question. "And what about intimacy?"

The question wasn't a surprise by any means and Angie Mae knew she'd have to answer it aside from hoping that it wouldn't come up (but realizing that it would). "The emotional intimacy is there, like I said. We've grown even closer together lately."

The scribbling sound of Dr. Durand's pen on the pad of paper she held was almost like nails on a chalkboard. The notes continued for what felt like far too long before the therapist clarified. "I had thought we had moved past evasion, Angie Mae. It took several visits before you were able to clearly express what encouraged you to seek help, and that is what I am referencing. Have the two of you tried any attempt at physical intimacy beyond hand holding and embraces since then?"

Angie Mae faltered. "You-- you said that things might take time, and I--"

Anin came to her rescue. "I'm happy with hugs and having her hold my paw. I don't need anything more than that."

Dr. Durand's eyes shifted to the Otter. "But would you LIKE more than that?"

It was Anin's turn to falter. "Not if Angie Mae doesn't..." His eyes migrated from the doctor to Angie Mae. "...do you?"

Her partner wouldn't have asked her that question before they started their therapy sessions; she appreciated that he was able to make the extra effort rather than assuming or presuming. "I... think I would... yes."

The Ikali's whiskers vibrated as he smiled, looking back to Dr. Durand. "Then I would too. When she's ready, I would too."

Dr. Durand was good at what she did, and that meant that sometimes she came across as ruthless. In that moment, Angie Mae was simultaneously glad and upset that the therapist was on point with her questions. "Anin... why did you wait for Angie Mae to answer first before you gave me your answer?"

The Otter looked like he was caught in the middle of a crime and the answer came out more like it was a question "I.... don't want to make her feel pressured?"

Immediately turning to Angie Mae, Dr. Durand then asked "And how does that make you feel, Angie Mae?"

The young woman took a few moments to consider the question and how she was going to answer it. She remembered the discussion that she'd had with Dr. Durand earlier in the week, and the entire purpose behind active listening in clear communication. "I feel seen, and respected. I appreciate that he is worried about my well-being."

Her therapist offered a bland smile. "I'm pleased that you're listening to the affirmation lessons you've been exposed to, but I would like to know it makes you feel on a deeper level, Angie Mae. Set your THOUGHTS aside for a moment and consider how you FEEL."

There was a certain frustration in not knowing what Dr. Durand wanted, aside from 'the truth', which she always talked about desiring. Angie Mae felt the warm burning in the back of her mind and the depth of her stomach, and she let the flames out. "Sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure."

The psychologist raised her eyebrow. "Pressure? How so?"

Once Angie Mae opened up a little everything began to come out. "Everything we do is always up to me. Sometimes I wish he could make a decision on his own. I'm the one who directs everything and makes the choices, sets the schedules, selects objectives and define goals. I--" she paused when her eyes migrated toward Anin, who was looking at her with wide eyes and fuzzy lips in a small 'o'.

The silence prevailed for several seconds until Dr. Durand spoke up again. "And am I correct in understanding that you've never expressed this to Anin?"

Angie Mae confirmed her therapist's presumption. "No."

Anin quickly came to her defense, but his attempt made the young woman hurt over his excuse. "I never wanted to push Ammy... especially after I found out that-- um... she was still hurting."

She turned to her partner. "And I ended up pushing you away."

He offered her a reassuring smile. "I know you didn't mean it."

Angie Mae looked into her partner's eyes for many long moments; as always, there was no hint of duplicity or misdirection. She found herself smiling. "Thank you."

When Dr. Durand's next question came it was more of an invitation. "Why not talk about that now?"

Looking back to her therapist, Angie Mae nodded. "I... I suppose I'd like it if Anin would--"

Dr. Durand motioned to Anin with her head. "Don't tell me, Angie Mae... tell him."

At the psychologist's direction, the young woman did just that. "Anin... we're ina partnership... that means give and take. It means that we approach things as a team. I... would appreciate some input from you on occasion."

With her walls broken down, Angie Mae continued speaking for nearly five minutes. Her monologue covered all the things she was grateful for when it came to having him in her life-- the initiative he took at times to make breakfast or to comfort her when she wasn't feeling well. She enjoyed him telling her stories unbidden, or his spontaneous humor coming out of nowhere. She explained that she often felt like she was holding him back and limiting him when he waited for her prompts to do things and was being denied a part of him when he spent all his time taking cues from her.

Eventually she concluded her lengthy statement and, as she realized that her words were coming to an end, she added "And... I'd really like you to say something... like... now."

