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I'm a day late posting this, unfortunately. My bad! Regardless, here's the 4th part of Nick and Knox's story. Some small town drama, more groceries, and Knox's first spicy time with a guy. What more could you want? \n\nHope you enjoy reading, and I look forward to seeing y'all with the next installment in a couple weeks. \n\nComments and PM's are always appreciated. Drop me a line if you like! Talk to everyone later.\n\n-Brig", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Hey! I'm a day late posting this, unfortunately. My bad! Regardless, here's the 4th part of Nick and Knox's story. Some small town drama, more groceries, and Knox's first spicy time with a guy. What more could you want?

Hope you enjoy reading, and I look forward to seeing y'all with the next installment in a couple weeks.

Comments and PM's are always appreciated. Drop me a line if you like! Talk to everyone later.

-Brig", "writing": "[center] - \nNick\n -[/center]\n\n\"Knox,\" I said, staring at a mostly empty pantry, \"If we're going to have dinner, we hafta go grocery shopping.\"\n\nHe stepped up behind me, socked feet padding softly on the kitchen linoleum, and wrapped his arms around my waist. Squeezing, Knox pressed a kiss to my temple. \"What, you don't want oatmeal for dinner?\" His tone was teasing, and when he turned me around for a tender kiss on the lips, a devil glinting in his eyes, my heart skipped a beat. \"Or sandwiches? I've got some ham.\"\n\nI laughed, shaking my head helplessly. \"Knox, we can't survive on only oatmeal and takeout.\" I raised a paw to bop him on the nose, and he scrunched up his face before grinning down at me. [i]Adorable.[/i] \"And we ate the last of your bread with lunch. Seriously, we have to go shopping.\"\n\n\"Mmm... fine.\" Knox pouted, reaching under his shit to scratch his belly, and the white fur that peeked through instantly drew my eyes downward. He chuckled, placing his callused fingers on my chin and raising it up again. \"My eyes are over here, you know.\" Then he licked the tip of my nose, causing me to splutter and wipe at it as he snickered. \"Come on. Let's get dressed, and I'll drive us to the store.\"\n\nWe had spent the better part of the afternoon without pants, which was, frankly, delightful. I think we lost them sometime after lunch, when we'd laid down for a nap. The memory of our legs tangled together as he held me close, chest-to-chest, his head resting on top of mine, set a warm fuzzy feeling growing in my chest. My stomach growled, and we both laughed at that, cackling all the way to his bedroom.\n\nI reluctantly put on my jeans - partially because I liked the way Knox's eyes roamed hungrily over my body whenever he thought I wasn't looking, and partially because it meant Knox was getting dressed too, and my eyes had been enjoying hungrily roaming over [i]him[/i]. Seriously, the man had mouth-wateringly sexy legs, all thick, corded muscles begging to be touched. [i]Calm down,[/i] I told myself. [i]You know he's going to let you get your hands on him later. Don't rush this. Let him get comfortable. We have plenty of time.[/i]\n\nAfter pulling on our shoes, we headed out the front door to where his truck sat on the street. Knox's hand pressed firmly into the small of my back, but sneaked around to my waist, pulling us together until our hips bumped. I shot him a smile, which he returned while he started leaning in, eyes closing, and for a moment the world melted away, leaving just the two of us alone together. \n\nThen Knox's ear twitched, and the acrid stink of cigarette smoke hit my nose as the tiger straightened hastily. A sudden, croaking voice bellowed from the house next door, making us both jump. Leaning out an open window was a grungy, gray-furred ferret I didn't immediately recognize, puffing away on a cigarette. \n\n\"Hey, Knox, who's your... friend?\" I didn't like the way he put emphasis on that last word... something about it made my hackles rise.\n\nI liked it even less when Knox's hand slipped away to hide in his pocket. \"Hey, Mack. This is Nick. My, uh... friend.\" I watched my tiger lick his lips as his eyes darted to me, then back to Mack. \"He's [i]just[/i] a friend. From high school.\"\n\nThe ferret's face soured, and he coughed around a lungful of smoke. \"Wait. Nick Southwell? Faggot Nick Southwell? Th'hell's he doing in your house?\" His eyes were cold and calculating as he venomously added, \"Sure didn't look like no `just friends', neither.\"\n\nMy eyes narrowed as my face heated, and I opened mouth opened to give this supreme asshole a piece of my mind, but Knox got there first. It started with a deep growl, and when my eyes turned to Knox, every bit of fur on the back of his neck was standing on end. \"Watch your fucking mouth, Mack. It's - he's - none of your god-damned business.\"\n\n\"You sure?\" Mack sneered, flicking the remains of his cigarette onto the unkempt lawn below. \"What would your Momma think, you takin' up with him again?\" Knox just glared at him, and the asshole continued. \"Maybe I'll call her, let her know how far her little boy's fallen. Just a friend?\" He hocked a gob of nastiness after the cigarette butt. \"You think she's gonna believe that? That I believe that? Hell, she might even pull out of that joke you call a shop.\"\n\nMy heart sank, my mouth dry and lips frozen. What did he mean, she'd pull out of his shop? Shit, was Knox's mom backing his business? If it's true, then that's not any low blow; that's a real, tangible threat to his life and livelihood. \n\nThat couldn't happen, not over a fire that had only started to burn. Muttering under my breath, barely loud enough for Knox's sharp feline ears to pick it up. \"Let it go, hun. You don't owe him a damn thing.\" I puffed out a shuddery breath and turned back toward the truck. \"We can walk away right now, and - \" \n\nI was drifting away, closing the gap between me and the sanctuary that Knox's truck would provide. Made it as far as the sidewalk before a strangled, choking sound from behind me made me turn around.\n\nKnox stood there frozen, his jaw clenched so tight I was amazed he hadn't chipped a tooth. \"Nick, wait, I...\" His voice, muffled behind clamped teeth, sounded pained. \n\nI waved him over, saying, \"It's okay. You don't need to deal with this right now.\" Leveling my best pointed glare at him, I prayed it said the things I wasn't able to say out loud. [i]You don't need to define this to him. We haven't even defined this to ourselves. Yeah, this hurts me a bit, but I can take it. Just walk away... [/i]\n\n\"Nick, I-\" He growled again, raking his fingers through his short black hair. When I beckoned a second time, a little more urgently, he took a step... back? I turned my face away to hide how his reaction stung. We really [i]hadn't[/i] defined anything. But damned if it didn't hurt like a sonuvabitch when he flinched away from me. With a deep breath to steady myself, I took a step back myself, glancing away, and I knew the hurt inside was written plain on my face.\n\n\"W-wait!\" His voice quivered, and when I snapped my head back to him, he was reaching out a paw to me with a pain mirroring my own radiating from his eyes. Forcibly unclenching his jaw, working it for a couple moments before shuddering his head. \"Fuck.\" Now he was gulping down air so hard and fast, I feared he'd to hyperventilate. \"Nick, no, [i]please[/i] wait, I... fuck!\"\n\nI stepped toward him, slowly but confidently. I was afraid he'd spook, but when I touched his wrist, he flipped his paw and laced his fingers with my own. \"Knox, you don't owe him the time of day. C'mon, let's just go.\"\n\n\"Shit,\" he said again, a single tear escaping his eye before getting sucked into his fluffy cheek. \"Screw this.\" He pointed at Mack with a trembling finger. \"And screw you.\" \n\nMack sneered at Knox, his tone mocking. \"What, did I finally get yer attention? Thought you were a good man, respectable and shit. Now you're freaking out over your so-called friend? You're a better person than this gay crap, Knox, don't throw your life away for something that isn't even real.\"\n\nKnox rocked his head before grabbing me by my shoulders. \"No. I'm done hiding. I'm done pretending.\" His breath grew deep and rapid, while his face grew stony and determined.\n\n\"I'm so [i]fucking [/i]done,\" he whispered.\n\nAnd then he kissed me. Right in front of Mack, God, and everybody. A mountain of tension I hadn't noticed building up whooshed out of me in an instant as I melted against him, the choked splutter of the ferret a distant hum.\n\nKnox kissed me hard, almost bruisingly, and when he broke away, his steely arms tugged me in close, body quaking. Was that anger? Fear? Euphoria? It was hard to tell, but I wrapped my arms around his waist anyway to try to calm him down. \"Tell anyone you want. Call Momma. Call the whole damn gossip mill, I don't care.\" Knox's voice cracked, which slightly undercut his claim, but my heart still swelled with pride at his sudden openness. \"I told you, what Nick and I do ain't none of your business.\" He steered me back toward the truck, walking me around to the passenger side and opening my door.\n\nMack hollered after us. \"So, what, y'all [i]boyfriends[/i] now? Thought you was happy with Katie? Hey, where the fuck d'you think you're - don't you walk away from me!\" \n\nBut Knox did anyway, sliding into the driver's seat and firing up the engine. His truck roared to life, and he tore out of the neighborhood like his tail was on fire.\n\nI let him be for a few minutes, but we were doing seventy down the back roads, and the last thing he needed right now was to get pulled over. So I reached out, putting a hand on Knox's knee. Rubbing my thumb in small circles, I spoke as softly as possible. \"Hey, hun?\"\n\nKnox grunted absently, gripping the steering wheel so hard the leather cover he'd put on it creaked. \n\n\"Knox, we've got to slow down. You're practically beggin' the cops to get your ass.\"\n\nHe flicked his eyes down to the dash, and they widened slightly. Pressing the brake, he slowly pulled onto the curb, looking dead ahead of himself again, still choking the shit out of that steering wheel. \n\nKnox's jaw tensed, the muscles flexing as he ground his teeth together. \"Nick,\" he gritted out. Then his eyes got all glassy, and his breathing grew faster and erratic. \"[i]Damn it all[/i]...\"\n\nI unbuckled my seatbelt, hustling over to him in an instant, and put the truck in park before flipping off the engine. One by one, I pried his fingers off the steering wheel. It wasn't all that hard, actually; after the first couple, he stopped resisting me enough that I was able to free him with little fuss. Picking up his paw closest to me, I wrapped both of mine around it and brought his fingers to my lips. I kissed them - the barest ghost of a touch, really - but the resulting [i]whoosh [/i]of air Knox let out along as his tightly wound muscles relaxed was everything I needed right then.\n\nMy paws squeezed him, kneading at his palm slowly with my thumbs, and my big, strong tiger came undone in the driver's seat next to me. He let loose with the tears, big fat ones that rolled down his cheeks, soaking his fur before dripping onto his t-shirt. \"I just...\" His voice was strained, rough, as he swiped at his eyes with the back of his free paw. \"I just did that. Holy crap, I just told everyone that I'm... and [i]you're[/i]... no, we. We. We're, like, what, together?\" He bit his lip, rocking forward and back with a thousand-yard stare. \n\nWrapping a paw around the back of his head, I gently tugged him into my chest and pressed my lips to his temple. \"It's my turn now, babe,\" I whispered in his ear, right as the waterworks started. \"I gotchu. Baby, I gotchu.\"\n\nWhen he snorted, I let him go long enough to snag a tissue from the box he kept in the back to let him blow his nose. Wiping a tear from his eye, I started getting a little misty myself as I tried to soothe him. \"We're us, hun. Just us. We don't need to label anything. It's you, and me, figuring shit out together and screw everyone else.\"\n\nA wet chuckle escaped Knox, and he blew his nose again before pocketing the tissue and wrapping an arm around the back of my neck to pull me against him, head resting on top of mine. He nuzzled me for a while before whispering, \"Nick. I just came out.\"\n\n\"You did,\" I murmured, tilting up to press a kiss to the underside of his chin.\n\nKnox thought for a moment, voice questioning now, but he'd started purring, too. \"Does that mean I'm... gay? Or am I bi? What do I do now?\"\n\n\"You don't need to label yourself, either.\" Pulling away from him, I caught his head in my hands and yanked him down to my level, giving his forehead a quick peck. My thumbs traced along his cheekbones as I mirrored the affectionate gesture he'd given me so many times over the years; I nestled him beneath my chin, wrapped my arms around him, and held him as tight as possible. \"Like I said, we're just us. We can be anything we want, do whatever we want, whenever we want.\"\n\n\"I like the sound of that,\" he said, slightly muffled by the curled position I'd smushed him into. I rocked him side to side as he purred away, his arms coming to rest around my waist. We stayed like that for a while. I didn't honestly know how long. Keeping track of the time certainly wasn't my priority. Eventually, though, he started wriggling in my grasp. \"Nick, babe, I love you to death, but the way you got me bent up actually kinda hurts.\"\n\nMy heart skipped a beat, and I let out a shocked gasp. Releasing him instantly, he stretched as big as he could in the confines of the cab, joints popping as I processed what he'd said. \"Hey, uh, Knox?\" \n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"You kinda said that you, uh, love me?\" I wet my lips as his eyes widened, mouth dropping open into a surprised `O'. \"I'm sure you probably didn't mean it like that,\" I hastened to add. \"This whole, well, everything, is new, right? Heat of the moment and all that. I bet it probably slipped out, like, as an accident and all, but - \"\n\nA roughened finger to my lips silenced my rambling. \"I don't...\" Knox trailed off, his features brightening as his paw snaked up to palm my face. When I leaned into his touch, and he continued. \"Nick, I don't think it was an accident.\" His breathing grew quick again, and I'd have worried he was going to freak out again until I saw that authentically crooked, million-dollar Knox smile growing on his face. \"I think that... I've known this for a long time. Since way back when we were kids, and I've been too stupid to realize what I was feeling.\"\n\nHe licked his lips. \"Nick, I...\"\n\nAnother pause, and if this weren't real life, I'd swear I saw hearts in Knox's beautiful hazel eyes before he bonked his forehead into mine. He pressed our heads together as he started laughing.