Fox Play

by Robin Roseau

  "Elisabeth?"

  "I trust June and Michaela," she said. "But I would rather not repeat Michele's experience."

  "No, I think we can do better than that."

  June's entire body lifted when Lara said that. "I can tell him?"

  "I'm not sure, June. Invite him to dinner. Let me get to know him a little better."

  "Thank you, Alpha!" she said.

  "June, don't thank me yet. This may be very dangerous information for him. You need to be as sure as you can."

  "He hasn't broken any promises to me."

  "This is a very shocking secret to keep."

  "I know," June said. "But Michaela said he's a good man. He is."

  "I will decide after spending some time with him. Any night this week, if he is free. Otherwise it will need to wait until we can give it more attention. Things will heat up again soon."

  She nodded. "It will be this week. Thank you, Alpha."

  Once June and Elisabeth were gone, Lara turned to me, and she carried a look of deep concern. "This is going to be one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made. If he responds badly-"

  "I know," I said. "I don't think he'll respond badly. He may not be willing to maintain a relationship, but he won't respond badly." I thought about it. "Start with me. Then all that is exposed is one little, harmless, far-from-intimidating fox. See how he responds."

  Lara nodded. "And I think we need to talk to Michele and Donald."

  "And probably warn Greg Freund. He won't want to be blind sided."

  "Who is watching us?"

  "I saw Karen and Wendy." Lara stepped to the door, opened it, and yipped once, quietly. I heard footsteps then Karen asked, "Yes, Alpha?"

  Lara invited her in and gave her a high level overview. She nodded. "I'll tell Marty, he'll tell Greg. We've been involved in this before, you know. Greg has a team that helps sometimes. I'm sure if he has suggestions, he'll get back to you."

  "Thank you, Karen."

  "You are welcome, Alpha." She paused. "I like it here, Alpha. This is the first pack I've seen that is run like this one. The LA pack isn't bad, but you know how it is."

  Lara smiled. "Dominant males everywhere?"

  "Yes. I'm sort of unaligned right now. Lima Consulting is my only family, and I sort of miss having a real pack. If you know what I mean." Lara smiled. "So, Alpha, I was wondering if there were some sort of application process or something?"

  Lara frowned, which I didn't understand. Karen thought she did immediately. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

  "Wait, Karen," Lara said. "Let me think about this. First, I would love to have you, but I want to think it through."

  "You're worried I will challenge the head enforcer."

  Elisabeth was the head enforcer, taking over from David last fall.

  "Yes," Lara said. "I wouldn't be able to stop you, and I am not sure what the results would be."

  "And you want your sister in that position."

  "Yes."

  "I don't want the position," Karen said. "If I were the only qualified individual, or if it were going to go to someone who I thought was bad for the pack or bad for the role, I would fight for it. But I don't want it. I don't want to deal with the politics. And frankly, I don't want to be the one to be forced to manage the fox." She looked at me and smiled. "I wouldn't have the patience, and I'd hurt you."

  I nodded. "No offense taken. I know I'm a pain in the ass."

  "I am very happy to be guarding you, Michaela. I like and admire you. But when the chips come down, I don't believe you would follow my orders, and I don't want that responsibility." She turned to Lara. "I'd agree to not challenge Elisabeth. If she needs to step down for some reason, we would have a fresh conversation. If she becomes bad for the pack, we would have a conversation. But she is good for the pack, and I don't think that will change."

  Lara considered her. "Do I need to talk to Greg Freund?"

  "Yes, but he won't object. I already talked to him about it. I was just waiting for a chance to ask you."

  Lara sighed. "This is going to be an interesting conversation with Elisabeth." She picked up her phone, paused, and invited Elisabeth back to the room.

  "Do you want me to go?" Karen asked.

  "No."

  Elisabeth must not have been far. There was a knock, then she entered. She looked around and asked, "What is going on."

  "Karen has asked to join the pack," Lara said.

  Elisabeth's lips tightened, and I watched her muscles tense.

