Clawing back towards the waking world, Ali became aware of two things. One was pain \u2013 mostly a throbbing headache, but also some all-over aching and stiffness; the other was the scent of lilacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was a bit curious \u2013 it was well past the early spring when lilacs were in bloom \u2013 and that in turn provided something to focus on other<\/em> than the pain, which was quite welcome. Oh, to be sure, some floral scents were frequently distilled and used in perfumes and incense, but lilac was \u2013 regrettably, from Ali\u2019s point of view \u2013 not a common choice for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also served as a reminder that Ali wasn\u2019t at home, because the Arcine manor didn\u2019t have lilacs on the grounds these days, blooming out-of-season or otherwise, nor was the scent favoured among the staff. As fragments of the evening before sorted themselves in Ali\u2019s memory, this wasn\u2019t terribly surprising \u2013 but one thing Ali couldn\u2019t <\/em>remember was actually getting into bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Eyes blinking open were met by sheets of deep green linen \u2013 fine stuff, by the feel of it. Ali brought a hand up to grasp the top sheet, and paused a moment to stare at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That hand was not the one Ali was used to. It was much thicker and stronger; the arm attached to it much more visibly muscular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So not only had<\/em> last night happened, the changes hadn\u2019t reversed themselves overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excitement cut through the discomfort. Ali flipped the sheet away and sat up \u2013 a bit of a dizzying prospect, not just from the headache but also because the room shifted rather more in the process than Ali was used to. But oh, oh,<\/em> that was a disorientation Ali would gladly live through, as a price for having the body that now met his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His<\/em> eyes. There was no mistaking the shape of this body for anything but a man\u2019s \u2013 broad and heavyset, tapering down towards hips that weren\u2019t especially prominent, limbs sturdy and muscular. Ali hadn\u2019t slouched on exercise for the last ten years, but this<\/em> was a body that wouldn\u2019t let him down. And while Ali hadn\u2019t exactly seen a great many naked fellows before, there was no mistaking his manhood, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From what Ali had heard from male acquaintances before, many men would\u2019ve considered Ali rather lucky in that department \u2013 even at rest, it looked like a plump handful. Ali himself could only stare at it for a bit, not because it was attractive \u2013 though it did look quite fine to his<\/em> sight \u2013 but because he felt so amazingly lucky to have it at all.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As he looked, he spread a hand over his chest, clawtips tracing the lines of muscles underlying his thick fur, from creamy front outward over black-striped-orange sides. Oh, he\u2019d been able to pick them out before, sure \u2013 but not this<\/em> easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It had really happened, then \u2013 all of it. For years he\u2019d been aware that his body had felt ill-fitting; distracting himself from it had not been easy, no matter how thoroughly he tried to engage in his studies or other pursuits. When he\u2019d first heard that a classmate of his had done his thesis on permanent<\/em> transmutation, not something that would be undone when the magic faded, he\u2019d scarcely dared dream that it could come to pass for him. <\/em>But now it had \u2013and if his body was still new and unfamiliar, without the gradual period of incremental change and adjustment that came from, oh, exercise \u2013 or even growing up, dizzying as that<\/em> had sometimes been \u2013 well, it was actually something he looked forward to becoming<\/em> familiar with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally he lifted his head and looked around. The bedchamber he occupied was pleasantly appointed, but not ostentatious; a competent joiner had put together the furniture, that much was plain, but the carved details were elegant and subtle, the fittings were simple \u2013 if well-polished \u2013 brass, and there wasn\u2019t a hint of gold leaf to be seen. It was a cozy space, though after a moment Ali was struck by the realization that when his eyes had been a foot or more lower down, it would probably have seemed quite spacious. From the edge of the bed \u2013 which blessedly lacked a canopy to get in the way \u2013 he could see a broad window, thin curtains rendering the sunlight gentle and suffuse, heavy drapes tied off to the sides should the light grow stronger than that; a mirror, which held some appeal though the angle wasn\u2019t right to see himself in it from the bed; next to it, a sturdy-looking wardrobe; the door, which much like the furniture in the room itself seemed well-made and subtly detailed but not ornate; and, turning around, a side table, from which a light flickered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali pushed up to his feet, and almost tipped right over when that push was stronger than expected; he caught himself with a hand against the wall and an embarrassingly loud thump. More cautiously, he stood up straight and made his slow, careful way around the bed, acquainting himself with his new length of stride \u2013 marvelling a little at it, really. The light was, predictably enough, cast by a small candle heating a diffuser that was the source of that lilac scent. Had his host known how much he liked that particular smell, or was it just a happy chance…? At any rate, next to the diffuser waited a covered silver platter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mere sight of it woke a fresh discomfort \u2013 Ali\u2019s stomach reminding him that it wanted for filling. With a mix of curiosity and eagerness, he walked up to the table and lifted the cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A host of delectable scents assailed him \u2013 for none of them to have snuck past the platter, he suspected enchantment at work. Seared pork, eggs, cheese, butter, fresh-baked bread, and under it all, subtler