Yes, Emerald the big tough defender of the innocent was blushing and her blush only deepened when he took her hand and kept his grip on it. He was so cute when he was being helpful to her, even with that knowing grin on his face from her blush. Her mind couldn’t help but briefly think like a wolf in that moment, her brain imagining her running through the forest with an old pack mate who had just gotten back after a long journey. It was strange how her mind did that some times, viewing her close friends more as pack mates than as people

It would have probably been easier if Michael was a wolf at the moment because that way Emerald wouldn’t be gaping at him the way she was once he removed his shirt. Her tail wagged back and forth rappidly, becoming synchronized to her heart beats. It was similar to her time with Ilari before, except then it was just a crush, a particularly crushing crush when it ended but a crush none the less. She and Michael had a history together, sharing with each other things they would not share with many others. Somehow him removing his shirt made Emerald’s feelings for him grow in more than one way.
Well at least he’s going to keep his pants on-Oh by the full moons shine. Emerald thought once he removed his pants so he was just in boxers. Now Emerald was Deffinatly staring her mind almost immediately going into the gutter once she scanned him up and down. Pleasing Scent, Great Physique, good looks, Excellent sire for pu-WHAT THE HELL?! BAD WOLF! Emerald quickly beat that wolven side of her mind back to the dog house. The last thing she needed right now was her wolf side running rampant. At this point Emmy was beet red, not quite knowing what to do.

The wolf girl was still very self conscious about her scars and despite the fact she was showing more skin off now, she didn’t want Michael to worry too much about the time he was away. Emerald had rather grizzly scars all over her torso and she sometimes felt embarrassed about it compared to the flawless other girls who stood beside her. Her trust in males wasn’t the best ether, considering the last person that got near her scars that was a male and not the Doc was a psychopathic killer who tore open her torso like ti was paper machete. Then again, this was Michael and Michael wouldn’t hurt her, she had trusted Michael with her life before so why shouldn’t she now?

“You may be charming Mr Chase, but you will have to work for it, in order to charm the pants off of this girl,” Emerald told him with a wolfish grin, her blush starting to subside a little. “But this doesn’t mean you get nothing for your troubles.”

With that, Emerald removed her shirt to reveal the dark green bra beneath it, as well as the various scars that littered her body. Some were more distinctive than others, the most being the large gnarled scar across her stomach that looks as if someone tore into her. Another scar being the part of her right shoulder looking like some sort of wild animal took a bite out of it and while the skin grew back the teeth marks were still somewhat visible. However, she surprisingly paid them no mind as she jumped into he water, still wearing her shorts. While she was still shy about her appearance, Emerald felt comfortable around Michael and the trust she had for him some time ago was still there.

Surfacing beside Michael, crimson hair sticking to the sides of her face with a grin on her face. The grin was small though, somewhat of a nervous one as well. A tiny part of her brain wondered if he would gaze at her scars and worry, or ask her what the barcode tattoo on her back was from, or the tattoo shaped like a seven with the words Ira written beneath it. She also of course worried about the silly things, like if he would like the fact that she was muscularly built, or if he would think parts of her body were too big or to small, or maybe he would notice that her tail fur wasn’t well groomed if he was looking back there. But that was all part of being a girl and a teenage werewolf one at that.

(Sorry long post, had to put a lot in)

Michaels face had a broad grin as Emerald removed her shirt and jumped in. In part he was glad to see her lose some of her inhibitions but he was also a guy and couldn’t help but notice certain parts of Emerald’s body. She was in fantastic shape. Eye’s back in your head Michael he berated himself and forced himself to look at her face.

His eyes flicked for a moment to two of her scars in particular. One on her stomach that looked like someone had literally torn her open and another on her shoulder that suggested she’d been bitten by some huge predator. He was suddenly very conscious of his unmarred skin. Not only did he not have any scars but he never would. Emerald’s body told the story of a hard and brutal life. His told no story.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind he set off swimming laps goading her to follow. Michael was a pretty strong swimmer and fairly comfortable in the water. However he knew that Emerald used to have mastery over water. Not only that but her mutation meant she was in near perfect physical shape. He knew his odds of beating her in a swimming race were slim. Didn’t matter though, winning wasn’t the point.

Emerald saw his eyes on her and a blush made its way across her face once again. Her eyes were on him as well and it was becoming harder and harder to send her inner wolf back to the doghouse. Think tame thoughts wolf girl, you dont want to drag this guy off by a collar and leash now do you? Emerald told herself, Not that I would mind if he did the same to me...Tame your thoughts Lupin!

