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Completely unaware of anything happening at the club Rose had changed into a pair of cut off jean shorts and a black silk razor back wrap top and a pair of black flats before doing a quick check in the mirror. She frowned looking at her unruly red hair trying to think what to do with it then decided to just pull it into a ponytail. "Why the hell am I doing this? What's it matter what I'm wearing? This isn't a date. I'm just meeting Merrick for another make out session. He's not going to really care what I'm wearing. Knowing him I could wear track pants and a T-shirt and he'd only be thinking of ways to get them off me.", Rose said with a sigh looking at herself in the mirror. "This isn't about liking him. This isn't about joining that list of bed post notches. This is just about finding comfort. I really enjoyed kissing him, getting my claws on him, and feelings his hands and claws on me. This is about being wanted by someone.", Rose said to herself as she walked to the garage getting her motorcycle and leaving.
Merrick has finished at the shelter but with the extra time spent helping in the clinic and flirting with Leslie he didn't have time to go change before he needed to get to the abandoned castle set on the cliff at the far edge of town. He transformed back to human form an ocelot as he approached the falling apart some castle. By scent he knew he was there before Rose so he pulled a key from his pocket and opened the large heavy doors closing them behind him and took a seat on a small tufted gray settle to wait. He stretched his arms out along the length of the back keeping his green-yellow eyes on the heavy doors. He was aware of the cat and dog hairs that where scatted along his black unzipped hoodie and the plain white tee he had on underneath. His ears perked at the sound of a motorcycle and he could smell the scent of Rose in the air. He smiled a little getting up from the settee to walk closer to the door to wait. Rose cut the engine and looked up at the massive crumbling stone castle that history told not long before she'd been born was occupied by the members of the XC before they joined the Acolytes. She'd never set foot in the castle or its property before. She'd never had much reason. She looked around but saw no other vehicles. But as she smelled the air Merrick's scent was there along with other animals. She took a breath and pushed open the door stepping inside to see Merrick standing there waiting. Her blue eyes surveyed him in his lose fit jeans, a slightly baggy white shirt under a baggy black hoodie. She smiled a little her mind easily recalling what that shirt and hoodie contained. Merrick smirked as she walked in his eyes doing a quick once over of her outfit. He had spent the last two hours in close quarters with Leslie flirting but knowing he could never do anything, so there was some pent up urges that Rose's outfit choice weren't diminishing.
He didn't bother with words or really wasting time. He closed the space between them reaching past her with his right hand closing the heavy door. His left hand grasped the back of her head lightly before leaning and kissing her firmly. Rose blinked not really sure how this was going to work or what she should say. But it was all answered as he pressed his lips to hers. Apparently words weren't going to be used. Rose returned the kiss eagerly wanting to feel what she'd felt the night before. She brought her arms around his neck pressing her body tighter to him. Merrick brought his hand off the door and brought it around her waist while rubbing his tongue along her lips indicating what he wanted. Rose obliged opening her mouth just as eager to taste him again, she mmed softly into the kiss. Merrick growled low into the kiss as their tongues mingled. He brought his hands down her back and grasped her hips lifting her up as he pressed her against the door keeping his hands holding her up by grasping her ass firmly. Rose squeaked a little having not expected to be picked up let alone pinned to the door. She wrapped her legs about him and tightened her arms around his neck. She wasn't sure how she exactly felt about this. There was the part of her that worried about this situation but then there was the animal the part that wanted this. That part was relishing being pressed against the door by him with such force.
Merrick didn't really think in this situation, he just did. He'd thought about Rose's lips, her tongue, how she tasted and how it felt to have her pressed close to him since he left the cave last night. He didn't of course tell Kelly last night that the reason he'd been so eager and slightly more forceful was he'd been thinking about Rose. He figured telling the girl he was having sex with in the back of his car at the bluff that his mind was on another girl would have been a bad idea. But now he had Rose pressed against him, his hands grasping her ass tightly while his tongue explored her mouth. Rose felt for a moment that maybe words needed to be spoken. She couldn't just let this possibly go too far. And it wasn't her worry that he'd take this far, but that she would. Being pressed against the door so forcefully, having him kissing her lips, grasping her ass, and the pheromones he was producing with his natural scent were driving her animal nature wild. But to stop herself from becoming a notch of his bedpost she pulled back from his lips moving her hands to press against his shoulders to ensure some distance. "Hi...", she managed to say breathless from the kissing. Merrick rubbed his lips together after she pulled back. He raised an eyebrow at the simple 'hi'. "Hello..", Merrick replied his tone almost a question. "I...well I wasn't really sure what to expect coming to meet you tonight.", Rose explained hearing the question in his voice.
Merrick nodded and lightly set her down and took a step back putting his hands into his hoodie pockets. "Alright. You called me, so as my rule goes 'ladies choice'.", Merrick answered with a casual shrug. Rose frowned a little as he set her down and took a step back. She hadn't really wanted to be sat down or him to give more space. "Your rule? Ladies choice?", Rose questioned. "Yes. I do have rules I follow. And one rule is that the girl sets the pace. Which means you called me, therefore what happens is completely at your discretion.", Merrick explained. "So I'll say sorry if I was too forward in my greeting. Just kind of been thinking about that since you texted.", Merrick half heartedly apologized. Rose smiled shaking her head a little. "Completely my discretion?", Rose said reaching out and grabbing his shirt pulling him back to her and kissed him hard. Merrick smiled into the kiss returning it bringing his arms back around her, one hand reaching into the razor backing of her tank top his fingers changing to claws as he lightly scratched. Rose found herself growling softly which mixed a little with a moan feeling his claws against her back. Taking the mix of moan and growl as good signs Merrick deepened the kiss his claws digging in a little harder, she was a Howlett so leaving marks wasn't possible. Rose responded to this with another growl her hands moving pulling off his hoodie and moving to start pulling his T-shirt off next. Merrick pulled back from the kiss and brought his arms up as she tugged his shirt off him. Rose paused looking at his bare chest with a smile. She placed her hands onto his chest enjoying the feel of his warm skin under her fingers and being able to feel the steady beating of his heart. She'd noticed that past him was a settee, so she applied pressure to his chest as she pushed him backwards to the settee.