notes of herb and spice. Ali\u2019s stomach growled at the first breath; actually seeing<\/em>the spread, the generous portion of omelet, sausages,bowl of spiced porridge, thick slices of bread with butter and blackberry jam waiting \u2013 Ali might have thought himself in paradise if not for the lingering headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also present on the platter was a steaming mug, with a handwritten card leaning against it \u2013 curious, he picked it up and read. A neat hand had written, The tea will be bitter, but it is medicine \u2013 please drink it all. Once you have finished, or should you need for something, simply ring. AV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Medicine, huh? Add it to the headache, stiffness, and the gap in his memory, and it was painting a pretty grim picture \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t so bad, at least, that Arek Vhendal had seen fit to reverse the change while Ali was dead to the world, so there was that. Much though he longed to dive into the food, Ali set the card down and dutifully lifted the mug. It didn\u2019t smell<\/em> awful, at least; and a tentative sip confirmed it to be bitter, but not horrendously so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, next to the platter on the other side were a sweating pitcher, a cup, and a jar of honey. Ali drizzled a bit of the last into the tea, stirred, and took another sip; the bitterness was still there, but it was tolerably masked by sweetness now. The pitcher turned out to be full of simple water \u2013 simple, but cold and clear; that would do a fine job of washing the tea down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The table next to the chair had a pile of folded grey cloth upon it \u2013 a robe, it turned out; far too big for any of the house\u2019s permanent residents, it nonetheless was a bit short on Ali\u2019s limbs, though it at least had enough slack that belting it didn\u2019t feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which meant that if he did<\/em> need to ring for something, he needn\u2019t be completely<\/em> embarrassed. He liked<\/em> his body now, at least, but that didn\u2019t make it right to show all of it off to anyone who happened upon him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He tugged the chair around to face the platter, sat, and dug into his meal, sipping tea between mouthfuls. Part of him wanted to linger over it, because the food was really quite good; but he was famished, and so kept on piling it in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a serving that would have previously served him as a full dinner if not two, Ali sat back, nibbling on the last slice of bread and feeling altogether much<\/em> better. Whether it was the tea or just getting some food and drink in him, his headache had diminished to a tiny mote of discomfort, and the gnawing hunger was well and truly vanquished. Somehow, he didn\u2019t feel stuffed<\/em> \u2013 his notion of what constituted a full meal might need some adjustment if that<\/em> was going to be a regular thing, even if the degree of hunger he\u2019d woken with had been unusual. But he was, at least, pleasantly full, the tea was dutifully drunk, and overall he was starting to feel pretty good about his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering he\u2019d woken up in pain and in unfamiliar surroundings with no memory of getting there, that last bit was kind of impressive, really. But then, so was the difference between what he\u2019d seen looking at himself yesterday \u2013 assuming it was<\/em>only yesterday \u2013 and today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abit more carefully than he\u2019d first got out of bed, Ali got out of the chair. He didn\u2019t feel clumsy,<\/em> no \u2013 not in the sense that he was ungainly, that he didn\u2019t know where his body was or that it wouldn\u2019t obey his will. No, as far as he could tell, he was just a lot<\/em> stronger than he was used to being. That would be something to watch for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He put the chair back where he\u2019d found it and started for the bell pull by the wardrobe, and as he necessarily passed by the mirror, the motion in it caught his eye. He paused to get a good look at himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fine and healthy specimen he seemed to be \u2013 well,\u00a0that<\/em> wasn\u2019t exactly new, he\u2019d taken care of his body even when it hadn\u2019t felt like\u00a0his.<\/em> Not that he\u2019d been\u00a0vain,<\/em> at least he didn\u2019t think so \u2013 the last thing he\u2019d wanted had been to show himself off.\u00a0This, though… scruffy and disheveled as he was, this was something he could<\/em> see himself wanting to tidy up and have seen.\u00a0Suddenly self-conscious, Ali tried to smooth down some of that mussed fur, combing through it with claws that had apparently regrown when his body was changed.\u00a0His fingers slid down his neck, over his collarbone, and into the V of white chest-fur the robe left exposed, and he marvelled at the lack of impediment there. Breasts hadn\u2019t done him any good before, and had been a right nuisance at times; now there was only the subtle curve of pectoral muscle under the fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a guilty glance towards the door, as though he might see through it if someone were approaching, he tugged the robe\u2019s belt open and let it fall to either side. There really was no mistaking that he was<\/em> a man, now, rather than just someone who would rather<\/em> be; his fur wasn\u2019t enough to conceal that length of flesh hanging between his thighs. Licking his muzzle, he let his fingers drift down to stroke it \u2014 not for titillation, though the strength of sensation that caress sent through him was shocking, but in wonder. Though he\u2019d seen a few appealing ones, he\u2019d had precious little opportunity before to be this close to a penis, and this one was his,<\/em> every thick inch of it. Beneath it, better concealed by fur, his balls; those, too, felt very fine, partly from base pleasure at the contact but mostly just confirming that they were his.