Wednesday, March 23

"Hi there!"

Lexi's voice came from the speaker in Caroline's phone, and she giggled.  "Hi,
Lexi," Caroline replied.  "How are things going for you?"

A sigh came from the other end.  "Boring and frustrating," Lexi replied.  "I
really hate having to deal with my family sometimes.  I mean, I love my parents,
but I wish some of my relatives weren't so... nosy."

Caroline giggled, Lexi's tone carrying more than just a touch of frustration.
"Oh, you can handle it, just like you handle everything else."

"Yeah, I know.  So what about you, been keeping yourself amused with filming
your changes?"

"Mmmm, actually, I've been having fun with this guy."

Lexi was silent for a moment.  "A guy?  You?  Just who is this guy?"

"His name's Ryan, and he's a real sweetheart."

Lexi's tone changed, turning a touch icy.  "Ryan?  Ryan Culver?  They guy you've
been dating for the last month?  That Ryan?"

Caroline sounded a touch contrite.  "Yes, that Ryan.  Turns out he's really into
transformations, and we've been having fun..."

"And you didn't tell me about this?" Lexi cut in.  "Damn it, Caroline, I thought
we were friends, we always have told each other what we've been up to.  Just
when were you going to let us know about him?"

"Maybe when it was time, when you wouldn't bitch so much about him.  I happen to
like him a lot, I mean really like him.  You'll like him too, he's fun, he's
imaginative, he's got a great sense of humor.  And he's not like Jordan."

"All right.  I know you well enough that you wouldn't date a Jordan."  Lexi
sighed.  "Is he really a lot of fun?"

Caroline giggled.  "Oh, gods, Lexi, I haven't had as much fun as I have with
him.  Not that we haven't had fun," she quickly added, "but he... well, I feel
so open and wild and wanting to do anything with him."

"I don't know why you get off with transformations so much, but if he's making
you happy..."

"Oh, trust me, Lexi, he makes me very, very happy."  Her tone made it clear that
she was indeed extremely happy at the moment, and Lexi sighed.

"Then I guess I'll have to learn to deal with it.  Is he really that good?" Lexi
asked, a touch of inquisitiveness in her tone.

"I think I'll let you find out for yourself," Caroline replied.  "I'm not saying
otherwise."

"No, you'll probably show me on your recordings."  Lexi suddenly giggled.  "I
should be back by the end of the month, and we'll get together then."

"It's a date."  Caroline chatted with Lexi for a few more minutes then hung up
the phone and put it back in her purse.

"I'm going to guess that didn't go well," Ryan said from the hallway.  He walked
over to the table, and gave Caroline a light hug and kiss.

Caroline sighed and nodded.  "Don't misunderstand, I like Lexi a lot.  But she,
well, she never had the sort of fascination or desire I've had concerning
changing forms.  Sometimes it can be fun with her, but other times it's like she
gets all cold and won't open up."

Ryan hugged Caroline warmly.  "We'll deal with the problems when they crop up,
ok?  The fact is, she's not here and I am.  And I'm not about to let you forget
that fact."

Caroline grinned at that last bit.  "I would certainly hope not!"

---

"Oh, come on..."

Caroline looked up from what she was writing to see Ryan scowling at the screen.
"Problems?"

He waved his hand towards the laptop.  "Oh, I was checking my emails, and I've
got one from my boss.  Wanting me to work."

"So tell him you're not in the area."

Ryan shook his head.  "Then he'd tell me to book the next flight back."  He
sighed a bit.  "I'll just remind him that this is supposed to be my vacation
time, and that if he wants me back he'll have to pay me triple overtime.  Unless
it's a real emergency, he'll take the hint and won't bother me again."

Caroline giggled.  "Must be nice to tell the boss off sometimes."

"He's actually not a bad manager," Ryan said as he typed up the message.  "He
just sometimes can't understand that people need time away from work, and this
is that time for me.  I needed the downtime, and I'm glad that I'm spending it
with you."

Caroline hugged him for those words.  "I'm glad as well, it's really been fun
spending the time with you here.  You understand better the kind of desires I
have when I shapeshift, the kind of pleasures I really enjoy from it."

"That's because you're a hedonist, hun," Ryan said.  "You're a pleasure seeker,
and being able to transform into almost anything threw open that door inside of
you.  Much as I hate to admit it, you've done the same to me, turning into the
same sort of pleasure seeker that you are."

