Chapter 182 – Expectations and Misconceptions

“Maintaining a human level of cleanliness while having non-human features is apparently really difficult. I have to tell you about the rock I enchanted… yeah, I engraved, inlaid and enchanted a rock. Why are you shaking your head?” – Kurt when Alec asked what took so long.

“Yuck. I do not like this. Not at all.” Rindi kicked her foot out and wiggled her toes, the claws extending from their sheaths from the reflex. She then stuck her finger between the pads and wiggled it around, causing a surprising amount of wet sand to fall out.

Kristi threw a towel at her. “Well, it’s your fault since you went swimming. Again.”

“To be fair, I don’t like it either and I stayed dry the whole time.” Val defended Rindi from her lounge chair.

Kurt was watching from the far end of the line of loungers. “That’s, what, the third time you went for a ‘quick dip’?” He asked, slightly amused. “And just use the rock. You brought it with you.”

“Oh, right.” Rindi quit rummaging around in her paw pads and pulled out the rock. A moment later she was brushing off dried sand rather than trying to dig out wet stuff with a towel. “And yeah, third time in the water but first time in the lake.”

Standing up and stretching, Kristi groaned softly. “Hmm. I guess tigers really do like water. Let’s head back up. The temps are dropping with those clouds moving in and I don’t want to be in only my bathing suit when that happens.” They all got up and made their way back to their rooms to change.

Earlier, after Kurt and Rindi ate lunch, the tigress had returned to the pool for another swim. This one had only lasted an hour, but it was enough for Kurt to reunite with his lovers down by the lake and enjoy the sun and some beach sports with them and some of the clan.

Someone had set up some corn hole boards and horseshoe pits on one end of the beach while leaving the other side open for other activities. The middle part had a deck built that acted as a level place for lounge chairs and other furniture that Val had been lording over for most of the day.

When the group of dwarves had migrated down to the beach, they had brought some coolers stocked with drinks, along with some casual sports equipment. The afternoon was spent with most people rotating through the areas as the social groups converged and split multiple times.

Kurt had initially been surprised that the Hammersmith clan hadn’t set up a volleyball net but was later told that was ‘tall people shit’ by Alec. They apparently preferred badminton but that was better played in grass or on a gym floor.

As the afternoon wore on, everyone got a little tired of the sun and they migrated inside for an early dinner of grilled burgers and brats along with all the traditional sides. Once again, it turned into the main event where everyone showed up to help make, eat then clean up the food.

The group of previously rude dwarves had come over to apologize to Rindi for their earlier behaviors the night before. This seemed to surprise Rindi as she hadn’t even noticed their conversation, but she accepted the apology anyway.

After dinner most people stayed indoors, avoiding the last of the heat in the basement of the main house. Only a few had ventured outside to the pool while Kurt and the girls had the beach to themselves. A situation that they found perfectly acceptable as they enjoyed the sun while Rindi floated in the water. Until the clouds started rolling in and the temperature dropped suddenly which they took as a sign to get ready for the evening social hour.

“That was a rapid change.” Val noted as she brushed her hair after taking a shower. “It was like sunny and mid-eighties then within ten minutes was low seventies and cloudy.”

“That’s Michigan for you.” Kurt shrugged and summoned his regular clothes of jeans and a loose polo. “Luckily we have plenty of indoor activities.”

“Understatement of the year.” Kristi laughed while dropping her towel to get dressed. She was clearly putting on a show as she smirked when both Kurt and Val stopped to look at her. “See something you like?”

Val rolled her eyes and tossed a bunched-up towel at her. “Tease. We don’t have time for shenanigans.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Val?” Kurt asked. Normally it was him and Kristi having to restrain the fox from making things hard…pun intended.

“Ha-ha.” Val said flatly. “But seriously. I was hoping to save that for later… when we aren’t expected anywhere.”

Kurt nodded. “Yeah, got it.”

They quickly finished getting dressed and went out to meet Rindi on the balcony. Kurt had gotten accustomed to slightly loose shirts, as they nicely concealed the handgun that used to ride in his waistband. He always tried to wear something that wouldn’t draw attention to him, so most of his wardrobe was muted colors. The girls had apparently decided on using the casual social event to try different styles.

Kristi had changed into what was essentially a romper with long, flowing pant legs that almost looked like a dress until she walked. The cut at the top was conservative in that it was a high neckline with a sleeveless design. The only odd thing about it was that she had an opening in the warm, yellow-gold fabric for her tail to slide out the back.

Val, much to Kurt’s surprise, had forgone her sundress and was wearing something not at all like her casual wear. She had dressed in a pair of very tight jeans that were cuffed to her mid-calf where her foxlike lower legs stuck out. Above that she had a couple inches of exposed skin before a tight white tank top took over to complete the girl-next-door look with the addition of two fluffy black tails swaying behind her.

