At least that's what she kept thinking throughout the drive back. She panted off her anxieties, the closer they got to her apartment the more she panted. The sight of the cracked sidewalk and the trash barrel placed outside filled with trash, with some spilling out. She expected to see her landlady barge right out of the fading red door. Screaming profanities in her native language while waving a newspaper and stomping around in her gaudy leopard print slipper.

When no one barged out of the apartment doors, she relaxed her lupine form. Only to tense up again when he parked his MR2, her heart thudded against her ribcage. He rolled the window down halfway for her, suggesting, "Stay in here, pup."

Blinking her yellow orbs, she rolled her tongue out. Over stimulated but listening to him, at least to a point.

He rubs his gentle palm on her scalp, making her giddy to be petted so tenderly. Make her warm all over. Leas slipped out of the car, and she watched him walk over to the fading front door. When his back vanished behind the door, did she start to think of a way out of there. The window was cracked open, but she is too big to fit through it. Her paw touched the door handle, trying to get it open with one of her toes. That didn't work. She transformed her front leg halfway to human. The paw pads elongate, long nails jutting out of very long furry digits. Like a hand but not entirely, her transformation abilities extend to being able to do a halfway phase between human and wolf. It makes her grotesque looking, but this form is better at fighting than just taking on a full lupine form.

She used her evolved fingers to wrap around the door handle, clicking it open. Once opened, her form reverts to a wolf and slips out of the small MR2. The goal in mind is to slip by the front entrance and try to climb the fire escape. Maybe one of her windows is still open for exactly this predicament.

Her wolfish frame skulked behind anything, from car to car, then trash till she could slip between the alleyways. Through the alleyways, she slipped and hugged the wall. It was a shock to see no one hiding back here. She had come across people smoking this horrid, putrid stench here more than once. The stench ruins her runs whenever she smells the stuff, being a werewolf makes her extremely sensitive to strong scents.

Finally, she found the fire escape stair wall quickly. Her muscles tensed to scale it fast. She bounded for the first flight, not waiting to run up the next few until she reached the top. Her bathroom window is on this side and. It has still been open since the last time she showered.

It just occurred to her that she needed a shower, desperately. Her skin shivered knowing that Leas had just put his face in her unwashed fur, embarrassed since she must smell like a wet dog.

Her ears picked up the sound of knocking and she had to shove that moment of disgust down a box. Not to her surprise, her bathroom window was still open, and she slipped right through it. The bathroom light was left off and a normal person might not be able to see, but she wasn't normal. Her eyes adjusted to the low light and in the safety of her home she could finally change back to her human form. The change was never painful, it just felt her bones and muscles popping from one place to the other to adjust. Her skin is what felt the strangest, going from having hair all over to no hair. Nearly hairless on the cold floor, her skin had pimpled and shivered from the loss of fur.

Her tail shriveled back internally and felt the phantom sensation of a tail wag. But she is back being human, her tan skin is back. She palmed each part of her to make sure she changed fully; no tail and no wolf ears. No fur. Once her hands felt no muzzle she sighed in relief.

It was strange for her to lose control like that in the first place. She'd hate to show that side of her again. The knocking continued and she nearly jumped two feet from the sound. Groaning at herself for being so fidgety, "Quit it."

Her legs moved towards the tiny mirror on the wall, checking her features. Nothing weird there, so she turned on the shower and slid on the robe that was hanging on the door. She looked ready to shower so maybe it would make Leas back off.

Maybe...

The door knocking didn't slow, and she charged out of the bathroom to the front door. Angry at herself for letting a mortal like him ruin her control. One of her hands reached the door knob to open it wide, the other wrapped the robe around her close.

Her amber eyes glaring, "I'm trying to take a sh-"

But her voice drops when she sees Leas standing before her, tall and beautiful. His freckled cheeks reddened at the sight of her, underdressed and completely out of view. The way the corner of his lip twitched up into a smile the longer he stared, was he...checking her out!?

