Elderflower

Let's Get Familiar - 1

Let’s Get Familiar: Elderflower

Amylea Lyn

To my Grandma Joyce. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your love and support. Thank you for reading all my books, and for loving them as much as I do. You rock! Chapter 1 Family. You can’t live with them… and they know how to find you when you hide! Brian Ames sighed. It was going to be a long night. It didn’t help that his brother-in-law was looking at him with pity. Mike might not agree with Brian’s chosen path or his so called “lifestyle," but he knew that being part of his family sometimes made for a quick trick to the rubber room. Or to contemplate matricide. Like Brian was doing right now. He watched in something akin to horror as his mother chanted a blessing over the food they were about to eat, assisted by his two sisters, Bethany, the oldest, and Melanie, his twin. There was no way it could be mistaken as a simple prayer…not when his mother was continually thanking the “Goddess.” Then Brian watched as their dinner, a roasted leg of lamb, floated out of the kitchen on a platter, without the aid of someone holding it, no doubt directed by one of his sisters, probably Bethany. She was the telekinetic one. He risked glancing over at his newest boyfriend, who was, unfortunately, meeting his family for the first time. Richard’s normally tan complexion was pale and his eyes were wide with shock. Damn it, could this night get any worse? Almost as though it was answering his thoughts, the Let's Get Familiar - 2

lamb wobbled dangerously for a moment, before sliding off the platter and landing right in the lap of his now terrified boyfriend. Richard leapt up from the table with a screech that could probably be heard down the block and ran screaming from the room. Brian spared a moment to glare at his family, who were doing their best to look completely innocent, and got up to go after his date. He finally caught up with the other man just as the car door was ripped open and Richard was about to jump into his vehicle. “Richard, wait!” Brian called, grabbing the other man’s hand. Richard whipped around and pushed Brian away. He almost looked like he was going to take a swing at Brian. At five-eleven, Richard was only an inch shorter than Brian. Where Brian’s muscles were from swimming and running, Richard’s were from the gym. Everyone had always said that with their contrasting complexions, Brian’s blond, all-American looks and Richard’s rich Latin heritage, they were a stunning couple. Despite Brian being a bit slimmer than Richard, if the two of them got into a fight, they would be pretty evenly matched. Not that Brian was looking to fight. He let go of Richard’s arm and took a step back. “Stay away from me!” Richard cried. He backed up until his back was flush against the car behind him and crossed his fingers in front of him is the universal sign for “get back evil!” Brian could barely prevent himself from rolling his eyes. Richard had always had a flare for the dramatic. He held his hand up to show he wasn’t a threat. “Rich,” Brian said softly, coaxingly. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Why don’t you calm down, and come back Let's Get Familiar - 3

inside? We’ll talk--” Richard was already shaking his head. “No way in hell, Brian! I’m not going back into that freak show. What the fuck were you thinking, bringing me here? With those…those…devil worshippers!” “They’re not devil worshippers, and I’d appreciate if you didn’t call them that.” Brian glared. Crazy they might be, but they were also his family and no one but he got to talk badly about them. “Oh, yeah?” Richard sneered. “Then what would you call them?” Brian sighed. “Witches,” he mumbled. “What?” “They’re witches!” Brian growled, much louder this time. “Are you one too?” Richard asked suspiciously. “No,” Brian said, swallowing back the old, familiar pain before it could flare back up. “I was born without any magic. I’m a null.” Richard stared at him for a long moment, but there was no pity in his gaze. “Yeah, like that’s any different! You’re still related to them.” He whipped around and climbed into the car. “I’m not going to stick around and become their next sacrifice, not for you!” “Don’t do this, Rich,” Brian begged. Brian could only watch as his now ex-boyfriend started the car and then rolled down the window. “Don’t call me ever again!” With that, Richard stepped on the gas and spinning his tires for a moment, took off down the quiet, residential street. “Damn it…” Brian sighed, blinking back tears. There was no reason to cry over Richard, even though they had been dating for almost six months and were talking about moving in together soon. That wasn’t going to happen, thanks to his family. Let's Get Familiar - 4

Once again, his family had managed to chase off one of his boyfriends. Why he was surprised at all was a mystery. Ever since he’d come out to them, his mother and sisters had chased off every man he ever hoped of having a relationship with. They may not have a problem with him being alone for the rest of his life, but Brian sure as hell did. Taking one last look at Richard’s retreating taillights, Brian stomped his way up the walk in front of his mother’s home and onto the porch. He hadn’t bothered to shut the door on his way to chase after Richard, so it stood wide open and waiting for his return. He could hear his mother and sisters talking quietly from the dining room, which quickly cut off when he slammed the door. It may not have been the nicest thing to do, but it certainly made him feel better. “There is no need to slam doors, Brian. If you’re upset, just say so,” his mother, Meredith, said, once he entered the dining room again. She picked the lamb leg off the floor and placed it back onto the table. Brian glared, beating back the urge to apologize. He was pissed, damn it, and had every right to be. Even though his mother was only five-two, with long gray hair and bright blue eyes that made her look like the epitome of every over-aged hippy in existence, she was a force to be reckoned with when needed. A powerful priestess, Meredith Ames was not someone you wanted to be on the bad side of; even her own children were wary of setting the little woman off. But Brian was still too pissed to care about angering the woman. Enough was enough. “What…” Brian stopped for a moment to try and get a rein on his anger. It wouldn’t do any good to start yelling. His mother would probably cast a quick spell on Let's Get Familiar - 5

him and take away his voice or something. Again. “What in the world, no, this entire universe, gave you the right to chase off my boyfriend by using magic?” “He wasn’t right for you,” Bethany replied, tucking a strand of bright red hair behind her ear before stacking up the dinner dishes, turning to carry them into the kitchen. Mike rushed forward to take the heavy stack from his extremely pregnant wife. “We didn’t like the feel of him.” Brian gaped as both his mother and twin nodded. “Don’t you think you should have let me be the judge of who is right for me?” he asked. “It’s my life, damn it! Don’t you think I should get some say in it?” “We were only trying to help, Bri,” Melanie said softly, biting her bottom lip. No doubt she could feel just how upset he really was. With her empathic abilities, and added into the fact that the two of them were twins, Melanie had always been especially sensitive to her younger brother. This made the fact that she went along with his mother and sisters harebrained scheme even more of a betrayal. “What part of the fact that I am twenty-nine don’t you people get? I own a condo. I have a job in one of the most respected and sought after advertising firms in the country. I have a life outside this family, which all of you seem bent on destroying any chance you get!” Brian was yelling now, but couldn’t seem to stop. He hardly ever fought with his family, usually going along with whatever it was his mother and sisters wanted. Maybe the fact that he was not doing so now would tell them how upset he really was. Or not, judging by the mutinous look on his sister Bethany’s face. Her normally sunny disposition had practically disappeared the past few months. Pregnancy Let's Get Familiar - 6

was turning her into a total bitch. Brian almost felt sorry for his brother-in-law. Almost. “Come off it, Bri. That guy was a total spaz. Did you see the way he flew out of here? No good for you at all, little brother.” “You threw a leg of lamb at him, Beth!” Brian exclaimed. “What did you think was going to happen? I’m your brother, and I was freaked. Just ‘cause you didn’t like him didn’t give you the right to terrorize Richard!” Bethany scoffed. “I doubt he was terrorized. And what kind of name is Richard, anyway? A bit pompous, don’t you think?” Brian closed his eyes and counted to ten. Then counted to twenty. He was not going to throw something at his pregnant sister, he was not… “Beth, I don’t care what you thought of Richard’s name, or how he talked, or even how he walked. The point is that you all completely violated my trust in you. Once again, you stuck your nose into something that wasn’t any of your business.” He turned his glare to Melanie. “All of you did. You knew I liked him. You knew I wanted him to meet you all, to introduce him to my family.” Brian turned to his mother. “And what did you do? You practically chased the man out of the house!” “I’m sorry, Brian,” Melanie said, her blue eyes filled with tears. She was always the first to cave when someone was upset. No doubt being an empath made it difficult to stay objective during an argument. Brian sighed. Damn, now he felt like a raging monster. Holding out his arms, Brian beckoned her closer, hugging her tight when she rushed into them. “I know you are, Munchkin. Just think about it from my Let's Get Familiar - 7

side. Would you like it if Mom, Beth, and I interfered every time you started dating someone?” Melanie shook her head but said nothing, still hiding her face in Brian’s shoulder. His mother sighed. “You’re right, Brian; it wasn’t our place to get involved. Let me just say that we thought we were doing what was right and protecting one of our family.” Meredith smiled a bit sheepishly. “It has gotten a bit out of hand. How many have we chased off? Three?” “Seven,” Brian deadpanned. His mother looked startled. “Seven. Are you sure? I could have sworn it hasn’t been that many, has it?” she asked, looking to Beth. Beth shrugged. “I’m not sure. There was the one with the long hair. And the one with the expensive shoes that cost more than my car.” “The one who kept sweating,” Meredith added. “Or the one with the weird nasal thing,” Melanie chimed in. “And the one creepy one who started following you around,” Beth remembered. “And the one--” “Okay, I get it,” Brian interrupted, feeling exasperated. “There have been a lot.” “Any who,” his mother replied, waving her hand as though waving away the topic, “I understand why you are upset and promise not to get involved with anything else involving your love life. Unless you ask.” She smiled and Brian felt himself relax slightly. “Thank you.” “But, Mom! If we don’t protect Brian, who will? It's not like he can protect himself,” Bethany grumbled. “Bethany!” Meredith exclaimed. “That’s so not cool, Beth,” Melanie stated, glaring at Let's Get Familiar - 8

her sister. There was no way Brian could mask his pain from her. Whatever tension Brian had felt leaving returned with full force. Well, at least now he knew why they all insisted in interfering. After all, a magic null was the lowest on the totem pole that was the coven hierarchy. Of course he couldn’t be expected to know what was best for him. Apparently his family associated being a magic null with being an idiot. “I’ll talk to you all later,” Brian said softly, turning to leave. There was no way he was going to stay and have them think less of him for his lack of magic ability. He’d had enough of that growing up from the other members of the coven. He was a grown man now and didn’t need to put up with it from his own family. Glancing back, he saw Bethany’s face had gone pale. “Oh no, Bri, I didn’t mean--” “Yeah, okay. Whatever, Beth,” Brian interrupted. He didn’t want to hear the excuses. He just wanted to go home and nurse his heartache alone, maybe with a bottle of scotch. “I’ll give you a ride,” Melanie said, grabbing her purse off the buffet sideboard. Brian shook his head. “I’ll call a cab.” Richard may have left him without a ride, but he could call a cab just fine. He’d had enough family pity for one night. Meredith sighed. “Don’t be silly. Melanie will take you home while Bethany and I have a discussion as to why pregnancy doesn’t excuse you from being nasty to your family,” she said, shooting a look at Bethany that had her oldest daughter cringing. Suddenly, Meredith snapped her fingers. “Oh, before I forget! Mike?” she called. Mike stuck his head in from the kitchen doorway, no Let's Get Familiar - 9

doubt where he’d been hiding while they all had been fighting. “Yes, Mary?” “Could you be a dear and bring me that blue sachet on the kitchen counter next to all my herbs? Thank you.” Mike returned with the palm sized, dark blue sachet and handed it to Meredith. She smiled, then shooed him right back out of the room again. “Here,” she said walking over and handing the small package to Brian. He carefully opened the small bow and loosened the top, only to find the bag contained a bunch of tiny, dried out white flowers. He brought the bag close and took a careful sniff. “Elderflower?” he asked in surprise. His mother nodded. “I ordered some for you last week. It’s already been blessed and is ready for you to use,” his mother replied. “But, Mom, I don’t…” Brian started, confused. “I know you don’t practice the craft like your sisters and I, honey, but I just have a feeling you’re going to need it soon.” She smiled her enigmatic smile. “Maybe you’ll finally put your grandmother’s book to use.” Brian furrowed his brow, and then took another careful sniff of the dried flowers. His Nana Abby, his mother’s mother, had been his favorite grandparent. She’d never had a problem with Brian being a null and taught him how to cast spells and rituals just like she did all the other children of the coven. But she was never the same after losing his Grandpa. Their bond transcended everything else in their lives. The kind of love you only see in the storybooks. Nana Abby had left him her spell book after she had passed, much to the surprise of the entire family and coven. Being a null, Brian had never had any use for the large, leather-bound book before, but his Nana had been Let's Get Familiar - 10

gifted with the sight, and had passed that gift along to his mother, Meredith. Brian had come to believe that when his mother said he needed something, he probably did. “Thanks,” he said, pulling the strings closed and tying the bag shut. He stuck it in his pocket then kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’ll see you next Sunday,” he said. She smiled back and nodded. Walking out the door with Melanie, Brian could hear his mother say, “Now, Beth, let’s talk about this attitude of yours…” right before the door closed. Brian couldn’t stop his grin and shared a significant look with his twin. Yeah, he wouldn’t want to be on the end of his mother’s tongue lashing either.