Merrick chuckled a little as he back up and found the settee pressing into the back of his legs and sat down looking up at her letting his claws retract and his hands run up her legs. He leaned back into the settee looking up at her with that Bryant smirk that seemed to even shine in his green-yellow eyes. Rose smiled down at him rubbing her lips together enjoying the feel of his hands on her bare skin. But she also knew that smirk. She'd seen it on Landon and even his father's face when they've got something in their line of sight and a devious plan forming in their minds. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders and sat down to straddle him. She wanted to keep touching him, being touched by him and kissing those lips but that smirk that was even shining in his eyes made her pause. Sure the eyes weren't the Bryant blue, instead they are the Shadow green-yellow but that smirk was telling he had devious plans. Even though he said it was her discretion, she feared how far she might go if she let her inner animal run the show. So she chose to keep him close but not return to his lips, yet. So she tried to think, to think of how to keep her from losing herself in the animalistic desire that he was bringing out. Then her senses picked up on the smell of various cats and dogs but also the very subtle scent of a girl's lilac perfume.
"So...just kind of wondering something. Why do you smell like cats, dogs and a girl? I saw fur on your hoodie. You said you were at work when I texted you.", Rose inquired. Merrick sighed the smirk transitioned to a smile. "I was at work. Which is why the feline and canine smells and hairs. As for the woman, you getting jealous already little wolf?", Merrick answered teasing. He leaned forward kissing her shoulder as his hands rubbed her sides. Rose bit her bottom lip enjoying his touch and how her shoulder felt like it was on fire under each kiss. "Not jealous, I'm well aware of your little black book. But we both know you work at Walmart, where you wouldn't be around cats or dogs.”, Rose answered. “Yes I work at Walmart. This was my at my other job.”, Merrick explained. “Other job? More little secrets that no one gets to know about?”, Rose asked teasing. “Actually yes. Malcolm doesn’t even know about it. He however doesn’t have your heightened senses so never notices the animal hair or smells.”, Merrick explained. Rose raised an eyebrow now a little curious; there was something that Malcolm didn’t even know about.
Merrick sighed shaking his head. “It’s not a big deal. Do we really need to have a conversation? You’ve got me shirtless sitting on this settee completely at your disposal. I could think of a few better things to be doing with our mouths than having a conversation.”, Merrick replied before kissing at her exposed collar bone starting to kiss down the deep v that the wrap top offered, nibbling a little as he did so. Rose closed her eyes running her tongue across her lips, moaning a little enjoying how it felt to have him kissing down her chest. Merrick smiled as he kept kissing lower along the edge of the silk top. Rose took a couple deep breaths; she wasn’t going to let herself go no matter how good this felt. She shook her head and leaned back a little from his touch. Merrick sighed and leaned back against the settee. “Alright so guess we are having a conversation instead of me kissing every part of your body, that you’ll allow.”, Merrick said looking up at her. “I’m sorry. I just. Well this type of scenario is new for me. You’re the second guy I’ve kissed and well we know how the first went. And I don’t want to be another notch on your bed post and join your little black book. So despite instinct, which seriously the animal side of me wants to let you do whatever you want to me as long as I get to do whatever I want to you in return, my upper brain seems to want to keep some level of distinction.”, Rose tried to explain.
Merrick laughed a little shaking his head but smiled. “Alright. Look, I’m going to clear a couple things up for you then. To answer your curiosity I volunteer at the local animal shelter. Which when one considers I’m a vegetarian and an animal shapeshifter it’s not farfetched that I would rather work with animals. So that explains the animal smells and fur. As for the smell of a girl that would be Leslie. She’s a vet tech that started back in March. I was helping her set up the new x-ray machine for the clinic. So I might faintly smell like lilacs, I’m pretty sure she uses a lilac scented lotion, because the clinic isn’t exactly a large space so she was hovering over my shoulder while reading instructions to me as I sat on the floor putting the damn thing together.”, Merrick started the tone of his voice being a little softer when he talked about Leslie. “So you have a crush on Leslie?”, Rose teased. “Something like that. She’s very attractive. She’s also way too smart for someone like me.”, Merrick said with a shrug. “So why are you here with me if you’d rather be with her?”, Rose questioned now feeling a little self conscious sitting on his lap when he actually liked someone.
It felt different when he just had a little black book of girls he hooked up with. Merrick let out a sigh shaking his head tightening his hands on her hips. “I may like Leslie but I am a realist and that would never work. Her family is FOH and upon her arrival to Bayville my sisters and other Academy students didn’t exactly give her a warm welcome. So she’s now afraid of the mutant population of this town.”, Merrick explained. Rose frowned a little realizing he hadn’t even told this girl he was a mutant and it was the fault of his own sisters and former fellow academy members. “Just don’t do that, little wolf. I’m here because I want to be. I’m here because Roselyn Howlett of all people on this planet called me. I’m not your best friend or your boyfriend and I’m not looking to be either. I’m here because you want me to be, because you want something physical. That leads me to what else I apparently need to clear up. I… am… not… Landon. That’s the first thing you need to understand. I’m not going to be this sweet guy and I’m not going to do emotions. The second thing is whoever I’m with is the person I’m with in that moment. Right now I’m here with you. So right now the only person occupying my thoughts, and trust me every thought is dirtier than the last, is you. So I’m 100 percent at your disposal. I’m up for whatever you want to do to me and you are willing to let me do to you. Ladies choice after all. So you make the call on how far this goes. You say ‘heel’ and I will.”, Merrick explained his hands starting to rub at her hips.
