Chapter 8: Burning Desire

It was early that morning when Adam decided that he would take Cinder out for a nice long day at the park. So, before his alarm even went off; Adam turned it off so it wouldn't wake Cinder. He then went into the kitchen and got to work on getting a small picnic together. Once the food was prepared and all together; he packed anything else they may need into a backpack and made sure to check that everything was secure and ready. He then went to wake Cinder.

He quietly made his way into his room. Cinder was peacefully asleep in bed. He lay on his side next to her; his head propped on his hand, and he watched her sleep. He watched the slow rise and fall of her chest that followed the steady rhythm of her quiet breathing. Her eyes rolled gently under her eyelids. Adam smiled and gently touched her cheek. Cinder moaned softly and opened her eyes slowly. She smiled lightly when she looked up at him.

"Good morning." He said softly.

"Morning." She replied slowly stretching her sleeping limbs.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yea…was dreaming there a little in the end, but I still got a good night's sleep."

"That's good."

"Why do you say that? Is something happening?"

"I had planned on taking you down to the park. You know, just enjoy the day."

"That sounds fun. When are we leaving?"

"Soon."

"Soon? It's not even daylight yet."

"I know. But it will be by the time we get to the park."

"But it's not that far away."

"We aren't going to drive there. We are going to walk there."

"Walk?"

"Yea…it's not that bad. I use to do it all the time. Should only take about thirty minutes."

"Alright. That's not too bad."

"No, it's not that bad. We will go right after you wake up and we have breakfast."

He gave her a quick kiss before he got up and made his way back to the kitchen and got started with a simple breakfast; something light yet filling. Cinder soon made her way into the kitchen. Adam glanced at her. He couldn't help but notice that something was different about her. She almost seemed to have a light glow to her. If anything; it drew out the color of her fur, a light copper and golden blond mix.

They were done with their breakfast in no time and as soon as they had cleaned the kitchen, they were ready to go. Adam slipped on his hiking boots and gathered up the picnic basket and his pack before following Cinder out the door. There was not a whole lot of traffic on the roads with it being early still, so they decided to just follow the roads instead of trying to take any shortcuts or anything.

Few birds were already awake, ready to greet the sun with their songs. An orange glow slowly began to grow in the East on the horizon. Everything was calm and peacefully. Cinder walked next to Adam but her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn't help but think about the dream she had just that night.

She was wandering along the trails at the park. Adam strolled casually with her. They walked for several minutes before Adam smiled at her and took off running through the woods. She soon caught up with him and they ran along together, laughing as they did.

Before long, they rushed into a small clearing. They collapsed in a small patch of soft grass. Breathing heavily, they both looked at each other and smiled. Suddenly, Adam wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her next to him before he began to kiss her passionately. She was briefly thrown off but the sudden show of emotion but soon she was returning the kiss just as affectionately.

The two parted and decided to lie there peacefully, gazing up at the clear sky. Adam still had his arm around her, holding her next to him while he stroked her side slowly with his free hand. The simple gesture was something Cinder enjoyed immensely. She loved Adam and was glad to have him in her life and love her equally.

He suddenly brought his hand up to her chin and he slowly turned her face towards his. He smiled softly before kissing her again.

"Cinder, I love you." He said. "With all my heart; and I will always love you. For as long as I am breathing, I will be right here with you. I will go anywhere for you, do anything for you. Just as long as you are by my side and are happy, then I too will be happy."

His words caused her eyes to tear up. She sniffed and quickly wiped them before she kissed him in return. When their lips parted, she admitted that there was one thing that she wanted him do to for her, something that she had been wanting him to do for some time now.

Adam nodded with a smile saying he would do anything for her as long as it made her happy. She nodded saying it would. He then slipped off his shirt and positioned himself above her. He then began to kiss her neck in such a way that it sent waves of pleasure through her very being.

He asked in a whisper if this was what she truly wanted in which she replied with airy yes before he continued. Suddenly, everything began to fade in and out and she found herself lying in Adam's bed.

"Cinder?" Adam's voice suddenly called out. She came to her senses and looked at him questioningly. "I asked if you were alright?"

"Huh?...Oh, yea. I'm fine." She replied quickly. "Just daydreaming."

Adam decided not to press the matter. He had noticed she had been spacing out a lot more than usual. He had also noticed that she had been acting differently lately. She would often stare at him and would look away blushing is he met her gaze. She was hiding something. It seemed like she wanted to tell him something but she couldn't find the words. He was starting to get ideas about what thoughts she might have had on her mind judging by her actions and emotions lately; but again, he decided not to press the matter.