\n\nIt was the second-most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. \n\nThe top spot, though, will always go to the next words he spoke.\n\n\"Nick, I fuckin' love you.\"\n\nEverything around me flipped upside down, my breath stuttered in my chest, and my heart? Yeah, I think it stopped beating right there for a minute. \n\nHot damn.\n\nKnox Madison [i]loves[/i] me.\n\n[center] - \nKnox\n - [/center]\n\nI may be the world's slowest guy. And I definitely don't have any clue what the hell I'm doing. But the way Nick's mouth slotted insistently over mine told me I'd done something - no, the only thing - that mattered.\n\n\"Nick, I fuckin' love you.\"\n\nFor the second time today, my truck rocked as we kissed, tongues tangling for dominance, and when we broke apart, panting for air, Nick wrapped his arms around my neck and burrowed his muzzle into my chest.\n\n\"Say it again,\" he whispered.\n\nAnd I did. Over and over again, and it became more true, more real, every time I said it. We kissed again, and when he looked up at me with those blue-gray eyes, well... I'm not ashamed to say I let out a whimper as my emotions overcame me.\n\n\"Knox?\"\n\n\"Mmm?\" I sighed, running my paw through his hair as I brushed aside that one stubborn lock that kept falling down into his eyes.\n\n\"I love you too.\" \n\nWe stayed cuddled up by the side of the road, Nick snuggling against me, my paws rubbing tight circles into his back. The only thing that broke the silence was his stomach letting out a roar so loud that it matched my own.\n\nI squeezed him tight, my laughter bellowing out in the tiny space, before I turned the engine back on. \"C'mon, bud. We'd better get you something to eat before you waste away to nothing.\"\n\nHe chuckled before scooting back to his side and buckling in. The warmth from his body pressed to mine lingered for a while, filling me with a happy, buzzing sensation even as I yearned to grab him and bring him back to me. \"Good idea,\" he said, grinning as I pulled back onto the road. \"I'm fricking starving.\"\n\nWe spent the rest of the drive to the store in comfortable silence. Nick wiggled over as close as possible while still technically wearing the seatbelt, placing his hand on my knee. I covered it with my own, pleased at how small and delicate his paw looked, wrapped up in my own giant mitt. He made a sound that almost sounded like a purr, and I rode the high of that dazzling smile he shot my way the whole rest of the trip.\n\nI was floating as I stepped around the truck to walk side by side with Nick into the store. Unfortunately, the big front door was out of order, and we had to hoof it around to the smaller side entrance. Nick held my hand through it all, tugging me in behind him. He was nothing but smiles and giggles, like we'd become teens again and were getting away with something. \n\nThe bell above the door dinged, and a vaguely familiar voice called out from the aisles, \"Welcome to Nancy's! I'll be right with you!\"\n\nNick froze, his grin turning downward into a grimace, and he dropped my hand. \"Shit, Knox, I forgot, I - \"\n\n\"Oh, uh...\" Clark Graham stood at the end of aisle 13, a rag clenched in one paw and a bottle of cleaner hanging dangerously from the other. \"Hi, Nick.\" Clark nodded at him before tilting his chin at me. \"Sup, Knox?\"\n\nInstinctively, I placed a possessive paw on Nick's shoulder, pulling him a little closer to me. \"Clark,\" I said, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible. Wasn't quite sure if I pulled it off or not.\n\nThe panther flinched. [i]Oops. Guess not.[/i] \"Sorry, y'all kind of surprised me.\" He gestured vaguely at my hand as it clung to Nick like a lifeline. \"So, uh, Nick, about that chance...\" Clark chuckled weakly, hanging his head, and for the first time in ages, I felt sorry for the guy.\n\nNick moved my paw, lacing his fingers with mine as he gave Clark an apologetic look. \"Yeah, uh, sorry. This is - well, stuff sorta [i]happened[/i], and we're - \" \n\nNick's voice cut off as he turned frantic eyes toward me, and something in my chest tightened. What was I supposed to say? Sure, I'd basically staked my claim in the loudest way you could in a small town, by firing up the local gossip mill. But this somehow seemed bigger, more real. Like if I put it out there, I'd never be able to take it back. \n\nBut Nick's face shifted into a quiet sort of hopeful understanding. I knew in my gut that he'd be okay with whatever I said, that I had time. That I didn't have to do anything that made me uncomfortable. He was just waiting for me to fill in the blanks with whatever I felt was right.\n\nMy heart thumped in my chest so hard, so loud, that I thought for sure Clark was going to hear it. The look on Nick's face told me he definitely could. \n\nI could drop his hand. Take a step away from him. Deny everything, play it safe. \n\nI could wait for Nick to say it first. Let him take the lead, so I didn't have to. Give the hard decisions, the painful ones, to him, and simply ride out whatever came next.\n\nI was afraid. Terrified, really. My mouth went dry, and I licked my lips. It was like we'd been staring at each other for hours, even though it had only been a couple minutes.\n\nYou know what finally broke me? When Nick's face shifted from hopeful to resigned. His grip loosened, and his fingers started slipping away from my hand. Was I going to let him go? Prove to him I wasn't able to decide on my own? \n\n[i]Am I going to lie to everyone in town about what I have with this beautiful, kind, caring man?[/i]\n\nI twitched my paw, snagging Nick's fingers in an iron grip before squaring my shoulders and turning my head to Clark. \n\n[i]Fuck being comfortable. I'm not holding back anymore![/i]\n\n\"We're together,\" I finished, in a voice much firmer than my legs that wobbled like jelly. I mean, hell, I guess Mack already knew, or he'd figure it out - he was a bigoted hick, but he wasn't dumb. And in a couple hours, probably everyone in town would know it, too, so... \n\n[i]So why am I panicking like a spooked deer?[/i]\n\nI caught a glimpse of the way Nick was looking at me, mouth rounded, eyes wide and glassy, before breaking out into a smile. \"Yeah,\" he said, a little breathless. \"Together.\"\n\n\"Damn it.\" Clark shook his head, a sad smile spreading across his lips. \"Told you there's no competing with Knox Madison.\" He walked over to the register and set down the cleaning supplies before facing us again. \"So, um... shit,\" He took off the store uniform hunter's green ball cap and scuffed at the back of his head with a paw. \"I'm, well, jealous. I've been hiding all this time, and you two...\" His voice dropped to a whisper. \"You did it. You just went and did it. What the fuck, man?\" He was so damn awkward, looking down at his feet as he shuffled them around, that it was kinda cute - I almost saw what Nick had seen in him. \n\n[i]But Nick is mine. All mine. \n\nAnd I'm all his, for better or for worse.[/i]\n\nIt took a minute for Clark to find his voice again. He cleared his throat, finally meeting my eyes. \"You two make a hell of a handsome couple,\" he said, and gave me his most convincing smile yet. \"Hope you understand how lucky you are, Knox. Damn.\" He hesitated before nodding at us both. \"Seriously, though. I guess, uh, no hard feelings?\"\n\nNick took a few quick steps toward the panther and wrapped his arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly. \"Yeah, Clark, no hard feelings.\" Releasing him, Nick took a step back as I came up behind him to put a hand on the small of his back. He leaned into my touch, looking up at me with big, warm eyes. \"You'll find someone someday. Promise.\"\n\nClark gave a wry chuckle. \"I'll have to come out first. You - and Knox, obviously - are the only ones who know about me yet.\" His shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh. \"I don't think there are even any other guys interested in guys here.\"\n\nMy ears pricked up, and I gave a cautious nod. \"I know of like, one? I can't tell you who he is, because that's not my story to tell, but I can tell you you're not as alone as you think.\"\n\n\"Really?\" Both guys turned shocked expressions on me. Clark looked thoughtful as he continued. \"Huh. I'm surprised, but that's...\" he shuffled his feet as he looked away, a small smile growing on his face. \"That's nice to know.\"\n\nShaking himself out of his reverie, Clark clapped his paws together and cleared his throat. \"Uh, anyway! You `prolly didn't come here just to spread the news of your new relationship. What did you need?\"\n\nI glanced at Nick, who nodded. \"Um, just some pantry staples. Oh, and stuff for tuna noodle hot dish. I'm gonna make that tonight.\" \n\n\"Again?\" Clark reached out and slugged Nick on the shoulder. \"You really like that shit, huh? You were in here yesterday buying all that.\"\n\n\"Yeah, well...\" Nick sidled up close to me and slid an arm around my waist. \"I left that stuff at my parent's, and I can't stay there right now, so...\"\n\nClark's playful demeanor vanished. \"What? What the hell happened?!\"\n\nNick shivered, and I grabbed him around the shoulders and squeezed him tight. \"Long story,\" I cut in. \"Nick can tell you about it if he wants.\" I freed myself from his grasp and moseyed off to grab a cart. When I returned, Nick was telling Clark about everything that happened with his parents, continuing as we wound through each and every aisle. It amazed me the skill with which my boyf - [i]partner.[/i] Mmm, yeah, that's easier somehow - tossed things into the cart while barely even looking at the stuff. Boxed dinners, canned tuna, a whole bunch of different soups. We even got some apples and a big ol' box of salad greens, and I realized I hadn't had fresh produce in my house for, good lord, [i]months?[/i]\n\nOnce the cart was full, Nick considered it for a minute before nodding. \"This oughta keep us going for a week or so.\"\n\nI boggled at him. \"Nick, that's so [i]much[/i] food. Only a week?!\"\n\nHe shrugged, Clark laughed. \"If you're going to be working out all the time, you need to be eating healthier. And I still eat a ton.\" Nick smirked at me. \"That's never changed.\"\n\nWe bickered fondly as we all walked up to the register, where Clark loaded everything onto the belt for us before ringing us out. \"Okay, that'll be... $202.47.\"\n\nNick reached for his wallet, but I saw a chance to be the provider, for once, and took it. \"Naw, babe, I got it.\" I slid in front of him with a smile as I pulled out my bank card and swiped it.\n\nIt processed for a few minutes, then beeped twice. Clark went a little green, shrinking away from me. \"Uh, sorry man, but...\" he swallowed hard, twice, before taking a deep breath. \n\n\"Your card sorta... declined?\"\n\nI laughed nervously. \"W-what?\" My vision started getting wobbly, and I had to shake my head to clear it. \"There's no way. Lemme try again.\" \n\nAnd I did. Two more beeps.\n\nClark's mouth moved soundlessly, and heat started rising in my face and escaping in pinpricks through my ears. \"That can't be right. I know I'm good for it, I don't understand.\" \n\nThe panther looked at his screen. \"It says invalid account. Maybe you had fraud and your bank shut the card off?\"\n\nI started to speak, to say that the Mavis credit union wasn't fancy enough to give a damn about fraud, but then my mouth snapped shut. \n\n[i]Fuck.\n\nMomma was on that account.[/i]\n\nThe world fell out from under me. Forget wobbly. Now shit was [i]spinning[/i], and I had no way to stop it. Backing away from the counter like it'd burned me, I saw Clark's face etched with concern, while Nick's mouth was set in a hard line. \n\n[i]Air. \n\nI need air.\n\nOutside.\n\nGotta get outside![/i]\n\nI let out a weird croaking sound and dashed for the side exit. Clark called after me, but I barely heard him over those two beeps that played over and over in my head, taunting me, and they just wouldn't. Shut.[i] Up! [/i]\n\nI swore the pressure from Nick's judging eyes burned on my back as I burst through the door and into the parking lot, where I climbed up in my truck, and punched in the number to my store. \n\nThen I froze, my trembling thumb hovering just above that little green button. [i]What the fuck am I even gonna say?[/i] Calling in and admitting that this was real? That I wasn't in control, and maybe, just maybe, I never had been? \n\n[i]What will the guys think? What will I do if Momma closes the store? My guys need those jobs. I need this job. \n\nIt's my dream.\n\nIt's everything I have.[/i]\n\nI sat there stewing, my stomach tied up in knots, and my thumb still hovering, hovering forever.\n\nA little voice piped up in the back of my head, saying, [i]That's not all you have anymore, is it? Not really.[/i]\n\nWhat, then? I let out a bitter snort as I vaguely realized that I was probably going crazy, arguing with my own damn self. [i]What the fuck else is there?[/i]\n\nA moment of silence passed, before my brain gave me a condescending, [i]You have Nick, you moron.[/i]\n\n I blinked. \n\n[i]Nick?[/i] My short, gasping breaths slowed, as his perfect face, that megawatt smile, cut through the haze in my brain.[i] Shit, what is he gonna think? Is he[/i]... I gulped. [i]Is he even gonna want me after this?[/i]\n\nMy mind drifted back to barely an hour ago, when we'd sat in my truck, and I told him `I love you'. The first one I'd ever said to someone who wasn't family, and actually meant it. And his answering kiss, that... \n\nThat was real. \n\n[i]Nick's not gonna abandon me,[/i] I realized. [i]He cares about me.\n\nDamn! He really cares about me![/i]\n\nAnd for the first time since I'd ran away to hide in my truck, I smiled.\n\n[i]It'll be okay. This is all gonna be okay. \n\nIt has to be.[/i]\n\nI finally tapped my screen and brought the phone to my ear. It rang twice before I heard, \"B.W. Auto Body, this is Marcus.\" \n\nHe sounded a little rattled, and my stomach somehow sank even lower than it already had. \"Hey, it's Knox. Is...\" I suddenly couldn't breathe, choking on my words. \"Everything all right down there?\"\n\n\"Oh! Bossman, thank God!\" The relief in his voice was unmistakable. \"Your momma just called, said she's coming into town to check on her `investment'. She'll be here sometime Wednesday.\"\n\nA bit of my anxiety slipped away. \"Wednesday, good,\" I muttered. \"I got time.\" \n\n\"Time for what, boss?\" Marcus hesitated a moment before saying, \"Is it, um... is it about this thing with Nick?\"\n\n[i]Fuck! Can't I get a break for one fucking day?![/i]\n\nI pinched the bridge of my snout. \"Who told you, and what did you hear?\"\n\n\"Heard Mack Brown saw you two fucking on your front lawn. My sister - my older sister, Becks - called and told me after mom called her.\"\n\n\"The hell?!\" I let out an offended squawk. \"We were not! We haven't even gotten that far yet!\"\n\nMarcus paused. His breathing came in uncertain huffs over the receiver. \"Yet? Boss, what happened?