Rose stayed silent while he talked and just listened. He was right he wasn’t Landon. He was about as opposite of Landon she could find and maybe that was the point. She had to admit the idea that Merrick was completely at her disposal, willing to do anything she wanted was something she couldn’t help but smile about. And she laughed a little at his ‘heel’ comment. “I just don’t want to be another number in your little black book. I’m not joining some rotation of women you call when you want to get laid. I like kissing you and I definitely enjoy your claws on my skin. But I won’t become part of that book.”, Rose explained. Merrick nodded. “You aren’t a number in my little black book. And unless you want to be in that book you won’t be. Those are women I call not that call me. At the moment this..”, Merrick answered pointing from him to her. “This is a ‘you call me’ situation. My black book is women that are at my disposal and like it that way. Difference defined enough or you?”, Merrick explained. Rose nodded in answer. Yeah he defined the difference alright and she could certainly appreciate the distinction he’d made. “Yes. Now where were we?”, Rose asked with a grin. Merrick chuckled and pulled her closer. “About here last my lips remember.”, Merrick said before returning to kiss and nibble at her chest. Rose smiled enjoying having him kiss and nibbling at her exposed chest. She let her claws start to come out and run along his bare chest with just enough pressure to scratch but not draw blood. Merrick growled a little as the scratches his own claws coming out as he moved his hands up under the sides of her top starting to claw at her back and sides. He kissed back up her chest, and neck to kiss her again. He shifted his weight and moved her to be lying down on the settee with him partially on top of her as he deepened the kiss letting his tongue mingle with hers again. Rose squeaked a little as he shifted her to her back, but smiled enjoying the change and the feel of his weight partially pressed on her. She started running her claws down his back digging in a little deeper almost drawing blood.
This kissing and clawing continued on for a while long. Merrick keeping a hand under her shirt but always at her side as he’d not been given any indication going for her breast was going to be alright. Neither had been paying attention to the time. Rose figuring she had until near 1am before she would need to head back to the dorms to avoid Cora Lee’s suspicions. Landon wasn’t here to have her back on the situation and yes last night he’d managed to shut Cora Lee up about it, she doubted that without him she’d keep her silence on the subject if she learned it wasn’t a onetime occurrence. Both were preoccupied with kissing and clawing to really notice anything but Merrick could hear the jaws theme song playing from his pocket and a Medding Kids song playing from Rose’s. Merrick grumbled deciding to ignore it as he continued kissing and biting at her neck as she did the same to him. But the ringing would only stop for a moment before starting again. Merrick growled this time not in pleasure and he pulled back from Rose and reached into his pocket and hit talk on his phone. “This had better be something extremely important. Like my mom or Bastian had better be on their way to the Hamilton Medical Center important.”, Merrick growled.
Rose tried to not giggle at Merrick’s annoyed tone and reached for her cell to check the messages she was getting from Cora Lee. “Pardon me for interrupting what I’m sure has been a very rousing game of tonsil hockey leading to sex.”, Malcolm answered with sarcasm. “And what if I was in the middle of having sex?”, Merrick countered. Rose again tried to not laugh as she was reading the texts not liking what she was ready. Cora Lee had texted saying she and the others had gotten told by her dad to leave the club for fighting with the Academy kids after Apollo tried to force himself between Tristan and Blaire to get to Blaire. “If you were having sex right now you wouldn’t have answered the phone no matter how many times I called. I’m calling because there was a fight between institute and academy at the club and we all got sent out.”, Malcolm answered. Merrick blinked. “You and the twins involved?”, Merrick asked. “No we tried to break it up. I’m calling because Emma was part of it.”, Malcolm explained.
Merrick groaned and sat up from where he’d been laying on top of Rose. Rose sat up as well reading over her text messages half paying attention to Merrick’s conversation. “Was Emma hurt?”, Merrick asked. “I don’t think so. Artemis was knocked out and a few good punches got thrown at Talia but no I don’t remember Emma getting hurt.”, Malcolm answered. Merrick sighed. “So what happened? They’ve never started a fight in the club before.”, Merrick questioned. “Apollo started it. He went over to Tristan and Blaire and didn’t want to take Blaire’s no for an answer when she refused to dance with him. He got pepper spray for his trouble and well you can guess how well that went. Apollo chased them down to our booths, we get in the way trying to defuse but Apollo just kept pushing buttons so the institute kids stepped up and then the academy joined and Artemis called Blaire a whore and I think Tristan a woman. And Blaire punched her and then did a leg sweep when Artemis tried to punch back and then knocked her out. It was on from there. Demitri and David broke it up and sent us all out.”, Malcolm explained.
“Fucking Christ. Apollo just doesn’t like being told no does he. And let me guess this whole fight thing was Talia’s idea. Fucking cunt putting my little sister in harm’s way like that. And for what? To fight with you guys or to just ruin my brother’s club? Alright well guess I’m cutting my night short.”, Merrick said with a sigh rubbing the back of his neck feeling small amounts of dries blood from claw marks that Rose left. He looked over to Rose who was reading messages on her phone. “Don’t do anything stupid Merrick.”, Malcolm said. “Me stupid? You know me so well Malcolm. See you at home. Don’t wait up.”, Merrick said hanging up. “Let me guess you got messages about the fight at the Draven too?”, Merrick asked. Rose nodded as she replied to Cora Lee telling her she’d gone out for a drive on her Harley and would be back to the institute shortly. “So guess this is the end of our night, huh.”, Rose said standing up fixing her shirt a little missing the feel of his claws on her skin already. She walked over and picked up his shirt and hoodie from the floor where she’d removed them and walked back handing them to him.
Merrick nodded pocketing his phone lifting his head to look up at Rose with a sigh. He took his clothes pulling his shirt on over his head and then pulled on his hoodie before placing his hands on her hips and leaned forward resting his forehead against her stomach. “Sorry to cut our second round short again on account of my family. But I’ve got some things to handle regarding Emma.”, he said with a sigh moving his hands to lift her shirt up a little. He kissed along her stomach just above the waistband of her shorts. “I really would rather just start unbuttoning these shorts and kiss and nibble where they are covering..”, Merrick said placing his index fingers through the front two loops of her shorts with a small tug. Rose rolled her eyes. “Well that’s not happening so heel. I need to leave too. Cora Lee and the others are heading back to the institute and I said I’ve gone for a ride on the Harley and would be back shortly.”, Rose said. Merrick sighed but unhooked his fingers and leaned back on the settee to look up at her when she said heel. “I take it didn’t go well with my cousin after I left the cave last night.”, Merrick commented. “No her and Lily were not really happy at all. Landon was the one that told them to get over it and let me do what I want to do.”, Rose explained. Merrick blinked.