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was with a very similar mix of amazement and pleasure that he beheld his member growing and rising. He bit his lip and curled his fingers under it, feeling it grow thicker and heavier, a rush of excitement surging through him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soft tapping on the door almost made him jump out of his fur, and he snatched the robe closed, belting it in frantic haste. Stars above, what had he been thinking?<\/em> He was a guest<\/em> in this house! Thankfully, he hadn\u2019t got too far along; when he looked in the mirror, he couldn\u2019t see any sign of his indiscreet arousal, much as he expected to. He swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and called out, \u201cCome in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latch clicked, the door eased open, and his host slipped in with a smile. It marked one of very few times that Ali had seen Arek Vhendal not<\/em> dressed as a training or professional sorcerer; he had on loose, fine trousers that wouldn\u2019t endure a brisk walk out in the weather, and a vest so brief that, but for its many pouches and pockets, it would have almost been fair to call it a harness. His fur was damp and slicked down; while that wasn\u2019t enough to overcome the thickness of that fur and reveal muscle tone, it did<\/em> nicely highlight his overall lithe, slender form, and the streaked-together blotches that made him so distinct from most cheetahs were on full display. And the scent of him \u2014 over the damp fur lay some other, more deliberate scents, sharp and almost spicy, as well as genuinely<\/em> spicy aromas that spoke of a recent visit to the kitchens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before he quite knew what was going on, Ali had his hands on the cheetah\u2019s shoulders \u2013 from there, the wiry strength in them was<\/em> plain \u2013 and starting to slide down from there. He looked deep into the cheetah\u2019s coppery eyes, widening now in surprise \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then it hit him what the other<\/em> time was that he\u2019d seen such surprise in the other cat\u2019s expression; had seen him so exposed. It was when Ali had come bearing word of his father\u2019s plan to dispatch a construct to waylay the cheetah and extract his seed\u2026 only for Arek to come home having just encountered that selfsame construct, the plan only foiled because he\u2019d managed to keep his head and subvert<\/em> the thing before it got away. His clothes had been tattered, barely hanging onto him, not concealing much; he\u2019d been thoroughly wetted down; and seeing Ali in his own home, oh, he\u2019d certainly been surprised, and not in a good way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His blood running cold and quenching that sudden longing, Ali yanked his hands away and took a step back, stammering, \u201cS-s-sorry\u2014!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeavens, Alistair.\u201d Arek offered him a wan smile. He\u2019d lifted a hand, maybe to touch the tiger\u2019s cheek; now he let it fall. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to apologize to me. <\/em>I did<\/em> offer to keep you company in your borrowed bed, and that offer stands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali blinked. Arek had offered what?<\/em> Ali had found the cheetah attractive for years<\/em> and never pursued him \u2013 partly because of the rancour between their families, partly just out of the discomfort he\u2019d had in his old body. Surely he\u2019d remember an offer like that!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wouldn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although\u2026 when had Arek learned of the name Ali had been leaning towards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next thing he knew, that hand was on his cheek after all. \u201cYou don\u2019t remember, do you?\u201d Arek asked softly. \u201cI was afraid that might be so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again Ali blinked hard. How had Arek known that,<\/em> either? \u201cI remember getting out of the water,\u201d he said. \u201cI remember seeing myself like, uh, this.<\/em> It felt good. Felt right.<\/em> But after that\u2026\u201d He closed a fist as though he might seize the truth out of the very air. \u201cWhat \u2013 what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou passed out, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d Arek sighed, looking away. \u201cA miscalculation on my part. I accounted for most of what your new, larger body would be made<\/em> of, but not the simple fact that it would need food.<\/em> You had enough time last night to see yourself, tell me the name you\u2019d chosen, and for me to make the offer. Then you kissed me, which certainly felt<\/em> like accepting it \u2013 but by the time you drew back from that kiss, you were shaking, and complained of dizziness. You were out shortly thereafter. I found you to be simply starved\u2014\u201d the cheetah knew the living body as well as any healer, after all \u201c\u2014so I didn\u2019t see a need to undo the change on my own recognizance, and didn\u2019t think you would thank me for it. I summoned some help to get you into bed, got some sugar water down your throat to tide you over, and tucked you in myself; and I made sure to have a very<\/em>ample meal waiting for you by the time I thought you likely to awaken.\u201d His gaze sought the side table. \u201cThat, at least, seems to have been well-received.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh. That\u2026 was a much smaller gap in Ali\u2019s memory than he\u2019d begun to worry. \u201cWe didn\u2019t\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, it didn’t go farther than a single kiss, not yet.\u201d Again that wistful smile. \u201cAt least I might presume to say \u2018not yet.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali could hardly think of anyone he\u2019d more<\/em> enjoy teaching him about his new body, but what a relief that the lesson hadn\u2019t<\/em> actually happened yet and he\u2019d just forgotten.<\/em> \u201cAnd the memory\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not entirely<\/em> surprising that you might have lost the last few minutes, losing consciousness as suddenly as you did. Your mind didn\u2019t have the chance to keep a record of it, so to speak \u2013 not such intellectual things as conversation, anyway; feelings may have been a bit easier, thus you remembering that what you saw of yourself felt good. It sounds like you didn\u2019t lose any more than might be expected in the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali let out a breath he hadn\u2019t realized he was holding. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut of course.\u201d The cheetah\u2019s fingers stroked along Ali\u2019s jaw. \u201cAnd how are<\/em> you feeling this morning, Alistair?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alistair.<\/em> Still similar to the name he\u2019d grown up with, yes \u2013 maybe it\u2019d be harder for others to keep the names apart, maybe someone would, by accident or intention, call him Alystarra. But he was still similar to the person he\u2019d been all along, and had only changed a little, really \u2013 one simple thing, if one with profound consequences in physical<\/em> terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it was so, so<\/em>reassuring to hear the name tumble off of Arek\u2019s tongue so naturally, as if it was the name the cheetah had always<\/em>known him by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBetter for hearing you call me that,\u201d he said out loud. \u201cBetter for the breakfast, too; it was delightful. A bit sore, somehow a bit tired, but overall… oh, I can\u2019t tell you how much of a relief it was to find myself still like this.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought that might be the way of it, that last one.\u201d Now Arek\u2019s smile was warmer, brighter, less wistful. \u201cWas the food enough, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali had to laugh. \u201cI\u2019m still somewhat surprised I managed to eat it all as it is. I hope it doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ll always<\/em> need portions like that, though. If so, I\u2019ll deal with it, but it will <\/em>make things a bit harder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t. Oh, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll need quite a bit more than your former usual<\/em>, but that<\/em> setting was because you were already undernourished. Once you\u2019ve settled into a new equilibrium and your body has replenished all that it was missing, it should be more manageable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr at least allow me more time to appreciate<\/em> it,\u201d Ali prayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust so.\u201d Arek\u2019s fingers glided along the tiger\u2019s jaw. \u201cMy main intention was to check in and be sure you were faring well; second to that, did you still wish to have a tailor summoned, and if so do you have a preference as to whom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes and no, in that order,\u201d Ali replied. The thought that he\u2019d have to get an entire new wardrobe, while lacking anything at all<\/em> that would fit him, might have been a daunting one if that solution hadn\u2019t already been presented alongside the problem itself. \u201cI only hope whoever it is will take my family\u2019s name as credit until the courts decide how much of my father\u2019s wealth I\u2019m to inherit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019ll probably be our House\u2019s own tailor, then, rather than one from the markets. He\u2019s a pleasant fellow, likes a challenge, and while you\u2019ll certainly need more material than I or my father would, I\u2019m quite sure he\u2019s well-stocked. If you truly wish to pay your own way on this, we can doubtless come to reasonable terms of reimbursement later on. All that said, he\u2019ll likely not be available until after noon, so,\u201d a toothy grin, \u201cwould you care for some company in the meantime? Get a little better-acquainted with your new self?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sudden change of subject made Ali\u2019s head spin. Or maybe that was the sudden rush of longing. He swallowed an automatic, enthusiastic agreement that was trying to sneak out before he could consider it. Being found attractive, before today, had only made Ali feel all the more awkward, even when it was by someone he\u2019d found appealing in turn \u2013 and that<\/em> was a group the cheetah definitely fell into. Now, though \u2013 now the news that his interest was heartily reciprocated nearly knocked out his thinking mind; for one crazy moment, all he knew was want.<\/em> He wanted to know every inch of Arek\u2019s body in exquisite detail, wanted to feel the other male against him, to hear him moan, smell his seed\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n He swallowed hard. Gods, it was suddenly a lot<\/em> harder to avoid getting caught up in the rush. One clear moment \u2013 that was all he wanted, just one moment of clarity to ask himself honestly, did he have any reason to say no? It wasn\u2019t as though they could accidentally have children \u2013 as he understood it, that would have been hard enough even when he did<\/em> have a woman\u2019s body; different races of cats were<\/em> fertile together, but not very highly so. On a more individual level, Arek was a smart and talented fellow, with drive to excel and a keen sense of integrity, and the physical attraction Ali had long had for him was only heightened now that indulging it, if indeed the cheetah would have had any interest in doing so before yesterday, wouldn\u2019t have felt impossibly awkward on Ali\u2019s part. They were of comparable standing, notwithstanding Ali\u2019s father being ousted from the Forum over those plots; Ali wasn\u2019t one to obsess over status and had no indication that Arek was either, but being similar in that respect did<\/em> negate a few potential headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Really, for a dalliance, Ali could do far, far<\/em> worse. For more than that, well, best to see how a dalliance went before pondering more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That moment of consideration must have resulted in a pregnant pause, but Arek didn\u2019t seem concerned or dismayed just yet. Hopeful, more like. Ali let a smile move into place, bringing a hand up to the cheetah\u2019s jaw in turn. \u201cI suppose,\u201d he began, aiming for that same faux-dispassion as in Arek\u2019s last remark, \u201cit wouldn\u2019t be a bad idea to let you inspect your handiwork while it\u2019s fully functional, hmmm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A chuckle. \u201cBest to be sure,\u201d the cheetah agreed. His hand slid back and around Ali\u2019s neck, and he pressed up onto his toes, leaning in close. Their mouths met, breaths mingling, and for the first time in his life,\u00a0a lover\u2019s kiss caused Ali no awkwardness or hesitation, only pleasure, excitement, anticipation, and a host of other such positive things.