\"\n\nI grumbled. \"It's nobody's business, that's what.\" Letting out a gusty sigh, I decided I could trust Marcus with the truth. \"Nick and I are... well, it's complicated. But we're together, yeah, and Mack caught me being couple-y with Nick this morning. He said some bigot shit, and I ended up kissing Nick in front of him.\" I gulped. \"As, like, a show of defiance or something, I dunno. But that's all we did! Just a kiss.\"\n\nThe stoat let out a low whistle. [i]\"Dude.\"[/i]\n\n\"I know, I know.\" Groaning, I jumped when the passenger door opened and Nick slid in. \"Hey, uh, I gotta go. I'll be in Wednesday morning. Momma hates mornings, she won't be up till like noon at the latest.\"\n\n\"You got it, bossman.\" Another pause, then in a low voice, he whispered, \"You guys happy?\"\n\nI looked over at Nick. He was tapping away on his phone, but when he felt me staring, he glanced up and blew me a kiss before returning to whatever he was doing. \"Yeah,\" I said, breathless again. \"Yeah, I think we are.\"\n\n\"Good.\" He sounded firm over the phone, but the smile in his voice came through loud and clear. \"I hafta run too. Mrs. Wyrdmott's here and it's either fix her car or let her flirt with me, and I'm straight itchin' for some grease on my paws.\"\n\nHe hung up, and I leaned my head back, sighing deeply. Without opening my eyes, I mumbled, \"Sorry about the groceries, Nick. I swear I thought I was good for it.\"\n\nHis satiny paw wrapped around mine, and I cracked an eye open barely enough to see his face. There wasn't any of the judgement I expected, not even an ounce. He only looked concerned, and somehow that was better and worse at the same time.\n\n\"I got the groceries. Clark came out and helped me load them up.\" A warm peck brushed my cheek, and I whimpered. \"Hun, can you tell me what happened?\"\n\nShit.\n\nWhere do I even begin?\n\n[center] - \nNick\n - [/center]\n\nWe rumbled down the road back to Knox's house in silence. He'd asked me for a bit of time to collect his thoughts, and I'd agreed, but as my fingers drummed the seat between us, I knew my patience was wearing thin. I wanted him to be comfortable confiding in me, but I was also dying to understand what the hell had him so spooked. I assumed it was to do with the card declining, and there was a sneaking suspicion that Mack called Knox's mom and it was her fault somehow, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. Was Knox just bad with money?\n\nWhen we pulled up, he sat there, staring at the window that Mack had been hanging out of earlier. It was closed now, thank God, but as we climbed out of the truck, the tension rippling off Knox in waves, and honestly? I felt the same. Last thing I wanted was to deal with his bigoted bullshit, and Knox had clearly had a hell of a day so far. \n\nBy the time I got to the back of the truck, there was nothing left for me to carry, because my big, strong tiger had looped all the reusable shopping bags I'd bought up and down his arms, and was tottering to the door. He'd left the tailgate down, so I closed it and hurried after him.\n\nWe were still quiet as we put away our haul. The only talking coming from him was short answers when pointing wasn't enough to tell me where stuff belonged. When we'd finished, I folded up the bags and left them by the door, returning to the kitchen to find Knox sitting at the table, head in his paws. I took the chair next to him, leaning over to rub my hand over his shoulder-blades. \"What's wrong, hun?\"\n\nHe let his paws fall with a thump against the metal table that looked like a rescue from Suzy's diner. When he met my eyes, his were glossy, and a frown had forced its way through his mouth from trying not to cry. \"Nick, I'm sorry...\" he said, before his voice choked off and he tried to look away.\n\nI caught his chin, gently bringing him back to me. \"What do you think you have to be sorry for? Was it the groceries?\"\n\nHe shook his head, sucking in a quivering breath. \"No. I mean, not exactly.\" Knox's fingers combed through his hair as his knee started bouncing. \"I'm, well... I'm a fraud.\"\n\n\"What?\" I couldn't wrap my head around it. Knox was the most honest person I'd ever known. The only person he'd ever intentionally lied to was himself.\n\nNodding, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. \"Yeah. It's true.\"\n\n\"Okay, well, you're gonna have to explain that one, because I don't believe it like, at all.\" I didn't really want to push him. I was aware of how hard it was for him to talk about, well, [i]anything[/i], but goddamn it, I needed to know what was going on! That declined card probably wasn't an accident, and something in my gut told me it had something - no, everything - to do with his mother.\n\nStill reclining, head tilted to the ceiling, he said, \"I, uh... well, when I inherited the shop after Mr. Wyrdmott died, it actually wasn't doin' too hot. A lot of the equipment was outdated, and we couldn't do anything for the computer systems they've got in newer cars like yours.\" One eye cracked open, seeking something in my face. I don't know if he found what he was looking for, or didn't find what he expected, but he leaned forward to take my hand, regardless. \n\n\"I didn't have the money to get new stuff, and the bank denied my loan. So, I asked Momma for help. She'd made a ton on real estate out here, and I figured, well, why not? She's... she's family. That should've been safe.\" Knox licked his lips. \"She agreed, on the condition that I add her to my bank account so she made sure I managed my money right, and she'd buy the building while I kept the actual business.\"\n\nOh.\n\nI bristled, my hackles rising as I growled. \"You're a grown [i]fucking [/i]man. She has no business being on your bank account.\" A few cogs started turning in my head. \"So, you think she closed it, yeah?\"\n\n\"Yep,\" he grunted. \"And it gets worse. She's coming on Wednesday to, quote, `check on her investment'. I don't know if she really would try to pull out of the shop or not. She always said he was just an investor on paper, that she'd never interfere for real. And she's never charged me rent or nothin', so she wouldn't...\" Knox stared off into the distance, his fingers drumming against the metal tabletop making a hollow thumping sound as the wheels in his mind churned. \n\nSlowly, then faster and faster, his breathing sped till I was afraid he'd burst. When Knox finally looked up, pupils blown wide, paws shaking as he wrapped one around my hand, my heart started racing, too. He squeezed me so tight it almost hurt. \"Fuck, no, she totally would. She...\" Knox gave a choked, strangled gasp as his eyes went glossy. \"She'll definitely take the shop from me! Nick, what the hell am I gonna do?!\" \n\nNow he was crying again. It made my heart ache, and wonder how often he'd done this with nobody to hold his hand through it. \"What am I gonna do?\" he repeated, so fragile I thought he'd break. Knox's eyes were pleading, searching mine like I'd somehow have all the answers again. \n\nDidn't he understand I was as lost as he was here?\n\nKnox was coming apart at the seams, and I honestly didn't think I was going to be enough to patch him up and hold him together this time.\n\nBut then I realized that in this specific instance, there actually [i]was [/i]something I could do. \"Did you sign a contract when she bought the building?\"\n\nHe blinked, looking confused. \"I mean, yeah, `course I did. You know Momma, she wouldn't give me the money without one.\"\n\n\"Where is it?\" Knox's stomach grumbled, and I got up to rummage in the cupboards for a pot to start the garden spirals in. \n\n\"The contract?\"\n\n\"Mmhmm.\" I found what I was looking for; a neat little pot with a built-in strainer. As I filled it with water, I elaborated, \"I'm going to take a look at it for you.\"\n\nKnox's chair clattered over as he leaped up and dashed to my side. \"Wait, really?! You think you could find something to save me - I mean, my shop?\"\n\nI shut off the water, which made a [i]thunk![/i] sound that reverberated through the old pipes. \"Maybe,\" I said, tempering my voice so I didn't give him false hope. \"I'm sure your mom hasn't changed much, so she might not have left a loophole.\" I flipped the burner on - I thanked my lucky stars it was a gas stove and would heat quickly - placing the pot on it before grasping his hands in my own. \"There is one huge thing that [i]has [/i]changed, though.\"\n\nMy beautiful, strong, fragile, meathead tiger was staring at me, mouth slightly open and stars in his eyes. \"What's that?\"\n\nI bent down to kiss the tip of his snout before gently bopping it with a finger. \n\n\"Now you know a [i]really [/i]good business lawyer.\"\n\n[center] - [/center]\n\nForty-five minutes later, we each had a bowl of steaming hot casserole in front of us. Knox's mood had visibly improved, all smiles and jokes and laughter as we took our time to relax over dinner. Once we'd finished, he hurried to take the dishes away and rinse them before I could and popping them in the dishwasher. As he closed its door, I stepped behind him and threaded my arms under his to rest my paws on his chest, and gave him a squeeze. \"Thank you,\" I murmured, nuzzling into the space between his shoulder blades.\n\n\"Mmm.\" Knox leaned into the embrace, placing his mitts over mine and hugging them to himself as he began purring. \"For what, babe?\" \n\nHis voice was all rumbly and growly from his purring, and it sent shivers down my spine. \"I dunno,\" I said with a slight chuckle. \"For being you?\" [i]No, that's not quite it. [/i]\"For helping me, and letting me help you.\" [i]Warmer. [/i]\"For saying you love me.\" [i]Red hot! [/i]Knox turned in my arms to face me. His eyes were warm, and his touch was tender as he traced circles onto my back with his fingertips. \"It almost doesn't seem real, yet.\" Licking my lips, I snuggled up under his chin, and in return he turned his cheek to rub it against the top of my head. I almost, but didn't quite, hate how needy I sounded when I whined, \"Say it again? For me?\"\n\nKnox almost crushed me with how tight he hugged me. I squeaked, laughing as we slowly relaxed. His breath tickled my ear as he leaned down and whispered, \"Love you, babe.\" He took a step back, finding my mouth and pressing a kiss to my lips. It surprised me with its gentleness, and I wondered how a man so rough could care for me so softly, so sweetly, but with such power and intensity at the same time. \n\nWe broke apart, and he touched his forehead to mine as I panted for the air he'd stolen from me. Another kiss found its way to my cheek, before more trailed up to the top of my head, where Knox lingered a moment. Warm puffs of air tickled my scalp as he whispered barely loud enough for me to hear him, a sound that was meant only for me. \n\n\"Nick Southwell, I'm in love with you.\"\n\n[center] -\nKnox\n- [/center]\n\n[i]I love Nick Southwell.[/i]\n\nAnd I loved telling him I love him. I saw how much he needed to hear it, how he needed me, and only me, flaws and cracks and mess included.\n\nSo I whispered it again. I laughed, and roared it so loud I bet even that asshole Mack next door heard me. \n\nThen I bent down, and captured Nick's mouth in a kiss that summoned up every ounce of emotion, every desperate, aching need that filled me to bursting, into a single press of our lips.\n\nNo, one kiss wouldn't be enough. Not for all these feelings I had bottled up inside.\n\nSo I kissed him again, and when his mouth opened for me, I slid my tongue inside to wrestle with his.\n\n[i]Again.[/i]\n\nNick groaned, and my paws drifted to the small of his back as he started grinding his hips against mine.\n\n[i]Again.[/i]\n\nI moved one paw to the top of his head and tilted him, exposing his delicate neck, and I licked a stripe up it from shoulder to jaw with my sandpapery tongue before kissing his throat. Nick gasped, melting into my arms with a delicious moan when I nibbled on the tender skin at the base of his neck.\n\n[i]Shit. [/i]A zing shot down my spine and straight to my cock. [i]Are we really gonna do... this? Is now even the right time? [/i]\n\nI sucked, and he cried out in both pleasure and delight, grinding even harder against me, almost desperately. [i]No, yeah. Now's absolutely the right time.[/i] When I released him, our eyes met. I shivered at the darkened, half lidded way he was looking at me, and suddenly my jeans were very, very tight.\n\n\"Knox?\" He whined airily, claws digging into my back in an impossible attempt to get even closer. [i]Or is he trying to make sure I don't pull away?[/i]\n\nHe really didn't need to worry. I rolled my hips against his, and he shuddered. If I'd had any doubts that he wanted this as desperately as I did, they'd vanished at his low, sensual moan. \"Yeah, babe?\" [i]Damn. I sound desperate. [/i]\n\nHell with it. I was desperate; My jeans might have burst into flames at the heat of our friction. I was more turned on than I'd ever been in my life, and that it was with a guy didn't make a damn bit of difference.\n\n[i]No, not just a guy. It's Nick.[/i]\n\nAnd Nick licked those soft, plush lips of his. Mine tingled in response at the mere memory of him, but I saw him working up to saying something. So, against my every instinct, I waited.\n\n\"Knox...\" He slid his hands around my hips, tracing up over my belly, and settled on my pecs, where he burrowed his face and dug in his claws. The tiny shock of pain set my brain on fire, and I almost started to shoot right then and there. \"Knox, I want you to take me to your bedroom. Please?\" He stiffened, pulling back a little. \"I mean, if you want to. We don't have to do anything you're not ready for. We can wait - \"\n\n\"No,\" I growled. I need to touch him, wrap my arms around him and crush him against me, bury my snout in his neck and lose myself in peaches and cinnamon. Fuck. I was getting him into my bed, right the hell now. \"No more waiting.\" \n\nI chucked him over my shoulder caveman style, and it had to be one of the hottest things I'd ever done. Nick shrieked with delight, kicking and flailing to get free, ordering me to put him down, but I the way he laughed assured me he wasn't serious. I kicked open the door to my room and tossed him down on the bed. The mattress squeaked as he let out a little oof! and bounced up and down a few times. \n\nI put a stop to that as I fell on top of him, taking care not to [i]actually [/i]crush him when I lowered my bulk onto his body and pinned him in place. We kissed again, and he thrust up against my belly, sending a jet of fire roaring through me. \n\nI wanted to tear his clothes off with my teeth. I wanted his bare fur against mine, to explore every inch of his lean body with my raspy tongue. There was so much that I wanted to do, all at the same time, and I... I...