“Wait Landon? Landon is okay with you hooking up with me? Well that’s a shock.”, Merrick said with a ‘hmm’. Rose shrugged. “I know. Took us all by surprise that his first instinct wasn’t to just kill you. But we aren’t dating so he can’t really pull the protective thing. And he said he’s my best friend so no matter what I do with my life he’ll have my back. Was kind of nice to have him in my corner.”, Rose said with another shrug. Merrick nodded. “Either way we will be keeping our meetings to ourselves? After all you have a reputation to keep and I don’t. Plus you don’t want to be labeled as one of my black book girls.”, Merrick said standing up. Rose nodded. “Yeah probably for the best this is just between the two of us.”, Rose agreed. “So next time you have an ‘itch’ that you need me to scratch, call or text.”, Merrick said placing a hand on Rose’s left cheek leaning down and kissing her firmly before pulling back. “See you around little wolf.”, He said with a wink before changing to his ocelot form and heading out the door. Rose fixed her shirt again turning and watching the ocelot leave then followed him out closing the door before getting on her Harley to head back to the institute.
Merrick took the most direct way through the woods to the Academy and shifted back to his human form and stood outside the wall and leaned by the gate waiting. He put one foot against the wall as he folded his arms waiting. He didn’t smell Emma or the others yet so he knew they hadn’t returned yet. He knew he probably shouldn’t be there. He hadn’t stepped foot near the Academy in over a year. But with Josalyn up in Boston for college he was the only older sibling left so watching out for Emma was now his responsibility along with watching out for Sebastian. And God help Talia if her stupidity got his little sister hurt. As Merrick thought about it he started getting angry and cracking is knuckles as he waited. They put Emma at risk, they started trouble in his brother’s club, Apollo decided to not accept no from a girl, and then all this crap interrupted his night with Rose. All together he was pissed and frustrated. As he was about to start walking to find them he caught their scents on the air and could faintly hear them talking. “Next time I see Blaire Delaney I’m going to knock her out.”, Artemis grumbled rubbing her jaw. “You’ll get your chance. We will all get our chance to exact our revenge not just against the institute kids but their meat sack friends Blaire and Rachel.”, Talia said her tone when saying Rachel’s name more a hiss. She was still livid that Rachel had beaten her in a fight back when Wanda was in power. As the group turned the corner they saw Merrick waiting for them Emma sighed shaking her head as they walked up.
Merrick pushed off the wall and glared at them before looking to Emma checking to make sure she’d not been hurt, though he doubted Alex would have waited to heal any of them if they needed it. He then looked to Talia knowing she was the ring leader. “What the fuck were you thinking? Are you really that stupid? Starting a fight in my brothers club? And for what? Because I seriously doubt it’s because blockhead can’t accept that Blaire Delaney will never give him the time of day. So explain to me why you put my little sister in danger.”, Merrick berated glaring at Talia only briefly looking to Apollo when he mentioned ‘blockhead’. “I’m fine Merrick. I didn’t get hurt.”, Emma stated. Apollo put his arm around Emma pulling her closer. “Yeah. Don’t worry about sweet little Emma.”, Apollo commented. Emma rolled her eyes trying to shrug Apollo’s large arm away from her. Merrick turned his attention and saw how his sister’s nonverbal request for Apollo to let her alone went unnoticed. Merrick started to growl his canines starting to extend to fangs. “You will remove your hand from my baby sister before I remove it from your damn body.”, Merrick growled as he spoke glaring at Apollo his fingers becoming claws in his anger.
“You already didn’t take a verbal ‘no’ from Blaire at the club, but I wasn’t there to rip you apart for that. But that’s my sister and I will kill you.”, Merrick added. Emma smirked a little at her brother getting protective and stomped Apollo’s foot with her high heel causing him to let her go. “You should learn to listen to my brother, Apollo.”, Emma warned. Talia took a step forward and looked at Merrick. “You are right you weren’t at the club tonight. If your sister’s safety mattered so much you’d have been there. And certainly wouldn’t have left the Academy. Which why was it again that you left? Oh I remember your umbilical cord is still attached to your traitor mother.”, Talia spoke with venom in her tone. Merrick turned his gaze to Talia growling. “I’m not always going to be at the club to make sure you idiots don’t do something stupid, I’ve got a life after all. So I’m going to make this abundantly clear. Put my sister in harm’s way again for this stupidity I’ll forget I’m Haven and a vegetarian and rip you all to shreds. Also don’t start shit in my brother’s club. That place is supposed to be a safe zone for teens and by them starting this mutant night it’s to give a safe zone for mutant teens to be themselves without the disguises, like your little watch.”, Merrick said still growling a little.
Talia glared baring her own fangs but Alex gently grasped her arm to keep her from just going after Merrick. “Look. I get your brotherly concern. I have the same for my little sister Gina’s well being. But I understand that Gina is part of the Academy and is being trained to not only use her mutant ability but also general combat training to be part of fights for our greater cause. You used to understand that till you decided to become neutral. Which really Merrick, neutral doesn’t suit your animal disposition, nor does being the noble ‘hero’ like your cousin Landon. One of these days you will realize the darkness in you can’t be shut down and that you are more like us than you want to believe. However for right now you need to leave. We don’t want to fight you, you were once one of us, and as a Haven member hitting you first would start war with your house which I know the Demon King isn’t interested in…yet. And you can’t throw that first punch without violating the very rules your cousin Crow upholds as leader of the Haven. Now I’m sure that there is some fetching townie whose embrace our night’s encounter has taken you from. Why don’t you go return to whichever girl it is tonight and leave us be.”, Alex said his tone calm and rational like that of his father Damon but his choice of words holding venom like his mother Geri would use. Merrick growled but let his fangs and claws retract. “Just keep my family out of your agenda. And that includes my brother’s club.”, Merrick said sternly as he turned to leave. Emma reached and grabbed his arm. Merrick stopped and looked over his shoulder at his little sister. She was the spitting image of her namesake their grandmother Emma. “I gotta go. I’ll see you around Emma. Just stay out of trouble please, for me.”, Merrick said with a smile taking her hand from his arm and shifting to his ocelot form and disappearing into the darkness of the night.

