It was already getting very late, and Roland only had a few scant hours before he was expected in at work. He emptied his pockets and put everything on the nightstand next to his bed. Next, he set the alarm clock next to his bed and faced it away so that the glare from its screen wouldn't bother him as he attempted to drift off to sleep. Then, he undressed, letting his clothes fall to the floor unceremoniously. They became part of the uncleanly mass that had accumulated and obscured a good deal of the carpet below. Finally, he switched off the light and crawled under the covers. Immediately, Nikolai jumped in bed with him and curled up close. The big brute conked out almost immediately; Roland couldn't help but muse that Niko's behavior made him seem absolutely adorable in spite of his menacing physical attributes. Roland threw an arm around him and gave him a good-night kiss before drifting off, absent-mindedly stroking the side of Niko's face.
Morning hadn't come before the alarm began its shrill blare. Roland grumbled, unhappy that his sleep was disturbed. Nevertheless, he realized that every work day was just as urgent as the last, and it was imperative to use this woefully brief time to prepare for the day. The first chore, as it was every morning, was to attempt to move the eight hundred pounds of tiger off his chest. Ideally, this would be accomplished without waking him, as a sufficient disturbance would confuse the feline. Regrettably, his slumber was disrupted, and Nikolai decided it was cuddle time. After a good ten minutes of reciprocating the mammoth's affections, he managed to get out of bed. He walked over to the freezer and pulled out about five pounds of steak. Nikolai twirled about in place, stopping every rotation to look up in anticipation. When Roland put the platter down, he backed up immediately in anticipation of the cat's eagerness. Then, as the kitty had his meal, Roland washed up and grabbed a meager pop-tart; he was never much for breakfast. Finally, a quick shower and a change got him ready for another day at the lab.
Next >>> 
Reply
