Imani (IV)
#4 of Imani
I sat with Gray for another forty-five minutes, letting him cry into my chest the way Milan had done just two days prior. I glanced around his room -- tissues were everywhere, clothes scattered on the floor and entirely full plates of food sitting on his dresser and nightstand. Damn it, he hasn't been eating. It shouldn't bother me as much as it does.
Milan wasn't thrilled about staying overnight, but he didn't put up much of a fight about it. He's drained, emotionally and physically, I can tell. I shouldn't have left him alone with Charlotte. It wasn't long until most of the relatives had left -- either gone home or to a hotel for the night. A couple had decided to bunk down in the living room, though.
"I just don't see why he needs you..." We were outside Gray's door, Milan speaking in a hushed, quiet tone. "If he wanted you, he shouldn't have left you..." He says it harshly, jealousy oozing out of his every syllable. Despite everything, Milan didn't want to upset Gray anymore than he was now. I was thankful for that, I don't know if I could handle an argument between the two blathering idiots right now, anyway. I'm half expecting Imani to stroll down the hall, out of her room, with some sage advice about when your boyfriend breaks up with you and when your best friend wants to get with you. She doesn't, of course.
We walk into the room and find Gray fidgeting with a makeshift bed on the floor, complete with a half dozen pillows and two huge blankets. "I figured," He started, his tail wagging softly, "Milan could take the bed, and Toby and I could take the floor."
Milan's response was delivered with the grace of a blind man, falling down a flight of stairs, while trying to thread a needle: "No." It was blunt, and the last thing that Gray's frayed nerves had needed. I pinned my ears, ready for the fallout.
The thing to know about these two, even through their years of friendship, they had some of the biggest arguments I'd ever seen. Some were about nothing -- The time Milan had borrowed one of Gray's shirts and stretched it to kingdom-come (seriously, how does a big wolf expect to fit in a small coyote's shirt anyway?), others were more serious; Milan blew Gray off for some girl, and boy, he was livid. They always made up, though sometimes it took a little pushing. Imani was the best at getting them to reconcile, another responsibility that would fall on me.
"What?" Gray's whiskers twitched. "Do you want the floor? I mean, I was trying to be nice, but I'm sure Toby and I would be fine with the bed." Gray was a master at being a sassy bitch, but I don't think he meant to be this time. "Would that be better?"
"Nope." Ever gracefully, Milan said. The tension was palpable, rising in my throat. "What do you want, then?" Gray was snarling now. I felt my fight-or-flight reflexes start to kick in. Foxes aren't exactly big, bulky fighters. We're fast, though, and every muscle of my body was telling me to run. Fights between alpha-predators were never good...but these two were friends, right?
"I want you to leave Toby alone!" My ears were pinned to my head, it had been a long time since I'd seen Milan this angry.
"Enough!" I couldn't hold it back anymore. These two were being ridiculous, and I didn't want them to upset Charlotte anymore than she already is. "Milan, back off. Gray, why should we sleep together? We're not together, right? That's what you told me, right?!" I'm growling, shaking from anger. "You two can sleep on the floor. I'm taking the bed. Goodnight." I smack the light switch and march to bed, even though I'm not even tired yet. But I'm tired of these two. It hasn't been easy for me, so why am I worrying about them? They both love me -- that's what they say. They should be worried about me! At least a little! I pull the blanket over me, my ears scanning the silence for nothing.
They lie down at some point, but I'm trying not to pay attention to them. They're mumbling to each other, but I'm facing away from them, doing everything I can not to hear them.
"Hey...Toby...?" It's gray, the hurt in his voice is entirely obvious. I don't say anything.
"Toby..." It's Milan this time. I sigh, I don't want to respond. I want to ignore them and go to sleep. Do I ever do what's best for me? "What?" I say, annoyed.
Before I knew what was happening, Gray was in my arms and I was in Milan's. "What the hell, you two?" It was quick, Milan was there first, pulling me over while Gray crawled over to lay between myself and the wall.
"It's no fair that you get the bed and we have to sleep on the floor," Gray teased, "So we thought it was only fair...plus, we know how much you love canines." I choke back a laugh. Is that all dogs think about? "If you guys want the bed," I say, wriggling out from between them, "Take it." I'm not in the mood. I'm not in the mood for my only friends in the world. I'm not in the mood for their perverted canine jokes -- I'm not even sure if it was a joke.