  "I don't want your job," Karen said. "I absolutely do not want it. Second after you, maybe, but I don't want the politics of your job. I promised the alpha I wouldn't challenge you, and I would never break a promise to the alpha."

  "I do not need my sister to protect me from challengers!" Elisabeth said hotly.

  "No," Karen said. "You don't. But the positions in the pack should be filled by those best able to fill them, regardless of whether there is some hothead who is a better fighter. You are a better head enforcer than I would be. The pack is stronger with you as head. The pack is stronger if the alpha trusts the head enforcer. Point me at who needs to die, and I'll handle it. Point me at who to protect, and I will protect her. Tell me who needs training, and I will train him. But you are head enforcer, and I will fight to keep you there."

  Elisabeth took a breath. "You will offer your throat?"

  "Willingly and often. And I won't backtalk like someone we know." She stared at me.

  "I apologized!" I said.

  Elisabeth turned to me. "I told you."

  "I'm sorry."

  Elisabeth turned to Lara. "I have no objections. I think she'd be an amazing member of the pack. What about her job?"

  "I'd cut back," she said. "You would need to pay for me through the current difficulties. After that, I am happy to be a full time enforcer or part time, and part time working for Greg. Maybe full time for pack except when Greg has a particular need, and you can afford to do without me."

  Elisabeth said to Lara, "I do not want a bad relationship with Greg. That is more important to us than one enforcer, regardless of her qualifications."

  "Greg won't mind," Karen said. "But the alpha should talk to him. She could offer something in return."

  "What would that be?" Lara asked.

  Karen turned to me. "It's not often, but there are times he could really use a scout."

  "No!" Lara said, and I didn't even notice when she crossed the room, but I suddenly found myself in her arms. "Mine!"

  She was crushing me. "Lara!" I said. "Lara!"

  Her heart was pounding, but slowly she relaxed and gave me enough space to catch my breath.

  I reached up and kissed her jaw. "She's a little possessive," I told Karen.

  "I see that. I won't mention it again."

  "I would have to go along," Lara said quietly.

  I kissed her jaw again, and slowly she relaxed and released me, but stayed close.

  "You talk to Greg, Karen," Lara said. "Let me mull this over a little longer, but I am inclined to welcome you. I'll talk to him before making a formal offer."

  "Thank you, Alpha. That's all I can ask."

  Karen let herself out, and Lara turned to Elisabeth.

  "I think it's a good move. But you do not need to protect me, Alpha." Elisabeth looked pissed.

  "She offered," Lara said. "And I am going to hold her to it. You are my head enforcer, and it will remain that way. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes, Alpha," Elisabeth said meekly. Then she smiled. "I love you, too."

  They bumped each other, then Elisabeth ruffled my hair before slipping out the door.

  "So," she said, "Where were we?"

  "Well," I said. "I think you were about to take your clothes off."

  "I was?" she asked. "I don't remember it that way. I believe I was going to take yours off."

  "But Alpha, you know how you get when you take my clothes off, and then we have to interrupt the mood to get yours off. D
on't you think we should do yours first?"

  She stepped closer, and her fingers were reaching for the hem of my tee-shirt. "I don't like this shirt," she said.

  "Lara," I said. "I do."

  She knotted her fingers in the material at the neck of the shirt, threatening to rip the shirt into shreds. "In fact," she said. "I don't really like you wearing tee shirts at all."

  "I suppose you want me in frilly blouses and dresses?"

  "Yes. Especially when out kayaking."

  I heard the material start to rip, and my hands flew to Lara's. "Please, Lara. Not this shirt. It's important to me."

  "It's a tee shirt for some band I've never heard of."

  "It was my sister's favorite band."

  "Oh honey," she said, her expression softening. She adjusted her grip and removed the shirt very, very gently.

  I let her undress. She was very gentle about it. "I think you tore the material, Lara."

  "Can I make it up to you?"

  "Will you let me be on top?" I tried to summon some tears for good effect.

  "I'm sorry, honey. If that will make you feel better."

