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Dawn of Desire

Chapter 2: Temptation’s Advocate

Sneak Peek

“Hey Ceil!”

The lion who was walking into the gym paused at the door and turned to see a tall gazelle with wide hips walking up to him.

“Hey there Ruby,” Ceil smiled and held the door open for her, stepping to the side to let her in first. “What’s up? You running a class today too?”

“Nah, working on legs and glutes,” the gazelle swished her hips as she went by, the lion averting his eyes and making a point of keeping them on the woman’s head as she walked by. “From the schedule, you’re going to be working the gym floor on weights, right?”

“I got a couple people signed up to help with their routines and then a class at the end for tai-chi,” Ceil shrugged, walking in behind her as he snagged a hair tie off his wrist and pulled his mane up into a messy man bun, his thick wild locks sticking out around it, but it kept the most of his hair off his neck. “You going to be joining in on my class?”

“Nope,” Ruby sighed. “I got a midterm paper due tomorrow that I haven’t started. I’m pretty good at bullshitting my way through that kind of stuff, but this time I might just be taking the passing grade.”

Ceil cringed a bit at the crude language, the big guy shrugging his satchel higher onto his shoulder to help cover it up.

“Don’t sweat it, just thought it would be a good way to round out your routine,” Ceil chuckled.

“It would, but I need the time for myself, and my mind is always more crisp after a good workout.” Ruby opened the second door for Ceil on their way into the gym. “Do you mind letting me in behind the desk though? I think I left my water bottle there.”

“Oh, sure, we’re both workers so it should be fine if I let you in,” Ceil gave a big grin. “No worries Ruby, I got you covered. You forget your student ID or something?”

“Yeah, I think I left it with my water bottle,” Ruby crossed her arms, her sweater bunching up around her chest. “You mind if I change in there though? It would be easier than trying to find a working locker.”

“I…I um…” Ceil blushed. “It’s actually attached to the men’s lockers…”

“You wouldn’t mind though, right?” Ruby waived off his concerns. “I feel safe around you.”

“I…um…yeah, I guess…”

The lion padded his way into the lockers and used his student card to open the employee offices. He made a quick round over to the front room and unlocked the door for Ruby.

“Oh! There it is, that little sneaky fucker!” Ruby smirked as she grabbed a purple bottle covered in bumper stickers with a lanyard tied into it. “I would have been really screwed if it wasn’t here.”

“Well, if you’re all set, I need to get to the people who are signed up.”

“Yeah, no prob!” Ruby smiled and started peeling off her sweater.

“Oh gosh! Ruby! I’m still here!” Ceil blushed and tried to rush over to the men’s lockers.

“What? Not like you care, you’re gay right?” Ruby pulled her sweater off, leaving herself in nothing but leggings and a support bra.

Ceil grabbed at the door to the men’s lockers, but the damned thing was stuck! His sweaty palms made the large metal knob slip regardless of his pads. Ceil slapped his hands over his eyes.

“I’m so sorry Ruby,” Ceil squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m not gay, I’m very much straight.”

“Really?” Ruby’s voice was filled with skepticism. “Well, sorry. Didn’t think you were with what little interest you have in women.” She pulled her sweater back on.

“Nope, very much straight, but please cover yourself up,” Ceil’s voice was strained. “I really don’t want to…well…it’s just not right for me to see a woman like that.”

“Wow, sorry Ceil,” Ruby put her sweater back on. “I had no idea. Sorry.” She apologized. “There, all covered up. You can look.”

Ceil slowly parted his fingers and sighed, the tension falling from his shoulders.

“Thanks Ruby,” Ceil sighed. “I don’t’ know what I would have done if I would have accidentally seen you like that.”

“Don’t sweat it, Ceil,” Ruby had a pink blush to her cheeks. “I totally thought we batted for the same team, especially with how hard to insist on helping men with your routines and stuff. All the other guys use the sign up list as some dating pool or whatever.”

“Yeah, not for me, I’m…well…keeping it professional.” Ceil chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Sorry, didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

“Really, you’re the one apologizing to me?” Ruby chuckled. “You’re too nice, Ceil. You know I have a few people in my church group that would love to meet you.”

“Oh, no thanks,” Ceil waived his hands. “I don’t have the time to properly commit to anyone right now. I’m too busy studying and learning scripture to really spend time with the fairer sex.”

“Okay,” Ruby slung her bottle over her shoulder. “But if you change your mind, hit me up. I got a couple girls that are looking for an honorable guy like you.”

“Of course,” Ceil gave her a big smile and shot her a double thumbs up, his white claws gleaming.

“You’re too cute Ceil,” Ruby left it at that and exited the office.

Ceil took a deep breath and let it out. The last thing he needed as a physical therapist major was more temptation. Thanks Ruby, but no thanks. Ceil didn’t believe that Ruby was an active agent of temptation, but he knew how to spot it when people have been tricked into tempting him into sin. A girlfriend would be far too tempting. What if they were just out for a quick date and were holding hands, just their fingers lacing together sweetly as the sunset and he looked into her eyes, brushed a lock of hair away from her face, his fingertips lightly touching her cheek, and her eyes were the sweetest shade of green or blue, and he was tempted to simply kiss her. Sure, he could kiss her forehead, but that’s just a gateway kiss…

“Stop,” Ceil told himself calmly. He put his hands together and took a deep breath and cleared his mind. He envisioned a bright sphere of light above his head, the light of the divine shining down on him, clearing his mind, giving him clairvoyance into the dark. Ceil’s broad shoulders rose and fell a few times as he inhaled the light and exhaled the temptation. He smiled, his blood returning to a normal state, the sensation of need and arousal fading from his mind.