Anin smiled warmly, resting his second paw on her hand as he held it. "Ammy... I think you are amazing. I love EVERY opportunity I get to learn from you. One of the first things I learned about Humans was that it's easier to listen when you're not talking, so... I guess I like letting you talk so I can learn."

Angie Mae acknowledged his statement with a nod, and moved her second hand to hold both of his paws, sandwiching them together between her fingers. "Just remember that I want to learn too... and I can't do that if you're always following. We should both have a chance to learn from each other, and that means sometimes you need to take the lead. I-- I know I can have trouble giving up control... that's something I need to work on, and I get that. It's something you can help me with, I think. I... I just..."

It was hard for her to put it to words and, as the seconds ticked by without her coming up with a solid continuation of her statement she didn't know if she'd succeed. Fortunately, Dr. Durand came to her rescue. "Why do you think it is that you have trouble giving up control, Angie Mae?"

The young woman shrugged. "I guess... having control makes me feel... safer?"

Anin's brow furrowed. "I WANT you to feel safe, Ammy. If I take control, won't that make you feel less safe?"

Slowly releasing his paws, Angie Mae slid a single hand between his fingers so that her digits were completely engulfed. "I trust you... and... I think if there were anyone I could cede a little control to... it'd be you."

Despite Anin's humor making it difficult to be serious at times, in that moment, Angie Mae couldn't help but smile. "Seed?"

The Ikali didn't need to go any further than the single word; accompanied by the light wiggling of his furry eyebrows and vibrations from his whiskers, Angie Mae cracked up right then and there. Before she knew it, the two of them were sharing a warm embrace. Although Dr. Durand seemed to looked down on using humor to deflect, her approach was surprisingly relaxed. "I realize this is our last session before you leave, but I am going to give you continued homework nevertheless. Since we're winding down the time we have left, I believe this is the most reasonable place to bring things to a close."

Angie Mae didn't realize she and Anin were suddenly sharing a chair until, after the embrace, she pulled back, only to find her Otter partner seated on her lap. He piped up happily "I do not mind homework."

The young woman agreed, giving Anin's paw a squeeze. "Of course. I'm more than willing to work on 'us'."

Dr. Durand laid it out. "The two of you need to continue with the clear communication you've been working on. Strive to be a partnership, and that means practicing give AND take. Listen AND speak."

Anin was quick to speak up. "I promise to spend time teaching Angie Mae, and not just learning. We can share doing both."

And, like that, their final appointment before traveling to The Gateway concluded.

* * * * *

The two spoke with one another the entire trip back to their shared dorm. Their dialogue rolled from topic to topic, but Angie Mae was pleased that Anin did indeed hold true to his promise: rather than requiring her to lead from point to point, he often dwelled longer on one topic, or requested a chance to a different matter altogether. With most people she often found herself annoyed when someone chaotically meandered in a discussion but Anin managed to do so without any disjointed non-sequitors.

Once they were back at home the two spent time together in the living room before Anin surprised her by speaking up. "I know Friday is usually Pod day, Angie Mae, but if you are okay with it, I would like you all to myself tonight. I would like to cook together in the kitchen."

She was surprised by his forward request, but agreed readily, sending out a brief message to her Pod saying they were going to miss the meet up at the Parlor, but looked forward to the pre-planned going away party on Saturday. Once she got a confirmed response acknowledging the two of them would be missed that night the young woman put away her data pad completely. Looking back to her partner, she nodded and confirmed "Kitchen it is."

Rather than either of them leading the cooking, Anin proposed that they find a random recipe on the data pad that neither had prepared and work together to complete it. Although she was not the most adventurous nor skilled person in the culinary field, she couldn't deny that it sounded fun, and she readily agreed. The meal indicated that it was supposed to take forty minutes to prepare from start to finish; they took over an hour and a half, but every single moment was a joy.

Eating dinner was just as much fun and, although Angie Mae had always enjoyed Anin's company, something about that evening was even more special. They sat at the table together for nearly two hours; she had popped a bottle of wine and drank sparingly. Since it was Ikali safe she shared some with Anin, who did NOT like the flavor; it created even more moments of laughter for her and, as always, he was able to laugh at himself too.

Their standard bedtime came and went but Angie Mae didn't notice until she realized it was almost one in the morning. The words came out of her mouth mournfully. "I can't believe it's already early morning... where did the night go?"

Anin let out a long sigh, doing an amazing job of deadpanning. "Eaten by the dragon, sadly."

She felt a warmth come to her cheeks even as she laughed. Normally she would have wondered if she had drank too much wine, but Angie Mae knew her limit, and she was well beneath that. It didn't take too much for her to realize that what she was feeling came from her companion and not alcohol. She felt embarrassed and a little self conscious when she saw him smiling at her. "What?"