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Completely unaware of anything happening at the club Rose had changed into a pair of cut off jean shorts and a black silk razor back wrap top and a pair of black flats before doing a quick check in the mirror. She frowned looking at her unruly red hair trying to think what to do with it then decided to just pull it into a ponytail. "Why the hell am I doing this? What's it matter what I'm wearing? This isn't a date. I'm just meeting Merrick for another make out session. He's not going to really care what I'm wearing. Knowing him I could wear track pants and a T-shirt and he'd only be thinking of ways to get them off me.", Rose said with a sigh looking at herself in the mirror. "This isn't about liking him. This isn't about joining that list of bed post notches. This is just about finding comfort. I really enjoyed kissing him, getting my claws on him, and feelings his hands and claws on me. This is about being wanted by someone.", Rose said to herself as she walked to the garage getting her motorcycle and leaving.
Merrick has finished at the shelter but with the extra time spent helping in the clinic and flirting with Leslie he didn't have time to go change before he needed to get to the abandoned castle set on the cliff at the far edge of town. He transformed back to human form an ocelot as he approached the falling apart some castle. By scent he knew he was there before Rose so he pulled a key from his pocket and opened the large heavy doors closing them behind him and took a seat on a small tufted gray settle to wait. He stretched his arms out along the length of the back keeping his green-yellow eyes on the heavy doors. He was aware of the cat and dog hairs that where scatted along his black unzipped hoodie and the plain white tee he had on underneath. His ears perked at the sound of a motorcycle and he could smell the scent of Rose in the air. He smiled a little getting up from the settee to walk closer to the door to wait. Rose cut the engine and looked up at the massive crumbling stone castle that history told not long before she'd been born was occupied by the members of the XC before they joined the Acolytes. She'd never set foot in the castle or its property before. She'd never had much reason. She looked around but saw no other vehicles. But as she smelled the air Merrick's scent was there along with other animals. She took a breath and pushed open the door stepping inside to see Merrick standing there waiting. Her blue eyes surveyed him in his lose fit jeans, a slightly baggy white shirt under a baggy black hoodie. She smiled a little her mind easily recalling what that shirt and hoodie contained. Merrick smirked as she walked in his eyes doing a quick once over of her outfit. He had spent the last two hours in close quarters with Leslie flirting but knowing he could never do anything, so there was some pent up urges that Rose's outfit choice weren't diminishing.
He didn't bother with words or really wasting time. He closed the space between them reaching past her with his right hand closing the heavy door. His left hand grasped the back of her head lightly before leaning and kissing her firmly. Rose blinked not really sure how this was going to work or what she should say. But it was all answered as he pressed his lips to hers. Apparently words weren't going to be used. Rose returned the kiss eagerly wanting to feel what she'd felt the night before. She brought her arms around his neck pressing her body tighter to him. Merrick brought his hand off the door and brought it around her waist while rubbing his tongue along her lips indicating what he wanted. Rose obliged opening her mouth just as eager to taste him again, she mmed softly into the kiss. Merrick growled low into the kiss as their tongues mingled. He brought his hands down her back and grasped her hips lifting her up as he pressed her against the door keeping his hands holding her up by grasping her ass firmly. Rose squeaked a little having not expected to be picked up let alone pinned to the door. She wrapped her legs about him and tightened her arms around his neck. She wasn't sure how she exactly felt about this. There was the part of her that worried about this situation but then there was the animal the part that wanted this. That part was relishing being pressed against the door by him with such force.
Merrick didn't really think in this situation, he just did. He'd thought about Rose's lips, her tongue, how she tasted and how it felt to have her pressed close to him since he left the cave last night. He didn't of course tell Kelly last night that the reason he'd been so eager and slightly more forceful was he'd been thinking about Rose. He figured telling the girl he was having sex with in the back of his car at the bluff that his mind was on another girl would have been a bad idea. But now he had Rose pressed against him, his hands grasping her ass tightly while his tongue explored her mouth. Rose felt for a moment that maybe words needed to be spoken. She couldn't just let this possibly go too far. And it wasn't her worry that he'd take this far, but that she would. Being pressed against the door so forcefully, having him kissing her lips, grasping her ass, and the pheromones he was producing with his natural scent were driving her animal nature wild. But to stop herself from becoming a notch of his bedpost she pulled back from his lips moving her hands to press against his shoulders to ensure some distance. "Hi...", she managed to say breathless from the kissing. Merrick rubbed his lips together after she pulled back. He raised an eyebrow at the simple 'hi'. "Hello..", Merrick replied his tone almost a question. "I...well I wasn't really sure what to expect coming to meet you tonight.", Rose explained hearing the question in his voice.
Merrick nodded and lightly set her down and took a step back putting his hands into his hoodie pockets. "Alright. You called me, so as my rule goes 'ladies choice'.", Merrick answered with a casual shrug. Rose frowned a little as he set her down and took a step back. She hadn't really wanted to be sat down or him to give more space. "Your rule? Ladies choice?", Rose questioned. "Yes. I do have rules I follow. And one rule is that the girl sets the pace. Which means you called me, therefore what happens is completely at your discretion.", Merrick explained. "So I'll say sorry if I was too forward in my greeting. Just kind of been thinking about that since you texted.", Merrick half heartedly apologized. Rose smiled shaking her head a little. "Completely my discretion?", Rose said reaching out and grabbing his shirt pulling him back to her and kissed him hard. Merrick smiled into the kiss returning it bringing his arms back around her, one hand reaching into the razor backing of her tank top his fingers changing to claws as he lightly scratched. Rose found herself growling softly which mixed a little with a moan feeling his claws against her back. Taking the mix of moan and growl as good signs Merrick deepened the kiss his claws digging in a little harder, she was a Howlett so leaving marks wasn't possible. Rose responded to this with another growl her hands moving pulling off his hoodie and moving to start pulling his T-shirt off next. Merrick pulled back from the kiss and brought his arms up as she tugged his shirt off him. Rose paused looking at his bare chest with a smile. She placed her hands onto his chest enjoying the feel of his warm skin under her fingers and being able to feel the steady beating of his heart. She'd noticed that past him was a settee, so she applied pressure to his chest as she pushed him backwards to the settee.

