2. Chapter 2

Knowing that

they might be pressed for time, Galina hurried downstairs with Bengali

following close at her heels. She had made a bet with Snarf that it would snow

today, and he swore that his old bones would have felt a storm coming and that

she had been mistaken. She had offered to wager a bet on it, and she’d offered

a week’s worth of dishwashing detail. This had intrigued him, and in return he

offered that he would make buttermilk pancakes if it did actually snow by first

light. Galina had tried to keep her facial expression as normal as possible,

but had shaken hands with him and turned her back on the smallest ThunderCat,

hiding the smug expression she couldn’t help but to have on her face. She could

sense weather like it was nobody’s business, and she was never wrong.

Smelling

butter and what promised to be fluffy and rich pancakes, she had shaken Bengali

awake. She was amazed that he had reacted to the snow and not to the delicious

and mouth-watering aroma of breakfast, but he had responded to her, and that

was all that mattered as far as she was concerned.

He hurried

after her and looked quickly at the time piece he wore on his wrist glad that

Snarf had started early and that Galina had been expecting this, he had just

enough time to enjoy breakfast before leaving to pick up the Sh’iar couple. He hurried after her and looked quickly at

the time piece he wore on his wrist glad that Snarf had started early and that

Galina had been expecting this, he had just enough time to enjoy breakfast

before leaving to pick up the Sh’iar couple.

Argo leaned

over Crys gently nipping her neck. “Hey,

wake up sleepy head have you forgotten we’ve got a shuttle to catch for Third

Earth.”

She yawned

and giggled feeling his hot breath against her fur, “Is it morning

already?” Crys sighed happily wrapping

her arms around the Tiglon’s thick neck.

“I still have a few things I want to pack.”

“Forget about

it—it’s all done and anything else you may need, we can always buy from the

Berbil village.” He kissed her warmly

enjoying the taste of her lips. Oh heavenly bliss…Argo sighed. “Get up Marozi…Don’t tempt me.”

She pushed him

away and sat up; the big Tiglon stood smiling down at her.

“You’re

dressed and oh so sexy I must say!” Crys

declared giving her tiglon hybrid the once over. Argo was wearing a tight fitted sweater over

straight leg jeans and looked like he had just stepped out of the cover of

‘He-cat quarterly’!

“Dressed and

had time to enjoy a light breakfast…”

“I question

your use of the word, ‘light’.” The

she-cat snickered. “I’m guessing it

consisted of you having a couple of steaks.”

Argo pulled

off the blankets, “Come on love—I’m anxious to make a move to see Tygra and

Rangerkitty.”

Crys scooted

out of bed, “All right—all right! Geez

Argo it has only been a couple of months since we last saw them at our mating

ceremony.” She rushed into the bathroom

for a quick shower while Argo laid out her clothing. He selected a purple cashmere sweater and

black leggings for her to wear.

“Yes, I know

but it will be nice to see them all the same.”

“Hmmmm and

don’t forget Bengali and Galina too.”

The hybrid lioness added emerging from the shower. “Argo, have you ever seen snow?”

“Not

really…It will be quite an experience for us both don’t you think?” He added another sweater over the one he was

already wearing; Crys covered her mouth giggling. “Don’t you think you’re overdoing it with the

extra clothing?”

“I don’t

think so…Tygra said it gets pretty chilly at this time of year on Third Earth.”

“Well it’s a

good thing we don’t have that problem on Tymperia where the weather is always

warm and tropical.”

“Amen to

that.” Argo agreed. “Get a move on it!”

“Come on come

on Ben get a crack on it!” Galina

called. “Their shuttle should be

arriving any minute and I want to surprise them at the space port!”

“Why couldn’t

Rangerkitty come with us?” The white

tiger demanded climbing into the car.

“This will be

a surprise for her too! Now quit

stalling; let’s get going!” Galina

grinned to herself because she wanted to be the first to see the Tiglon before

RK did and wanted the opportunity to bask in his gorgeousness! But of course she would never openly confess

this to Bengali—she settled back in her seat grinning. However, unknown to Galina, Ben was secretly

looking forward to seeing Crystalandra and hoped her aloof mannerism would

change towards him. He remembered how

beautiful she had looked at her mating ceremony and unconsciously rubbed his

side from the severe elbowing he had received from Galina all because he had

ogled the hybrid. Well his reasoning had

been simple--if Gali could drool over Argo why couldn’t he over Crys?

“Something wrong?”

The white tigress asked noticing his lingering silence.

“Nah—everything

is fine. Why do you ask?”

“Let me put

your mind at ease Benny...I promise not to touch Argo…If I do I know

Crystalandra would personally snuff out my lights. However there is nothing that says I can’t

look.”

Bengali

frowned. “Actually, I beg to differ

because you have me now.”

“Of course I

do—I’m only joking!” Gali hugged her

mate and gave him a huge kiss on the cheek.

“I do so love you very much Ben!”

“I love you

too Gali…”

“Let’s just

have a good time, let our mane down, and relax!

This is going to be a wonderful get together!”

Galina and

Bengali arrived at the spaceport and found a place to park fairly nearby the

entrance to the arriving flights. She stepped out of the vehicle and fluffed

her mane as the snow sprinkled around her. She had not bothered to change as it

was only just below freezing and the snow was not coming down heavily yet.

Bengali got out of the transport and shut the door as he looked Galina over. He

smiled at the fact she still wore her gladiator sandals, short skirt and short

sleeveless top, even in this weather. He chuckled to himself. Overhearing him,

she looked over raising an eyebrow. “Yes?

Something amuses you?”

He shook his

head. “I’m just thinking how you’re going to astound Argo and Crys with your

tolerance to the cold. I doubt they are going to be as thrilled with this

weather as we are.”

She tossed

her mane over her shoulder and smiled a brilliant white smile at him. “Well

considering where we are taking them for this trip, I hope they get used to the

cold! It’s not going to be warm where we are going.”

He smiled

back and approached her, slipping his hands around her bare waist and pulled

her closer to him. “So tell me my dear, are your nipples getting hard yet?”

She reached

up and pinched his, causing him to yelp and jump,“Yeowch!”

“Are yours?”

Giggling she

started walking towards the entrance to the building, and he hurried after her.

Before them on a computerized screen was the listing of all the arriving and

departing flights, and Galina scanned the board looking for the shuttle from

Tymperia. Bengali came up behind her and pointed to the lower right side of the

board. “There it is. They should be arriving at the gate as we speak.”

She beamed with

excitement and grabbing his hand in hers they hurried to gate number eleven.