contented3

The barb didn�t even hurt. �Someone with heart,� I said. �A girl who can trust, who knows how to give herself, who isn�t afraid.�

Tara walked down the stairs, carrying a bag. I took it from her and she took my arm. �Goodnight,� Tara said sweetly, as we walked out the door.

We walked down the block and she yanked on my arm. She pulled me behind some bushes and kissed me fervently. I wrapped my fingers in her hair, and basked in her touch, her taste. �I missed you,� I whispered.

She took my hand and we walked down the street again. �The night is young,� I said to her. �We could go to the Bronze.� She shook her head. �We could go have coffee, or we could go the bookstore downtown.� I watched her profile, the gentle sweep of her eyelashes and the smooth curve of her jaw. �We could go get a kitten,� I suggested.

�A kitten?� she said hopefully, as her face lit up.

I knocked on my friend Clem�s door. �Hey, man,� he said happily. �What�s up?� He patted me on the back. �Who�s this?� asked the loose skinned demon, as he spotted Tara.

�That�s my new girlfriend,� I said proudly. �Her name�s Tara.�

�Pleased to meet you,� she said as she shook his hand.

�Please come in,� he said as he gestured us in. His apartment was small, and had bookcases up against every available wall. A sofa and chair sat in front of a low coffee table. Tara took off her coat and sat down. �Can I get you a drink?� he asked. �I have beer and some wine coolers. Raspberry and peach, I think.�

�Peach, please,� said Tara.

�I�ll take a beer,� I said.

�I�ve still got some of that Guinness you brought over last week,� he said. �Lia, Spike�s here,� he called down the hall as he went into the kitchen.

�This sure is a whole lot of books,� commented Tara, as she looked around the room.

�Clem loves to read,� I explained. �He can read a page in the blink of an eye. You�ve never seen anything like it.�

A tall, thin girl with long black hair walked into the room. Her skin was white with a subtle tinge of green, and delicate antenna protruded from her head. �Hi Spike,� she said warmly. I kissed her cheek.

�This is my girlfriend Tara,� I explained. Tara and Lia shook hands.

�Can I get you guys a drink?� asked Lia.

�Clem�s on it,� I told her. She sat down next to Tara, and I sat on the floor in front of them.

�So, why haven�t I met you before?� Lia asked.

�We just started dating,� Tara explained.

�Well, I�m glad to have another girl around,� said Lia. �It gets boring when those two start going on and on about poker.�

�Speaking of which, that�s actually why we�re here,� I explained. �Tara wants to pick out a kitten.�

�You like kittens?� said Lia, surprised. �You don�t seem like the type. I don�t like them, myself. I prefer flowers.�

Tara nodded uncertainly. �Yes, I like flowers and kittens too.�

�Nasturtiums are quite tasty,� the other girl continued. �I really prefer rose petals though.�

Clem returned with our drinks and handed them to us. �Did I overhear something about kittens?�

�Tara wants one,� I explained. �As a pet.�

�Oh�, he said, surprised. �I got six cats today. Four Siamese, a Maine Coon and a tabby. But they�re for poker.�

�We can part with one kitten for this nice girl, Clem,� his girlfriend said.

�Okay,� he agreed, and Tara smiled at him.

�Can I see them?� she asked, as she sipped her drink.

"I'll bring them out," offered Lia. She quickly returned with a large wicker basket and set it on the floor next to me.

Tara bent down and picked up a small ball of cloudy brown and black fur. "Look, Spike," she said happily. "Isn't it cute?"

The kitten had a tiny little face, and its nose and paws were a delicate pink. It looked like it was smiling as it slept. "It really is cute, Tara. " I reached out and stroked it with a fingertip and it purred.

"I want this one," she said decisively. "It's just the happiest little ball of energy. She has a wonderful personality, so bubbly and fun."

Clem and Lia looked at me oddly. "She's a witch," I explained. "She senses things." They shook their heads in understanding. Tara cradled the kitten in her long black skirt, a look of serenity on her face.