She planned to embarrass him outside of her radius. She thought he was too shy to stand before her half dressed in her robe. Now she is the embarrassed one, inadvertently giving a pervert the show of his lifetime.

What the hell...Nea...

"I'm sorry Idonea. This takes precedence-" he leaned in, close enough for her to get a face full of his sweet aroma. "I have a lost cute puppy that needs her family."

C-cute. Her face involuntarily reddened at the compliment that was not directed at her at all. At least he wouldn't be too aware that it was. It's the first time that a human thinks her wolf side is cute and not ferocious.

"May...I come in?"

The question he asked was exactly the opposite of what she thought he said. The words in her head involve a naughtier outcome. "Anytime..."

"Pardon?" He asked, the smile growing. Can he tell that she is fumbling?

"Argh. I mean...yeah...ignore the mess." She let him in, there was nothing she had to hide in her small studio apartment. And maybe the lackluster of her living establishment will convince him to stay away. He was so quick to come in and even quicker to get comfy on her folded-up futon. He seemed to ignore the shredded clothes near the window, grabbing her magazine that was laid open on her table.

"You read Hot Press too?" He flipped through the pages.

As soon as she shut the door, she hugged the robe even closer, finding his lack of urgency annoying. "Tell me...about this dog."

"Right, right. I may be overjoyed that you aren't still upset with me." Leas said this, resting the magazine back on the table and getting up from the futon. He gave her futon, then her one more lingering glance before saying, "And distracted by the fact that I am in the very place you sleep...kind of hard to stay focused."

"Seriously..." The heat rushed to her cheeks, and she pointed her face away from his gaze. “I...wasn't mad. Just confused, and I really hate being confused." I'm too old for this kind of fumbling.

"Hmm. Confused? About what?" Leas took this chance to shorten the gap between them. His musk filled her senses once more, the desires she thought she had already stamped away came back at full force.

Again, thinking of the many ways to claim him. She focused on the reason he was there in the first place, poking his hard chest with one forefinger. "Let's save that conversation for another time...the dog."

"Mmm...another time? Good to hear that this won't be the last time." He touched her arm, with no ill intent, but suggested that he was still very interested in her. Damn, he is just getting bolder. "This pup I found had such beautiful red fur, very much like your hair..."

"Focus..." She warned, but even she wasn't serious in that statement. Finding that his compliments are weakening her resolve. And his company is starting to be sought after.

"And." He hummed, bringing that hand on her arm to pet her face fondly. The touch caused her to lean into it, forgetting entirely that she wasn't in her wolf form. The horror surfaced in her gut, realizing her folly too late. He was very focused on her, the smile growing as he closed in more. His features are innocent, but his actions screamed otherwise, "She is a cute dog, possibly a little bit of a wolf, but definitely docile. I can go bring the pup up here after maybe some-"

"Ac-Actually no need!?" Idonea sharply inhaled to control her crazy desires. He was too dangerously delicious and devious, sneaking these touches in while she was too vulnerable to push away. One of her hands reached for his invading one, lacing around his wrist to pull it away from her face. The dizzying effect of his touch made her spout nonsense, "I am sure I know this dog by that description alone."

"Ah...really?" He raised his broad brow, the playful grin on his face growing. Not deterred by her attempts at deflection, if anything it looked like he was enjoying the challenge.

Shit! "Yeah really. There's a wolfdog I tend to take care of frequently. A pure escape artist! Her owners just wait till she returns home...and you know, she's visited my apartment a few times, leaving her fur around. That's why my landlady hates me!" Idonea nearly sweats with this crazy description of an imaginary dog and family. She used her hand to keep his intruding one busy by lacing her fingers through it. Her mind was like fog after a rainstorm, thick with so much cloudiness that it was hard to see what was ahead.

His brows furrowed. If he isn't doubtful, she doesn't know what that expression could be. But he certainly was abusing her distraction, bringing her knuckle to his lips to kiss it. She could scream in glee if she would allow it.