I crept down the stairs and out the front door. I'm not sure where i'm going -- the car I drove here belongs to Milan, and I wasn't going to try and find his keys. It's a sticky, hot night, and I can hear thunder in the distance, and smell rain on the precipice of a downpour. It smells nice, despite the worry that I'll get poured on. It's a refreshing change, though. The summer has been dry -- the 4th of July was clear. The four of us -- Imani, Gray, Milan and I -- had enjoyed an amazing fireworks show, a nice picnic, swimming in the lake...but it's over now. I have to remind myself. It's different after tonight. I probably can't even hang out with them both together again!
The thought made me sick, literally. The sight of a fox doubled over, throwing up at...shit, I don't even know what time it is. The moon is hanging high in the sky, I assume it's after midnight. I collect myself, even though it takes oem time. My stomach feels like it's tearing itself to shreds, but I'll make due. Rain starts to fall out of the sky, a cool breeze permeating the air around me after I walk a few miles. It bristles my fur, sending a shiver through every molecule of my being.
I walk into "Cherryville," one of many bars in the area. I have a decent fake ID, and Cherryville isn't one who really looks twice at anyone -- even at clearly underage fox. I sit on a stool, the classic barstool. I can imagine how it would have looked when it was new, a soft, red top that would be comfortable to sit on. The entire bar new must've been nice, the entire bar is solid cherry (Cherryville?), cratered from years of abuse, dusty in places where people haven't sat in years. The stools are cracked, deflated and not very comfortable. I hear the downpour of rain start as I take my seat. Guess I made it just in time.
The barkeep is a nice man, a bear. He gives me an odd look before asking what I want. "Two shots. Whatever's cheap and strong..." He walks away, coming back with two shot glasses full of a clear liquid. I'm not much of a drinker, but there's plenty of time to become one. I swig them down and ask for two more. The bear grunts.
"You're not a big fox. You sure you can handle it?" I think it's a subtle jab about my age, but I nod and take them. The thunder is loud outside, the wind howling. I take the third shot. It burns going down, and then tries to come back up. I don't let it, though; I wonder if Gray or Milan are looking for me. Probably not. They're probably fucking spooning in Gray's bed...I down the last shot, maybe slamming the glass down a little hard. The bear gives me a glare. "Sorry..." I mumble, my head swimming.
I lay my head on the bar, my innards feeling warm and foreign. I hear the deflation of one of the barstool cushion beside me, and glance over. A young otter has sat next to me. The bar's dark, and it's hard to see if the otter is a male or female. "What're you drinking?" The voice is definitely male, and it doesn't seem like he's too much older than I am. "I...I'm not sure, actually." I give a small hiccup as I try to say the letter I. He looks me over, shaking his head before he pats me on the back. "Another round for the fox!" He shouts, louder than I would've liked. The bear brings over two more shots, I assume one for the otter, too.
I'm not one to meet other people like this. The few people I talk to are from high school, and it's a strange idea to just start talking to someone. Despite that, despite everything, I find myself enjoying the chatty otter's company. I don't know what it is about him, but his personality is infectious and he's just what I need. He's so different than Gray, the usually reserved and quiet coyote, or even Milan, who's more outgoing than Gray but not so...boisterous?
The otter's name is Lucas, and it turns out that he's new to the area. It's actually his first night in Cherry. I don't know why anyone would willingly move to Cherry, or why they would come to Cherryville their first night.
"So...you're a little fox, what're you doing here?" He seems genuinely interested in why I'm here. "Oh you know. One of my friend's funeral, her name was Imani, her funeral was today --" "Oof. That's rou--" "Oh, that's not the half of it. My boyfriend, who happens to be my Imani's brother, left me two nights ago!" "So...you're single?" He sticks his tongue out, but I'm not sure if he's really joking or not. "And then, my only other friend, my best friend, is coming onto me. Oh, he was Imani's boyfriend and I've been trying my best to take care of him. I think he just wants held, or maybe just wants in under my tail, but I just...don't." Lucas is staring at me. We keep our eye contact for a second, at least until my phone buzzes. I jump.
12:34 AM: Gray: Where are you? Didn't mean to upset you. M and I are out looking.
12:45 AM: Milan: WAYA? Plz. Sor 4 upset.
"That the ex, or the future ex?" It's a weird way to phrase the question. "Both." I say, tossing my phone on the counter. I don't want to talk to them right now. I want to talk to Lucas. "Just gonna ignore them..?" He asks quietly. I nod, suddenly realizing I can add another thing to the list to be mad at them for. They interrupted a moment, after driving me off. "Well...let me pay for your drinks." I don't mind him interrupting my thoughts.