Anin's statement was surprisingly forward, but also gently non-compulsory. "I would like to spend tonight with you in your room, Ammy."

She was immediately conflicted. On one hand, she remembered all too clearly what had happened the prior weekend and she knew she wouldn't manage to weather another catastrophic failure. On the other hand, she and Anin were in a much better place; she trusted him, and knew that he would not do anything or demand anything-- it had taken a long time just to get him to admit a preference as the one he had just announced. "Okay?"

Wincing inwardly at her lack of conviction, she was pleased when she realized that Anin just rolled with it. Stepping forward, he held out a paw to her. "I would also like to snuggle with you."

Her initial response was to pull back-- a knee jerk reaction of touching something she thought might be hot... but she quickly realized that she was not about to be burned, and she was able to control the reflex. "I... think I might like that."

Taking his paw in her hand, she let him lead her to her bedroom. Pausing at the doorway, the Ikali turned around, looking up at her with a momentary hesitance, but she saw him set his will as he announced "I would like to snuggle with you naked... but if that would make you uncomfor--"

Angie Mae still felt the hesitance, but she also felt safe. "Just so long as I'm okay to change my mind at any time."

Anin smiled warmly. "I will not offer you a thumb chit. I promise."

She acknowledged her concerns, and let them go. "Okay."

The two of them entered her room together. Her partner created a little space between the two of them, eyes watching her with rapt attention, a comforting, encouraging smile on his muzzle. "I am going to get undressed now. If... if ANYTHING bothers you, just let me know."

Not trusting her voice, Angie Mae simply nodded. Once he'd received her approval, Anin undid the button at the top of his wetsuit and unhooked the latch keeping the zipper in place. He lowered it in a matter-of-fact manner, his eyes intently searching hers for any hint of discomfort. Angie Mae was surprised that she didn't feel any. Nodding when he stopped just below his belly button, she encouraged him. "It's okay... I'm okay, Anin."

Her eyes took in his lush, smooth fur-- lighter in color on his chest and abdomen... and groin. Unlike a Human, his genitals were not on obvious display; the fur between his legs was thicker than on his belly, making it easy to miss the subtle, plump tube that was his sheath and the oval shaped bumps of his testicles, much less pronounced and free than those of a Human. Something about their much less overt presence helped Angie Mae feel less intimidated; Anin was only there to snuggle and things wouldn't escalate until or unless she gave her blessing.

From there, Anin approached her bed and climbed up into it, turning to face her with a soft smile. "You do not have to get undressed if you do not want to, Angie Mae."

It was an invitation, even if it was an indirect one, but still far more forward than what she'd previously experienced with her partner in the past. Nodding slowly, Angie Mae moved to slide into her bed atop the covers, still fully clothed. Anin turned away, presenting his back to her in a way that felt more respectful than off-putting. Still not feeling the same kind fo discomfort as she'd experienced the prior week, She inched a little closer and, before she knew it, her arm was wrapped around his body.

Anin let out a happy, content sigh, body melting simultaneously into the mattress and back against her as well. In many ways, her Ikali partner reminded her of a huge stuffed animal, but he was also so much softer and yet so much firmer. He was definitely warmer, and the pleasant, purr-like cooing churl sounds he was making were beyond soothing. Angie Mae felt her tears begin to well up, but not from fear. Pulling herself tighter to him, the young woman kissed the top of his head.

She hadn't pictured 'spooning' with someone after her fallout with Jackson, and, if she had, it certainly wouldn't have been with her in the 'big spoon' position, but, as she cuddled with Anin, she had to admit that they fit together perfectly. The Otter eventually spoke up; his voice was warm and encouraging. "This is nice."

Angie Mae confirmed first without words, accentuating her affirmation by running her hands slowly across the fur of his chest, sternum, and belly. Anin's happy churls continued, and he pressed his back against her abdomen, tail flopping between her legs with the tip resting against her left foot. Eventually she acknowledged his statement verbally. "It is. I agree... very nice."

Taking in a deep breath, Angie Mae closed her eyes, reveling in the soft musk from Anin; although he was not 'masculine' in the traditional Human sense, he smelled like a male, and some part of her responded to that in a way that wasn't revulsion-- perhaps the fact that he was so laid back, relaxed, and smaller than she was helped set her mind at ease. She was so lost in the calm euphoria of being with him that she lost track of her hand... right up until she felt the warm, slick flesh as the back of her hand brushed across it. Angie Mae knew right away what it was without even looking.

Anin tensed up immediately, and so did she, waiting for her heart to start racing and the fight-or-flight instinct to kick in. Although her pulse quickened, she didn't feel the desire to recoil, and she only deepened the embrace. He opened his muzzle to speak, but she cut him off. "It's okay, Anin."

