10 Chapter 9:  Morning Revelations

Carron Park, Southport, New Jersey.....

  Pain coursed through the contorting body of a very confused Ron Hemming as he attempted to make sense of his surroundings while his body shifted and reverted into his natural mortal form. He was chilled to the bone after his fur retreated and naked as he lay on the ground as the first lights of dawn hung above him in the sky. He gasped for breath feeling the burning sensation in his lungs as he stared up at the early morning sky for a few moments trying to figure out how he'd gotten to the park and what the hour had been. He hardly recalled much aside from the visions of an angry and sad man who always seemed to be searching for his death, but he didn't have the heart to grant the request as there was more to it than what he could gather, and despite having been at odds with the man ever since he arrived in Southport, New Jersey.

Ron got to his feet not in the least abashed due to his current situation and slowly made his way toward his apartment complex. His head was pounding something fierce and he found himself nursing his jaw quite a bit briefly recalling that he'd taken several hits from the oddly sad man as he continued on his way.

Most of his encounter had been a blur, but he recalled the anger from the man as he departed knowing all too well that he'd been seeking death even though this had not been the nature of their association. With a swipe of his claws, he put an end to it, knocking the man out cold when his head hit the ground despite the minor damage to his side in the process.

The morning chill and the stiffness of his bones made it an uncomfortable journey but Ron managed to reach his apartment in record time noting that he only had a few hours to get himself together before he had to report back to the agency for the upcoming photo shoot he had with Talia Summers, who was none too thrilled about having to work with him in the first place and his possibly being late would only prove her right about her reservations about their co-project of sorts.

Ron sighed as he passed his doorman who had known all too well about the most interesting tenant in the building's crazed nightlife and simply smirked when he saw him arrive.

"Wild night Mr. Hemming?" he asked amused at the sight of the naked muscular man.

"Something like that," replied Ron knowing all too well how to correct the doorman's observation had been about the previous night.

"Hopefully you get some rest." replied the doorman with a smile.

"Not likely," replied Ron before returning his smile and heading inside his building.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Across Town....

The Master Bedroom, The Cripburn Complex, 1423 Arroyo Place, Southport, New Jersey.....

A rather groggy Victor Harlowe rolled out of a bed that he was quite sure had not belonged to him as he felt the intense pounding of his head due to his previous midnight drinking binge and the stiffness of his muscles from the all-out fight he seemed to have had with a monster made it all the more strange as he adjusted to his surroundings. It had taken a few moments to recognize the naked smaller body beside him beneath the crisp white sheets of the bed he awakened in and it only seemed to cause him more questions as he took note of the slumbering Charlotte Freedman. He deduced that he must have been out of it to have to make his way across town to Charlotte's apartment.

He looked down feeling the pressure from restricted movements and saw the bandages Charlotte had put on him due to his wounds. He sighed wondering how terrified she must have been to see him in such a state as he slowly scooted off the bed and attempted to catch his balance. He was a bit dizzy when he tried to stand up to his full height and gently leaned on the bed for added support. The dipping of the bed and possibly the loss of warmth from his body against hers had begun to rouse Charlotte as she started twitching in her sleep.

Victor registered that not only had he been weak from the ordeal the previous night, but he'd been as naked as Charlotte had been when he got from beneath the sheet that covered them. He sighed realizing that there was no point in agonizing over what happened at this time as he found himself more determined to move than ever with the pressure on his bladder taking up most of his attention.

He managed to reach the lavatory, rushing as quickly as he could to the toilet bowl despite the pain and stiffness of his muscles the moment the door closed behind him, Charlotte seemed to have hopped out of her sleep with a note of panic filling her as she recalled that she did not do a very good job of hiding the pregnancy test from the previous night, or rather she had not hidden it at all and left it lying face up on the countertop in the bathroom near the sink.

Her heart seemed to be beating about a mile a minute as she awaited the ramifications of Victor Harlowe reading that test and discovering her deception about the birth control pills. She knew he wouldn't take the news too well, despite her not having gone to a doctor to confirm what the test had relayed.

Thinking quickly, she immediately got out of bed and approached the door hearing the flushing of the toilet and him running the water from the sink in a bid to wash his hands. Her heart nearly leaped into her throat when he opened the door and she could see the pregnancy test on the countertop just waiting for him to look at it. She'd been pleasantly surprised when he suddenly scooped her up into his arms and pressed his lips into hers.

"I think you did a right good job of patching me up last night," he said seemingly unaware of the test that she'd been keeping from him. "I've got a few hours and I believe I've got enough in the tank for another round...what do you say?"

Charlotte gasped as he kissed her neck.

"I'd say...that sounds...like a splendid idea," she replied welcoming the opportunity to provide a distraction for him.

Victor smiled against her neck and lifted her with relative ease despite his injuries. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs about his waist careful not to grip him too tightly as he'd still been injured beneath the bandages.

Charlotte met his gaze as he laid her down on the bed amid the already tangled sheets.

"You women are a curious lot," he saiironically kissing her bellyon. "Always with the strange feminine products in the lavatory."

Charlotte grew tense for a few moments as his lips grazed the flesh of her belly which she was pretty sure now housed his unborn child that he'd been blissfully unaware of. She was terrified about him finding out and at the same time thought it beautiful that he'd kissed her belly without knowing he'd be siring a child with her. She ran her fingers through his curly brown locks and he turned his attention toward kissing her lips.

The intensity of his kiss matched her own as they became once more entangled among the bedsheets as time slowly ticked away. Victor had said after all that he had a few hours before his departure and Charlotte wanted to spend every second making the most of it.