I need to know last night wasn't a dream

"I'm looking forward to it," Hans said. His accent made me shiver. His tone of voice implied I'd be getting just as little sleep next time, but for entirely different reasons.

"Um," I said. "Can you do me a favor?"

Hans leaned forward. "Of course," he said. I'm pretty sure he was thinking about licking syrup off of me, too.

"Turn into a wolf?" I squeaked. "I need to know last night wasn't a dream," I hastily added -- which was a lie. What I needed was a very long, very cold shower -- but Hans had told me last night that boogeymen were real and that creatures from nightmare literally found it easier to break into my home the more terrified of them I was. So I wanted him around to be on guard while I was all wet, naked and vulnerable -- but I didn't want him to be in a form that had the right instincts to be enticed by my wet, naked, vulnerable self.

Especially since I was definitely turned on enough to leave the bathroom door unlocked in invitation. And to not say 'no' until after he took me up on said invitation and I had another complete freak out.

Hans looked at me askance. "Are you sure?" He asked.

I nodded. "I'll do better," I promised. "It won't be new this time."

Hans chuckled. "Alright," he said. Then he stood, took our dishes into the kitchen and placed them in the sink before he turned to face me. I smiled at him as guilelessly as I could. I don't know if he bought it, but he peeled his t-shirt off anyway.

I was starting to suspect that Hans would always be willing to take an excuse to get naked -- but with a body like that, who could blame him? I don't think I've ever seen abs like those outside of home gym infomercials.

My gaze followed his shirt up and off, so I caught a glimpse of Hans' nostrils flaring for just a second before he started grinning at me. His expression was smugly self-satisfied, and I don't know if it was because I was obviously staring -- or if he had some supernatural sense of smell that let him know when I was getting extra turned on.

On the one hand, the idea that I was giving off some sort of 'woman in lust' pheromone might explain why he'd asked me out to begin with. On the other, if that were the case then it was really unfair, really embarrassing, and meant I really, really needed that shower. And it definitely couldn't be one of the scalding ones I prefer.

My train of thought was derailed when Hans dropped his shirt on my kitchen chair and thumbed open the button on his jeans. He gave me a sexy as sin wink and stepped behind the counter to finish disrobing.

I was kind of thankful for that. Not only did it spare my over-active imagination from receiving extra fuel, but when he suddenly snarled and doubled over, it put him out of sight. Just like when he turned human last night, the sound of meat stretching, flesh twisting and bones crackling was freaky enough without the sight of him turning into a wolf, too. I swallowed. The creepiest part -- outside of the whole 'defying the laws of nature' bit -- was how quick and quiet the process actually was. Hollywood had told me to expect screams, howls, and thumping, discordant, angry music. But Hollywood had lied.

When Hans-the-wolf came padding out from behind the counter he was panting slightly and his tongue was hanging out. He also wasn't quite as huge as I seemed to remember from last night, but he was still a big canine.

"Does that hurt?" I asked in morbid fascination.

Hans sat on his haunches and tilted his head inquisitively.

"Uh... right," I said. "One bark for yes, two barks for no?"

Hans wuffled with amusement and then barked once.

I cringed slightly. "Sorry," I said shamefacedly. Weirdly enough it was a lot easier to be nice and sympathetic toward him when sexual tension wasn't an issue. Go figure. I patted the mattress at the foot of my bed. "Come on up; have a seat," I offered.

Hans came over and hopped onto the bed, then turned a couple of circles before settling down so that he was facing me. I reached over to pet him, and ended up scratching behind his ears until his tail started thumping. See? I was doing much better than last night.

I scrubbed my fingers through the fur down Hans' neck and then straightened. "Okay," I said as I threw off the covers and slid out of bed. "I'm going to take my shower now, so you just... Guard. If any monsters come out from under my bed or whatever while I'm all wet and soapy: eat 'em, alright?"

Hans looked at me funny, but then he barked once and repositioned himself to watch the closet.

"Awesome," I said. "Oh, and any mundane robbers, kidnappers, peepers or murderers," I added as I went to pick out a change of clothes. I looked at Hans over my shoulder. "You're totally allowed to eat their faces, too."

Hans tilted his head at me and snuffled, then twisted around so that he could watch the front door, too. I hastily added a couple of towels and a washcloth to my pile and then started toward the bathroom. I detoured to give Hans another petting, though. "Thanks," I said.

Hans' jaws stretched open in a lazy 'think nothing of it' yawn, but his attention didn't waver from the closet or front door, and his tail started wagging again. I gathered up my things again and took myself to the bathroom. Once there, I only turned one of the locks.

I was feeling remarkably relaxed, especially for it being a morning -- and being completely outside my routine, and being just about to get naked and helpless. Sure, I didn't have a big dog to keep me safe... but I did have a watch-werewolf. And you know what? That was kind of awesome in and of itself.