\u00a0He could have savoured that kiss for hours if there hadn\u2019t been greater pleasures promised; as it was, he was only to happy to linger in it, his mouth working against the smaller man\u2019s, until the cheetah came up for air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou take to that<\/em> quite naturally,\u201d Arek observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m already learning I need to mind my own strength,\u201d Ali replied, \u201cand the view\u2019s been a bit dizzying sometimes, but moving<\/em> feels completely, wonderfully natural.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMind your own, strength, huh? Does that mean I should take charge?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Ali laughed. \u201cThough the simple fact that you<\/em> know what two men can do together would probably mean that anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomewhere, somewhen, someone<\/em> had to be completely new to it.\u201d Arek\u2019s rough tongue dabbed at Ali\u2019s muzzle. \u201cSo explore, yeah? I think what I treasure most about my first lover is that he let me do just that. And I don\u2019t think either of us is really the sort who learns best by being told<\/em> what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMmmm.\u201d He made a good point there. Ali lifted his head and leaned slightly forward, murmuring into one rounded ear, \u201cSo what you\u2019re saying is, I should experiment.\u201d The way that ear quivered under his breath \u2013 and the rest of the cheetah shivered as well \u2013 would have been a success already, but Ali went one further, trying a light nibble, feeling that quiver against his lips and tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHahhh, yes,\u201d the cheetah hissed, pulling in a bit closer, up a bit higher. His snout pressed into the side of Ali\u2019s neck, the prick of his teeth in turn sending a shiver down the tiger\u2019s spine; and as though to intercept it, the smaller cat\u2019s free hand slid under Ali\u2019s borrowed robe, around to his shoulderblades, and there splayed out, claws trailing down to the small of his back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, that just seemed needlessly awkward, having that thing in the way like that. Ali let go of that ear and sighed over it, staying hunkered down so as to not pull away from the touch he was receiving, slipping his hands in between their bodies to untie the belt of his robe. The motion did not go unnoticed; Arek\u2019s hands slid around to his front, roaming over his chest, pushing the cloth off to the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s a little vain, considering my role in this,\u201d Arek breathed. \u201cBut I was really<\/em> hoping your answer wouldn\u2019t have changed overnight, because I\u2019ve wanted you desperately<\/em> since that kiss last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Less than a day might not sound very flattering, but then, until last night, Ali hadn\u2019t had the sort of body Arek was interested in. Still, it made for a golden opportunity for his own such confession. \u201cI\u2019ve wanted you<\/em> for years now,\u201d he said, shrugging the robe off of one shoulder, then the other as he went on, \u201cand now I finally<\/em> like the thought of having you<\/em> look at me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, I\u2019ll do more than look,\u201d the cheetah purred, a few heartbeats before his fingers curled around Ali\u2019s eagerly stiffening length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good gods. <\/em>Ali had thought it felt nice when\u00a0he<\/em> was doing it.\u00a0This<\/em> was easily the most intense thing he\u2019d ever felt, enough to make him gasp and shove up into Arek\u2019s grip with a hoarse moan, and the cheetah was only just getting started. He trailed kisses down Ali\u2019s collarbone and over his chest as he knelt in front of him, smoothly stroking up and down his proud and rigid new manhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then he turned his head downward, a warm breath washing over the crown of that firm pole \u2013 followed by a stroke of his rough tongue that felt like a lightning bolt shooting up the tiger\u2019s spine. By the time Ali caught his breath from the cry that<\/em> one pulled out of him, a softer but still unbelievably<\/em> fine sensation was going through him as the cheetah\u2019s mouth slid up and down is length, teasing it here and there with strokes of that strong, rough tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaaaaah, gods,<\/em>\u201d he managed, touching the base of Arek\u2019s ear with trembling fingers. \u201cIs it always<\/em> like this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cheetah\u2019s tongue slipped up and off his glans, then pressed against his balls and dragged all the way up along his shaft, before the smaller cat lifted his head and grinned upwards, hand curling once more around Ali\u2019s length and stroking along it. \u201cProbably<\/em> not,\u201d he confessed. \u201cSome of it gets easier to endure, and<\/em> I\u2019m focusing on the sensitive spots more than I normally would. But some fellows just are<\/em> more sensitive than others. So far, I think it\u2019ll be nice to find out which sort of fellow you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou and your experimentation.\u201d Ali mock-sighed, but couldn\u2019t keep a chuckle at bay for very long. He fingered Arek\u2019s vest, marvelling at how easy<\/em> it had been for him to get naked; how natural<\/em> it had felt. \u201cBut I have my own goals in this too, mmm? For which I think you\u2019re overdressed yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, I think I\u2019ll like<\/em> your goals. Would you like to fix that difficulty, or shall I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I shall,\u201d Ali breathed, giving what was very carefully a light tug to Arek\u2019s shoulder. Obligingly the cheetah stood upright again, and kept on obliging him, following the direction of his touch to stand next to the bed. There Ali took the time to slip his hands under the smaller man\u2019s vest, feeling through soft fur for the lithe body beneath, and found it just as much to his liking as he\u2019d thought it could be \u2013 slim, sleek, and wiry. Not that the fur concealing it was at all unpleasant, of course. \u201cWhatever you did with your fur this morning, it\u2019s delightful.