Merrick chuckled a little as he back up and found the settee pressing into the back of his legs and sat down looking up at her letting his claws retract and his hands run up her legs. He leaned back into the settee looking up at her with that Bryant smirk that seemed to even shine in his green-yellow eyes. Rose smiled down at him rubbing her lips together enjoying the feel of his hands on her bare skin. But she also knew that smirk. She'd seen it on Landon and even his father's face when they've got something in their line of sight and a devious plan forming in their minds. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders and sat down to straddle him. She wanted to keep touching him, being touched by him and kissing those lips but that smirk that was even shining in his eyes made her pause. Sure the eyes weren't the Bryant blue, instead they are the Shadow green-yellow but that smirk was telling he had devious plans. Even though he said it was her discretion, she feared how far she might go if she let her inner animal run the show. So she chose to keep him close but not return to his lips, yet. So she tried to think, to think of how to keep her from losing herself in the animalistic desire that he was bringing out. Then her senses picked up on the smell of various cats and dogs but also the very subtle scent of a girl's lilac perfume.
"So...just kind of wondering something. Why do you smell like cats, dogs and a girl? I saw fur on your hoodie. You said you were at work when I texted you.", Rose inquired. Merrick sighed the smirk transitioned to a smile. "I was at work. Which is why the feline and canine smells and hairs. As for the woman, you getting jealous already little wolf?", Merrick answered teasing. He leaned forward kissing her shoulder as his hands rubbed her sides. Rose bit her bottom lip enjoying his touch and how her shoulder felt like it was on fire under each kiss. "Not jealous, I'm well aware of your little black book. But we both know you work at Walmart, where you wouldn't be around cats or dogs.”, Rose answered. “Yes I work at Walmart. This was my at my other job.”, Merrick explained. “Other job? More little secrets that no one gets to know about?”, Rose asked teasing. “Actually yes. Malcolm doesn’t even know about it. He however doesn’t have your heightened senses so never notices the animal hair or smells.”, Merrick explained. Rose raised an eyebrow now a little curious; there was something that Malcolm didn’t even know about.
Merrick sighed shaking his head. “It’s not a big deal. Do we really need to have a conversation? You’ve got me shirtless sitting on this settee completely at your disposal. I could think of a few better things to be doing with our mouths than having a conversation.”, Merrick replied before kissing at her exposed collar bone starting to kiss down the deep v that the wrap top offered, nibbling a little as he did so. Rose closed her eyes running her tongue across her lips, moaning a little enjoying how it felt to have him kissing down her chest. Merrick smiled as he kept kissing lower along the edge of the silk top. Rose took a couple deep breaths; she wasn’t going to let herself go no matter how good this felt. She shook her head and leaned back a little from his touch. Merrick sighed and leaned back against the settee. “Alright so guess we are having a conversation instead of me kissing every part of your body, that you’ll allow.”, Merrick said looking up at her. “I’m sorry. I just. Well this type of scenario is new for me. You’re the second guy I’ve kissed and well we know how the first went. And I don’t want to be another notch on your bed post and join your little black book. So despite instinct, which seriously the animal side of me wants to let you do whatever you want to me as long as I get to do whatever I want to you in return, my upper brain seems to want to keep some level of distinction.”, Rose tried to explain.
Merrick laughed a little shaking his head but smiled. “Alright. Look, I’m going to clear a couple things up for you then. To answer your curiosity I volunteer at the local animal shelter. Which when one considers I’m a vegetarian and an animal shapeshifter it’s not farfetched that I would rather work with animals. So that explains the animal smells and fur. As for the smell of a girl that would be Leslie. She’s a vet tech that started back in March. I was helping her set up the new x-ray machine for the clinic. So I might faintly smell like lilacs, I’m pretty sure she uses a lilac scented lotion, because the clinic isn’t exactly a large space so she was hovering over my shoulder while reading instructions to me as I sat on the floor putting the damn thing together.”, Merrick started the tone of his voice being a little softer when he talked about Leslie. “So you have a crush on Leslie?”, Rose teased. “Something like that. She’s very attractive. She’s also way too smart for someone like me.”, Merrick said with a shrug. “So why are you here with me if you’d rather be with her?”, Rose questioned now feeling a little self conscious sitting on his lap when he actually liked someone.
It felt different when he just had a little black book of girls he hooked up with. Merrick let out a sigh shaking his head tightening his hands on her hips. “I may like Leslie but I am a realist and that would never work. Her family is FOH and upon her arrival to Bayville my sisters and other Academy students didn’t exactly give her a warm welcome. So she’s now afraid of the mutant population of this town.”, Merrick explained. Rose frowned a little realizing he hadn’t even told this girl he was a mutant and it was the fault of his own sisters and former fellow academy members. “Just don’t do that, little wolf. I’m here because I want to be. I’m here because Roselyn Howlett of all people on this planet called me. I’m not your best friend or your boyfriend and I’m not looking to be either. I’m here because you want me to be, because you want something physical. That leads me to what else I apparently need to clear up. I… am… not… Landon. That’s the first thing you need to understand. I’m not going to be this sweet guy and I’m not going to do emotions. The second thing is whoever I’m with is the person I’m with in that moment. Right now I’m here with you. So right now the only person occupying my thoughts, and trust me every thought is dirtier than the last, is you. So I’m 100 percent at your disposal. I’m up for whatever you want to do to me and you are willing to let me do to you. Ladies choice after all. So you make the call on how far this goes. You say ‘heel’ and I will.”, Merrick explained his hands starting to rub at her hips.
