So I sat, quietly, until they were done.

When they were done, Aris said he had to go. He came to me, "I will not be reading your mind during this. If you need help, just ask, but I am certain that you will be fine." He kissed me on my forehead, each cheek, then a quick peck on the lips. "I love you," I whispered. "I love you too," he replied, then turned and left us alone. I heard the front door shut behind him.

"What now?" I asked Ripley. "I think I want a shower," he told me, "do you want to wait in bed for me?" "I could take a shower with you," I suggested. His eyes flashed red, "I want you in bed, not the shower." He helped me down off of the island, and led me to the hot tub room, for a smoke first. We each took a seat and he handed me a lit cigarette. "Are you nervous?" he asked. He must be reading my mind. "I am," he told me. "You're nervous, or you're reading my mind?" I asked. "Both," he answered. "I am a little nervous," I confirmed. "Did Yaris explain shifting to you?" he asked, "that is what I am mostly nervous about." "Me too," I agreed, "I am afraid that I will be ugly or scary or both." "Jade, I will never find you ugly. The only way I will find you scary is if you try to put one of those orbs on my head. You are not going to do that, are you?" "I don't think so," I told him, "I haven't with Aris." "I am afraid that you will find me scary," he told me. "As long as I know it's you, I should be fine," I told him, "How many different forms do you shift into?" "Three, that I know of," he answered, "the only ones you might see are blue, red or brown." "I have only shifted to white and black so far," I offered, "I don't know what you will see." "Interesting," he paused, "I have never seen anyone shift to white or black before."

He put out his cigarette and stood, "Well I think that I am ready for that shower now." I stood and put mine out. He took my hand and led me to his bedroom. "Wait here," he told me and went in the bathroom. I took the rob off and got into bed. I laid back, covered up and......fell asleep.

I awoke with a start and sat up. Ripley was in bed next to me sleeping soundly. His little snores are so cute. I got up without waking him and went to the bathroom. I did my morning routine then started the bathwater. I could feel it now. Nothing like a cold bath to help calm those feelings of desire. I put some bubble bath in and descended the stairs. I went under immediately. It really does help. I washed my hair, then washed my body, then decided to float for a few minutes. I closed my eyes and relaxed. After a few minutes, I got out and put a robe on. I towel dried my hair and brushed it. I had the skin put it up in a bun. Ripley was still asleep, so I put on a fresh pajama set and took the robe off. I climbed back in bed and got under the blanket.

He rolled over to face me and put his arm around me to pull me close. "Why are you so cold?" he immediately drew his arm back from me. "You were asleep, so I took a cold bath," I answered. "I would rather you wake me for sex than wake me like this," he told me, "you are cold to the touch." "I'm sorry," I apologized, "You were out of it. I thought that you'd want to sleep. Do you want sex?" "Not when you feel like a block of ice," he told me. "Okay," I agreed, having zero desire right now. I rolled over and closed my eyes, and fell asleep again.

"Jade," Ripley was saying my name softly. I opened my eyes. The room was dark except for the scant light filtering in through the blinds. I turned to look at him. "Yes, Ripley," I responded softly. I laid my head on his shoulder and breathed his scent in deeply, "Mmmmm, peaches. You still owe me peach cobbler." "Later," he said then licked my lips. I opened my mouth and he leisurely, deeply kissed me. He rolled to where he was hovering above me. He broke from the kiss. "Is there anything that I should know before we start?" he asked, "anything that you are uncomfortable with, anything that I should not do." "I can't think of anything," I answered. "Okay," he smiled, "If something hurts, let me know and we will do something different." "Okay," I agreed, "Oh, where do you want me to mark you?" He pointed to the same spot as Aris. Right above his heart, "Because you have captured my heart."

He ran his hand down the contour of my body then back up to my breast, where he began to knead and massage. I went naked. He kissed me again, this time with urgency and full of need. He left my mouth and trailed kisses down to my breast, where he suckled and nipped until I moaned. His hand slid down between my legs, where he massaged then began to rub circles around my pleasure spot. I writhed and moaned. He withdrew his hand. I whimpered at the loss. He climbed on top of me, between my legs.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "Yes," I whimpered. "Can I touch you?" he asked. "Please," I begged. I felt him rub around my entrance with his tip. "It may hurt a little at first, then get better," he warned, then I felt him enter me slowly. It did hurt a little, but I didn't care. Maybe because of the heat. I only wanted one thing and he was going to give it to me. I sighed at the feeling of him inside me. I felt whole. Then he slowly withdrew. I felt dismal at the loss. Then he pushed back in. He went slow for a little while, gradually picking up the pace, in a steady rhythm. He lifted up off of me. I was grateful for the airflow as I was drenched in sweat.