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was hoping you\u2019d like it,\u201d came the breathy reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali couldn\u2019t claim the practised ease with which the people in romantic tales removed their partners\u2019 clothing, but Arek was wearing so little \u2013 and such light<\/em> \u2013 clothing that it really wasn\u2019t hard. The vest wasn\u2019t even fastened; all it took was Arek\u2019s arms being held back a little and a slight tug had it out of the way. Ali hung it up on the chair he\u2019d broken his fast at and turned his attention lower. The belt was a little<\/em> harder to work with, everything being backwards to what Ali was used to, but he got it undone without doing any harm to it, and with only a few moments of fumbling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And even that fumbling had its upside, with his fingers brushing against a prominent tent just below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Licking his lips, Ali paused a moment to run trembling fingertips along that ridge, a soft half-groan, half-purr drifting over his ears. No, this wouldn\u2019t be the first<\/em> time Ali had seen a man\u2019s \u2013 another man\u2019s aroused member, but it wasn\u2019t something he\u2019d seen often<\/em> before, either. And this\u2026 well, considering how much bigger Ali\u2019s hands were now, it had to be a pretty hefty piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow in the world have you been hiding this?<\/em>\u201d he wondered aloud, giving it another stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWorking very<\/em> hard not to let it get ideas while I\u2019m in public,\u201d Arek replied with a chuckle. \u201cResorting to sorcery to snuff out arousal, a few times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat<\/em> must be a handy ability to have.\u201d Ali felt around back. The fastening over Arek\u2019s tail seemed simple enough \u2013 simpler than most, really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA bit. I\u2019d rather be doing the opposite, though \u2013 not that I\u2019ve needed<\/em> it so far.\u201d Another, somewhat rueful chuckle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou certainly don\u2019t need to stifle it now.<\/em>\u201d Ali took a breath, swallowed, and eased the cheetah\u2019s pants down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inch by inch, Arek\u2019s manhood came into view \u2013 and there were quite a few inches of it, at that. Good gods, that thing was bigger than Ali\u2019s, which he\u2019d been so marvelling at such a short time ago. \u201cOh, my,\u201d the tiger breathed, leaning down and in. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing I\u2019m so much larger now than I was, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMmmm, that did come to mind, I admit \u2013 oh! Oh, yes, right there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali cast a quick grin up at his host. One thing he did<\/em> know, even before the cheetah had given him firsthand experience a few minutes ago, had been how wonderfully<\/em> sensitive was that spot just under the crown; pressing the pad of his thumb against it and rubbing around made the man squirm so<\/em> deliciously. So far, so good. He curled his fingers around it, squeezing just a little bit; Arek pressed up into his grip with a throaty moan, but he wasn\u2019t done. He eased off a tiny smidgeon, keeping just enough traction to tug the skin up over the glans, then let it draw back again. Arek was panting over his head, tail flicking this way and that, so apparently he was doing something<\/em> right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He leaned in a little bit closer, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. The very fine scent of aroused male flooded his senses, his own need surging in response. Oh, he wanted this man so<\/em> badly right now. Delicately, he took a taste of the moisture beading the cheetah\u2019s slit. The pungency of it felt a bit strange, unfamiliar as it was \u2013 but the part of him that knew<\/em> what it was, and moreover, what it meant, exulted in it. This was good, this was right.<\/em> He took that broad glans into his mouth, pressed his tongue against it, and swiped upward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arek yelped and gasped, clutching at Ali\u2019s skull. \u201cEasy \u2013 easy now!\u201d he panted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh. Right. His tongue was as rough as the other man\u2019s and<\/em> stronger than he\u2019d known it to be. Ali\u2019s ears flushed and furled back; he might have pulled his head off and offered an apology, but at least Arek\u2019s sudden squirming was accompanied by giggling. Doubtless there was true discomfort under it, but he was apparently feeling too good for it to be outright agony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, his next effort would need to be more careful. He waited a moment, gently suckling, until the cheetah had stilled and settled against the bed, and was stroking his ears; then he carefully<\/em> pressed his tongue forward, against that fine spot under Arek\u2019s glans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That<\/em> went rather better; the cheetah arched up and drew in a sharp breath, but what came out with it was a deep, contented groan. Keeping his tongue\u2019s touch about that light, as best he could manage, he tried to swirl it against Arek\u2019s very tip; how successful he was in that,<\/em> he couldn\u2019t rightly say, but it seemed to be well-appreciated. So did his stroking of the lower half of the cheetah\u2019s manhood, and the caress to the downy pouch below, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, yes, he could really<\/em> get to like doing this. Mostly for the reactions he was getting, but truly, once past his initial shock, the once-unfamiliar tastes and scents were becoming pretty compelling, too. Not so much the sore knees or aching shoulders, though; a few more licks, and he somewhat reluctantly lifted his head up. \u201cWell,\u201d he observed, \u201cthat was very nice from my<\/em>point of view. Sorry about the first bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did<\/em> tell you to try,\u201d Arek replied, ruffling his ears. \u201cAnd the rest<\/em> was nice. What next?