Let's Get Familiar - 11

Chapter 2 “Seriously, Mel, I’m fine,” Brian said yet again, not wanting her to keep worrying. Melanie had asked him twice already and once again that they had reached his condo. He knew she only meant the best, but he was seriously done talking about it and just wanted the night to be over already. “I know, but I also know it’s a sensitive subject for you,” Melanie replied, glancing over at him before turning back to the road as she led her small compact car into the guest parking spot in front of his condo complex, parking next to his small driveway that contained his silver Subaru. Melanie sighed as Brian refused to respond, just gathering up his jacket and opening the door. “Just, be careful and call me if you need me. I can be back over here in less than half an hour with cookie dough ice cream and DVDs filled with steamy, hunky men,” Melanie said, grabbing Brian’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “We can hate on men together!” Brian laughed; he couldn’t help it. He knew she would do exactly that if he called her. That was the best part about being twins; Melanie was the first person he would call no matter what the situation, good or bad. They were best friends and always would be. Brian was still chuckling as he got out of the car. “How are we supposed to hate on men together? You haven’t gone on a date in over three months!” Melanie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, we’ll just hate on your men then, and I’ll live vicariously through you. So call me if you need to.” “Deal.” Slamming the car door shut, Brian walked up the path leading toward his two-story condo, waving Let's Get Familiar - 12

goodbye to Melanie before opening the door. It wasn’t until after it was closed, and Brian was leaning back against it that he took a deep breath and slowly allowed his muscles to relax. He loved his family, he really did, but sometimes they were taxing on his inner Zen. Tossing his jacket onto the leather couch set against one wall, Brian slipped off his dress shoes and left them by the door, before he slowly made his way into the darkened apartment. The only light bright enough to illuminate the living room was through the slats in the blinds that were leading out onto the nice sized ground floor terrace and small yard. It may have been tiny, but at least when he went out to fire up the barbeque he didn’t have to worry about seeing his neighbors. Clicking on the lamp sitting on a table just inside the door, Brian took a long moment to look around his home. No matter what his family thought, he was damn proud of all that he had achieved, including the purchase of his first home. It wasn’t huge, just over nineteen hundred square feet, but it had three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a nice sized living/kitchen/dining combo and a one car garage. True, he could definitely afford something bigger and probably nicer, but why bother? He was hardly ever home and had everything he needed right here. One of the bedrooms, the smallest of the three, was on the first floor of the condo and Brian had turned it into a home office. The kitchen had a nice sized bar, serving to separate it from the living area, and he’d put a couple of stools there to make it a nice eating area. His dining room was empty, since it was too small for an actual table, but in its place was his altar to the goddess, with shelving put up on the walls around it to hold whatever a ritual might call for. One shelf was Let's Get Familiar - 13

completely full of books -- information on herbs, spells, rituals, and everything under the sun that had to do with the craft. His grandmother’s spell book was also on that shelf, set along one wall to not draw attention to it, but not exactly hidden either. It was the perfect set up for any witch. Not that it got much use, but Brian liked to be prepared, just in case. It was on one of those shelves that he placed the cloth bag containing the dried elderflowers from his mother, where he figured it would probably sit forever, since he wasn’t likely to use it. But whatever, it was the thought that counted, right? Shaking his head, Brian wandered into his kitchen to pull a beer out of the fridge. It wasn’t until after he twisted off the cap and taken a large swig that he noticed the flashing light of his answering machine on the counter. Taking another drink, Brian leaned against the counter and reached over to press the playback button, hearing he had three new messages. Pressing the button again, he listened as his own voice filling the room. “Hey, you’ve reached Brian Ames. I’m not in right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you. If this is a telemarketer or someone calling about supporting a particular politician, hang up now ‘cause I’m not interested. If not, you know what to do. Thanks. Bye.” BEEP. “Brian, it’s me, Richard. I’m sorry about leaving you like that tonight. But you must understand that for the sake of my immortal soul, I mustn’t be involved in such evil like your family is. So, when you’re ready to be saved, call me and we’ll talk. I do love you, Brian, but your family is…yeah. Call me. Bye, Brian.” Brian reached over and pressed on the delete button before taking another drink of his beer. Yeah, like he’d choose a guy over his family, despite how much they Let's Get Familiar - 14

annoyed him. It was funny, though, he’d never pegged Richard as overly religious. But after dinner tonight, anything was possible. Maybe it was all for the best, then. Shrugging, Brian turned his attention back to the answering machine as it began to play the second message. BEEP. “Bri, it's Beth. Listen, I’m sorry about tonight. I’m going to blame the bitchiness on the pregnancy hormones. I shouldn’t have chased off your guy like that. I know you’ve probably wanted to kill us for sticking our collective noses in your business, and I don’t blame you. But in our defense, we did it because we love you. That’s right, I’m playing the big sister love card, so you can’t hate me forever! Anyway, the baby is tap dancing on my bladder again so I’ve gotta go, literally, but give me a call during the week so you can come over and see the nursery. It should be finished by then. Okay, love you, squirt! Bye!” Brian just shook his head and couldn’t fight the bemused smile that crossed his face. It was totally like Bethany to call and apologize after one of her “psycho preggo moments” as Mike liked to call them. Brian had to give it to the man; he had balls of steel to deal with Brian’s big sister. Bethany had the typical redhead temperament, and the pregnancy on top of it would make most able bodied men run for the hills. Well, two messages down, one to go. Only this last message wasn’t something pleasant. In fact, it sent chills of dread down Brian’s spine. BEEP. “Brian? Are you there? Pick up, Brian, it’s me, Peter. I know you’re there. Why are you avoiding my calls? I thought we were doing so well together? I know Let's Get Familiar - 15

you didn’t mean it when you said not to call you anymore. I admit I was a bit overzealous when we were talking about your coven and the magic, but I just want to share the beauty of the Goddess with you! I know you have so much to teach me, and I’m eager to learn! We’ll be so powerful together, perfect for each other, if you’d just give me a chance. Call me, okay? Do you still have my number? Just in case you lost it, it’s 206-530-7...” Brian shuddered and quickly reached over to press delete. There was no way he was calling that crazy guy back. Peter Lewis had seemed like such a nice man when Brian had originally met him in the Barnes and Noble “New Age” section. Brian had been picking up a book on the magical property of herbs for his mother when he’d noticed the smaller, nerdish looking man, with dark hair and thick glasses, stealing glances at him from behind a book on witchcraft. All it had taken was a smile from Brian for the man to come over and introduce himself, stammering and blushing the whole time. Peter had invited him for coffee, and Brian had agreed. It was during that first date that Brian had learned how intrigued Peter was with the craft, being completely new to the life. So Brian had loosely taken the other man under his wing, teaching him the basics and making sure Peter knew the rules involved in attempting to manipulate the forces of nature for your own desires. Peter had been an eager and commanding student. He seemed particularly interested in Brian, but obviously disappointed when he learned Brian was a null. They’d only slept together once, but it wasn’t long after that Peter began showing up to random things Brian was at, where he hadn’t been invited, and bugging Let's Get Familiar - 16

Brian to meet his family. That time it had been Melanie who raised the alarm. She’d pulled Brian aside one evening where the two of them had been out to dinner and Peter had “mysteriously” shown up, and she’d told him to get rid of the guy. There was something off about the smaller man, something dark and dangerous. Brian had dumped him that very night. Now, almost a year later, Peter continued to call and harass him, even showing up at his job twice. The second time, Brian had asked security throw him out and had gotten a restraining order. Not that it did much good. Sure, the creepy little man stayed away the mandatory two hundred feet, but every now and then Brian received a phone call like tonight. And the calls were becoming more and more frequent. Sighing, Brian pushed himself away from the counter and away from the answering machine. There was nothing he could do but be a bit more vigilant from now on. The last thing he wanted was for Peter to follow him and find out where his mother and sisters lived. He wouldn’t want them to be hurt by one of his loose cannon exes… not that Peter could. In fact, he should probably be worried about his mother or sisters hurting Peter. The women in his family could be a bloodthirsty bunch, especially when one of their own was threatened. Setting his beer down on the coffee table, Brian picked up the remote and kicked up his feet. Flipping through the channels until he found Sports Center, Brian lost himself in the day’s highlights of best sports plays. An hour later Brian heard the wind kick up outside, rain lashed at the windows, and the distant rumble of thunder sounded. Odd, he hadn’t heard the morning Let's Get Familiar - 17

weather reporter say anything about bad weather tonight. Brian shrugged. Oh, well. It was only when the wind and rain died down that he heard it. It sounded like quiet mewling of an animal outside, coming from his patio. Turning off the TV and getting up quickly, Brian set the remote down on the table and made his way over to the sliding glass door. Pulling the blinds aside, he didn’t see anything at first. Then lightning flashed, and he could just make out the small, dark shape huddled under his outdoor table. Brian thought it might be a cat. Damn, he couldn’t just leave it out there. Not with the storm raging the way it was. He wasn’t a complete heartless bastard. Easing open the door slightly, Brian squatted down until he was hunched down more level with the cat. He didn’t want to scare it any more than it probably was already. “Come here, kitty. It’s okay. Bet you want to get warm, huh? I don’t have any cat food but I bet I’ve got some milk and a nice can on tuna for you…” The cat perked up slightly at the sound of his voice, big yellow-green eyes watching him warily. Brian eased the door open a little more. “Yeah, I bet some food sounds good, huh, buddy? Come on, little one. No one needs to be out in the rain tonight. I’ll let you back out in the morning if you want but you should be inside for at least tonight.” He held out his hand and clicked his tongue a couple of times like he’d seen the people on TV do to a hesitant animal. Ever so slowly, the cat got up and edged toward the door, unease in every small step. Brian had to reassess his thought that the cat was Let's Get Familiar - 18

small. It was a big, muscular behemoth. Pure black, male, and at least fifteen to twenty pounds, the large tomcat could be reclassified as a small panther. How had it managed to curl itself up so tightly that Brian thought it was small? Then again, if he was stuck out in the rain, Brian might try to curl up tiny too. The cat was about halfway out from under the table when lightning flashed and it froze in alarm. Thunder roared and the cat squealed in fear, and the next thing Brian knew, it was racing through his legs and into the warm living room, diving under the couch to hide. Quickly, Brian stood up and closed the door, before walking carefully over to the couch, kneeling down and peering under. The cat was huddled back again the wall, watching Brian, shuddering when thunder sounded again. “It’s okay, guy, don’t be scared. You’re safe inside now. How about some food, hmm? Bet you’re hungry.” Leaving the cat where it was, Brian headed into the kitchen, flipping on the overhead lights. Taking a couple of bowls out of the cupboard, Brian pulled the milk out of the fridge and filled one bowl halfway full. Setting it on the floor about a foot away from him, he turned back to the pantry to pull out a can of tuna. Pulling out the electric can opener, he ignored the frightened animal. The can was about halfway opened when he noticed a small furry head popping out from underneath the couch. Smiling, Brian finished opening the can and placed about half into the waiting bowl. Setting it down next to the bowl of milk, Brian took a step back and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. Almost as soon as he stepped away from the food the cat darted forward, attacking the tuna with a desperation that proved the poor thing was starved. It scarfed it Let's Get Familiar - 19

down like it hadn’t been properly fed in weeks, and then looked up at Brian and meowed plaintively. “What? Half a can just not enough for you, big guy?” Brian asked. Smiling, he grabbed the can off the counter, dutifully emptying the rest of the tuna into the waiting bowl. The cat flicked his tail, whiskers twitching, waiting only until Brian had moved the can out of the way before diving back into the food. Brian chuckled. “You know, I hear tuna is bad for cats.” Brian could have sworn that the cat looked up at him with disdain as it gave another flick of its tail. Outright laughing now, Brian just shook his head. “You’re right. A beast like you could handle a measly bit of tuna any day.” With the tuna now devoured, the cat moved onto the milk, looking as pleased as any cat could. Taking a chance, Brian reached down and lightly stroked along the cat’s back. It tensed for a moment, then relaxed again, a light purr starting to come from the little beast’s throat. Brian grinned. “You’re just a big lover, aren’t you, buddy?” He lightly scratched behind the cat’s ears and the purring got louder. “Yeah, you are. Pretty friendly for a stray tom. Do you have an owner out there somewhere?” The cat didn’t reply, just continued to lap the milk from the bowl. Suddenly, the lights above them flickered ominously. Outside, the storm was raging, not seeming like it was going to end anytime soon. Damn, he hoped the lights weren’t going to go out. Almost like just thinking it was enough, the room was suddenly plunged into darkness, the condo losing power. Let's Get Familiar - 20