  Together we pulled her clothing off and she pulled me gently to the bed, pulling me down on top of her. We kissed, our passion rising, and I began to stroke her body. She was tense. We never made love with me on top. She would let me pleasure her, but never like this. I slid my hand down and began stroking her, sliding between her lips, wet and ready for me, and teasing her clit.

  Kissing her, I slid two fingers in her, then a third, and used my thumb to continue to tease her clit.

  "Lara," I said, moving slowly over her. "You maybe don't need to believe every little thing the little fox tells you. I'm fairly certain her sister has never heard of a bluegrass band called the Bayfield Callers."

  Her eyes flew open. "What?"

  I grinned at her, still moving.

  I knew what would happen, of course. She flipped us over immediately, and then I couldn't reach all her delectable parts. She pinned me to the bed and slid a leg between my thighs, pressing against me. She knew exactly what it took to get me exited. And then, while her leg continued to press against me, she shoved her head down and her mouth opened over my throat.

  She clamped down savagely, growling, and I immediately began to whimper in complete submission. She relaxed her mouth, but kept it over my throat as her leg continued to press and rub against my labia. I began to squirm under her, completely lost to what she was doing to me.

  I moaned and whimpered, lost in a mix of pleasure and submission. Then she pulled her mouth from my throat and said, "No! This is too much like a reward for you!" Without any other warming, she flipped me onto my stomach, roughly pressing me into the bed. Then I felt her mouth on the back of my neck, and she held me in place like that while sliding an arm under my hips. She lifted my ass into the air while holding my face and chest pressed into the bed. Lara shifted her position, sliding a leg between mine, forcing my legs apart, then her arm reached around me and between my legs.

  She didn't hesitate. I was dripping for her, and she invaded me with two fingers, sliding in and out of me roughly, her thumb teasing my clit, and I started to go crazy from the amazing sensations.

  Lara continued to growl, biting the back of my neck. I whimpered and moaned while her fingers drove me closer and closer to the cusp of an earth shaking orgasm. Just as I was about to come, she growled, "No!" and pinched me roughly, painfully.

  I gasped and crashed away from my orgasm, suddenly deeply frustrated.

  And then her hand was moving again, sliding in and out, her thumb pressed against my clit, the pressure intense, just shy of painful, I was so sensitive. I could barely breath and barely move, and I couldn't think at all, and my dominant alpha was pushing me further and further into submission as she drove me closer and closer to an orgasm.

  And, just as I reached the cusp, she said, "No!" again, and her mouth on my neck grew rough, painful, and she shoved her hand inside me painfully. The pain shoved away the orgasm, and I whimpered in earnest.

  "Please, Lara."

  "Shut up," she said, and then her hand was moving again.

  Lara was always firm with me, but sweet and gentle. This was harsh, rough, and I wasn't being made love to, I was being taken, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. There wasn't a thing I wanted to do about it.

  But she took me, she took me right to the cusp, and then I begged and pleaded, and she told me, "You will behave!"

  "I'll behave!" I promised. And then with each rough stroke inside me, I told her, "I'll behave. Behave. Behave." When the orgasm came, it came hard, and I screamed her name, and then, shuddering, I whimpered out, "Behave, behave."

  And then for a long time, I didn't have a single coherent thought. Sometime while I was lost in having been taken so thoroughly, Lara had shifted us, and I eventually realized we were under the covers, cuddling, with Lara on her back and my head on her chest, her arm curled around me protectively.

  She must have realized when I came back to earth.

  "I'm sorry," she said. "I hurt you."

  "No," I told her. "No. You didn't."

  She didn't answer right away, and I tried to curl closer to her. She held her muscles stiff, tense, and I said, "I'm sorry."

  "You pushed me too far, little fox. I could have really hurt you."

  "I'm sorry, Lara. I didn't think you would believe me. I mean. The shirt says Bayfield on it in big bold letters. We lived in New Hampshire, and we didn't own a single electronic device. The shirt is from last year. Where would my sister ever have heard that band?"