Rose stayed silent while he talked and just listened. He was right he wasn’t Landon. He was about as opposite of Landon she could find and maybe that was the point. She had to admit the idea that Merrick was completely at her disposal, willing to do anything she wanted was something she couldn’t help but smile about. And she laughed a little at his ‘heel’ comment. “I just don’t want to be another number in your little black book. I’m not joining some rotation of women you call when you want to get laid. I like kissing you and I definitely enjoy your claws on my skin. But I won’t become part of that book.”, Rose explained. Merrick nodded. “You aren’t a number in my little black book. And unless you want to be in that book you won’t be. Those are women I call not that call me. At the moment this..”, Merrick answered pointing from him to her. “This is a ‘you call me’ situation. My black book is women that are at my disposal and like it that way. Difference defined enough or you?”, Merrick explained. Rose nodded in answer. Yeah he defined the difference alright and she could certainly appreciate the distinction he’d made. “Yes. Now where were we?”, Rose asked with a grin. Merrick chuckled and pulled her closer. “About here last my lips remember.”, Merrick said before returning to kiss and nibble at her chest. Rose smiled enjoying having him kiss and nibbling at her exposed chest. She let her claws start to come out and run along his bare chest with just enough pressure to scratch but not draw blood. Merrick growled a little as the scratches his own claws coming out as he moved his hands up under the sides of her top starting to claw at her back and sides. He kissed back up her chest, and neck to kiss her again. He shifted his weight and moved her to be lying down on the settee with him partially on top of her as he deepened the kiss letting his tongue mingle with hers again. Rose squeaked a little as he shifted her to her back, but smiled enjoying the change and the feel of his weight partially pressed on her. She started running her claws down his back digging in a little deeper almost drawing blood.
This kissing and clawing continued on for a while long. Merrick keeping a hand under her shirt but always at her side as he’d not been given any indication going for her breast was going to be alright. Neither had been paying attention to the time. Rose figuring she had until near 1am before she would need to head back to the dorms to avoid Cora Lee’s suspicions. Landon wasn’t here to have her back on the situation and yes last night he’d managed to shut Cora Lee up about it, she doubted that without him she’d keep her silence on the subject if she learned it wasn’t a onetime occurrence. Both were preoccupied with kissing and clawing to really notice anything but Merrick could hear the jaws theme song playing from his pocket and a Medding Kids song playing from Rose’s. Merrick grumbled deciding to ignore it as he continued kissing and biting at her neck as she did the same to him. But the ringing would only stop for a moment before starting again. Merrick growled this time not in pleasure and he pulled back from Rose and reached into his pocket and hit talk on his phone. “This had better be something extremely important. Like my mom or Bastian had better be on their way to the Hamilton Medical Center important.”, Merrick growled.
Rose tried to not giggle at Merrick’s annoyed tone and reached for her cell to check the messages she was getting from Cora Lee. “Pardon me for interrupting what I’m sure has been a very rousing game of tonsil hockey leading to sex.”, Malcolm answered with sarcasm. “And what if I was in the middle of having sex?”, Merrick countered. Rose again tried to not laugh as she was reading the texts not liking what she was ready. Cora Lee had texted saying she and the others had gotten told by her dad to leave the club for fighting with the Academy kids after Apollo tried to force himself between Tristan and Blaire to get to Blaire. “If you were having sex right now you wouldn’t have answered the phone no matter how many times I called. I’m calling because there was a fight between institute and academy at the club and we all got sent out.”, Malcolm answered. Merrick blinked. “You and the twins involved?”, Merrick asked. “No we tried to break it up. I’m calling because Emma was part of it.”, Malcolm explained.
Merrick groaned and sat up from where he’d been laying on top of Rose. Rose sat up as well reading over her text messages half paying attention to Merrick’s conversation. “Was Emma hurt?”, Merrick asked. “I don’t think so. Artemis was knocked out and a few good punches got thrown at Talia but no I don’t remember Emma getting hurt.”, Malcolm answered. Merrick sighed. “So what happened? They’ve never started a fight in the club before.”, Merrick questioned. “Apollo started it. He went over to Tristan and Blaire and didn’t want to take Blaire’s no for an answer when she refused to dance with him. He got pepper spray for his trouble and well you can guess how well that went. Apollo chased them down to our booths, we get in the way trying to defuse but Apollo just kept pushing buttons so the institute kids stepped up and then the academy joined and Artemis called Blaire a whore and I think Tristan a woman. And Blaire punched her and then did a leg sweep when Artemis tried to punch back and then knocked her out. It was on from there. Demitri and David broke it up and sent us all out.”, Malcolm explained.
“Fucking Christ. Apollo just doesn’t like being told no does he. And let me guess this whole fight thing was Talia’s idea. Fucking cunt putting my little sister in harm’s way like that. And for what? To fight with you guys or to just ruin my brother’s club? Alright well guess I’m cutting my night short.”, Merrick said with a sigh rubbing the back of his neck feeling small amounts of dries blood from claw marks that Rose left. He looked over to Rose who was reading messages on her phone. “Don’t do anything stupid Merrick.”, Malcolm said. “Me stupid? You know me so well Malcolm. See you at home. Don’t wait up.”, Merrick said hanging up. “Let me guess you got messages about the fight at the Draven too?”, Merrick asked. Rose nodded as she replied to Cora Lee telling her she’d gone out for a drive on her Harley and would be back to the institute shortly. “So guess this is the end of our night, huh.”, Rose said standing up fixing her shirt a little missing the feel of his claws on her skin already. She walked over and picked up his shirt and hoodie from the floor where she’d removed them and walked back handing them to him.
Merrick nodded pocketing his phone lifting his head to look up at Rose with a sigh. He took his clothes pulling his shirt on over his head and then pulled on his hoodie before placing his hands on her hips and leaned forward resting his forehead against her stomach. “Sorry to cut our second round short again on account of my family. But I’ve got some things to handle regarding Emma.”, he said with a sigh moving his hands to lift her shirt up a little. He kissed along her stomach just above the waistband of her shorts. “I really would rather just start unbuttoning these shorts and kiss and nibble where they are covering..”, Merrick said placing his index fingers through the front two loops of her shorts with a small tug. Rose rolled her eyes. “Well that’s not happening so heel. I need to leave too. Cora Lee and the others are heading back to the institute and I said I’ve gone for a ride on the Harley and would be back shortly.”, Rose said. Merrick sighed but unhooked his fingers and leaned back on the settee to look up at her when she said heel. “I take it didn’t go well with my cousin after I left the cave last night.”, Merrick commented. “No her and Lily were not really happy at all. Landon was the one that told them to get over it and let me do what I want to do.”, Rose explained. Merrick blinked.