Giggling, Caroline winked, then feathers formed in place of her fingers and she
started tickling Ryan.  "You want pleasure?  I'll give you pleasure like you've
never had before."

Ryan laughed, batting at those feathered hands.  "Hey, cut it out!  I've still
gotta deal with these messages!  AACK!!!"

He fell off of his chair, and Caroline took advantage of it, tickling Ryan
mercilessly!  "Submit!  Submit!" she cackled, giggling the entire time.

Ryan laughed, tickling her back in retaliation.  He forgot about the emails,
ending up a tangle on the floor with Caroline.

---

Ryan looked out the window for a few moments.  "Care to take a walk with me?" he
said, catching Caroline's attention.

"Sure, should I dress for it?"

"Up to you, I'm not really going to.  It's not like anyone will see two nude
folks wandering about."

Caroline giggled at that, and taking his hand in hers, they headed out into the
woods.  Ryan knew a path, and they walked along that particular route through
the woods, taking care not to end up getting bruised feet.  They went past old
trees and bushes, over a small bubbling stream until they came across an open
meadow.

"It looks lovely," Caroline said.

Ryan nodded.  "It's a pretty large open area, ends up near a pond in the back
woods.  Get all sorts of wildlife coming there, deer, elk, bears, small animals.
I had a spot where I could sit hidden and just watch the creatures come and go."

He gave Caroline a rather amused and warm smile.  "Care to go with me for a
run?" he asked.  At Caroline's expression of puzzlement, he laughed.  "Watch,"
he said, and started changing.

The first thing to appear was a long, black tail, the hair whipping back and
forth.  Next his feet stretched and changed, toes melding together to form
hooves.  The legs lengthened, and he fell down on all fours, the legs becoming
fully equine while the hands changed as well, turning into forehooves.  His
body swelled, becoming an equine torso with a reddish-brown coat sprouted from
his flesh.  The neck stretched and thickened, the black coat covering it along
with a glossy mane appearing.  His ears thrust upwards and relocated at the top
of his head as an equine muzzle pushed out from his face, his human features
altering into what you'd expect a horse to look like.

His body shook for a second as he adjusted to his new state, then turned to look
at Caroline.  She was sporting the widest grin, walking over and gently petting
his neck.  "Mmmm, so what do you think?" Ryan asked, odd to hear his voice
coming from an equine throat.

"I think... I'm going to join you," and she stepped back.  Ryan watched as her
body altered as his did, hands and feet becoming hooves, a long tail swishing
behind her, taking on the coloration of a palomino or painted pony.  She
shuddered and moaned as the changes finished, then went over to Ryan and
snuffled his neck.

He whurfed, and for a while they stood there, drinking in the scent of each
other, savoring it along with the feeling of being what they were now, a pair of
equines.  Then Ryan turned, looking over his shoulder at Caroline and nickered,
then started to trot off into the meadow, the mare following along.

They spent the rest of the day as a pair of horses, cantering and galloping
about across the meadow.  When they felt hungry, they simply bent their heads
down and grazed on the grasses, the taste unfamiliar and yet filling.  At one
point their play became more direct, chasing each other around across the
grassland until Caroline stopped and flicked her tail upwards.  Ryan nuzzled her
before rearing up, mounting her and together rode a wave of lustiness until both
were well sated.

It was only when the skies were turning dark red and the shadows were quite long
that they ended up slowly walking back to the cabin, transforming back into
human form only once they had returned to their temporary home.

---

The lights were low in the bedroom as Ryan and Caroline cuddled, Caroline having
merged with the bed while Ryan was a sheet that was stretched taut against her.
They murmured softly, relaxing in the afterglow of their lovemaking, enjoying
each others presence.

"Mmmm... tomorrow, would you mind if it was just a whatever comes to mind day?"
Caroline asked languidly.  Ryan's body rippled against her as he made himself
comfortable.

"No, I don't mind at all," he replied in a whisper.  "Any particular reason?"

She let out a warm moan as she felt him enveloping her closer.  "I just want to
try whatever comes to mind, see how wild and how far we can really push our
abilities."

A pair of lips formed on the inner surface of the sheet and kissed Caroline's
mattressy form.  "No complaints from me," he said, and Caroline wiggled
slightly.

"Now," he added, his voice becoming tired, "let's get some sleep."

She fell asleep in his grasp, and they rested peacefully the remainder of the
night.