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGetting comfortable,\u201d Ali told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few moments later, Ali was sprawled out in bed, this time in a much better condition to appreciate its comforts. Especially when one of those comforts was the warm body atop him, warm breath on his chest, and warm, hard flesh against his own. He\u2019d been right in his earlier assessment; the cheetah\u2019s manhood was a bit bigger than his. It didn\u2019t make Ali\u2019s own feel inadequate, but considering the difference in their overall<\/em> sizes, it was a little bit amusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a little bit, they just stayed like that and savoured the contact. It was a remarkable thing, really; Arek wasn\u2019t a small<\/em> man, and this certainly wouldn\u2019t have been comfortable for long in Ali\u2019s old<\/em> body. But while it was a significant weight atop him and he doubted he\u2019d want to actually sleep<\/em> like this, for a stretch of time together it was very fine indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though when Arek shifted a little atop him and their shafts rubbed together, it did serve to stoke Ali\u2019s lust again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I\u2019m ready for more,\u201d he breathed. \u201cNot sure exactly what, so long as it involves your pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMmm, well, I feel much the same about yours,\u201d Arek replied, fingertips drifting along their lengths. \u201cI think, hmmmm\u2026 one of us in<\/em> the other, maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali shivered hard. Funny, how a concept that had made him feel so conflicteda mere day ago could be so compelling now. \u201cOh, yes.\u201d His fingers brushed against the cheetah\u2019s as he fondled the other male\u2019s broad crown. \u201cI think I would<\/em> like feeling this put to, hmm, more thorough use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally?\u201d Arek cocked his head, sitting up with one hand splayed on Ali\u2019s chest for balance. \u201cI\u2019d have thought you more keen on the other way around, but I\u2019m not about to complain<\/em> about such an opportunity!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn due time,\u201d Ali assured him, and laughed. \u201cI do<\/em> look forward to that, too. But I guess\u2026 I\u2019ve been somewhat curious about yours for a while now, even if I tried not to actually think about it in detail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, then!\u201d An answering laugh. \u201cI\u2019ll be happy to oblige you. Just tell me if it starts to feel bad in any way, yeah? If it\u2019s new and uncomfortable we can work through it, but if it starts to feel off-putting\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will,\u201d he promised. Hopefully it wouldn\u2019t come up, but if it did, he hoped<\/em> he could keep that promise, rather than try desperately to just come out the other side\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn that case, just relax, mmmm? Right as you are, I can work with that with only a little<\/em> bit of adjustment.\u201d Arek rose up to his knees, planting them between Ali\u2019s thighs, and took a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The concentration on the cheetah\u2019s face was familiar enough to any trained sorcerer. The context<\/em> of being in bed wasn\u2019t somewhere Ali would have expected to see it. But Arek was focusing, with one hand gently cradling his balls and the other resting fingertips just above his length. He let out a soft sigh, the former hand slipping forward, along his shaft \u2013 and what had previously been a slight bit of moisture clinging to his glans was quickly growing more pronounced, a thick bead of clear fluid building, then dripping onto Ali\u2019s thigh. Then more of it, with the cheetah tilting his length up so the stuff ran down along it rather than falling free \u2013 and still more, enough of it flowing out of him now that he could and did smear it all over his length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He opened his eyes and grinned down at Ali. \u201cWhat our bodies make has all the right qualities to make this much easier,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt just doesn\u2019t make nearly enough<\/em> without a bit of encouragement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow that<\/em> is a useful trick.\u201d Ali had heard, through some discreet inquiries while he was assembling the things Arek had needed to change him, that men enjoying each other sometimes had a need for light oil to ease things along. Apparently this<\/em> one had his own methods. \u201cEven if the living body isn\u2019t where my main talents lie, I may have to learn that one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI look forward to teaching you,\u201d Arek purred. \u201cIt will doubtless involve a goodly bit of time seeing you naked and hard, after all \u2013 and even if it\u2019ll be work<\/em>, that\u2019ll be a good perk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh yes, Ali was coming to like how this man\u2019s thoughts ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMmmm,now, bring your legs up a bit \u2013 that\u2019s getting there, but a bit more like this\u2026\u201d<\/em>Arek\u2019s hands guided Ali\u2019s knees, tucking up towards his chest, but out to the sides. Once the tiger was situated to his satisfaction and gave assurance that he could keep himself that way, Arek hunkered down between his legs, kneeling astride his tail, one hand planted beside him for balance, the other vanishing out of Ali\u2019s sight along with the hard, slickened flesh it was guiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The feel of that flesh nudging into the crease of