“Wait Landon? Landon is okay with you hooking up with me? Well that’s a shock.”, Merrick said with a ‘hmm’. Rose shrugged. “I know. Took us all by surprise that his first instinct wasn’t to just kill you. But we aren’t dating so he can’t really pull the protective thing. And he said he’s my best friend so no matter what I do with my life he’ll have my back. Was kind of nice to have him in my corner.”, Rose said with another shrug. Merrick nodded. “Either way we will be keeping our meetings to ourselves? After all you have a reputation to keep and I don’t. Plus you don’t want to be labeled as one of my black book girls.”, Merrick said standing up. Rose nodded. “Yeah probably for the best this is just between the two of us.”, Rose agreed. “So next time you have an ‘itch’ that you need me to scratch, call or text.”, Merrick said placing a hand on Rose’s left cheek leaning down and kissing her firmly before pulling back. “See you around little wolf.”, He said with a wink before changing to his ocelot form and heading out the door. Rose fixed her shirt again turning and watching the ocelot leave then followed him out closing the door before getting on her Harley to head back to the institute.
Merrick took the most direct way through the woods to the Academy and shifted back to his human form and stood outside the wall and leaned by the gate waiting. He put one foot against the wall as he folded his arms waiting. He didn’t smell Emma or the others yet so he knew they hadn’t returned yet. He knew he probably shouldn’t be there. He hadn’t stepped foot near the Academy in over a year. But with Josalyn up in Boston for college he was the only older sibling left so watching out for Emma was now his responsibility along with watching out for Sebastian. And God help Talia if her stupidity got his little sister hurt. As Merrick thought about it he started getting angry and cracking is knuckles as he waited. They put Emma at risk, they started trouble in his brother’s club, Apollo decided to not accept no from a girl, and then all this crap interrupted his night with Rose. All together he was pissed and frustrated. As he was about to start walking to find them he caught their scents on the air and could faintly hear them talking. “Next time I see Blaire Delaney I’m going to knock her out.”, Artemis grumbled rubbing her jaw. “You’ll get your chance. We will all get our chance to exact our revenge not just against the institute kids but their meat sack friends Blaire and Rachel.”, Talia said her tone when saying Rachel’s name more a hiss. She was still livid that Rachel had beaten her in a fight back when Wanda was in power. As the group turned the corner they saw Merrick waiting for them Emma sighed shaking her head as they walked up.
Merrick pushed off the wall and glared at them before looking to Emma checking to make sure she’d not been hurt, though he doubted Alex would have waited to heal any of them if they needed it. He then looked to Talia knowing she was the ring leader. “What the fuck were you thinking? Are you really that stupid? Starting a fight in my brothers club? And for what? Because I seriously doubt it’s because blockhead can’t accept that Blaire Delaney will never give him the time of day. So explain to me why you put my little sister in danger.”, Merrick berated glaring at Talia only briefly looking to Apollo when he mentioned ‘blockhead’. “I’m fine Merrick. I didn’t get hurt.”, Emma stated. Apollo put his arm around Emma pulling her closer. “Yeah. Don’t worry about sweet little Emma.”, Apollo commented. Emma rolled her eyes trying to shrug Apollo’s large arm away from her. Merrick turned his attention and saw how his sister’s nonverbal request for Apollo to let her alone went unnoticed. Merrick started to growl his canines starting to extend to fangs. “You will remove your hand from my baby sister before I remove it from your damn body.”, Merrick growled as he spoke glaring at Apollo his fingers becoming claws in his anger.
“You already didn’t take a verbal ‘no’ from Blaire at the club, but I wasn’t there to rip you apart for that. But that’s my sister and I will kill you.”, Merrick added. Emma smirked a little at her brother getting protective and stomped Apollo’s foot with her high heel causing him to let her go. “You should learn to listen to my brother, Apollo.”, Emma warned. Talia took a step forward and looked at Merrick. “You are right you weren’t at the club tonight. If your sister’s safety mattered so much you’d have been there. And certainly wouldn’t have left the Academy. Which why was it again that you left? Oh I remember your umbilical cord is still attached to your traitor mother.”, Talia spoke with venom in her tone. Merrick turned his gaze to Talia growling. “I’m not always going to be at the club to make sure you idiots don’t do something stupid, I’ve got a life after all. So I’m going to make this abundantly clear. Put my sister in harm’s way again for this stupidity I’ll forget I’m Haven and a vegetarian and rip you all to shreds. Also don’t start shit in my brother’s club. That place is supposed to be a safe zone for teens and by them starting this mutant night it’s to give a safe zone for mutant teens to be themselves without the disguises, like your little watch.”, Merrick said still growling a little.
Talia glared baring her own fangs but Alex gently grasped her arm to keep her from just going after Merrick. “Look. I get your brotherly concern. I have the same for my little sister Gina’s well being. But I understand that Gina is part of the Academy and is being trained to not only use her mutant ability but also general combat training to be part of fights for our greater cause. You used to understand that till you decided to become neutral. Which really Merrick, neutral doesn’t suit your animal disposition, nor does being the noble ‘hero’ like your cousin Landon. One of these days you will realize the darkness in you can’t be shut down and that you are more like us than you want to believe. However for right now you need to leave. We don’t want to fight you, you were once one of us, and as a Haven member hitting you first would start war with your house which I know the Demon King isn’t interested in…yet. And you can’t throw that first punch without violating the very rules your cousin Crow upholds as leader of the Haven. Now I’m sure that there is some fetching townie whose embrace our night’s encounter has taken you from. Why don’t you go return to whichever girl it is tonight and leave us be.”, Alex said his tone calm and rational like that of his father Damon but his choice of words holding venom like his mother Geri would use. Merrick growled but let his fangs and claws retract. “Just keep my family out of your agenda. And that includes my brother’s club.”, Merrick said sternly as he turned to leave. Emma reached and grabbed his arm. Merrick stopped and looked over his shoulder at his little sister. She was the spitting image of her namesake their grandmother Emma. “I gotta go. I’ll see you around Emma. Just stay out of trouble please, for me.”, Merrick said with a smile taking her hand from his arm and shifting to his ocelot form and disappearing into the darkness of the night.