  She relaxed slightly.

  "But I realized you believed me, so I tried to go over the top teasing you, and you let me. I didn't think you would, I thought you would see through me. But then you let me be on top, and I started to feel really guilty. Because I really, really wanted to be beneath you, Lara."

  She pulled me to her, not saying anything.

  "Lara, what you did-"

  "I'm sorry."

  "What you did, I wouldn't want it like that all the time. But sometimes. Don't feel guilty. You're right, it hurts, but..." And then I couldn't get close enough to her, I kept clutching at her, trying to practically crawl inside of her. "Please hold me tighter and tell me you understand."

  And she did.

  Exposed

  I was sore in the morning. When Lara saw me trying to walk, she flinched herself. I walked straight to her, slowly, and told her, "Lara, I am very good at pushing your buttons. Do you think I push them because I hate the results?"

  "You weren't counting on that."

  "Did you listen to what I said afterwards? Did you?"

  She smiled. "Yes."

  "Good, because I have every intention of pushing you like that again. Not often, but not rarely, either. And if you dare to feel guilty about it, it's going to ruin it for me. So knock it off."

  And then I stepped into her arms and demanded a kiss. She happily complied, and when she released me, she looked more relaxed.

  "I'm still going to feel guilty, Michaela, every time you flinch trying to walk."

  "Do you know what I'm going to think every time I flinch?"

  "How much I hurt you?"

  "No. I am going to think about how much I want to be between your legs, thanking you for what you did. Now, put on a self-satisfied smile or I swear, you aren't touching me for a week."

  She laughed and hugged me, and she looked pretty pleased with herself.

  And then, when she wasn't looking, I took some Ibuprofen.

  Breakfast at the lodge was, shall we say, awkward. I am not by nature an exhibitionist. I am openly affectionate not only to Lara but to all my friends, and the entire pack sees me naked on a regular basis; it's a side effect of losing my clothes when I shift.

  But I was collecting my breakfast and overheard Scarlett and Angel talking. "Michaela is walking funny," Scarlett said.

  "Lara looks pleased and guilty at the same
time."

  "I wonder when I'll get you to scream like that," Scarlett replied.

  "No way. You'll go first," Angel said.

  I started blushing terribly.

  "Do you think she'll really behave?" Scarlett asked.

  "Elizabeth has a pool going for the next time she publicly defies Lara or Elisabeth. I've got noon today. No way will she last a week. I don't think she'll make it until dinner."

  My face steaming, I left my plate where it was on the edge of the serving table and went in search of Elisabeth. She was sitting on the front porch of the lodge, drinking a cup of coffee and taking a rare moment to relax. She glanced up as I stepped outside and grinned.

  "Have a nice night after we left?" she asked. "You seem to be walking funny."

  "Was I that loud?"

  "Yes. The enforcers almost burst in from the screaming, but it was obvious what was going on."

  "Is Lara strutting around somewhere?"

  Elisabeth chuckled. "A little. You're good for her, you know."

  "Who do I thank for starting the pool about me? You?"

  "No, and I won't tell you. It's in fun. Be a good scout."

  "Would you be a good scout?"

  "I don't seem to attract as much attention as you do. I'm boring. You're not. Consider it a compliment."

  "That was evasive, Elisabeth."

  She didn't answer right away, but sat, drinking her coffee. I waited in vain. "Are you thinking about a response or trying to make me more upset?"

  She glanced over. "I was being evasive because I don't want to admit the truth. No, I would not be a good scout. My reaction wouldn't necessarily be the right reaction. The right reaction is to be a good scout about it."

  I took a breath and thought about it. "You're right. I will strive to follow your advice. Why are you managing the pool?"

  "You and your damned hearing," she said. "I manage it because there isn't anyone else to do it. They came to me. It's not the first time."

  "About me?"

  "About everything. Sometimes about you; sometimes about Lara; sometimes about council decisions. Sometimes the pool is about me, and then they go to Francesca."