They made good timing and reached the park a lot sooner than Adam had expected. Upon arrival, they set out on the many hiking trails. The hours began to melt as did the miles they walked. Adam noticed that Cinder was zoned out again, lost in her thoughts. He decided that they would take a break.

"Cinder, is there something you want to talk about?" he asked calmly after a few minutes. She looked at him as if confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked. He gave her a more serious look. She could not meet his gaze and looked off. Her suddenly grabbed her paws and took them lightly causing her to look at him.

"Cinder…I am here for you." He said holding her paws in his hands. "If there is anything bothering you, anything you want to talk about…anything at all; I want to help you in any way that I can. But you just need to talk to me."

She held her gaze with his but could not find the words to say.

"Please, Cinder." He said in almost a pleading tone. "Please, don't keep me in the dark like this. Has something happened that I should know about?"

She looked away a little and said nothing.

"Have I done something to upset you?" His voice cracked slightly.

Again, she said nothing.

"Cinder, please tell me." His begged, tears forming. "Whatever it is…please, please just tell me. Is it something I have done? Something I should have done?"

His words brought tears to her eyes. It wasn't the fact that he was being so demanding, but the fact that she had upset him by forcing him to think that he had done something to hurt her. It was the first time she had truly seen Adam cry.

"NO!" she cried out, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No, no…it's not you." She began to sob lightly. Adam wrapped his arms around her and did his best to comfort her. "It's not your fault." She said lightly in his ear.

He held her in his arms and rubbed her back slowly. He figured it would be best to quit talking and let cinder say what was needed to be said. She cried for a little more until she sniffed and pulled away.

"I am sorry, Adam." She said sincerely. "I never meant to make you feel like this. I just…I just didn't know how to talk to you about it."

"It's okay…and I'm sorry too." He replied. "I let my emotions get the best of me. I was an idiot to do that." She smiled and placed a paw on his cheek.

"Yes, but you are my idiot." She said with a light chuckle. Her response made him smile. She leaned in and kissed him gently before whispering. "I love you, Adam."

"I love you too, Cinder." He replied.

"No…I mean I love you." She stated. "Lately, I've been having strong feeling towards you. I couldn't find the reason why at first, but I think I understand now. I love you. I want to be with you. I finally realized that I am happiest when you are there with me."

Adam didn't stop or interrupt her. She had been holding back for soo long; he was not about to make her wait any longer.

"When I am happy, you are there to share my joy. When I am sad, you are there to comfort me. And when I am in danger, you are always there to protect me. I finally understand it all now. Adam, I want to be your mate…both in body and in soul."

Adam was stunned. He had is suspicions that she had these intentions, but he never really expected to hear her put it in such a way that moved everything in him right down the his very essence.

"Cinder…" he started but stopped. Now it was Adam's turn to be tongue tied.

"Adam, I don't care if you're a human. I don't care if others will frown upon us. I really don't. I just what to spend my life with you…to be happy and bring joy into your life. To be there like you were always there for me."

Adam wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. He did this so she couldn't see him wipe his eyes. He then looked her in the eyes before kissing her with such a tender and love filled kiss that it surpassed the others.

"I love you, Cinder…and nothing would make me happier….than to have you as my mate."

Cinder wrapped her in a hug like tackle that caused him to fall backwards. She smothered him with kisses happy to have finally confessed her true feelings as well as have Adam feel the same way.

After all the "drama" was over; they then noticed how hungry they actually were. They decided to eat lunch. They were on high. Their love was strong and the day was beautiful. Nothing could spoil the moment, or so they thought.

As Cinder took a sip from her water bottle, she felt something hit her paw…then her arm. She looked up as a drop of rain landed on her nose. Adam looked up as well. The once clear and sunny sky was now filling with clouds and starting to turn an ominous grey. Adam and Cinder quickly packed up their picnic as more drops started to fall.

"Let's go." Adam said and the two of them headed for home as fast as they could.

Adam hoped that it would rain lightly until they got home, but alas it was not to be. The sky opened up and released a downpour on them. Adam cursed himself for not driving them to the park instead of walking. Suddenly he came to a stop. Cinder hesitated as she stopped and looked at him.

"What's wrong?" she panted.

"I know a short cut." He explained. "It's this way." With that, he took off down a small trail in the woods and Cinder followed closely behind. The ground splattered with each footfall and it seemed like the rain was falling even harder. Somewhere in the distance a loud clap of thunder boomed.

Adam's side hurt, but he was not about to stop.

"We're almost there." He managed to say between each painful breath. He was right. They soon burst through a bush. They were at the end of his street. They ran up the road as fast as their sore and tired limbs would carry them.

