Author: DetectiveSimms
Email: noir@gloomsday.net
Website: http://glitterkitty.net/cloudy/fulldark
Pairing: Anita/Edward
Category: romance
Rating: PG-13 (romantic encounters)
Description: Edward inquires about Anita's pard, and why she remains their protector. A/E. Short vignette.
Disclaimer:
All characters are copyright Laurell K. Hamilton. I am making no money
off of this; it is for entertainment purposes only.
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"Why do I not trust you?" I mumbled against his lips, his hand sliding down my jaw.
"You have a strong survival instinct," was his smooth reply as he pressed me back against the living room wall. With his lips moving against my urgently, any comment I might have made was effectively cut off.
How Edward and I had ended up in a state of half-dressed lust-induced stupor wasn't hard to guess. We had had an argument, once again over how much I was letting the monsters in my life control me. He wanted me to give up the pard, and I just couldn't do that. He hadn't relented, so our voices had gotten louder until we were nearly shouting at each other. .
* * * *
He had quickly crossed the room, grabbed my upper arms and shook me slightly, his eyes hard and demanding. "You're going to get yourself killed messing around with the furballs, Anita."
"The pard stays under mine and Micah's shared control, Edward. This isn't up for discussion," I had swiftly replied before he could start in on me again. He had narrowed his eyes at me, his look cold. The look he used when he killed things. This caused me to inwardly flinch, but on the outside I remained calm and unmoving. I went so far as to arch an eyebrow expectantly.
He stared into my eyes penetratingly for a minute, and I huffed in an impatient manner. "What?" he asked slowly, not releasing his grip on my arms, nor unlocking his gaze from mine.
"Are you going to just stare at me all day, Edward?" He didn't respond the way I had wanted him to. He released me, backed up a couple of steps, and sank onto my couch. His expression was pensive, thoughtful; he was drawing back into himself.
"I don't know why you insist on being an integral part of the monsters' lives, Anita. I don't think I'll ever understand your skewed idea of what is right concerning them." He had glanced up at me piercingly. I acted unfazed, stepping up to him and climbing onto his lap, my legs straddling his. He shifted slightly under me, arranging us both to be more comfortable.
"You would kill to protect Donna and the kids." It was a statement, not a question; I already knew the answer.
He eyed me for a moment, then nodded. No hesitation on the answer, just wondering where I was headed with this line of thought.
"Why?"
Now Edward narrowed his eyes again, but not in a menacing fashion, only a considering one. "They're under my protection."
"The pard is like that for me. I consider them mine, in a way, and no one is to harm them. If someone does, I kill that someone." I paused; now for the clincher. "Edward, you've got the same idea about Peter, Becca, and Donna."
He picked up right where I left off, continuing my thoughts exactly: "The only difference is that they're human, and your kitties are not." He leaned back, giving me a dry look, his hands moving up to rest on my thighs, the movement an unconscious act.
"Different strokes for different folks, Ed. It doesn't bother me that they're monsters. Doesn't mean they have to be the bad guys."
In an almost lazy fashion, his hands began to make circles on my inner thighs. "We're considered monsters too, of course."
"Of course. It's only fair, what with us ready to kill things so easily." I leaned into his hands, losing myself slightly to the pressure of his palm and fingers against my skin. He leaned forward, kissing my neck lightly. I pulled back and stood up, backing away from him. His face was back to a blank mask as he stood up.
"You're awful protective of your monsters, and damn loyal. Why is that?"
"You mean why should I care?" I asked, tilting my head up toward him in an almost defiant manner. He noticed this and his lips lifted slightly, forming a dangerously amused expression that I didn't like directed at me. It made it seem like he could kill me, torture me, and not lose any sleep over it. Stuff like that makes me defensive as hell. He nodded in response to my question. "Why should I care about you then, Edward? Seems like you're more likely to kill me than any of my leopards."
A look of surprise slid through his eyes, but quickly dissipated. He closed the few feet between us in three smooth strides; I stood my ground. He grasped my chin in his hand, holding it up and forcing me to remain looking at him. Not that I would've looked away; it was like those stretching moments on a judo mat, when if you look away, the opponent will knock you on your ass.
"I'm not going to kill you, Anita."
I snorted, glaring up at him. "You used to fantasize about hunting me, Edward. Maybe you aren't going to make such things reality, but it doesn't make for a very trusting relationship."
"You can trust me." He kissed me then, his lips unbelievably soft against mine. I remained motionless, surprised by how gentle he was being. His tongue flicked across my mouth, then sliding to probe inside. I relaxed against him, moving my mouth against his and deepening the kiss. If he said I could trust him, for the moment, I could. Edward was like that; he always kept his word. It was reassuring when I was in situations like this, undecided and unmoving.
He pulled back to look at me for a minute before speaking: "You're always protective of whatever you think needs it," he sighed. "I don't suppose your spotted shapeshifters are any different."
I leaned forward slightly, my hands pressed against his chest. "So you're not going to bother them?"
An amused, mischievous smile curved his lips upward again. "Oh, I'll leave the cats alone." Before I could say anything in response to the obvious slight in his tone, he pulled my shirt over my head and kissed me again. .
* * * *
Which lead us up to me pressed against the wall, topless, and Edward pressed against me, sadly fully dressed.
"You have a strong survival instinct."
"Strong survival. . instinct? Or just. . concern. . for the welfare of. . the wereleopards?" I managed to get out, around his lips pressing hard against mine in frequent kisses.
"Hm. Both, I think," he replied, running his hands up and down my arms. "Maybe you're just paranoid." Edward traced his tongue down my neck and throat, causing me to gasp and arch forward into him.
"With you, Edward," I breathed out, slipping my hands up under his shirt. "One can never be considered paranoid. It's just a natural skill for staying alive."
He pulled back and grinned at me. I laughed at his expression, hugging him to me and burying my face in his chest. I felt his arms wrap around my back, squeezing me tightly against him. In the quiet evening with the sunlight slanting through the windows in milky swirls, I didn't plan on letting him go for a while; like he'd pointed out earlier, I am awfully protective of my monsters.