It's Nice

Dave woke up and smiled. He had slept surprisingly deeply. "Feels like I had a good dream," he muttered rubbing his eyes. He felt something on his chest though which wasn't unusual lately. "Mister get off-... Oh!" He smiled at Kea's cute sleeping face and noticed she smelled really good. Felt nice too apparently as it was hard not to notice a certain stiffness as his body responded to her contact. "Oh yeah... not alone."

He felt Mister climb up onto the top of the couch and then padded into view to beam down at them with big orange eyes. "Murr?"

Dave smiled. "Yup," he answered. "Up in a bit."

He was in no hurry. He gazed at Kea sleeping and found himself quite content, happily watching her. She had just the slightest snore he discovered. Not a loud rumble or a wheeze but like a child's worn out from play, soft and slight. The sleep of the deep. It was very relaxing and cutely endearing.

It was also hard not to notice how sexy she was. Her very womanly body pressed up close to his was... stimulating. It had been a longtime since he'd enjoyed this feeling. The simple pleasure of another person's close, intimate presence. Especially one so desireable. He tried hard not to dwell on it but it was impossible.

He thought about the bond too as well. He knew he was quickly falling for Kea and it was obvious that she felt the same. *It should feel strange,* he thought. *But it doesn't at all. It just feels... right.* The bonding was definitely a part of that... but not all he decided. *I think it's working as fast as it is because there's something there. Something... special. But maybe that's how "The Bond" works? Maybe it's like adding starter to a mix or fertilizer to soil? I think it works off of something that's already there and activates accelerated growth potential. If so it's definitely going to be a huge factor in the Otherworlders relationships but also their well-being. A unsuitable or unhealthy "bonding", or a broken one, would have serious consequences and effects.... and then there's the other thing!*

Edward had explained that they often attracted and formed groups centered around successfully bonded pairings. *Like branches off a tree,* Dave mused to himself as he started stroking Kea's hair. He enjoyed the way her dark tresses slipped through his fingers as he thought. *No, a trees probably not a good analogy. Like nucleic bonding is probably more accurate. Forming something more than the sum of it's parts. Again there's a great potential for very positive relationships to flourish... but also negative ones as well.*

He kissed the top of Kea's head and inhaled the scent of her. *According to the staristics Edward showed me the Otherworlders themselves most often seek out other Otherworlders they approve of to add to their relationship with their sponsor... or they push their sponsor to find a suitable ones. And there's the likelihood of Kea wanting that too... and I... how would I feel about-*

He felt her little hands grasping his shirt in her sleep and his heartbeat skipped... and he knew. *If things continue the way they are going... I don't think there's anything I wouldn't do for Kea if she wanted it.* He smiled. *The bonding with otherworlders is a dangerous gift alright. Done badly it could be potentially very damaging and toxic... and even done well it ensnares and enslaves those in it in the happiest of entrapments, willingly. That's powerful stuff even if it's good for all involved! Best to never underestimate it, I think. I mean let's just suppose Rachel comes over tomorrow and I hypothetically wanted out of the sponsership with Kea gone from my life-*

He grimaced like he'd just tasted something bad and his heartrate sped up. *An immediate visceral reaction! Really? Over a hypothetical? I mean... I actually don't want that at all and it ties into my own fears. But how much of that is me and my issues... and how much of it is the bonding? I was right. This requires significant research, study and observation. Which begs the question... In the case of a subject with a toxic or broken bond... can a positive overwrite or even negate a negative? And vice-versa?*

He sighed. He needed to get up. He needed to write these thoughts down... and he needed to separate from Kea briefly as his erection wasn't going down at all. *Didn't think I was this hard up before... Is this the bond as well?* he wondered and looked at her. Drinking in her loveliness. Enjoying the way her form fit to his. Her curvaceous body, soft roundness contrasted by toned fitness. The warmth of her skin and breath. Her smell. He wanted to hear her voice. See her eyes the way she looked at him. Taste her- *Nope,* he thought trying desperately to refocus but smiling all the same. *It might be a contributing factor but that's just me reacting to Kea. I'm in danger of being besotedly smitten by her as is, bond or no. Now I really need to cool off.*

He very slowly and carefully moved trying not to disturb her much needed rest. Getting her to let go was especially difficult. *She's not a goblin,* he thought chuckling softly as she wrapped a leg around him in her sleep while he gently pried her fingers open to release himself. *She's a cuddle monster.*

Bit by bit he disentangled himself from her clutches until he was free. But... He really didn't want to part from her either, even momentarily.