“Shit.” Brian stood up and moved toward the window above the kitchen sink. He could see that all the condos in the community had their lights out, meaning the entire complex had lost power. He heard his new housemate give a soft meow. “Hold on, buddy, let me grab some candles. There are some over on the altar.” Pulling out his cell phone, he used it to light up the room enough to see his way to the right area. Once there, Brian grabbed the lighter off the table and began lighting some of the candles, before moving about to spread them around the room. Soon, a soft glow encompassed the room. Sitting down on the couch, Brian tried to relax. The lights could be off for twenty minutes or twenty hours. Depending on how long the storm went on, it could be a while before the city was able to get the power back on. Closing his eyes, Brian ignored the sounds of the cat wandering about, investigating his temporary home. A few minutes later, there was a thump next to him on the couch and Brian felt a small wet nose sniffing at his hand, whiskers tickling. Smiling, he opened his eyes to see his new friend sitting next to him, watching him expectantly. “What?” Brian asked, somewhat surprised. He really expected the cat to be more standoffish that it was being. Reaching out, Brian lightly scratched under the cat’s chin, smiling slightly when a loud purr echoed throughout the room. “So what now, my friend?” Brian asked. The cat just edged closer, propping itself up to knead at Brian’s thigh. “So, what should I call you, hmm? Any suggestions? No? Well, then how about I just call you Tom? Since that’s what you are -- a big ol’ Tom cat.” The cat probably didn’t care either way. “Well, Tom, it’s just you and me…hanging out in the candle light. Let's Get Familiar - 21

You’re not my typical date, but I suppose that for tonight, I’ll make an exception.” The cat started to purr louder. For something to do to occupy the time, Brian got up to grab another beer and started telling the cat all about himself and his family. He told the cat how his mother and sisters chased off multiple boyfriends, each using their unique psychic gifts and magic, and how he was a null witch, which meant he didn’t have either. He told the cat about Richard, his latest ex, and about creepy Peter. He told the cat how lonely he was, how he was tired of not being able to share his life with someone else. Soon, there were four beer bottles sitting on the table, and Brian was definitely starting to feel it. “I mean, I’m almost thirty, ya know! Not a spring chicken anymore. I need to strike while the iron is hot!” The cat’s ears perked up, but Brian suspected it was only the mention of chicken that caused it. The cat listened halfheartedly while he talked on and on, purring and kneading his thigh like it couldn’t be bothered to care about anything else. Brian didn’t blame him. Who would want to listen to a person whine and complain about their lives when just an hour before they had been stuck out in the rain? Melanie would beat him if she could hear him right now, just to give him something to complain over. Speaking of… “I have a twin, you know,” Brian informed Tom, scratching the base of the cat’s tail and making it arch in pleasure. “Her name’s Melanie, and she is exactly three minutes and forty-two seconds older than me; believe me, she never lets me forget it! Of course, she’d absolutely love you, Tom. Probably try to claim you as a familiar, or something. Mel is a real witch’s witch. Gauzy skirts and lots of silver necklaces, and she thinks Let's Get Familiar - 22

everything is the result of ‘magical interference.’ Goddess forbid the garbage truck is five minutes late on Thursdays; she’s sure someone has cursed her! But I love her eccentricities, I guess, like only a brother can. She’s always saying I should just conjure myself up a boyfriend…” Brian stopped, a sudden idea striking his slightly altered mind. “…and maybe I should,” he finished, that drunken reasoning not coming up with a reason why performing a spell intoxicated would be a bad idea. Standing up, and dislodging a very disgruntled Tom, Brian hurried over to his bookshelf, almost stumbling in his haste, and grabbed his Nana’s spell book. Why shouldn’t he try and cast a spell for the perfect man? His mother and sisters did that sort of thing all the time. Hell, that was how Bethany had got her husband, Mike. He may not have the powerful magic the women in his family did, but ninety percent of magic was will, right? Well, Brian knew he had plenty of that. There had to be something in the silly old book for him to use. He flipped through pages like a madman, but nothing he saw was the sort of thing he wanted to use. Right before he was about to give up and push aside the idea as storm fever and being slightly drunk, Brian found just the type of spell he was looking for hidden in the last pages of the book. “To conjure the perfect mate,” he read. Surprisingly, it didn’t look too complicated. Well, the wording was off but it seemed to be the general idea of what he wanted. Count on Nana Abby to change her wording of a spell to make it more mysterious and “witchy” sounding. Brian laughed at the mental image of his little Nana Let's Get Familiar - 23

Abby is a big black witch’s hat… and kept laughing. Man, maybe he was drunker than he thought. Oh, well. Listing off the ingredients to himself, interrupted every now and then by a chuckle, Brian was happy to see he seemed to have them already. Normally, casting spells took time and planning, with gathering ingredients and preparing for the ceremony, but there didn’t seem to be any reason to wait. Brian checked the list again, just to be sure. “Candles: two red, for passion and power; one dark blue for changes; three white for transformation, protection, and blessing; and one pink for love? Check. Caldron or bowl for herb burning? Check. Lighter? Check. Spell from Nana Abby’s book? Check. Herbs: rue, St. Johns Wort, rosemary, purple heather, lemon balm, and…” Brian stopped, and checked the book, positive what he was reading was incorrect. Then he checked it again. Slowly, he turned to where the blue pouch his mother had given him just a few hours before sat on a shelf. “Elderflower,” he whispered. Damn, sometimes his mother was just scary with the things she knew. Brian shook his head. Back to the spell. Last but not least, the spell called for an animal familiar to help direct the flow of power. Brian looked over at his guest. “Hey, Tom, wanna be my familiar?” he asked, proud when he hardly slurred his words at all. Tom cocked his head slightly, but he didn’t say no by running out of the room or something, so Brian took it as a yes. Brian had everything he needed. “All right, Tom! Let’s find me my perfect mate…” Let's Get Familiar - 24

Chapter 3 The lights shining through the slats in the blinds were like daggers piercing Brian’s eyes when he opened them the next morning. He groaned, and then moaned from the pain groaning brought. Damn, what the hell had he done last night? He felt like little elves were taking jackhammers to his skull and pounding away. Damn hangovers. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what he had been doing to get as drunk as he did. Right, there was the disastrous dinner with his family and now ex-boyfriend. Then the awkward car ride home with Melanie. Then there was that weird storm and finding the cat, uh, Tim? No, Tom, outside in the rain. Then Brian had started confessing all his sorrows to the poor animal, while getting more than a little drunk. Damn, he probably owed the beast a few more cans of tuna for having to listen to all his sniveling the night before. Then what? Oh, Goddess, he’d tried casting a spell of some kind to find his dream man and it had backfired spectacularly. There’d been a bright flash of light, knocking Brian on his ass, and that was the last thing he remembered. Shit, talk about desperate. Worse still, he’d had the poor cat act as some sort of animal familiar for him. Brian would be surprised if the beast hadn’t scratched a hole through the door to escape him. Brian snuggled back into the very warm covers and the large mass of heat at his back. Thank the Goddess it was Saturday. He wasn’t going to worry for now. He was going to go back to sleep, get rid of his hangover, and then hunt down Tom and give him a whole chicken as an apology. Let's Get Familiar - 25

Drifting off, Brian scooted closer to the person behind him, until the man’s large cock lodged between his butt cheeks. Hmm, nice. The man grunted while rubbing a hand across Brian’s naked hip, a soft rumble lightly vibrating through the man’s chest and into Brian’s back. Brian sighed happily, letting the sound sooth him back to sleep. And jumped out of bed with a very un-masculine scream the very next second. There was a man… in his bed? A very large, very muscular, very naked man was in his bed… sleeping? Brian ran the previous night’s events through his mind again, but still couldn’t come up with a reason for there to be a man, other than himself, sleeping in the bed in question. Which is kind of a pity, because, DAMN! The mystery man was easily the most gorgeous and perfect specimen of pure masculinity Brian had ever seen in his life. Dark curls, not short enough to lose their shape, but long enough to give the man a sexy, constant bed head look. Perfect arched brows, and lashes most women would kill for, gracing his cheeks in sleep. His jaw was covered in dark stubble. A slim, patrician nose graced that perfect face, and a wide mouth with lush lips made Brian’s own mouth water in need to taste. The man’s broad chest was covered in a light dusting of hair and delicious golden colored skin, like a bronze statue come to life. The little nipples were a dusky pink, peaked and wrinkled in the bright morning light. A light treasure trail danced its way down the man’s rippled abdomen, only to sneak underneath the sheet that covered the rest of the man’s delicious body from Brian’s view. Much to his consternation. The man was beautiful, but despite the way the man Let's Get Familiar - 26

made Brian wish he was still in bed with what he assumed was a rather impressive cock prodding him, it didn’t explain what he was doing in Brian’s bed. Taking a hesitant step closer, Brian nearly jumped out of his skin when the man grunted, rolling over into his stomach and nuzzling into the warmth left behind from where Brian had been laying before he jumped out of bed like his ass was on fire. Brian couldn’t bring himself to complain however, since the move exposed the man’s muscled back and shapely butt to Brian’s appreciative gaze. Large and long, the man’s back was a work of art, just like the rest of him. And his butt! God, Brian thought he could wax poetic about that butt. The mystery man’s legs were long and strong, and Brian was sure that if he were standing upright, the other man would easily be five to six inches taller than Brian’s own respectable six-foot height. Brian sighed, taking a long moment to enjoy the view. Goddess, what a view it was. It took him a moment to see it. Understandable, since there was just so much skin on display to distract him. But once he did, Brian was sure his tired, dry eyes were playing a trick on him. Maybe he was still drunk? He didn’t feel drunk, but what other explanation could there be for a long black tail to be attached to the top of the man’s butt crack, looking oddly natural and appealing? And were those small cat ears peeking out of the top if the man’s head, half hidden by those lovely curls? “What the fu--” The cat-man sat up quickly, looking around in confusion. When he spotted Brian standing next to the bed, he suddenly smiled, revealing a pair of sharp canines. “Hello, Master,” the cat-man rumbled, with a voice that made Brian think of black, crushed velvet. It sent a Let's Get Familiar - 27

shudder down his spine and made his cock perk up and take notice. Which probably wasn’t a good thing, considering he was still standing there, naked as the day he was born. Covering himself the best he could, which admittedly wasn’t much since the contact of his hand on his hard-on made it even more obvious, Brian searched desperately for something to cover himself up with. Spying a towel lying on the floor where he had dropped it the morning before, Brian practically dove for the small piece of terrycloth, wrapping it around his waist in relief. Okay, naked problem fixed. Now back to the large cat-man crawling across the bed toward him. “Who are you and how did you get into my house?” Brian demanded, backing up till his butt hit the dresser behind him and he was out of the cat-man’s reach. The man sat back on his heels, head cocked to the side, completely at ease with his nudity, which was now on full display. Brian was forced to wipe across his chin to ensure he wasn’t drooling when he saw the size of the other man’s cock in the early morning light. Damn, he wasn’t normally a size queen, but the size of that at least eleven inch cock had his hole clenching in need, setting of an internal argument between himself and his inner slut in his head. No, bad Brian! Focus man! There is a big cat person sitting in your bed and you have no idea how he got there… look away from the penis! But it’s so big! I just wanna-No! Ears, tail, and are those fangs? Something is off here! Bad magic must be going on… Forcing himself to look away from the long, thick column of flesh, Brian looked at the man’s face and into those strange yellow-green eyes. Why did they seem Let's Get Familiar - 28

familiar? “Well?” he asked, realizing the cat-man still hadn’t answered him. The other man seemed to be studying Brian’s body just as hard as Brian was studying him. Brian could feel his face flush at the blatant lust in the other man’s eyes as he focused on the not so subtle bulge underneath the towel. Brian cleared his throat, and finally, the man looked away. “You let me in, Master?” Brian found himself nodding before the words actually sank in, lost in the deep timber of the other man’s voice. Once the meaning of the words permeated, however, he stiffened. “I did not!” Brian exclaimed. “I think I would remember if I let you in last night. I may have been drunk, but I wasn’t that drunk! Try again, buddy.” The cat-man looked confused. “You opened the door and called to me. I was so cold and afraid, but you let me in and fed me the lovely tuna and gave me lots of pets…” He trailed off, brow furrowed. Brian felt like someone was smacking him upside the head. Or playing a seriously not funny joke on him. “Wait a second; you’re trying to say you are the cat? The black cat I let in last night? Tom?” Brian asked, silently wondering where the cameras were placed and just who had set him up. “Did Mel send you? Or is this Beth’s fucked up way of trying to make up for last night?” The idea seemed to make more sense than the stray he picked up last night becoming human, and Brian relaxed. “Very funny, ladies! The jig is up! You can all come out now,” he called, walking over to the bedroom door and ripping it open, fully expecting to see his giggling sisters in the hall. But no one was there. “I will be Tom, Master, if that is what you wish me to Let's Get Familiar - 29