I looked up in the mirror above the bed. He was turning red and growing hair on his back and arms. His hair on his head was turning red. "You're shifting," I told him. "I know," he acknowledged, "I am sorry. I can not stop it." "It's okay," I told him, "it's kind of a turn on." He smiled and started going faster, spurred on by my words. I looked at myself. I hadn't changed yet, but I could feel a climax coming. "I'm almost there. Don't stop," I whispered. "Me too," he agreed. I felt myself tip over the edge. Then without warning, he bit my right shoulder, intensifying the orgasm. He sucked on my shoulder for a minute, then I felt him lick it. He backed off, then groaned with his own orgasm. I bit his chest and sucked on it, like he did me, then licked at it. He rolled off of me, onto his back, beside me.

I waited for my breathing to calm. "Can I turn on the light?" I asked, "I want to see you before you turn back." "Yes," he answered, "I want to see you too." I turned on the lamp beside the bed and laid back down. He was blood red and covered in fur. I looked at myself. I did shift. I was covered in white scales. "You are beautiful," he whispered. "You're beautiful," I told him. Then I felt myself drift off into sleep.

I woke with a start, extremely hot. I was still laying in bed uncovered. Ripley was no longer red and furry. I was no longer covered in scales. He was snoring softly. I touched his arm, "Ripley, I am going to take a cold bath." "Okay," he agreed, not awake. I got up and went to the bathroom. I turned on the water and poured some bubble bath in. I got in and went under to wet my hair. It felt wonderful , like a huge relief. I washed and conditioned my hair, then washed my body. Finished, I decided to float for a little while. I heard the shower turn on. I sat up and looked. Ripley was preparing for a shower. Probably a warm one. No, thanks.

He came to the bathtub and stuck his hand in the water. He jerked his hand back out, "I do not know how you can take a bath in that cold water." "It's refreshing," I told him, "You're welcome to join me." "No thanks," he stood up, "I will stick with my hot showers." "Suit yourself," I laid back, deciding to float a few more minutes.

I got out a little while later, put a robe on and put my hair up in a towel. I met Ripley with a robe and a towel just as he got out of the shower. "How'd you sleep?" I asked him. "Really good," he answered, "how about you?" "Excellent," I answered, "I just woke up really hot." "Are you ready for breakfast?" he asked, putting on some pajama pants. "Yes," I answered, discarding the robe and putting on a pink pajama set that covers me in all of the right places, "Is it just us?" "Yes," he answered. We brushed our hair, then I followed him downstairs and to the kitchen.

"Pancakes or French toast?" he asked. "French toast," I answered. "Excellent choice," he agreed. He started getting out ingredients. "What would you like for me to do?" I asked. He lifted me up and sat me on the island, "Sit right there and talk to me." "What do you want to talk about?" I asked. "Are you in any pain?" he asked. "I'm just a little sore," I answered, "I think I'm just using muscles that I'm not used to using." "Me too," he agreed, "How about in your private area?" "Maybe a little sore, but not bad," I answered, "The truth is that I'm already aching for you again." He stopped and smiled at me, "I am flattered, but can we eat first?" "Yes," I answered.

He put sausage and bacon in skillets, then mixed the batter for French toast. "Did Aris tell you what to expect?" I asked him. "Yes," he answered. "What did he tell you?" I asked. "That you would be sex craved. I should give it to you as much as possible. If you get too sore, have you take cool baths until you feel better," he went through the list, "If I get too worn out, call on him to come and relieve me." "Not Nathan?" I asked. "He did not mention Nathan," he answered. "That's a load off," I told him, relieved, "I don't know Nathan." "Yaris would not put you in that position," he reassured me. "Something he said made me think that he would," I told him. "I know for a fact that he will not," Ripley said. "Good," I felt a great sense of relief.

"Would you like for me to set the table?" I asked when breakfast was almost ready. "Yes, please," he responded. I hopped down off of the island and went about setting the table. He brought the food to the table right as I was taking my seat. He sat down to my right. I took some of everything. I was actually starved. I ate it all quickly and dished up a second helping. "You are really hungry," Ripley took notice. "I know," I smiled, "It's all really good." He took what was left of the food, "I hope that is enough for you. I did not make anymore." "This will be enough," I assured him, "will that be enough for you? I can give you some of this." "Eat what you can, then I will finish it," he told me. "Okay," I agreed. I ate a little more than half of it and pushed my plate away, "I am so full." Ripley finished his, then mine.

When he finished, he stood up, then started clean up. "Can't that wait?" I asked. "It will not take long?" he told me. "Maybe I should go take a cold bath," I stood up and grabbed the items that belong in the refrigerator. I put them away. When I shut the door, Ripley was standing right behind it.