Ceil’s grin broadened as he patted himself on the back.

Good job Ceil! So proud you know how to keep yourself in check! Those bodily urges will strike at such odd times. Always best to keep a clear mind and keep marching forward.

Ceil put his hands on his hips as he smirked and almost felt giddy at his accomplishment before he spun on his heels and went to change into his gym clothes. The lion wasn’t a small guy, easily six feet and packed with lean muscle. He wore a large short sleeve shirt with some baggy athletic shorts to allow for maximum flexibility without being so revealing. Not that he didn’t have anything to flaunt, he had plenty in every department, but he also understood that others might be tempted, and the best way to not be tempted is to minimize the temptation you put out there.

Ceil shoved his feet into his sneakers and practically jogged the rest of the way into the gym. He snagged his clip board and saw the first name on the list.

“Donner!” Ceil shouted. “You’re first up!”

Ceil scanned the gym, people of various skill levels clanking away at weights or pounding away at machinery.

“Donner!”

“Hey there,” a buffalo came up to Ceil, the massive beast of burden already brimming with muscle.

“You must be Donner,” Ceil smirked.

“Oh, no,” the buffalo lifted his hands up defensively. “No, not at all. I am the yote’s friend Cody, and he texted that he’ll be—”

“Holy shit it worked,” someone else spoke behind the big buffalo.

“Dude!” Cody jumped out of his skin. “You were supposed to be going to your office hours! What the hell.”

“Come now,” Ceil put his hands up, waiving the clip board. “No need for such language. Are you Donner then?”

Ceil locked eyes with the coyote and he froze. His heart seized up and then bloomed. Up until that moment, the lion had never felt anything so profound. Time stood still, the light shifted, it was like those brown eyes were the center of the universe and he was looking into the eyes of god.

Ceil blinked and shook his head, his palm coming to smack his forehead. How could he think such things!? His heart belonged to his faith! He sent a silent prayer to his god begging for forgiveness for this transgression, to forgive him.

“Ceil, you okay?” The coyote’s voice was soft, smooth and tender with worry. How could that be? It was such a contradiction. It was like listening to velvet sigh. He imagined his hand running over the softest of fabrics, the sound of the fibers brushing over his pads was how his ears felt when listening to the coyote.

“Ceil?”

There it was again. He had to do something quick.

“Oh goodness gracious,” Ceil stood up, gripping his bun and smacking his thigh with the clipboard to sting his mind back into reality. He opened his eyes and he could see the coyote again, the toned jock had his ears folded back. “Sorry, I…just wasn’t ready for…you’re Donner, right?”

“Yup! You got it,” Donner smiled, a big goofy grin that spread from cheek to cheek. “That’s me.”

Ceil blushed as he saw that grin. It was strange how much he loved it. It was the perfect curve and yet whatever way that smile shifted it was like watching his favorite shape change in real time. The way each ivory tooth caught the light, the way those chocolate eyes sparkled, it was like watching morning dew catch the first rays of morning. Ceil’s heart skipped a beat and his cheeks started to turn red.

“I…I think I need a moment, one sec,” Ceil spun on his heels, his hands coming together as he took a deep breath and imagined his ball of light above his head. How could he feel this way, this wasn’t just a normal want. It was like he wanted to do more than just look down…more than brush his cheek with his thumb…more than press his lips against his forehead…more than…more than…more than…

The light in his mind flickered, in the darkness he saw flashes of mottled fur, the curve of a goofy grin, a pair of chocolate eyes. Ceil took a deep breath, all those images fading into the dark as he let out a light sigh. He spun around.

“Okay Donner, let’s get this underway,” Ceil smiled so wide his eyes were closed before he glanced down at his clip board. “You got me for the first thirty minutes and you wanted to work on your chest.”

“Oh…I mean…yeah,” Donner’s voice seemed taken aback, but he quickly perked up. “I mean, your chest is always so amazing I figured you’d know the best way to work it out.”

“My chest?” Ceil took a moment and let that compliment sink in. The way it tingled his spine and warmed his heart. A blush played across his muzzle before he mentally slapped himself for taking pride in the complement. “I appreciate your kind words, but let’s focus on your workout goals for today.”

It may have seemed a bit crass, but Ceil was battling a new type of temptation. One he didn’t quite fully understand. What kind of vile evil sent this Donner his way? What kind of malevolence sent Donner to try and shake his faith? Either way, he would not be tempted. He would NOT be swayed to sin.

“Here we go,” Ceil smiled, his massive grin almost unnerving as he attempted to cover up the fact his eyes were screwed shut.

“Ceil, are you okay?” Donner asked, his sneakers shuffling behind him. “You seem…off.”

“Oh it’s nothing,” Ceil tried to keep his eyes closed, but a sudden cramp in his cheek caused him to relax. He opened his eyes and…nothing. Ceil took a sharp breath as he looked at Donner and he felt that grip in his chest ebb, the explosive feelings muted.

_By god in heaven, what was all that? _

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