be,” the cat-man replied, climbing off the bed and stretching out his impressive body in the morning light. He stopped mid stretch, smiling when he saw Brian watching his so intently. “I am yours,” he purred. Brian gave a futile shake of his head to rid himself of the delightful sight, and scoffed. “I just bet you are,” he grumbled, feeling like the joke had officially gone too far. “Just get your clothes on and go, all right? I’m not laughing, and I don’t think this is funny.” The cat-man looked crestfallen, those long arms falling limply to his side. “Do I not please you, Master?” he asked, velvet voice filled with sadness. “Tell me how to please you and I will. I have never had a Master before, I am sorry if I have done something wrong.” Brian sighed. Damn this guy was good. “Look, what’s your name?” “Tom.” Brian rolled his eyes. “Okay, whatever. Listen, tell my sisters I said they still had to pay you for the full amount of whatever it is they offered you to put you up to this. This really just isn’t my thing. Don’t get me wrong, you’re gorgeous, but I don’t sleep with just anyone.” He had to turn away from the tears forming in the other man’s eyes. “Just get your stuff and go.” Stalking down the hall and then down the stairs, Brian walked into the kitchen, turning on the light; he was happy to see the power was back on. Grabbing the cordless phone off the counter, he dialed Melanie’s number. Behind him he could hear Tom shuffling around, and then the front door opened and closed. Brian noticed he didn’t hear the locks on the door disengage when the other man had opened it. Stupid, I must have forgotten to lock the door last night. Probably how the guy got in, Brian muttered to himself darkly, listening as the phone began ringing. It Let's Get Familiar - 30

rang six times, and Brian was about to hang up and call back when Mel finally picked up. “Hello?” Her voice was scratchy and filled with sleep. Glancing at the clock on the stove, Brian saw it read just past seven in the morning. It was too early for Mel to be out of bed already, but that was too damn bad. “How could you, Mel?” Brian asked, setting in on his sister. “Hiring someone to come into my house while I was sleeping to try and get me laid? I just broke up with Richard last night! You couldn’t have waited a week? I sure hope the money you spent was worth it because I kicked the guy out and told him to get lost. And to have him pretend to be the cat I found? Was that a last minute coincidence or did you plan that too? Come to think of it, that cat was really friendly, not like most strays…” “Brian? What the hell are you talking about?” Mel shouted, talking over him to be heard. “There was some guy in your house? With a cat? Who paid who? What?” she asked in confusion. Brian shook his head, more irritated now that she was denying it than he was before. “I’m talking about the guy you hired to be in my bed this morning, that’s what! Was Beth in on this? Mom, too? What part of stay out on my love life didn’t you guys get? Jeeze!” “Brian?” Mel said. Her voice sounded seriously worried now. “We didn’t hire someone to be in your bed. There was some guy in your bed this morning? Are you hurt? Do you need me to get over there? Is he still there?” Brian frowned, confused. “You didn’t hire him, Mel? He was gorgeous, just the type you would have picked out for me…” “Brian, I swear on the Goddess that I didn’t hire anyone to be in your bed,” Melanie swore, and Brian got a sinking feeling in his gut. Let's Get Familiar - 31

“But if you didn’t then what--” It couldn’t be possible, but then Tom’s words came back to him. You opened the door and called to me. I was so cold and afraid, but you let me in and fed me the lovely tuna and gave me lots of pets… Where was that cat? Looking around, Brian didn’t spot any sign that the cat had been there, other than the two food bowls he’d left on the floor last night. He raced back up the stairs and checked all the bedrooms and under all the furniture, but there was nothing. Racing back down the stairs and over to the couch, he ignored Mel’s yelling in his ear and got down on his hands and knees to look under it. No cat. I am yours. It couldn’t be possible, could it? Standing up, the altar caught his eye, along with his grandmother’s opened spell book and the melted candles. Oh, no. Oh Goddess, what had he done? “Mel. I’ll call you back. I have to find Tom.” Ignoring her demands to talk to him, Brian hung up on her and racing up to his room, threw on some jeans and a T-shirt, and slipping into a pair of shoes, went racing back down the stairs and to his front door, barely remembering to snag his keys of the coffee table as he passed. The phone was ringing, probably Mel calling him back, but Brian ignored it as he raced out the door to try and find Tom. The cat that he had somehow managed to turn into a human. Let's Get Familiar - 32

Chapter 4 Twenty minutes later, Brian was still having no luck locating his unwilling familiar. “Damn it! Where could he be?” Brian cruised down the block, keeping his eyes peeled for the gorgeous hunk of man that had been in his bed that morning. He paid particular attention to the spaces in between homes and condos, stopping every time he thought a shadow even looked remotely similar in the size and shape of his catman. Unfortunately, Brian had no idea what Tom had even been wearing when he left the house, let alone where a cat magically turned into a human would run to when left no other options. All Brian knew was that he needed to find him, and fast, before something awful happened to the innocent cat-man. If it hadn’t happened already. And it would be all Brian’s fault. Why hadn’t he listened to Tom when the man had tried to explain? In his defense, Brian hadn’t imagined that, as a null witch, he could ever have cast the type of spell that he did, let alone the result that came of it. But it had happened, and now here he was, driving down every street near his home, looking for a six foot five man with dark hair and a cat’s tail. Goddess, that even sounded insane! If he got stopped by the cops, they would drag him off to the rubber room without a second thought. Not that he could blame them. His mother and sisters would probably be in the room next to his. Another ten minutes and much cursing later, Brian was forced to admit defeat. Tom, the cat-man, was nowhere to be seen and Brian couldn’t find him. Why did he feel like his heart was Let's Get Familiar - 33

breaking at the thought of never finding Tom? Rubbing his chest to try and ease the ache, Brian turned his car around and headed back to his condo. He pulled back into his drive and threw the car in park, unable to believe what he was seeing. Tom, dressed in Brian’s old green robe that barely reached mid-thigh and left most of his tail exposed, was sitting in his front step, head hanging down. He looked so lost and forlorn, shoulders hunched to ward off the chill of the morning, that Brian barely had time to turn off the car before he was out and running toward the catman sitting on his front step. “Tom!” he yelled the moment he got close enough to be heard. Tom tensed, and looked up at him with wary eyes. “I am sorry, Master, I know you sent me away and told me not to return. But I have nowhere to go, and nothing to wear,” he said, gesturing toward the too small robe he wore. His yellow-green eyes filled with shame. “I would ask for your help, Master, and accept any punishment you wish to give me for disobeying you.” Brian was so relieved that Tom had returned to him that it took him a moment to realize what the cat-man was saying. “Punish you?” he sputtered in surprise. “Why would I punish you? I just got back from looking for you!” When Tom’s eyes widened in surprise, Brian realized he had started to yell. Gentling his voice, Brian tried again. “I realized after you left that I’d made a mistake. Talking to my sister, I realized that you had nothing to do with what happened. It’s all my fault. I don’t want you to go. You’re more than welcome to stay until we figure all this craziness out.” Tom watched him for a long moment, and Brian had the distinct feeling that the other man could see into his Let's Get Familiar - 34

soul, and see how truly desperate he was for Tom to say yes. Suddenly the other man smiled, fangs flashing bright in the early morning light. He stood up, and Brian nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of all those muscles shifting under that thin terrycloth. Looking down, Brian fought the moan that wanted to escape when he realized that the very top of the head of Tom’s cock was clearly visible where the robe failed to cover it. He needed to get the other man off the street and into his house before they both got arrested for indecent exposure, since the moment he noticed Tom’s cock, his own had begun to tent his jeans rather obscenely. Tom’s nostrils flared, and then his eyes heated as he ran them up and down Brian’s trembling body. Damn, have I ever been this turned on? Brian didn’t think so. “Let’s go inside, and we can talk, okay?” Brian said, motioning toward the door. Tom nodded, and turned around to step up onto the landing, butt muscles shifting under that barely-there robe. Brian’s inner slut whimpered in need, but he ruthlessly smacked it back down. Now was NOT the time to give in to Tom’s charms like the horny little bastard he was. They needed to talk, not fuck. His inner slut gave a wail of horror and Brian couldn’t help but agree. Damn his sense of morality and honor...Times like this Brian wished he had the nerve to order Tom to get on his knees and pleasure him. But that would be him taking advantage of the situation, and he gave his cock a hard thump as a reminder. It didn’t help much, but it was enough to let him slip past Tom to unlock the door and get them both into the apartment. Let's Get Familiar - 35

Once in, Brian stopped and looked around, feeling awkward. Now what? “Um, why don’t we sit, and uh, talk about this whole thing?” Brian stammered, motioning Tom over to the sofa. Damn, where was his boardroom confidence when he needed it. Tom cocked an eyebrow, but instead of doing as Brian asked, he moved closer until he was crowding Brian back against the front door. “Do I make you nervous, Master?” Tom purred, and Brian had to lock his knees to keep himself from melting onto the floor in a puddle at Tom’s feet. “I, um, I--” he tried, and then nearly shouted in surprise when Tom began to rub himself lightly against Brian’s front, his purrs vibrating Brian’s cock deliciously. Tom nuzzled his face into the crook of Brian’s neck, and sighed with pleasure. “I can smell your need, Master…” Tom growled lightly, and Brian thought he was going to come apart at the seams when Tom nipped his neck, the flash of pain/pleasure racing down his spine. Tom pulled back, and Brian lost himself in that yellow-green gaze. “What would you have from me, Master?” Tom asked, arms sliding around Brian’s waist in a gentle, yet unbreakable hold. “I am yours.” Brian’s control snapped, and before his mind registered what he was doing, his hands were moving, and he grabbed Tom’s head and jerked the other man’s face down to him, mashing their lips together. His inner slut cheered as he tried to devour Tom, tongue delving between those luscious lips, tasting every crevice and cavern, branding Tom’s individual taste on his lips for all time. Tom moaned and jerked Brian closer until their Let's Get Familiar - 36

bodies were pushed so tightly together Brian could feel Tom’s purrs almost as if they were his own. Finally, the need to breathe prevailed over the need to continue kissing, and Brian pulled back, gasping for breath as though he’d been running a marathon. With the need to breath came with the return of reason and that damned sense of morality reared its ugly head again. Brian tried to pull back a bit farther, feeling sheepish, but Tom wasn’t letting him go. “Tom, we--” “Shh,” Tom whispered, and Brian didn’t stop him as the other man lowered his head again to kiss Brian once more. With Tom holding him, the two of them slowly sank to the floor, Brian relishing the feel of Tom’s strong arms around him, keeping him from falling too fast. At least physically. Brian shook his head at the ridiculous idea, and dove back into the kiss. There was no way he was falling for Tom already. The man had been a cat, for the Goddess' sakes not even twenty-four hours ago. Brian wasn’t going to lose himself in a man who wasn’t even fully human. At least, that’s what he told himself. It didn’t stop him from sighing out Tom’s name in pleasure when the bigger man lowered him fully to the floor and knelt at his side, running his big hands all over Brian’s heated body, caressing him like Brian was the cat-man and not the other way around. Who knew being petted felt so good? Brian thought in wonder, arching his chest up when Tom’s fingers brushed against a hard nipple and slowly lowered his hand down Brian's stomach, heading for the sizeable erection begging to be released from its denim prison. He knew it was wrong that they were doing this. He and Let's Get Familiar - 37

