21. Chapter 21

Argo steered the snowmobile at a much slower speed, enjoying

the ride and feel of Rangerkitty holding onto his firm waist.

"It's nice to see Crys and Tygra finally getting along

but I can't help feeling a bit jealous...I miss having her around." He wistfully began.

"I know how you feel. Lately she seems to want him to

do everything with her... who would have thought?"

"Yeah...Who would have thought? That whole be careful what you wish for

stuff..." He answered quietly as

they rode for some time in silence taking in the beauty of their surroundings.

Rangerkitty sighed and embraced the tiglon more securely

leaning against his back and thinking the whole Be careful what you wish for, as you might just get it, had a truth

of meaning. She had been so hopeful Crys

and Tygra would be able to get along, and now, she wondered why she’d wished so

hard. Ranger closed her eyes and felt the hum of the motor beneath them,

forgetting the bag she was holding in her hand. The wind caught it making it

flutter in the breeze and suddenly felt it slip out of her fingers and fly

away. "Argo, I dropped my things! Stop the snowmobile!"

He brought the machine to a skidding halt. "Don't worry; we'll go back for

it." Argo climbed off the

snowmobile and shook his head.

"However did you manage to lose your grip on your bag? Well, no matter--come on, it can't be too far

behind." Helping her off, the

Tiglon took Rangerkitty's hand and they re-traced their step backwards to where

the bag lay half buried in the snow.

She leaned down to pick it up and gathered the tape and

ribbons that had fallen out of it. As she straightened, she noticed Argo, just

a few feet away, watching her every move. She blinked a few times regarding him

also wondering how such a perfect hybrid was possible. He stood tall, broad and

muscular, like he had been created by a lustful goddess. His mane was

multi-coloured and as usual, she had the overwhelming desire to run her hands

through it—it perfectly framed his broad face. Out of all his features, it was

those blue eyes of his that always seemed to draw her in. His empathic powers

could always sense the emotions of those nearby, and Ranger always struggled to

keep her thoughts and feelings in check whenever she was around him.

Fortunately, he had taught her many of the skills necessary to do this, but at

this moment, she suddenly forgot them all as she stared back into those

hypnotic eyes.

The tiglon couldn’t help but study Rangerkitty in the soft

glow of the moonlight while she collected her wares. She was sweet, kind, and

in many ways, a complete contradiction to him. She was seemingly innocent, yet

he could tell she had an intensely enigmatic sexiness to her. It was one of her

greatest strengths, and while Ranger was naturally provocative, she was

ladylike, and it tortured the hell out of him.

Standing, her long hair fell gently back over her shoulder and the

snowflakes fell upon her mane, this time, not glistening like diamonds in the

daylight, but like moonlit stars. Her green eyes met his gaze, and he found

himself approaching her slowly, as she did the same.

When they were only mere inches apart, he opened his lips to

speak, but was unable for his mouth felt dry.

“Got it all?” he asked eventually inquired when he was able.

She exhaled. “Yeah, I do.”

Argo leaned down closer to her; her eyelashes began to

flutter closed when something bright in the sky caught her eye. She gasped and

grabbed his arm pointing to the sky with her other hand. He followed her

instruction and looked up at the starless sky, amazed at what he saw. A green

shooting star blazed over them, and as quickly as they had seen it, it

disappeared into oblivion, leaving only a shower of snowflakes falling down

upon them.

“Wow. I can’t believe we saw that with this cloud cover.”

“It’s a shooting star! We get to make a wish!” she said

excitedly.

“It was probably just a part of a meteor shower.”

She growled at him. “It was a shooting star, Argo, and we

get to make a wish.”

He chuckled at her seriousness and consented. “You’re

right.”

They both silently made their wishes, and reopening their

eyes, they realized they were still standing in the middle of the forest in a

foot of snow. She glanced around and was pleased to see the trail of footprints

they had made.

“Wow. Can you imagine if those weren’t there? We’d be lost

in the woods all night.”

“I can think of worse things.” He grinned.

She blushed at his comment and tried to avoid his

mesmerizing eyes; she started around him and began heading back the way they

had come. He followed and stopped short curious why Rangerkitty held aside a

few hanging branches and was peering under a tree. “What are you doing?”

“Argo! Check this out!” she whispered. Confused he followed

and peered under the branches at what she’d discovered. Two white rabbits were

quietly nibbling on a berry bush that grew at the base of the tree. Their noses

twitched happily and they seemed pleased at the discovery of the surprise

treat. He smiled softly, feeling their contentedness and their innocence. Argo

looked at Rangerkitty who also looked happy. In fact, she had the unmistakable

glisten of tears in her eyes. He touched her shoulder and she turned.

“Are you okay, hun?”

“Yes.” Ranger gently released the branches leaving the

animals to their little party of two. “I just love rabbits. My father used to

say that seeing them was a sign of good luck.”

He pulled her in for a hug. “That’s sweet. Wow, first a

comet, er... shooting star, now a bunny sighting. Where is all this good luck

coming from?”

She squeezed him tight. “I’m not sure, but can we do one

more thing before we go?”

He released her and she walked a few feet away to an area of

untouched snow, “Sure, Ranger, name it--anything.”

Argo gasped watching Rangerkitty collapse backward, flat

onto the ground. He dashed forward, unsure of why she had done that, and was

equally perplexed to see her lying in the snow, spread eagle and moving her

arms and legs up and down, in and out. He watched a few moments before finally

speaking. “May I ask what in Third Earth you’re doing?”

