I usually wake up suddenly, as if desperate to escape the fog sunken haze of sleep.  Thinking on it further, I had always feared that I would not be able to wake up each time so leapt out of the darkness to bask in the morning light.  People are much more true to themselves when asleep, so it wasn't any wonder that I had felt the buried emotions while my eyes were closed.  I had also slept with a night light since the coma, never before wondering why and or why I always left the curtains open to greet the morning sun. 

But right now, I was warm and relaxed and a little light headed.  The darkness was no longer weighing me down.  I buried my nose into the plush pillow and breathed deeply.  I don't recall buying a new fabric softener, I thought, sleepily. But before I could question further, I felt my lax body sliding against the sheets beneath me as the arm, that I hadn't realised was resting on my waist, snaked around me further and tightened its hold.  My back felt sensitised as it hit a solid, heated mass, despite the cloth that separated me from it.  A deep rumbling sound like a cat purring through a bass speaker pulsed through me before a sudden coldness touched my neck, causing me to squirm.

"Cold," I complained.  My hand was squeezed in concern and a dreamy, deep voice called out;

"Are you alright, Alex?"

That had me attempting to open my eyes, which felt slightly sore and sticky.  I groaned and blinked a few times before two blue eyes came into view.  I should have been shocked, my mind was berating me for ending up so easily in his bed, even if it was only to sleep, but my body relaxed the moment our eyes connected.  Correction... their bed.  Eric's cold nose was burying its way into my neck as he purred contentedly, cuddling me to him as he slept. 

"His nose is cold," I whispered with a slight giggle.

Michael smiled broadly, the curve of his lips dominated his handsome face and the corners of his eyes crinkled.  I felt my breath catching, but smiled tentatively in return.  "I know.  Just don't let him put those icebergs he calls feet upon your skin," he said and I found myself giggling softly again.  Michael squeezed the hand he held.  "Would you like something to drink, tea, coffee?"

"Coffee, please," I whispered back.

"Straight black, right?" He asked and I nodded.  He carefully crawled out of the bed and I felt the heat rise in my face as I appreciated the view.  Michael had slept in just a pair of black boxers.  His chest was very defined, each pectoral strongly shaped and tipped with a soft looking circle of brown.  His visible abdominals sat above a flat stomach and a ebony path directed my sight from his navel downwards only to be thwarted by elastic and cotton.  I felt the blush in my cheeks deepening as a slightly proud and lustful growl slipped from those defined lips currently surrounded by a mess of stubble.

Eric's nose continued to tickle my neck and he said a number of nonsensical words before letting loose a soft snore.  He snapped us both from our rising arousal with soft snickers at his expense.  Michael quickly hid his gorgeous body from me beneath a T- shirt and sweatpants.  Not that it mattered too much now, I had the image burned into my retina.

After he left the room, I sighed a little.  I was settling into this far too easily, the bond was overwhelming me.  They would never have looked at me twice if it were not for the bond, but that shouldn't come as a surprise as they would never have looked beyond each other.  So I should be honoured, but despite Eric's reassurances, I was still nervous.  Although, I was seriously having difficulty retaining those nerves as Eric's grip tightened about me more.  I didn't feel trapped by his hold, I felt secure.  I felt safe.  My eyes were growing heavy again.  I don't think I have slept so well for a long time, not because I had problems sleeping, my list of issues did not include insomnia.  I just usually woke feeling as if I have not rested much.  A yawn escaped me and I nestled deeper into Eric's embrace.

"Wake up, sleepyheads," Michael called us both.  The scent of coffee began to fill the air.

"Just five more minutes," Eric grumbled into my hair.

"I would love to allow you that, love," came the reply, "but it is Friday and some of us have to get to work."

That had me snapping my eyes open and wriggling from Eric's hold in a panic.  "Shit, I'm on an early shift this morning!" I cried out, before stumbling backwards and landing bum first upon the floor, legs in the air.

Both men scrambled into view.  "Are you alright?" They both asked.