\n\nI froze. I wasn't scared, was I? All right, I was, at least a little. Things had gotten hot and heavy real fuckin' fast, and I honestly didn't expect to be doing all this like, tonight. \n\nWould I even be any good? I'd never been with a guy before. [i]Shit[/i], I didn't have any clue what I was doing, did I? I should've, I dunno, googled something? Should I watch some gay porn?\n\n[i]Fuck, what if I'm worse than no good? What if it's bad? And he's already laying here under me. I don't have time to figure this out! What do I do now?![/i]\n\nAs if he read my mind, Nick's arms wriggled free to caress my face, sinking his fingers into the thick fluff on my cheeks. \"It's okay,\" he said, his breath still quick, eyes still molten, but edged with a warm tenderness now too. \"There's no rush, Knox. We've got all night.\" \n\nHe pulled me in for the softest kiss I'd ever had, and it was my turn to melt. I swear I could've puddled around him and oozed off the bed. \n\nHe was warm.\n\nHe was safe.\n\nNick was [i]home.[/i]\n\nWhen he let me up for air, he rolled me over to put us side-by-side. I reached out to lay my paw on his side; he did the same to me, and we were content to simply pet each other for a minute, exploring each other with our fingertips. The immediate need had relaxed some, but we were both still hard as nails, and a quick glance down showed me a giant wet spot on the thigh of his jeans. I smirked. It was hot to see him all turned on by me - hang on. [i]That's way too low to be from him. Wait... shit, really?[/i]\n\nI moved to palm myself, and the pads of my fingers came away slick. \"Oh. That was me?\" I hadn't cum, I knew that. But apparently Nick had me so keyed up that I was leaking straight through my pants. \n\n[i]That's... kinda - no, that's hot. Boiling hot.[/i]\n\nThe labrador grabbed me by the wrist, bringing my hand to his muzzle. There was a flash of pink as he licked his lips, and before I could react, Nick had one of my fingers in his mouth. \n\nHe wrapped his tongue around it, humming in pleasure as he licked each finger clean. The sensation made my dick pulse, and another shot of pre squirted into my boxers. \n\n\"Nick?\" My voice wavered, and that funny, twisting need came flooding back into my gut. \"I...\" He was looking right at me, devil in his eyes, impish grin on his face, and my brain short-circuited for a moment before my tongue caught up again. \"Uh, look, I... I want you. I really, [i]really[/i] fuckin' do.\" [i]Deep breath. You got this, Knox![/i] \"But I don't have any clue what the hell I'm doing.\"\n\nHe nodded. \"I understand.\" Nick trailed a lazy hand down my chest, over my belly, before settling on my...\n\n[i]Holy fuck![/i]\n\nI moaned - freakin' [i]moaned [/i]- when he palmed my bulge. My hips bucked involuntarily against him once, twice, and that impish look turned downright savage. \"D'you...\" Oh [i]God,[/i] he squeezed, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from blowing and ending this before it even began. \n\nIt was like he could tell I was about to cum. Actually, I think he really did know, because he moved his paw away and placed it on my hip instead. \"Hey, Knox.\"\n\n\"Yeah?\" I couldn't summon more than a whisper, my breaths were coming in such short, shallow gasps. \n\n\"Want me to teach you?\"\n\n[i]Yes. Oh my God, yes![/i]\n\n\"Yah-huh,\" was what I said, bobbing my head rapidly for good measure. \n\n\"You got it, babe. Let's have some fun, okay?\" Nick stood up, guiding me along with him. The bed was a cavernous distance between us, and I already missed the warmth of his body next to mine. I could see his bulge in the orange sunset light that filtered through my window, and I stared at it for a long moment before I realized he'd been calling my name. \n\nWrenching my eyes back to Nick's face, I sobered quickly when I saw the serious look on his face. He made sure that he had my attention before continuing. \"Knox, before we do anything, you need to understand that if you're uncomfortable at any time, if it's too much, you can tell me to stop. And I'll stop. No judgements, no questions asked. You got that?\" \n\nI nodded silently, and that devil lit his features up again. \"Good. In that case, you're wearing way too many clothes.\" Nick hooked his fingers under the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it off in one fluid motion. It would've been easy to do nothing but stare at his lean, flat upper body, with its sinewy muscle giving him the barest shade of dimension, but he had other plans for me. \"Take off your shirt.\" He licked his lips again, and his fingers twitched as I grabbed the end of my shirt. \"Not so fast.\" I paused, and his smile was wicked, all teeth. \"Do it slowly.\"\n\n[i]Oh. \n\nOh, okay. \n\nThis is different. Thought that I was supposed to be the one in charge?[/i]\n\nBut something buried deep inside snapped me to attention. I [i]wanted [/i]to give up control. I [i]wanted [/i]to let Nick have the reins. \n\nFor once, I wanted someone else calling the shots.\n\nSo, I did as commanded. I hooked my fingers underneath my shirt and inched it up, keeping eye contact for as long as possible. My heart jumped in my chest as I watched Nick's eyes follow my every movement, drinking in the sight of me. I felt ten feet tall, realizing that he didn't care about my gut, or the softness that had overtaken my once chiseled body. He thought I was still as hot as I'd been in high school. \n\nWell. He wanted a show? I'd give him a show.\n\nFinally whipping the t-shirt over my head, I tossed it onto a pile of clothes that I really should've put in the wash a couple days ago before flexing my chest and biceps in a strongman pose. Nick's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and I swear he drooled a little. Oh, wait, he actually [i]had[/i]. He swiped the back of his paw over his mouth before giving his next order. \"Turn around.\"\n\n\"As you command,\" I teased, and turned away. His stormy gray eyes bore into me, his hungry gaze exploring every inch of me. \n\n\"I'm...\" Those eyes left me, and there was shuffling as he moved on the other side of the bed. \"I'm looking away now, too. Pants and underwear next. Don't turn around until I say so.\"\n\nI fumbled with the button on my jeans, digging against the tight denim with shaking fingers. Holy shit. I'd never wanted to get naked so fast in my life. Losing my patience, I grabbed either side of the fabric and [i]ripped[/i]. The button flew across the room, and I shimmied out of my clothes in record time. And I stood there, panting, achingly hard dick twitching in the air, waiting for Nick's order. \n\n\"Okay, you ready?\" His voice trembled. Was it nerves? Could've been, but my pup also sounded excited. \n\nI am too, bud.\n\n\"Yeah,\" I rumbled, low and husky. \n\n\"On three?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\" \n\nNick counted us off. \n\n\"One...\" \n\n\"Two...\"\n\n\"Three!\"\n\nWe turned, and I let out a strangled gasp.\n\nLong, lean lines accentuated by wiry muscle and covered in wavy golden fur. Defined thighs he hid underneath loose pants, which was a shame. [i]I bet he'd look amazing in skinny jeans.[/i]\n\nHoly shit.\n\nNick Southwell was [i]beautiful.[/i]\n\nHe hunched his shoulders, shrinking in on himself and scratching at his cheek, his earlier confidence retreating. \"Sorry, I'm, uh, still pretty scrawny. But, yeah. This is, well... me.\"\n\n\"Nick?\" I could barely speak. My tongue was numb, and my face heated. \n\n\"Hmm?\"\n\n\"Can I...\" I swallowed around a lump in my throat. Trying again wasn't much better, and I stammered out my words. \"C-can I, like..\" I sank to my knees on the bed, raising my arms toward him automatically. \"Can I touch you?\"\n\nNick blinked a few times, head snapping back like I'd popped a balloon right under his nose. I watched as his face scrunched up in disbelief before smoothing out into a cocky grin. He kneeled on my bed too, keeping us separated by only a few feet. Then he nodded, taking my wrists in his hands and hovering my mitts over his slender chest. \"One rule,\" he said. \n\nIt was impossible to hold myself back any longer. I had to sink my fingers into that soft golden fur, feel the beating of his heart and the heat of his body. \"Anything,\" I begged. \n\n\"Keep it above the waist.\" \n\nI whined. He laughed. I nodded, licking my lips. \n\n\"Okay.\" \n\nNick pressed my palms to his chest.\n\n\"Wow.\" He was rail-thin, but his muscles were well defined and hard under my touch. I gave him a squeeze, and the shiver that ran through his body reverberated in my own. Pressing a little harder, the rapid thump-thump of his heart pounding against my palm, and I knew he was feeling as keyed up as I was.\n\nI shuffled forward on my knees a bit, inching closer to him as my wayward paws traveled to his sides and slid down the flat planes of his stomach. My thumbs rubbed over his abs, pressing slightly, and Nick let out a little gasp, wriggling under my touch, which caused my dick to jump. When it swung down, it bumped into something hard and warm, and I looked down.\n\nNick was still rock hard, cock jutting straight out from his body. His was a few inches shorter than me, but nearly as thick. Cut, too, unlike me, with a purple head was so swollen it looked painful. I couldn't look away, and as my eyes traveled his length, I realized there was a wet, shiny stripe about midway up, and beneath, my sheets had a massive wet spot forming between us.\n\n\"Heh. Leaky, much?\" I smirked at Nick, but he smirked right back.\n\n\"Actually,\" he said, sounding full of himself. \"[i]I'm [/i]not the one at fault here. You're the one making a mess.\"\n\n[i]What?[/i] I glanced down again, and I realized he was right. I wasn't dripping so much as drooling all over the damn place. \"Oh.\" My face flushed and let out a nervous chuckle. \"Uh, sorry?\"\n\nHe gave a filthy laugh. \"It's hot, babe. Don't be sorry.\" Nick reached out with a paw, and it was like time slowed down. Was he... [i]Oh fuck[/i]. He was going to grab my dick. \n\n[i]Crap! What do I do[/i] - Time caught up with me suddenly, and Nick's paw felt like fire and silk when it wrapped around my girth. I moaned again, loud and dirty, involuntarily thrusting into his hand, which - of course - caused another gush of pre to ooze out of me. \n\nHe slid up to the head of my cock, twisting his palm over my tip a few times, which had me gasping and shuddering. When he slid back down, all the way to the root, his paw was slick with, well... [i]me. [/i]\n\nI didn't mean to, but my head pitched forward, and I bit Nick's shoulder. Not hard enough to draw blood, but definitely hard enough that he had to have felt my fangs. The answering shudder and decadent groan assured me it wasn't a bad thing. He was lazily stroking me now, running his hand over my head whenever I got even a little dry. Everything was slick, and hard, and warm, and...\n\n[i]Oh shit. Not yet, not yet...[/i]\n\n\"Nick... wait, slow down!\" I panted. This was good. No, incredible. It couldn't end in just a few minutes! I hadn't had enough, but somehow it was almost too much to handle at the same time. \"I'm gonna bust if you - \" was all the warning I could manage. \n\nThe rest of whatever it was I thought I was going to say choked off in a strangled cry as he squeezed my shaft and started twisting his paw around it as he stroked me faster. \"Good,\" he breathed.\n\nHe stretched up to whisper in my ear, warm breath tickling my fur. \"I love you. Do it. Cum for me, tiger.\"\n\n[i]\"Fuck!\"[/i] I yelled, biting down on Nick again as black spots danced in my vision before I squinted my eyes shut. And I did as he commanded, shooting all over the damn place in powerful, rapid-fire shots. I heard Nick gasp, then giggle as I kept pulsing out my load, and I swear it went on for an eternity. My head buzzed as my entire body started quaking, and I sagged against Nick, fucked out and completely boneless. \n\nMy claws dug into those delicate hips as I tried so hard not to damage him. When it was down to the aftershocks, Nick finally released me, my dick still half-hard and a little sore. Only then did I let him go, sinking down onto my thighs, as little shivers ran through me as my dick continued to twitch. \"Holy...\" I gasped for a moment, trying to catch my breath. [i]\"Holy fuck.\" [/i]\n\nI opened my eyes, and... [i]Oh shit, now[/i] that's [i]hot. [/i]Nick dripped, covered in my seed, giant ropes of it painting his beautiful flat stomach and chest and dripping down onto his cock. Some of it had even hit his face, and my heart did a backflip when his tongue lazily stretched out to lick away a glob, humming in pleasure as he did so. And he did something I didn't expect at all.\n\nHe captured my face in his hands and kissed me. \n\nIt was almost indescribable. My erection had flagged, but the taste of me on his tongue combined with own sweet flavor was nearly enough to do the impossible and make me hard again. I didn't know what to expect, tasting my own cum - it never even occurred to me to try it - but the salty bitterness on lips stirred something primal, deep in my gut. We made out for a moment before he eased me onto the bed, kindly avoiding the massive wet, sticky mess I'd made. \n\n\"Wait here a moment.\" Nick bopped me on the nose before shuffling off to the bathroom. He returned shortly with a towel that he'd clearly just used to clean himself off.\n\nStraddling my hips, he wiped up the mess I'd made of my fur as well. I hadn't even noticed I'd gotten any on me, really. His still-hard cock bobbed in the air, and I grunted. \"Hey.\"\n\n\"Mmm?\" He'd finished wiping me up and chucked the towel onto the laundry pile.\n\n\"You didn't finish.\" My paw tingled, and I made a grabbing motion at him. \"D'you want me to...?\"\n\nNick shook his head, sliding down to rest against my side - and he [i]had[/i] to be in the wet spot - and sighing happily. \"Another time. I wanted tonight to be about you, not me.\"\n\n\"You're [i]sure? [/i]I don't mind.\" Katie had always been pissed if I didn't get her off, too. Which was, y'know, [i]fair[/i], but she somehow never returned the favor when the shoe was on the other foot. \"In fact, I kinda really, [i]really [/i]want to.\"\n\n\"Mmn-mmm.\" He kissed my cheek, snuggling against me. \"Shh, now. It's time for aftercare.\"\n\nHuh. That was... different. Nobody I'd ever been with had ever wanted to cuddle or anything afterward. But my eyes were growing heavy, so instead of questioning it, I slid my arm along Nick's back to pull him closer. \"Mmkay,\" I said, yawning widely. \"It's early, but I guess I'm a `lil tired, babe. Sorry.\"\n\nNick stroked my chest and tilted his head up to kiss my cheek. \"Sleep, hun. It's okay.\"\n\n\"Mmn.\" I grunted, starting to purr as his warm body clung to mine. \"'Kay. G'night,\" Eyes fluttering shut, I mumbled out the rest of my words.\n\n\"Love you, Nick.\"\n\n\"Love you too.\"\n\nAnd we slept.\n\n[center] - \nTo Be Continued...\n - [/center]\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
-
Nick
 -