Tom should be talking, not getting ready to play an explosive game of “how to make kitty purr.” But it all felt so good, better than any of the experiences with any of his exes, that was for sure, and so Brian couldn’t bring himself to tell Tom to stop, just let the pleasure flow over him, oblivious to anything else. Which is probably why he didn’t hear the frantic knocking on the door, or a key in the lock, until Tom was suddenly moving away, darting into the kitchen to duck behind a counter, leaving Brian alone and bewildered. “Tom, what’s-- OUCH!” Brian hollered when his front door went flying open, nailing him right in the hip. That’s gonna bruise, he thought dazedly as he looked up into the face of his wide-eyed twin. Melanie looked surprised to see him on the floor, her hair a wild mess of curls, and Brian noticed she still wore her pajama shirt and shorts, with just a coat thrown over it and a pair of boots. Brian’s erection faded faster than a popped balloon at the sight of her. Sisters, the ultimate boner killer. “What the hell, Brian?” Melanie asked, now looking incredulous. Brian grimaced, then sat up quickly when he realized he was still lying on the floor. He started to button up his shirt, wondering half-heartedly when the buttons had come undone, realizing he had been so lost in what Tom was doing that he hadn’t even noticed. Speaking of… Where is Tom? He glanced around, only half listening to Melanie, who was ranting at him. “What is wrong with you? You call me at the crack of dawn this morning, bitching at me about some guy I hired to let you sleep with his cat or something, and then Let's Get Familiar - 38

hang up on me without further explanation! So I race over here, getting pulled over, mind you, by a very cute cop who got to see me in all my lovely glory this morning, only to find that when I get here you’re writhing on the floor like a damn cat in heat! What the hell is with you this morning?” Melanie asked. She had her hand on her hip, glaring daggers at Brian, who still wasn’t paying attention. He was looking around the room in confusion, then wandering into the kitchen, seemingly puzzled. Melanie sighed. “What are you looking for?” Brian cocked his head, listening intently. Was that--? Yes it was. Now where was it coming from? Melanie barked his name again, and Brian turned to glare at her. “Mel, shut up for a minute, will you? I’ll explain in a sec…” Melanie snapped her mouth closed, and Brian was finally able to follow the soft mewling sounds over to his pantry door, that was opened just the barest crack. Reaching out to pull the door open, Brian’s heart froze in his chest at what he saw. Tom was huddled back in the far corner, scrunched down as much as his large body would let him, trembling in fear. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry she scared you,” Brian said softly, keeping his voice low and melodious to ease some of Tom’s tension. “It's okay, Tom. It’s just Mel, my twin. You remember me telling you about my twin last night?” Brian asked. At Tom’s hesitant nod, Brian smiled. “It’s just her. She was worried about me and came over to check. Why don’t you come on out now, okay? I bet you’re hungry? Why don’t you come out, and I’ll fix us all some breakfast, okay?” Ever so slowly, Tom uncurled his large body, and began to crawl his way out of the pantry, wary eyes Let's Get Familiar - 39

locked on a shocked Melanie, who had followed Brian into the kitchen, standing right behind him the whole time. “Come here, baby, it’s okay. Come here,” Brian stood up and held out his arms. Tom crawled across the floor as fast as his human body would let him, and wrapped his arms around one of Brian’s legs, hiding his face in the other man’s hip. Brian smiled, reaching down to run his fingers through Tom’s oh-so-soft curls, and to scratch behind his twitching ears. A loud purr rent the air and Tom relaxed, causing Brian’s smile to widen even farther. “Brian?” Melanie asked softly, and when Brian glanced at her he could see her eyes were focused on Tom’s ears and the tail peeking out from underneath the robe, slowly whipping back and forth across the floor. “Yeah?” “That man has a cat tail?” Melanie seemed like she couldn’t be sure what she was seeing was real. “Uh, yeah, he does,” Brian replied, already dreading the conversation to come. He really just wanted to focus on Tom and whatever his scared cat-man needed, but judging by the look on Melanie’s face, it was going to be a while before she left. Melanie cocked a brow. “Boy, do you have a lot of explaining to do.” Brian grimaced. Yeah, he certainly did, didn’t he?

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Chapter 5 “So, let me get this straight...” Melanie began, looking over to where Tom was curled up on top of a huge pile of blankets, sunning himself in the bright light streaming through the sliding glass door. His tail would twitch every now and then, and he was smiling like he was having a really good dream. After Brian had coaxed Tom out of the pantry, Melanie had helped him make breakfast. After a hesitant start, Tom had managed to put away half a dozen eggs, four pieces of toast, eight strips of bacon, and three glasses of milk. Brian had been both horrified and impressed, and wasn’t surprised when almost as soon as breakfast was over Tom had declared he needed a nap, of course asking Brian if it was okay, getting Brian a glare from Melanie when Tom insisted on calling him “Master.” He set the big man up in front of the sliding glass door, after finding Tom a pair of sweat pants that fit him and weren’t too tight, figuring Tom would like the warmth the sunlight brought. Melanie had barely waited until Tom had fallen asleep before starting in on him. Melanie sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, a pose she had learned from their mother and the many lectures she had given them growing up. “After I dropped you off last night, you found a cat outside in the storm. You brought it inside and started drinking. After getting all depressed and confessing all you secrets and sins to said cat, you decided to cast a spell to help you find the perfect man, using the cat as a familiar. But something went wrong, and you woke up this morning, with that?” Melanie pointed over at Tom. Brian sighed and nodded. It sounded so bad when she said it that way. Let's Get Familiar - 41

“Oh, my Goddess, Brian, have you done it now,” Melanie groaned, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her messy hair. “A cat turned into a human? I can barely believe it! What are you going to do?” Brian shrugged. How was he supposed to know what to do? It wasn’t like Nana Abby’s spell book came with a “just in case” section. “I don’t know, Mel. I just don’t know.” Brian sighed. "I don’t even remember what happened, or what went wrong. All I know is he’s here now, and I'm not about to get rid of him.” He blushed as he said it, but Brian defiantly met Melanie’s eyes to prove he was serious. Melanie groaned, but it was in defeat, and shook her head. “Damn it, Brian. You can’t keep a giant cat-man hidden away in your condo. You have to get back to work eventually, and he’s going to get restless. And what is Mom going to say?” Brian paled, and Melanie did the same. “Oh, shit! What about Mom? She’s going to freak, Bri! Because there is no way this is the proper use of magic.” It was Brian’s turn to groan as he buried his face in his hands. He hadn’t even thought about his mom’s reaction to the whole problem. And Bethany was never going to let him live it down. “Shit! Shit! Shit!” Brian hopped off the couch and began to pace, still careful not to wake Tom up. “Oh, jeeze, Mel, what am I going to do?” “What can you do?” Melanie asked, sitting back to watch him. “You said it yourself; you’re not going to get rid of him. I think what we need to do is figure out how to get rid of the tail and ears, so he could pass for human.” Melanie sighed. “Well, as long as he decides he wants to be human. He may miss being a cat, Brian, and if he does, you’re obligated to help change him back.” Brian frowned at the thought of at the idea of Tom Let's Get Familiar - 42

losing his tail and ears. He was kind of fond of the extra little appendages; they made Tom unique. His stomach clenched and rebelled at the idea of losing Tom all together. It may have been less than twenty-four hours so far, but Brian was undoubtedly attached to the catman. Not to mention you haven’t gotten to feel what the huge cock would be like inside you… His inner slut whimpered. Brian mentally glared, but didn’t disagree. Okay, so his decision for keeping Tom wasn’t completely noble, but something else in side him, the non-horny part, wanted to see where the relationship between the two of them might go. Even if it doesn’t last… Just then, the phone rang. Tom jumped, sleepy eyes glancing around. Brian quickly walked over to pick up the receiver, while Melanie did her best to sooth Tom back to sleep. “Hello?” “Brian?” Brian groaned silently when he heard the slight whine in the voice on the other end. “Hi, Peter,” he sighed, getting a quick look from Melanie. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for weeks. I know things kind of got out of hand, but Brian it’s only because I want to practice the craft with you so much. Maybe we can meet up and…” “No, Peter. I have a restraining order against you. You are not supposed to call me, or stop by my house, or my work. I know that. You know that. There will be no collaboration between us; there is nothing between us. You need to leave me alone!” Brian growled. Peter was getting more and more insistent, but unfortunately, there was nothing Brian could do but try and convince the other man to leave him alone. Let's Get Familiar - 43

He glanced over at Melanie, glad to see that she had soothed Tom back to sleep. He wasn’t happy about the dark look on her face. He needed to convince Peter to leave him alone, and fast, or Melanie might take it upon herself to turn the man in to a toad or something. And considering he had turned a cat into a man, it was definitely possible. It took him a moment to realize Peter was still talking to him. “What was that?” “I asked if it was that other man.” Peter whispered, and there was something in his voice that made Brian stop and take notice. “What other man?” Brian asked, dread filling his gut. “The big one you were out on the doorstep with this morning. He was wearing your robe. Is he the reason you won’t share your magic with me?” Brian’s eyes widened when the implication on the words sank in. He turned his back to Melanie, and lowered his voice dangerously. “Have you been watching my house, Peter? You cannot do that! You need to leave me the hell alone and move on. And stay the hell away from my house.” “But--” “I mean it, Peter. Leave me the hell alone or I will curse you so bad, you’ll wish you’d never met me or even heard about magic,” Brian promised, having had enough. Peter was getting very scary now, and Brian wasn’t about to put up with the other man being a danger to him or his family. Or Tom. “Don’t push me aside, Brian. I know we are meant to be together. Maybe I just need to prove it to you.” With that last ominous message, Peter hung up. Brian stood there for a moment, worry churning his stomach. Let's Get Familiar - 44

He slowly sat down the phone, and turned to look in Melanie’s worried blue eyes. “He’s dangerous, Bri,” she said softly, no doubt in tune with Brian’s feelings. “You need to be careful, especially now.” She tilted her head in the direction of Tom’s sleeping form, and Brian’s heart clenched at the thought of something happening to the innocent catman. “I know,” he said, mind going over the problem. “It’s gone too far. I’ll think of something.” He didn’t say anything about Peter watching the house; no doubt Melanie would freak out and be on the phone with their mother before he could say Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. “Let’s look in Nana’s book,” Melanie suggested, noticing the pained look on her brother’s face. “That’s where you got the spell in the first place, right?” Brian could tell by her face she must have been feeling his upset over “Peter the stalker” with her empathic abilities. “Right,” Brian agreed, pushing aside all other troubling thoughts to focus on what needed to happen now. He walked over to his altar to grab the heavy leather tome and brought it back over to Melanie on the couch. He flipped through the pages until he came across the spell he’d used the night before and handed the book over to his sister. Melanie read the spell, lips moving silently as she read over the ingredients, eyes widening with every line she read. “Holy cow, Brian! Elderflower? This spell calls for elderflower? What are the chances that the main ingredient this spell calls for was the same herb Mom gave you last night? You think she knows what you were going to use it for?” she asked. “Goddess, I hope not.” Let's Get Familiar - 45

Melanie glanced over at Brian, and when their eyes met, they both shuddered. “She scares me, sometimes…” Melanie whispered. She kept glancing around furtively, like their mother was going to pop out at any moment. Brian gave a breathless chuckle, running his hands through his hair. “You and me both.” They turned their attention back to the spell, both silently mulling over where Brian might have gone wrong. Tom sniffled and stretched, turning over to warm his other side, catching Brian’s attention. He smiled softly, watching the play of smooth skin over hard muscle, sighing unconsciously at the gorgeous cat-man. He almost wished Melanie would take off so Brian could wake his sleeping lover in a way Tom soon wouldn’t forget. His mouth began to water as he imagined taking that long, thick cock into his mouth, tongue playing over the bulbous head, making Tom thrash and moan. An elbow to the ribs rudely jolted him out of his erotic daydreams, and Brian looked over to see Melanie glaring at him. “What?” he asked, trying for innocent. It was completely ruined by the large lump in his jeans, and he flushed in embarrassment with Melanie’s eyes drifted down with a rather pointed look. “That had better be for him,” she said, pointing toward the sleeping Tom, “Or else I’ve got a spell to give you a case of jock itch the likes of which you have never seen.” “Oh, gah! That’s just gross, Mel. Of course it’s for him!” Brian exclaimed in horror. Melanie, the bitch, just grinned. “Yeah, well, you’re my baby brother and I don’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity of your boner, thank you very much.” She stood Let's Get Familiar - 46

up and headed toward the door, grabbing her parka off of the back of one of the bar stools. “Where are you going?” Brian asked in confusion, only just remembering to keep his voice down. “You’re leaving? I thought you were going to help me?” Melanie laughed as she pulled on her jacket, flipping her hair out so it wasn’t tucked under her collar. “You are completely hopeless, Bri, until you finish with whatever it was that I interrupted earlier. Tell you what,” she said, walking back over and picking up the spell book from Brian’s limp hands. “I’ll take the book home and do some research to try and see where this whole thing went wrong. Until then, the two of you need some time alone, to figure out this whole attraction thing.” She smiled, and gave Brian a tight, one-armed hug when he stood. “Just remember, Bri, if you’re confused and uneasy with this whole situation, imagine how he must feel. Think it through, brother. Listen to the big head--” She grinned and tapped him fondly on the tip of his nose. “Not the little one.” Brian blushed, but he knew she was right. As much as he wanted to jump Tom’s bones and pet his big kitty all over, he needed to be smart about the situation and give Tom a choice. No matter how much it would pain him to be rejected. “I will,” Brian swore. Melanie turned to leave, but Brian’s next question stopped her. “How will I know, Mel, if I’m doing the right thing for him?” he asked, looking over at the sleeping form just a few feet away. His heart clenched at the peaceful look on Tom’s face. He turned his troubled eyes back to his sister. Let's Get Familiar - 47

“What if this is all one big mistake? What if I’m not the right person to figure all this out and help him get the life he deserves? I’m a magic null; why would someone as beautiful and special as him want to stick around with a guy like me after this is all said and over with?” Brian sighed, voice getting soft. “There are so many out there that aren’t obsessed with their work and can give him the time and attention he deserves. I know me, Mel. I’m moody and selfish and get so busy with everything going on in my head I tend to push my loved ones to the side for later. I don’t want to do that to him too.” “Then don’t,” Melanie replied. Brian felt shocked. He didn’t think her answer would be so simple. “Brian, if you are aware there is a problem, only you can fix it. If you don’t want Tom to be just another one of those guys who sticks around for only a short while, then you need to take all those things you just listed and flip them all around. Make the time. Think about his wants and needs. And put your lover first for once. Yes, your job takes up a lot of you time, but most of the extra time you spend on it is because you don’t have anything worth coming home too.” She nodded toward Tom, and Brian felt his heart flutter at the sweet sight of his catman sleeping. “I think you maybe just found something, or rather someone, that is.” Melanie smiled again, this one a little softer, and reached up to kiss Brian’s cheek before turning away and opening the front door. “Just talk to him, Bri, before you make any serious decisions. This is his life now too, and he has just as much say in it as you do, relationship or not.” She waved at him and walked out the door, then popped her head back in. “And deal with the Peter issue, or us girls will,” she said, clearly referring to the women of the Let's Get Familiar - 48

family. “Oh, one more thing,” she said, glancing over her shoulder with a strange look on her face that Brian couldn’t identify. “Ask yourself this. How did a magic null manage to pull off one of the most complicated spells in Nana Abby’s whole spell book, by far the most complicated one I’ve ever seen? Maybe, just maybe, there are other forces at work here, and this whole thing wasn’t one big, giant mistake after all.” With that, she winked and flounced out the door, closing it sharply on Brian slack-jawed face and racing mind.