. "You know..." I struggle for words, "I'm sure...if you're new in the area, you probably have a pretty empty apartment...and i-if you want someone to help fill it up for the night..." It feels weird saying it, I've never been picked up in a bar before...or tried to pick someone up before? I'm not sure what I'm even trying here. His face lights up, regardless, "Anything beats sitting in such a big, empty house!"
We walk out together, and he drives me to his apartment. It's downtown, although I'm not sure that Cherry has much of a downtown, but it's as downtown as it gets. It sits above a small restaurant, closed for the evening.
His apartment is small, one bedroom, -- I can't understand how he says "big, empty house," with a straight face. As soon as we're in the front door though, I pull him into a kiss. He's different than anyone else I've kissed (although, when your resume is two canines, anything is probably different). He doesn't have much of a muzzle, and his mouth tastes salty. His tongue is slick and I feel a pressure in my sheath building.
I slide my paw into his shorts, and there's definitely something big there. Oh. Oh. Now I get his joke about something big...and something empty. Or maybe I'm overthinking. Why am I thinking about anything other than the huge ottercock in my paw? He slips my shorts off, and I his. Our shirts come off next, and then we're in bed, or...an air mattress. I'm lying flat on my back, looking up at him. For the first time I realize how sexy he actually is. Soft brown fur, beautiful brown eyes, too. And that ottercock.
He spreads lube on my tailhole, rubbing in a small circular motion with his fingers. I shudder with anticipation when he brings his cock under my tail. It's simple enough, sex that is. Mechanically, I mean, even between two men. A cock under a tail, a cock in the air, and then it gets sticky.
But that's not how it feels. In the heat of the moment, with a beautiful otter sliding back and forth in your tailhole, sending waves of pleasure it's hard not to moan out. It's hard not to see stars. The scent was overwhelming. It's amazing, truly. His grunts, my moans...his eyes. It's a beautiful crescendo, he's hitting all the right spots and it's hard not to jizz all over myself, all over him...and then I do. The pleasure racking my body incredible, as if the universe is ringing. He brings himself down, wrapping his arms around me and nibbles on my shoulder which sends a shudder down my back. My claws dig into his spine, he's making more grunts and cute noises than before and I know it's not long now. "Oh...foxy..." It's hardly a whisper, but it permeates my body. Before I know it, I feel a warm wetness emanating from under my tail. "Oh god, Lucas..." I'm breathing heavily, hardly able to catch my breath. I'm expecting him to pull out at any moment -- it's not like otters have knots -- and tell me to leave. He doesn't, though. He holds me like that until I can hear him snoring. I kiss his small muzzle (as much of one as an otter has) and find myself drifting to sleep under him.
~~~
I hear my phone ringing somewhere in the distance, but what's really waking me up is the wetness around my dick. "Oh...oh god, good morning..." I moan. It's quiet, but I can feel the mouth going to work below me. I glance down, and the otter is grinning up at me, taking all of my foxhood down his throat. It's an incredible feeling, his smooth tongue slipping over my cock. It sends shivers down my back, and before I know it, my cum spirts into his mouth and down his throat.
I smile down at the otter, who's kissing his way back up my chest. He locks lips with me, and I can taste the fox musk on his breath. We hold the kiss for what seems like forever, until my phone starts buzzing again. "Mmm...you better get that, foxy. I'll make us some breakfast if you want?" He gives me a pathetic, please-don't-leave-yet look. "I'm not one to turn down a free meal." I smile, grabbing for my phone while he walks to the kitchen. I stay in his bed for now, engulfed by the otter scent all around me.
"Hello?" I grumble into the phone's receiver, suddenly wishing I had checked the caller ID. I hear two sighs of relief on the other end. "Christ, Tobias! We've been worried sick about you! Where are you? Milan says he'll come and pick you up and I thin--" "Gray," I say, cutting him off, "I'm fine, really. Don't worry so much. I just needed some time..." I trail off, hearing a click.
"Gray?" I doubt he'd hang up on me, but nothing would surprise me anymore. "I'm here, Toby! I just put you on speaker." Oh, yeah, because I want to talk to two assholes who are mad at me, right?
They start babbling, and it's hard to tell who's saying what. "Slow down guys. One at a time." I'm glancing around the room, but there isn't much to distract me from the conversation I'm about to have. The smell of otter has been gradually replaced by the smell of bacon, and it makes my stomach lurch. Maybe breakfast isn't the greatest idea? I've never been hungover, and I don't have a headache, but...