Ranger giggled and sat up, holding her arms out to him. He

took her hands and pulled her up to her feet. She hopped out of the design she

had made in the snow, and showed him. “See? It’s a snow angel!”

He examined the outline she had made in the snow and nodded

in agreement. It did look like one of the heavenly creatures he had read about

in an old lore. “Ah, I see. So that’s

what a snow angel is.”

“Your turn!” She announced; the Sh’iar made a mock

whimper. “I have to lie in that cold

stuff? RK, can’t you just do another one for me?”

The tigress laughed and began pushing him, trying to get him

to fall. He wrestled with her and chuckled at the effort she was making trying

to get him to trip.

“You silly tigress I’m bigger than you. This isn’t going to

work. Besides...” He grabbed her and threw himself back into a small snowdrift,

clutching her to his chest. She shrieked at the surprise and giggled, looking

up at him as they landed in a shower of fluffy snow. “If I go down I’m taking you with me.” He

grinned, their faces only inches apart.

And then without warning it happened—everything at once

became surreal with them becoming lost in the moment. Argo couldn’t help himself for he was picking

up extremely strong empathic emanations from Rangerkitty that made him

reciprocate…her desire was incredibly strong.

The tigress lowered her head tenderly brushing her lips against

his. The tiglon didn’t hesitate slipping

his hand behind Ranger’s head; he pulled her mouth back to his for a deeper

more lingering kiss. Fueled even more by

her want of him, Argo’s other hand trailed along her back, over her hip and

then grabbing her backside he rolled over so he was on top. Rangerkitty arched her back, his kisses hot on

her neck; she dug her claws into his shoulders in response. Fortunately that was the trigger, the

sensation that returned the tiglon to reality.

He winced in shame realizing how far this could have gone.

“Ranger…I’m so sorry.”

Argo released her; she looked back up at

him, panting heavily with flushed cheeks. He was doing the same. “I just

couldn’t help myself but not to kiss you.”

“It’s ok.” She breathed. “I think I needed that.”

“So did I.” He truthfully admitted and grinning he climbed

off of her. “But let’s not make that

mistake ever again.”

“I agree.”

Argo reached down and helping her to her feet, he pulled her

in for a hug; his sharp eyes quickly spotted something. “Hey, look over there.” He indicated to where they had fallen, “See?

It’s a mistletoe tree. I was just following the holiday tradition.”

RK gave a nervous laugh, relief immediately washed over her.

As much as she loved and was attracted to Argo, she knew he was more of a

friend than anyone had ever been. She would never want to compromise that.

“Your snow angel looks more like a snow beast.” Ranger laughed waving at the pile of snow

where he’d landed. “It looks more like a yeti was lying there.”

“Come on, you. Let’s get back to the lodge.” He took her

hand leading back to the snowmobile.

Nearly forgetting her shopping bag, the tigress reached down grabbing

it. Along the trail they went to where

the vehicle waited and started back to the mountain resort. When the large and warmly lit building came

into view, Rangerkitty was surprised when Argo slowed the snowmobile to a stop.

“Is everything okay?” She asked concerned. “Is something wrong?”

He took a few deep breaths and stepped off the machine,

turning to face her. “Listen, RK, I feel really guilty about how I acted.”

“I’m not mad at you.”

“I know, but I’m angry with myself. I should have exerted much

more restraint; that should never have happened.”

Rangerkitty shifted slightly in her seat realizing how

bothered he was by the incident. She did not regret any of it. She’d always

wanted to kiss him, and in a way, she felt like finally it was excised from her

system.

“Argo, I’m relieved we shared that moment together. I’ve

been confused of late and well, needy as too, your kiss cured me.”

“What like revenge?” He appeared put-off.

“No, of course not, it made me realize even though I have

been jealous of Crystalandra and Tygra’ closeness, they might feel the same way

about us. If we can restrain ourselves,

well then perhaps they can as well. I can trust they will show us the same

respect we showed them.”

Argo ran a hand through his messy mane dishevelling it even

more. “You call that respect? Ranger,

that’s what’s called a tiglon skin rug where I come from if Crystalandra ever

found out... not to mention how she’d use you for batting practice.”

Ranger appeared alarmed, “Why should she find out? Are you

planning to tell her?”

“Are you kidding? I

would very much like to see my 40th birthday. I have no intention of dying prematurely

under her hands.”

Rangerkitty shrugged. “Well then it stays between us. Not to

mention that we didn’t do anything wrong, we only shared a kiss, and I have to

say… it meant a lot to me.”

Sighing, Argo approached and gently caressed her cheek with

his hand. “It meant a lot to me too.”

“Then please cherish it, rather than regret it. That would

make me feel terribly sad and you’re an empath. You would pick up on that any

and every time you’re around me.”

He took a deep breath and reading her emotions, he came to

the realization she was not trying to rationalize things, but truly believed

and felt this way. This calmed him, and the tiglon grinned and nodded. “Okay

Ranger, thanks--I feel better.”

“I’m glad. Hey, can I tell you something that will make you

smile?”

He nodded; relieved things were back to normal between them.

“What’s that?”

“You’re a great kisser.” She winked at him.

He threw his head back chortling loudly and then grabbing

her face the tiglon planted a hard kiss on her lips. “Mmmmmmwha! Thanks,

darlin!” She laughed too wiping her

mouth while he re-mounted the snowmobile and revved the engine. Driving wildly like Galina did, Argo was

excited to get back to the lodge to find and be with his own mate.