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Chapter 6 “Master, who is this Peter who is being a problem?” Brian just about jumped out of his skin at the rumbled question coming from behind him. He’d still been going over what Melanie had said before walking out, lost in the possibilities racing through his mind, and hadn’t heard Tom wake up. He turned to look, surprised to see Tom not only up, but standing right behind him, bright curiosity filling his yellow-green eyes. “What?” Brian finally asked after a long moment when he realized he’d been lost in Tom’s eyes and still hadn’t answered the question. “Who is Peter and why must you deal with his problem?” Tom asked again. Brian couldn’t help smiling at the odd wording. Tom may be in human form, but sometimes it seemed to take him a while to comprehend and formulate the right words to share his thoughts. “Peter is the problem, and one you don’t need to worry about,” Brian replied, smiling. What was it about Tom that could just make him so happy? It was really odd. “He’s just someone who thinks I should share my magic with him, but I’m a magic null, so it’s a moot point anyway. He just doesn’t get it. Don’t worry about it, Tom, all right?” “If you say so, Master,” Tom said. Hearing the catman call him “Master” brought back some of what he and Melanie had been talking about. Already his libido was spiking. Backlit by the sunlight streaming through the window, Tom looked like some mystical cat-god; it was all he could do not to strip the sweats off and really give Tom a reason to call him Master. “Listen, Tom, we should talk…” Brian motioned toward the leather couch, leading Tom back over that Let's Get Familiar - 50

way. Tom followed, steps silent and stealthy, like the cat he was. They settled on the couch, facing each other, and Brian made sure to keep a fair amount of distance between the two of them. It didn’t work though; they weren’t touching, but Brian could smell the musky and slightly spicy scent of Tom’s skin, and it made his own itch with need. They sat in silence for a bit, while Brian tried to formulate his thoughts. He hadn’t realized how nervous his silence was making Tom feel until the other man’s words seemed to burst out of him, drawing Brian’s startled attention. “Have I done something to displease you, Master? I am sorry if I did. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep while your sister was over. I am so sorry. I’ll accept any punishment you want to give me, but please don’t make me leave. I’ll do whatever you ask, but please don’t throw me out! I am sorry, so sorry--” “Stop! Stop, Tom! Stop.” Brian reached forward and grabbed Tom’s hand. “I’m not mad, baby. I’m not mad at all…” he promised. Tom bit his bottom lip, ears flattening against his skull. “Are you sure? You got so quiet and you were frowning at me, and I thought you were trying figure out how to tell me to leave.” His tail whipped back and forth in agitation, thumping softly against the bottom of the couch. “I’ll tell you this right now, Tom. I will never kick you out. All right? Never. The only way you can leave is if you choose to leave…you can stay here as long as you want.” Brian squeezed the large hand he was holding, meeting those beautiful, yellowed eyes steadily. “With you?” Tom asked, much to Brian’s surprise. “Uh, sure. With me.” Tom immediately relaxed, ears perking back up and Let's Get Familiar - 51

tail slowing its frantic whipping. His smile was filled with both joy and relief. “Thank you, Master.” “That kind of what I wanted to talk to you about,” Brian said, motioning one hand between the two of them. “Like this whole relationship thing between us. You don’t have to call me Master if you don’t want to.” Tom’s brow furrowed. “But what would I call you?” Brian chuckled. “How about Brian?” “Brian,” Tom murmured softly, as if trying out how the name felt on his tongue. He repeated it a few more times under his breath before nodding slowly. “I like calling you that,” he confessed softly. Brian grinned. “I like you calling me that too.” “What else, Ma-Brian?” Tom asked, catching himself just before calling Brian ‘Master’ again. Brian was glad. Already it seemed like they had gotten over one of the hurdles in front of them. “What else should we talk about?” “Well, there is also the thing that happened right before Mel showed up. You know, between me and you…” Brian began, and Tom seemed to sink into the couch, head hanging. “You do not want to be with me?” he asked in a small voice. Brian mentally cursed. This was going to be harder than he thought. “It’s not that, Tom, honest!” Brian reached forward with his one free hand and cupped Tom’s bristled cheek. He was going to have to teach Tom how to shave soon. But that was a thought for another time. “I do want to be with you! I really, really want to. It’s just that I don’t want you to feel like you don’t have a choice in the matter, you know? It may have been my spell that made you human, but I want you to feel free to Let's Get Familiar - 52

live as you want to. Hell, I don’t even know if you want to stay as a human, or if you would rather be a cat? It doesn’t matter, honestly, I’ll help you either way, but I want to make sure you know that you don’t just have to stay with me. I mean, you may not even like men, and it’s not fair for me to take advantage of your--” Brian’s rambling was cut off by a pair of warm lips attaching themselves to his. Oh, thank the Goddess! He supposed that answered one question, as to whether Tom was attracted to him or not. He sighed in relief when strong arms wrapped around his waist and lifted him onto Tom’s lap. He could feel the rock-hard erection under his butt and couldn’t stop himself from wriggling slightly, relishing in the purring that sounded, growing louder and louder with every shift of his hips. The two men slowly backed apart, and Brian’s body did an all over shiver when Tom nipped lightly at his bottom lip before backing away to look him in the face. “What is it you want?” he whispered the question before he even thought about it, tongue sliding over his lips to catch the lingering taste of the other man. “I want to live and to love. I want to wake in the morning and snuggle and be petted by someone who is mine alone. My Master, my lover. I do not want to be a cat again. The world is not a nice place to be for a stray. I may miss some things, but I’d rather have a home to live in and someone to be with than to be a stray again. I just want to belong to someone, and I knew the moment you called me in from the storm that I wanted to belong to you.” Who knew the cat-man wanted the same things he did? Brian smiled, happiness suffusing his entire being. “I want that too.” He nibbled his way across Tom’s nose, kissing each eyelid shut and one temple. Let's Get Familiar - 53

“I want to love you and give you the life you want. I’m alone here, so alone, and want nothing more than to have someone to be mine. I want you to belong to me, Tom, if you’ll have me? I’m not the easiest man to be with. I get caught up in my work, and I tend to bully my way through most things, but I think you are willing to give me a swift kick in the ass if I need it.” “I would never hurt you,” Tom swore seriously, and Brian didn’t even try to fight to keep the smile from breaking over his face. “I know, baby. I really do.” He pulled Tom’s face back to his and let the kiss sweep him away. There was probably a lot more that needed to be said, not to mention problems that needed to be dealt with, but for this moment in time, nothing else mattered but the feel of Tom’s skin under his fingers, and the purrs coming from the other man’s chest. When Brian was finally able to form a rational thought, all he managed to say was, “Bed. Now.” Tom immediately lifted him into his arms, a totally new and welcome experience for Brian, and carried him upstairs and into the bedroom, dropping him onto the bed and following him down when they reached it. The next few minutes were a flurry of movement, each man doing their best to divest the other of their clothing without actually stopping the kiss, which went from hot to molten the moment the flesh of their chests touched. Brian, who was used to his partners being smooth and waxed like he was, couldn’t get enough of Tom’s slightly hairy skin, the rough texture adding another component to the experience that made him pant with need. Groan. “Want.” Kiss. “Tom.” Touch. “Please!” Tom responded to his grunting demands with a Let's Get Familiar - 54

frenzy of touching and kissing, growling lightly before sucking a nipple into his mouth, the combination of purring and sucking almost sending Brian right over the edge. He fought back his orgasm with a valiant effort, fingers latching onto Tom’s hair in order to pull his head back. “I need you inside me!” His voice was harsh with need, and Tom shuddered at the sound, cock standing at full mast from a nest of black curls. He nodded, and Brian immediately moved onto all fours, barely taking enough time to grab a condom and lube out of the nightstand for Tom. He handed the items over and then waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, wondering if Tom had suddenly left the room or something, Brian looked over his shoulder to see Tom staring at the condom and lube in his hand, head cocked to the side, puzzled like he’d never seen such a thing before. Brian wanted to smack himself on the head. Of course Tom was confused. Twenty-four hours ago he hadn’t needed either for sex. Hell, twenty-four hours ago, Tom wasn’t even human! “I-I don’t know what to do…” Tom said, confirming Brian’s thoughts. He immediately sat up and wrapped his arms around Tom’s broad shoulders. “I’m sorry, babe. You had me so revved up I totally forgot the whole virgin thing.” Brian blushed while he said it, but he wasn’t going to lie to make himself seem less of an idiot and make Tom feel even worse. “We don’t have to go that far if you don’t want to.” Tom just looked at him like he had lost his mind. “I want to,” he said, “I just don’t know what to do!” Brian grinned. Well, that was clear. Let's Get Familiar - 55

“Let me show you…” He took the condom packet out of Tom’s hand, and ripped it open with his teeth. He then slowly stretched it down the cat-man’s long length, worried that the condom might tear. Tom was just that big! Brian wanted nothing more than to say “forget the condom and let’s get this show on the road,” but knew that wasn’t the responsible thing. He’d never in his life had sex without one, and now wasn’t the time to teach Tom bad habits when it came to sex. Maybe when the relationship was a bit further along it would be okay, but until then, they would play it smart and wear the rubber, as uncomfortable as it may be. Once the condom was on, Brian took the lube out of Tom’s hand and motioned for him to lie down on the bed. “You just relax, and I’ll show you what to do,” he whispered. Tom did as he asked, and Brian moved up to straddle Tom’s waist. If they couldn’t do in doggy style, or, well, kitty style, which was his favorite position, they would do it this way; it was Brian’s other favorite position, so he wasn’t really complaining. He quickly squirted some lube onto his fingers, tossing the lube down onto the bed, and reached behind himself to slip one finger inside his hole. The stretch and slight burn made him moan softly, and when he looked down, Tom was watching him with wide eyes. Seeing the heat and desire in the other man’s gaze prompted him to add another finger, and this time the moan echoed around the room. “Touch me,” he begged, sighing in relief when one of Tom’s large hands immediately wrapped around his dripping cock, while the other trailed over his hip and into his crack, brushing the stretched skin around where Brian had his fingers buried inside his own body. “Oh,” Tom gasped, fingers flinching at the heat, Let's Get Familiar - 56

before growing in confidence, causing Brian to cry out when one of his large fingers pushed in beside his own. His hole clenched, and then relaxed, accepting the larger digit that was equal to two of his own. It felt good, damn good, but it still wasn’t enough for him to take his lover comfortably. “Another! Put another in,” he groaned as he rode the fingers inside him wantonly, body shuddering in delight when Tom complied. One of Tom’s fingers brushed against his prostate, and Brian gasped as his cock belched pre-come into Tom’s fist. He knew he needed to move on to the next step, or else he was going to come just from the feeling of their fingers inside him. He pulled his fingers out, and Tom followed, leaving him empty and aching. He immediately scooted back in Tom’s lap, reaching back to steady the large cock waiting to fill him. Tom shuddered as his tip brushed Brian’s fluttering hole, and Brian smiled wickedly. “Don’t move,” he cautioned, right before he let the cock’s large tip breach his hole and slowly began to sink down. Tom groaned and clutched his hips in a bruising grasp, and sweat popped up on Brian’s forehead as he was forced to pause to let his body adjust. It took a few more minutes, with lots of pausing to relax, and by the time he was seated fully Tom was shaking like a leaf, sweet little mewls of pleasure coming from his mouth. “Feel good, kitten?” Brian asked, rotating his hips, and Tom nodded quickly, seemingly unable to stop himself from pushing up into Brian’s hot depths. Brian gasped, “Yes, more!” And that was all it took for Tom to let go, rutting up into Brian, squeezing Brian’s hips to hold him steady as Tom battered into him. Even Tom's tail got into the action, lightly wrapping around Brian’s thigh, holding him secure. Let's Get Familiar - 57