Mister however saw the opening he was waiting for and immediately settled himself into the warm spot Dave was vacating and curled up with Kea happily. "Fluffy opportunist," he muttered shaking his head but he'd figured that would happen. Mister rarely missed the opportunity to claim a just warmed spot, sometimes even trying to claim it before it was fully vacated.

Dave went to jot down and record his thoughts audibly too while was at it... but after that, and an intentionally very cold shower, he wasn't surprised that instead of working in the study he found himself doing it sitting with a cup of coffee and watching the two sleep. He also found himself doing something he hadn't in a while... studying.

Kea was very intelligent and learned fast. He was already behind and the AWIO folks had shown him that.

Kea was someplace dark and not nice again. A cage that wasn't a cage. Mean voices coming from half seen equally mean faces surrounded her. She couldn't escape.

But just before she could panic there was a thump. Then another. Thump-thump. Repeating. Over and over.

The sound didn't scare her. Infact it calmed her nerves and excited her. Then whatever it was broke through the walls imprisoning her, bathing her in a warm light. Two big strong arms reached in to pulled her out. She smelled D'Hayv and saw his smiling face and rushed to his arms. He pulled her free to a space that was a lush field and embraced her happily. And there was Mister but as big as a wagon.

She realized she must be dreaming as they happily climbed a top the big cat to ride away together but that seemed inconsequential and a minor detail. She went to kiss him and tasted fluffy fur as he said, "Murrowow."

Kea opened her eyes sputtering around the big fluffy yellow and orange tail in her face obscuring her vision. "*Pwah* What-?"

Dave chuckled softly taking out his ear buds and putting away his phone, got up to pull Misters tail away. "Sorry. I should have warned you. He does that. I've often woken up **** and found him sitting on my chest."

Kea blinked and he realized that he had slipped and she hadn't understood but he snapped his fingers and pulled out his phone and the program Edward had clued him to. He handed her a glass of water and started to speak/read and Kea's eyes opened wide.

<"Good... M-More-Morning... I... w-wish? You... sleep... g-good?"> Dave said broken and badly in the goblin tongue then blinked and said, "I, uhh... don't think I got that right. Sorry Kea."

"D'Hayv... learn speak?" She asked around the lump in her throat. "For Kea?"

Dave nodded. "Yes for Kea. Kea learn so Dave learn." He tried again only glancing at the phone application. <"I... zpeak... s-small?"> Glance at phone. <"Little! I s-speak little."> he smiled. <"I... learning goblin."> he shrugged and pointed at the clock chuckling. "At least for a few hours anyway- Whoa!"

Kea nearly tackled him hugging him, smiling. "D'Hayv good! No! D'Hayv Wow!"

Dave smiled and whirled her around in his arms as they both laughed. Kea had a stray lock of hair falling across her face and holding her Dave brushed it away gently tucking it behind her ear.

Kea met his eyes and suddenly the atmosphere was different. While he gently rubbed her ear with his fingertips she reached out to touch his face that was so close to hers. She saw him swallow as she gently ran her hand down from his temple to his jaw. "Kea..." he whispered.

Dave felt their breath mingling as he ran his fingers through her hair while his other arm held her tight. He felt her other hand join her first as they traced back to twine at the back of his neck. He saw her bitting those delicious looking lips of hers that were drawing closer as she breathily said with longing, their half-lidded eyes closing, "D'Hayv..."