"Knox," I said, staring at a mostly empty pantry, "If we're going to have dinner, we hafta go grocery shopping."

He stepped up behind me, socked feet padding softly on the kitchen linoleum, and wrapped his arms around my waist. Squeezing, Knox pressed a kiss to my temple. "What, you don't want oatmeal for dinner?" His tone was teasing, and when he turned me around for a tender kiss on the lips, a devil glinting in his eyes, my heart skipped a beat. "Or sandwiches? I've got some ham."

I laughed, shaking my head helplessly. "Knox, we can't survive on only oatmeal and takeout." I raised a paw to bop him on the nose, and he scrunched up his face before grinning down at me. Adorable. "And we ate the last of your bread with lunch. Seriously, we have to go shopping."

"Mmm... fine." Knox pouted, reaching under his shit to scratch his belly, and the white fur that peeked through instantly drew my eyes downward. He chuckled, placing his callused fingers on my chin and raising it up again. "My eyes are over here, you know." Then he licked the tip of my nose, causing me to splutter and wipe at it as he snickered. "Come on. Let's get dressed, and I'll drive us to the store."

We had spent the better part of the afternoon without pants, which was, frankly, delightful. I think we lost them sometime after lunch, when we'd laid down for a nap. The memory of our legs tangled together as he held me close, chest-to-chest, his head resting on top of mine, set a warm fuzzy feeling growing in my chest. My stomach growled, and we both laughed at that, cackling all the way to his bedroom.

I reluctantly put on my jeans - partially because I liked the way Knox's eyes roamed hungrily over my body whenever he thought I wasn't looking, and partially because it meant Knox was getting dressed too, and my eyes had been enjoying hungrily roaming over him. Seriously, the man had mouth-wateringly sexy legs, all thick, corded muscles begging to be touched. Calm down, I told myself. You know he's going to let you get your hands on him later. Don't rush this. Let him get comfortable. We have plenty of time.

After pulling on our shoes, we headed out the front door to where his truck sat on the street. Knox's hand pressed firmly into the small of my back, but sneaked around to my waist, pulling us together until our hips bumped. I shot him a smile, which he returned while he started leaning in, eyes closing, and for a moment the world melted away, leaving just the two of us alone together.

Then Knox's ear twitched, and the acrid stink of cigarette smoke hit my nose as the tiger straightened hastily. A sudden, croaking voice bellowed from the house next door, making us both jump. Leaning out an open window was a grungy, gray-furred ferret I didn't immediately recognize, puffing away on a cigarette.

"Hey, Knox, who's your... friend?" I didn't like the way he put emphasis on that last word... something about it made my hackles rise.

I liked it even less when Knox's hand slipped away to hide in his pocket. "Hey, Mack. This is Nick. My, uh... friend." I watched my tiger lick his lips as his eyes darted to me, then back to Mack. "He's just a friend. From high school."

The ferret's face soured, and he coughed around a lungful of smoke. "Wait. Nick Southwell? Faggot Nick Southwell? Th'hell's he doing in your house?" His eyes were cold and calculating as he venomously added, "Sure didn't look like no `just friends', neither."

My eyes narrowed as my face heated, and I opened mouth opened to give this supreme asshole a piece of my mind, but Knox got there first. It started with a deep growl, and when my eyes turned to Knox, every bit of fur on the back of his neck was standing on end. "Watch your fucking mouth, Mack. It's - he's - none of your god-damned business."

"You sure?" Mack sneered, flicking the remains of his cigarette onto the unkempt lawn below. "What would your Momma think, you takin' up with him again?" Knox just glared at him, and the asshole continued. "Maybe I'll call her, let her know how far her little boy's fallen. Just a friend?" He hocked a gob of nastiness after the cigarette butt. "You think she's gonna believe that? That I believe that? Hell, she might even pull out of that joke you call a shop."

My heart sank, my mouth dry and lips frozen. What did he mean, she'd pull out of his shop? Shit, was Knox's mom backing his business? If it's true, then that's not any low blow; that's a real, tangible threat to his life and livelihood.

That couldn't happen, not over a fire that had only started to burn. Muttering under my breath, barely loud enough for Knox's sharp feline ears to pick it up. "Let it go, hun. You don't owe him a damn thing." I puffed out a shuddery breath and turned back toward the truck. "We can walk away right now, and - "

I was drifting away, closing the gap between me and the sanctuary that Knox's truck would provide. Made it as far as the sidewalk before a strangled, choking sound from behind me made me turn around.

Knox stood there frozen, his jaw clenched so tight I was amazed he hadn't chipped a tooth. "Nick, wait, I..." His voice, muffled behind clamped teeth, sounded pained.

I waved him over, saying, "It's okay. You don't need to deal with this right now." Leveling my best pointed glare at him, I prayed it said the things I wasn't able to say out loud. You don't need to define this to him. We haven't even defined this to ourselves. Yeah, this hurts me a bit, but I can take it. Just walk away...

"Nick, I-" He growled again, raking his fingers through his short black hair. When I beckoned a second time, a little more urgently, he took a step... back? I turned my face away to hide how his reaction stung. We really hadn't defined anything. But damned if it didn't hurt like a sonuvabitch when he flinched away from me. With a deep breath to steady myself, I took a step back myself, glancing away, and I knew the hurt inside was written plain on my face.

"W-wait!" His voice quivered, and when I snapped my head back to him, he was reaching out a paw to me with a pain mirroring my own radiating from his eyes. Forcibly unclenching his jaw, working it for a couple moments before shuddering his head. "Fuck." Now he was gulping down air so hard and fast, I feared he'd to hyperventilate. "Nick, no, please wait, I... fuck!"

I stepped toward him, slowly but confidently. I was afraid he'd spook, but when I touched his wrist, he flipped his paw and laced his fingers with my own. "Knox, you don't owe him the time of day. C'mon, let's just go."

"Shit," he said again, a single tear escaping his eye before getting sucked into his fluffy cheek. "Screw this." He pointed at Mack with a trembling finger. "And screw you."

Mack sneered at Knox, his tone mocking. "What, did I finally get yer attention? Thought you were a good man, respectable and shit. Now you're freaking out over your so-called friend? You're a better person than this gay crap, Knox, don't throw your life away for something that isn't even real."

Knox rocked his head before grabbing me by my shoulders. "No. I'm done hiding. I'm done pretending." His breath grew deep and rapid, while his face grew stony and determined.

"I'm so fucking done," he whispered.

And then he kissed me. Right in front of Mack, God, and everybody. A mountain of tension I hadn't noticed building up whooshed out of me in an instant as I melted against him, the choked splutter of the ferret a distant hum.

Knox kissed me hard, almost bruisingly, and when he broke away, his steely arms tugged me in close, body quaking. Was that anger? Fear? Euphoria? It was hard to tell, but I wrapped my arms around his waist anyway to try to calm him down. "Tell anyone you want. Call Momma. Call the whole damn gossip mill, I don't care." Knox's voice cracked, which slightly undercut his claim, but my heart still swelled with pride at his sudden openness. "I told you, what Nick and I do ain't none of your business." He steered me back toward the truck, walking me around to the passenger side and opening my door.

Mack hollered after us. "So, what, y'all boyfriends now? Thought you was happy with Katie? Hey, where the fuck d'you think you're - don't you walk away from me!"

But Knox did anyway, sliding into the driver's seat and firing up the engine. His truck roared to life, and he tore out of the neighborhood like his tail was on fire.

I let him be for a few minutes, but we were doing seventy down the back roads, and the last thing he needed right now was to get pulled over. So I reached out, putting a hand on Knox's knee. Rubbing my thumb in small circles, I spoke as softly as possible. "Hey, hun?"

Knox grunted absently, gripping the steering wheel so hard the leather cover he'd put on it creaked.

"Knox, we've got to slow down. You're practically beggin' the cops to get your ass."

He flicked his eyes down to the dash, and they widened slightly. Pressing the brake, he slowly pulled onto the curb, looking dead ahead of himself again, still choking the shit out of that steering wheel.

Knox's jaw tensed, the muscles flexing as he ground his teeth together. "Nick," he gritted out. Then his eyes got all glassy, and his breathing grew faster and erratic. "Damn it all..."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, hustling over to him in an instant, and put the truck in park before flipping off the engine. One by one, I pried his fingers off the steering wheel. It wasn't all that hard, actually; after the first couple, he stopped resisting me enough that I was able to free him with little fuss. Picking up his paw closest to me, I wrapped both of mine around it and brought his fingers to my lips. I kissed them - the barest ghost of a touch, really - but the resulting whoosh of air Knox let out along as his tightly wound muscles relaxed was everything I needed right then.

My paws squeezed him, kneading at his palm slowly with my thumbs, and my big, strong tiger came undone in the driver's seat next to me. He let loose with the tears, big fat ones that rolled down his cheeks, soaking his fur before dripping onto his t-shirt. "I just..." His voice was strained, rough, as he swiped at his eyes with the back of his free paw. "I just did that. Holy crap, I just told everyone that I'm... and you're... no, we. We. We're, like, what, together?" He bit his lip, rocking forward and back with a thousand-yard stare.

Wrapping a paw around the back of his head, I gently tugged him into my chest and pressed my lips to his temple. "It's my turn now, babe," I whispered in his ear, right as the waterworks started. "I gotchu. Baby, I gotchu."

When he snorted, I let him go long enough to snag a tissue from the box he kept in the back to let him blow his nose. Wiping a tear from his eye, I started getting a little misty myself as I tried to soothe him. "We're us, hun. Just us. We don't need to label anything. It's you, and me, figuring shit out together and screw everyone else."

A wet chuckle escaped Knox, and he blew his nose again before pocketing the tissue and wrapping an arm around the back of my neck to pull me against him, head resting on top of mine. He nuzzled me for a while before whispering, "Nick. I just came out."

"You did," I murmured, tilting up to press a kiss to the underside of his chin.