That left Rindi who had stuffed herself into a pair of tan shorts that didn’t quite make it to mid-thigh in length, showcasing her long and muscular striped legs. She wore a long sleeve, but loose fitting, blue button up shirt that looked made of cotton with the top three buttons being undone, showing a little of her impressive bust.

It was clear that they had put some thought into these outfits and it wasn’t a thrown together look for any of them. They had also styled their hair in similar fashions, loosely, unbound by any ties and not put up into braids. Kurt wondered how he missed Val and Kristi doing theirs but didn’t bring it up as he was suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“Umm, should I change?” Kurt asked, picking at his faded polo.

“Yes, you should.” Val said and held out her hand as a button-down shirt appeared, still on its hanger.

Kurt took a moment to inspect the shirt that had clearly been bought for him and not by him. It was a simple black shirt with long sleeves and wide cuffs that were already turned back on themselves. He liked the style, but it had a certain shimmer to it that he recognized.

“Is this silk?” He asked, running his fingers over it.

“Yes.” Val said, making eyes at him.

“And I can wear silk?” He pressed as he unbuttoned it.

“Oh, most definitely.” Kristi affirmed as she stood next to Rindi, both staring intently.

Storing his own polo in his ring, Kurt reached for the new shirt but was stopped by Val. “AH, under shirt too.” She said.

Kurt made a face at her but did as she asked and stored his white cotton under shirt before taking the new one from the hanger. He slid it on, trying to ignore the girls as he began doing the buttons from the top.

“Nope, stop right there.” Val said, putting her hand on his as he was about to button the second one. “Start…here.” She fastened the third one, leaving him to do the rest.

“That’s rather abnormal, I usually only leave the top one if I do them at all and don’t let it hang open over a T-shirt.” He said as he finished.

“Is, ah, is that an option?” Rindi asked after making a swallowing noise.

Kurt looked over to her, eyebrows raised but Kristi pulled his attention to her as she approached. “Hm, no. This style shirt is more casual handsome rather than billowing in the breeze. It just needs…” She slid her hands down the front of his new shirt and tucked the front part into his waist band before sliding her hands around to do the back.

“Looks good.” Val nodded.

“Very good. The slight stubble really ties together the look.” Kristi said, looking at Kurt like he was a sculpture in an art gallery. “What do you think, Rindi? Handsome or just passable?”

The tigress’ eyes flicked up and down Kurt’s body several times as she nodded. “Good.”

“Good?” Val asked.

“Very good.” Rindi insisted before her eyes went wide and she looked away. “Umm, I think I forgot something. I will see you there.” She suddenly declared and retreated into her room.

“You two go on ahead, I’ll walk with her.” Kristi said as she followed Rindi into her room.

“Come on.” Val tugged at Kurt’s hand and began leading him to the door. “Let’s claim some territory on the couches, I don’t want to be standing all night.”

Kurt followed her out the door but wasn’t quite ready to just move past what had just happened. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

Val stopped as the door to the ‘house’ they were staying in closed, leaving them alone on the porch. “What exactly do you think I am doing?” She asked with a sweet smile.

“Are you trying to set me up with Rindi?” He asked bluntly. There had been enough strange behavior over the last couple days to tell him something was off and his gut told him it was moving in a certain direction. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it either.

Taking a moment to stare back at him, reading his expression, Val eventually answered. “Yes.”

“Val…”

“NO!” She held up her hand to stop his protest. She could feel his anxiety and the undercurrent of revulsion that she associated with him thinking about Rindi’s slave status. “Kurt, you need to listen to me very carefully. Can you do that?”

Kurt nodded, his jaw clenching shut to prevent any outbursts. Val waited for a moment before she continued. “Kurt, Kristi and I both love you very much and we only want to best for you. We have also come to like Rindi a lot over the past several weeks. This was her idea.”

Seeing Kurt’s eyes widen a little but he remained silent, Val pressed on. “I want to be very, very clear about this. We have not coerced her, ordered her or otherwise manipulated her in any way contrary to her actual wishes. I swear on my life and our love that this is true.

“Rindi came to Kristi and I to ask about ‘being more useful’ to advance her status in the family. We told her that wasn’t something she would ever need to do but asked her to tell us what she wanted. She said, and I quote, ‘I want what you have with Kurt. If there is room or if he will have me’.” Val was still holding Kurt’s gaze and could feel a tension building between them.

“Kurt, sweetheart, love of my life, we really like her and I know you do too. Kristi and I are coaching her and helping her express herself. She is fully aware of your issue with her ‘status’ as a slave and knows nothing will happen until that is resolved.” She was pressing the topic a little harder than she initially planned but also knew his appreciation of bluntness.