She had never before heard the Ikali let out an uneasy laugh; it was a unique sound. "I... just don't want you to be uncomfortable."

Angie Mae wasn't sure how to respond to that, and, even as her hands continued to gently pat and caress his abdomen, she said nothing. After several seconds Anin slowly rotated his head back to regard her; she saw the concern in his eyes and, with the surety in his expression, she was absolutely certain that he would never purposefully hurt her. Overwhelmed in the moment, Angie Mae leaned forward and kissed him.

It was not a long or passionate kiss, but it was real, and true, and full of emotion. Slowly pulling away, Angie Mae licked her lips, tasting his piquant saliva; she had learned that there was far more flavor to him when he was excited, and her curiosity continued to be tested. "Anin?"

Eyelids fluttering, the Ikali's voice did too. "Yes... Ammy?"

She spoke softly, nuzzling the top of his head as she took in another deep breath of his scent. "Can you open the drawer in my night stand please? I can't reach it from here?"

As an ardent follower of the thought that everything belonged in a specific place, Angie Mae never kept much in her night stand. It was, however, where the thumb chit ended up the prior week after things ended so poorly. Anin obediently reached over and opened the drawer; she saw his body tense the moment he encountered the contents. "Ammy... I--"

Committed to the moment, Angie Mae kissed the top of Anin's head as her hand slid down his hips, fingers gently encircling the thin furless slit at the end of his sheath through which his penis had emerged from its home warmly stored within his body; it felt hot to the touch, and slick, and got an immediate response from its owner. "Yi kowchur!"

Anin was not usually one to speak in the Ikali language out of turn, but her motion had obviously caught him by surprise. Slowly wrapping her hand around his throbbing member, she gently kissed his ear. "Is this alright?"

Still surprised, the Otter responded in his native language before repeating it in English. "Chi-- yes..." he paused. "Are... you sure... Ammy?"

She let her hand do the talking for her, and she held him close as she squirmed beneath her ministrations. Angie Mae knew a lot about Ikali anatomy and physiology. She knew about their social norms, and about the various scholastic facts about coupling rituals, and the basics of copulation, but she set all that aside and lived in the moment. She felt his every breath against her chest; she felt his ever shiver along her body; she caught the faint hitch in his breath when she moved just right, and then his groan and subsequent wheeze just before--

All of the reference material regarding Ikali ejaculations did not do justice to Anin's performance. Chittering out a squeaking churl, the Otter's body almost became a horseshoe as his hips propelled forward in her grip, shoulders and ankles pressing back against her. His first shot was accompanied by a thrust of his hips and it almost hit the baseboard on the wall; the second one struck it three feet up off the ground. Showing no signs of slowing down, Anin's member pulsed nearly a dozen times, slacking off toward the end and making a mess of the wall, floor, bedspread, and, finally, Angie Mae's fingers.

She remained stunned at the result for many long seconds; Anin was panting in her arms, happy churls vibrating throughout her body as he snuggled back against her. It wasn't until she heard the thump of the thumb chit landing back her the night stand drawer that she realized he'd been holding it. His follow-up statement said it all. "I don't need it, Ammy... you will never have to pay for my time."

Even as he rotated in her grasp, Anin already focused in on her hand and he took hold of it, using a cloth to clean up the mess he'd made of her fingers. She smiled at that. "Thank you."

He let out a giggling churl. "Thank YOU!"

When he hugged her, Angie Mae was able to feel his still semi-hard erection against her abdomen and, even though it registered and caused her breath to catch for a moment, she was able to let it go; it didn't affect her as it had the prior week, and she was finally able to calm down. In that moment, she had a flash of clarity. "Anin? I think I love you."

He snuggled against her. "Good. I KNOW I love YOU."

Angie Mae wasn't completely sure where to take things from there but, true to his word, Anin was willing to take the lead. Mindful of not crowding or forcing her, the Ikali helped her out of her wet suit and, as she lay back, the Otter slipped down to the floor, only to climb back up onto the mattress from the foot of the bed. His fuzzy head worked its way up between his legs, but he made no attempt to move his hips to hers. Gazing at her with the eyes of an aquatic predator, Anin lowered his head, tickling her thighs with his whiskers.

The young woman knew that her partner was good at picking up new languages, but she learned that night that he was skilled with his tongue in other ways. The prior week she had gripped the linens while forcing herself to fight back fear and remain in control of her emotions. That night, however, she took huge handfuls of the bedspread as she willingly gave herself over to what she was feeling and she surrendered control wholly to her partner. He did not let her down.