Knox thought for a moment, voice questioning now, but he'd started purring, too. "Does that mean I'm... gay? Or am I bi? What do I do now?"

"You don't need to label yourself, either." Pulling away from him, I caught his head in my hands and yanked him down to my level, giving his forehead a quick peck. My thumbs traced along his cheekbones as I mirrored the affectionate gesture he'd given me so many times over the years; I nestled him beneath my chin, wrapped my arms around him, and held him as tight as possible. "Like I said, we're just us. We can be anything we want, do whatever we want, whenever we want."

"I like the sound of that," he said, slightly muffled by the curled position I'd smushed him into. I rocked him side to side as he purred away, his arms coming to rest around my waist. We stayed like that for a while. I didn't honestly know how long. Keeping track of the time certainly wasn't my priority. Eventually, though, he started wriggling in my grasp. "Nick, babe, I love you to death, but the way you got me bent up actually kinda hurts."

My heart skipped a beat, and I let out a shocked gasp. Releasing him instantly, he stretched as big as he could in the confines of the cab, joints popping as I processed what he'd said. "Hey, uh, Knox?"

"Yeah?"

"You kinda said that you, uh, love me?" I wet my lips as his eyes widened, mouth dropping open into a surprised `O'. "I'm sure you probably didn't mean it like that," I hastened to add. "This whole, well, everything, is new, right? Heat of the moment and all that.  I bet it probably slipped out, like, as an accident and all, but - "

A roughened finger to my lips silenced my rambling. "I don't..." Knox trailed off, his features brightening as his paw snaked up to palm my face. When I leaned into his touch, and he continued. "Nick, I don't think it was an accident." His breathing grew quick again, and I'd have worried he was going to freak out again until I saw that authentically crooked, million-dollar Knox smile growing on his face. "I think that... I've known this for a long time. Since way back when we were kids, and I've been too stupid to realize what I was feeling."

He licked his lips. "Nick, I..."

Another pause, and if this weren't real life, I'd swear I saw hearts in Knox's beautiful hazel eyes before he bonked his forehead into mine. He pressed our heads together as he started laughing.

It was the second-most beautiful thing I'd ever heard.

The top spot, though, will always go to the next words he spoke.

"Nick, I fuckin' love you."

Everything around me flipped upside down, my breath stuttered in my chest, and my heart? Yeah, I think it stopped beating right there for a minute.

Hot damn.

Knox Madison loves me.

-
Knox
 -


I may be the world's slowest guy. And I definitely don't have any clue what the hell I'm doing. But the way Nick's mouth slotted insistently over mine told me I'd done something - no, the only thing - that mattered.

"Nick, I fuckin' love you."

For the second time today, my truck rocked as we kissed, tongues tangling for dominance, and when we broke apart, panting for air, Nick wrapped his arms around my neck and burrowed his muzzle into my chest.

"Say it again," he whispered.

And I did. Over and over again, and it became more true, more real, every time I said it. We kissed again, and when he looked up at me with those blue-gray eyes, well... I'm not ashamed to say I let out a whimper as my emotions overcame me.

"Knox?"

"Mmm?" I sighed, running my paw through his hair as I brushed aside that one stubborn lock that kept falling down into his eyes.

"I love you too."

We stayed cuddled up by the side of the road, Nick snuggling against me, my paws rubbing tight circles into his back. The only thing that broke the silence was his stomach letting out a roar so loud that it matched my own.

I squeezed him tight, my laughter bellowing out in the tiny space, before I turned the engine back on. "C'mon, bud. We'd better get you something to eat before you waste away to nothing."

He chuckled before scooting back to his side and buckling in. The warmth from his body pressed to mine lingered for a while, filling me with a happy, buzzing sensation even as I yearned to grab him and bring him back to me. "Good idea," he said, grinning as I pulled back onto the road. "I'm fricking starving."

We spent the rest of the drive to the store in comfortable silence. Nick wiggled over as close as possible while still technically wearing the seatbelt, placing his hand on my knee. I covered it with my own, pleased at how small and delicate his paw looked, wrapped up in my own giant mitt. He made a sound that almost sounded like a purr, and I rode the high of that dazzling smile he shot my way the whole rest of the trip.

I was floating as I stepped around the truck to walk side by side with Nick into the store. Unfortunately, the big front door was out of order, and we had to hoof it around to the smaller side entrance. Nick held my hand through it all, tugging me in behind him. He was nothing but smiles and giggles, like we'd become teens again and were getting away with something.

The bell above the door dinged, and a vaguely familiar voice called out from the aisles, "Welcome to Nancy's! I'll be right with you!"

Nick froze, his grin turning downward into a grimace, and he dropped my hand. "Shit, Knox, I forgot, I - "

"Oh, uh..." Clark Graham stood at the end of aisle 13, a rag clenched in one paw and a bottle of cleaner hanging dangerously from the other. "Hi, Nick." Clark nodded at him before tilting his chin at me. "Sup, Knox?"

Instinctively, I placed a possessive paw on Nick's shoulder, pulling him a little closer to me. "Clark," I said, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible. Wasn't quite sure if I pulled it off or not.

The panther flinched. Oops. Guess not. "Sorry, y'all kind of surprised me." He gestured vaguely at my hand as it clung to Nick like a lifeline. "So, uh, Nick, about that chance..." Clark chuckled weakly, hanging his head, and for the first time in ages, I felt sorry for the guy.

Nick moved my paw, lacing his fingers with mine as he gave Clark an apologetic look. "Yeah, uh, sorry. This is - well, stuff sorta happened, and we're - "

Nick's voice cut off as he turned frantic eyes toward me, and something in my chest tightened. What was I supposed to say? Sure, I'd basically staked my claim in the loudest way you could in a small town, by firing up the local gossip mill. But this somehow seemed bigger, more real. Like if I put it out there, I'd never be able to take it back.

But Nick's face shifted into a quiet sort of hopeful understanding. I knew in my gut that he'd be okay with whatever I said, that I had time. That I didn't have to do anything that made me uncomfortable. He was just waiting for me to fill in the blanks with whatever I felt was right.

My heart thumped in my chest so hard, so loud, that I thought for sure Clark was going to hear it. The look on Nick's face told me he definitely could.

I could drop his hand. Take a step away from him. Deny everything, play it safe.

I could wait for Nick to say it first. Let him take the lead, so I didn't have to. Give the hard decisions, the painful ones, to him, and simply ride out whatever came next.

I was afraid. Terrified, really. My mouth went dry, and I licked my lips. It was like we'd been staring at each other for hours, even though it had only been a couple minutes.

You know what finally broke me? When Nick's face shifted from hopeful to resigned. His grip loosened, and his fingers started slipping away from my hand. Was I going to let him go? Prove to him I wasn't able to decide on my own?

Am I going to lie to everyone in town about what I have with this beautiful, kind, caring man?

I twitched my paw, snagging Nick's fingers in an iron grip before squaring my shoulders and turning my head to Clark.

Fuck being comfortable. I'm not holding back anymore!

"We're together," I finished, in a voice much firmer than my legs that wobbled like jelly. I mean, hell, I guess Mack already knew, or he'd figure it out - he was a bigoted hick, but he wasn't dumb. And in a couple hours, probably everyone in town would know it, too, so...

So why am I panicking like a spooked deer?

I caught a glimpse of the way Nick was looking at me, mouth rounded, eyes wide and glassy, before breaking out into a smile. "Yeah," he said, a little breathless. "Together."

"Damn it." Clark shook his head, a sad smile spreading across his lips. "Told you there's no competing with Knox Madison." He walked over to the register and set down the cleaning supplies before facing us again. "So, um... shit," He took off the store uniform hunter's green ball cap and scuffed at the back of his head with a paw. "I'm, well, jealous. I've been hiding all this time, and you two..." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You did it. You just went and did it. What the fuck, man?" He was so damn awkward, looking down at his feet as he shuffled them around, that it was kinda cute - I almost saw what Nick had seen in him.

But Nick is mine. All mine.

And I'm all his, for better or for worse.

It took a minute for Clark to find his voice again. He cleared his throat, finally meeting my eyes. "You two make a hell of a handsome couple," he said, and gave me his most convincing smile yet. "Hope you understand how lucky you are, Knox. Damn." He hesitated before nodding at us both. "Seriously, though. I guess, uh, no hard feelings?"

Nick took a few quick steps toward the panther and wrapped his arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly. "Yeah, Clark, no hard feelings." Releasing him, Nick took a step back as I came up behind him to put a hand on the small of his back. He leaned into my touch, looking up at me with big, warm eyes. "You'll find someone someday. Promise."

Clark gave a wry chuckle. "I'll have to come out first. You - and Knox, obviously - are the only ones who know about me yet." His shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh. "I don't think there are even any other guys interested in guys here."

My ears pricked up, and I gave a cautious nod. "I know of like, one? I can't tell you who he is, because that's not my story to tell, but I can tell you you're not as alone as you think."

"Really?" Both guys turned shocked expressions on me. Clark looked thoughtful as he continued. "Huh. I'm surprised, but that's..." he shuffled his feet as he looked away, a small smile growing on his face. "That's nice to know."

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Clark clapped his paws together and cleared his throat. "Uh, anyway! You `prolly didn't come here just to spread the news of your new relationship. What did you need?"

I glanced at Nick, who nodded. "Um, just some pantry staples. Oh, and stuff for tuna noodle hot dish. I'm gonna make that tonight."

"Again?" Clark reached out and slugged Nick on the shoulder. "You really like that shit, huh? You were in here yesterday buying all that."

"Yeah, well..." Nick sidled up close to me and slid an arm around my waist. "I left that stuff at my parent's, and I can't stay there right now, so..."

Clark's playful demeanor vanished. "What? What the hell happened?!"

Nick shivered, and I grabbed him around the shoulders and squeezed him tight. "Long story," I cut in. "Nick can tell you about it if he wants." I freed myself from his grasp and moseyed off to grab a cart. When I returned, Nick was telling Clark about everything that happened with his parents, continuing as we wound through each and every aisle. It amazed me the skill with which my boyf - partner. Mmm, yeah, that's easier somehow - tossed things into the cart while barely even looking at the stuff. Boxed dinners, canned tuna, a whole bunch of different soups. We even got some apples and a big ol' box of salad greens, and I realized I hadn't had fresh produce in my house for, good lord, months?

Once the cart was full, Nick considered it for a minute before nodding. "This oughta keep us going for a week or so."

I boggled at him. "Nick, that's so much food. Only a week?!"

He shrugged, Clark laughed. "If you're going to be working out all the time, you need to be eating healthier. And I still eat a ton." Nick smirked at me. "That's never changed."

We bickered fondly as we all walked up to the register, where Clark loaded everything onto the belt for us before ringing us out. "Okay, that'll be... $202.47."

Nick reached for his wallet, but I saw a chance to be the provider, for once, and took it. "Naw, babe, I got it." I slid in front of him with a smile as I pulled out my bank card and swiped it.

It processed for a few minutes, then beeped twice. Clark went a little green, shrinking away from me. "Uh, sorry man, but..." he swallowed hard, twice, before taking a deep breath.

"Your card sorta... declined?"

I laughed nervously. "W-what?" My vision started getting wobbly, and I had to shake my head to clear it. "There's no way. Lemme try again."

And I did. Two more beeps.

Clark's mouth moved soundlessly, and heat started rising in my face and escaping in pinpricks through my ears. "That can't be right. I know I'm good for it, I don't understand."

The panther looked at his screen. "It says invalid account. Maybe you had fraud and your bank shut the card off?"

I started to speak, to say that the Mavis credit union wasn't fancy enough to give a damn about fraud, but then my mouth snapped shut.

Fuck.

Momma was on that account.

The world fell out from under me. Forget wobbly. Now shit was spinning, and I had no way to stop it. Backing away from the counter like it'd burned me, I saw Clark's face etched with concern, while Nick's mouth was set in a hard line.

Air.

I need air.

Outside.

Gotta get outside!

I let out a weird croaking sound and dashed for the side exit. Clark called after me, but I barely heard him over those two beeps that played over and over in my head, taunting me, and they just wouldn't. Shut. Up!

I swore the pressure from Nick's judging eyes burned on my back as I burst through the door and into the parking lot, where I climbed up in my truck, and punched in the number to my store.

Then I froze, my trembling thumb hovering just above that little green button. What the fuck am I even gonna say? Calling in and admitting that this was real? That I wasn't in control, and maybe, just maybe, I never had been?

What will the guys think? What will I do if Momma closes the store? My guys need those jobs. I need this job.

It's my dream.

It's everything I have.

I sat there stewing, my stomach tied up in knots, and my thumb still hovering, hovering forever.

A little voice piped up in the back of my head, saying, That's not all you have anymore, is it? Not really.

What, then? I let out a bitter snort as I vaguely realized that I was probably going crazy, arguing with my own damn self. What the fuck else is there?

A moment of silence passed, before my brain gave me a condescending, You have Nick, you moron.

 I blinked.

Nick? My short, gasping breaths slowed, as his perfect face, that megawatt smile, cut through the haze in my brain. Shit, what is he gonna think? Is he... I gulped. Is he even gonna want me after this?

My mind drifted back to barely an hour ago, when we'd sat in my truck, and I told him `I love you'. The first one I'd ever said to someone who wasn't family, and actually meant it. And his answering kiss, that...