his rump made Ali tense in spite of himself \u2013 at first for being unfamiliar and a bit strange, but the realization that this was really happening<\/em> didn\u2019t make it any easier to relax, not even knowing he probably should. Arek looked up at him, searching for Ali didn\u2019t know what, and gave the tiger a broad, reassuring smile. \u201cDeep breath,\u201d the smaller cat suggested. \u201cClose your eyes, breathe in\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of Ali rather wanted to see Arek\u2019s face as he pushed in, but the smaller man had a point; Ali needed<\/em> to be relaxed. So, though it didn\u2019t quite<\/em> match the order of things that Arek had suggested, Ali turned to his exercises in meditation, inhaling deeply, feeling<\/em> his chest rise \u2013 the differences in that sensation tried to make themselves known, but he pushed that aside, focusing only on the moment, not any farther in the past than the breath just before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And when his lungs were full, he let that breath out, long and slow, and let his eyes slip shut as it went. That, it seemed, was the cheetah\u2019s cue; he pressed forward, his warm, firm tip sliding against Ali\u2019s body for a few inches, and then\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t quite<\/em> the feeling Ali was used to from relieving himself. The cheetah\u2019s flesh was, well, less yielding, more insistent, and it wasn\u2019t moving at Ali\u2019s direction. At first he couldn\u2019t help but tense all over again, and Arek paused; but then Ali was able to regain control. Another slow, steady breath\u2014and this time, his new lover stretched him open and plunged in deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOhhh, that feels good,\u201d he whispered. There really wasn\u2019t anything else to say. To go into detail \u2013 about the fullness, the warmth, the stretch, the simple realization that this handsome man was inside him, was making love to him \u2013 all of that was fine, but it was all encapsulated in that one simple statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHhhhh\u2026 yeah, fuck<\/em> yeah,\u201d the cheetah hissed in response, squirming a little against Ali, twisting and stirring deep under his balls, breath hot and quick on his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali\u2019s ears flushed and furled back. Oh, it wasn\u2019t that he was so shy of such vulgar speech as to find it off-putting, and he certainly knew what it meant,<\/em> but it still felt unusually coarse, especially to hear it from someone who normally spoke in as much of an upper-class fashion as Ali himself. But he couldn\u2019t deny that the words were fitting. They seemed somehow more intense<\/em> than milder language\u2014and the only thing Ali had felt that was more intense than what Arek was subjecting to now had been when the cheetah\u2019s tongue was rasping over his crown. His cockhead.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He put a hand on Arek\u2019s shoulder and found the smaller cat quivering and tense\u2014somehow, that bit of extra assurance that\u00a0he<\/em> was feeling such strong sensations too only made Ali more acutely aware of his own. Of the thick,\u00a0warm cock wedging him open and jabbing deep into him, of his lover\u2019s weight and his hot, panting breath, even of the scent of lilac still heavy on the air and mingling with the smell of sex. And it was in that time of heightened awareness that Arek started thrusting in earnest, went beyond making love and started fucking him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gods, it was exquisite.<\/em> Part of Ali didn\u2019t want it to ever stop; part of him yearned for the conclusion. And as Arek gave into his lust, thrusting harder and faster, moans growing higher and more urgent, it soon became clear that the latter part of Ali would be the one satisfied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali opened his eyes and lifted his head, drinking in the sight of the cheetah atop him, head drooping, eyes squeezed shut, ears flat. His tail was whipping back and forth, his fingers dug into the sheets, his whole body shaking from the strain he was putting it through, and he looked absolutely marvellous<\/em> for it. \u201cThat\u2019s it, go on,\u201d Ali urged, cupping a hand over the cheetah\u2019s shoulder, squeezing it, feeling<\/em> the tension in his arm. \u201cLet it all go, fill me right up\u2014please\u2026!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, fuck,\u201d Arek whimpered. \u201cI\u2019m\u2014ahhhh!\u201d<\/em> He threw back his head as that cry ripped out of him, shoving so hard against Ali it was like he was trying to make the two of them one; a feeling only intensified by the way he squirmed and strained to push just a bit closer, just a bit deeper. His cock was bucking under Ali\u2019s tail, even with the cheetah\u2019s thrusts stifled\u2014and then Ali felt it, warm and wet, deep inside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, gods,\u201d he moaned, closing his eyes and letting his head sink back.The sensation was, if he was honest with himself, kind of weird. But knowing what it meant\u2014that<\/em> turned it into something incredible.<\/em> It was just another piece of his lover\u2019s ecstasy, and in that<\/em> light he took it in gladly, straining to feel it in just a bit more detail. Could he actually feel Arek\u2019s seed pulsing into him, squirt by squirt, or was that just his mind interpreting things to match what he knew had to be happening? It was hard to say. Did it matter?<\/em> Probably not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few straining shoves later, Arek slumped atop him. For a few seconds the cheetah was panting hard, then he managed to draw in a deep breath and let it out in a long, thoroughly contented groan. One hand shifted up and pressed a bit weakly against Ali\u2019s cheek. \u201cHaaaah. That was\u2026\u201d He trailed off into another sigh. On his next breath, he managed. \u201cI guess I really<\/em> needed that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was amazing,<\/em>\u201d Ali told him, setting a hand atop his. \u201cIf it felt even half<\/em> as good for you as it did for me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Laughing, Arek pushed himself up on one arm. \u201cIf you think