His expression softening, Kurt’s jaw unclenched and he looked like he wanted to say something, but Val kept going. “We were very honest with her about the nature of our relationship. She is testing things out and trying to be honest with herself about her feelings. All we are asking is that you reciprocate in kind.”

“How?” Kurt nearly choked on the word. He was feeling a strange mix of emotions and thoughts that swirled in conflict. He really liked Rindi and was definitely becoming more aware of her over the past few days. It also wouldn’t be untrue to say he had some thoughts about her in recent times as well.

“Same as what we did with Kristi. If she wants to be close, let her be close. If she talks, listen and engage like you normally would. The only thing you need to change is being patient and accepting of her advances.” Val paused, watching him nod along. “Not saying you are a prude or anything but maybe relax the aggressively loyal thing you have going on. Can you do that?”

“Why? Why are we adding another?” Despite his own feelings on the woman, Kurt was feeling a mixture of hurt and loved from the conversation. “Is what we have not enough?”

Val blinked, taken aback at what his concern was. “Of course it is.”

“Then why?”

“Because we can and we have the capacity to make her life better along with our own.” Val explained. “We will also need her for what is to come. Kurt, I’m not sure if you noticed but things are escalating and our work is becoming more dangerous. Rindi is a very capable woman in that regard and helps all of us take on challenges that we are facing. With all that going on, can’t we all afford to have a little more love in our lives?”

Kurt took a deep breath and sighed. “Val I can’t promise… I can’t promise to love her right now. The slave thing and…” He was starting to get upset, a part of him raging against the mistreatment that the fierce, sweet and joyful Rindi had gone through. He knew that feeling of inner turmoil was the mantle of werewolf divinity he held expressing itself and clashing with his elven mind and libido.

A few tears welling in her eyes from the emotional conversation, Val stepped forward and hugged him, mistaking the cause of his emotional turmoil.  “Oh, I know. Just be open to it, please?” She looked up at him as he hugged her back. “She is making this choice of her own free will and with our support.”

Swallowing past the urge to shift that suddenly arose in him, Kurt nodded. “You and Kristi both feel this way?” He asked in a voice thick with a growl. He tried to redirect his divine instincts and focus them on his pack…mates…Fuck! He meant his lovers and fiancés’.

He felt a hand on his cheek and looked down to see Val’s shining eyes and mirthful expression. “Yes, my mate, we do. Trust us like we trust you. The way we trust both parts of you with absolute certainty.”

That put things into perspective for Kurt and he nodded. He didn’t often think about how much they never showed fear of his other form. They never doubted his control and his instincts that place them in an untouchable position in his mind. Now it was his turn to trust their instincts.

“I love you, Theakval Rosk.” He said and leaned down to kiss her.

Val returned the kiss, smiling afterward as she held his face in her hands. “And I love you, Kurtis Rosk, husband, mate, pack sire, Lupus Rex.” They pressed their forehead together, gently, resting them against each other as they stole a moment for themselves.

Kurt had felt a warmth spread through him, traveling soul deep as she said the titles, naming him much like Odin had. Yet, unlike the old god, Val’s words calmed him, eased his worries like they were a balm to heal the scraped and fraying parts of his spirit. He also felt a little lighter, knowing his growing feelings toward Rindi were supported by the others.

They stayed like that for several minutes, with foreheads pressed together in a tight embrace as they swayed slightly. Neither of them wanted to be the first to let go and seemed to be completely ok with the situation. Eventually, with neither of them knowing how long they had stood there, the moment came to an end.

The latch on the door rattled slightly before it opened, revealing Kristi who smiled at them softly. “Oh, good, you waited for us.” She led the way out onto the porch with Rindi walking meekly behind her.

Kristi walked right over to Kurt and Val as they had backed away from the tight hug but still had an arm each wrapped around the other. She gave them both a passionate, yet quick, kiss, starting with Val.

“I am glad you are on board.” She said to Kurt after she kissed him while stealing a hug for herself.

“Hmm, as much as I can be.” Kurt replied with a hum that rumbled in his chest.

Breaking away, Kristi reached out and took Val’s hand. They both began walking along the sidewalk to the main house, leaving Kurt and Rindi standing on the porch.

“Ready to go?” Kurt asked her after a few moments of silence as they watched the others walk hand in hand.

“I… think so.” Rindi said, still quiet but only slightly hesitant. She had her hands clasped together in front of her in a white-knuckle grip.

Kurt held out his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk with you.”

Rindi looked down at his hand, seemingly frozen in place as he held it out. Eventually Kurt just leaned forward a little and grabbed her own, parting it from the other that had been wringing it. She let him have it and shuddered a little as her eyes landed on his.

