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FOUR
     
    The next morning found the two lovers curled into each other on the couch with sunlight slanting in through the window. Alan woke first, and ran his fingers down Anastasia’s thigh, over the lip of her waist, tickling her ribcage until she shivered and opened her eyes demurely. Her red hair caught the light and refracted it back, even redder.
    “Hey you,” he said.
    “Hey you,” she replied, and put her hand on his chest. “I guess… I guess we’re pretty well married now, aren’t we?” There was nervousness in her voice, and it didn’t suit her - she had been out of her element for almost a week, but she still exercised an incredible confidence. Now, the bottom of her voice had fallen out.
    He drew an arc above her forehead with his finger. “I think that would be a safe assumption,” he kissed her on the nose and rolled out of bed, his naked muscular thighs still glinting dark and tanned as he made his way to the small kitchenette. “So, as my first act as husband, I’ll make us something to eat. Any preferences?”
    “You’re very good at reversing gender roles.” She grinned, pulling the thin blanket on the back of the couch over her sloping breasts. “Anything you like. Let’s make it small… I want to try something later.”             
    “Something to do with food?” Alan asked innocently enough.
    “Mmm, more or less,” she smiled.
    Alan went through the motions and made them a couple of eggs each in a large cast iron frying pan, and then proceeded to make the coffee. He wasn’t a snob about most things, but coffee was something he took very seriously. He had brought with them fresh beans and a grinder, as well as individual filters – if Anastasia was single-minded about overcoming each and every challenge he gave her, he was equally committed to a few select tasks.
    Making a killer café au lait was one of them. Anastasia dropped the blanket back on the chair and crept up behind him, winding her hands up under his armpits and stroking his naked chest, even as she pressed her breasts into his back. The dip of her waist rubbed against his buttocks, and he felt the scrape of her pubic hair. For a moment, he held the coffee grinder in one hand and a cup in the other and seemed confused.
    “I’m not… distracting you too much, am I?” she whispered against his ear.
    “Er, obviously not,” he lied, “I can… easily make coffee without being distracted by a beautiful naked woman pressing her body against me.”
    Anastasia kissed his back and moved her hands down his waist, jutting her pelvis against his buttocks again in a playful gesture. “He thinks I’m beautiful,” she said out loud to no one, and he made a sucking sound with his teeth. “Fine! I’ll let you make me coffee…” she relented, tumbling backwards over the couch again where she splayed her nakedness in front of the dead fireplace.
    After they’d eaten, they both wandered outside, still naked. They were far enough from any prying eyes that they’d both wordlessly taken it for granted, and clothes hadn’t even entered their mind. As they greeted the sun and Anastasia sunk her feet into the warm grass, he merely watched, taking in the sight of her frolicking across the alpine. If Cameron could see us now, he’d go green with envy , Alan thought, and then wondered how his brothers were getting along with their brides-to-be.
    Anastasia called out to him, waving him toward the lake. He ran after her, enjoying the feel of the grass under his feet. Up ahead, she turned suddenly and stepped down toward the icy shore of the lake, dipping her toe into it.
    “Fresh from the glacier,” he said behind her, “what do you say? Do you want to head up the ridge?”
    In answer, she bent low and dipped her hands into the pond, craning her back. Her change was fluid and seamless as the flesh gave way and a heavy mat of grey fur began to sprout from her. It was like watching a time-lapse as the smooth pelt