That was real.

Nick's not gonna abandon me, I realized. He cares about me.

Damn! He really cares about me!

And for the first time since I'd ran away to hide in my truck, I smiled.

It'll be okay. This is all gonna be okay.

It has to be.

I finally tapped my screen and brought the phone to my ear. It rang twice before I heard, "B.W. Auto Body, this is Marcus."

He sounded a little rattled, and my stomach somehow sank even lower than it already had. "Hey, it's Knox. Is..." I suddenly couldn't breathe, choking on my words. "Everything all right down there?"

"Oh! Bossman, thank God!" The relief in his voice was unmistakable. "Your momma just called, said she's coming into town to check on her `investment'. She'll be here sometime Wednesday."

A bit of my anxiety slipped away. "Wednesday, good," I muttered. "I got time."

"Time for what, boss?" Marcus hesitated a moment before saying, "Is it, um... is it about this thing with Nick?"

Fuck! Can't I get a break for one fucking day?!

I pinched the bridge of my snout. "Who told you, and what did you hear?"

"Heard Mack Brown saw you two fucking on your front lawn. My sister - my older sister, Becks -  called and told me after mom called her."

"The hell?!" I let out an offended squawk. "We were not! We haven't even gotten that far yet!"

Marcus paused. His breathing came in uncertain huffs over the receiver. "Yet? Boss, what happened?"

I grumbled. "It's nobody's business, that's what." Letting out a gusty sigh, I decided I could trust Marcus with the truth. "Nick and I are... well, it's complicated. But we're together, yeah, and Mack caught me being couple-y with Nick this morning. He said some bigot shit, and I ended up kissing Nick in front of him." I gulped. "As, like, a show of defiance or something, I dunno. But that's all we did! Just a kiss."

The stoat let out a low whistle. "Dude."

"I know, I know." Groaning, I jumped when the passenger door opened and Nick slid in. "Hey, uh, I gotta go. I'll be in Wednesday morning. Momma hates mornings, she won't be up till like noon at the latest."

"You got it, bossman." Another pause, then in a low voice, he whispered, "You guys happy?"

I looked over at Nick. He was tapping away on his phone, but when he felt me staring, he glanced up and blew me a kiss before returning to whatever he was doing. "Yeah," I said, breathless again. "Yeah, I think we are."

"Good." He sounded firm over the phone, but the smile in his voice came through loud and clear. "I hafta run too. Mrs. Wyrdmott's here and it's either fix her car or let her flirt with me, and I'm straight itchin' for some grease on my paws."

He hung up, and I leaned my head back, sighing deeply. Without opening my eyes, I mumbled, "Sorry about the groceries, Nick. I swear I thought I was good for it."

His satiny paw wrapped around mine, and I cracked an eye open barely enough to see his face. There wasn't any of the judgement I expected, not even an ounce. He only looked concerned, and somehow that was better and worse at the same time.

"I got the groceries. Clark came out and helped me load them up." A warm peck brushed my cheek, and I whimpered. "Hun, can you tell me what happened?"

Shit.

Where do I even begin?

-
Nick
 -


We rumbled down the road back to Knox's house in silence. He'd asked me for a bit of time to collect his thoughts, and I'd agreed, but as my fingers drummed the seat between us, I knew my patience was wearing thin. I wanted him to be comfortable confiding in me, but I was also dying to understand what the hell had him so spooked. I assumed it was to do with the card declining, and there was a sneaking suspicion that Mack called Knox's mom and it was her fault somehow, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. Was Knox just bad with money?

When we pulled up, he sat there, staring at the window that Mack had been hanging out of earlier. It was closed now, thank God, but as we climbed out of the truck, the tension rippling off Knox in waves, and honestly? I felt the same. Last thing I wanted was to deal with his bigoted bullshit, and Knox had clearly had a hell of a day so far.

By the time I got to the back of the truck, there was nothing left for me to carry, because my big, strong tiger had looped all the reusable shopping bags I'd bought up and down his arms, and was tottering to the door. He'd left the tailgate down, so I closed it and hurried after him.

We were still quiet as we put away our haul. The only talking coming from him was short answers when pointing wasn't enough to tell me where stuff belonged. When we'd finished, I folded up the bags and left them by the door, returning to the kitchen to find Knox sitting at the table, head in his paws. I took the chair next to him, leaning over to rub my hand over his shoulder-blades. "What's wrong, hun?"

He let his paws fall with a thump against the metal table that looked like a rescue from Suzy's diner. When he met my eyes, his were glossy, and a frown had forced its way through his mouth from trying not to cry. "Nick, I'm sorry..." he said, before his voice choked off and he tried to look away.

I caught his chin, gently bringing him back to me. "What do you think you have to be sorry for? Was it the groceries?"

He shook his head, sucking in a quivering breath. "No. I mean, not exactly." Knox's fingers combed through his hair as his knee started bouncing. "I'm, well... I'm a fraud."

"What?" I couldn't wrap my head around it. Knox was the most honest person I'd ever known. The only person he'd ever intentionally lied to was himself.

Nodding, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Yeah. It's true."

"Okay, well, you're gonna have to explain that one, because I don't believe it like, at all." I didn't really want to push him. I was aware of how hard it was for him to talk about, well, anything, but goddamn it, I needed to know what was going on! That declined card probably wasn't an accident, and something in my gut told me it had something - no, everything - to do with his mother.

Still reclining, head tilted to the ceiling, he said, "I, uh... well, when I inherited the shop after Mr. Wyrdmott died, it actually wasn't doin' too hot. A lot of the equipment was outdated, and we couldn't do anything for the computer systems they've got in newer cars like yours." One eye cracked open, seeking something in my face. I don't know if he found what he was looking for, or didn't find what he expected, but he leaned forward to take my hand, regardless.

"I didn't have the money to get new stuff, and the bank denied my loan. So, I asked Momma for help. She'd made a ton on real estate out here, and I figured, well, why not? She's... she's family. That should've been safe." Knox licked his lips. "She agreed, on the condition that I add her to my bank account so she made sure I managed my money right, and she'd buy the building while I kept the actual business."

Oh.

I bristled, my hackles rising as I growled. "You're a grown fucking man. She has no business being on your bank account." A few cogs started turning in my head. "So, you think she closed it, yeah?"

"Yep," he grunted. "And it gets worse. She's coming on Wednesday to, quote, `check on her investment'. I don't know if she really would try to pull out of the shop or not. She always said he was just an investor on paper, that she'd never interfere for real. And she's never charged me rent or nothin', so she wouldn't..." Knox stared off into the distance, his fingers drumming against the metal tabletop making a hollow thumping sound as the wheels in his mind churned.

Slowly, then faster and faster, his breathing sped till I was afraid he'd burst. When Knox finally looked up, pupils blown wide, paws shaking as he wrapped one around my hand, my heart started racing, too. He squeezed me so tight it almost hurt. "Fuck, no, she totally would. She..." Knox gave a choked, strangled gasp as his eyes went glossy. "She'll definitely take the shop from me! Nick, what the hell am I gonna do?!"

Now he was crying again. It made my heart ache, and wonder how often he'd done this with nobody to hold his hand through it. "What am I gonna do?" he repeated, so fragile I thought he'd break. Knox's eyes were pleading, searching mine like I'd somehow have all the answers again.

Didn't he understand I was as lost as he was here?

Knox was coming apart at the seams, and I honestly didn't think I was going to be enough to patch him up and hold him together this time.

But then I realized that in this specific instance, there actually was something I could do. "Did you sign a contract when she bought the building?"

He blinked, looking confused. "I mean, yeah, `course I did. You know Momma, she wouldn't give me the money without one."

"Where is it?" Knox's stomach grumbled, and I got up to rummage in the cupboards for a pot to start the garden spirals in.

"The contract?"

"Mmhmm." I found what I was looking for; a neat little pot with a built-in strainer. As I filled it with water, I elaborated, "I'm going to take a look at it for you."

Knox's chair clattered over as he leaped up and dashed to my side. "Wait, really?! You think you could find something to save me -  I mean, my shop?"

I shut off the water, which made a thunk! sound that reverberated through the old pipes. "Maybe," I said, tempering my voice so I didn't give him false hope. "I'm sure your mom hasn't changed much, so she might not have left a loophole." I flipped the burner on - I thanked my lucky stars it was a gas stove and would heat quickly - placing the pot on it before grasping his hands in my own. "There is one huge thing that has changed, though."

My beautiful, strong, fragile, meathead tiger was staring at me, mouth slightly open and stars in his eyes. "What's that?"

I bent down to kiss the tip of his snout before gently bopping it with a finger.

"Now you know a really good business lawyer."

-


Forty-five minutes later, we each had a bowl of steaming hot casserole in front of us. Knox's mood had visibly improved, all smiles and jokes and laughter as we took our time to relax over dinner. Once we'd finished, he hurried to take the dishes away and rinse them before I could and popping them in the dishwasher. As he closed its door, I stepped behind him and threaded my arms under his to rest my paws on his chest, and gave him a squeeze. "Thank you," I murmured, nuzzling into the space between his shoulder blades.

"Mmm." Knox leaned into the embrace, placing his mitts over mine and hugging them to himself as he began purring. "For what, babe?"

His voice was all rumbly and growly from his purring, and it sent shivers down my spine. "I dunno," I said with a slight chuckle. "For being you?" No, that's not quite it. "For helping me, and letting me help you." Warmer. "For saying you love me." Red hot! Knox turned in my arms to face me. His eyes were warm, and his touch was tender as he traced circles onto my back with his fingertips. "It almost doesn't seem real, yet." Licking my lips, I snuggled up under his chin, and in return he turned his cheek to rub it against the top of my head. I almost, but didn't quite, hate how needy I sounded when I whined, "Say it again? For me?"

Knox almost crushed me with how tight he hugged me. I squeaked, laughing as we slowly relaxed. His breath tickled my ear as he leaned down and whispered, "Love you, babe." He took a step back, finding my mouth and pressing a kiss to my lips. It surprised me with its gentleness, and I wondered how a man so rough could care for me so softly, so sweetly, but with such power and intensity at the same time.

We broke apart, and he touched his forehead to mine as I panted for the air he'd stolen from me. Another kiss found its way to my cheek, before more trailed up to the top of my head, where Knox lingered a moment. Warm puffs of air tickled my scalp as he whispered barely loud enough for me to hear him, a sound that was meant only for me.

"Nick Southwell, I'm in love with you."

-
Knox
-


I love Nick Southwell.

And I loved telling him I love him. I saw how much he needed to hear it, how he needed me, and only me, flaws and cracks and mess included.

So I whispered it again. I laughed, and roared it so loud I bet even that asshole Mack next door heard me.

Then I bent down, and captured Nick's mouth in a kiss that summoned up every ounce of emotion, every desperate, aching need that filled me to bursting, into a single press of our lips.

No, one kiss wouldn't be enough. Not for all these feelings I had bottled up inside.

So I kissed him again, and when his mouth opened for me, I slid my tongue inside to wrestle with his.

Again.

Nick groaned, and my paws drifted to the small of his back as he started grinding his hips against mine.

Again.

I moved one paw to the top of his head and tilted him, exposing his delicate neck, and I licked a stripe up it from shoulder to jaw with my sandpapery tongue before kissing his throat. Nick gasped, melting into my arms with a delicious moan when I nibbled on the tender skin at the base of his neck.

Shit. A zing shot down my spine and straight to my cock. Are we really gonna do... this? Is now even the right time?

I sucked, and he cried out in both pleasure and delight, grinding even harder against me, almost desperately. No, yeah. Now's absolutely the right time. When I released him, our eyes met. I shivered at the darkened, half lidded way he was looking at me, and suddenly my jeans were very, very tight.

"Knox?" He whined airily, claws digging into my back in an impossible attempt to get even closer. Or is he trying to make sure I don't pull away?

He really didn't need to worry. I rolled my hips against his, and he shuddered. If I'd had any doubts that he wanted this as desperately as I did, they'd vanished at his low, sensual moan. "Yeah, babe?" Damn. I sound desperate.

Hell with it. I was desperate; My jeans might have burst into flames at the heat of our friction. I was more turned on than I'd ever been in my life, and that it was with a guy didn't make a damn bit of difference.

No, not just a guy. It's Nick.

And Nick licked those soft, plush lips of his. Mine tingled in response at the mere memory of him, but I saw him working up to saying something. So, against my every instinct, I waited.

"Knox..." He slid his hands around my hips, tracing up over my belly, and settled on my pecs, where he burrowed his face and dug in his claws. The tiny shock of pain set my brain on fire, and I almost started to shoot right then and there. "Knox, I want you to take me to your bedroom. Please?" He stiffened, pulling back a little. "I mean, if you want to. We don't have to do anything you're not ready for. We can wait - "

"No," I growled. I need to touch him, wrap my arms around him and crush him against me, bury my snout in his neck and lose myself in peaches and cinnamon. Fuck. I was getting him into my bed, right the hell now. "No more waiting."

I chucked him over my shoulder caveman style, and it had to be one of the hottest things I'd ever done. Nick shrieked with delight, kicking and flailing to get free, ordering me to put him down, but I the way he laughed assured me he wasn't serious. I kicked open the door to my room and tossed him down on the bed. The mattress squeaked as he let out a little oof! and bounced up and down a few times.