Once he began swimming laps, Emerald could have sighed in realief, at least it kept her mind off of the very tempting situation she was in now. She may have not been a water manipulator anymore but she could still swim very well, so she took off after Michael in the pool. Swimming had always been a great realese for Emerald and she hadn't done it in a long time, so this was a wonderful experience for her. Being with someone she really liked helped as well. So she swam, not trying to beat him or anything like that, she swam beside him, just wanting to relax and be close to him, even if it was in a competition.

Emerald was easily keeping pace with him and truth be told Michael wasn’t pushing that hard. Just enough to make it a workout but not enough that he’d tire for a while. Taking care to keep his eyes on her face he flashed her a quick smile before diving under. Under the water he quickly swam underneath her and surfaced the other side.

Just larking about in the water with an old friend was great. Although Emerald might be more than just an old friend. It wasn’t something that he was looking to push, just let it take its course and see where it goes. He knew that she had real trust issues with men and he didn’t want to ruin what they had by pushing for something more.

At first Emerald believed she had the upper hand in this little race, knowing she could outswim Michael if she really put her mind to it. Or at least thats what she thought, maybe Michael was part fish and she didnt know about it, after all the guy was invincible, who knows what others surprises he would hide? The wolf girl quickly saved her mind from the inevitable gutter it was heading in and stopped as Michael dove under her onto her other side.

While Emerald had been through a lot, she knew Michael had been as well and even though there was a tiny part of her that said take things slow, there was another part that was kicking her for not doing anything. She clearly liked him, she clearly cared about him and She really wanted to be around him. There was almost a part of her that was afraid that he would leave again and she would be alone. Desperation was what drove her crush on Illari, as well as lonlieness and the belief that Michael wouldn't come back into her life. But here he was...and now was finally her chance to do something.

The wolf girl grinned diving under the water only to come up onto Michael's other side, part of her was worried that what she was abou to do would make him not want to be close to her anymore, or maybe it would make them closer, whatever would happen she would just have to try. Emerald kissed the older male on the cheek, briefly, chastely, just before diving back under the water and swimming away. He could follow her to her spot on the shallow end or he could do whatever, but the look in the wolf's eyes was clear. "Was that Okay? I hope it was." Was what those eyes said, so unsure of themselves, looking like she was silently cursing herself for moving to fast for him and screwing something up. She looked down at her feet, finding them of more interest than her current situation.

When Emerald mirrored him and dived underneath Michael chuckled to himself. What happened next caught him completely off guard. He was left a little stunned after she kissed his check, so much so that he stopped swimming. Emerald was away and gone before he could do anything even if he wasn’t stunned. This was just so unexpected. He knew that none one of Emerald’s past relationships had gone well. That she was willing to take a chance on him meant a lot.

Just as his head began to go under his brain restarted and he swam over towards Emerald. He waded through the shallows towards the girl who was now staring intently at her own feet. Lifting her chin with a finger Michael looked her straight in the eye and kissed her. This wasn’t the brief, chaste kiss that she’d given him. This was a great deal more passionate.

Breaking the kiss he smiled and said, “So much for taking things slow.” Truthfully he was glad. No matter how much sense waiting made it wasn’t what he wanted. Nor was it what Emerald wanted apparently.

Emerald had no idea what Michael was going to do, part of her really hoped he wouldn't be too mad at her. After all he told her that they needed to take things slow and she had just took things from 5 miles an hour to at least twenty miles an hour. A big jump from slow in her own opinion, but instincts were calling so she just acted upon them without any regard for what would happen. Emerald's thoughts and her focus on her feet was interrupted by someone lifting up her chin, and then the wolf girl was brought into a kiss she had been waiting for a long time.

It was long and passionate and his own actions were returned by the estatic wolf girl, who was finally getting that kiss. The poor girl had been through hell with her realtionships before, never quite seeming to be able to catch a break. Now though, it was a whole new ball game, she had someone and it was about damn time.

Once the kiss was broken, the happiest grin spread across the werewolf's face, making her look the happiest Michael had probably ever seen her. "I have been waiting for that kiss for a while now and I'm glad we didn't wait to have it." Emerald told him truthfully, her eyes sincere "Welcome home Michael." Emerald then kissed him again in the same way they had before, showing him just how glad she was that he was home.

Emerald had needed that kiss more than Michael had realised. She’d been searching for a stable and solid relationship. Now she’d found one. As Emerald kissed him again he wrapped his arms around her holding her close. The pair of them struck a striking image standing thigh deep in water, him in his boxers, her in her bra and shorts with the rain falling down around them.

Michael could have just stayed there forever kissing Emerald in the rain and holding her close. For a while they did as he let the world fall away and there was just the two of them. Finally he broke the kiss but still held her close. Looking back out at the mansion he really did feel at home here, though it was more due to the redhead in his arms rather than the building in front of him.