"We tried to call you SIX times last night! We texted you dozens of times! Why didn't you answer?" Milan's trying to be intimidating, but his voice cracks about half way through and he drops the tough-guy act. "We were up all night waiting for you to come home..." Milan trails off, and I start to say something before Gray picks up right where he left off, "We didn't mean to upset you, Toby...you just looked so lonely up on the bed and Milan wouldn't let me up there with you alone..."
"Then both of you should've stayed on the floor where I told you to sleep. I'll be back soon, okay?" "Do you need a rid--" "No, Milan. I'll have a ride. We can talk about this when I get back." They're both quiet on the other end, so I hang up the phone. I think I heard one of them start to say something before I clicked end, but it was too late anyway.
Lucas has made a simple breakfast, and I'm sure I can hold it down. Scrambled eggs fill a small, plastic green bowl and bacon sits on folded-over paper towels. He's still messy from last night, I can smell it and see it. "Hey, foxy. You probably need to shower before you go back to your nightmare of never ending testosterone. I don't need two punks tracking me down because you smell like me." He grins, "I wouldn't want to break out some Ott-jit-su on them." I can't help but laugh as I shove bacon into my mouth. The otter's humor is amazing, and his cooking is top-notch. "They wouldn't even be a match for you, mighty Ott-jit-su master-o!" He starts laughing and it's good. I'm enjoying him, being around him. And he cares about me, at least a little bit. Why else would he want to make sure I shower?
That question is answered pretty rapidly when he insists on showering with me, and I end up pinned to a wall with him fucking me into oblivion. I still think his original intentions were pure, and I didn't mind making another mess. We clean up, and for the first time I get a good look at the otter. He's more muscle than otter, with a two-toned fur that's darker everywhere but his belly. He offers me a ride home, and I'm glad for that. "Oh! Put my number in your phone. Call me tonight. I wouldn't mind if you stayed over again! You're fun, I mean, beyond the sex." I snort back a laugh, but take his number down and agree to call him at eight o'clock. He drops me off at the Keener residence and...and Gray and Milan are waiting on the front porch for me. I wonder if they know I can take care of myself? I wonder if I can take care of myself. They're looking at me and the otter, so I take advantage of the opportunity and plant a kiss right on the otters lips. He looks a little taken aback, but smiles and takes it.
I feel like I'm walking on air, now. The kiss left me in a great mood, and even if it's just the seven steps between the road and the porch, I'm gonna enjoy it.
They're both glaring at me when I walk onto the porch, but I don't care. Let them glare. If they had just left well enough alone last night...If they had just left well enough alone, you'd never have met that otter. You should be thanking them. It's a strange thought, interrupted by Milan and Gray, almost like they were planning on what to say.
"What the fuck?" I blink, staring at them. They really had perfect timing on that, even their tones were the exact same. "Who the hell is that otter and why did you kiss him?" Milan says, cutting Gray off when he tried to mumble something out. Milan's angry. It's different this time, though. He's angry at me.
"His name's Lucas." My tone is defensive, my ears are pinned and my tail is drooping. "I kissed him because I wanted to kiss him." I'm not sure I could've been more vague if I was trying to be. Sure, I could tell them, "Oh, that's the nice thing to do after someone wrecks you," but even though I'm mad at them, I don't want to lose my two friends.
"You should invite him over..." Gray's voice trails off, and I know he's planning something. "I mean, anyone you want to kiss must be a nice guy. I'm sure Milan has my back on this; we just want to talk to him." He nods at Milan. "No, I don't want to just talk to him. I want to rip his head off." Milan's really not messing around.
"Stop it, Mila--" He interrupts me, "No! You leave us, worried sick, while you're out fucking some otter?!" Charlotte is staring at us through the door, but she hasn't said anything yet. God, Milan, you're so loud.
"What does it matter who I fuck? I'm single, right Gray?! You needed your own time to be with just you and your mother." Why am I lashing out at Gray? He's been standing there quietly since he told me to invite Lucas over.
"You don't have to be single." Milan says, quietly and coldly. Gray glares at him, and I know I should leave. I'm only going to say something stupid if I stay, and probably hurt them. Or maybe they'll hurt me. "You're right, I don't have to be single. Lucas is single." It slips out before I can stop myself. "Fuck you," Milan says, punching the column next to me. "You wish." That's another one that slips out. I turn and start walking away. "Toby..." Gray calls after me, but I don't care. I think I hear Milan say something to him.