I put a stop to that as I fell on top of him, taking care not to actually crush him when I lowered my bulk onto his body and pinned him in place. We kissed again, and he thrust up against my belly, sending a jet of fire roaring through me.

I wanted to tear his clothes off with my teeth. I wanted his bare fur against mine, to explore every inch of his lean body with my raspy tongue. There was so much that I wanted to do, all at the same time, and I... I...

I froze. I wasn't scared, was I? All right, I was, at least a little. Things had gotten hot and heavy real fuckin' fast, and I honestly didn't expect to be doing all this like, tonight.

Would I even be any good? I'd never been with a guy before. Shit, I didn't have any clue what I was doing, did I? I should've, I dunno, googled something? Should I watch some gay porn?

Fuck, what if I'm worse than no good? What if it's bad? And he's already laying here under me. I don't have time to figure this out! What do I do now?!

As if he read my mind, Nick's arms wriggled free to caress my face, sinking his fingers into the thick fluff on my cheeks. "It's okay," he said, his breath still quick, eyes still molten, but edged with a warm tenderness now too. "There's no rush, Knox. We've got all night."

He pulled me in for the softest kiss I'd ever had, and it was my turn to melt. I swear I could've puddled around him and oozed off the bed.

He was warm.

He was safe.

Nick was home.

When he let me up for air, he rolled me over to put us side-by-side. I reached out to lay my paw on his side; he did the same to me, and we were content to simply pet each other for a minute, exploring each other with our fingertips. The immediate need had relaxed some, but we were both still hard as nails, and a quick glance down showed me a giant wet spot on the thigh of his jeans. I smirked. It was hot to see him all turned on by me - hang on. That's way too low to be from him. Wait... shit, really?

I moved to palm myself, and the pads of my fingers came away slick. "Oh. That was me?" I hadn't cum, I knew that. But apparently Nick had me so keyed up that I was leaking straight through my pants.

That's... kinda - no, that's hot. Boiling hot.

The labrador grabbed me by the wrist, bringing my hand to his muzzle. There was a flash of pink as he licked his lips, and before I could react, Nick had one of my fingers in his mouth.

He wrapped his tongue around it, humming in pleasure as he licked each finger clean. The sensation made my dick pulse, and another shot of pre squirted into my boxers.

"Nick?" My voice wavered, and that funny, twisting need came flooding back into my gut. "I..." He was looking right at me, devil in his eyes, impish grin on his face, and my brain short-circuited for a moment before my tongue caught up again. "Uh, look, I... I want you. I really, really fuckin' do." Deep breath. You got this, Knox! "But I don't have any clue what the hell I'm doing."

He nodded. "I understand." Nick trailed a lazy hand down my chest, over my belly, before settling on my...

Holy fuck!

I moaned - freakin' moaned - when he palmed my bulge. My hips bucked involuntarily against him once, twice, and that impish look turned downright savage. "D'you..." Oh God, he squeezed, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from blowing and ending this before it even began.

It was like he could tell I was about to cum. Actually, I think he really did know, because he moved his paw away and placed it on my hip instead. "Hey, Knox."

"Yeah?" I couldn't summon more than a whisper, my breaths were coming in such short, shallow gasps.

"Want me to teach you?"

Yes. Oh my God, yes!

"Yah-huh," was what I said, bobbing my head rapidly for good measure.

"You got it, babe. Let's have some fun, okay?" Nick stood up, guiding me along with him. The bed was a cavernous distance between us, and I already missed the warmth of his body next to mine. I could see his bulge in the orange sunset light that filtered through my window, and I stared at it for a long moment before I realized he'd been calling my name.

Wrenching my eyes back to Nick's face, I sobered quickly when I saw the serious look on his face. He made sure that he had my attention before continuing. "Knox, before we do anything, you need to understand that if you're uncomfortable at any time, if it's too much, you can tell me to stop. And I'll stop. No judgements, no questions asked. You got that?"

I nodded silently, and that devil lit his features up again. "Good. In that case, you're wearing way too many clothes." Nick hooked his fingers under the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it off in one fluid motion. It would've been easy to do nothing but stare at his lean, flat upper body, with its sinewy muscle giving him the barest shade of dimension, but he had other plans for me. "Take off your shirt." He licked his lips again, and his fingers twitched as I grabbed the end of my shirt. "Not so fast." I paused, and his smile was wicked, all teeth. "Do it slowly."

Oh.

Oh, okay.

This is different. Thought that I was supposed to be the one in charge?

But something buried deep inside snapped me to attention. I wanted to give up control. I wanted to let Nick have the reins.

For once, I wanted someone else calling the shots.

So, I did as commanded. I hooked my fingers underneath my shirt and inched it up, keeping eye contact for as long as possible. My heart jumped in my chest as I watched Nick's eyes follow my every movement, drinking in the sight of me. I felt ten feet tall, realizing that he didn't care about my gut, or the softness that had overtaken my once chiseled body. He thought I was still as hot as I'd been in high school.

Well. He wanted a show? I'd give him a show.

Finally whipping the t-shirt over my head, I tossed it onto a pile of clothes that I really should've put in the wash a couple days ago before flexing my chest and biceps in a strongman pose. Nick's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and I swear he drooled a little. Oh, wait, he actually had. He swiped the back of his paw over his mouth before giving his next order. "Turn around."

"As you command," I teased, and turned away. His stormy gray eyes bore into me, his hungry gaze exploring every inch of me.

"I'm..." Those eyes left me, and there was shuffling as he moved on the other side of the bed. "I'm looking away now, too. Pants and underwear next. Don't turn around until I say so."

I fumbled with the button on my jeans, digging against the tight denim with shaking fingers. Holy shit. I'd never wanted to get naked so fast in my life. Losing my patience, I grabbed either side of the fabric and ripped. The button flew across the room, and I shimmied out of my clothes in record time. And I stood there, panting, achingly hard dick twitching in the air, waiting for Nick's order.

"Okay, you ready?" His voice trembled. Was it nerves? Could've been, but my pup also sounded excited.

I am too, bud.

"Yeah," I rumbled, low and husky.

"On three?"

"Yeah."

Nick counted us off.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

We turned, and I let out a strangled gasp.

Long, lean lines accentuated by wiry muscle and covered in wavy golden fur. Defined thighs he hid underneath loose pants, which was a shame. I bet he'd look amazing in skinny jeans.

Holy shit.

Nick Southwell was beautiful.

He hunched his shoulders, shrinking in on himself and scratching at his cheek, his earlier confidence retreating. "Sorry, I'm, uh, still pretty scrawny. But, yeah. This is, well... me."

"Nick?" I could barely speak. My tongue was numb, and my face heated.

"Hmm?"

"Can I..." I swallowed around a lump in my throat. Trying again wasn't much better, and I stammered out my words. "C-can I, like.." I sank to my knees on the bed, raising my arms toward him automatically. "Can I touch you?"

Nick blinked a few times, head snapping back like I'd popped a balloon right under his nose. I watched as his face scrunched up in disbelief before smoothing out into a cocky grin. He kneeled on my bed too, keeping us separated by only a few feet. Then he nodded, taking my wrists in his hands and hovering my mitts over his slender chest. "One rule," he said.

It was impossible to hold myself back any longer. I had to sink my fingers into that soft golden fur, feel the beating of his heart and the heat of his body. "Anything," I begged.

"Keep it above the waist."

I whined. He laughed. I nodded, licking my lips.

"Okay."

Nick pressed my palms to his chest.

"Wow." He was rail-thin, but his muscles were well defined and hard under my touch. I gave him a squeeze, and the shiver that ran through his body reverberated in my own. Pressing a little harder, the rapid thump-thump of his heart pounding against my palm, and I knew he was feeling as keyed up as I was.

I shuffled forward on my knees a bit, inching closer to him as my wayward paws traveled to his sides and slid down the flat planes of his stomach. My thumbs rubbed over his abs, pressing slightly, and Nick let out a little gasp, wriggling under my touch, which caused my dick to jump. When it swung down, it bumped into something hard and warm, and I looked down.

Nick was still rock hard, cock jutting straight out from his body. His was a few inches shorter than me, but nearly as thick. Cut, too, unlike me, with a purple head was so swollen it looked painful. I couldn't look away, and as my eyes traveled his length, I realized there was a wet, shiny stripe about midway up, and beneath, my sheets had a massive wet spot forming between us.

"Heh. Leaky, much?" I smirked at Nick, but he smirked right back.

"Actually," he said, sounding full of himself. "I'm not the one at fault here. You're the one making a mess."

What? I glanced down again, and I realized he was right. I wasn't dripping so much as drooling all over the damn place. "Oh." My face flushed and let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh, sorry?"

He gave a filthy laugh. "It's hot, babe. Don't be sorry." Nick reached out with a paw, and it was like time slowed down. Was he... Oh fuck. He was going to grab my dick.

Crap! What do I do - Time caught up with me suddenly, and Nick's paw felt like fire and silk when it wrapped around my girth. I moaned again, loud and dirty, involuntarily thrusting into his hand, which - of course - caused another gush of pre to ooze out of me.

He slid up to the head of my cock, twisting his palm over my tip a few times, which had me gasping and shuddering. When he slid back down, all the way to the root, his paw was slick with, well... me.

I didn't mean to, but my head pitched forward, and I bit Nick's shoulder. Not hard enough to draw blood, but definitely hard enough that he had to have felt my fangs. The answering shudder and decadent groan assured me it wasn't a bad thing. He was lazily stroking me now, running his hand over my head whenever I got even a little dry. Everything was slick, and hard, and warm, and...

Oh shit. Not yet, not yet...

"Nick... wait, slow down!" I panted. This was good. No, incredible. It couldn't end in just a few minutes! I hadn't had enough, but somehow it was almost too much to handle at the same time. "I'm gonna bust if you - " was all the warning I could manage.

The rest of whatever it was I thought I was going to say choked off in a strangled cry as he squeezed my shaft and started twisting his paw around it as he stroked me faster. "Good," he breathed.

He stretched up to whisper in my ear, warm breath tickling my fur. "I love you. Do it. Cum for me, tiger."

"Fuck!" I yelled, biting down on Nick again as black spots danced in my vision before I squinted my eyes shut. And I did as he commanded, shooting all over the damn place in powerful, rapid-fire shots. I heard Nick gasp, then giggle as I kept pulsing out my load, and I swear it went on for an eternity. My head buzzed as my entire body started quaking, and I sagged against Nick, fucked out and completely boneless.  

My claws dug into those delicate hips as I tried so hard not to damage him. When it was down to the aftershocks, Nick finally released me, my dick still half-hard and a little sore. Only then did I let him go, sinking down onto my thighs, as little shivers ran through me as my dick continued to twitch. "Holy..." I gasped for a moment, trying to catch my breath. "Holy fuck."

I opened my eyes, and... Oh shit, now that's hot. Nick dripped, covered in my seed, giant ropes of it painting his beautiful flat stomach and chest and dripping down onto his cock. Some of it had even hit his face, and my heart did a backflip when his tongue lazily stretched out to lick away a glob, humming in pleasure as he did so. And he did something I didn't expect at all.

He captured my face in his hands and kissed me.

It was almost indescribable. My erection had flagged, but the taste of me on his tongue combined with own sweet flavor was nearly enough to do the impossible and make me hard again. I didn't know what to expect, tasting my own cum - it never even occurred to me to try it - but the salty bitterness on lips stirred something primal, deep in my gut. We made out for a moment before he eased me onto the bed, kindly avoiding the massive wet, sticky mess I'd made.

"Wait here a moment." Nick bopped me on the nose before shuffling off to the bathroom. He returned shortly with a towel that he'd clearly just used to clean himself off.

Straddling my hips, he wiped up the mess I'd made of my fur as well. I hadn't even noticed I'd gotten any on me, really. His still-hard cock bobbed in the air, and I grunted. "Hey."

"Mmm?" He'd finished wiping me up and chucked the towel onto the laundry pile.

"You didn't finish." My paw tingled, and I made a grabbing motion at him. "D'you want me to...?"

Nick shook his head, sliding down to rest against my side - and he had to be in the wet spot - and sighing happily. "Another time. I wanted tonight to be about you, not me."

"You're sure? I don't mind." Katie had always been pissed if I didn't get her off, too. Which was, y'know, fair, but she somehow never returned the favor when the shoe was on the other foot. "In fact, I kinda really, really want to."

"Mmn-mmm." He kissed my cheek, snuggling against me. "Shh, now. It's time for aftercare."

Huh. That was... different. Nobody I'd ever been with had ever wanted to cuddle or anything afterward. But my eyes were growing heavy, so instead of questioning it, I slid my arm along Nick's back to pull him closer. "Mmkay," I said, yawning widely. "It's early, but I guess I'm a `lil tired, babe. Sorry."

Nick stroked my chest and tilted his head up to kiss my cheek. "Sleep, hun. It's okay."

"Mmn." I grunted, starting to purr as his warm body clung to mine. "'Kay. G'night," Eyes fluttering shut, I mumbled out the rest of my words.

"Love you, Nick."

"Love you too."

And we slept.

-
To Be Continued...
 -


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