Brian could do nothing but brace himself on Tom’s sweaty chest and cry out every time his prostate was pegged. All too soon he could feel himself reaching the peak, and Brian knew it wouldn’t be long for Tom either, whose thrusts had grown quicker and more ragged. He didn’t want it to end, but if it was going to, Brian wanted them to come together. He reached down and fisted his cock, jerking hard to the same pace of the battering ram in his ass. “Come with me,” he said, looking down into Tom’s dazed yellow-green eyes, filled with so much pleasure. Tom nodded right before Brian cried out “Now!” and the two of them exploded in pleasure so consuming, it united their hearts and souls in a bond as old as time and as unbreakable as stone. Brian collapsed onto Tom’s chest, not even caring about the come squishing between them from his release, or about the fact that Tom was still inside him. Brian whimpered when the cock in his ass softened slowly, before slipping out. All he cared about were Tom’s lips that were so close to his own, and the way his tongue felt slipping into his lover’s mouth in an effort to comfort and seal the feelings growing between them. He wished he could have felt Tom’s release scorching him on the inside when he climaxed, or feel his come now as it leaked out of his body, but it just wasn’t possible at this point. Soon, he promised himself, knowing his inner slut was purring in contentment, just like his new lover was. “That was amazing,” Brian sighed as he pulled back, laying his head on Tom’s heaving chest as he shifted so he was lying against the other man’s side. The happy purr he got in reply made him laugh and he turned his Let's Get Familiar - 58

head to nip at the nipple under his cheek. Tom’s chest jumped, and much to Brian’s amazement, Tom’s cock began to grow hard again. He looked up in surprise to see the goofy, lust-filled look on Tom’s face. “I liked that. When can we do it again?” Brian groaned, laughing again. He’d created a monster; he just knew it. But as he reached over to the nightstand to grab a fresh condom, he couldn’t find it in himself truly bothered by it.

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Chapter 7 “Honey, I’m home!” Brian called out as he walked through the door, the first time in a long time truly happy to be there. “In here!” He heard a distracted voice call back from the bedroom upstairs and couldn’t have stopped the smile from crossing his face even if he tried. After a wonderful weekend together, filled with lots of sex, love, and laughter, Brian had come to the conclusion that Tom was absolutely perfect for him. Where Brian was impulsive and rash, Tom was thoughtful and cautious. Where Brian could be stoic and boring, Tom was happy and playful, like a kitten. Most importantly, where Brian was submissive and needy in bed, Tom was strong and dominant, completely different in the bedroom than how he was in every other aspect of their lives. Going to work that morning had been tough. All he wanted to do was stay home, wrapped up in his catman’s strong arms. If it hadn’t been for Melanie offering to check in on Tom throughout the day, Brian probably would have tendered his resignation before the day was done. He had it just that bad. Tom was everything he’d ever wanted in a lover, his perfect balance, and Brian wasn’t about to let him go. Melanie had mentioned in her phone call that morning that she might have figured out where the spell went wrong, and she thought she could change Tom back. Brian had politely told her, thanks, but no thanks. He was quite content with Tom the way he was, from the top of his ears to the tip of his tail, and wouldn’t have him any other way. Melanie had been ecstatic for them, and had offered to start working on a glamour spell, to hide Tom’s cat-like characteristics for when Let's Get Familiar - 60

they left the safety of their home, without actually getting rid of the extra appendages. Both he and Tom had been very happy at the news and had immediately taken her up on the offer. Brian set the bag of tuna cans on the counter, grinning at the thought of how happy his lover was going to be. It turned out that whether he was a cat or a cat-man, Tom loved tuna. He’d eaten every can they had in the house, and then moped when he discovered there was no more. Brian had been forced to distract him with a blow job, turning his kitty into a purring puddle to get the other man’s mind off of it. Not that it was a hardship, he snickered to himself. In fact, he planned on repeating that experience as soon as he could the moment he managed to track his wayward lover down. He took the stairs two at a time, practically running down the hall, skidding to a stop when he got to the bedroom door, almost bursting out laughing at what he saw. Tom was squatting naked in front of his balcony door, ears perked up, tail whipping back and forth, excited eyes watching one of the bird feeders Brian had put in the large oak tree outside his condo, so he could hear the birds in the morning. His yellow-green eyes tracked a blue jay, and he pawed at the air with one hand, almost like he was a cat again. His face was filled with such mischief, that Brian couldn’t hold his laughter in this time. “Babe, what are you doing?” he asked between chuckles. Tom didn’t even bother to take his eyes off the birds outside before replying. “Watching.” Brian laughed again. “I can see that. What are you watching?” Let's Get Familiar - 61

“Birds.” “Birds?” Tom nodded. “Birds. They are teasing me…” Brian cocked a brow. “Uh-huh. And what are you going to do to them because they are teasing you?” Tom grinned, and it was a wicked thing. “Eat them.” Brian winced at the thought. “Um, wouldn’t you rather have some tuna? I picked up some more on the way home from work?” Tom’s ears perked up at the magic word, and he finally turned his attention away from the outside. “Tuna?” he asked, and Brian heard his stomach rumble. “Yep, want me to go fix you up a can?” he asked, smiling fondly. There was something about Tom’s innocence that made Brian feel so damn good about providing for him. Even if all Tom wanted was one measly can of tuna. “Please? I love tuna!” Brian just shook his head in amusement, and then nodded at his bright-eyed lover. “Sure, baby.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around Tom’s trim waist. He pulled Tom’s head down to his level, giving him a warm, happy kiss while his hands massaged those perked up ears. His lover purred, and Brian could feel the cat-man’s cock harden against his hip. He really loved finding all the ways to make his kitty purr. It was quickly becoming a favorite pastime. “Why don’t you start a bath for us, while I make us some food? I think we deserve to relax this evening, don’t you?” Brian suggested. He just loved the way Tom’s eyes lit up at the idea. “With bubbles?” Tom asked, and Brian nodded his head in agreement. “Absolutely.” Let's Get Familiar - 62

He laughed as he watched his lover practically bounce toward the master bathroom, amazed at how quickly Tom had come around to the idea of bathing. It was the exact opposite reaction of the first time Brian made the suggestion of a bath together. Tom had originally been horrified by the idea, and it had taken a lot of convincing on Brian’s part the get him into the tub. He assured his lover that humans liked baths and showers, but it had taken an erotic encounter involving a movable showerhead sprayer and a bubble bath for Tom to finally understand the appreciation. Now he couldn’t get enough of them. I can’t wait to show Tom all that we can do with chocolate sauce and whipped cream… He walked with a spring in his step all the way back down the stairs, whistling happily to himself as he threw his suit jacket over one of the kitchen bar stools, and rolled up his sleeves. He grabbed the electric can opener off a shelf and started opening one of the many cans of tuna, the whir whir whir of the can opener covering for the sound of the front door being jimmied open. Brian had just scooped the tuna out into a bowl when the clicking of a gun being cocked froze him. “Turn around,” a voice commanded, and Brian seriously hoped the voice he recognized didn’t belong to who he thought it did. Slowly, not making any sudden moves, Brian set the empty tuna can on the counter top, and then turned to face the ominous presence behind him. “Peter,” he said. His voice was completely without emotion, the name more a confirmation of who stood in front of him than a question. Damn, he looks rough. Bloodshot brown eyes stared back at him from a thin, sallow face. The hands holding the gun were unsteady, Let's Get Familiar - 63

shaking ever so slightly, and the wrinkled clothes Peter wore were stained with food and the Goddess knew what else. The scent of alcohol wafted off Peter’s unwashed body, and it took everything in Brian not to recoil at the stench. Peter looked rode hard and put away wet and maybe rolled in garbage at some point. It was all disturbing, but for Brian the most worrying factor was the distinct lack of sanity in the other man’s eyes. Peter had not just fallen off the deep end; he’d dived off. Add that in with the gun in his hand, and it was apparent Peter wasn’t prepared to go down alone. Above him, Brian could hear the bathwater still running, and he knew he needed to think fast to come up with a solution before his gentle cat-man came downstairs wondering where he was and walked right into the crosshairs of a madman. “What are you doing here?” Brian asked. Nothing like mortal terror to make a man focus. Peter jumped when he spoke, and the trembling of his hands increased. Brian desperately hoped the gun wasn’t going to accidentally fire. “I told you, didn’t I? That I was going to show you that we were going to be together?” His voice was shaky and Brian knew the man was defiantly unhinged. “Well, here I am! And this is going to prove it!” Peter waved the gun in his hand, and Brian fought the urge to duck and run. Any sudden movement could set Peter off; at least, that’s what Brian thought he remembered from college psychology class. Goddess, why didn’t he pay more attention in that class instead of flirting with that cute T.A.? Because I never expected to be at the mercy of a gun toting madman, that’s why! “So you’re going to what? Shoot me and then yourself, is that the plan? Because if so -- damn, man -Let's Get Familiar - 64

what a cliché.” Brian could have smacked himself in the mouth for that last little bit, especially when Peter’s eyes narrowed as a blush ran across his cheeks. Idiot! Note to self, DO NOT antagonize the nut job with a gun! “You won’t be saying that when you’re dead,” Peter promised, and Brian could have rolled his eyes at the Bmovie script they were playing off of. “If I can’t have you and your magic, no one will.” “What magic?” Brian asked in exasperation. Over their heads he could hear the water being shut off, and knew he was quickly running out of time. “I’m a null, remember. There is no magic!” “But there has to be!” Peter insisted. He looked desperate now, and Brian was worried about where that desperation would lead. “You knew so much! And the other night I saw bright light coming from inside your house. It wasn’t normal! There has to be magic, you have to have magic!” “Sorry to disappoint,” Brian said. Peter shook his head. There was no way Brian was going to tell him that the bright light seen the other night was the result of him doing real magic for the first time in his life. Let alone tell Peter that the result of that magic was currently sneaking down the stairs right behind him. Brian tried to warn Tom away with his eyes, but the determined look on Tom’s face let him know that the cat-man had no intention of listening to him. Tension coiled in every line of his body, ears twitching as Tom looked for his opening. Brian knew the best he could do was keep Peter’s attention on him and hope for the best. “Why do you need magic so bad, Peter?” Brian asked, figuring that getting the other man talking would be the best idea. Let's Get Familiar - 65

Like that whole super villain thing… distract him with a monologue. Peter looked at Brian like he was the crazy one. “Are you kidding me? You’ve seen me. I’m a skinny, scrawny little man who works in a bookstore. What kind of guy is going to want to be with me? I’ve seen the way they look at me, the way you look at me! There’s disgust and pity, and no one will even give me the time of day unless they feel bad for me. That’s why you went out with me, wasn’t it?” Peter thrust the gun toward Brian’s face, sneering. “You are just like the rest of them. But if I could have magic, I could make them want me! I could be perfect, be powerful; everyone will love me and want me! I could become a god!” What a cliché. “You’ve obviously never heard of the rule of three, have you?” Brian asked, glancing over Peter’s shoulder to check Tom’s progress. The big man moved so silently, Peter still had no idea they were no longer alone. “Rule of three?” “Yeah, the one that states any wrong you do to another will come back on you three times worse.” Brian shook his head. This guy was way off his rocker. “Really?” Peter asked, looking surprised. The gun in his hand wavered down a few inches, and Brian knew the moment had come. “Really,” he replied, seconds before Tom pounced. Peter squealed, and the gun went off, causing Brian to jump when the bullet shattered a vase sitting on the counter only inches from his right side. Tom ripped the gun away when Peter turned around to aim the gun on him. Peter froze, staring up at the large cat-man who glared back down at him. Peter began to scream, and Tom grabbed the smaller man, wrapping him into a Let's Get Familiar - 66

chokehold. Peter fought him, but it was no use against Tom’s massive strength. Finally, Peter slumped down in Tom’s arms, unconscious. Brian barely waited for Tom to set Peter to the side and place the gun on the counter before rushing into his lover’s arms, finally able to breathe, the release of tension making him tremble. “Don’t ever do that again!” Brian ordered as he squeezed Tom tighter, getting squeezed back in return. “Don’t ever put yourself in danger like that again.” “I will always protect you, Brian.” Tom replied, nuzzling Brian’s temple. “I am yours, my lover, my master, but you are also mine.” Brian relaxed fully, sinking into the comforting heat coming from his cat-man. There was nothing he could say to that, except one thing. “I love you, Tom,” he said, pulling back enough to look into those yellow-green eyes. “I know it may seem so fast, but I don’t regret whatever magic brought us together. I love you, more than anything or anyone I ever have.” Tom smiled, and it was like the sun breaking through a storm cloud. “I love you, too.” They shared a heartfelt kiss, but before it could threaten to go further, a soft moan sounded from where Peter was crumbled on the floor. “We’ll get back to that later. Let’s take care of him first,” Brian said, placing another quick kiss on Tom’s mouth before walking over to grab the cordless phone off the counter. He made a quick call to the police, who said they would send someone over immediately. Then he placed a call to his sister, Melanie. He glanced over at Tom, who was keeping a careful eye on Peter, who was starting to stir. Tom was perfectly still, except for his tail Let's Get Familiar - 67

twitching, the only thing betraying his agitation. “By the way, where did you learn to do a choke hold like that?” Brian asked Tom while the phone rang. “I watched wrestling today,” Tom replied, making Brian raise a brow. “You did?” he asked. Tom nodded. “The TV has some amazing things on it. Have you ever seen something called a Soap Opera?” Brian was saved from responding by Melanie’s voice, which brought Brian’s attention back to the phone. “Hello?” Melanie’s asked. “Hey, Mel, it’s me. Listen, I don’t really have time to explain, but we’re going to need that glamour spell real quick…”