Their lips met as they kissed. Softly and slowly as if they were savoring the moment. Drawing it out. They both shivered, parting only slightly and looked deeply into each other's eyes for a moment.

Then, like dumping oil on an open flame, their passion was enflame as desire provided the fuel. They locked lips hungrily. Kea using her strong little body to pull him to her as he gently wrapped her up tightly in his arms. Neither seemed able to get enough of the other. Kissing became playfully teasing nibbles from Kea's teeth, only for her to groan as Dave's tongue then entered and began exploring her mouth and coaxing hers to join it. However...

"Kea...," Dave panted. They were letting themselves get carried away and honestly? He wanted exactly that. But... "Kea," he mumbled against her fever hot kisses, feeling intoxicated by her. Wanting to surrender to this feeling after so long without it. "Kea... stop!"

"D'Hayv... D'Hayv...D'Hayv!" she kept, anwering, moaning, panting, imploring him. Finally she stopped. "Why?" She gasped. "Why stop?"

Dave grabbed the reins of self control desperately. "Kea," he said swallowing. "Important speak. Kea know important?"

Kea gave an adorable little growl of frustration. "Hoomans" and their so called "important" things. Sometimes they frustrated her how they seemingly liked to complicate things! But she nodded. D'Hayv was good hooman. D'Hayv was best hooman! She trusted him and would hear what he had to say. "Kea know im-port-ant! What D'Hayv speak? Kea listen."

Dave smiled and stroked her hair. "Kea important. Important to Dave. Dave no want hurt Kea. No-no-no! Kea..." he swallowed hard struggling to simplify things and still express the concepts he wanted to get across to her. He struggled forward at first but gained momentum as he went, getting easier and easier. "Bad humans... hurt Kea? Bad humans scare Kea? Dave no hurt Kea. Dave no scare Kea! Dave no use Kea! Dave care for Kea!" It really was much simpler than he thought it'd be. "Dave love Kea!" He said from the heart.

It was surprisingly so much easier than he thought it would be. "Love Kea important!" He said putting her little hand over his heart. "I know... Dave know fast. But love important. Important to humans. Important Kea know. Dave love Kea. So Dave let Kea say. Kea say "stop"? Dave stop. Kea say "go"? Dave go. Kea say. Dave do. Stop, go, yes, no. Dave do. Kea safe. Kea say. Because Dave loves Kea." He patted her hand over his beating heart. "Dave loves Kea."

Kea smiled crying wrapping her arms around him holding him tight. If it was possible he was too good. What he had to say was important after all. Very important indeed. He was saying that he'd keep her safe... even from himself. That he cared about her enough to do whatever she needed, as and how she needed it to be. He loved her unselfishly... Deeply... And she knew how hard that must have been for him. He was so brave! She felt how brave beating under her hand. Beating bravely for her! Even for having just met he was willing to do that for her! Be that for her! And she-

"L-Luv important!" She cried nodding. "D'Hayv important Kea! Kea luv D'Hayv! Luv-luv-luv D'Hayv! So D'Hayv say? Kea do! Kea be good for Dave! Kea be wow for D'Hayv! Kea luv D'Hayv!"

She give him a long loving kiss and took his hand to put it over her beating heart like he had done. "Kea luv D'Hayv! Goblins go fast. D'Hayv want go slow? Kea go slow. D'Hayv say? Kea do! Kea important D'Hayv? D'Hayv important Kea! Kea luv D'Hayv! D'Hayv-Kea important, yes?"

Dave nodded feeling her heartbeat. "Kea-Dave important!" He agreed. They were important to each other and so was whatever relationship they built towards moving forward. That was the most important thing to both of them... And they would be doing that together the two of them-

"Merrow!" Mister said climbing a back of a chair and head butting and rubbing against them, letting them know he wanted in on the loving!

They both laughed and Dave started stroking the big cat as Kea scratched his head. Mister happily purred squinting his eyes. They all agreed, the three of them. It was nice to be loved.