He noted that her pupils flashed and dilated before returning to pinpoints of focus. She smiled then, looking slightly down at him and curled her fingers around his. “Lead the way.”

Kurt snorted. “That’s the motto.” He said wryly as they began walking.

Blinking, Rindi tilted her head in confusion. “What motto?”

Looking up at her honest expression Kurt smiled back at her. “Let me tell you a little about the Ranger Regiment while we walk.”

*****

“So, what do you think?” Penny asked, expressing more confidence than she felt while looking down at Jamie. Her head was currently a foot above his because she had shifted into a resting position where her snake-like lower body coiled over itself.

“You’re, umm… you’re…” Jamie swallowed but was unable to look away.

Penny felt her heart lurch like a car screeching to a stop by impacting a brick wall. She couldn’t believe this, she didn’t want to think that this would be possible. They had talked about it…

Her and Jamie had talked at length about what she was. He had been surprised when she finally relented and told him after he promised not to freak out. After that, he had asked a lot of questions about her nature and any ‘needs’ she had different than a human.

Now it was going all wrong and she wanted to stuff herself in a closet to tie herself in a knot. Maybe if she hadn’t shifted in front of him. Maybe she should have slithered out of a separate room so he saw a little of her at a time. But now it was too late, she had ruined…

“You’re so… pretty.” Jamie finally got out. He swallowed and blinked while reaching out a hand.

Penny was stunned. Did he call her pretty? Why not beautiful or something more appropriate for someone that was in a sexual relationship with her. Pretty sounde- “EEP!”

A cool and slightly clammy hand touched her flank, about a foot below where her skirt ended, in the region that was formerly all knees. Her tail tip flicked, smacking against her own body with a snap that jolted her out of the stupor.

“Pretty?” she asked in a soft tone, trying her hardest not to startle her boyfriend.

Jamie nodded, his mouth still hanging open as he pressed his whole palm to her scales. “The color reminds me of those caramel hard candies. Like in the sun they look gold but have a warm brown center.”

He was now running his hand along her body, feeling the larger scales on her upper side of the snake body. The sensation was strangely stimulating despite her not feeling much besides the temperature and a slight pressure under the scales.

Apparently not satisfied with his initial exploration, Jamie’s hand began to slide down. He found the smaller scales that separated the full-size ones from the softer and wider belly plates.

“They are so smooth and soft.” He whispered, still in a world of his own. “How much can you feEEHHugghaaa.”

Jamie was cut off mid question as Penny swept her body to the side, coils sliding over coils until she had firmly secured him within them. She had come to rest with him sitting on her like a beanbag chair while Penny herself was holding her now larger human torso slightly aside.

“Y-you aren’t scared?” She asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

It took a moment as Jamie came to his senses and saw the position he was sitting in. “Umm, no. Not really. But, hey, while we are on the topic… You won’t like, strangle me in my sleep right?”

“No.” Penny said, laughing as the tension finally broke and she giggled.

“Oh, that’s good.” Jamie said, joining her in the laugh and patted her scales. “For a second I didn’t know if I was about to be crushed like a pop can.”

Penny shook her head and leaned in, hugging him with her arms this time as they shared a brief but reassuring kiss. “No, of course not.” She said in a very reassuring tone.

“Hey, I’m new to this and did-“

“My mother’s clan are based on vipers, not constrictors.” Penny opened her mouth as two needle-like fangs folded down from their sheaths between her gums and upper lip. “Theee? Thangs!” she nudged one with her tongue to emphasize the point.

Jamie gulped. “Have… have those always been there?” he asked, suddenly nervous.

Letting the fangs fold away, Penny nodded. “Well, yeah.”

“Even when you…” He flicked a finger toward his groin. “You know…”

Penny suddenly laughed so hard her scales rattled and she had to wrap her human body around Jamie to stabilize herself. “Oh, no. Not in my human shape. Only this one.” She blushed a little and glanced away before making eye contact again. “But you might like this form a little more.”

“OOhhhe?” Jamie asked, unable to keep his voice from squeaking. “W-why is that?”

“Well, naga can swallow their prey whole if needed.” Penny grazed a finger along his thigh, tracing the inseam.

“Uh-huh.” Jamie watched the fingernail trail along his jeans from knee to the peak of his inseam. “Aaaaannnnd that means…”

Pulling his face around to look her right in the slitted pupils, Penny kissed him again before leaning to whisper in his ear. “In this shape, I don’t have a gag reflex.” She nibbled at his earlobe before slithering around his back.

“Oh? OH!” Jamie suddenly realized what she was getting at. “Well, thaaaaAAA!” He was cut off as Penny shifted her coils again, causing him to fall into to a more flat and level pose just as he felt his pants disappear.