Bath water almost too hot to bare, I sunk in and closed my eyes letting the subtle scent of lavender and the bubbles relax my body. I hated to admit it, but the jog, more like marathon in my eyes, did a world of good. For the first time in weeks my body and brain was too tired to think of anything much less feel anything besides sore tight muscles I never knew I had.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I felt was someone was touching my face. Eyes flying open to see the beautiful Nickoli beside the tub looking into my eyes with his million dollar smile.

"Hey Sweetheart. I heard you went for a run today," he said sounding amused.

"Try like a marathon! God I knew I was out of shape, but damn I hurt all over. And the worst part is that they expect me to do it again," I was whining and didn't care. I felt like I had been run over by a car.

Nickoli laughed, "How bout I give you a massage to help with those achy muscles?"

That was the best idea I heard all day. "That sounds fantastic," I answered with a smile. Sitting up to give him a kiss hello before making him leave so I could get out of the tub with some dignity. I pulled my sore body out of the tub to dry off and wrap my housecoat around me.

Out in the bedroom, Nickoli sat on the bed waiting. "Up you go," he picked me up and laid me on the bed. His body stiffened as he looked down at my legs. "What happened?"

I followed his gaze where both knees were scraped up and started to bleed again. "I fell a few times. It's nothing." I could feel his tension start to fill the room, "Please don't be mad. It was my fault. I was in a huff and wouldn't let any of them help me."

I watched Nickoli take a deep breath than sat down beside me, I could see he was about to argue about it. Sitting up, I pulled him closer landing a much-needed kiss against his soft lips. Once again, I was crossing a line that I made for myself, making out on a bed, half-naked was just a delicious disaster waiting to happen. Thankfully, he was stronger and was able to pull away before things get too heated.

"I promised you a massage so lie down and enjoy," he said with his husky lust filled voice as he moved down the bed and started with my foot.

Doing as I was told, lying on my back with the housecoat securely around my body, Nickoli sat at the bottom of the bed and started with my feet. Marvellous warm hands covered my feet and moved in a small steady circular motion. In minutes, I was putty in his hands.

Each foot extremely worked over, Nickoli moved up, paying equal generous time on my calves, kneading out the knots from running. Tapping my hip and told to roll over, I flopped over, rolling over took too much energy, still that move had me moan in pain. Did I get any more symphony? No, Nickoli chuckled as he worked those magical hands.

The deep tissue massage was amazing as his hands move up to the back of my thighs. A moan of ecstasy left my throat, mind numb, body relaxed as my thigh muscles slowly unknotted. It took a minute for my brain to register his hands were dangerously moving higher to the forbidden zone. Brain was screaming stop, body was saying, "hell no, just another inch." While my brain and body fought against each other, Nickoli's hands were replaced with a blanket.

"Take of your rob so I can get to your back," Nickoli's voice sounded a bit strained. Hesitating, he added, "Sam nothing is going to happen, I just want to help."

Missing the warmth of his strong hands, I wiggled out of my rob and dropped it on the floor. Starting at my lower back, I could have sworn I heard his breath catch as his hands glide up my naked skin. Forgetting immediately I was naked truly naked with only a thin cotton sheet between me and the world, I was in heaven. Feeling his hands slid up and down my back, working out ever knot and tight sore muscle I had.

"Oh you are amazing," I groaned with pleasure. Turning my head in his direction, coming up on my elbows, he must have read my mind. Moving in closer, his lips meet mine. The simple thank you kiss changed swiftly into passion and fire.

The distance between our bodies to great, I rolled to my side, sliding an arm around his back pulling him down on the bed and tight against my body. Deepening the kiss, I slide my leg up his slowly hooking it over his waist. His hand started on my calf and slowly moved his way up to my thigh.

The fever from the kiss and the trail of heat that followed his hand had me groan and grow damp. Digging his fingers deeper, pulling my half covered naked body in even closer as his hand moved to the back of my thigh moving up. His fingers grazed y slick wet opening. I gasped and moved my hips, begging for more.

* * *
NICKOLI

I froze, feeling her readiness and the eager way her hips were moving...it was too close to the full moon. I had to stop this now. Digging my finger into her hip, I pushed her away. Eyes closed, I did not want her to see that they had changed to my cat, breathing in deep breaths, concentrating on what HAD to be done, not what I wanted.

"Sam...it's...it's too close to the full moon, we have to stop," I kept my voice low, trying to hide how close I was to losing all control. "I would hurt you. Are first time cannot be like this, I don't want it like this."

"I'm sorry. I should have known better," she whispered. I could hear the conflict in her voice.

"I have to leave. I can't stay," I jumped off the bed, my control hung on by a string. Not even able to meet her eyes, I headed for the door. "I'm sorry Samantha," I was out the door and down the stairs before I heard say anything.

"Do what you have to do. It's my fault not yours. Do what you need to do. I won't hold it against you." Her voice caught. "I love you and I am sorry."

The sob she couldn't stop as she finished broke me, running out the door ignoring my car, I ran for the trees. I needed to get some kind of release and no matter what she just said, I could not, would not do what she gave me permission to do. I wasn't at that point. Yet. Stripping on my way; I needed to run and run fast. Hitting the tree line, clothes left behind, I changed in mid leap into my lion form letting out a roar than ran as fast as I could away from the woman I loved, away from his destined mate.