"No," I found that I was pouting.  "My ego is completely crushed."  They both relaxed and began to laugh.  "Can someone help me up, please?"  Michael reached down to help me to my feet.  I noticed that had slept in my T-shirt and chino's.  I felt a little put out by that, was a bit hard done by, after all, how many guys (or girls) could claim that they had had the privilege of sleeping sandwiched between two men of sculpted flesh?  Oh, but seeing as they were my mates, I guessed I would get another chance for that wouldn't I. 

I noticed them both sniff the air and their eyes zeroed in on me.  Michael's eyes turned yellow in colour and Eric's narrowed into slits.  I shied away a little, their gaze too intense for me right now.  Michael came back to himself first, he seemed to have great control over his inner wolf.  He coughed into his hand, his eyes once again became blue and then he told me; "Alex, you don't need to worry.  I had you signed off sick for today as a precaution when I spoke to your supervisor about your sudden absence yesterday.  But you, love," he nudged the man tiger still stalking me, who sneezed before sitting back upon the bed as if nothing had happened. "You have work."

"But I am the boss, I can take time off if I want!" Eric said, his arms crossed about his chest.  The lines of his muscles were not so prominent, he was leaner, more lithe, but no less sexy.  Michael handed him his phone and he read a couple of text messages, before grumbling beneath his breath.

"It seems that Sylvie will be accepting no buts," Michael said with a slight smirk. "Drink your coffee. I'm heading for the shower." Eric's eyes changed again to reflect his tiger surfacing as he watched Michael's firm arse before he disappeared into the bathroom.

"Why do your pupils narrow like a cat?" I found myself asking. "I didn't think tiger eyes did that."

"They don't," Eric agreed with a grin. "It has something to do with a werecat's makeup. It does help a human tell the difference between a large cat and a shifter, I suppose." He passed me one of the coffees, the one lacking milk and sugar. His was far paler in colour and a heavy scent of sweetness oozed from it. I sipped my drink and realised with an inward sigh, that the coffee lacked taste. It wasn't that hot anymore either, considering that we had slept in a little longer. I drank it anyway, not wanting to be a bother. "So, seeing as you have a day off, what do you plan to do with it?"

I shrugged. I didn't really have much in the way of hobbies and even less in the way of friends. I worked full time as a cleaner and simply took more shifts when they were available. "Not sure," I replied. "I wasn't expecting the free time."

"Would you like to come with me to my gym?" Eric asked, hopefully.

"Yeah," I found myself saying, "I'd like that."

*****

"Will you stay with us again tonight?" Michael asked me, while I was eating scrambled eggs on toast, which this time I could savour with each tasty bite.  I wonder why the coffee failed to awe my newly reawakened tastebuds.  "There's so much I still want to know about you."

I hesitated.  I'd agreed to go and visit my parents this weekend, but after lounging in bed with my... with these two men this morning, I could imagine me struggling to leave it under other circumstances. 

"There's no rush, babe," Eric poured juice into our half filled glasses.  "We have a lifetime to learn about each other, right sweetheart?"  I blushed, but nodded.  They knew a little of my past now and hadn't sent me away.  It was hard to believe that they were really accepting me, but I wanted to.

"Says the tiger who couldn't wait and let me introduce you both properly," Michael said with a raised eyebrow.  I couldn't help but laugh at this as Eric totally ignored him and turned to me.

"What are your plans for the weekend?" He asked me.

"I'm going to see my parents," I replied.  "I haven't seen them in a while.  They still live in my old home town.  I avoided going back there."

"And now you feel ready?" Michael asked me. 

I shrugged.  "Not entirely," I admitted.  "But I want to try.  I probably won't go to the pack-house, though."

"We can come with you when you are," Michael offered, warming my chest with his words.  "We are all together now, we will be your support, you will be ours.  No matter what the future throws at us."  It would be really easy to fall in love with this man.

"That was beautiful, babe," Eric wiped away a tear.  "Say it again?" And this man too, I thought with a giggle.