Stop it you horny bitch!?

"Okaaay then. What's the pup's name?" Leas eventually asked, reeling her close by wrapping his free arm around her robed waist. A daring approach, especially when she was so under dressed as it is.

This jerk is testing her patience, at least that is what she should be feeling. Instead, she wanted more of this, her body buzzed to be rough housed in a not-safe-for-work-way. Idonea fell prey to her desires, finally allows herself a bit of fun by running her fingers up his bicep, then back down. Noting how strong he felt against her. "Jenna..."

"Like in the movie Balto...?"

"Hey...I didn't pick the name...and it's a popular movie." She choked back any temptation to chortle, "Obviously popular enough for you to watch it."

Leas cleared his throat then, having been caught in the act of watching a children's movie without having his own kids in the first place. And she obviously watched it on her own too, reminded that she wasn't much different from him.

"You got me there...but there is something else I am hoping to get from you..." He pouted then like a little sad pup that wanted more attention.

"Okay...what?" The relaxed atmosphere from ridiculing the rather fussy radio host made her forget the predicament she was in. The way her robes barely covered her body, the way he held her close and the way he touched her were giving off signs of something naughty to come.

Her muscular heart pounded against her sternum, as the panic set in. Is he going to?

"I would like...to kiss you."

"Oh...OH!?" Idonea stuttered, hiding her burning face away. "Um~! I know we have kissed already....and maybe I shouldn't be so shy about it, but I am still processing everything-"

Leas chuckled at her ramblings, leaning in to kiss her just on her temple. It resonated this warm good feeling in her all throughout her body, the earlier anxiety vanished. And after the kiss he says, his forehead touching her head. "Please call me soon. I'd like to continue our conversation..."

That means I can't be stalking him in wolf form. "Y-yeah...I can do that..." Her mind is no longer either in the gutter or on the imaginary dog. Her eyes were only focused on him, taking in his whole being in front of her. A beautiful man with sweetness that should make her sick, but instead she is eating it up like an addict. What's wrong with me!?

After the stares, he eventually releases her. Almost caused her to pout disappointedly.

"I have a place in mind to take you for a date...and this time no alcohol. I promise!" He cheerfully exclaimed, like a boy on his first bike ride. Certainly, a cute side of him that she won't pretend has an effect on her. "I'll tell you more about it. For now, I have to check up on the pup...she's still in my car."

"Well!? Don't get offended if you know she vanishes. She's a bit of a nomad. Been like that forever." She thought to herself that maybe it would be better to stay as a human and just rip the band-aid off now. He seems to get attached easily but capable of recovery.

"Hmm...if that happens, I can just come back here and get comforted by the most beautiful woman in the world?" The freckled soothsayer winked at her.

"Sure, love to meet this woman you call beautiful." Her sarcasm earned a laugh from the man.

"I'll be back shortly then." He said this, giving her a quick once over with his gaze. "Maybe a wet Idonea will do wonders for a pained heart."

"Argh! Give me at least a good hour to wash up!? Then you can annoy me." She snarled, pushing him out the door. He didn't fight her at all, just laughed all the way out to the door.

Where did all the sweetness go from him? It was like he switched places mid conversation.

"I'll give you all the time you need! And we can go eat at this sandwich shop close by. But that won't be a date, okay?" Leas held the door open with his strong arm, allowing only for her to push him out the door. He leaned in the entrance to loom over her, beaming like an expectant little puppy. Underneath that whole facade is a calculative man and he's trying to run away with her heart.

Don't fall for it, you old coot. She grumbled a reply, "Sure, whatever just go!"

Without even trying, she rewarded the very behavior that she didn't want by agreeing to go out with him again. What a very foolish thing because now he will never let her go.

"Awesome. See you in an hour, my beautiful strong woman."

He is relentless!

But somehow, she is having a hard time pushing away such affections every time. After her much-needed shower, she readied herself for a lunch outing that apparently wasn't a date for the radio host...