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Chapter 8 Brian waved to the last officer as he drove away in his patrol car, Peter safely ensconced in the back seat. The last hour and a half had been filled with sirens, police reports, and explaining away Peter’s wild accusations of magic and a giant man with cat ears and fangs. The responding officers had looked over at Tom, who hovered at Brian’s side the entire time they were there, taking in his imposing height and muscles. What they didn’t see was anything resembling cat ears or a tail, and when Tom smiled at Brian, the lack of fangs made them turn to each other with a significant look. Brian had told the police how Tom had saved him, claiming Tom’s name was Tom Catzmen, a name he and Tom had come up while waiting for the police. They’d claimed Tom’s ID had been lost in the move when he had moved into Brian’s house, and that Peter was jealous of that and Brian’s religious beliefs. Brian explained how he had a restraining order against the other man, and that Peter had been stalking him for over a year now. The police seemed to accept the explanation easily enough, much to Brian’s relief. The police assumed that Peter had taken Tom’s last name and created a totally new person in his mind, and that watching Brian get into a new relationship with this mythological person probably prompted a psychological break. So, Peter was now on his way to a hospital mental ward, where he would be under evaluation while he was being charged with stalking, breaking and entering, and probably attempted murder with a firearm. Brian felt badly about the way everything turned out, but Peter was obviously unstable, and who knew how bad everything could have gotten if Tom hadn’t been Let's Get Familiar - 69

there? The only consolation was that Peter would get the help he needed, and Tom wasn’t under suspicion. Melanie had really come through on the glamour spell too, and not a moment too soon. She’d freaked out when Brian explained what happened, but thankfully agreed to tell him the spell over the phone. Luckily, Brian had everything needed for the quick spell, including the surprise herb the spell had called for… Elderflower. The sheer amount of coincidences made his head spin. The spell had been done quickly, since the two of them only had moments to spare before the police showed up. Brian did the chanting for the spell, while Tom mixed together different herbs and ingredients; all of which he currently wore in a small sachet around his neck. Brian had been worried that the spell wouldn’t work, since he had no real magic to speak of, but it seem that as long as Tom was with him, Brian’s apparently long dormant magic bubbled forth at his beckoning. Brian had to laugh about that. Turns out I really did need an animal familiar to help direct my power. Somehow, he didn’t think a giant cat-man was what his Nana Abby had been referring to, but hey, to each his own and all that. A warm, muscled arm wrapped around his shoulder, and Brian relaxed into the heat at his back. “Hey,” he said, glancing over his shoulder with a smile. Tom nuzzled his face into Brian’s neck, inhaling deeply, and then letting the breath out slowly. “What now?” Tom asked, and Brian could feel his lover’s large cock pressing against his ass through the denim of his jeans and Tom’s sweats. When Brian raised a brow at him, Tom blushed adorably and grumbled. “You said we could continue once Peter was taken care Let's Get Familiar - 70

of.” He looked to where the police car had just turned the corner. “He is gone now…” Brian grinned, then taking his lover by the hand, dragged Tom back into the house. He knew they both needed confirmation that they were okay. The last few hours had been stressful, and the two of them needed to know that the other was there, together, and that their lives were ready to begin. Brian slammed the door shut, and very quickly found his back pushed up against it, a very large and horny catman warming his front. “Oh, Tom,” Brian moaned, right before those lush lips devoured his own. Brian whimpered, hands reaching up to tangle in Tom’s hair. Tom rumbled his approval, his own hands latching onto Brian’s ass, lifting him up so Brian could wrap his legs around Tom’s waist. The movement lined their cocks up perfectly, and the next few minutes were spent dry humping each other, groaning at the exquisite friction the fabric of their clothes brought on their sensitive cocks. Brian sucked on Tom’s tongue, refusing to relinquish his prize, humping frantically as he strained to reach his orgasm. Tom was moaning steadily, each push of Tom's hips pushing Brian's back harder and harder against the door. There was something about the unyielding door at his back and an equally unyielding lover at his front, that pushed Brian closer and closer to the edge. He was almost there, panting with need, Tom not far behind. Almost, almost… “Brian?” Brian yelped when the door at his back moved, pushing him into Tom, knocking them both forward with its momentum. Tom ended up flat on his back on Let's Get Familiar - 71

the floor; Brian ended up sprawled on top of him. A glance over his shoulder revealed a smirking Melanie, Nana Abby’s spell book in her arms. She looked over at him and Tom and sighed in exasperation. “Seriously, you two need to find a new place to get it on… by the front door obviously isn’t working for you.” Brian groaned, burying his face in Tom’s shaking chest as his lover laughed. “It would if I took away your freaking keys,” he mumbled, face on fire. Melanie just laughed -- the bitch -- reaching down to help Brian up off the floor. Brian went over to shut the door again, while his twin helped his lover up as well. “Why are you even here?” Brian asked as he turned back around. “I told you we could handle it.” To his amazement, Melanie blushed and smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, well, I know that’s what you said, but I was really worried and then Mom called and said she had a vision of something happening with you, and that she knew I knew what it was, and I figured I should come warn you because…” “Mel, stop rambling and spit it out already,” Brian interrupted, sitting down on the couch and pulling Tom down next to him. Tom wrapped his hand around Brian’s, and the two of them shared a smile. “Mom’s on her way here,” Melanie blurted. Brian’s head whipped over to her, staring in horror. “WHAT!” Melanie grimaced. “So is Beth…” Brian jumped up, about to do what he wasn’t sure, but he was leaning toward strangling his twin. Before he could do anything of the sort, there was a frantic knock at the door. Brian groaned, glancing between the door and his wide-eyed lover. “I hate you,” he said without heat, glaring at his Let's Get Familiar - 72

sister. Melanie gave him a repentant smile, but they both knew there was nothing else they could do. Their mother was here, and now that she was here, nothing short of an apocalypse could chase their mother away. Taking a deep breath, he walked over and opened the door to the whirlwind that was Meredith Ames. “Oh, my baby!” Meredith exclaimed, pulling Brian’s face down to hers, so she could pepper it with kisses. “Melanie told me what happened with that Peter fellow. Are you all right?” Brian tried to respond, but his mother had moved on from kissing him to wrapping her arms around his middle and hugging him with all her might. He glanced over shoulder, sharing a significant look with his older sister Bethany, who was still standing in the doorway. I’m fine, he mouthed to her, and Bethany sniffled, eyes watering. Brian held out an arm to her, and she rushed forward, jockeying with their mother for room so she, too, could get her hugs in. Bethany’s big, pregnant belly made it a little awkward, but soon enough they had everything worked out and the three of them clung together as Brian let him mother and sister cry all over him. “Come on, let’s sit down, okay,” Brian finally said. “Everything is fine, I promise. Come on.” He coaxed his mother and sister back, and then motioned them into the living room. His mother sat down in the leather recliner, pulling a tissue out of her purse to dab at her eyes. Brian once again shut the door, locking it against anyone else who might show up. He turned around, thankful to see Melanie was sitting next to Tom. Bethany still hadn’t sat down. Instead, she was staring at Tom with a puzzled look on her face. Let's Get Familiar - 73

“Who’s this?” she asked, and Brian shot a panicked look at Melanie. It was one thing to lie to the police; it was something else entirely to lie to his mother and older sister. “Uh, this is Tom. Tom Catzmen.” Brian could tell by the looks on their faces that just a name wasn’t enough. “Tom’s my new boyfriend; he’s been staying with me and helped diffuse the whole Peter situation.” Melanie just stared at him like she couldn’t believe that he had actually said that. Both his mother and Bethany looked surprised, and Brian fought back a grimace. It was too late to change the story now. “Boyfriend?” Meredith asked. Tom was staring at Brian with those worshipful yellow-green eyes, and Brian knew his Mom had noticed. Thankfully, she seemed to remember her promise to stay out of Brian’s love life and didn’t ask any obvious questions. “Well, Tom, thank you for helping my son. It’s very nice to meet you,” Meredith said with a smile. Tom smiled in response and Brian hoped that meant everything was going to be okay. That was, until Bethany opened her big mouth “Boyfriend? I thought you just broke up with your boyfriend? Since when do you let someone you barely even know move in with you?” Bethany exclaimed. She was studying Tom like he was a bug under a microscope, and Brian fought back his irritation. And lost. “Since it’s none of your business what I do in my love life!” Brian retorted, moving back over to Tom’s side and grabbing his hand. “Mind your own business, Beth. This is what I want. I love him! So just back off!” Brian felt like he was some Victorian, virginal maiden trying to defend her choice in lovers to her disapproving family. Let's Get Familiar - 74

“But--” Bethany began, only to be interrupted by their mother. “Enough, Bethany. This isn’t your choice.” Meredith gave her oldest daughter a look that said it was time to drop the conversation. “His choice, not yours.” The other three people in the room watched the two women argue. One minute, Tom was holding Brian’s hand, and in the next he was walking over to where Bethany was standing, squatting down to stare at her stomach in amazement. “Tom!” Brian hissed, and of course that drew everyone’s attention. Bethany looked startled as she gazed down at the large man who was watching her stomach with such appreciation. “What are you doing?” she and Brian asked at the same exact time. “There’s something in there…” Tom replied, tilting his head inquisitively. “She’s pregnant, dear,” Meredith explained, watching her son’s lover with a slight smile on her face. “That means there is a baby in there.” “A baby?” Tom asked, looking up at Bethany. She nodded, and then just about fell over when Tom began to purr. Brian buried his face in his hands. Looks like he had even more explaining to do. “Is he purring?” Meredith asked. Brian glanced over at Melanie for help, but the look on her face said he was on his own. He sighed and nodded. “Whatever he’s doing, it’s making the baby kick like crazy,” Bethany replied as she rubbed a hand over her distended belly. Tom purred louder in response, no doubt trying to commune with the damn thing. “Okay, maybe I should explain everything a little bit more,” Brian began and then launched into the story of Let's Get Familiar - 75

accidentally turning Tom into a human and the consequent adventure that followed. When he was finished, Bethany sat down hard on the sofa, and Tom followed, still purring to her stomach. Meredith listened with her mouth hanging open, but was the first to recover. “Well, that certainly does explain everything,” Meredith replied. She stood up and wandered over to Brian’s altar, picking up the spell book Melanie had set there. She hmm’d as she flipped through the pages, finally stopping on the spell Brian had described. When she saw it, she recognized the spell for what it truly was, and laughed. “Elderflower,” she chuckled, looking up at her three children with a grin. “Now I understand why I dreamt you needed it.” “What?” Brian asked as his mother shook her head again, laughing even more. She grinned in response, and then walked over to hug her son. “Remember your Grandpa Wolfrick?” she asked. Brian nodded. Grandpa Wolfrick was his Nana Abby’s husband. She had died not two weeks after he did. “My mother used to live near Yellowstone National Park. Lots of wild animals around there, lots of things like wolves. This spell was one of her favorites. ” Meredith just smiled at her son, then over at her son’s cat-man. “Did I ever tell you exactly how much you are like your grandmother?”

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher. Let's Get Familiar SPICE IT UP An imprint of Torquere Press Publishers PO Box 2545 Round Rock, TX 78680 Copyright © 2011 by Amylea Lyn Cover illustration by Alessia Brio Published with permission ISBN: 978-1-61040-245-3 www.torquerepress.com All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. For information address Torquere Press. Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680. First Torquere Press Printing: June 2011 Printed in the USA

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