As they sprinted across the yard, Adam fished his keys out of his pocket. He almost slipped in the mud as he reached the steps to the door. Taking two at a time, Adam rushed to the top and opened the door as fast as he could. He closed the door behind them and slowly sank to the floor.

It felt as if his lungs were on fire. Every breath sent pain through his cheat. Cinder's breathing also was labored for she had never run so fast for so long in her life. The two sat there for several minutes catching their breath before Adam got to his feet. He helped Cinder up to hers.

It was then that Adam noticed just how soaked and muddy they were. His wet clothes hugged him like bandages and his jeans were spattered with mud. Cinder was no better off. Her fur was waterlogged and mud stuck to her fur like Velcro.

Adam laughed and Cinder looked at him, confused.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"You're a mess." He replied.

"You're not sunshine and daises yourself." She replied with a chuckle.

"Go ahead and take a shower first." Adam said. "I'll clean up the mess we made and put our things away." She agreed giving him a brief kiss before heading off to the bathroom. Adam cleaned up the water and mud they had tracked in trying to not make more of a mess with his clothes being as they were. He then put their picnic up before heading to his room.

He stripped down to his boxers, which were not as wet as he thought they would be. He tossed his sopping wet clothes into his hamper with a solid "thump" before he sat on the edge of his bed. He shivered lightly as a draft chilled him.

It wasn't long before Cinder entered the room. She was clean and her fur was void of the mud that once soiled it. Adam didn't want to move…his tired limbs seemed like they almost groaned in protest as he stood. He shivered again.

Cinder noticed this and she gave him a warm hug. Adam was surprised that her fur was already dry. He remembered her explaining it once how her eternal body temperature could rise to help her dry off more quickly.

Adam did not want their embrace to end. The warmth and softness of Cinder's body seemed to attract him like a magnet would metal. They held each other for several minutes. Cinder's mind started to hatch a plan. They had already declared that they loved one another but she thought that it was time that they proved it; and she was not gonna wait on Adam to make the first move.

Suddenly, she pushed him back onto the bed.

"Cinder…wha…what are you doing?" he asked.

"I think you know what I intend on doing." She said in an alluring voice. She positioned herself on top of him and pressed her mouth to his. Her tongue pressed against his lips, begging for entrance. Finally, Adam gave in and allowed her tongue to mingle with his own.

Adam suddenly rolled Cinder over onto her back so that now she was on top. Her tongue explored every inch of his mouth that it could reach and he did likewise in return. When they took a moment to breathe Adam whispered.

"Are you sure you want to go through this now?"

She nodded intently with a faint smile and it was then when Adam noticed that she had already somehow managed to work his boxers off of him. His raging erection rested on her soft belly. With her agreement, Adam returned to kissing her. He soon began to kiss her on her neck and along her collarbone. At the same time, Adam used a free hand to caress her body gently. Cinder trembled lightly at his touch with each small wave of pleasure that racked her body.

Finally, she could not wait any longer.

"Please, do not tease me anymore." She breathed as she impatiently rubbed her body against his.

Adam cursed himself for making her making her wait like he was. He quickly positioned himself so that the tip of his cock hovered at the ready to make the first plunge. Adam gave her one last look. She nodded lightly stating that she was ready.

Adam pushed forward, causing Cinder to cry out lightly as he slowly sank into her depths. Once she had taken him full hilt, he waited momentarily, long enough to give him a reassuring kiss before he began to slowly move his hips back and forth.

It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. With every movement Adam made came a new wave of pleasure that rippled down to her core. She began to move with him, making the intensity of the sensation grow. He kept a steady pace and kissed her neck hoping to give her even more pleasure.

Adam soon started to pick up speed. Cinder panted in unison with each thrust as it sent more and more waves of pleasure through her. Adam winced lightly and Cinder soon realized that she had begun to dig her claws into his back. He gave her a quick glance saying not to worry as he continued to declare his love for her.

Finally, they had both reached their peak and soon let the pure bliss of their love sweep them away. After a few seconds, Adam sank down beside her. Their breathing was clearly audible over the pounding of the rain on the roof. Adam smiled at Cinder, and then became shocked when he saw a few tears rolling down her cheek. He quickly wiped them away.

"What's wrong?" he asked worried." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"Nothing…" she replied. "These tears are of pure joy." He smiled. "Don't worry. I thought you performed excellently." She added with a giggle. Adam laughed and kissed his new mate.

It was official. With their session a declaration of their love towards one another, they were now mates. They snuggled together in the warm afterglow of their lovemaking; happy to be with one another and knowing that there was no other place that they would rather be.